Aircraft Passenger Suite Seating with Dedicated Aisle Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current airline seating arrangements for premium suites on wide-body jets compromise suite density, privacy, and accessibility due to the need for suites to be positioned adjacent to longitudinal aisles, limiting the number of suites that can be placed abreast and requiring them to be angled or positioned at an angle to the aircraft axis.
Innovation Solution
The seating arrangement groups suites together, with each suite having a dedicated access to the aisle and a specific orientation, utilizing partitions and ottoman designs to maximize density, privacy, and accessibility, allowing for unimpeded access and greater flexibility in suite positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If suites are positioned adjacent to longitudinal aisles to ensure accessibility, then suite access is provided, but suite density is limited and privacy is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The seating arrangement is segmented into three distinct suite types (aisle suite, middle suite, window suite) with dedicated access paths. Each suite type has its own entrance to the aisle, eliminating the need to pass through other suites while maximizing the number of suites that can be positioned abreast.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a lateral dimension for suite access by positioning suite entrances along the aisle rather than requiring longitudinal access through adjacent suites. This dimensional change allows simultaneous access to multiple suites without compromising privacy or reducing density.
2Ease of operation
If suites are positioned adjacent to longitudinal aisles to ensure accessibility, then suite access is provided, but suite privacy is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
Each suite is given its own dedicated access path and entrance to the aisle, segmenting the access flow so that passengers can enter or exit any suite without passing through other suites. This segmentation preserves privacy while maintaining accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The aisle suite, middle suite, and window suite each have locally optimized access characteristics. The aisle suite has direct aisle access, the middle suite has access through its own entrance near the aisle, and the window suite has access through its own entrance, providing localized quality of access without compromising privacy.
3Quantity of substance
If suites are positioned at an angle to the aircraft axis to maximize density, then more suites can be positioned abreast, but accessibility and orientation are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The seating arrangement segments suites into three types with different orientations and access patterns. This segmentation allows suites to be positioned at angles to maximize density while each suite type maintains its own dedicated access path, preserving accessibility despite angular positioning.
4Ease of operation
If outboard suite access is provided through an adjacent inboard suite, then accessibility is achieved, but privacy is interrupted and complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the access system so that each suite has its own dedicated entrance to the aisle. The aisle suite entrance, middle suite entrance, and window suite entrance are separately positioned along the aisle, eliminating the need for one suite to access another and reducing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The aisle serves as an intermediary space that provides direct access to all three suite types. Rather than requiring suites to access each other, the aisle mediates access to all suites independently, simplifying the access arrangement while maintaining accessibility.
Data Source
AI summary
In an illustrative embodiment, a premium class seating arrangement for an aircraft cabin includes at least three passenger suites, each passenger suite including a seat movable between an upright position and a horizontal bed position and an ottoman which expands a surface area of the bed position. The passenger suites may cooperatively form a nested arrangement capable of nesting with identical passenger suite arrangements longitudinally within the cabin area. At least two of the ottomans of the passenger suites may be longitudinally offset in installation position. Each passenger suite in the arrangement is afforded direct aisle access without interference by another passenger suite.