Adjustable single axis tensioner for removable aircraft headrests

Abstract

The present invention relates to an adjustable single axis tensioner for a movable aircraft headrest. A headrest adjustment bracket surrounds a post from the headrest. A screw displaces one side of the bracket to apply friction to the headrest post. When the screw is tightened, a protrusion on the inner surface of the bracket near each post increases the surface area contact between the bracket and the post.

Description

Background Art

[0001] Adjustable headrests in aircraft are challenging to implement. Complex systems are prone to failure in the heavy use environment of an aircraft. In addition, existing headrest devices are bulky and expensive. It would be advantageous to have a lightweight, simple, and inexpensive aircraft headrest adjustment device. Summary of the invention

[0002] In one aspect, embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein are directed to a headrest adjustment bracket that surrounds a post from a headrest. A screw displaces one side of the bracket to apply friction to the headrest post.

[0003] In a further aspect, projections on the inner surface of the bracket proximate each strut increase the surface area contact between the bracket and the strut as the screws are tightened.

[0004] It should be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are only exemplary and illustrative and should not limit the scope of the claims. The accompanying drawings, which are included in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept disclosed herein and, together with the general description, serve to explain the principles. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] The various advantages of the embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein may be better understood by those skilled in the art by referring to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0006] Figure 1A shows a perspective view of a headrest tensioner according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0007] Figure 1B shows a bottom view of a headrest tensioner according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0008] Figure 2A An underside environmental view of an aircraft seat including an exemplary embodiment is shown; and

[0009] Figure 2B A rear environmental view of an aircraft seat including an exemplary embodiment is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] Before explaining in detail at least one embodiment of the inventive concept disclosed herein, it should be understood that the inventive concept is not limited to their application to the details of the construction set forth in the following description or shown in the accompanying drawings and the arrangement of components or steps or methods. In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the inventive concept, a number of specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the inventive concept. However, for those of ordinary skill in the art who benefit from the present disclosure, it is apparent that the inventive concept disclosed herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other cases, well-known features may not be described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the present disclosure. The inventive concept disclosed herein can have other embodiments or can be practiced or implemented in a variety of ways. Moreover, it will be understood that the wording and terms used herein are for descriptive purposes and should not be considered restrictive.

[0011] As used herein, a letter following a reference numeral is intended to refer to an embodiment of a feature or element that may be similar, but not necessarily identical, to a previously described element or feature displaying the same reference numeral (e.g., 1, 1a, 1b). Such simplified notation is used only for convenience and should not be construed as limiting the inventive concepts disclosed herein in any way unless expressly stated to the contrary.

[0012] Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, "or" refers to an inclusive or rather than an exclusive or. For example, condition A or B satisfies any of the following conditions: A is true (or exists) and B is false (or does not exist), A is false (or does not exist) and B is true (or exists), and both A and B are true (or exist).

[0013] In addition, "a" or "an" is used to describe the elements and components of the embodiments of the inventive concept. This is done only for convenience and to give a general meaning of the inventive concept, and "a" and "an" are intended to include one or at least one, and the singular also includes the plural, unless it is obvious that it means the opposite.

[0014] Finally, as used herein, any reference to "one embodiment" or "some embodiments" means that a particular element, feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the inventive concept disclosed herein. The phrase "in some embodiments" appearing in different places in the specification does not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment, and embodiments of the disclosed inventive concept may include any combination of one or more features expressly described or inherently present herein, or a subcombination of two or more such features, as well as any other features not necessarily expressly described or inherently present in this disclosure.

[0015] In general, embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein relate to a headrest adjustment bracket that surrounds a post from a headrest. A screw displaces one side of the bracket to apply friction to the headrest post. When the screw is tightened, a protrusion on the inner surface of the bracket near each post increases the surface area contact between the bracket and the post.

[0016] refer to Figure 1A-1B , showing a perspective view and a bottom view of a headrest tensioner bracket 100 according to an exemplary embodiment. The headrest tensioner bracket 100 includes a bracket body having a first side portion 108 and a second side portion 110 defining an internal gap. The bracket body defines two or more headrest pillar engagement portions 102, 104. The headrest pillar passes through the two or more headrest pillar engagement portions 102, 104 when disposed in an aircraft seat. The first side portion 108 of the bracket body can be displaced toward the second side portion 110 via the tensioning element 106. Such displacement tends to slightly reduce the size of the two or more headrest pillar engagement portions 102, 104 to generate tension in the corresponding headrest pillar.

[0017] In at least one embodiment, the tensioning element 106 may include a screw configured to pass through the first side portion 108 and threadedly engage the second side portion 110. Alternatively, the tensioning element 106 may be a bolt that passes completely through the first side portion 108 and the second side portion 110 and engages a nut. The tensioning element 106 is an adjustable member that allows the installer to set the tensioning element 106 according to the desired specification of the headrest resistance during installation to apply the desired tension or force to the headrest pillar by reducing the effective diameter of the headrest pillar engagement portions 102, 104.

[0018] In at least one embodiment, the support body defines a protrusion 112, 114 proximate each of the two or more headrest pillar engaging portions 102, 104. The protrusions 112, 114 increase the surface area contact between the interior surface of the two or more headrest pillar engaging portions 102, 104 and the corresponding headrest pillar. Such increased surface area enhances the effectiveness of the support body to generate tension and also distributes the load to reduce the risk of fatigue of the support body. The two or more headrest pillar engaging portions 102, 104 may be disposed on the first side portion 108 and / or the second side portion 110.

[0019] In at least one embodiment, the second side 110 of the bracket body may define two or more frame attachment portions configured to receive corresponding frame attachment elements 116 that affix the headrest tensioner bracket 100 to the interior surface of the aircraft seat frame. The attachment elements 116 may include bolts or rivets. In at least one embodiment, the second surface 110 may have a greater cross-sectional thickness than the first side 108 to control the mode of displacement (the first side 108 displaces toward the interior gap) and prevent excessive fatigue at the frame attachment portions.

[0020] refer to Figure 2A-2B , shows a bottom and rear environmental view of an aircraft seat 200 including an exemplary embodiment. The aircraft seat 200 includes a headrest tensioning bracket 202 that receives two or more headrest posts 204, 206 of a corresponding headrest 210 in corresponding headrest post engagement portions defined by the headrest tensioning bracket 202. A tensioning element 208 of the headrest tensioning bracket 202 may be tightened to compress the headrest tensioning bracket 202 to increase pressure on the headrest posts 204, 206 to create resistance to deployment and retraction of the headrest 210. In at least one embodiment, the tensioning element 208 may be set at the time of installation according to a desired level or resistance. The tensioning element 108 may then maintain that level of resistance throughout the service life of the aircraft seat 200.

[0021] In at least one embodiment, the headrest tensioning bracket 202 is disposed on a bottom interior surface of the aircraft seat frame 212 , opposite the headrest 210 .

[0022] In at least one embodiment, the headrest tensioning bracket 202 comprises a wear-resistant plastic; for example, nylon 66.

[0023] It is believed that the inventive concepts disclosed herein and their various attendant advantages will be understood through the foregoing description of the embodiments of the disclosed inventive concepts, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made to the form, construction, and arrangement of its components without departing from the general scope of the inventive concepts disclosed herein or sacrificing all of their necessary advantages; and that individual features from multiple embodiments may be combined to obtain other embodiments. In this article, the forms previously described are merely illustrative embodiments thereof, and the intent of the appended claims is to cover and include such changes. In addition, any feature disclosed with respect to any individual embodiment may be incorporated into any other embodiment.

Claims

1. An aircraft headrest adjustment bracket, comprising: a bracket body having a first side and a second side, the bracket body defining at least two headrest pillar engagement portions and an internal gap separating the first side and the second side; at least two projections disposed on an inner surface defining the inner gap, each of the projections being proximate to a corresponding headrest pillar engagement portion; as well as a tensioning element engaging the first side portion and the second side portion, The tensioning element is configured to displace the first side portion toward the second side portion to generate tension between the bracket body and a headrest pillar disposed within the headrest pillar engaging portion, and the at least two protrusions are configured to contact the headrest pillar when inserted into the headrest pillar engaging portion to increase surface area contact with the headrest pillar when the first side of the tensioning element is displaced toward the second side.

2. The aircraft headrest adjustment bracket according to claim 1, characterized in that: The tensioning element includes a screw configured to pass through the first side portion and threadingly engage the second side portion.

3. The aircraft headrest adjustment bracket according to claim 2, characterized in that: The second side defines two or more aircraft seat connection portions.

4. The aircraft headrest adjustment bracket according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second side portion has a greater cross-sectional thickness than the first side portion.

5. The aircraft headrest adjustment bracket according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The support body comprises nylon 66.

6. An aircraft seat, comprising: a headrest including at least two posts configured to engage a seat frame; as well as An aircraft headrest adjustment bracket disposed on an inner surface of the seat frame comprises: a bracket body having a first side and a second side, the bracket body defining at least two headrest pillar engagement portions and an internal gap separating the first side and the second side; at least two projections disposed on an inner surface defining the inner gap, each of the projections being proximate to a corresponding headrest pillar engaging portion; and a tensioning element engaging the first side portion and the second side portion, The tensioning element is configured to displace the first side portion toward the second side portion to generate tension between the bracket body and the headrest pillar when the headrest pillar is disposed within the headrest pillar engaging portion, and the at least two protrusions are configured to contact the headrest pillar when inserted into the headrest pillar engaging portion to increase surface area contact with the headrest pillar when the first side of the tensioning element is displaced toward the second side.

7. The aircraft seat according to claim 6, characterized in that: The at least two protrusions are disposed on an inner surface of the second side portion.

8. The aircraft seat according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that: The tensioning element includes a screw configured to pass through the first side portion and threadingly engage the second side portion.

9. The aircraft seat according to claim 8, characterized in that: The second side defines two or more aircraft seat connection portions.

10. The aircraft seat according to claim 9, characterized in that: The second side portion has a greater cross-sectional thickness than the first side portion.

11. An aircraft seat according to claim 6, 7, 9 or 10, characterized in that: The support body comprises nylon 66.

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