Aircraft seat unit, and aircraft seat unit assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing aircraft seat designs fail to provide adequate support for diverse passenger requirements, as the hardness of the seat surface remains constant in both seating and flat forms, insufficiently meeting the varied needs of passengers.

Innovation Solution

An aircraft seat unit with a seat portion that can change between a short and long state, featuring a first buttocks support layer that is harder than a second buttocks support layer, allowing passengers to select the desired level of hardness and comfort based on their needs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the seat surface hardness is kept constant in both seating and flat forms, then the seat structure is simple, but the ability to meet diverse passenger requirements is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to meet diverse passenger requirementsVSAvoidseat structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The seat cushion is divided into multiple layers with different hardness characteristics. The first cushioning layer has a first hardness value, the second cushioning layer has a second hardness value different from the first, creating a multi-layer structure that provides different support characteristics for different seating positions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the seat cushion have different hardness properties. The front portion of the seat cushion contains the first cushioning layer with first hardness, while the rear portion contains the second cushioning layer with second hardness, allowing localized adaptation to different passenger needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If the seat cushion is made uniformly hard, then structural support is good, but comfort for relaxation is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomfort for diverse activitiesVSAvoidcushion manufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The cushion is segmented into multiple independent layers with different hardness characteristics. Each layer can be manufactured separately and then assembled, providing both manufacturing simplicity and functional versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cushion uses composite material construction with at least two different cushioning materials having different hardness values. This allows the cushion to provide both firm support and soft comfort zones within a single integrated component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP3708417B1Aircraft seat unit, and aircraft seat unit assembly
Publication Date: 2022.12.21 JAMCO CORPORATION
  • EP3708417B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3708417B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3708417B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

In order to provide an aircraft seat unit and an aircraft seat unit assembly capable of meeting various passenger requirements, an aircraft seat unit is provided with a seat portion including a first buttocks support layer and a second buttocks support layer, and a backrest portion. The seat portion is configured to be capable of changing states between a short seat portion state and a long seat portion state. The first buttocks support layer configured to support the buttocks of a passenger in the short seat portion state is harder than the second buttocks support layer configured to support the buttocks of the passenger in the long seat portion state.