Aircraft Seat Support With Offset Struts for Legroom
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft passenger seats often have bulky support structures that lead to discomfort and back pain due to limited legroom when occupants lean forward, as the existing two-dimensional design does not adequately account for load distribution and leg space.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a support structure with pivotally connected struts that are inwardly, downwardly, and rearwardly offset, allowing for a reduced footprint and increased legroom by distributing loads more efficiently through a truss architecture, which includes a front support member with struts extending upwardly, outwardly, and frontwardly from the bottom support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a two-dimensional support structure design is used, then the seat can be manufactured with conventional methods, but the legroom is reduced and causes discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional support structure to a three-dimensional truss architecture. The struts are arranged in a triangular configuration with specific spatial relationships (front strut extending forward and downward, rear strut extending rearward and upward), creating a three-dimensional load-bearing structure that optimizes both manufacturing feasibility and passenger comfort by increasing legroom.
2Strength
If a bulky support structure is used, then the seat can provide adequate structural support, but the footprint is increased and legroom is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is segmented into discrete truss elements (front strut, rear strut, and crossbar) that work together to provide structural support. This segmentation allows for a more efficient distribution of loads through the triangular truss configuration, reducing the overall footprint while maintaining adequate structural support compared to a bulky monolithic structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a three-dimensional truss architecture that efficiently distributes structural loads in multiple directions. The spatial arrangement of struts creates a rigid structure with a smaller footprint by utilizing vertical and diagonal load paths rather than requiring a larger horizontal base area.
3Device complexity
If perpendicular support members are used to interconnect side supports, then the structure is simple to design, but the legroom is limited when occupants lean forward
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the two-dimensional perpendicular support member arrangement with a three-dimensional truss configuration. The struts are positioned at angles rather than perpendicular orientations, creating a spatial structure that clears the leg area more effectively while maintaining design simplicity through the regular geometric pattern of the truss elements.
Data Source
AI summary
A passenger seat for an aircraft, including a bottom support configured to be connected to a floor of the aircraft, a seat pan frame, and a support structure interconnecting the seat pan frame to the bottom support, the support structure including a front support member pivotally connected to a front end of the seat pan frame, the front support member including a respective strut on each side of the seat pan frame, each respective strut having a bottom end rigidly connected to the bottom support and an opposed top end located under the seat pan frame, the bottom end being inwardly, downwardly and rearwardly offset with respect to the top end.