Semi-fixed back shell for passenger seat

Abstract

Described are passenger seats having a seat back and a back shell. The seat back may be coupled with a seat base and configured to support a passenger of a passenger vehicle, and the seat back may be rotated around a first axis for reclining the passenger seat. The back shell may be sized to be positioned around at least a portion of the seat back, and the back shell may be rotated around a second axis that is parallel to and offset from the first axis.

Description

Attorney Docket No. 038398-1468833Client Ref. No. B-028559PCT01Patent ApplicationSEMI-FIXED BACK SHELL FOR PASSENGER SEATFIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The field of the invention relates generally to passenger vehicles, and, more specifically, though not necessarily exclusively, to a semi-fixed back shell for a passenger seat for a passenger vehicle.BACKGROUND

[0002] Passenger vehicles include passenger seats for passengers to use while the passenger vehicle is in use or between uses of the passenger vehicle. In some examples, the passenger vehicles may be used for extended lengths of time, such as longer than an hour to longer than a day, etc. The passenger seats may include auxiliary features that allow enhanced experiences for the passengers during operation of the passenger vehicle. For example, the passenger seats may include tray tables, television or tablet screens, personal electronic device holders, or other suitable auxiliary features. Attaching the auxiliary features to, and orienting the auxiliary features with respect to, the passengers seats may be difficult to achieve while allowing sufficient operation of the passenger seats.SUMMARY

[0003] The terms “invention,” “the invention,” “this invention” and “the present invention” used in this patent are intended to refer broadly to all of the subject matter of this patent and the patent claims below. Statements containing these terms should be understood not to limit the subject matter described herein or to limit the meaning or scope of the patent claims below. Embodiments of the invention covered by this patent are defined by the claims below, not this summary. This summary is a high-level overview of various aspects of theAttorney Docket No. 038398-1468833Client Ref. No. B-028559PCT01Patent Application invention and introduces some of the concepts that are further described in the Detailed Description section below. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject matter should be understood by reference to appropriate portions of the entire specification of this patent, any or all drawings and each claim.

[0004] According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a passenger seat can include a seat back and a back shell. The seat back may be coupled with a seat base and may be configured to support a passenger of a passenger vehicle. The seat back may be rotated around a first axis for reclining the passenger seat. The back shell may be sized to be positioned around at least a portion of the seat back, and the back shell may be rotated around a second axis that is parallel to and offset from the first axis.

[0005] In some embodiments, the first axis and the second axis may each extend from a first lateral side of the seat back to a second lateral side of the seat back. The first axis may be at a first vertical position of the seat back, and the second axis may be at a second vertical position of the seat back.

[0006] In certain embodiments, the first vertical position may be lower along the seat back than the second vertical position.

[0007] In various embodiments, the back shell may include at least one cam channel for guiding a reclining motion of the back shell.

[0008] In some embodiments, the passenger seat may additional include at least one cam coupled with the seat back and that may be positioned within the cam channel. The at least one cam may extend from a connection point adjacent to the seat back to a variable position along the at least one cam channel.Attorney Docket No. 038398-1468833Client Ref. No. B-028559PCT01 Patent Application

[0009] In certain embodiments, the at least one cam channel may include a first cam channel that is oriented approximately parallel to a vertical axis following a length of the seat back.

[0010] In various embodiments, the at least one cam may be slid within the first cam channel along the vertical axis to facilitate semi-independent rotation of the back shell with respect to the seat back.

[0011] In some embodiments, the back shell may be connected with the seat back at least at a pivot point proximate to the seat base, and the pivot point may be approximately positioned along the second axis.

[0012] In certain embodiments, the seat base may be configured to translate in a first direction during a recline operation of the passenger seat. The seat back may be configured to translate in a second direction while rotating about the first axis. The first direction may be different from the second direction.

[0013] In various embodiments, the back shell may be configured to translate in the second direction while rotating about the pivot point.

[0014] In some embodiments, the back shell may define an open space within the back shell between a top edge of the seat back and an inner surface of the back shell.

[0015] In certain embodiments, and in a resting configuration of the passenger seat, the open space may have a first distance from the top edge to the inner surface. Additionally or alternatively, and in a reclined configuration of the passenger seat, the open space may have a second distance from the top edge to the inner surface. The second distance may be larger than the first distance.

[0016] In various embodiments, and in the reclined configuration of the passenger seat, the back shell may have a first recline angle that is less than a second recline angle of the seat back.Attorney Docket No. 038398-1468833Client Ref. No. B-028559PCT01Patent Application

[0017] In some embodiments, the passenger seat may additionally include an auxiliary attachment coupled with the back shell, and the auxiliary attachment may have a third recline angle that is approximately the same as the first recline angle.

[0018] In certain embodiments, an aircraft may include the passenger seat.

[0019] According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a back shell for a passenger seat may include at least one cam channel for guiding a reclining motion of the back shell. The back shell may be sized to be positioned around at least a portion of a seat back of the passenger seat, and the back shell may be rotated around a second axis that is parallel to and offset from a first axis about which the seat back is configured to rotate.

[0020] In some embodiments, the back shell may additionally include at least one cam coupled with the seat back and that may be positioned within the cam channel. The at least one cam may extend from a connection point adjacent to the seat back to a variable position along the at least one cam channel. The at least one cam channel may include a first cam channel that is oriented approximately parallel to a vertical axis following a length of the seat back.

[0021] In certain embodiments, the back shell may be connected with the seat back at least at a pivot point proximate to the seat base, and the pivot point may be approximately positioned along the second axis.

[0022] According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a passenger seat may include a seat back and a back shell. The seat back may be coupled with a seat base and may be configured to support a passenger of a passenger vehicle. The seat back may be rotated around a first axis for reclining the passenger seat. The back shell may be sized to be positioned around at least a portion of the seat back. The back shell may be rotated around a second axis that is parallel to and offset from the first axis, and the back shell may include at least one cam channel for guiding a reclining motion of the back shell.Attorney Docket No. 038398-1468833Client Ref. No. B-028559PCT01Patent Application

[0023] In various embodiments, the back shell may define an open space within the back shell between a top edge of the seat back and an inner surface of the back shell. In a resting configuration of the passenger seat, the open space may have a first distance from the top edge to the inner surface, and, in a reclined configuration of the passenger seat, the open space may have a second distance from the top edge to the inner surface. The second distance may be larger than the first distance, and, in the reclined configuration of the passenger seat, the back shell may have a first recline angle that is less than a second recline angle of the seat back.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Figure 1 is a diagram of a passenger seat that may include a semi-fixed back shell according to certain embodiments of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 2 is a diagram of a semi-fixed back shell of a passenger seat according to certain embodiments of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 3 is another diagram of a semi-fixed back shell of a passenger seat according to certain embodiments of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 4 is a rear perspective view of a semi-fixed back shell of a passenger seat according to certain embodiments of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 5 is a rear view of a semi-fixed back shell of a passenger seat according to certain embodiments of the present invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] The subject matter of embodiments of the present invention is described here with specificity to meet statutory requirements, but this description is not necessarily intended to limit the scope of the claims. The claimed subject matter may be embodied inAttorney Docket No. 038398-1468833Client Ref. No. B-028559PCT01Patent Application other ways, may include different elements or steps, and may be used in conjunction with other existing or future technologies. This description should not be interpreted as implying any particular order or arrangement among or between various steps or elements except when the order of individual steps or arrangement of elements is explicitly described.

[0030] The described embodiments of the invention provide passenger seats for passenger vehicles. While the passenger seats are discussed for use with aircraft, they are by no means so limited. Rather, embodiments of the passenger seats may be used in passenger vehicles of any type or otherwise as desired.

[0031] According to certain embodiments of the present invention, and as illustrated in Figures 1-3, a passenger seat 100 comprises a seat back 102 and a back shell 104. In some embodiments, the back shell 104 may be or include a semi-fixed back shell that may be rotated around a particular axis that is different from another axis of rotation of the passenger seat 100. The seat back 102 may be coupled with a seat base 106 and may be configured to support a passenger of a passenger vehicle such as an aircraft. The back shell 104 may be sized to be positioned around at least a portion of the seat back 102. In some embodiments, the seat base 106 may be coupled with a floor 107 of a passenger vehicle, though the seat base 106 may be otherwise suitably positioned for positioning the passenger seat 100 in the passenger vehicle.

[0032] In some embodiments, the seat back 102 may be rotated around a first axis 108 for reclining the passenger seat 100. Additionally or alternatively, the back shell 104 may be rotated around a second axis 110 that is different from the first axis. In some embodiments, the first axis 108 may be at least approximately parallel to and offset from the second axis 110. As used herein, approximately indicates that a recited value may vary, such as above or below, by 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, from 5% to 10%, from 10% to 20%, and the like. As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the first axis 108 and the second axis may extendAttorney Docket No. 038398-1468833Client Ref. No. B-028559PCT01Patent Application approximately perpendicularly into the page and approximately perpendicularly out of the page. In some embodiments, the first axis 108 and the second axis 110 may each extend from a first lateral side of the seat back 102 to a second lateral side of the seat back 102. Additionally or alternatively, the first axis 108 may be located at a first vertical position 202 of the seat back 102, and the second axis 110 may be located at a second vertical position 204 of the seat back 102. In some embodiments, the first vertical position 202 may be lower along the seat back than the second vertical position 204.

[0033] As best illustrated with respect to Figures 2-3, the back shell 104 may include at least one cam channel 206 for guiding a reclining motion of the back shell 104. Additionally or alternatively, the passenger seat 100 may additionally include at least one cam 208 coupled with the seat back 102. The at least one cam 208 may be positioned within the at least one cam channel 206, and the at least one cam 208 may extend from a connection point adjacent to the seat back to a variable position along the at least one cam channel 206. In some embodiments, the at least one cam channel 206 may include a first cam channel that is oriented approximately parallel to a vertical axis 210 following a length of the seat back 102. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one cam 208 may be slid within the first cam channel of the at least one cam channel 206 along the vertical axis 210 to facilitate semiindependent rotation of the back shell 104 with respect to the seat back 102. That is, by sliding the at least one cam 208 within the at least one cam channel 206 along the vertical axis 210, the back shell 104 may rotate a different amount, such as a different or lesser number of degrees, compared with the seat back 102.

[0034] As best illustrated with respect to Figures 2-3, the back shell 104 may be connected with the seat back 102 at least at a pivot point 215 proximate to the seat base 106. Additionally or alternatively, the pivot point 215 may be approximately positioned along the second axis 110. In some embodiments, the seat base 106 may be configured to translate in aAttorney Docket No. 038398-1468833Client Ref. No. B-028559PCT01Patent Application first direction 216 during a recline operation of the passenger seat 100, and the seat back 102 may be configured to translate in a second direction 218 while rotating about the first axis 108. The first direction 216 may be different from the second direction 218. In some embodiments, the back shell 104 may be configured to translate in the second direction 218, or in a direction approximately perpendicular to the second direction 218, while rotating about the pivot point 215.

[0035] In some embodiments, the back shell 104 may define an open space within the back shell 104 between a top edge 220 of the seat back 102 and an inner surface 222 of the back shell 104. Additionally or alternatively, in a resting configuration of the passenger seat 100, the open space has a first distance from the top edge 220 to the inner surface 222, and, in a reclined configuration of the passenger seat 100, the open space has a second distance from the top edge 220 to the inner surface 222. In some embodiments, the second distance may be larger than the first distance. Additionally or alternatively, in the reclined configuration of the passenger seat 100, the back shell 104 may have a first recline angle 224 that is approximately less than a second recline angle 226 of the seat back 102. In some embodiments, the passenger seat 100 may additionally include an auxiliary attachment 228 coupled with the back shell 104. The auxiliary attachment 228 may have a third recline angle 230 that may be approximately the same as the first recline angle 224.

[0036] Figure 4 is a rear perspective view of a semi-fixed back shell 104 of a passenger seat 100, and Figure 5 is a rear view of a semi-fixed back shell 104 of a passenger seat 100 according to certain embodiments of the present invention. As illustrated in Figure 4 and Figure 5, the passenger seat 100 may be coupled with a floor 107 of a passenger vehicle such as an aircraft. Additionally or alternatively, the passenger seat 100 may include the auxiliary attachment 228 that may be coupled with, or positioned within, the back shell 104.Attorney Docket No. 038398-1468833Client Ref. No. B-028559PCT01Patent Application

[0037] In the following, further examples are described to facilitate the understanding of the invention:

[0038] Example 1. A passenger seat comprising: a seat back coupled with a seat base and configured to support a passenger of a passenger vehicle, the seat back rotatable around a first axis for reclining the passenger seat; and a back shell sized to be positioned around at least a portion of the seat back, the back shell rotatable around a second axis that is parallel to and offset from the first axis.

[0039] Example 2. The passenger seat of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the first axis and the second axis each extend from a first lateral side of the seat back to a second lateral side of the seat back, wherein the first axis is at a first vertical position of the seat back, and wherein the second axis is at a second vertical position of the seat back.

[0040] Example 3. The passenger seat of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the first vertical position is lower along the seat back than the second vertical position.

[0041] Example 4. The passenger seat of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the back shell comprises at least one cam channel for guiding a reclining motion of the back shell.

[0042] Example 5. The passenger seat of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, further comprising at least one cam coupled with the seat back and positionable within the cam channel, wherein the at least one cam extends from a connection point adjacent to the seat back to a variable position along the at least one cam channel.

[0043] Example 6. The passenger seat of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the at least one cam channel comprises a first cam channel that is oriented approximately parallel to a vertical axis following a length of the seat back.Attorney Docket No. 038398-1468833Client Ref. No. B-028559PCT01Patent Application

[0044] Example 7. The passenger seat of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the at least one cam is slidable within the first cam channel along the vertical axis to facilitate semi-independent rotation of the back shell with respect to the seat back.

[0045] Example 8. The passenger seat of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the back shell is connected with the seat back at least at a pivot point proximate to the seat base, and wherein the pivot point is approximately positioned along the second axis.

[0046] Example 9. The passenger seat of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the seat base is configured to translate in a first direction during a recline operation of the passenger seat, wherein the seat back is configured to translate in a second direction while rotating about the first axis, wherein the first direction is different from the second direction.

[0047] Example 10. The passenger seat of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the back shell is configured to translate in the second direction while rotating about the pivot point.

[0048] Example 11. The passenger seat of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the back shell defines an open space within the back shell between a top edge of the seat back and an inner surface of the back shell.

[0049] Example 12. The passenger seat of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein, in a resting configuration of the passenger seat, the open space has a first distance from the top edge to the inner surface, wherein, in a reclined configuration of the passenger seat, the open space has a second distance from the top edge to the inner surface, and wherein the second distance is larger than the first distance.Attorney Docket No. 038398-1468833Client Ref. No. B-028559PCT01Patent Application

[0050] Example 13. The passenger seat of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein, in the reclined configuration of the passenger seat, the back shell has a first recline angle that is less than a second recline angle of the seat back.

[0051] Example 14. The passenger seat of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, further comprising an auxiliary attachment coupled with the back shell, wherein the auxiliary attachment has a third recline angle that is approximately the same as the first recline angle.

[0052] Example 15. An aircraft comprising the passenger seat of any of the preceding or subsequent examples.

[0053] Example 16. A back shell for a passenger seat, the back shell comprising at least one cam channel for guiding a reclining motion of the back shell, the back shell sized to be positioned around at least a portion of a seat back of the passenger seat, and the back shell rotatable around a second axis that is parallel to and offset from a first axis about which the seat back is configured to rotate.

[0054] Example 17. The back shell of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, further comprising at least one cam coupled with the seat back and positionable within the cam channel, wherein the at least one cam extends from a connection point adjacent to the seat back to a variable position along the at least one cam channel, wherein the at least one cam channel comprises a first cam channel that is oriented approximately parallel to a vertical axis following a length of the seat back.

[0055] Example 18. The back shell of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the back shell is connected with the seat back at least at a pivot point proximate to the seat base, and wherein the pivot point is approximately positioned along the second axis.

[0056] Example 19. A passenger seat comprising: a seat back coupled with a seat base and configured to support a passenger of a passenger vehicle, the seat back rotatableAttorney Docket No. 038398-1468833Client Ref. No. B-028559PCT01Patent Application around a first axis for reclining the passenger seat; and a back shell sized to be positioned around at least a portion of the seat back, the back shell rotatable around a second axis that is parallel to and offset from the first axis, and the back shell comprising at least one cam channel for guiding a reclining motion of the back shell.

[0057] Example 20. The passenger seat of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the back shell defines an open space within the back shell between a top edge of the seat back and an inner surface of the back shell, wherein, in a resting configuration of the passenger seat, the open space has a first distance from the top edge to the inner surface, wherein, in a reclined configuration of the passenger seat, the open space has a second distance from the top edge to the inner surface, wherein the second distance is larger than the first distance, and wherein, in the reclined configuration of the passenger seat, the back shell has a first recline angle that is less than a second recline angle of the seat back.

[0058] Different arrangements of the components depicted in the drawings or described above, as well as components and steps not shown or described are possible. Similarly, some features and sub-combinations are useful and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. Embodiments of the invention have been described for illustrative and not restrictive purposes, and alternative embodiments will become apparent to readers of this patent. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above or depicted in the drawings, and various embodiments and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claims below.

Claims

Attorney Docket No. 038398-1468833Client Ref. No. B-028559PCT01Patent ApplicationCLAIMSThat which is claimed is:

1. A passenger seat comprising: a seat back coupled with a seat base and configured to support a passenger of a passenger vehicle, the seat back rotatable around a first axis for reclining the passenger seat; and a back shell sized to be positioned around at least a portion of the seat back, the back shell rotatable around a second axis that is parallel to and offset from the first axis.

2. The passenger seat of claim 1, wherein the first axis and the second axis each extend from a first lateral side of the seat back to a second lateral side of the seat back, wherein the first axis is at a first vertical position of the seat back, and wherein the second axis is at a second vertical position of the seat back.

3. The passenger seat of claim 2, wherein the first vertical position is lower along the seat back than the second vertical position.

4. The passenger seat of claim 1, wherein the back shell comprises at least one cam channel for guiding a reclining motion of the back shell.

5. The passenger seat of claim 4, further comprising at least one cam coupled with the seat back and positionable within the cam channel, wherein the at least one cam extends from a connection point adjacent to the seat back to a variable position along the at least one cam channel.

6. The passenger seat of claim 5, wherein the at least one cam channel comprises a first cam channel that is oriented approximately parallel to a vertical axis following a length of the seat back.Attorney Docket No. 038398-1468833 Client Ref. No. B-028559PCT01 Patent Application7. The passenger seat of claim 6, wherein the at least one cam is slidable within the first cam channel along the vertical axis to facilitate semi-independent rotation of the back shell with respect to the seat back.

8. The passenger seat of claim 1, wherein the back shell is connected with the seat back at least at a pivot point proximate to the seat base, and wherein the pivot point is approximately positioned along the second axis.

9. The passenger seat of claim 8, wherein the seat base is configured to translate in a first direction during a recline operation of the passenger seat, wherein the seat back is configured to translate in a second direction while rotating about the first axis, wherein the first direction is different from the second direction.

10. The passenger seat of claim 9, wherein the back shell is configured to translate in the second direction while rotating about the pivot point.

11. The passenger seat of claim 1, wherein the back shell defines an open space within the back shell between a top edge of the seat back and an inner surface of the back shell.

12. The passenger seat of claim 11, wherein, in a resting configuration of the passenger seat, the open space has a first distance from the top edge to the inner surface, wherein, in a reclined configuration of the passenger seat, the open space has a second distance from the top edge to the inner surface, and wherein the second distance is larger than the first distance.

13. The passenger seat of claim 12, wherein, in the reclined configuration of the passenger seat, the back shell has a first recline angle that is less than a second recline angle of the seat back.

14. The passenger seat of claim 13, further comprising an auxiliary attachment coupled with the back shell, wherein the auxiliary attachment has a third recline angle that is approximately the same as the first recline angle.

15. An aircraft comprising the passenger seat of claim 1.Attorney Docket No. 038398-1468833Client Ref. No. B-028559PCT01Patent Application16. A back shell for a passenger seat, the back shell comprising at least one cam channel for guiding a reclining motion of the back shell, the back shell sized to be positioned around at least a portion of a seat back of the passenger seat, and the back shell rotatable around a second axis that is parallel to and offset from a first axis about which the seat back is configured to rotate.

17. The back shell of claim 16, further comprising at least one cam coupled with the seat back and positionable within the cam channel, wherein the at least one cam extends from a connection point adjacent to the seat back to a variable position along the at least one cam channel, wherein the at least one cam channel comprises a first cam channel that is oriented approximately parallel to a vertical axis following a length of the seat back.

18. The back shell of claim 16, wherein the back shell is connected with the seat back at least at a pivot point proximate to the seat base, and wherein the pivot point is approximately positioned along the second axis.

19. A passenger seat comprising: a seat back coupled with a seat base and configured to support a passenger of a passenger vehicle, the seat back rotatable around a first axis for reclining the passenger seat; and a back shell sized to be positioned around at least a portion of the seat back, the back shell rotatable around a second axis that is parallel to and offset from the first axis, and the back shell comprising at least one cam channel for guiding a reclining motion of the back shell.

20. The passenger seat of claim 19, wherein the back shell defines an open space within the back shell between a top edge of the seat back and an inner surface of the back shell, wherein, in a resting configuration of the passenger seat, the open space has a first distance from the top edge to the inner surface, wherein, in a reclined configuration of the passenger seat, the open space has a second distance from the top edge to the inner surface, wherein the second distance is larger than the first distance, and wherein, in the reclined configuration ofAttorney Docket No. 038398-1468833 Client Ref. No. B-028559PCT01 Patent Application the passenger seat, the back shell has a first recline angle that is less than a second recline angle of the seat back.

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