Convertible Aircraft Seating With Pivoting Flat-Bed Privacy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing convertible seating units in aircraft cabins fail to adapt to varying demand between economy and premium classes, lack sufficient differentiation between seating configurations, and pose hygiene issues due to shared leg support mechanisms that are not suitable for all passenger positions.
Innovation Solution
A seating arrangement with pivotally engaged seat backs and pans that allow for adjustable configurations, providing increased legroom and privacy by converting into a flat horizontal surface for lying or using a mattress, while maintaining passenger visibility and minimizing space encroachment on adjacent seats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If convertible seating units share leg support mechanisms between seats, then space utilization is improved, but hygiene is compromised due to contamination risks
Solution Approach 1:
The leg support mechanism is segmented into individual units for each seat rather than being shared. Each seat has its own independently controllable leg support, preventing cross-contamination while maintaining space efficiency. The seat back is also segmented into upper and lower portions that can move independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The leg support function is extracted from the shared seat structure and integrated into individual seat units. This allows each seat to have its own dedicated leg support mechanism that can be independently controlled and cleaned, eliminating the hygiene issue of shared mechanisms.
2Ease of manufacture
If seat configurations are fixed, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to varying demand is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The seat configuration is made dynamic through pivotal connections that allow the seat back and leg support to move between multiple positions. The seat back can pivot relative to the seat pan, and the leg support can be adjusted to different angles, enabling the same physical structure to serve both economy and premium configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The seating unit is designed as a universal module that can function in multiple configurations. The same basic seat structure with pivotal connections can serve as an economy seat, a premium seat with enhanced legroom, or part of a flat bed configuration, eliminating the need for different manufacturing lines.
3Device complexity
If leg support is shared between adjacent seats, then device complexity is reduced, but differentiation between economy and business class is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
Each seat is equipped with dynamic adjustment capabilities including pivotal seat backs and adjustable leg supports. This allows economy class seats to maintain standard configurations while business class seats can be adjusted to provide enhanced legroom and comfort, achieving differentiation without requiring entirely separate mechanisms.
4Stability of the object's composition
If seat backs are fixed relative to seat pans, then structural stability is maintained, but conversion to flat surface is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The seat back is connected to the seat pan through a pivotal connection that allows it to remain stable in the upright seating position while enabling conversion to a flat surface configuration. The pivot mechanism provides structural stability during normal use and allows smooth transition to horizontal sleeping positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat structure is segmented into movable components including the pivotal seat back and adjustable leg support. This segmentation allows each component to maintain stability in its designated position while enabling overall configuration changes when needed for conversion to flat surfaces.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances passenger comfort and perceived spaciousness by allowing flexible seating density adjustments and improved hygiene through separate and accessible spaces for sitting and lying positions, accommodating varying demands without compromising legroom or privacy.
Implementation Method 1
a seat back pivotally engaged with the seat pan and allowing for movement relative to the seat pan between a generally upright position and a generally horizontally extending position
Data Source
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AI summary
A seating unit (202, 204) is disclosed as including a first seat (206, 210) and an adjacent second seat (208, 212), the seating unit (202, 204) being convertible between a first configuration in which each of the first seat (206, 210) and second seat (208, 212) can receive an occupant sitting thereon and a second configuration in which the first seat (206, 210) and second seat (208, 212) can collectively support an occupant lying thereon, and access to a space (215) in a back portion of the first seat (206, 210) being denied when the seating unit (202, 204) is in the first configuration and access to the space (215) being allowed when the seating unit (202, 204) is in the second configuration, the seating unit (202, 204) gives the passenger in the first seat (206, 210) a perception of increased spaciousness, and provides sufficient differentiation between the economy-class configuration and the business-class configuration.