aircraft cabin

Abstract

An aircraft cabin (100) is disclosed. The aircraft cabin (100) includes a plurality of pairs of seat units (120) disposed along an aisle (101). Each aisle seat unit (122A) includes an aisle seat (125A) and an aisle footwell (126A), and each non-aisle seat unit (123A) includes a non-aisle seat (127A) and a non-aisle footwell (128A). The aisle seat units (122A) and non-aisle seat units (123A) are disposed relative to one another such that the aisle seats (125A) face a first end of the cabin (100) and can directly access the aisle (101), and the non-aisle seats (127A) face an opposite second end of the cabin (100). The aisle seat units (122A) are oriented at an angle relative to the non-aisle seat units (123A) to provide an aisle access path (129A) for the non-aisle seat units (123A) between the non-aisle seats (127A) and the aisle footwells (126A). The non-aisle footwells (128A) have a width that is less than a width of the non-aisle seats (127A), and the aisle seats (125A) are disposed directly adjacent to the non-aisle footwells (128A).

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present application relates to an aircraft cabin and to a kit of parts for forming such an aircraft cabin. Background of the Invention

[0003] Business class seats are generally designed to provide aircraft passengers with maximum comfort and privacy. However, the design of aircraft passenger seat units used for business class seats is constrained by the limited available space within the aircraft cabin.

[0004] WO2014 / 049362A1 and WO2011 / 141134A1 both disclose examples of aircraft cabin arrangements in which non-aisle seat units located away from the cabin aisle are provided with aisle access paths that do not pass through any adjacent seat units. A particular benefit of this type of arrangement is that passengers in non-aisle seat units can access the aisle without interfering with passengers in adjacent aisle seat units.

[0005] Increasing the packing density of seat units is highly desirable to airlines because an increase in the number of paying business class passengers that can be accommodated within a given aircraft cabin space can result in increased revenue.

[0006] Business class seats configurable as lie-flat beds are ideal for medium- and long-haul travel. Traditionally, wide-body aircraft have been used for such flights. However, narrow-body aircraft, which require single-aisle cabin layouts, are now also being used for medium-haul flights of approximately five hours. Consequently, both narrow-body and wide-body aircraft require high-density business class cabin layouts.

[0007] The present application seeks to alleviate the above-mentioned problems.Alternatively or additionally, the present application seeks to provide an improved aircraft cabin. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] According to a first aspect, the present application provides an aircraft cabin comprising a first aisle and a first plurality of pairs of seating units, the first plurality of pairs of seating units being positioned along a first side of the first aisle, each pair of seating units comprising a non-aisle seating unit and an aisle seating unit. The aisle seating unit comprises an aisle seat and an aisle footwell, and the non-aisle seating unit comprises a non-aisle seat and a non-aisle footwell. The aisle seating unit and the non-aisle seating unit are positioned relative to each other such that the aisle seat faces a first end of the cabin and has direct access to the aisle, the non-aisle seat faces an opposite second end of the cabin, and the aisle seating unit is oriented at an angle relative to the non-aisle seating unit to provide an aisle access path between the non-aisle seat and the aisle footwell for the non-aisle seating unit. The non-aisle footwell has a width that is smaller than the width of the non-aisle seat, and the aisle seat is positioned directly adjacent to the non-aisle footwell.

[0010] The present application provides a particularly space-saving cabin arrangement, wherein an aircraft cabin includes pairs of aisle and non-aisle seating units that are configured to create an aisle access path for the non-aisle seating units. Each pair of seating units is arranged head-to-foot, with their respective seats facing in opposite directions and spaced apart along the length of the cabin, such that the aisle seat and the non-aisle footwell are located at substantially the same position along the length of the aircraft cabin, and vice versa. The arrangement is identified as one in which, because the footwells of the seating units can be narrower than their seats, the aisle seat is positioned directly in the non-aisle footwell adjacent to the narrowest point of the non-aisle seating unit, allowing the overall width of the pair of seating units to be reduced. This particular arrangement also results in a reduced staggering of the aisle and non-aisle seating units, which results in a reduced overall lead distance between the pair of seating units. Thus, the present application provides a cabin arrangement in which space utilization is improved in both the length and width dimensions of the cabin. Furthermore, since the non-aisle seat unit is accessed from behind the non-aisle seat through the aisle access path, there is no direct line of sight from the non-aisle seat to the aisle when seated in the non-aisle seat. This configuration therefore results in enhanced privacy for the non-aisle seat passenger.

[0011] The aisle may extend along the length of the cabin. The cabin may include a longitudinal axis. The longitudinal axis of the cabin may extend centrally along the length of the cabin. The aisle may be substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cabin. The aisle may be a first aisle. The aisle may extend centrally along the length of the cabin. If the aircraft cabin includes two aisles, the aisles may be a port aisle or a starboard aisle.

[0012] The first end of the cabin may be one of the front or the rear of the cabin. The second end of the cabin may be the other of the front or the rear of the cabin. Each pair of seating units may be oriented in the same direction such that the aisle seats of each pair face the first end of the cabin and such that the non-aisle seats of each pair face the second end of the cabin. Alternatively, the orientation of one or more seating unit pairs may be reversed relative to one or more other seating unit pairs in the first plurality. For example, for a given seating unit pair, the aisle seat may face the front of the cabin and the non-aisle seating unit may face the rear of the cabin; while for another seating unit pair in the first plurality, the aisle seat may face the rear of the cabin and the non-aisle seating unit may face the front of the cabin.

[0013] The cabin may include a longitudinal axis extending along the length of the cabin. The first aisle may be substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cabin. The aisle seat unit may be oriented at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin. The non-aisle footwell and the aisle seat may be located at substantially the same position on the longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin. The aisle seat may be juxtaposed with the non-aisle footwell.

[0014] The non-aisle seat units can be oriented at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin. One factor that determines the pitch of the aircraft seat units is the length of the aircraft seat in its longest configuration. This can be, for example, when the seat is in a lie-flat configuration. Therefore, when designing the seat units, the pitch of the seat units is likely to be greatest when the seat faces the direction of travel (substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin). Therefore, by tilting the non-aisle seat units, a further reduction in the pitch of a given pair of seat units can be achieved.

[0015] The aisle seat may face the first aisle. The aisle seat may face a direction defining an aisle seat unit axis. The aisle seat unit axis may be oriented at an aisle seat unit angle of 16-20 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin. The non-aisle seat may face the first aisle. The non-aisle seat may face a direction defining a non-aisle seat unit axis. The non-aisle seat unit axis may be oriented at a non-aisle seat unit angle of 2-9 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin. The non-aisle seat unit axis may be oriented at an angle of 19-25 degrees relative to the aisle seat unit axis.

[0016] The aisle seat units and non-aisle seat units may overlap a seat unit pair axis. Each pair of aisle seat units and non-aisle seat units in the first plurality may overlap a single seat unit pair axis. The seat unit pair axis may be substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin.

[0017] The seat unit pair axis may pass through the non-aisle seat and the aisle seat of a pair of seat units in the first plurality of seat unit pairs. The seat unit pair axis may pass through the non-aisle seat and the aisle seat of each pair of seat units in the first plurality of seat unit pairs. The seat unit pair axis may be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin. A portion of the seat unit pair axis may pass through a pair of seat units. The length of the portion may be equal to the pitch of the seat unit pairs. The non-aisle seat unit may overlap the portion of the seat unit pair axis along 50%-90% of the length of the portion. The non-aisle seat unit may overlap the portion of the seat unit pair axis along 60%-80% of the length of the portion, or more preferably, 70%-80% of the length of the portion. The aisle seat unit may overlap the portion of the seat unit pair axis along 50%-10% of the length of the portion. The aisle seat unit may overlap the portion of the seat unit pair axis along 40%-20% of the length of the portion, or more preferably, 30%-20% of the length of the portion.

[0018] It is known to tilt the seats relative to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft to reduce the overall pitch of the seating units. However, tilting the seats in this manner increases the space used across the cabin width. This preferred arrangement recognizes that, due to the angled orientation of the seating units relative to one another, it is possible to improve packing efficiency across the width of the aircraft by arranging the seating units so that their seats are either intercepted by or overlap the seating unit axis.

[0019] Optionally, the aircraft cabin further comprises a second plurality of pairs of seating units arranged along a first aisle on a second side opposite the first aisle. The second plurality of seating units may have any of the features of the first plurality of seating units. The second plurality of pairs may be substantially identical to the first plurality of pairs. The second plurality of pairs may be mirror images of the first plurality of pairs. The second plurality of pairs may be arranged symmetrically about the longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin with the first plurality of pairs. The second plurality of pairs may be arranged symmetrically about the aisle with the first plurality of pairs. The second plurality of pairs may be rotated 180 degrees relative to the first plurality of pairs such that, for each of the second plurality of pairs, the aisle seat faces the second end of the cabin and the non-aisle seat faces the second end of the cabin.

[0020] Optionally, the aircraft cabin further comprises a second aisle, wherein the first aisle and the second aisle are positioned between the first plurality of pairs of seating units and the second plurality of pairs of seating units. The second aisle may extend along the length of the cabin, substantially parallel to the first aisle. The second aisle may be substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin.

[0021] Optionally, a third plurality of pairs of seating units are positioned between the first aisle and the second aisle, the third plurality of pairs of seating units being positioned along one of the first aisle or the second aisle, each pair of seating units comprising a non-aisle seating unit and an aisle seating unit. The aisle seating unit comprises an aisle seat and an aisle footwell, and the non-aisle seating unit comprises a non-aisle seat and a non-aisle footwell, wherein the width of the non-aisle footwell is smaller than the width of the non-aisle seat. The aisle seating unit and the non-aisle seating unit are positioned relative to each other such that the aisle seat faces a first end of the cabin and has direct access to one of the first or second aisles, the non-aisle seat faces an opposite second end of the cabin, the aisle seat is directly adjacent to the non-aisle footwell, and the aisle seating unit is oriented at an angle relative to the non-aisle seating unit to provide an aisle access path for the non-aisle seating unit between the non-aisle seat and the aisle footwell.

[0022] The third plurality of seating units may have any of the characteristics of the first plurality of seating units. The third plurality of seating units may be substantially identical to the first plurality of seating units. The third plurality of seating units may differ from the first plurality of seating units only in that aisle seating unit angles and / or non-aisle seating unit angles may differ from those of the first plurality of seating units.

[0023] The aisle seat unit angle of the third plurality of seat units may be different from the aisle seat unit angle of the first plurality of seat units. The non-aisle seat unit angle of the third plurality of seat units may be different from the non-aisle seat unit angle of the first plurality of seat units. The third plurality of seat units may include multiple groups of three seat units, each group of seat units including a first seat unit corresponding to the aisle seat of the seat unit pair, a second seat unit corresponding to the non-aisle seat of the seat unit pair, and a third seat unit. The third seat unit may be an aisle seat unit including an aisle seat and an aisle footwell. The third seat unit may be positioned relative to the first and second seat units such that the aisle seat of the third seat unit faces the first end of the cabin and has direct access to the other of the first and second aisles, the aisle seat of the third seat unit is positioned directly adjacent to the non-aisle footwell of the second seat unit, and the aisle footwell of the third seat unit is positioned directly adjacent to the non-aisle seat of the second seat unit.

[0024] The third seating unit may be arranged head-to-foot with a non-aisle seating unit in the seating unit pair. The footwell of the non-aisle seating unit may be directly adjacent to the seat of the third seating unit, and vice versa. The footwell of the non-aisle seating unit may be parallel to the seat of the third seating unit, and vice versa. Since an aisle-side access path is provided between the aisle seating unit and the non-aisle seat of the seating unit pair, no aisle access path is required, so the non-aisle seating unit and the third seating unit may be arranged in a space-saving manner with their respective seats and footwells directly adjacent to each other. In the event that the non-aisle seating unit is oriented at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin, the third seating unit may also be oriented at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin. The aisle seat of the third seating unit may face in a direction defining the axis of the third seating unit. The axis of the third seating unit may be oriented at an angle of 5-8 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin.

[0025] According to a second aspect, the present application provides a kit of parts suitable for forming an aircraft cabin according to any one of the preceding claims.

[0026] It will of course be understood that features described with respect to one aspect of the present application may be incorporated into other aspects of the present application. For example, a kit of parts of the present application may encompass any features described for the aircraft cabin of the present application, and vice versa. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Embodiments of the present application will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:

[0028] Figure 1 shows a plan view of an aircraft cabin according to a first embodiment of the present application;

[0029] Figure 2 is a plan view of a pair of outboard seat units of an aircraft cabin according to a first embodiment of the present application;

[0030] Figure 3 is a plan view of a group of three inboard seat units of an aircraft cabin according to a first embodiment of the present application; and

[0031] Figure 4 A plan view of an aircraft cabin according to a second embodiment of the application is shown. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0033] The plan view of an aircraft cabin 100 according to an embodiment of the present application is as follows Figure 1 The cabin 100 is a cabin of a wide-body aircraft, including Figure 1 The starboard wall 102 shown on the left and Figure 1The port wall 103 is shown on the right. Therefore, the front of the aircraft will be located at Figure 1 below the image shown, and the tail of the aircraft would therefore be located Figure 1 The cabin 100 includes: a plurality of pairs of starboard seating units 120 arranged in a row along the starboard side of the cabin 100 between the starboard wall 102 and the starboard aisle 101 of the cabin 100; a plurality of pairs of port seating units 140 arranged in a row along the port side of the cabin 100 between the port wall 103 and the port aisle 104 of the aircraft cabin 100; and a plurality of inboard seating units 160 arranged in a row centered along the length of the cabin 100 between the port and starboard aisles 101, 104. The inboard seating units 160 include a plurality of three-seat unit groups 161A, 161B, and 161C arranged in a row along the length of the cabin 100.

[0034] The port and starboard aisles 101, 104 extend along the length of the cabin 100 and are oriented substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis X of the aircraft cabin 100, which extends centrally along the length of the cabin 100. Figure 1 As shown, the starboard pairs of seat units 120 and the port pairs of seat units 140 are arranged symmetrically around the longitudinal axis X and are therefore essentially mirror images of each other, while each group of three seat units 161A, 161B, 161C of the inner plurality of seat units 160 are arranged asymmetrically around the longitudinal axis X of the cabin 100.

[0035] Since each of the starboard seat unit pairs 121A, 121B, 121C are arranged in substantially the same manner as each of the port seat unit pairs 141A, 141B, 141C, reference will now be made only to the port seat unit pairs 141A, 141B, 141C. Figure 2 The arrangement of the seat unit pair is illustrated in the figure, with the single pair of starboard seat units 121A depicted separately. Seat unit pair 121A consists of an aisle seat unit 122A, including an aisle seat 125A and an aisle footwell 126A, and a non-aisle seat unit 123A, including a non-aisle seat 127A and a non-aisle footwell 128A. The seats are configurable between an upright sitting position and a lie-flat bed configuration. In the lie-flat configuration, the seats' leg rests extend into their respective footwells. Aisle seat unit 122A is located adjacent to and has direct access to aisle 101, while non-aisle seat unit 123A is located adjacent to the starboard wall 102 of the aircraft cabin 100. Aisle seat unit 122A is thus positioned between non-aisle seat unit 123A and the starboard aisle 101.

[0036] The aisle seat unit 122A and non-aisle seat unit 123A of the pair 121A are positioned side-by-side in a "head-to-foot" configuration. The seats of the seating unit pair are spaced apart along the longitudinal axis X of the aircraft cabin 100 and face substantially opposite directions, with the aisle seat 125A facing the aft portion of the cabin 100 and the non-aisle seat 127A facing the forward portion of the cabin 100. The non-aisle footwell 128A is located at substantially the same position along the longitudinal axis X as the aisle seat 125A, while the aisle footwell 126A is located at substantially the same position along the longitudinal axis X as the non-aisle seat 127A.

[0037] The pitch of a seat unit is the distance along the longitudinal axis X of the aircraft cabin 100 between a given point on the seat unit and a corresponding point on a nearby seat unit located forward or aft. To reduce the pitch of the seat unit pair 120, the aisle and non-aisle seat units 122A and 123A are oriented at an angle to the longitudinal axis X of the aircraft cabin 100. The non-aisle seat 127A faces the direction defining the non-aisle seat unit axis Y2, which is oriented at a non-aisle seat unit angle α2 of 2.5 degrees to the longitudinal axis X of the cabin 100. The aisle seat 125A faces the direction defining the aisle seat unit axis Y1, which is oriented at an aisle seat unit angle α1 of 17.1 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the cabin 100. Thus, the angle between the aisle and non-aisle seat unit axes is 19.6 degrees. This arrangement results in an outboard seat unit pitch P1 of 201 centimeters.

[0038] Aisle seat unit 122A is positioned so that aisle seat 125A is directly adjacent to non-aisle footwell 128A, and due to the angle between the seat units, aisle footwell 126A is spaced apart from non-aisle seat 127A. The gap between aisle footwell 126A and non-aisle seat 127A provides an aisle access path 129A defining a passenger access path axis Y3, which is substantially parallel to aisle seat axis Y1. Consequently, passengers in non-aisle seat unit 123A can access aisle 101 without passing through aisle seat unit 122A. Furthermore, since non-aisle seat unit 123A is accessed from behind non-aisle seat 127A via access path 129A, there is no direct line of sight from non-aisle seat 127A to aisle 101 when seated in non-aisle seat 127A. Such a configuration therefore results in enhanced privacy for passengers of the non-aisle seat unit 123A.

[0039] The seat units 121A, 122A are angled relative to the longitudinal axis X of the aircraft cabin 100 to reduce their headway P1. However, rotating the seat units 122A, 123A in this manner increases the space occupied by the seat units 122A, 123A across the width of the cabin 100, which is measured substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X. To efficiently utilize the available space across the width of the aircraft cabin 100, the arrangement of each pair of aisle and non-aisle seat units 122A, 123A exploits the fact that, while the width of the non-aisle seat unit is dictated by the width W1 of the non-aisle seat 127A at the seat end of the seat unit, the non-aisle footwell 128A can be made with a smaller width W2 than the non-aisle seat 127A, allowing the footwell end of the non-aisle seat unit 123A to be made narrower.

[0040] like Figure 2 As can be seen in the figure, non-aisle seat unit 123A is narrowest at its footwell end, where the width of the seat unit is dictated by the width W2 of the non-aisle footwell 128A. To reduce the combined width of the aisle and non-aisle seat units 122A, 123A, the aisle seat 125A is positioned directly adjacent to the non-aisle footwell 128A. Thus, while the seat units 122A, 123A have been rotated away from the longitudinal axis X of the cabin 100 to reduce their pitch P1, the resulting increase in the width of the seat unit pair has been mitigated by moving the aisle seat 125A directly adjacent to the non-aisle footwell 128A, which corresponds to the narrowest portion of the non-aisle seat unit 123A. In this configuration, both the aisle seat unit 122A and the non-aisle seat unit 123A overlap the seat unit axis S, which in this embodiment of the present application is a simple straight line drawn through the cabin 100 that is parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the cabin 100. Figure 2 As shown, a portion of the seat pair axis S, which has a length L1, passes through seat pair 121A, and the length L1 is equal to the pitch P1 of seat pair 121A. Non-aisle seat unit 123A overlaps a portion of length L1 along a length Q1 of this portion, which is approximately 75% of length L1. Similarly, aisle seat unit 122A overlaps a portion of length L1 along a length Q2 of this portion, which is approximately 25% of length L1. In this configuration, the seat pair axis S also passes through both aisle seat 125A and non-aisle seat 127A.

[0041] A single set of three seat units 161A from the inner plurality of seat units 160, in Figure 3. It can be seen that the group of three seating units 161A includes a port aisle seating unit 162A located directly adjacent to the port aisle 104, a starboard aisle seating unit 170A located directly adjacent to the starboard aisle 101, and a central non-aisle seating unit 163A located between the port aisle seating unit 162A and the second non-aisle seating unit. The central non-aisle seating unit 163A and the port aisle seating unit 162A form a pair of seating units that are configured in substantially the same manner as the seating unit pair 120A described above with respect to the first plurality of seating units 120. Figure 3 The center non-aisle seat unit 163A and the port aisle seat unit 162A are Figure 2 The illustrated seating unit pair 120A shares common features and is therefore numbered with corresponding reference numerals, but with the prefix "16" rather than "12." For example, the starboard seating unit pair 121A includes an aisle seat footwell 126A, while the seating unit pair formed by the center non-aisle seat unit 163A and the port aisle seat unit 162A includes a port aisle footwell 166A.

[0042] As with the outboard pairs of seating units, center non-aisle seat unit 163A and port aisle seat unit 162A are arranged head-to-foot, with port aisle seat 165A facing the aft portion of cabin 100 and center non-aisle seat 167A facing the forward portion of cabin 100, such that center non-aisle footwell 128A is located substantially at the same position along longitudinal axis X as port aisle seat 165A, and vice versa. However, the arrangement of center non-aisle seat unit 163A and port aisle seat unit 162A differs from outboard pairs of seating units 120, 140 in that port aisle seat unit 162A is oriented at a port aisle seat unit angle θ1 of 12.1 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of cabin 100, while center non-aisle seat unit 163A is oriented at an angle θ2 of 8.6 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of aircraft cabin 100. Therefore, the angle between the port aisle seating unit axis Z1 and the center non-aisle seating unit axis Z2 is 20.7 degrees.

[0043] The starboard aisle seat unit 170A is arranged head-to-foot with the center non-aisle seat unit 163A, such that the starboard aisle seat unit 170A faces toward the rear of the aircraft, and the footwell 168A of the center non-aisle seat unit 163A is located at substantially the same position as the starboard aisle seat 175A along the longitudinal axis X, and vice versa. Because an aisle access path 169A for the center non-aisle seat 167A is provided between the center non-aisle seat 167A and the port aisle footwell 166A, the footwell 178A of the starboard aisle seat unit 170A is positioned directly adjacent to the center non-aisle seat 167A, and the footwell of the center non-aisle seat unit 167A 163A is positioned directly adjacent to the seat of the starboard aisle seat unit 170A, so as to efficiently utilize the available space across the width of the aircraft cabin 100. The arrangement is such that the starboard aisle seat 175A faces a direction defining a starboard aisle seat axis Z3, which is oriented at an angle θ3 of 7.2 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin 100. The pitch P2 of a group of three seat units 161A from the inboard plurality of seat units 160 so configured is 205 centimeters.

[0044] Figure 4 FIG2 shows a plan view of an aircraft cabin 200 according to a second embodiment of the present application. The cabin 200 is a cabin of a narrow-body aircraft and includes a plurality of pairs of seat units 221A, 221B, 221C arranged on the starboard side of the cabin 200 and a plurality of pairs of seat units 241A, 241B, 241C arranged on the port side along the opposite second side of the cabin 200. The cabin 200 has a single aisle 201 extending the length of the cabin 200 between the pairs of seat units 220, 240. Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the description of the first embodiment of the present application, the outboard seat units 221A, 221B, 221C, 241A, 241B, 241C are substantially identical to the corresponding starboard and port pairs of seat units 121A, 121B, 121C, 141A, 141B, 141C of the wide-body aircraft cabin 100.

[0045] Although the present application has been described and illustrated with reference to specific embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present application is adaptable to many different variations not specifically shown herein. By way of example only, some possible variations will now be described.

[0046] The aircraft cabin according to the third embodiment of the present application is substantially identical to the aircraft cabin according to the first embodiment of the present application. However, the orientation of the seat units is reversed, so that the non-aisle seats face the rear of the cabin and the aisle seats face the front of the cabin. This arrangement is similar to Figure 1The arrangement shown in is the same, but with the port wall on the left side of the drawing and the starboard wall on the right side of the drawing, so that the front of the aircraft would be above the drawing and the tail of the aircraft would be below the drawing.

[0047] The aircraft cabin according to the fourth embodiment of the present application is substantially identical to the aircraft cabin according to the first embodiment of the present application. However, the orientation of the seat units of the inboard plurality of seat units is reversed, such that the port and starboard aisle seats face the front of the cabin, while the center non-aisle seat faces the rear of the cabin.

[0048] The aircraft cabin according to the fifth embodiment of the present application is substantially identical to the aircraft cabin according to the second embodiment of the present application. However, the orientation of the starboard seat units is reversed, such that for the port seat units, the aisle seats face the aft portion of the cabin and the non-aisle seats face the front portion of the cabin; whereas for the starboard seat units, the non-aisle seats face the aft portion of the cabin and the aisle seats face the front portion of the cabin.

[0049] The aircraft cabin according to the sixth embodiment of the present application is substantially identical to the aircraft cabin according to the second embodiment of the present application. However, the orientation of the seat unit pairs alternates from pair to pair along the length of the cabin, such that for a given pair, the aisle seat faces the rear of the cabin, while the non-aisle seat faces the front of the cabin; and the seat unit pair immediately in front of or behind a given pair is oriented such that the aisle seat faces the front of the cabin, while the non-aisle seat faces the rear of the cabin.

[0050] In the foregoing description, when reference is made to wholes or elements having known, obvious or foreseeable equivalents, these equivalents are incorporated herein as if set forth separately. Reference should be made to the claims to determine the true scope of the present application, which should be interpreted as covering any such equivalents. The reader will also understand that wholes or features of the present application that are described as preferred, advantageous, convenient, etc. are optional and do not limit the scope of the independent claims. Furthermore, it should be understood that, although there may be possible benefits in some embodiments of the present application, such optional wholes or features may not be desired in other embodiments and therefore may not exist.

Claims

1. An aircraft cabin comprising a first aisle extending along a length of the aircraft cabin parallel to a longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin, and a first plurality of pairs of seat units arranged along the first aisle on a first side of the first aisle, each pair of seat units comprising a non-aisle seat unit and an aisle seat unit, wherein the aisle seating unit comprises an aisle seat and an aisle footwell, and the non-aisle seating unit comprises a non-aisle seat and a non-aisle footwell, and wherein the aisle seating unit and the non-aisle seating unit are positioned relative to each other such that: - the aisle seat faces towards a first end of the cabin in a direction defining an aisle seat unit axis, - the aisle seat can directly access the first aisle, - the non-aisle seat faces an opposite second end of the cabin in a direction defining a non-aisle seat unit axis, and - the non-aisle seat unit axis is oriented at an angle of 19-25 degrees relative to the aisle seat unit axis such that the aisle seat faces the first aisle to provide an aisle access path for the non-aisle seat unit between the non-aisle seat and the aisle footwell, and wherein a width of the non-aisle footwell is less than a width of the non-aisle seat, the aisle seat is positioned directly adjacent to the non-aisle footwell, and wherein the non-aisle seat unit axis is oriented at an angle of 2-9 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the cabin such that the non-aisle seat faces the first aisle. 2 . The aircraft cabin according to claim 1 , wherein the aisle seat unit axis is oriented at an angle of 16-20 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin.

3. An aircraft cabin according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the seating unit pair axis passes through both the non-aisle seats and the aisle seats of each pair of seating units of the first plurality of seating unit pairs.

4. The aircraft cabin according to claim 1 or 2 further includes a second plurality of pairs of seat units, which are arranged along the first aisle on an opposite second side of the first aisle, wherein the second plurality of pairs of seat units are identical to the first plurality of pairs of seat units.

5. The aircraft cabin according to claim 1 or 2 further includes a second aisle and a second plurality of pairs of seat units that are equivalent to the first plurality of pairs of seat units, wherein the second plurality of pairs of seat units are positioned along the second aisle, and wherein the first aisle and the second aisle are arranged between the first plurality of pairs of seat units and the second plurality of pairs of seat units.

6. The aircraft cabin of claim 5 , wherein a third plurality of pairs of seat units are located between the first aisle and the second aisle, the third plurality of pairs of seat units being positioned along one of the first aisle or the second aisle, each pair of seat units comprising a non-aisle seat unit and an aisle seat unit, wherein the aisle seat unit comprises an aisle seat and an aisle footwell, and the non-aisle seat unit comprises a non-aisle seat and a non-aisle footwell, wherein a width of the non-aisle footwell is smaller than a width of the non-aisle seat, and wherein the aisle seating unit and the non-aisle seating unit are positioned relative to each other such that: - the aisle seat faces the first end of the cabin and has direct access to one of the first or second aisles, - the non-aisle seat faces an opposite second end of the cabin, - the aisle seat is positioned directly adjacent to the non-aisle footwell, and - The aisle seating unit is oriented at an angle relative to the non-aisle seating unit to provide an aisle access path for the non-aisle seating unit between the non-aisle seat and the aisle footwell.

7. The aircraft cabin of claim 6, wherein the aisle seat unit angles of the third plurality of pairs of seat units differ from the aisle seat unit angles of the first plurality of pairs of seat units.

8. An aircraft cabin according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the non-aisle seat unit angles of the third plurality of pairs of seat units differ from the non-aisle seat unit angles of the first plurality of pairs of seat units.

9. An aircraft cabin according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the third plurality of pairs of seat units comprises a plurality of groups of three seat units, each group of seat units comprising a first seat unit corresponding to an aisle seat of the seat unit pair, a second seat unit corresponding to a non-aisle seat of the seat unit pair, and a third seat unit.

10. The aircraft cabin according to claim 9, wherein the third seat unit is an aisle seat unit comprising an aisle seat and an aisle footwell, and wherein the third seat unit is arranged relative to the first seat unit and the second seat unit such that: - an aisle seat of the third seating unit faces the first end of the cabin and has direct access to the other of the first aisle and the second aisle, - the aisle seat of the third seating unit is positioned directly adjacent to the non-aisle footwell of the second seating unit, and -The aisle footwell of the third seating unit is located directly adjacent to the non-aisle seat of the second seating unit.

11. The aircraft cabin of claim 10, wherein the aisle seat of the third seating unit faces in a direction defining a third seating unit axis, wherein the third seating unit axis is oriented at an angle of 5-8 degrees to a longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin.

Images