Angled Aircraft Seat Layout for Flat-Bed Density and Aisle Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft first/business class cabins face a challenge in balancing passenger comfort with seat density, as increased recline of seats reduces the number of seats available, necessitating a configuration that maximizes seat density while maintaining comfort.
Innovation Solution
A seating assembly with longitudinally staggered and angled seats, each surrounded by privacy shells with integrated passenger components, allowing for recline into beds while maintaining aisle access and optimizing usable space, with seats arranged in configurations like 2-3-2 or 2-4-2 across the aircraft.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If seats are allowed to recline to a horizontal position to improve passenger comfort, then passenger comfort is improved, but the number of seats that can be included in the aircraft decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensional change by arranging seats at angles (15-45 degrees) relative to the aircraft longitudinal axis and implementing longitudinal staggering between adjacent seats. This angular and longitudinal arrangement allows reclined seats to occupy three-dimensional space more efficiently, enabling full flat bed functionality while maintaining higher seat density compared to traditional longitudinal alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic space utilization through privacy shells that can transition between extended and retracted positions. When the forward privacy shell retracts, it allows the seat to achieve a full flat bed configuration for maximum comfort. When extended, it maintains a more upright seating position for space optimization, enabling the system to adapt between comfort and density requirements.
2Quantity of substance
If seats are arranged in a traditional longitudinal configuration to maximize seat density, then seat density is improved, but passenger comfort and privacy are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cabin space into segmented privacy shells for each seat or seat pair, creating individual enclosed spaces that provide privacy while maintaining high density. Each privacy shell is a self-contained module with its own console and amenities, allowing independent passenger experience without requiring traditional aisle spacing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements nesting by placing consoles, storage compartments, and amenity kits within the privacy shell structure. The forward privacy shell can nest within or alongside the aft privacy shell, creating a compact hierarchical arrangement that maximizes space utilization while providing each passenger with dedicated functional elements.
3Ease of operation
If flat bed seats are implemented to maximize comfort, then passenger comfort is improved, but the space utilization and seat density are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves efficient flat bed space utilization by arranging seats at angles to the longitudinal axis and staggering them longitudinally. This angular-offset configuration allows the footrest and seat bottom to extend into three-dimensional space without encroaching on adjacent seats, enabling full flat bed functionality while maintaining higher density than traditional longitudinal flat bed arrangements.
Data Source
AI summary
A passenger seating arrangement for an aircraft cabin that includes first and second adjacent columns of at least two seats that define a first longitudinally extending center axis that extends approximately parallel to a longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin. The seats in the first column face away from and form an angle with the first axis of between about 1° and about 44°, and the seats in the second column face away from and form an angle with the first axis of between about 1° and about 44°. Each seat in the first column is staggered fore of a seat in the second column.