Convertible seating unit and seating arrangement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing convertible seating units for aircraft cabins fail to adapt quickly to varying demand between economy and premium classes, lacking sufficient differentiation and hygiene concerns, and do not provide adequate legroom and privacy.

Innovation Solution

A seating unit with movable back and seat pan members that convert between configurations, using a web member to connect adjacent seats, allowing for adjustable seating density and privacy through angle changes, enabling conversion from sittable to unsittable configurations for enhanced legroom and privacy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If seats are converted into leg supports to increase legroom, then legroom is improved, but hygiene deteriorates and cleaning requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovelegroomVSAvoidhygiene

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The seat is divided into functionally independent zones: the first seat pan member remains fixed for sitting, while the second seat pan member is movable to provide leg support. This segmentation allows the leg support function to be added without compromising the hygiene and cleaning of the primary seating surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A web member is introduced as an intermediary element to connect the back member to the movable second seat pan member. This web member enables the conversion mechanism while maintaining structural integrity and allowing thorough cleaning of the first seat pan member, as the second pan member can be detached or cleaned separately.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If seating configuration is fixed to simplify operations, then ease of operation is improved, but adaptability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration simplicityVSAvoiddemand adaptation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The seat incorporates a movable second seat pan member that can be dynamically adjusted between a first position (for economy class configuration) and a second position (for premium class configuration). This dynamic element allows the seating unit to adapt to varying demand without requiring complex reconfiguration of the entire cabin.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The seating unit is designed to perform multiple functions: it can operate as a standard economy class seat, convert to provide premium class legroom, or be configured in different arrangements. The movable second seat pan member enables this multi-functionality while maintaining operational simplicity through intuitive movement between defined positions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If seat width is increased to provide premium class comfort, then comfort is improved, but seating density deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseating comfortVSAvoidseating density

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of increasing seat width horizontally (which would reduce seating density), the invention extends legroom in the longitudinal dimension by moving the second seat pan member forward. This dimensional change allows premium class comfort to be achieved without sacrificing seating density in the lateral arrangement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the spatial parameters of the seat by adjusting the position of the second seat pan member relative to the first. When moved to the second position, it creates additional legroom space without altering the overall footprint or width of the seating unit, thereby maintaining seating density while improving comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Device complexity

If back member and seat pan are rigidly connected to simplify structure, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidconfiguration flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The connection between the back member and the second seat pan member is designed to be movable rather than rigid. This dynamic connection allows the second pan member to move between positions while maintaining structural simplicity through a straightforward linkage mechanism involving the web member and support structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11006760B2Convertible seating unit and seating arrangement

Publication Date: 2021.05.18 LEE IN OK

AI summary

A seating unit (102, 104) is disclosed as including a seat (106, 110) with a seat back (106a, 110a) and a seat pan (106c, 110c) which are movable relative to each other to convert the seat (106, 110) between a sittable configuration and an un-sittable configuration, and a seat (108) with a seat back (108a) and a seat pan (108c), the angle subtended by the seat back (106a, 110a) and the seat pan (106c, 110c) when the seat (106, 110) is in the sittable configuration being larger than an angle subtended by the seat back (106a, 110a) and the seat pan (106c, 110c) when the seat (106, 110) is in the un-sittable configuration, the seat back (106a, 110a) of the seat (106, 110) and the seat back (108a) of the seat (108) being connected with each other by a web (120, 122).