Angled Passenger Seat Aisle Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Narrow-body aircraft seating arrangements face challenges in providing direct aisle access while maintaining seating capacity and aisle spacing, as traditional seating configurations either reduce capacity or compromise aisle access.
Innovation Solution
The passenger seat arrangement features non-lie flat seats with adjustable angles, allowing each seat to be positioned at a non-square and non-zero angle relative to the aisle plane, enabling direct access and maintaining aisle width by angling the seat planes in either the forward or aft direction, ensuring passengers can access the aisle without obstructing it.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional passenger seats are arranged along a single aisle to maximize seating capacity, then seating capacity is improved, but direct aisle access is lost and aisle spacing is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by rotating the seat planes from a traditional parallel-to-aisle orientation to a perpendicular orientation relative to the aisle plane. This angular repositioning (at non-square and non-zero angles) creates direct aisle access while maintaining high seating density, effectively adding a new spatial dimension to the seating arrangement that resolves the contradiction between capacity and accessibility
2Ease of operation
If seats are angled at non-square and non-zero angles relative to the aisle plane to provide direct access, then aisle access is improved, but seat configuration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetry by positioning seat planes at non-square and non-zero angles relative to the aisle plane, creating an asymmetric geometric relationship between seats and aisle. This asymmetric configuration enables direct aisle access while the symmetry of angling both seats in the same row maintains overall balance, resolving the complexity issue through purposeful asymmetric design
3Ease of operation
If multiple aisles are provided in wide-body aircraft to ensure aisle access, then aisle access is improved, but vehicle size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the seating arrangement into modular units where each seat or pair of seats can be independently positioned at optimal angles to the aisle. This modular segmentation allows direct aisle access for each seating unit without requiring multiple aisles, achieving the accessibility benefit of wide-body aircraft while maintaining the compact single-aisle configuration
Data Source
AI summary
A passenger seat arrangement is provided for a single-aisle vehicle, such as a narrow-body aircraft. In some examples, the passenger seat includes a passenger seat having a seat plane. The passenger seat is positioned such that the seat plane is at a non-square and non-zero acute angle relative to a plane of the aisle. The passenger seat is a non-lie flat seat movable between an upright position and a neutral position. A seat back of the passenger seat is at a non-zero angle relative to a seat base of the passenger seat in both the upright position and the neutral position.