Privacy shell provided with a wire structure

Abstract

The present invention relates to a privacy shell assembly (12) for an aircraft seat unit comprising: - a console (13) comprising a housing in which a footrest is arranged, and - a privacy shell (15) intended to at least partially surround a seat, - the privacy shell (15) comprising a wire structure (25) comprising a peripheral wire (28) defining a metal frame (26) and a plurality of reinforcing wires (27.1, 27.2) extending inside the frame (26).

Description

DESCRIPTION TITLE: PRIVACY SHELL WITH A WIRE STRUCTURE

[0001] The present invention relates to a privacy shell with a wire structure. The invention finds a particularly advantageous application in the field of aeronautics, especially with "business class" and "first class" type seating units in an aircraft cabin.

[0002] As is well known, such a seating unit comprises a seat combined with a privacy shell that extends at least partially around the seat to create a semi-enclosed space around the passenger. This configuration ensures passenger privacy.

[0003] The seat offers the passenger various comfort positions, from a "sitting" position to a "lying" position, in which the seat cushion and backrest create a nearly horizontal sleeping surface for the passenger to lie down. Intermediate comfort positions are also available, such as the "relax" position in which the seat backrest is significantly reclined.

[0004] The seat unit also includes a console with a housing in which is placed a footrest also called an "ottoman" on which a rear passenger can rest their feet, particularly when their seat is in a reclined position.

[0005] As illustrated in Figure 1, a privacy screen 1 is formed by a structural layer 2 comprising a central core 3 made of a honeycomb material and two composite material plates 4 arranged on either side of the central core. The composite material plates 4 may have a fibrous reinforcement based on carbon fibers coated with a resin. The structural layer 2 may be covered by a layer of paint 5, or a film (known as "covering" in English), or covered with a plastic cover.

[0006] However, structural layer 2 is not recyclable, and its components are not made from recycled materials. Composite panels are generally incinerated at the end of their lifecycle. The materials used in the composite panel were identified in an ATI (Aerospace Technology Institute) report on aircraft seat components as a priority for replacement to improve the environmental footprint of aircraft seats. Therefore, there is a need to replace the structural layer of the privacy shell with an easily recyclable material.

[0007] The invention aims to effectively address this need by providing a privacy shell assembly for an aircraft seat unit comprising: - a console including a compartment in which a footrest is placed, and - a privacy shell designed to at least partially surround a seat, - the privacy shell has a wire structure comprising a peripheral wire defining a metal frame and a plurality of reinforcing wires extending inside the frame.

[0008] The invention, through the use of a wire structure, enables the recycling of the metallic material from the privacy screen. It offers a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to the composite material currently used. Furthermore, the invention reduces tooling costs, as the wire structure can be produced using manual or CNC bending machines. This also represents savings in materials and development time compared to manufacturing a mold for a composite honeycomb structure. In addition, the manufacturing processes that can be implemented offer a high degree of design freedom and are thus suitable for producing privacy screens for business class seats, which can have complex shapes.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the invention, the privacy shell further comprises a composite structural panel made at least partly of a composite material, the wire structure being fixed to the composite structural panel.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the invention, the composite structural panel arranged above the console has a screen support function and / or a cable passage function and / or a cable retention function.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, the wire structure made of a metallic material comprises horizontal reinforcing wires and / or vertical reinforcing wires and / or reinforcing wires extending along a direction forming an angle between 0 degrees excluded and 90 degrees excluded with respect to a horizontal direction, in particular an angle between 30 degrees and 60 degrees and preferably of the order of 45 degrees.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the reinforcing wires have a lattice configuration.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, two adjacent reinforcing wires alternately comprise two portions welded together and two portions separated from each other.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the frame is folded so that the wire structure comprises two flat parts forming a non-zero angle between them.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the invention, the reinforcing wires are made of a polymer material, these reinforcing wires being stretched relative to the frame in the manner of a tennis racket's mesh.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, said privacy shell assembly comprises at least one interface beam having fasteners intended to establish a mechanical connection with rails of an aircraft cabin floor.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the invention, the wire structure includes an added fixing plate welded to the peripheral wire and / or to at least one reinforcing wire to allow fixing of the wire structure to one end of the interface beam.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the invention, the peripheral wire of the frame and / or at least one reinforcing wire comprises at least one flattened fastening portion provided with an opening for the passage of a fastening element.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the invention, each flattened portion of the fixing is constituted by a local deformation of the peripheral wire and / or the corresponding reinforcing wire.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the invention, the privacy shell comprises a covering cap covering the wire structure.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the invention, the privacy shell includes a finishing cover fixed to the wire structure.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the invention, the privacy shell comprises load distribution plates arranged on either side of the wire structure.

[0023] The invention also relates to a seating unit, particularly for an aircraft, comprising a seat and a privacy shell assembly as previously defined.

[0024] The present invention will be better understood and other features and advantages will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description, which includes embodiments given by way of illustration with reference to the accompanying figures, presented by way of non-limiting examples, which may serve to complete the understanding of the present invention and the explanation of its implementation and, where appropriate, contribute to its definition, on which:

[0025] [Fig. 1] Figure 1, already described, is a cross-sectional view of a privacy shell according to the state of the art;

[0026] [Fig. 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a business class type aircraft seat unit with which a privacy shell assembly according to the invention can be used;

[0027] [Fig. 3] Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of an assembly of privacy shell according to the invention covered by a dressing cap;

[0028] [Fig. 4a] [Fig. 4b] Figures 4a and 4b are front and rear perspective views of an assembly of intimacy shell according to the invention without the dressing cap;

[0029] [Fig. 5] Figure 5 is a perspective view of a privacy shell assembly according to the invention mounted on an aircraft cabin floor shown partially;

[0030] [Fig. 6] Figure 6 is a perspective view of a wire metal structure of a privacy shell according to the invention equipped with fixing plates to interface beams and to a composite structural panel;

[0031] [Fig. 7] Figure 7 is a detailed perspective view of a fixing plate that can be integrated onto a wire metal structure of a privacy shell according to the invention;

[0032] [Fig. 8] Figure 8 is a detailed perspective view of a flattened area for fixing a wire metal structure of a privacy shell according to the invention;

[0033] [Fig. 9] Figure 9 is a detailed perspective view of a mounting bracket integrated into a console or composite wall of a seating unit according to the invention;

[0034] [Fig. 10] Figure 10 is a detailed perspective view of an insert integrated into a console or composite wall of a seating unit according to the invention;

[0035] [Fig. 11a] Figure 11a is a perspective view of a first variant of the realization of a wire metal structure of a privacy shell according to the invention;

[0036] [Fig. 11 b] Figure 11 b is a perspective view of a second variant of an embodiment of a wire metal structure of a privacy shell according to the invention;

[0037] [Fig. 11 c] Figure 11 c is a perspective view of a third variant of an embodiment of a wire metal structure of a privacy shell according to the invention;

[0038] [Fig. 11d] Figure 11d is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a wire mesh metal structure of a privacy shell according to the invention;

[0039] [Fig. 12a] Figure 12a is a cross-sectional view of the wire metal structure according to the invention of Figure 11d illustrating the welds between two adjacent portions of wire parallel to each other;

[0040] [Fig. 12b] Figure 12b is a cross-sectional view of the wire metal structure according to the invention illustrating the welds of two adjacent wire portions arranged one on top of the other in a lattice configuration of figures 4a-4b or 11c;

[0041] [Fig. 13] Figure 13 is a top view of a wire structure comprising a frame and reinforcing wires having a sieve configuration of a tennis racket;

[0042] [Fig. 14] Figure 14 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a privacy shell with load distribution plates arranged on either side of the wire structure.

[0043] It should be noted that, in the figures, the structural and / or functional elements common to the different embodiments have the same reference numerals. Thus, unless otherwise stated, such elements have identical structural, dimensional, and material properties.

[0044] Relative terms such as "front", "rear", "horizontal", "vertical", are understood by reference to the common meaning that a person observing a seating unit according to the invention arranged in a position of use would give them.

[0045] Figure 2 shows a seating unit 10 comprising a seat 11 and a privacy shell assembly 12 including a console 13 positioned next to the seat 11 and a privacy shell 15 extending at least partially around the seat 11 so as to delimit a semi-enclosed space around the passenger. This configuration ensures the privacy of the passenger seated in seat 11.

[0046] More specifically, seat 11 comprises a seat 16 and a backrest 17. Seat 11 is advantageously equipped with a mechanism allowing it to move between a "seated" position, in which seat 11 is configured to define a passenger's seating position, and a "reclined" position, in which the seat 16 and backrest 17 define a sleeping surface for the passenger, advantageously substantially horizontal. Seat 11 can also assume at least one intermediate comfort position, known as the "relaxed" position, in which the backrest of seat 11 is significantly inclined backward.

[0047] The console 13 has side panels 20 and a top panel 21 on which the passenger can place objects. The console 13 has an internal compartment 22 in which a footrest 23 is located, as shown in Figure 3. The internal compartment 22 is open at the rear so that a rear passenger can place their feet on the footrest 23.

[0048] As illustrated in Figures 4a, 4b, 5, and 6, the privacy screen 15 comprises a wire mesh structure 25 including a peripheral wire 28 defining a frame 26 and a plurality of reinforcing wires 27.1, 27.2 extending inside the frame 26. Advantageously, the wire mesh structure 25, including the frame 26 and the reinforcing wires 27.1, 27.2, is made of an aluminum-based material. Aluminum offers a good compromise between its mechanical strength and mass, providing a lightweight solution. Alternatively, the wire mesh structure 25 can be made of steel or any other metallic material suitable for the application.

[0049] The peripheral wire 28 can be shaped by a bending machine. The ends of the peripheral wire 28 can be welded together. The peripheral wire 28, as well as the reinforcing wires 27.1 and 27.2, can be solid or tubular, i.e., hollow. The peripheral wire 28 and the reinforcing wires 27.1 and 27.2 can be of the same type (solid or tubular) or of different types; that is, the peripheral wire 28 can be tubular while the reinforcing wires 27.1 and 27.2 can be solid, or vice versa. The reinforcing wires 27.1 and 27.2 can also be of the same type or of different types. The peripheral wire 28 and the reinforcing wires 27.1 and 27.2 can have a round, rectangular, or square cross-section, or any other cross-section suitable for the application. The peripheral wire 28 is preferably in one continuous piece. Alternatively, the peripheral wire 28 can be made up of several parts assembled together.The diameter of the peripheral reinforcing wire 28 and the reinforcing wires 27.1, 27.2 can be between 2 and 20 mm. The diameter of the peripheral wire 28 can be greater than the diameter of the reinforcing wires 27.1, 27.2.

[0050] The frame 26 can be bent so that the wire structure 25 comprises two flat portions 25.1, 25.2 forming a non-zero angle with each other. The two flat portions 25.1, 25.2 of the wire structure 25 extend substantially perpendicularly to each other. The wire structure 25 thus has an L-shape. By varying the shape, the frame 26 can be a flat frame or have any other shape obtained by bending the peripheral wire 28.

[0051] Following a hybrid configuration shown in Figures 4a, 4b, and 5, the privacy shell 15 further comprises a composite structural panel 29 made at least partially of a composite material. The wire mesh structure 25 is attached to the composite structural panel 29.

[0052] The composite structural panel 29 may comprise a central core made of a honeycomb material and two composite material plates arranged on either side of the central core. The composite material plates may include a fibrous reinforcement based on carbon fibers coated with a resin.

[0053] The composite structural panel 29, positioned above the console 13, serves as a screen support and / or a cable management system and / or a cable retention system. To this end, the composite structural panel 29 has interfaces on its rear face for attaching to a screen.

[0054] To ensure the mechanical connection between the composite structural panel 29 and the wire metal structure 25, the wire metal structure 25 may include at least one fixing plate 36 arranged opposite at least one fixing element (fixing bracket or insert) fixed on the composite structural panel 29. The fixing of the wire structure 25 by means of a fixing plate 36 is described in more detail below.

[0055] As illustrated in Figure 5, at least one interface beam 30 includes fasteners 35, for example, plunger fasteners, for establishing a mechanical connection with rails of a floor 33 in the aircraft cabin. An interface beam 30 has a solid or hollow profile shape equipped with the fasteners 35. In this case, two interface beams 30 are provided, each having one end fixed to the wire frame 25 and the other end fixed to a wall of the console 13.

[0056] More specifically, the wire structure 25 includes at least one mounting plate 36 welded to the peripheral wire 28 and / or to at least one reinforcing wire 27.1, 27.2. The mounting plate 36 is welded in the plane of the frame 26. The mounting plate 36 allows the wire structure 25 to be attached to one end of an interface beam 30. A second end of the interface beam 30 is attached to the bracket 13.

[0057] For this purpose, one end of the interface beam 30 is positioned opposite a fixing plate 36 of the wire metal structure 25. Fastening elements, such as screws or rivets, are inserted inside through openings opposite each other in the end of the interface beam 30 and the fixing plate 36 of the wire metal structure 25. The through openings can also be equipped with rivet nuts or flow-tapped collars, or welded insert nuts allowing direct screw fastening.

[0058] As illustrated in Figure 7, a mounting plate 36 is a thin metal plate with through-holes 43 for fasteners, such as screws or rivets. The through-holes 43 can also be fitted with rivet nuts, tapped flanges, or welded insert nuts allowing direct screw fastening. The number of through-holes 43 for fasteners can vary depending on the forces to be borne at the mechanical connection between the two elements to be assembled.

[0059] In the example shown in Figure 6, the wire metal structure 25 has two fixing plates 36 arranged along a lateral edge of the frame 26 for fixing with a composite structural panel 29 and two fixing plates 36 arranged along a lower edge of the frame 26 for fixing the wire metal structure 25 with the fixing interface beams 30. Of course, the number of fixing plates 36 can be adapted according to the number of fixing interfaces desired on the wire metal structure 25.

[0060] As illustrated in Figure 9, the bracket 13 may include a fixing bracket 44 intended to be positioned opposite the second end of the interface beam 30. Fastening elements, such as screws or rivets, ensure a fixing between the fixing bracket and the second end of the interface beam 30. The through openings may also be equipped with rivet nuts or flow-drilled collars, or welded insert nuts allowing direct screw fixing.

[0061] In the embodiment of Figure 10, the console 13 includes at least one integrated insert 45 having a threaded opening 46 on which one end of an interface beam 30 can be fixed.

[0062] As illustrated in Figure 8, the peripheral wire 28 of the frame 26 and / or at least one reinforcing wire 27.1, 27.2 may include at least one flattened fastening portion 39 provided with an opening for a fastener. The fastener may be a screw, a rivet, or any other fastener suitable for the application. The flattened fastening portion 39 may be used to secure the wire structure 25 to a structural element (interface beam 30 or bracket 13) or to secure storage, such as a cupboard, shelves, a magazine rack, or any other storage suitable for the application.

[0063] Each flattened fastening portion 39 is formed by a local deformation of the peripheral wire 28 and / or the corresponding reinforcing wire 27.1, 27.2. Each flattened fastening portion 39 has the shape of a thin rectangular, square, or round plate.

[0064] In the embodiment of figures 4a, 4b, 5 and 6, the wire metal structure 25 includes horizontal reinforcing wires 27.1 and vertical reinforcing wires 27.2 so as to present a lattice configuration.

[0065] In the embodiment shown in Figure 11a, the wire mesh structure 25 comprises only horizontal reinforcing wires 27.1, each extending in a horizontal plane. The reinforcing wires 27.1 may have a straight or bent configuration as shown. The transverse reinforcing wires 27.1 may be evenly spaced.

[0066] In the embodiment of Figure 11b, the wire metal structure 25 comprises only vertical reinforcing wires 27.2 extending in a vertical direction. The vertical reinforcing wires 27.2 may be spaced regularly apart.

[0067] In the embodiment of Figure 11c, the wire metal structure 25 includes reinforcing wires 27.1, 27.2 extending in a direction forming an angle A1, A2 between 0 degrees excluded and 90 degrees excluded with respect to a side of the frame 26, in particular an angle between 30 degrees and 60 degrees and preferably of the order of 45 degrees.

[0068] The first reinforcing wires 27.1, parallel to each other, form an angle A1 measured counterclockwise with respect to one side of the frame 26, and the second reinforcing wires 27.2, parallel to each other, form an angle A2 measured clockwise with respect to the side of the frame 26. The reinforcing wires 27.1 and 27.2 have a lattice configuration. The ends of the reinforcing wires 27.1 and 27.2 can be welded to the frame 26.

[0069] In the embodiment of Figure 11d, two adjacent reinforcing wires 27.1, 27.2 alternately comprise two portions welded 37.1, 37.2 together and two portions separated 38.1, 38.2 from each other.

[0070] We thus observe two welded portions 37.1, 37.2 followed by two distant portions 38.1, 38.2 followed by two welded portions 37.1, 37.2, and so on. The distant portions 38.1, 38.2 can be welded to a portion of the frame 26 (for the end reinforcing wires closest to the frame 26) or welded to a portion of another adjacent reinforcing wire for the reinforcing wires located between the end reinforcing wires. The welded portions 37.1, 37.2 are parallel to each other. The longitudinal extension direction of the reinforcing wires 27.1, 27.2 can be horizontal, vertical, or form a non-zero angle of less than 90 degrees with respect to a horizontal direction. The reinforcing wires 27.1, 27.2 can have a corrugated shape in a plane of the frame 26.

[0071] Figures 12a and 12b show that the overall thickness E of reinforcing wires 27.1, 27.2 corrugated in the same plane with parallel welded sections (see Figure 12a) is less than when the reinforcing wires 27.1, 27.2 are arranged one above the other in a lattice configuration (see Figure 12b). For the same overall thickness E, it is therefore possible to use reinforcing wires 27.1, 27.2 with a larger diameter in the corrugated wire configuration with parallel welded sections.

[0072] Figure 13 shows an embodiment of the wire structure 25 comprising a metal frame 26 and reinforcing wires 27.1, 27.2 made of a polymer material. The reinforcing wires 27.1, 27.2 may be made of nylon. These reinforcing wires 27.1, 27.2 are tensioned relative to the frame 26 in the manner of the strings of a tennis racket. Thus, horizontally oriented reinforcing wires 27.1 and vertically oriented reinforcing wires 27.1 are distinguished. The tension of the reinforcing wires 27.1, 27.2 can be determined so that the privacy shell 15 is rigid to the touch or, conversely, flexible to provide comfort to the passenger. The frame 26 may have an oval shape.

[0073] The privacy screen 15 may include a cover 32 covering the wire frame 25, as shown in Figure 3. The cover 32 may, for example, be made of a material chosen from textiles, suede, leather, imitation leather, and / or any other flexible material suitable for the panel's finish. The cover 32 may feature decorative patterns on its visible parts. Such decorative patterns can be customized, particularly according to an airline's requirements. A sheet of plastic or metallic material may be added between the wire frame 25 and the cover 32 to improve the overall aesthetic finish.

[0074] As illustrated in Figure 14, the privacy shell 15 may include load-bearing plates 49 arranged on either side of the wire structure 25. Each load-bearing plate 49 may be positioned between a face of the wire structure 25 and the cover 32. The load-bearing plates 49 prevent deformation of the flexible cover 32 within the openings of the wire structure 25. The load-bearing plates 49 may be solid plates. The load-bearing plates 49 are made of metal or plastic. The use of the load-bearing plates 49 is not mandatory.

[0075] Alternatively or in addition, as illustrated in Figure 4a, the privacy shell 15 may include a finishing cover 41 fixed to the wire metal structure 25. The finishing cover 41 may be a plastic cover obtained for example by thermoforming or by injection.

[0076] Alternatively, the finishing cover 41 can be made of thermoformed felt. The finishing cover 41 can be attached to the wire frame 25 using the flattened fastening portions 39. Alternatively, the finishing cover 41 can be attached to the wire frame 25 using self-gripping textile fasteners, snap fasteners, rivets, or any other suitable fastening method.

[0077] Of course, the different features, variants and / or embodiments of the present invention can be combined with each other in various ways as long as they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive.

[0078] 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 variations that a person skilled in the art may envision within the scope of the present invention, and in particular all combinations of the different modes of operation described above, which may be considered separately or in combination.

Claims

DEMANDS 1. Privacy shell assembly (12) for one aircraft seat unit (10) comprising: - a console (13) comprising a housing in which a footrest is arranged, and - a privacy shell (15) intended to at least partially surround a seat (11), characterized in that the privacy shell (15) comprises a wire structure (25) including a peripheral wire (28) defining a metal frame (26) and a plurality of reinforcing wires (27.1, 27.2) extending inside the frame (26).

2. Privacy shell assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the privacy shell (15) further comprises a composite structural panel (29) made at least partly of a composite material, the wire structure (25) being fixed to the composite structural panel (29).

3. Privacy shell assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the composite structural panel (29) disposed above the console (13) has a screen support function and / or a cable passage function and / or a cable retention function.

4. Privacy shell assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the wire structure (25) made of a metallic material comprises horizontal reinforcing wires (27.1) and / or vertical reinforcing wires (27.2) and / or reinforcing wires (27.1, 27.2) extending in a direction forming an angle between 0 degrees excluded and 90 degrees excluded with respect to a horizontal direction, in particular an angle between 30 degrees and 60 degrees and preferably of the order of 45 degrees.

5. Privacy shell assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that the reinforcing wires (27.1, 27.2) have a lattice configuration.

6. Privacy shell assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that two adjacent reinforcing wires (27.1, 27.2) alternately comprise two portions welded (37.1, 37.2) together and two portions separated (38.1, 38.2) from each other.

7. Privacy shell assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the frame (26) is folded so that the wire structure (25) comprises two flat parts (25.1, 25.2) forming a non-zero angle between them.

8. Privacy shell assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises at least one interface beam (30) having fasteners (35) intended to establish a mechanical connection with rails of a floor (33) of the aircraft cabin.

9. Privacy shell assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that the wire structure (25) includes a fixing plate (36) welded to the peripheral wire (28) and / or to at least one reinforcing wire (27.1, 27.2) to allow fixing of the wire structure (25) to one end of the interface beam (30).

10. Privacy shell assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the peripheral wire (28) of the frame (26) and / or at least one reinforcing wire (27.1, 27.2) comprise(s) at least one flattened fixing portion (39) provided with an opening for the passage of a fixing element.

11. Intimacy shell assembly according to claim 10, characterized in that each flattened fastening portion (39) is constituted by a local deformation of the peripheral wire (28) and / or the corresponding reinforcing wire (27.1, 27.2).

12. Privacy shell assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the privacy shell (15) comprises a covering cap (32) covering the wire structure (25).

13. Privacy shell assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the privacy shell (15) comprises a finishing cover (41) fixed to the wire structure (25).

14. Intimacy shell assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the reinforcing wires (27.1, 27.2) are made of a polymer material, these reinforcing wires (27.1, 27.2) being stretched relative to the frame (26) in the manner of a tennis racket's sieve.

15. Privacy shell assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the privacy shell (15) comprises load distribution plates (49) arranged on either side of the wire structure (25).

16. Seat unit (10), in particular for an aircraft, comprising a seat (11) and a privacy shell assembly (12) as defined according to any one of the preceding claims.

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