Door arrangement for aircraft seat unit

Abstract

A door arrangement for an aircraft seat unit, the door arrangement comprising a fixed panel and a slidable door, wherein the slidable door is slidable between an open position in which access to the aircraft seat unit is allowed, and a closed position in which access to the aircraft seat unit is at least partially blocked, wherein the slidable door comprises a locking arrangement arranged to secure the slidable door in the open position, the locking arrangement comprising a first latch and a second latch, the first latch and second latch, when the slidable door is in the open position, each moveable between a latched position, in which the first latch and second latch are engaged with the fixed panel and prevent movement of the slidable door from the open position, and an unlatched position, in which the first latch and second latch are disengaged from the fixed panel and do not prevent movement of the slidable door from the open position; and a latch lock associated with the second latch, wherein the latch lock is movable between a locked position, in which movement of the second latch between the latched position and unlatched position is prevented, and an unlocked position, in which movement of the second latch between the latched position and unlatched position is allowed, the latch lock being located remote from the second latch.

Description

[0001] Door arrangement for aircraft seat unit

[0002] Field

[0003] The present invention concerns a door arrangement for an aircraft seat unit. More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention concerns a door arrangement for an aircraft seat unit comprising a locking arrangement. The invention also concerns a method of operating a door arrangement for an aircraft seat unit.

[0004] Background

[0005] Door arrangements for aircraft seating units allow access between the aircraft seat unit and an aircraft aisle. During taxi, take-off and landing (TTL), a number of safety conditions must be met for the safety of passengers. One safety condition during TTL is locking the door of an aircraft seating unit in an open position such that a passenger may exit the aircraft seat unit in the event of an emergency.

[0006] In prior art aircraft seat units, when a passenger is in a sitting position, the passenger may be able to lock and / or unlock the door. If the passenger is able to unlock the door such that the door is moving during TTL, the moving door may cause harm to the passenger, other passengers, flight attendants, and / or damage other aircraft furniture.

[0007] Also, prior art door arrangements may be electronically controlled. In the event of a power failure, the door may be unable to function properly causing the door to move unintentionally from the open position during TTL or in an emergency.

[0008] The present invention seeks to mitigate the above-mentioned problems. Alternatively or additionally, the present invention seeks to provide an improved door arrangement for an aircraft seat unit.

[0009] Summary

[0010] The present invention provides, according to a first aspect, a door arrangement for an aircraft seat unit, the door arrangement comprising a fixed panel and a slidable door, wherein the slidable door is slidable between an open position, in which access to the aircraft seat unit is allowed, and a closed position, in which access to the aircraft seat unit is at least partially blocked; wherein the slidable door comprises a locking arrangement arranged to secure the slidable door in the open position, the locking arrangement comprising a first latch and a second latch, the first latch and second latch, when the slidable door is in the open position, each moveable between a latched position, in which the first latch and second latch are engaged with the fixed panel and prevent movement of the slidable door from the open position, and an unlatched position, in which the first latch and second latch are disengaged from the fixed panel and do not prevent movement of the slidable door from the open position; and a latch lock associated with the second latch, wherein the latch lock is movable between a locked position, in which movement of the second latch between the latched position and unlatched position is prevented, and an unlocked position, in which movement of the second latch between the latched position and unlatched position is allowed, the latch lock being located remote from the second latch.

[0011] The latch lock is located remote from the second latch such that a passenger is unable to reach the latch lock and the second latch at the same time from a seated position in the aircraft seat unit. Thus, when the slidable door is in the open position for TTL, a passenger is unable to intentionally or accidentally unlock the latch lock and unlatch the second latch at the same time.

[0012] When the slidable door is in the open position, the aircraft seat unit is accessible, and a passenger may move between the aircraft seat unit and an aircraft aisle. During TTL, the slidable door must be in an open position so that passengers may exit the aircraft seat unit in the event of an emergency. The slidable door may be moved to the closed position, for example, when the passenger requires privacy. When the slidable door is in the closed position, access between the aircraft seat unit and the aircraft aisle is at least partially blocked, such that a passenger in a seat unit is provided with more privacy than when the slidable door is open, and / or it is more difficult or not possible to access the aircraft seat unit. When the slidable door is in the closed position, the door may be in a fully closed position.

[0013] The latch lock may be a safety measure to control the movement of the second latch, and thus the movement of the slidable door. The latch lock may be manually moveable. The first latch may be manually moveable. The second latch may be manually moveable. Thus, in the event of a power failure, the locking arrangement may be manually controlled and the slidable door may be secured in the open position. The locking arrangement may be accessible on an outer surface of the slidable door. The outer surface of the slidable door may be external to the aircraft seat unit such that flight attendants can access the locking arrangement from outside the aircraft seat unit.

[0014] The first latch may be moved independently of the second latch and latch lock.

[0015] The latch lock may be located between 10cm and 60cm from the second latch. The latch lock may be located at least 15cm, 20cm, 25cm, or 28cm from the second latch. The latch lock may be located at 30cm, 35cm, 40cm, 45cm, 50cm, 55cm from the second latch. The latch lock may be located a distance greater than 50cm from the second latch.

[0016] Movement of the second latch into the unlatched position may require movement of the latch lock and the second latch. Movement of the latch lock to the unlocked position and the second latch to the unlatched position may be done at the same time. The latch lock may be held in the unlocked position upon movement of the second latch into the unlatched position. Movement of both the latch lock and second latch at the same time may require the use of two hands due to the remote location of the latch lock, thus making it impractical for a passenger in a seated position to move the second latch and the latch lock.

[0017] The latch lock may be vertically displaced from the second latch. In the present embodiment, the vertical direction is defined as upwards and downwards with respect to the floor of an aircraft cabin. The latch lock may be located within a lower region on the outer surface of the slidable door, closest to the floor of the aircraft cabin such that a passenger is unable to reach the latch lock when seated.

[0018] The first latch and second latch may be located near a top surface of the slidable door. This provides a seated passenger with access to the first latch and / or second latch, but not the latch lock. The seated passenger may control movement of the slidable door when the first latch and second latch are unlatched, and the latch lock is unlocked.

[0019] In other embodiments, the latch lock may be horizontally displaced from the second latch. In this embodiment, the first latch, second latch and latch lock may be located closer to the floor of the aircraft cabin, and away from a passenger’s reach. The first latch, second latch and latch lock may be located between 20cm and 70cm from a top surface of slidable door and away from the passenger’s reach. The first latch, second latch and latch lock may be located at least 20cm, 25cm, 30cm, 45cm, 50cm, 55cm, 60cm, 65cm, 70cm from the top surface of the slidable door. The first latch, second latch and latch lock may be located a distance greater than 70cm from the top surface of the slidable door.

[0020] The latch lock may be biased into the locked position. Biasing the latch lock into the locked position may improve the passenger’s safety. Movement against the bias may move the latch lock into the unlocked position.

[0021] The latch lock may be connected to the second latch by a mechanical linkage. The mechanical linkage may comprise a stopper. The mechanical linkage may comprise a lever, the lever comprising two opposing ends, wherein one end of the lever is connected to the latch lock, and an opposite end is connected to the stopper. The stopper may be configured to abut the second latch. The mechanical linkage may comprise a spring element. The spring element may be a coiled spring or leaf spring. The spring element may bias the latch lock into the locked position, such that movement of the latch lock from the locked position to the unlocked position requires force against the bias.

[0022] The second latch may comprise a protrusion. The protrusion may engage with the stopper. The protrusion and stopper may be located within a recess. When the latch lock is in the locked position, the stopper may prevent the protrusion of the second latch from moving within the recess. When the latch lock is actuated to move from the locked position to the unlocked position, the stopper may be retracted from the recess, allowing the protrusion of the second latch to move within the recess. When the second latch is moved to the unlatched position, the stopper may return to the recess. The stopper may prevent the protrusion of the second latch moving within the recess. The stopper may hold the second latch in the unlocked position.

[0023] The second latch may move the latch lock into the locked position when the second latch is moved from the unlatched position to the latched position. The slidable door may be secured upon actuating the second latch only. The slidable door may be secured quickly and efficiently. This may be advantageous during emergencies when the slidable door must be secured in the open position promptly. The second latch may be actuated by a single hand. The second latch may be actuated by the passenger in a seated position. This provides a seated passenger with control to secure the slidable door when desired. However, the seated passenger may not be able to do the reverse and move the latch lock from the locked position to an unlocked position and move the first latch and second latch from the latched position to the unlatched position to allow movement of the slidable door.

[0024] The first latch and second latch are located in close proximity. The first latch and second latch may be actuated together. The slidable door may be secured upon actuating the first latch and second latch at the same time. The first latch and second latch may be actuated by a single hand. This may be advantageous when the actuation of the first latch and second latch are required quickly.

[0025] According to a second aspect, there is a shell for an aircraft seat unit comprising a main shell portion and a door arrangement according to the first aspect. The main shell portion may at least partially surround a seat within the aircraft seat unit. The main shell portion may be stationary. The door arrangement may provide access between the seat and an aircraft aisle.

[0026] According to a third aspect, there is an aircraft seat unit comprising a door arrangement according to the first aspect. The aircraft seat unit may comprise the shell according to second aspect. The aircraft seat unit may comprise a seat. The door arrangement may be configured to move between an open position, which gives a passenger access between the seat and an aircraft aisle, and a closed position, which at least partially blocks access between the seat and the aisle.

[0027] According to a fourth aspect, there is a method of operating the door arrangement of the first aspect, when the door is in the open position, the method comprising actuating the latch lock from the locked position to the unlocked position; and actuating the first latch and second latch, from the latched position to the unlatched position such that the door becomes slidable between the open position and the closed position.

[0028] The method may further comprise actuating the second latch, when the second latch and first latch are in the unlatched position, into to the latched position to secure the door and prevent the slidable door from moving. The first latch and second latch may be actuated together to move the first latch and second latch from the unlatched position to the latched position to secure the slidable door.

[0029] It will of course be appreciated that features described in relation to one aspect of the present invention may be incorporated into other aspects of the present invention. For example, the method of the invention may incorporate any of the features described with reference to the apparatus of the invention and vice versa. Description of the Drawings

[0030] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings of which:

[0031] Figure 1 shows an example of the door arrangement for an aircraft seat unit according to a first embodiment;

[0032] Figures 2a and 2b show an enlarged view of the locking arrangement in a locked position;

[0033] Figures 3a and 3b show an enlarged view of the locking arrangement upon actuating the latch lock;

[0034] Figures 4a and 4b show an enlarged view of the locking arrangement upon movement of the second latch to the unlatched position;

[0035] Figures 5a and 5b show an enlarged view of the locking arrangement upon movement of the first latch to the unlatched position;

[0036] Figure 6a, 6b, and 6c show an enlarged view of the locking arrangement moving from the unlatched position to the latched position;

[0037] Figure 7 shows steps of the method of operating the door arrangement; and Figure 8 shows alternative steps in the method of operating the door arrangement.

[0038] Detailed Description

[0039] Figure 1 shows an example of the door arrangement 100 for an aircraft seat unit according to a first embodiment. The door arrangement 100 comprises a fixed panel 104 and a slidable door 102. The slidable door 102 is slidable in a horizontal direction, x, relative to a floor of an aircraft cabin. The slidable door 102 is configured to move between an open position, in which access to the aircraft seat unit is allowed, and a closed position, in which access to the aircraft seat unit is at least partially blocked. The open position is considered fully open in which access to the aircraft seat unit is allowed, and in this embodiment the slidable door 102 is in the fully closed position in which access to the aircraft seat unit is fully blocked, to show features of the fixed panel 104.

[0040] The slidable door has an inner surface 102b that faces the fixed panel and an outer surface 102a which is external to the aircraft seat unit. The fixed panel has an internal surface 104b which is inside the aircraft seat unit, and an external surface 104a which faces the slidable door 102. The fixed panel 104 has tracks 120 for engaging with corresponding tracks on the inner surface 102b of the slidable door 102 for guiding movement of the slidable door 102. In other embodiments, for example, the slidable door 102 may comprise rollers for rolling along the tracks 120. In other examples, an independent track may be mounted above the door arrangement 100 and configured to engage with rollers located on an upper side surface of the slidable door 102.

[0041] The slidable door 102 comprises a locking arrangement 107 arranged to secure the slidable door 102 in the open position. The locking arrangement 107 has a first latch 106 and a second latch 108. The first latch 106 and second latch 108, when the slidable door is in the open position, are moveable between a latched position and unlatched position. In the latched position, the first latch 106 and second latch 108 engage with a first cavity 116 and second cavity 118, respectively, on the fixed panel 104. When the first latch 106 and second latch 108 engage with the first cavity 116 and second cavity 118, the slidable door 102 is prevented from moving. In the unlatched position, the first latch 106 and second latch 108 are disengaged from the first cavity 116 and second cavity 118, and the slidable door is moveable along the horizontal direction, x.

[0042] The locking mechanism 107 also has a latch lock 110 associated with the second latch 108. The latch lock 110 is located remote from the second latch 108 to ensure that a passenger sitting within the aircraft seat unit is unable to move the slidable door, particularly when the door is in the open position during TTL. In the present embodiment, the latch lock 110 is located approximately 28cm away from the second latch 108. The features and function of the latch lock are described in more detail with reference to Figures 2a to 6c below.

[0043] Figures 2a and 2b show the locking arrangement 207 in a locked position 200. Figure 2a shows an enlarged view of the locking arrangement 207 on a portion of the outer surface 102a of the slidable door 102, the locking arrangement 207 having the first latch 206 and second latch 208, and the latch lock 210. The latch lock 210 is connected to the second latch via a mechanical linkage 230. Figure 2b shows a more detailed view of the locking arrangement 200.

[0044] The locking arrangement 200 has a mounting frame 201 which is fixed within the slidable door. The mounting frame 201 has a sliding passage 220 which holds the first latch 206 and second latch 208. The first latch 206 comprises a body portion 205a and a protrusion 205b. In the present embodiment, the body portion 205a is rectangular in shape having an inner surface located inside the slidable door 102, top surface, bottom surface, two side surfaces, and an external surface which is accessible from the outer surface 102a of the slidable door 102. The external surface of the body portion 205a of the first latch 206 has a stepped surface with ridges to assist with manual movement of the first latch 206. The protrusion 205b projects from one of the two side surfaces and extends into a first recess 225 in the sliding passage 220.

[0045] The structure of the second latch 208 is substantially the same as the first latch 206. The second latch 208 has a body portion 209a which is rectangular in shape having an inner surface located inside the slidable door 102a, top surface, bottom surface, two side surfaces, and an external surface aligned with the outer surface 102a of the slidable door 102. The external surface of the body portion 209a of the second latch 208 has a stepped surface with ridges to assist with manual movement of the second latch 208. A protrusion 209b projects from one of the two side surfaces and extends into a second recess 229 in the sliding passage 220. The protrusion 209b has a bottom surface 209b’ and a sloped outermost surface 209b”.

[0046] The latch lock 210 is connected to the second latch 208 via a mechanical linkage 230. The mechanical linkage has a lever 232 having one end connected to the latch lock 210 and an opposite end connected to a curved arm 236. The curved arm 236 has two extended ends 237, 238 and an elbow 234 which is pivotally mounted to the mounting frame 201, allowing the curved arm 236 to rotate with respect to the elbow 234. A first extended end 237 is connected to the lever 232 and a second extended end is a stopper 238 that engages with the protrusion 209b of the second latch 208 and located within the second recess 229. In Figure 2b, when the second latch 208 is in the latched position, the stopper 238 retains the bottom surface 209b’ of the protrusion 209b. The latch lock 210 is in the locked position in which movement of the second latch 208 between the latched position and unlatched position is prevented by the retention of the stopper 238 with the bottom surface 209b’ of the protrusion 209b.

[0047] Figures 3a and 3b show an enlarged view of the locking arrangement upon actuating the latch lock 210. As shown in Fig 3a, the latch lock 210 is moved in the vertical direction, y. As shown in more detail in Figure 3b, movement of the latch lock 210 in the vertical direction, y, lifts the lever 232 upwards in the vertical direction, which rotates the curved arm 236 with respect to the elbow 234. The first extended end 238 is lifted in the vertical direction and the stopper 238 moves away from the second latch 208 and disengages with the protrusion 209a of the second latch 208.

[0048] Figures 4a and 4b show an enlarged view of the locking arrangement 207 upon movement of the second latch 208 to the unlatched position 400. As shown in Figure 4a, the second latch 208 is moved in the vertical direction, y’. Figure 4b shows the second latch 208 in the unlatched position, while the latch lock 210 remains actuated. As shown in Figure 3b and described above, upon actuating the latch lock 210, rotation of the curved linkage moves the stopper 238 away from the second latch 208 and disengages with the protrusion 209a of the second latch 208. Movement of the stopper 238 provides space within the second recess 229 in which movement of the protrusion 209b of the second latch 208 is allowed. The second latch 208 is no longer held in the latched position by the stopper 238, and the second latch 208 is allowed to move along the sliding passage 220 to the unlatched position.

[0049] Figures 5a and 5b show an enlarged view of the locking arrangement 207 upon movement of the first latch 206 from the latched position (as shown in Figures 2a to Figure 4b) to the unlatched position 500. Upon movement of the second latch 208 into the unlatched position, space within the sliding passage 220 allows the first latch 206 to be moved from the latched position to the unlatched position. To hold the second latch 208 in the unlatched position, the latch lock 210 is released. The latch lock 210 is biased to the locked position. Thus, when the latch lock 210 is released, the lever 232 returns downwards in the vertical direction causing the curved arm 236 to move in the opposite direction. The stopper 238 moves within the space within the second recess 229 that was previously occupied by the protrusion 209b of the second latch 208 and abuts the external sloping surface 209b” of the protrusion 209b. The stopper 238 is located above the protrusion 209b and holds the second latch 208 in the latched position, but can be overridden by moving the second latch 208 in the vertical direction back to the latched position, as described in more detail below. This is enabled because of the sloped outermost surface 209b” of the protrusion 209b pushing past the curved profile of the curved arm 236. In the present configuration where the second latch 208 is in the unlatched position and the latch lock 210 is in the unlocked position, the first latch 206 can move independently of the second latch 208 within the sliding passage 220. The first latch 206 can move within the sliding passage 220 to allow or prevent movement of the slidable door between the open position and closed position.

[0050] Figure 6a shows an enlarged view of the locking arrangement 207 moving from the unlatched position to the latched position. When the door is in the open position and must be secured e.g. for TTL, the second latch 208 and first latch 206 are moved together in the vertical direction y’” for the most efficient operation. Having a single actuation mechanism provides a quick and efficient method of securing the door in the open position in the event of an emergency. Alternatively, the first latch 206 may be moved into the latched position followed by second latch 208 into latched position. Figure 6b shows an enlarged view of locking mechanism 207 in the unlatched position, and Figure 6c shows an enlarged view of the locking mechanism after moving the second latch 208 to the latched position to lock the door in the open position.

[0051] Upon movement of the second latch 208 in the vertical axis y’”, the protrusion 209b of the second latch 208 applies a force on the stopper 238 moving the stopper 238 away from the second latch 208 until the second latch 208 is in the latched position. In the latched position, the stopper 238 abuts the bottom surface 209b’ of the protrusion 209b and prevents the second latch 208 moving into the unlatched position. The mechanical linkage 230 biases the latch lock 210 in the locked position, thus upon moving the second latch 208 from the unlatched position to the latched position, the latch lock 210 is released to the locked position.

[0052] Figure 6c also shows movement of the first latch 206 from the unlatched position to the latched position by moving along the sliding passage 220 in the vertical axis y’”.

[0053] Figure 7 shows steps of the method of operating the door arrangement as described in the first embodiment. The method includes locking 740 and unlocking 720 the door arrangement. The method of unlocking and locking the door can be circular as represented by a circle shown in Figure 7. The steps of unlocking the door 720 will be described first and then the steps of locking the door 740. The method of unlocking the door 720, when the slidable door is in the open position, comprises the steps of: actuating the latch lock 722 from the locked position to the unlocked position; actuating the second latch 724 from a latched position to an unlatched position whilst actuating the latch lock; and actuating the first latch 726 from a latched position to an unlatched position, such that the door is slidable between the open position and the closed position. The steps of actuating the second latch 724 and first latch 726 may be done together. The first latch and second latch may be actuated with a single hand e.g. the flight attendant may move the first latch and second latch at the same time with a single hand.

[0054] The method of locking the door 740 comprises the step of: actuating the first latch and second latch 744, when the first latch and second latch are in the unlatched position, into the latched position. This can be done with a single hand and provides a quick and efficient method of securing the door in the open position in the event of an emergency. The latch lock is biased in the locked position. As described above with referenced to Figures 1 to 6c, the second latch and latch lock are connected by a mechanical linkage. Upon actuating the second latch, the latch lock moves from the unlocked position to the locked position.

[0055] Figure 8 shows alternative steps in the method of operating the door arrangement. The step of unlocking the door 720 is the same as described above with reference to Figure 7. Alternatively, the step of locking the door 740 includes actuating the first latch 742, when the first latch is in the unlatched position, into the latched position, followed by actuating the second latch 746 from the unlatched position to the latch position.

[0056] Whilst the present invention has been described and illustrated with reference to particular embodiments, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention lends itself to many different variations not specifically illustrated herein. By way of example only, certain possible variations will now be described.

[0057] In an alternative embodiment, the lock arrangement may be horizontally displaced on the outer surface of the slidable door. In the horizontal alignment, the locking arrangement may be located a distance of at least 20cm from a top surface of the slidable door. The locking arrangement may be located closer to the floor of the aircraft cabin, such that a passenger is unable to reach the latch lock when seated. The lock arrangement may be aligned in any direction between the horizontal direction and vertical direction. For example, the lock arrangement may be displaced at an angle of 45° away from the vertical direction. The function of the first latch, second latch and latch lock are the same as described in the first embodiment.

[0058] The mechanical linkage connecting the latch lock and second latch may comprise a spring. For example, the mechanical linkage may have a lever and a leaf spring. The leaf spring may bias the latch lock in the locked position. Upon actuating the latch lock when the latch lock is in the locked position, the lever may move the leaf spring such that the second latch is allowed to move from the latched position to the unlatched position. Upon actuating the second latch from the unlatched position to the latched position, the leaf spring may return the latch lock to the locked position. Wherein the foregoing description, integers or elements are mentioned which have known, obvious or foreseeable equivalents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. Reference should be made to the claims for determining the true scope of the present invention, which should be construed so as to encompass any such equivalents. It will also be appreciated by the reader that integers or features of the invention that are described as preferable, advantageous, convenient or the like are optional and do not limit the scope of the independent claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that such optional integers or features, whilst of possible benefit in some embodiments of the invention, may not be desirable, and may therefore be absent, in other embodiments.

Claims

Claims1. A door arrangement for an aircraft seat unit, the door arrangement comprising: a fixed panel and a slidable door, wherein the slidable door is slidable between an open position in which access to the aircraft seat unit is allowed, and a closed position in which access to the aircraft seat unit is at least partially blocked, wherein the slidable door comprises a locking arrangement arranged to secure the slidable door in the open position, the locking arrangement comprising a first latch and a second latch, the first latch and second latch, when the slidable door is in the open position, each moveable between a latched position, in which the first latch and second latch are engaged with the fixed panel and prevent movement of the slidable door from the open position, and an unlatched position, in which the first latch and second latch are disengaged from the fixed panel and do not prevent movement of the slidable door from the open position; and a latch lock associated with the second latch, wherein the latch lock is movable between a locked position, in which movement of the second latch between the latched position and unlatched position is prevented, and an unlocked position, in which movement of the second latch between the latched position and unlatched position is allowed, the latch lock being located remote from the second latch.

2. A door arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the latch lock is located between 10cm and 60cm from the second latch and / or at least 15cm, 20cm, 25cm, 28cm, 30cm, 35cm, 40cm, 45cm, 50cm, and 55cm from the second latch.

3. A door arrangement according to any preceding claim wherein movement of the second latch into to the unlatched position requires movement of the latch lock and the second latch.

4. A door arrangement according to any preceding claim wherein the latch lock is vertically displaced from the second latch.

5. A door arrangement according to any preceding claim wherein the latch lock is biased into the locked position and wherein movement against the bias moves the latch lock into the unlocked position.

6. A door arrangement according to any preceding claim wherein the latch lock is connected to the second latch by a mechanical linkage.

7. A door arrangement according to claim 6 wherein the mechanical linkage comprises a stopper8. A door arrangement according to claim 7 wherein the second latch comprises a protrusion that engages with the stopper.

9. A door arrangement according to any preceding claim wherein the second latch moves the latch lock into the locked position when the second latch is moved from the unlatched position to the latched position.

10. A door arrangement according to any preceding claim wherein the first latch and second latch are located in close proximity.

11. A door arrangement according to any preceding claim wherein the first latch and second latch are actuated by a single hand.

12. A shell for an aircraft seat unit comprising a main shell portion and a door arrangement according to any preceding claim.

13. An aircraft seat unit comprising a door arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 11.

14. Method of operating a door arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 11, when the slidable door is in the open position, the method comprising:- actuating the latch lock from the locked position to the unlocked position;- actuating the first and second latch from a latched position to an unlatched position such that the door becomes slidable between the open position and the closed position.

5. Method according to claim 14 further comprising:- actuating the second latch, when the second latch and first latch is in the unlatched position, into the latched position to secure the door and prevent the slidable door from moving.

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