Adjustable length seat extension, assembly including seat extension, and passenger compartment

Abstract

The invention provides a vehicle cabin for carrying passengers comprising a plurality of modules, each module having seats and seat extensions, said seats and seat extensions being arranged in a staggered manner in the plurality of modules, wherein each adjustable seat extension comprises: a shell comprising a front bottom and a rear opening, the rear opening being defined by a hollow volume open towards the rear, and a footrest area within the hollow volume being adapted to receive the feet of a passenger occupying the seat and using the seat extension. Advantageously, the shell of each seat extension comprises a fixed portion, and an adjustable portion located in front of the fixed portion, the adjustable portion allowing, when it is fixed to the fixed portion, to obtain a seat extension of adjustable length between the opening and the bottom of the shell, and the aisle width L of the aisle between the seats and the seat extensions of the plurality of modules when the seat extension is used by a passenger who is prepared to travel in the cabin.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the field of the arrangement of cabins of vehicles carrying passengers.

[0002] More particularly, the present invention relates to an adjustable length seat extension including a footrest area. The present invention also relates to a passenger seat assembly for a vehicle convertible into a sleeper including the seat extension of the present invention and a passenger compartment. Background Art

[0003] In the field of passenger transportation, it is known to provide passengers on long-distance trips with seats that are convertible into berths, allowing the passenger to assume a lying position. The seat in the berth position allows the passenger to rest and / or sleep in a comfortable position. This seat position is usually achieved by a combined movement of the seat, the backrest and the footrest, which positions these parts of the seat into a horizontal position to form a berth.

[0004] Several solutions are known for adopting this horizontal position, also called bed position, such as a change in the configuration of a single seat comprising a seat, a backrest and a footrest. However, such seats have the disadvantage of requiring a complex conversion mechanism to convert from a sitting configuration to a bed configuration.

[0005] From a mechanical point of view, a simpler solution is to combine a seat with an inclined backrest with a separate footrest located in front of it. For example, it is known to use the rear of the front seats to integrate the footrest, thereby optimizing the use of space to place the most armchairs that can be converted into a berth. Patent applications US2012 / 0298798A1 and WO2011 / 067286A2 give examples of seat structures that can be converted into a bed, the footrest of the berth being integrated into the shell of the front seat.

[0006] In fact, the use of seats convertible into berths proved to be uneconomical in terms of space, and these seats were usually reserved for first-class passengers who paid more for the trip. However, these passengers had high demands on their comfort during the trip and especially on the comfort of their seats. Since the vibrations and sounds of the feet of the passenger occupying the rear seat could be felt by the front seat passenger, it was not always acceptable to place the footrest of another seat on the same structure as its resting position.

[0007] Another solution for adopting the sleeper position of the seat is to use a bench to form an independent seat extension, which provides the passenger with a place to place his feet when in the sitting or intermediate position, and then in the sleeper position is an extension of the seat and the horizontally placed seat back. This solution differs from the previous ones in that the footrest extension is not in direct contact with the back of the seat of another passenger. For example, in aircraft cabins, it is known to use such as Figure 1In the staggered configuration shown in, no bench is integrated into the housing and placed in front of the corresponding chair. In this staggered configuration, the bench is not placed behind the structure of the front row of passenger seats, but beside it.

[0008] On the other hand, the distance between each seat and / or bench must be determined not only for passenger comfort and space economy, but also for safety considerations, such as aisle width, which results in a minimum distance between seats that allows passengers to leave their seats according to evacuation rules. However, the need for an aisle space between two chairs is not shared by all seats in a transport cabin, especially for seats along the walls. As a result, unused space is often left in front of certain seats, which does not correspond to an aisle entrance or exit. In addition, the optimal spacing between seats and footrests to accommodate the maximum number of sleeping positions in the cabin does not, in some cases, correspond to the necessary spacing for the optimal size of the aisle from the passengers.

[0009] While ideally the seating arrangement should take into account the different space requirements of each seat, it is often preferred to implement a standardized environment where all seats share the same structure and installation instructions. As a result, when the spacing between seats increases, it collectively increases the spacing between seats that are not related to the aisle, resulting in less than optimal use of free space.

[0010] Today, a solution that does not waste space is to enlarge the shell behind the seat as much as possible. That is, half the space when there is no need to maintain an aisle on the side of the bench. This solution has certain disadvantages. First, the change of the environment behind the seat requires a change in the shell structure. This change is defined for each version, which means that a huge additional cost is required. In addition, this change is complicated from the point of view of production and operation management, so it is not used to increase the spacing.

[0011] Lengthening the shell then creates a space between the chair and the shell that must be filled. In the same way, enlarging the sleeper function above the headrest forces the passenger to reposition himself once the chair is in the horizontal position. Therefore, the previous solution is not often implemented and standard environments (designed with minimum spacing) are still used, such as Figure 1 shown. Summary of the invention

[0012] The object of the present invention is to provide a solution for arranging seats convertible into berths in a cabin for carrying passengers, while allowing the use of the free space between the seats without affecting the aisle towards the passage, while maintaining a standardized structure and installation for all the seats.

[0013] Another object of the invention is to permanently maintain an aisle width towards the passage, for a given cabin layout, at least equal to the minimum required for the safety and comfort of the passengers who may use it, while maximizing the available space between the seats.

[0014] To this end, the invention provides a vehicle cabin for passenger transportation having a plurality of modules, each module having a seat and a seat extension, the seats and seat extensions being arranged in a staggered manner in the plurality of modules, wherein each adjustable seat extension comprises: a shell comprising a front bottom and a rear opening defined by a hollow volume open towards the rear and a footrest area within the hollow volume adapted to receive the feet of a passenger occupying the seat and using the seat extension. Advantageously, the shell of each seat extension comprises a fixed portion and an adjustable portion located in front of the fixed portion, the adjustable portion allowing, when it is fixed to the fixed portion, to obtain a seat extension of adjustable length between the opening and the bottom of the shell, and the aisle width L of the aisle between the seats and the seat extensions of the plurality of modules when the seat extension is used by a passenger preparing to travel in the cabin.

[0015] Thus, when arranging the cabin to obtain a minimum length, the seat extension can be adjusted, for example, to be substantially equal to the length of the invariant portion, to the maximum length, and, if necessary, to at least an intermediate length between the minimum length and the maximum length.

[0016] The seat extension of the present invention may also include all or part of the following features individually, or in any technically feasible combination.

[0017] - the adjustable part is movable between a first position and at least a second position, in which the adjustable part is fully or partially retracted into the fixed part of the shell so that the length of the seat extension is minimized, and in which the adjustable part is fully or partially extended outwardly toward the seat extension and the length of the seat extension is increased relative to the minimum length.

[0018] - The adjustable part is selected from a set of housing elements of different lengths which can be fixed indifferently to the fixed part. Thus, the adjustable part can be long or short and adapt to the fixed part in an interchangeable manner without having to use a slide with a cylindrical part.

[0019] - The adjustable part is slidably mounted on the fixed part of the housing, the fixed part is partially or completely inserted into the housing, and the adjustable part can be fixed in a first retracted position or a second extended position, or in an intermediate position between the first position and the second position.

[0020] - The adjustable portion of the housing comprises a hollow volume common to the footrest area, the hollow volume being arranged to increase the length of the footrest area and / or to form and / or incorporate object storage space.

[0021] - The adjustable portion of the housing comprises an outer surface which is continuous with the outer surface of the fixed portion, the upper portions of said surfaces together forming a substantially flat and substantially horizontal surface for placing items, or for incorporating object storage space.

[0022] The invention also relates to a cabin in which each assembly comprises a seat and a seat extension, the seat extension forming a substantially horizontal surface through the conjugate movement of the seat and the backrest and being continuous with the footrest area of ​​the seat extension located in front of the seat, thereby being convertible into a berth.

[0023] The invention also relates to a seat assembly and an adjustable seat extension which is arranged transversely to the seat in a common structure.

[0024] The invention also relates to a method for arranging a cabin, in particular a cabin of an aircraft, comprising a plurality of seat-seat extension assemblies according to the invention. The seat extensions can be arranged identically for all seats or differently depending on whether the seat is located at the edge of an aisle, always in order to maintain a sufficient aisle width. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The present invention will be better understood by reading the following description and examining the accompanying drawings, which are intended to be indicative only and not limiting of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 1 : In a top view, a staggered row of seats convertible into berths according to the prior art has been cited, which seats include a bench such as a footrest extension.

[0027] Figure 2 : In side view, a seat convertible into a berth according to the prior art a) in chair position, b) in berth position.

[0028] Figure 3 : In a top view, according to the prior art, seats convertible into berths are arranged in a staggered manner in a cabin carrying passengers, thereby utilizing the free and undeveloped space between the seats.

[0029] Figure 4 : In top view, two consecutive seats in the same row, according to the prior art, a) have an optimal seat pitch, b) have an increased seat pitch.

[0030] Figure 5 : Adjustable seat extension according to the invention, according to a simplified axial longitudinal section.

[0031] Figure 6 : According to a simplified axial longitudinal section, the seat convertible into a berth according to the invention comprises a footrest extension. At the top, according to the length of the berth and the minimum spacing, and at the bottom, according to the increased length of the berth.

[0032] Figure 7 : According to a simplified axial longitudinal section, the seat convertible into a berth according to the invention comprises a footrest extension. At the top, according to the length of the berth and the minimum spacing, and at the bottom, according to the increased length of the berth.

[0033] Figure 8 : In a top view, an arrangement of a passenger cabin comprising a plurality of seats, said seats comprising seat extensions according to the invention, wherein the lengths of the seat extensions are different.

[0034] Fig. 9 : In a top view, an arrangement of a passenger compartment comprising a plurality of seats, said seats comprising seat extensions according to the invention, wherein the seat extensions have the same extension value. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] For the purpose of explanation, a forward direction will be considered, represented by an arrow oriented along the longitudinal axis X of the assembly in the drawings. The choice of a positive direction toward the front of the longitudinal axis X is arbitrary herein and is not to be considered a limitation of the present invention. However, unless otherwise indicated, the front and rear seats should be interpreted relative to the forward direction toward which an occupant seated in the seat is facing.

[0036] Figure 1 A staggered arrangement of seats convertible into berths in a cabin for carrying passengers is shown, the seats comprising an extension for feet, independent of the seats, placed in front of said seats, fixed to the floor in the form of a bench and enclosing a shell opening towards the rear. In this type of arrangement, each row of seats comprises a seat and a backrest of a seat next to the bench for the rear row of seats. The bench is enclosed in the shell so that the feet of the rear passenger do not interfere with the passenger whose chair is arranged next to it. In each row, the arrangement of chairs and benches alternates between left and right in a staggered manner in order to optimize the occupied space.

[0037] Figure 2A schematic diagram of the prior art is shown, in which a seat 10 convertible into a berth is surrounded by an environment 13 and a bench 20 is used as a footrest extension of the seat 10. The seat 10 comprises, relative to the floor, a seat 11 in a substantially horizontal position and a backrest in a substantially vertical position (detail a). The combined movement of the backrest and the seat allows positioning these two parts in a horizontal position, the height of which is substantially equal to the height of the footrest extension arranged in the continuity of the longitudinal axis of the seat (detail b). A horizontal surface comprising backrest, seat and footrest extension is thus obtained, allowing the passenger to lie comfortably during travel.

[0038] Arrangements including cabins (100) convertible into sleeping berths present special problems in terms of space optimization and accessibility to the corridors for passengers occupying common seats ( Figure 3 ). Therefore, the distance between two seats in the longitudinal direction is selected to allow, on the one hand, a berth configuration of the seats and, on the other hand, to maintain an aisle to the corridor or passage 50. The spacing P between two seats is therefore limited by the minimum distance required to allow the seats to adopt a berth position while at least being used to maintain the minimum width Lmin of the aisle required between two rows of seats. Figure 2 In the example shown, the spacing is measured in the longitudinal direction between reference points of the seat, for example, a point on the seat back 12 when the seat is in the upright position, and the same longitudinal point on the seat back of the next row of seats when the seat is in the upright position.

[0039] Figure 3 and Figure 4 It is shown that the free space 40 between two rows of seats (indicated by the shaded area in the figure) is not used for access to the passage 50, such as the space on the side of the wall 51, and the space arranged in the center of the cabin.

[0040] In particular, Figure 4 It is shown that the extension value ΔP of the pitch P (part b in the figure) not only increases the unused area and the shaded area, but also increases the aisle of ΔP, while its initial width meets the regulatory level.

[0041] Figure 5 The adjustable seat extension 200 according to the invention is shown in two positions, a first position (detail a) in which the length of the seat extension is minimal, and a second position (detail b) in which the length of the seat extension is increased relative to the first position. This change in length makes it possible to utilize free space 40 that is not used towards the passage 50 or does not have to take into account the minimum width of the aisle, while allowing a common structure to be used for all rows of seats when the seat pitch is changed.

[0042] The seat extension 200 according to the invention comprises a shell 300 having a front bottom and a rear opening defined by a hollow volume opening towards the rear and a footrest area 400. The footrest area 400 is placed at a certain height to form a substantially horizontal flat surface and continuous with the surface of the seat 10 in the sleeping position. The shell 300 of the seat extension 200 supports the footrest area 400 and determines its height relative to the floor. The shell 300 also at least partially encloses the footrest area 400 so as to physically separate the environment surrounding the feet and / or the legs of the passenger using the seat extension 200 from the passenger seat environment arranged next to the seat extension. The shell obviously has an opening of the footrest area suitable for receiving the feet and at least partially receives the legs of the passenger.

[0043] The structure of the shell 300 of the seat extension includes at least two parts: a rear fixed part 310, that is, the size of all seat extensions in the cabin layout is fixed and has the same structure, and a front adjustable part 320 according to the illustrated embodiment, which increases the length of the seat extension of the present invention relative to the fixed position of the fixed part.

[0044] In the present application, an "adjustable portion" is an adjustable portion 320 of the seat extension, such that the length of the seat extension can be selected within the authorized range during installation of the cabin layout. It will be understood from the description that the selection of the length of the seat extension can be made by implementing an adjustable portion of appropriate length, the adjustable portion being selected from a set of adjustable portions of different lengths, and / or more or less nesting the adjustable portion in the fixed portion during the cabin layout. The length of the seat extension is not adjustable when the passenger is using the seat, and the length remains constant when the seat is in the raised or lying position.

[0045] For example, the adjustable portion 320 has a first position ( Figure 5 -a) and at least one second position ( Figure 5 -b), offset longitudinally rearwardly relative to the invariant portion 310. In the first position ( Figure 5 -a) the adjustable portion 320 nests or retracts into the fixed portion 310 of the shell so that the footrest area has a shorter length than the seat extension 200.

[0046] In the at least one second position ( Figure 5 -b), the adjustable portion 320 is in an extended position relative to the fixed portion 310, and the length of the seat extension portion is increased relative to the first position in which the adjustable portion is inserted. Figure 5 -a) and 5-b), the adjustable portion indicated by the dotted line corresponds to another possible position besides the extended and retracted positions.

[0047] The adjustable portion 320 may be secured to the fixed portion 310 of the housing 300 directly into the first nested position, and / or the at least one second extended position, and if desired, in a plurality of intermediate positions between the first nested position and the second maximum extended position. In this embodiment of the invention, the adjustable portion 320 is telescopic relative to the fixed portion 310 of the housing 300 and allows for flexible changes in the configuration of the seat extension 200 by sliding in relation to the locking device in the desired position.

[0048] In another embodiment, the adjustable portion is formed from elements of different lengths that are interchangeable and indiscriminately secured to the fixed portion 310 .

[0049] Figure 6 An embodiment of the invention is shown in which an adjustable seat extension 200 is used as a footrest extension to form a berth configuration of a cabin seat. In order to increase the available length L1 of the seat 10 combined with the seat extension in the berth position, the adjustable part 320 of the seat extension has a hollow shape in the common part of its footrest area 400 to allow extension of this area in the extended position. In this embodiment the spacing between the seats remains constant and the adjustable part for seats located against a wall allows a free increase in the bed length L2 to be obtained so that it does not interfere with the seat structure located in front.

[0050] The seat extension 200 may also be used during an increase in the spacing between seats to best utilize the increase in the distance between seats. Figure 7 In the embodiment of the invention, the distance between the seats is increased by ΔP, for example to increase the overall comfort of the seats. This increase in the distance makes it possible to extend accordingly, which is combined with the extension of the distance. For example, if the length of the seat extension is also changed by ΔP, the total length of the sleeping surface will be L1+2*ΔP, thereby saving distance for increasing the distance between the seats while not hindering the width of the aisle between the seats.

[0051] The adjustable portion is preferably shaped to form a continuous surface with the outer surface of the fixed portion of the housing. Figure 5 and 6 ), so as to extend the surface of the shell upper side in this area. In another embodiment, the adjustable portion can be shaped to form and / or integrate new storage space on the side of the footrest area 400 or on the outer side opposite to the footrest area. In the latter case, the new storage space can be used by a passenger occupying a front seat whose seat extension is arranged in the same row as it. The upper surface of the adjustable portion 320 can also be shaped as a flat surface capable of supporting objects, which surface can be used by a passenger whose seat is arranged next to the seat extension.

[0052] The seat extension 200 can be placed in front of a seat to form a separate structure, or integrated transversely with the seat structure, the extension then being used by another seat located behind. According to the last option, an assembly can be designed, which includes a seat 10 and a seat extension 200, which is arranged transversely on the seat 10, in a common structure of the seat and the seat extension.

[0053] Figure 8 An example of an arrangement of a cabin for carrying passengers is shown, which comprises a plurality of seats 10 convertible into berths, each seat comprising a seat extension 200 adjustable according to the invention. In this arrangement, a plurality of seat assemblies - seat extensions are arranged in rows 110 parallel to the aisle 50 of the travelling cabin. The seats in the same row 110 are arranged at a pitch P and staggered so that the seat of the rear seat is laterally offset relative to the seat, the front seat is located in front of the rear seat in the row and in front of the seat extension adjacent to the front seat on the same side relative to the seat.

[0054] A space between a seatback of a front seat 10A and a surface in front of a seat extension 200A, the seatback being adjacent to a passage 50 and the surface being adjacent to the passage 50, together with the rear seat 10W, the rear seat being separated from the passage by the seat extension 200A, forming an aisle 41 with a width L, through which an occupant of the rear seat 10W can enter the rear seat from the passage (50).

[0055] Figure 8 The arrangement in is partially similar to that according to the prior art, such as Figure 1 The staggered arrangement shown, however, using the seat extension 200 according to the invention, allows the arrangement to be adjusted according to the seat in question. The adjustable portion of the seat extension 200W is on the side opposite the aisle, and in total the rear seats 10A are adjacent to the aisle, and the width L of the aisle (41) can be determined according to the pitch P of the seats to be equal to or greater than a predetermined minimum width Lmin.

[0056] exist Figure 8 In the arrangement, the adjustable part 320 of the seat extension 200W is shared with the rear seat 10A adjacent to the aisle 50, and the seat extension 200W is located on the side of the seat opposite to the aisle, which can be fixed on the fixed part 310 of the seat extension 200W, determining the space between the front seat back 10W and the front surface, and the seat extension 200W has a width LW, which is cut along a direction basically parallel to the aisle 50, which is less than the width L of the aisle 41 without limiting the aisle width to be observed.

[0057] Fig. 9 It is shown, in which the adjustable part 320 of the seat extension 200A, adjacent to the aisle and the shared rear seat 10W, is fixed to the fixed part 310 of the seat extension 200, for determining the width of the aisle 41 substantially equal to a predetermined minimum width Lmin, in the case of a seat installation pitch P allowed. This minimum width is actually obtained with an extension ΔP of the length between the opening and the bottom of the shell 300 relative to the minimum value of the length between the opening and the bottom of the shell, so that it maximizes the length of the berth, resulting in the conversion of the seat into a combination of a berth and a seat extension, following the minimum width Lmin of the aisle 41 for a given seat pitch P. This width ΔP also corresponds to the minimum width of the extension of the pitch P, which can be achieved without the extension of the seat extension 200A.

[0058] Alternatively, you can execute Fig. 9 , in which the adjustable portion of the seat extension 200W is fixed to the fixed portion 310 to obtain a width Lw substantially less than the minimum width Lmin. Thus, the length of the seat extension 200W can be increased so that it does not interfere with the seat structure in front of 10W and independently of the elongation value of the seat extension 200A chosen adjacent to the aisle.

[0059] Thus, the use of the seat extension according to the invention to arrange the passenger seat cabin has many advantages in terms of using the available free space between the seats to increase the comfort of the passengers, to increase the length of the bedding, as well as to add new storage space or surfaces such as bedside tables, etc. When the seats in the cabin are used, the width of the passage from one seat to the aisle remains unchanged, regardless of whether the rear seat is in a raised position or in a supine position. Thus, no moving elements are implemented in the seat extension for the use of the seats. As a result, the seat extension structure is lighter, simpler, more reliable and cheaper.

[0060] Furthermore, the change in the length of the adjustable seat extension allows, without modifying the existing seat structure, to limit the increase in the spacing between the seats required to increase the length of the bed. In fact, when the spacing P of the seats is increased by ΔP, extending the seat extension by the same value ΔP combines with the increase in spacing to provide a bed of length 2*ΔP.

[0061] From an industrial point of view, one advantage of the invention is the ability to standardize elements to fill spaces. The invention thus makes it possible to use the same structure for all seats of one cabin arrangement type (staggered) and to arrange the elements to be added on this common structure, namely the invariant part 310 of the shell 300 of the seat extension 200, to increase the length of said seat extension in an optimal way, by adjustment or interchangeability. Thus, customized arrangements can be specified without incurring significant costs of adaptation, conversion and qualification.

[0062] The seat extension according to the invention can therefore be adapted to the needs of different arrangements and passenger compartments with a single product line and the seat and the arrangement of the seat can be customized by means of the adjustable portion of the seat extension.

Claims

1. A cabin for carrying passengers, comprising a plurality of modules, wherein each module comprises a seat (10, 10A, 10W) ​​and an adjustable seat extension (200, 200A, 200W), the seats and the seat extensions being arranged in a staggered manner in the plurality of modules, wherein each of the adjustable seat extensions (200, 200A, 200W) comprises a shell (300) comprising a front bottom and a rear opening defined by a hollow volume opening towards the rear, and each of the adjustable seat extensions further comprising a footrest area (400) within the hollow volume, characterized in that: The housing of each seat extension comprises: - an invariant portion (310), said invariant portion (310) comprising a structure having fixed and equal dimensions for all said seat extensions of said plurality of assemblies, said each assembly comprising a seat and a seat extension being convertible into a berth, said one seat and a seat back forming by conjugate motion a horizontal surface continuous with a footrest area of ​​said seat extension, said seat extension being located in front of said seat, wherein said footrest area (400) is supported by the housing of said seat extension at an elevated height relative to the ground and wherein the height is equal to the height of the seat, and - an adjustable portion (320) located in front of the fixed portion (310), wherein each adjustable seat extension (200, 200A, 200W) includes a length between the rear opening and the front bottom of the shell (300), the length being adjusted by the fixed position of the adjustable portion (320) and the fixed portion (310) or a predetermined length of the adjustable portion when arranging the cabin, and characterized in that: when the seat extension is used by a passenger preparing to travel inside the cabin, the passage width of the passage (41) between the seats (10, 10A, 10W) ​​and the seat extensions (200, 200A, 200W) of the plurality of assemblies is maintained at a fixed width L.

2. A cabin according to claim 1, wherein: The length of the adjustable seat extension is adjustable so that the length can be fixed to a minimum length, a maximum length, and at least one intermediate length between the minimum length and the maximum length.

3. A cabin according to claim 2, wherein: The minimum length of the seat extension is substantially equal to the length of the unchanging portion.

4. The capsule according to claim 2, wherein: The adjustable portion (320) is movable between a first position and at least one second position. When in the first position, the adjustable portion is completely or partially retracted into the fixed portion (310) of the shell (300), so that the length of the seat extension is minimized. When in the second position, the adjustable portion (320) is completely or partially extended outward toward the seat extension (200, 200A, 200W), and the length of the seat extension is increased relative to the minimum length.

5. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein: At least one adjustable portion (320) of the adjustable seat extension of the plurality of assemblies including seats and seat extensions has a different length than other adjustable portions (320) of the adjustable seat extension of the plurality of assemblies.

6. A capsule according to any one of claims 4, wherein: The adjustable part (320) is slidably mounted on the fixed part (310) of the shell (300), the fixed part is partially or completely inserted into the shell, and the adjustable part can be fixed between the retracted first position or the extended second position, or fixed at an intermediate position between the first position and the second position.

7. A capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: The adjustable portion (320) of the housing (300) includes a hollow volume adjacent to the footrest area (400), the hollow volume being arranged to increase the length of the footrest area (400), and / or to form, and / or integrate object storage space.

8. A capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: The adjustable portion (320) of the housing (300) includes an outer surface that is continuous with the outer surface of the fixed portion (310), and the upper portion of the outer surface together forms a substantially flat and substantially horizontal surface for placing items or for integrating object storage space.

9. A capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: In a common configuration of seats and seat extensions, each of the seat extensions is arranged transversely to a seat, the seat extension being intended for use by the seat situated behind.

10. A capsule according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: - the seats of the plurality of assemblies are arranged in rows (110) parallel to the aisle (50) for the flow of people in the cabin; - two consecutive seats in the same row (110) are arranged at a pitch P and staggered so that the rear seat is laterally offset relative to the front seat, the front seat being located in front of the rear seat of the row and on the same side of the front seat relative to the seat extension adjacent to the front seat; - a space between a seatback of a front seat (10A) and a surface of a front portion of a seat extension (200A), the seatback being adjacent to an aisle (50), the surface being adjacent to the aisle (50), the seat extension (200A) being adjacent to a rear seat (10W), the rear seat being separated from the aisle by the seat extension (200A), forming a aisle (41) having a width L, through which an occupant of the rear seat (10W) can enter the rear seat from the aisle (50); - the adjustable portion (320) of the seat extension (200A) is fixed to the fixed portion (310) of the seat extension, and the width L of the passage (41) is equal to or greater than a predetermined minimum width Lmin according to the pitch P of the seats, wherein the seat extension (200A) is adjacent to an aisle and adjacent to a rear seat (10W).

11. The capsule according to claim 10, wherein: The adjustable portion (320) of the seat extension (200W) is fixed to the seat extension (200W) for defining a space of width LW between a seat back of a front seat (10W) and a surface in front of the seat extension (200W) in a direction generally parallel to the aisle (50), wherein the width LW is smaller than a width L of the passage (41), wherein the seat extension (200A) is adjacent to the aisle and adjacent to the rear seat (10W), and the seat extension (200W) is on a side of the seat opposite to the aisle.

12. The capsule of claim 10, wherein: The adjustable part (320) of the seat extension (200A) is fixed to the fixed part (310) of the seat extension (200) to determine the width of the passage (41) substantially equal to a predetermined minimum width Lmin, obtaining an extension ΔP of the length between the opening and the bottom of the shell (300) relative to the minimum value of the length between the opening and the bottom of the shell, so that it maximizes the length of the berth, the maximization of which is the result of the combination of the conversion of the seat into a berth and the seat extension, following the minimum width Lmin of the passage (41) for a given seat pitch P, wherein the seat extension (200A) is adjacent to the aisle and adjacent to the rear seat (10W).

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