A seat device

Abstract

A seat device, such as for an aircraft, comprises armrests 7, a seatback 1, a seatpad 13 and a frame 16. The seatpad is arranged to move from a first seating position where it extends horizontally fro

Description

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a seat device, in particular a device enabling a plurality of positions or configurations within a seating area; more particularly but not exclusively a seat device for aircraft. Background In many societies it is increasingly common to fly. Flying long distances in particular can be problematic for many people. Extended periods of time in a single position can be tiring and unwise for a human body, however often there is little available space for movement, even in the surrounding parts of the aeroplane. Prior Art GB 2018 17 722 (CLEMENT et al) discloses an aircraft passenger seat comprising a seat pan and a back rest in which the pan is moveable between a deployed position in which the seat pan occupies a first space and wherein a passenger can sit on the seat pan, and a stowed position in which the seat pan is moved out of the first space such that a passenger can stand in the first space and the back rest is moveable between an upright position and a reclined position such that the back rest may be able to recline to a position parallel to the seat pan to form a bed configuration. EP 3 023 329 (MORSICANI et al) discloses a displacement system for a seat, in particular an airplane seat, said seat comprising a sitting portion, a backrest and a legrest, said displacement system changing between a sitting configuration and a cradle configuration so that in said first configuration said second plane is inclined with respect to said first plane by a first angle substantially of 180°, and in said at least a second configuration is inclined by a second angle positive and smaller than 180°. EP 2 814 690 (LEE) discloses a convertible seating unit including at least a nonconvertible seat with a back and a bottom wherein said back and said bottom are positionable in a space relative to each other in a first configuration to form a passenger seat such that said back and said bottom deny access to said space from behind and below said convertible seat, and wherein said back and said bottom are positionable relative to each other in a second configuration to expose said space such that the space is accessible from behind and below said convertible seat, wherein that said back of said convertible seat includes a first back member and a second back member which are pivotally connected with each other. Summary of the Invention According to the present invention there is provided a seat device comprising at least one armrest, a seatback, a seatpad, and a frame, wherein the seatpad is arranged to move from a first seating position where the seatpad extends horizontally from the seatback to a second standing position where the seatpad extends vertically with the seatback. In this way the device of the present invention may be embodied in an airline seat, so as to provide improved comfort and health benefits, allowing a user to move during longer flights. The device may comprise standard known features provided by airline seats, for example stowage compartments and pockets and / or lighting or reclining capabilities. The device enables movement of a plurality of parts, so as to permit a plurality of configurations for the passenger or user, including kneeling, contained within and constrained by the seating area. In some embodiments of the device the device comprises a footrest, which may extend below the seat, or rest on the floor. It may be envisaged that the footrest may be stowable or moveable between positions, so as to aid in movement and / or support possibilities for a user. In some such embodiments of the device for example the footrest is arranged to move between a first position where the footrest extends forwards of the seatpad to a second position where the footrest extends below the seatpad. In some embodiments of the device the footrest is arranged to extend coplanar the seatpad. In some embodiments of the device the footrest is arranged to extend orthogonal the seatpad. In this way the footrest may be stowed vertically for example. In some embodiments of the device the device comprises a bipartite seatpad, wherein a part of the seatpad may be moved in relation to another part, for example wherein in some embodiments of the device the device a hinged front edge and main seat. It may be envisaged that the front edge may be hinged out of the way. In some embodiments of the device the device an extendible table. Such table may for example be of use to a user who is occupying the seat in a different configuration. In some embodiments of the device the device a table hinged to the seatback for example, so as to be' of use when the user is standing, for example the table is hinged to the front of the seatback. In some embodiments of the device the device a plurality of hinged tables on the front of the seatback, to suit standing or kneeling users. In some embodiments of the device the device a perch seat arranged to move from a stored position coplanar the seatback to a usage position extending from the rear of the frame, so as to allow for low seating on the seat in front, facing the user’s own seat. In some such embodiments of the device the perch seat is hinged to the rear of the frame. A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which: Brief Description of Figures Figure 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the device according to the present invention, with a rear perch seat extended, the armrests down, tables folded up, footrest vertically arranged and seat’s front edge inclined; Figure 2 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the device as shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a reverse exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 shows an isometric view of the device shown in Figure 1, with rear perch seat stowed, armrests down, tables folded up, footrest vertically arranged and seat flat for seating; Figure 6 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the device as shown in Figure 5; Figure 7 shows an isometric view of the device shown in Figure 1, with rear perch seat extended, armrests down, tables folded up, footrest arranged horizontally extending away from the frame, and seat raised for standing purposes; Figure 8 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment o the device as shown in Figure 7; Figure 9 shows an isometric view of the device shown in Figure 1, with rear perch seat extended, armrests down, footrest horizontally arranged for kneeling and a table folded down, and the seat’s front edge inclined for comfort during kneeling; Figure 10 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the device as shown in Figure 9; Figure 11 shows an isometric view of the device shown in Figure 1, with rear perch seat extended, armrests down, footrest horizontally arranged for kneeling, a second table folded down, the seat’s front edge inclined, and the rear access panel opened; And Figure 12 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the device as shown in Figure 11. Detailed Description of Figures With reference to the figures there is shown an embodiment of a seat device 99 generally comprising armrests 7, a seatback 1, a seatpad 13, and a frame 16, wherein the seatpad is arranged to move from a first seating position (as shown in Figures 1 and Figure 5) where the seatpad extends substantially horizontally from the seatback to a second standing position (as shown in Figure 7) where the seatpad extends vertically with the seatback. In particular reference to the pictured embodiment the embodiment comprises an airline seat which provides an opportunity for airline passengers to configure their seats into multiple positions so they can adapt their seating position throughout the flight The seat comprises a buckle and adjustment seatbelt 7 as known in the art. The frame is formed as a single welded part in aluminium, steel or similar rigid strong material. The seatpad is formed of fabric or leather or leatherette covered cushions. The frame supports two armrests 7, wherein one or more of the armrests may be envisaged to be shared with a subsequent seat. The frame comprises two side panels, which are fixed to the floor of the plane, and which panels support a pivot 6 for the armrest, at a top corner of a side portion. At the front of the side portion there is a connection for a footrest support. The footrest support extends downwards from the connection. At the bottom of the footrest support there is a pivot for the footrest 14, which footrest is formed of a cushion covered in leather or fabric. The pivot is controlled by an overcentre lever 15. The footrest 14 is thereby enabled to pivot between at least three positions, namely a first position where the footrest extends upwards with the footrest support, a second position where the footrest extends coplanar the seatpad, and orthogonal the footrest support, and a third position where the footrest extends rearwards and orthogonal the footrest support, so as to provide a kneeling pad. The footrest may therefore have a rigid face and an opposed padded face. The rear of the side portion provides a rear pivot 26 for a perch seat 9 for persons to perch on from behind. The perch seat moves from a stored position (as shown in Figure 5) where it extends downwards from the rear bottom edge of the seatback where the pivot 26 is located to a usage position where it extends substantially orthogonally behind the seatback as shown in Figure 1. The rear pivot 26 is controlled by a lever 8 on the side of the frame, below the pivot 6 for the armrest, which lever controls a latch and allows rotation of the perch seat about the pivot 26. The perch seat may therefore be locked in place via a ratchet lever. The perch seat includes supporting braces 10 below, which comprise bipartite elongate members with the parts separated by hinges, extending downwards at an angle, and having a lateral connecting bar 21, which rests into one of a series of notches 19 in the side support which extends diagonally rearwards, allowing the angle of the perch seat to be adjusted. The front of the seatback comprises two hinged tables, a top table 2 and a lower table 4. Each have a top cover of a cushion, so as to match the remainder of the seatback. A first of the tables is located in the headrest, and a second table is located in the seatback, such that the tables may be hinged down from a first position where they are embedded in the seatback to a second position where they extend from the seatback to provide a supported table. The front of each of the tables comprises a latch handle 3 and 4 respectively, in a lower corner, which acts to unlatch a catch with the seatback allowing the table to hinge down, These two tables are thereby indented in the seatback and can be accessed by pulling an indented lever in the lower comer of the table. The lower of the tables is located midway down the front of the seatback may be folded out for use to place items or charge personal devices when kneeling. The upper of the tables may be envisaged to serve a similar purpose when standing. One of both of the tables provides access to USB (universal serial bus) charging capabilities. In the pictured embodiment the lower table has a charging or connection station 26 in a top face. A life jacket is stored neatly behind a quick access panel 20 on the back of the seatback, which hinges open as shown in Figure 11. It may be envisaged that this happens automatically and / or opening is controlled remotely. As shown in Figure 7 the seatpad 13 of the pictured embodiment may be folded up against the seatback, to allow for a standing configuration, allowing a user of the device to stand in their allocated seat space. The seatpad is comprised of two parts, a main seat 27 and a pivoting front edge part 12, which may be pivoted down for greater comfort, for example when kneeling in front of the seatpad. In this way the front edge part may be angled downwards to accommodate the user kneeling against the seat, wherein the footrest may also be folded down to provide a kneepad. The frame sides on inner side faces include a catch 22 underneath which catches into a lateral bar 28 across the middle of the underside of the seatpad, to lock the seatpad in a first, seating configuration. The seatpad may be hinged up to allow for the standing configuration, wherein the rear of the underside of the seatpad includes a lateral pivot pin bar 25. The front edge part 12 of the seatpad has a hinge to the main seat part 27, wherein the hinge and the fold between the front edge and the main seat part is supported by pins 29 extending laterally from the inner faces of the frame 16. On an underside at the front of the front edge 12, there is provided a bar supporting index plungers 23 which engage into holes 32 into the inner faces of the sides of the frame 16. These index plungers are joined to one another underneath the seatpad, and act to keep the seatpad in place. The plungers 23 are sprung biased to extend, into one of three positions 32 in an arc, so as to regulate the inclination of the front edge of the seat 12. In use therefore: A user is sitting normally in their seat but is getting uncomfortable. The user pulls in and locks index plungers on the interior of the seat. The user can now lift and fold up the seat. Finally, the user may fold out a table to lean on whilst standing. The user can change positions in multiple ways, seating, kneeling or standing in the free space, providing renewed comfort without any disturbance to other passengers or crew. The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of protection as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A seat device comprising at least one armrest, a seatback, a seatpad, and a frame, wherein the seatpad is arranged to move from a first seating position where the seatpad extends horizontally from the seatback to a second standing position where the seatpad extends vertically with the seatback.

2. A seat device according to claim 1 comprising a footrest.

3. A seat device according to claim 2 wherein the footrest is arranged to move between a first position where the footrest extends forwards of the seatpad to a second position where the footrest extends below the seatpad.

4. A seat device according to claim 2 or 3 wherein the footrest is arranged to extend coplanar the seatpad.

5. A seat device according to claim 2, 3 or 4 wherein the footrest is arranged to extend orthogonal the seatpad.

6. A seat device according to any preceding claim comprising a bipartite seatpad.

7. A seat device according to claim 6 comprising a hinged front edge and main seat.

8. A seat device according any preceding claim comprising an extendible table.

9. A seat device according any preceding claim comprising a table hinged to the seatback.

10. A seat device according claim 9 wherein the table is hinged to the front of the seatback.

11. A seat device according any preceding claim comprising a plurality of hinged tables on the front of the seatback.

12. A seat device according any preceding claim comprising a perch seat arranged to move from a stored position coplanar the seatback to a usage position extending from the rear of the frame.

13. A seat device according to claim 12 wherein the perch seat is hinged to the rear of the frame.

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