Aircraft Seat Legrest Housing for Accessible Lifejacket Stowage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft passenger seats with lifejackets accommodated under the armrest or seat surface face challenges of restricted stowage space and difficult access, particularly when a legrest is present, as it limits access to the lifejacket.
Innovation Solution
A legrest with a pivoting housing that incorporates a device with two housing halves, allowing easy access to a lifejacket while maintaining stowage space by converting into a useful surface and utilizing a pivot mechanism with a spring device for secure and easy opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the lifejacket is accommodated under the armrest, then the lifejacket is easily accessible, but the stowage space for other components is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The legrest is divided into two functional segments: a first region that serves as a useful surface when the legrest is retracted, and a second region that functions as a housing for the lifejacket when the legrest is extended. This segmentation allows the lifejacket to be stored within the legrest structure itself, eliminating the need for separate armrest or seat surface storage while maintaining accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The legrest structure is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both a leg support mechanism and a lifejacket storage compartment. The housing formed by the legrest's basic structure and closure member provides a versatile storage solution that adapts to the legrest's position, allowing the same structure to accommodate both passenger comfort needs and safety equipment storage.
2Volume of moving object
If the lifejacket is accommodated under the seat surface, then the stowage space is maximized, but the lifejacket becomes inaccessible when a legrest is present
Solution Approach 1:
The lifejacket storage solution is made dynamic by integrating it with the movable legrest mechanism. The housing that contains the lifejacket is formed by the legrest's basic structure and a closure member that can move between open and closed positions. When the legrest is extended, the closure member opens to provide immediate access to the lifejacket, eliminating the accessibility problem of fixed under-seat storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure member acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the need for secure lifejacket storage and the need for quick access. It forms part of the housing to protect the lifejacket during normal operation, yet can be easily opened when the legrest is extended, providing controlled access without requiring separate storage compartments.
3Reliability
If the housing is made rigid and stable, then the lifejacket is securely stored, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing structure is merged with the legrest's basic structure, eliminating the need for a separate rigid storage box. The closure member combines with the legrest mechanism to form the housing, reducing the number of discrete components. This integration maintains secure lifejacket storage while avoiding the complexity of adding an independent rigid housing system to the legrest assembly.
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
Facilitates easy access to the lifejacket while optimizing stowage space by converting the legrest into a useful surface, ensuring secure storage and easy retrieval in emergency situations.
Implementation Method 1
a spring device (73, 74), by means of which the first housing half (38) is spring-loaded in an opening direction, in particular, automatically opened
Data Source
AI summary
A legrest for an aircraft passenger seat, comprising a device, wherein: the device has a housing; the housing has two housing halves; the two housing halves are pivotally connected to one another; the housing is designed such that a life jacket for an aircraft passenger can be stowed therein; a seat cover for the aircraft passenger seat can be provided on one housing half, so that the device forms part of the usage surface of the legrest; and the device can be provided on a main structure of the legrest.