Convertible Seating Unit Staggered Pivot Flatbed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Long haul flights require premium seating with more space, privacy, and direct aisle access, which existing convertible seating arrangements fail to provide effectively, as they lack differentiation from economy class and require multiple seats to form a suitable bed.
Innovation Solution
A convertible seating unit with two staggered seats that can pivot to form a horizontal surface, incorporating a movable footrest and adjustable backrests to create a premium economy, business class upright, and flatbed configuration, offering enhanced space and privacy without needing multiple seats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If seats with leg rests are deployed to form a horizontal surface, then a bed surface can be formed, but at least three to four seats are required which increases device complexity and reduces privacy
Solution Approach 1:
The seating unit is divided into two independent seats (first seat and second seat) that can be configured separately. The first seat includes a first backrest and first seat base, while the second seat includes a second backrest and second seat base, allowing each segment to be independently adjusted to achieve the bed configuration without requiring additional seats
Solution Approach 2:
The first backrest is made movable between a first configuration (inclined relative to the first seat base) and a second configuration (substantially parallel to the first seat base). This dynamic adjustment capability allows the same seat structure to serve multiple functions - both as a regular seat and as part of a bed surface - eliminating the need for multiple static seat configurations
2Productivity
If seats are arranged in upright configuration, then passenger capacity is maximized, but differentiation from economy class is insufficient reducing premium value
Solution Approach 1:
The seating unit incorporates movable components that allow dynamic reconfiguration. The first backrest can be moved between an inclined configuration for upright seating and a parallel configuration for flatbed mode. This dynamic capability enables the same physical space to deliver different service experiences (economy vs. business class) without requiring additional space or seats
Solution Approach 2:
The seating unit is designed to perform multiple functions: it can operate as a standard upright seat for economy class service, and can be converted into a flatbed configuration for business class service. The first backrest and first seat base can be configured in multiple positions, allowing the same structure to serve different class requirements without dedicated separate seating arrangements
3Length of moving object
If multiple seats are combined to form a bed, then bed length is achieved, but privacy and direct aisle access are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The bed surface is formed within a single seating unit boundary rather than by combining multiple adjacent seats. The first backrest in its second configuration forms part of the bed surface, and the second seat provides additional support, creating a bed of sufficient length while maintaining the privacy partition between adjacent seating units
Solution Approach 2:
The solution addresses bed length not by extending horizontally across multiple seats but by utilizing the vertical dimension - the first backrest is moved from an inclined position to a position substantially parallel to the first seat base, effectively using the backrest's length in a different orientation to contribute to the bed surface area
Data Source
AI summary
A convertible seating unit (100, 200) is disclosed as including a first seat (104a, 204a) including a first backrest (106a) and a first seat base (108a), and a second seat (104b, 204b) on a side of the first seat, in which at least the first seat is movable between a first configuration in which the first backrest is inclined relative to the first seat base and a second configuration in which the first backrest is substantially parallel to the first seat base, and when the first seat is in the second configuration, the first backrest forms a first upper support surface.