FURNITURE ELEMENT EQUIPPED WITH A NOISE-REDUCING COMPOSITE PANEL

Abstract

The present invention relates to a piece of furniture intended for installation in an aircraft cabin and comprising a composite panel (30) including: - a first skin (31), - a second skin (32), and - a central honeycomb core (33) disposed between the first skin (31) and the second skin (32), said central honeycomb core (33) having a plurality of cells (35), - at least one of the skins, either the first skin (31) or the second skin (32), having a plurality of through holes (36) so as to render said skin (31, 32) permeable to sound so that the cells (35) of the central honeycomb core (33) act as sound traps. Figure 2b

Description

Title of the invention: FURNITURE ELEMENT PROVIDED WITH A NOISE-ATTENUATING COMPOSITE PANEL

[0001] The present invention relates to a piece of furniture provided with a noise-reducing composite panel. The invention finds a particularly advantageous, but not exclusive, application with "business class" and "first class" type seating units in an aircraft cabin.

[0002] In a manner known per se, such a seat unit comprises a seat and a shell extending at least partly around the seat so as to delimit a space around the passenger. Such a configuration makes it possible to guarantee the privacy of the passenger on the seat.

[0003] The seat offers the passenger different comfort positions, from a "sitting" position to a "lying" position, in which the seat defines a substantially horizontal sleeping surface for the passenger to lie down. Intermediate comfort positions are also provided, such as the "relax" position in which a seat back is strongly inclined. Generally, these intermediate positions are obtained by the tilting of the pivoting back about a horizontal axis and perpendicular to an extension axis of the seat. The passenger can then remain on the seat during transitions between the different positions. The seat generally consists in particular of the back and a seat and is likely to include a leg rest and / or a foot rest, which may be fixed or linked to a kinematics of the seat.

[0004] Noise that may disturb passengers' rest is an important environmental concern to be taken into consideration when developing a seating unit. There is therefore a need to reduce the perception of noise inside an aircraft cabin in order to optimize the acoustic comfort of passengers without reducing their living space.

[0005] The invention aims to effectively meet this need by proposing a piece of furniture intended to be installed in an aircraft cabin and comprising a composite panel comprising:

[0006] - a first skin,

[0007] - a second skin, and

[0008] - a central honeycomb core arranged between the first plate and the second plate, said central alveolar core comprising a plurality of cells,

[0009] - at least one of the skins among the first skin and the second skin comprising a plurality of through holes so as to make said skin permeable to sound so that the cells of the central alveolar core act as sound traps.

[0010] The invention thus makes it possible, thanks to the production of through holes in the skin of the composite panel, to transform a standard honeycomb structure of the composite panel into a sound trap. Indeed, the through holes allow the passage of sound waves inside the cells of the honeycomb structure, so that after multiple reflections inside the cells, the noise intensity perceived by the passenger at seat level is greatly reduced.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, the first skin and the second skin each comprise several layers of glass fibers and / or carbon fibers covered with a resin.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the central cellular core is made of an aramid material, or of a metallic material, in particular aluminum.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, the through holes have a largest dimension of between 0.3mm and 10mm, and are preferably circular holes with a diameter of between 1.5mm and 2mm.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, a skin perforation rate is between 1% and 50%, and is preferably 10% to 15%.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the invention, said furniture element further comprises a covering cap or a decorative film made from a sound-permeable material.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, said furniture element further comprises a layer of flexible material.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the invention, said furniture element further comprises a support structure comprising removable or integrated fixing means for interfacing with the composite panel.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the invention, the layer of flexible material is arranged between the support structure and the covering cap or the decorative film.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the invention, the furniture element is constituted by a privacy shell intended to extend at least partly around a seat.

[0020] The present invention will be better understood and other characteristics and advantages will become apparent upon reading the detailed description which follows, comprising embodiments given by way of illustration with reference to the appended figures, presented as non-limiting examples, which may serve to complete the understanding of the present invention and the description of its embodiment and, where appropriate, contribute to its definition, in which:

[0021] [Fig.l] [Fig.l] is a perspective view of a seat unit according to the invention comprising a composite panel having a noise attenuating function;

[0022] [Fig.2a][Fig.2b] Figures 2a and 2b are respectively assembled perspective and exploded perspective views of a composite panel having a honeycomb structure;

[0023] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a front view of a skin of a composite panel according to the invention illustrating a specific distribution of the through holes made in the skin;

[0024] [Fig.4a][Fig.4e] Figures 4a to 4e illustrate different embodiments of a composite panel according to the present invention seen from the side.

[0025] It should be noted that the structural and / or functional elements common to the different embodiments have the same references. Thus, unless otherwise stated, such elements have identical structural, dimensional and material properties.

[0026] Furthermore, in the remainder of the description, the relative terms of the type "front", "rear", "horizontal", "vertical" are understood by reference to the common meaning that a passenger seated on a seat associated with the seat unit according to the invention would give them.

[0027] [Fig.l] shows a seat unit 10 comprising a seat 12 associated with a side console 13 extending along one side of the seat 12.

[0028] Furthermore, a shell 14, called a privacy shell, extends at least partly around the seat 12 so as to delimit a space around the passenger. The privacy shell 14 is made for example from a composite material. Such a configuration makes it possible to guarantee the privacy of the passenger seated on the seat 12. A video screen 16 of a multimedia system or IFE (for "Inflight Entertainment System" in English) may be installed on a rear part of the privacy shell 14 so as to be usable by a rear passenger.

[0029] The console 13 may include an upper wall 17 forming a table on which the passenger can place objects as well as a storage space 18 comprising one or more elements from a literature pocket, a bottle holder, or a minibar. The choice of storage is configurable according to the wishes of the airline. The console 13 may also include a reading light 19 intended to direct lighting towards the seat 12.

[0030] A cavity 21 is located under the upper wall 17. The cavity 21 is open laterally towards the seat 12. In addition, a horizontal face 22 of the console 13 corresponding to a lower face of the cavity 21a in particular serves as an armrest. For this purpose, the horizontal face 22 may locally have the shape of a curved cuff 23 matching the shape of a part of the passenger's arm.

[0031] The console 13 also includes a control unit 25 for the seat 12 and its ancillary components (called "PCU" for "Passenger Control Unit" in English). The control unit 25 allows the passenger in particular to control the selection of a position of the seat 12 as well as the ancillary components, such as a video system, a heating device, a lighting ambiance system or any other ancillary component that can be integrated into the seat 12.

[0032] The seat unit 10 may also conventionally comprise a meal tray 26 movable between a stored position (corresponding to that shown in [Fig.l]) in which the meal tray 26 is located inside a housing provided in the console 13 and a deployed position in which the meal tray 26 is located outside the housing to allow the passenger to place a meal tray there.

[0033] The seat 12 is advantageously provided with kinematics allowing it to be movable between a "seated" position, in which the seat 12 is configured to define a seated position of a passenger, and a "reclined" position, in which the seat 12 is configured to define a sleeping surface for the passenger, advantageously substantially horizontal. Intermediate comfort positions are also proposed, such as the "relaxed" position in which a backrest of the seat 12 is strongly inclined.

[0034] In order to allow the passenger to lie down, the console 13 includes a housing 27 seen through transparency in [Fig.l] in which an ottoman 28 is arranged. The ottoman 28 includes a horizontal face forming a footrest on which a rear passenger can place his feet when the seat 12 is in the "lying down" position.

[0035] The seat 12 comprises an extension axis XI defined by the intersection between a horizontal plane and a vertical median plane of the seat 12 corresponding to a plane of symmetry of the seat 12. The extension axis XI of the seat 12 may form a non-zero angle with respect to a direction parallel or coincident with a central axis of the aircraft X2. In this case, the seat 12 is turned in the direction of the axis X2. Alternatively, the seat 12 may be turned in a direction opposite to the axis X2.

[0036] Advantageously, the privacy shell 14 comprises at least one composite panel 30 shown in Figures 2a and 2b. Alternatively, the composite panel 30 may constitute at least in part a piece of furniture other than the privacy shell 14, such as for example the seat 12, the console 13, or the ottoman 28. In particular, the composite panel 30 may constitute at least part of the seat or the back of the seat 12. More generally, the invention may be implemented with any composite panel of a piece of furniture present in an aircraft cabin, including monuments arranged in the first row or in the last row. Thus, within the meaning of the invention, the furniture element comprising a composite panel can take the form of the seat 12, the privacy shell 14, the console 13, the ottoman 28, a monument, or any other furniture element present in the aircraft cabin (luggage rack, partition, or other).

[0037] The composite panel 30 comprises a front skin 31 intended to be located on the side of the seat 12 and a rear skin 32 intended to be located on the side opposite the seat 12. The front skin 31 and the rear skin 32 may take the form of a thin plate. The front skin 31 and the rear skin 32 each comprise several layers (or plies) of glass fibers and / or carbon fibers and / or fibers made in a other material suitable for the application. The fiber layers are covered with a thermoplastic or thermosetting resin. Alternatively, the front skin 31 and the rear skin 32 may be of the single-ply type. Alternatively, the front skin 31 and the rear skin 32 may be made of any other material suitable for the application, in particular a plastic, composite, or other material.

[0038] A central cellular core 33 is arranged between the first front skin 31 and the rear skin 32. The central cellular core 33 may be a honeycomb structure or any other type of cellular structure suitable for the application. The central cellular core 33 comprises a plurality of cells (or cells) 35. The central cellular core 33 is preferably made of an aramid material, in particular of the Nomex (registered trademark) type, or of a metallic material, in particular aluminum. Alternatively, the central core 33 may be made of a plastic material, a composite material, or any other material suitable for the application. The composite panel 30 may have a thickness of between 0.5 cm and 3 cm.

[0039] At least one of the skins among the front skin 31 and the rear skin 32 comprises a plurality of through holes 36 so as to make said skin permeable to sound so that the cells 35 of the central alveolar core 33 act as sound traps. In the embodiment of figures 2a and 2b, only the front skin 31 comprises through holes 36.

[0040] The through holes 36 preferably have a largest dimension of between 0.3mm and 10mm, and are preferably circular holes with a diameter of between 1.5mm and 2mm.

[0041] The through holes 36 may all have the same dimensions or be of different dimensions. Furthermore, the shape of the holes is not limited to a circular shape but to any possible geometric shape, such as a rectangular, square, triangular, oval, hexagonal, or other shape.

[0042] A perforation rate of the skin 31 or 32 corresponding to a ratio between making through holes 36 and making the total of the skin 31, 32 is between 1% and 50%, and is preferably 10% to 15%.

[0043] According to a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, for a composite panel 30 having a thickness of 1.27 cm (i.e. 0.5 inches), through holes 36 having a diameter of 1.5 mm are preferably produced at a performance rate of 10%.

[0044] The rear skin 32 may be perforated over its entire surface or only in dedicated areas, such as for example behind the support structure 47 described in more detail below.

[0045] Furthermore, the through holes 36 may be distributed homogeneously as shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b, randomly, or according to a predetermined perforation pattern, such as a hexagonal pattern as shown in FIG. [Fig.3].

[0046] As illustrated by [Fig.4a], the composite panel 30 is based on the Helmholtz principle of sound reflection inside the cavities delimited by the cells 35 of the honeycomb structure. Indeed, the through holes 36 allow the passage of the sound waves 39 inside the cavities delimited by the cells 36 of the honeycomb structure. After multiple reflections 40, the intensity of the sound wave 41 leaving the noise attenuating panel is greatly reduced. The noise perceived by the passenger at the seat 12 is thus lower. As the composite panel 30 of the shell 14 surrounds the passenger, this makes it possible to create a silent space around the passenger.

[0047] It should be noted that the composite panel 30 has been shown in Figures 2a and 4a as being planar in order to facilitate understanding of the invention. However, the composite panel 30 may have a curved shape so as to at least partially surround the seat 12 around which said composite panel 30 forming the privacy shell 14 extends. In order to obtain a composite panel 30 having the desired shape, a first stack of prepreg layers, i.e. layers of composite material consisting of a thermosetting resin or a thermoplastic polymer impregnating glass or carbon fibers, is placed inside a mold to form the skin 31 of composite material. The central cellular core 33 is then placed inside the mold. A second stack of prepreg layers is placed inside the mold to form the second skin 32 of composite material.The mold is then closed to ensure the shaping of the composite panel 30. The composite panel 30 is then placed inside an oven in order to polymerize the resin of the composite material. The through holes 36 of the skin 31 and / or the skin 32 may be made by drilling after the production of the composite panel 30. Depending on the method chosen to manufacture said panel 30, the perforations 36 may be made by drilling or milling for example on the molded part, or on one of the skins 31, 32 or both skins 31, 32 before molding and bonding with the honeycomb core 33. According to another method, the perforations 36 may be obtained at the same time as the molding / bonding operation.

[0048] In the embodiment of [Fig.4b], it is possible to add a covering cap or a decorative film 44 made of a sound-permeable material. The material of the covering cap or the decorative film 44 is chosen to give an aesthetic finish to the assembly. The covering cap or the decorative film 44 may, for example, be made of a material such as textile, leather, imitation leather, alcantara, a laminated material, or any other material suitable for the application. The material used may include a multitude of perforations or micro-perforations to facilitate the passage of sound through the covering cap or the decorative film 44.

[0049] The trim cover 44 may have decorative patterns on its visible parts. These decorative patterns may be personalized depending on the airline.

[0050] In the embodiment of [Fig.4c], a layer of flexible material 45 is arranged between the covering cap 44 and the composite panel 30. The layer of flexible material 45 is made of a material chosen in particular from: a fibrous material, a non-woven material, a wadding-based material, or a foam-based material or any other flexible material suitable for the application.

[0051] In the embodiment of [Fig.4d], a support structure 47 is further provided to be fixed to the composite panel 30. In this embodiment, the covering cap 44 is provided with a flap fixed against an edge of the support structure 47. The flap may be fixed to the support structure 47 by gluing, riveting, insertion into a retaining groove, or any other fixing technique suitable for the application with or without gluing.

[0052] The support structure 47 is advantageously made of a thermoformed plastic material or of a very high density foam material. The support structure 47 has a low thickness, for example between 1 mm and 3 mm. According to an exemplary implementation, a support structure 47 made of a thermoplastic material is used.

[0053] Furthermore, the support structure 47 comprises removable or integrated fixing means 48 for fixing the assembly "covering cover 44-layer of flexible material 45-support structure 47" on the composite panel 30. The fixing means 48 are thus intended to interface on the composite panel 30. The choice of the fixing means 48 depends in particular on the constraints of integration of the assembly and its positioning in the seat unit 10. In the case where the assembly is arranged in a visible zone of the seat unit 10, discreet fixing means 48 are preferably used which can be removed without the aid of a tool, such as for example snap-on devices, so-called "Velcro" fasteners (registered trademark) formed by complementary loops and hooks, press studs, magnetic fasteners, or any other fixing device adapted to the application.

[0054] In the case where the assembly is arranged in a non-visible area of ​​the seat unit 10, in particular a technical area located in the lower part of the seat unit 10, screws may be used to fix the support structure 47 to the composite panel 30 of the furniture element. Alternatively or in addition, it is also possible to use fir-tree pins or any other fixing means suitable for the application. This type of fixing means 48 makes it possible to guarantee the retention of the assembly in the context of certification tests during which significant decelerations are applied to the seat unit 10.

[0055] In the embodiment of [Fig.4e], the two skins 31, 32 of the composite panel 30 have through holes 36.

[0056] Of course, the various features, variants and / or embodiments of the present invention may be combined with each other in various combinations to the extent that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. Furthermore, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and provided solely by way of example. It encompasses various modifications, alternative forms and other variants that may be envisaged by those skilled in the art within the scope of the present invention and in particular all combinations of the various operating modes described above, which may be taken separately or in combination.

Claims

Claims

1. Furniture element intended to be installed in an aircraft cabin and comprising a composite panel (30), characterized in that said composite panel (30) comprises: - a first skin (31), - a second skin (32), and - a central honeycomb core (33) arranged between the first skin (31) and the second skin (32), said central honeycomb core (33) comprising a plurality of cells (35), - at least one of the skins among the first skin (31) and the second skin (32) comprising a plurality of through holes (36) so as to make said skin (31, 32) permeable to sound so that the cells (35) of the central honeycomb core (33) act as sound traps, said furniture element being able to take the form of a seat (12), a privacy shell (14), an ottoman (28), a monument or any other furniture element present in a cabin of plane.

2. Furniture element according to claim 1, characterized in that the first skin (31) and the second skin (32) each comprise several layers of glass fibers and / or carbon fibers covered with a resin.

3. Furniture element according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the central honeycomb core (33) is made of an aramid material, or of a metallic material, in particular aluminum.

4. Furniture element according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the through holes (36) have a largest dimension of between 0.3mm and 10mm, and are preferably circular holes with a diameter of between 1.5mm and 2mm.

5. Furniture element according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a perforation rate of the skin (31, 32) is between 1% and 50%, and is preferably 10% to 15%.

6. Furniture element according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said furniture element (14) further comprises a covering cap or a decorative film (44) made of a sound-permeable material.

7. Furniture element according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said furniture element (14) further comprises a layer of flexible material (45).

8. Furniture element according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said furniture element (14) further comprises a support structure (47) comprising removable or integrated fixing means (48) for interfacing with the composite panel (30).

9. Furniture element according to claims 6, 7, and 8, characterized in that the layer of flexible material (45) is arranged between the support structure (47) and the covering cap or decorative film (44).

10. Furniture element according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it is constituted by a privacy shell (14) intended to extend at least partly around a seat.

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