Aircraft Ottoman Rail-and-Pivot Assembly for Lay-Flat Bed Extension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft seats in premium areas often have limited sleeping surfaces when converted to a bed mode, failing to accommodate passengers of varying sizes due to constraints in seat dimensions.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic electro-mechanical ottoman that can be positioned relative to a convertible aircraft seat, featuring a cushion assembly that rotates and translates along actuatable tracks, extending the sleeping surface when the seat is in a lay-flat position, and can be independently controlled via a passenger control unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the seat dimensions are constrained to fit aircraft cabin space, then the seat can be accommodated in the aircraft cabin, but the sleeping surface area is limited and cannot accommodate passengers of varying sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The ottoman is designed with movable and adjustable components that allow it to dynamically change its configuration. The cushion assembly can rotate about a pivot shaft and translate along actuatable tracks, enabling the sleeping surface area to be expanded or reduced based on passenger needs and seat position, thus resolving the contradiction between providing a large sleeping surface and maintaining manageable structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The ottoman is divided into separate functional components including a cushion assembly, a rail assembly with actuatable tracks, and a control system. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the cushion assembly provides the sleeping surface, the rail assembly enables controlled movement, and the actuator provides power - thereby achieving expanded sleeping surface area without excessive overall system complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If the ottoman is made fully movable and independently controllable, then passenger comfort and customization are improved, but the device complexity and control system requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator serves multiple functions: it powers the rotation of the cushion assembly about the pivot shaft and also drives the translation of the cushion assembly along the actuatable tracks. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate control mechanisms for each degree of freedom, thereby improving adaptability while limiting the increase in control system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The control system receives input signals from the passenger control unit and coordinates the actuator's movements to achieve desired ottoman positions. The system can be designed with feedback mechanisms that monitor the ottoman's position and adjust actuator operation accordingly, enabling versatile positioning while maintaining manageable control complexity through automated position management
3Shape
If the cushion assembly is designed to rotate and translate independently, then the sleeping surface can be extended and aligned with the seat, but the mechanical complexity of the rail assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation mechanism about the pivot shaft and the translation mechanism along the actuatable tracks are merged into a single integrated rail assembly structure. The actuator controls both degrees of freedom through this unified mechanism, allowing the cushion assembly to achieve complex movements (rotation and translation) while avoiding the need for separate, independently complex mechanical systems for each function
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
A dynamic electro-mechanical ottoman for an aircraft, comprising a rail assembly (230) comprising one or more rails (232); and one or more actuatable tracks (242) coupled to the one or more rails (232); and a cushion assembly (200) translatable via the one or more actuatable tracks (242) between a first translation position and a second translation position, the cushion assembly comprising one or more cross plates (208) coupled to the one or more actuatable tracks; a pivot shaft (214) coupled to the one or more cross plates; and a cushion sub-assembly (212) comprising one or more support plates (204) coupled to the pivot shaft; and a cushion (202) coupled to the one or more support plates, the cushion sub-assembly rotatable about an axis through the pivot shaft between a first rotation position and a second rotation position to actuate a front edge in a downward direction and a rear edge in an upward direction, a top surface of the cushion at least partially facing an aircraft seat (104) when the cushion sub-assembly is in the second rotation position.