Aircraft Seat Base Component Locking Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing passenger seat designs for aircraft fail to balance ease of use, operating comfort, and safety standards while allowing for efficient cleaning and maintenance in a compact form.

Innovation Solution

A passenger seat design featuring a stationary housing with a movable base component that can be securely locked in an upright position using a quick-release securing device, allowing for easy conversion between upright and horizontal positions, facilitating comfortable seating and maintenance access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of repair

If the base component is made movable to allow folding for maintenance access, then ease of maintenance is improved, but safety and structural stability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of maintenanceVSAvoidstructural stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The base component is designed to be dynamically changeable between a fixed upright position during normal use and a movable folded position during maintenance. The locking device enables this dynamic transition by securing the base component in the upright position during operation and releasing it to allow folding forward for maintenance access to functional components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If a locking device is added to secure the base component in upright position, then safety and stability are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking device utilizes the existing weight and position of the base component itself as the locking mechanism. When the base component is in the upright position, its own weight and geometry provide the locking action, eliminating the need for separate active locking components and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Volume of moving object

If the base component is designed as a compact rigid structure, then space efficiency is improved, but ease of folding and maintenance access deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace efficiencyVSAvoidmaintenance access
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The backrest assembly is segmented into the base component and the backrest structure. The base component can be folded forward relative to the backrest, creating separate accessible zones. This segmentation allows the compact rigid design to be maintained while enabling maintenance access by folding the base component forward to expose functional components located behind it.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The design enhances usability and safety by providing a secure, easily adjustable seating configuration and simplifies maintenance by allowing the backrest to be folded forward, ensuring reliable locking and easy operation of the securing device.

Implementation Method 1

The locking element engages the detent contour on the locking element such that the locking element is locked in the locked position. Preferably, the locking element engages the detent contour on the locking element under force or spring force.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring force: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP4114731B1Aircraft passenger seat with enclosure
Publication Date: 2024.01.31 ZIM AIRCRAFT SEATING GMBH
  • EP4114731B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4114731B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4114731B1 patent drawingFigure 2a

AI summary

An aircraft passenger seat is proposed, having an enclosure and a base component (36) of a backrest of the aircraft passenger seat, wherein the base component (36) assumes an upright position during the use of the backrest. According to the invention, a securing device is provided for releasably securing the base component (36) in the upright position, wherein a securing element of the securing device is adjustable from a securing position of the securing element on the securing device into a release position of the securing element, wherein, in order to lock the securing element in the securing position, a movable locking member of the securing device comes to bear against a latching contour on the securing element in such a manner that the securing element is locked in the securing position.