Adjustable Passenger Seat Sub-Portions for Cabin Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

In aircraft and other passenger transport cabins, the close spacing of seat rows limits passenger comfort and accessibility, as well as complicates embarkation, disembarkation, and cleaning processes due to the need for passengers to leave their seats to allow others to stand or move through the aisle.

Innovation Solution

A passenger seat system with a pivotable backrest and adjustable seat sub-portions that allow the seat to be configured between a full and a reduced position, enabling passengers to stand in front of the seat without leaving their row, increasing legroom, and facilitating access and cleaning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If seat rows are positioned close together to maximize space utilization, then the number of seats per cabin increases, but passenger comfort deteriorates due to limited ability to vary sitting position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of seatsVSAvoidpassenger comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The seat system incorporates dynamic adjustability through the first sub-portion that can be moved between a first position (forming complete seat surface) and a second position (forming reduced seat surface). This dynamic configuration allows passengers to vary their sitting position even in tightly spaced rows, maintaining comfort while maximizing seat density.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The seat is divided into multiple sub-portions, with the first sub-portion being movable relative to the second sub-portion. This segmentation enables the seat surface to be reconfigured from a complete seating surface to a reduced surface, providing position variation for passenger comfort without requiring additional space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Quantity of substance

If seat rows are positioned close together, then space utilization improves, but accessibility deteriorates as passengers must leave their seats to allow others to move through the aisle

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidaccessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The movable first sub-portion enables the seat to dynamically reconfigure its surface area. When moved to the second position, it creates additional space in front of the seat, allowing passengers to stand or move without leaving their row, thereby improving accessibility while maintaining high seat density.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Quantity of substance

If seat rows are positioned close together, then seating capacity increases, but cleaning efficiency deteriorates due to reduced access to seat areas

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseating capacityVSAvoidcleaning efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The movable first sub-portion can be repositioned to create access space. When moved to the second position, it facilitates easier access to previously hard-to-reach areas of the seat, significantly improving cleaning efficiency while maintaining maximum seating capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3138773B1Passenger seat system
Publication Date: 2019.05.01 AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
  • EP3138773B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~2c
  • EP3138773B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~4c
  • EP3138773B1 patent drawingFigure 5a~6b

AI summary

A passenger seat system (10) comprises a backrest (12) as well as a seat (14), which comprises a first sub-portion (16) having a first surface (18) and a second, opposite surface (20) to the first surface (18) as well as a second sub-portion (22) having a first surface (24) and a second, opposite surface (26) to the first surface (24). The first sub-portion (16) and the second sub-portion (22) are movable relative to one another in order to adjust the seat (14) between a first and a second operating position. In the first operating position of the seat (14) the first sub-portion (16) and the second sub-portion (22) are positioned in relation to the backrest (12) one behind the other in such a way that the first surface (18) of the first sub-portion (16) and the first surface (24) of the second sub-portion (22) form a usable total seat surface. In the second operating position of the seat (14) the first sub-portion (16) and the second sub-portion (22) are positioned in relation to the backrest (12) one above the other in such a way that one of the surfaces (18, 20) of the first sub-portion (16) or the first surface (24) of the second sub-portion (22) forms a usable partial seat surface.