Sofa and compartment for passenger vehicle and passenger plane

Abstract

A sofa (10) and compartment for a passenger vehicle, such as an aircraft, the sofa (10) comprising a cushion portion (11), a backrest (12) and a structure (13) supporting them, said sofa being configured to be switchable between at least two positions, each having a total surface area usable by a passenger: a sitting position, a backrest position, and a structure (13) supporting them; wherein the backrest is vertical relative to the cushion part; in the lying position, the backrest is folded downwards to be in the same plane relative to the cushion part; the seat has a sufficient length (L11) to allow the passenger in the sitting position to fully extend their legs; in the sitting position, the backrest (12) is partially housed in a space (131) of the structure (13) below the cushion portion (11) such that the total usable surface area of the sitting position is smaller than the total usable surface area of the lying position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of passenger transportation vehicles, in particular to cabin assembly of aircraft, and more particularly to an aircraft sofa that can be converted into a bed. The sofa comprises a backrest that can be accommodated at a given height.

[0002] The present invention is directly, but not exclusively, applicable to the fitting out of premium class (business class or first class) passenger aircraft cabins. Background Art

[0003] In air transport, the comfort level required for premium passenger cabins (business and first class) should provide passengers with a comfortable choice of lying positions, especially on long-haul flights, and enable passengers to enjoy a certain degree of privacy from other passengers.

[0004] To meet this demand, airlines have adopted seats that convert into beds. These seats have been around for a long time and come in a variety of designs.

[0005] However, arranging a convertible seat is sometimes subject to constraints related to the seat's surroundings, available space utilization, and desired comfort level.

[0006] In practice, situations sometimes arise where the convertible seat is placed in a separate compartment (also called a passenger suite) and is equipped with other amenities or even additional seating units, with which the main seat must be able to work in different positions while complying with dimensional constraints. In particular, the seat must be able to provide the maximum reclining surface area in the bed position while allowing optimal access to the other amenities in any position.

[0007] In the most luxurious first-class cabins, airlines supplement their services by adjusting the space allocated to passengers to include as many supplementary entertainment services as possible, and / or by expanding this space to reduce the isolation effect, and / or by being able to arrange other additional furniture in it, such as benches or consoles that can serve as mini-bars. The desired goal, of course, is to enhance the passenger experience during the flight through greater comfort and increased sociability.

[0008] For example, patent FR3095190 held by the applicant describes a passenger suite comprising a convertible seating unit, a sofa, an additional seating unit, a console, and a sliding access door. The sofa comprises a first corner portion, a middle portion, and a second corner portion. The convertible seating unit and the additional seating unit are laterally adjacent to the first corner portion and the second corner portion, respectively, such that the seating units are opposite each other, and the middle portion of the sofa can be converted into a tray.

[0009] The passenger suite comprises a single screen positioned above the level of the backrests of the sofa and the additional seating unit, which is not convertible into a bed and therefore does not require the necessary length for its backrests. On the other hand, the backrests of the convertible seating units necessarily have a length that places them above the level of the screen situated opposite.

[0010] It is therefore not possible to arrange a second screen above the convertible seat unit (of the main passenger) intended for use by a person sitting opposite the main passenger while ensuring an optimal viewing comfort angle.

[0011] Another issue concerns the comfort level of the seat. Aircraft passenger seats are used for daytime flights, during which passengers want to work, eat, and / or relax, as well as for nighttime flights, during which passengers want to sleep. Ideally, such a seat should be able to provide comfortable postures for all of these activities while also conforming to the dimensional constraints associated with its surroundings.

[0012] Another issue concerns the displacement of the different parts of the seat during its transformation, resulting in non-functional spaces into which passengers could drop their personal belongings: the space behind the backrest, the gap between the seat cushion part and the backrest, etc.

[0013] Finally, in previous solutions, foldable parts are often used when it is necessary to limit the size of a certain part of the seat, such as the leg rest and the headrest.

[0014] However, folding the flexible portion always results in a stack that is thick, bulky, and unsightly.

[0015] refer to Figure 1 , document US2016052633 describes a passenger module intended for use in an aircraft cabin, comprising a seat F arranged facing a bench B that can be converted into a bed ("sofa bed" type). A screen is placed above the backrest of the bench, facing the seat F. Due to the limited space between the seat and the bench, the seat cannot be converted into a bed. Therefore, the solution proposes that the bench can be converted in the width direction so that its seat cushion part and backrest can each have a smaller width, but have a sufficient total width to form a lying surface. Summary of the Invention

[0016] The present invention aims to overcome all or part of the drawbacks of the prior art disclosed herein above by providing an ergonomic sofa solution that complies with the dimensional constraints in aircraft cabin arrangements.

[0017] One object of the present invention is therefore to provide a sofa with a specific kinematic mechanism that allows it to be transferred between its two positions (sitting position and lying position) despite dimensional constraints.

[0018] The specific kinematic mechanism described in the present invention is not mandatory. Other solutions can achieve the same technical effect with respect to complying with dimensional constraints.

[0019] Another object of the present invention is to provide an innovative alternative to existing arrangements.

[0020] To this end, the present invention relates to a sofa for passenger transportation, such as an aircraft, comprising a seat portion, a backrest, and a structure supporting the seat portion, the sofa being configured to be convertible between at least two positions, each position having a total surface area usable by a passenger: a sitting position in which the backrest is upright relative to the seat portion; and a reclining position in which the backrest is folded down to lie in the same plane relative to the seat portion; the seat portion being of sufficient length to allow a passenger in the sitting position to fully extend their legs. This sofa is notable in that, in the sitting position, the backrest is partially accommodated in the space of the structure below the seat portion, such that the total surface area usable in the sitting position is less than that in the reclining position.

[0021] Thus, when the sofa is in the sitting position, a portion of the backrest "disappears" under the seat portion, allowing it to be accommodated at limited heights, such as under an ideally positioned screen. When the sofa is in the lying position, the backrest returns to its full length, giving the passenger a maximum lying surface area.

[0022] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the support structure is movably mounted for longitudinal translation, thereby driving the cushion part and the backrest therewith, and the backrest is mounted both for translation in its own longitudinal direction (when it is upright in the sitting position) and for rotation about a transverse axis situated at the connection between the cushion part and the backrest.

[0023] The structural translation moves the entire sofa parallel to the floor on which it is installed so as to allow clearance for the backrest, in particular with respect to the screen to be positioned directly above it, and so as to translate said backrest upwards to initiate its transfer to the lying position.

[0024] This particular kinematic mechanism thus avoids any folding of the flexible surface of the sofa.

[0025] More specifically, the translational movement of the structure for moving the sofa forward and backward, the separate translational movement for raising and lowering the backrest, and the rotational movement for folding down and erecting the backrest are independent, and the sofa includes actuators for each of these movements, in other words, one actuator for each movement.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the rotational movement of the backrest is performed by means of a circular toothed rack which connects the backrest to the structure and enables an offset of the rotational axis of the backrest at its connection to the seat cushion part.

[0027] The axis of rotation is therefore a notional axis which merges with the transverse connecting line between the seat cushion part and the backrest.

[0028] According to a preferred embodiment, the length of the backrest is smaller than the length of the seat cushion portion, thereby giving the sofa a reclining shape that is suitable for a passenger to relax with the legs fully extended.

[0029] According to one aspect of the invention, the seat cushion portion and the backrest respectively comprise a rear side and a front side, which are intended to be adjacent when the sofa is in the lying position, and the rear side and the front side are respectively inclined at an angle less than 90° relative to the top surface of the seat cushion portion and at an angle greater than 90° relative to the top surface of the backrest, the sum of these two angles being equal to 180°.

[0030] This optimises the connection to minimise any gap that could arise between the seat cushion section and the backrest, through which a passenger's personal items could fall.

[0031] The invention also relates to a compartment for a passenger vehicle, such as an airplane, comprising at least one amenity console (storage, minibar, beverage tray, etc.) and a display screen, and also comprising a sofa as described above, the screen being located above the backrest of the sofa.

[0032] According to a basic aspect of the invention, when the sofa is in the sitting position, the screen is located at a height from the seat portion that is less than the length of the backrest, the excess length of the backrest being accommodated under the seat portion, partly in the space provided in the structure.

[0033] In fact, the position of the screen is set for the visual comfort of the passengers sitting in the additional seating unit opposite the sofa.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the compartment further comprises an additional seat, which is placed opposite to the sofa.

[0035] Finally, the invention also relates to a passenger aircraft comprising at least one compartment as described above.

[0036] While the basic concepts of the invention have been disclosed above in their most basic form, further details and features will become apparent upon reading the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which show, by way of non-limiting example, embodiments of a convertible airplane sofa in accordance with the principles of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] The accompanying drawings are provided purely for a better understanding of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Individual elements may be shown schematically and are not necessarily drawn to scale. Throughout the entire set of drawings, identical or equivalent elements have the same reference numerals.

[0038] Therefore, it is shown in the following figures:

[0039] Figure 1 : (cited) prior art arrangement having a compartment including a convertible bench and seat;

[0040] Figure 2 : A perspective view of a sofa according to one embodiment of the present invention, the sofa being placed in a first-class compartment of an airplane;

[0041] Figure 3a : Top perspective view of the sofa in a sitting position;

[0042] Figure 3b : A top perspective view of the sofa in a reclining position, relative to Figure 3a In an inverted direction;

[0043] Figure 4 : Side view of the sofa in its two positions: sitting position (a) and lying position (b), showing the size constraints of the surrounding environment;

[0044] Figure 5a : Sofa in sitting position, at the start of the transition;

[0045] Figure 5b : After the sofa has been translated as a whole for the first time to move the backrest away from the screen above it;

[0046] Figure 5c : A sofa with a backrest that moves upwards;

[0047] Figure 5d : sofa during overall translation and rotation of the backrest;

[0048] Figure 5e :exist Figure 5d The position of the sofa after the position;

[0049] Figure 5f :exist Figure 5e The position of the sofa after the position;

[0050] Figure 5g : The sofa with translation completed and backrest rotated;

[0051] Figure 5h :exist Figure 5g The position of the sofa after the position;

[0052] Figure 5i : sofa in final lying position, at the end of the transformation;

[0053] Figure 6 : Detailed view of the connection between the seat cushion and the backrest when the sofa is in the sitting position (a) and lying position (b);

[0054] Figure 7 : Superposition of the sitting position, lying position and intermediate transition position (in which the backrest is raised);

[0055] Figure 8 : Partial layout of a cabin with compartments according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0056] It should be noted that certain technical elements well known to those skilled in the art are reviewed herein to avoid any deficiencies or ambiguities in understanding the present invention.

[0057] In the embodiments described below, reference is made to a convertible seat, in particular its kinematic mechanism, which is primarily intended to be arranged within the dimensional constraints of a premium cabin aircraft compartment. This non-limiting example is given for a better understanding of the invention and does not exclude the use of the seat in other passenger vehicles providing the required level of comfort.

[0058] In the following description, the term "convertible" refers to the ability of a passenger seat to be configured in at least two functional positions: a sitting position, in which a passenger can sit normally; and a reclining position, in which a passenger can fully recline. The term "compartment" refers to a private space within the passenger cabin that is configured to accommodate one or more passenger seating units. This space may include specific features, such as storage, comfort, and entertainment facilities designed to provide passengers with comfort.

[0059] Figure 2 A passenger compartment 100 is shown that includes a first convertible seat 10 (or sofa) and a second, different convertible seat 20 arranged opposite the first convertible seat 10. Unlike the second seat 20 of conventional design, the sofa 10 includes an extra-long cushion portion 11 to allow the passenger to assume a "relaxed" position with the passenger's legs fully extended along the cushion portion.

[0060] The sofa 10 includes a backrest 12 against which an occupant can lean when in a "relaxed" position.

[0061] The sofa 10 comprises a structure 13 supporting a seat cushion portion 11 and a backrest 12 , said structure being attachable to the floor in a sliding manner.

[0062] The sofa 10 is convertible into a bed and, for this purpose, has two positions: a sitting position, referred to in industry jargon as an upright position, in which the passenger sits with his legs extended due to the larger size of the cushion portion 11, which gives the sofa 10 a recliner shape; and a lying position, in which the cushion portion 11 and the backrest 12 are substantially coplanar, along a plane roughly parallel to the aircraft floor.

[0063] Figure 3a and Figure 3b The sofa 10 is shown in a sitting position and a lying position, respectively.

[0064] The seat portion 11 and backrest 12 of the sofa 10 are sized to occupy all available space in front of the second seat 20 when the sofa 10 is in the reclining position.

[0065] More specifically, when the sofa 10 is in a sitting position, as shown in FIG. Figure 2 As shown, the remaining distance D between the front edge of the cushion portion 11 and the console 25 associated with the second seat 20 is such that the sofa is in the position shown in FIG. Figure 3b The lying position shown is almost completely covered.

[0066] When the sofa 10 is in the lying position, the empty space extending along the distance D is filled by the cushion portion 11 of the sofa 10. For this purpose, and taking into account the length L of the cushion portion 11 11 , the backrest 12 must have a sufficient length L 12 , so that the backrest and seat cushion parts occupy all available space when in the lying position.

[0067] Since the length L of the backrest 12 12 is determined, so that the backrest 12 is configured to be accommodated under a screen 30 fixed at a height H from the floor. The height H separates the aircraft floor and the underside of the screen 30, which has a regular rectangular shape.

[0068] In practice, in the specific industrial context of the present invention, the height H and the distance D of the screen are set. Therefore, the sofa 10 is designed to move within its two dimensional constraints. On the one hand, the sofa 10 must be able to occupy all the available space in front of the second seat 20 in order to ensure as large a lying surface area as possible. On the other hand, the backrest 12 of the sofa 10 (which has the length required for the first function) must be able to be accommodated under the screen 30 when the sofa 10 is in the sitting position without the backrest obstructing any part of the screen for the passenger of the seat 20 facing it, given the length L of the backrest 12. 12 Significantly greater than the remaining height Hr existing between the top surface of the cushion portion 11 and the bottom side of the screen 30, as shown in FIG. Figure 4 shown.

[0069] pass Figure 4 It can be seen that the sofa 10 has different dimensional constraints in the two positions.

[0070] exist Figure 4 In (a), the sofa 10 is in a sitting position. In this position, the screen 30 is at a residual height Hr relative to the backrest 11. The residual height Hr is significantly less than the length L of the backrest 12. 12 Thus, the backrest 12 is partially housed under the seat cushion 11 so as not to be located in front of the screen 30. More specifically, the bottom portion of the backrest 12 is positioned in the space 131 provided at the rear of the structure 13. Thus, the top side of the backrest 12 reaches just below the screen 30, almost flush with the bottom side of said screen.

[0071] Therefore, in the sitting position of the sofa 10, a portion of the backrest 12 is located below the top surface of the cushion portion 11, said portion being along a line equal to the difference (L 12 This difference is greater than the thickness of the cushion portion 11 , so a space 131 needs to be provided in the body of the structure 13 .

[0072] exist Figure 4 In (b), the sofa 10 is in the lying position after being fully transformed. In this position, the top surfaces of the cushion portion 11 and the backrest 12 are in the same plane, so that the lying surface formed occupies the entire available space between the wall to which the screen 30 is fixed and the console 25 of the second seat 20. In the longitudinal direction of the lying surface, the available space is approximately equal to the sum of the lengths (L) of the cushion portion 11 and the backrest 12. 11 +L 12 ) distance extension, such as Figure 4 shown.

[0073] As described below, the sofa 10 moves from the sitting position (a) to the lying position (b) by a specific movement mechanism in which the cushion portion 11 moves forward and the backrest 12 moves upward to clear a space 131 and then folds downward horizontally.

[0074] Figures 5a to 5i Shown is a sitting position of the sofa 10 (eg Figure 5a as shown) and its lying position (as shown) Figure 5i ) between successive steps.

[0075] like Figure 5a and Figure 5b As shown, the sofa 10 is first moved forward as a whole parallel to the floor. This translation continues until the backrest 12 is sufficiently clear of the screen 30 so that it can move upward.

[0076] Figure 5cThe backrest 12 is shown moved upwards, thereby reaching the seat cushion part 11 via its underside. In this step, the backrest 12 temporarily passes in front of the screen 30.

[0077] Then, Figure 5d It is shown that as the entire sofa 10 continues to move forward, the backrest 12 begins to rotate.

[0078] This combined motion (translation of the sofa 10 and rotation of the backrest 12) is as follows Figure 5e and Figure 5f As shown, this is done gradually and continuously until the cushion portion 11 reaches its final position, as shown in FIG. Figure 5g shown.

[0079] The rotation of the backrest 12 is carried out by means of a circular rack 15 which makes it possible to offset the axis of rotation of the backrest on the connecting line J between the cushion part 11 and the backrest 12. In fact, the rack 15 is fixed between the backrest 12 and the structure 13 and makes it possible to rotate said backrest about a nominal axis merging with the connecting line J, so that no play is generated during the rotation of the backrest.

[0080] When the seat cushion part 11 is in its final lying position, only the backrest 12 continues its rotation to be fully transferred and aligned with the seat cushion part, thereby forming a lying surface.

[0081] The final rotation phase of the backrest 12 (the seat part 11 is stationary in its final position) is as follows: Figure 5g to Figure 5i shown.

[0082] at last, Figure 5i The final configuration of the sofa 10 in the lying position is shown, wherein the top surfaces of the seat cushion portion 11 and the backrest 12 are substantially coplanar and moved closer to each other so as to prevent a gap at the connection line J.

[0083] In fact, the improvement of the connection between the cushion part 11 and the backrest 12 is achieved by means of the specific shape of their sides intended to come into contact when the sofa 10 is in the lying position.

[0084] Figure 6 The connection between the seat portion 11 and the backrest 12 of the sofa 10 is shown in an intermediate position (a) and in a lying position (b) during conversion of the sofa.

[0085] The rear side and top surface of the cushion portion 11 are indicated by planes 111 and 112, respectively. Similarly, the front side and top surface of the backrest 12 are indicated by planes 121 and 122, respectively.

[0086] The front side 121 of the backrest 12 is intended to be in contact with the rear side 111 of the seat portion 11 when the sofa is in the lying position. Figure 6As shown in (b).

[0087] In order to limit the gap at the connection, the front side 121 of the backrest 12 is inclined at a positive angle relative to the top side 122 of the backrest. 12 On the other hand, the rear side surface 111 of the cushion portion 11 is inclined at a negative angle relative to the top surface 112 of the cushion portion, and the angle A 11 Less than 90°.

[0088] In order for the sides 111 and 121 to fit perfectly together in the reclining position of the sofa 10, the angle A 11 and A 12 The sum of is equal to 180°. This can be Figure 6 The structure of (b) can be seen.

[0089] During its transition from a sitting position to a lying position or vice versa, the sofa performs a translational movement of the structure 13 to move the entire sofa forwards and backwards, a separate translational movement of the backrest 12 to raise and lower it, and a rotational movement of said backrest to fold it down and erect it.

[0090] These three motions are independent of each other, and sofa 10 includes a separate actuator for each motion.

[0091] Figure 7 The superimposed end positions of the sofa 10 are shown: a sitting position and a lying position as well as an intermediate conversion position (in which the backrest is raised). This shows that, due to the movement mechanism described herein above, the sofa 10 has a compact design and can be converted in a small space.

[0092] Figure 8 A partial layout or passenger arrangement (LOPA) of an aircraft 1000 is shown, which includes several compartments 100. According to the exemplary embodiment shown, the aircraft includes two lateral compartments separated by two adjacent central compartments.

[0093] It will be apparent from this description that certain non-essential elements of the sofa may be modified, substituted or removed without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A sofa (10) for passenger transportation, such as an airplane, comprising a cushion portion (11), a length (L 12 ) and a structure (13) supporting them, the sofa being configured to be convertible between at least two positions, each position having a maximum available surface area for use by a passenger: a sitting position in which the backrest is upright relative to the seat cushion portion; and a lying position in which the backrest is folded down to be in the same plane relative to the seat cushion portion; the seat cushion portion having a sufficient length (L 11 ) to allow a passenger in the sitting position to fully extend his legs, the sofa being characterized in that: in the sitting position, the backrest (12) is partially accommodated in the space (131) of the structure (13) below the cushion portion (11), so that the maximum available surface area of ​​the sitting position is smaller than the maximum available surface area of ​​the lying position, wherein, The structure (13) is movably mounted to translate in the longitudinal direction, thereby driving the seat cushion part (11) and the backrest (12) to move therewith, and wherein the backrest is mounted so that it can translate in its own longitudinal direction when the sitting position is vertical, and can rotate about a transverse axis located at the connection (J) between the seat cushion part (11) and the backrest (12).

2. The sofa according to claim 1, characterized in that: The translational movement of the structure (13) for moving the sofa forward and backward, the separate translational movement for raising and lowering the backrest (12), and the rotational movement for folding down and erecting the backrest are independent, and the sofa includes an actuator for each movement.

3. The sofa according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The rotational movement of the backrest (12) is carried out by means of a circular rack (15) which connects the backrest to the structure (13) and enables the axis of rotation of the backrest to be offset at the connection (J) of the backrest to the cushion part (11).

4. A sofa according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The length (L) of the backrest (12) 12 ) is smaller than the length (L) of the cushion portion (11) 11 ), thereby giving the sofa recliner its shape.

5. The sofa according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The seat cushion portion (11) and the backrest (12) respectively comprise a rear side surface (111) and a front side surface (121), the rear side surface (111) and the front side surface (121) being intended to be adjacent when the sofa is in the lying position, the rear side surface and the front side surface being respectively angled with respect to the top surface (112) of the seat cushion portion at an angle (A) less than 90°. 11 ) is inclined, and is inclined at an angle (A) greater than 90° relative to the top surface (122) of the backrest 12 ) is tilted, the sum of these two angles is equal to 180°.

6. A compartment (100) for a passenger vehicle, such as an airplane, comprising at least one facility control console (15) and a screen (30), and characterized in that: It comprises a sofa (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, the screen being located above the backrest (12).

7. The compartment according to claim 6, characterized in that When the sofa (10) is in a sitting position, the screen (30) is located at a height (Hr) from the cushion portion (11), the height being less than the length (L) of the backrest (12). 12 ), the excess length of the backrest is accommodated under the seat cushion part.

8. The compartment according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that The compartment further comprises an additional seat (20), and the additional seat (20) is placed opposite to the sofa (10).

9. A passenger aircraft (1000), characterized in that: It comprises at least one compartment (100) according to any one of claims 6 to 8.

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