Hinged Seat Backrest for Aircraft Jumpseats
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional aircraft cabin seats are non-ergonomic, causing discomfort for crew members and often hinder emergency ingress and egress due to limited space, as they do not efficiently utilize available volume.
Innovation Solution
A retractable jumpseat with a flexible backrest featuring a hinged structure, including a main panel, upper panel, and lower panel connected by hinges, allowing for positional adjustment and secure mounting to a base frame, enabling comfortable deployment and retraction while maintaining minimal footprint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional cabin seats are used, then crew members can be seated, but the seats cause pain or discomfort due to non-ergonomic geometry
Solution Approach 1:
The backrest is divided into multiple segments (upper backrest, middle backrest, lower backrest) that can independently pivot and adjust. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized for ergonomic support while maintaining overall structural functionality, resolving the contradiction between comfort and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat incorporates dynamic adjustment mechanisms including pivotable backrest segments and adjustable lumbar support that can move between positions. This dynamic capability enables the seat to adapt to different crew member body types and preferences, improving ergonomics without requiring a completely complex redesign.
2Ease of operation
If cabin seats are extended into a more comfortable position, then crew member comfort improves, but the seats hinder emergency ingress and egress due to limited space
Solution Approach 1:
The seat is designed with nested functionality where the backrest segments can fold and nest within each other, and the entire seat can be stowed within the cabin structure. This nesting capability allows the seat to provide comfortable positioning when needed while completely clearing the emergency path when required, eliminating the harmful obstruction effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat incorporates dynamic movement between deployed and stowed positions through pivot mechanisms and removable connections. The backrest can pivot forward to a horizontal position for stowing, and the seat pan can be completely removed from the cabin structure. This dynamic behavior ensures the seat generates no harmful obstruction during emergencies while maintaining comfort during normal use.
3Ease of manufacture
If the backrest uses a rigid structure, then manufacturing is simpler, but the backrest cannot provide ergonomic adaptation to different crew members
Solution Approach 1:
The backrest is segmented into multiple sections (upper, middle, lower) that can independently pivot and adjust to different angles. Each segment maintains relatively simple construction using standardized components and hinge mechanisms, while the collective arrangement provides sophisticated ergonomic adaptation. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by distributing complexity across multiple simple elements rather than requiring one complex rigid structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The backrest utilizes adjustable parameters including pivot angles, lumbar support position, and segment spacing that can be modified to accommodate different crew member anatomies. These parameter adjustments are achieved through mechanical hinges and removable fasteners rather than complex active systems, maintaining ease of manufacture while enabling versatile ergonomic adaptation.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the seat uses multiple hinged panels and adjustable components, then ergonomic comfort and adaptability improve, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex adjustment system is segmented into independent functional modules: upper backrest pivot, middle backrest pivot, lower backrest pivot, lumbar support adjustment, and seat pan removal mechanisms. Each module uses standardized hinge and fastener components that can be manufactured and assembled independently, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge and fastener components are designed as universal elements that serve multiple functions. The same hinge mechanism enables both ergonomic angle adjustment and emergency release functionality. The removable fasteners provide both adjustable positioning and complete seat removal capability. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of unique components needed, managing device complexity while preserving adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A seat is disclosed. The seat includes a frame, a seat pan connected to the frame and a backrest. The backrest includes a main panel, an upper panel hingedly connected to the main panel and a lower panel hingedly connected to the main panel. The upper panel is connected to the frame and the lower panel is connected to the seat pan.