Aircraft Seat Legrest Housing With Spring-Closed Lifejacket Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft passenger seats with lifejackets accommodated under the armrest or seat surface face challenges such as restricted stowage space and difficult access, especially when a legrest is present, as it limits access to the lifejacket during emergencies.
Innovation Solution
A pivoting legrest with a housing system comprising two interconnected halves, one of which is spring-loaded, allowing for easy access to the lifejacket while maintaining secure storage, with a closure mechanism to prevent unauthorized access and minimize tripping hazards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the lifejacket is accommodated under the armrest or seat surface, then stowage space is utilized, but access to the lifejacket becomes difficult especially when a legrest is present
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into two separable halves that can pivot relative to each other, allowing the lifejacket to be accessed by opening the housing rather than removing it from a fixed compartment. This segmentation enables easy access while maintaining organized stowage.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing halves are designed to pivot dynamically between closed and open positions, transforming the static stowage compartment into a dynamic access system. This allows the structure to adapt between secure storage and easy retrieval states.
2Ease of operation
If the lifejacket is accommodated under the seat surface, then stowage is achieved, but access is impossible when a legrest is present
Solution Approach 1:
The solution moves the lifejacket stowage from the vertical space under the seat surface to the horizontal space on the legrest structure. This dimensional change allows access from the side rather than from below, bypassing the legrest obstruction.
3Reliability
If the first housing half is spring-loaded toward closed position, then secure storage is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring device automatically returns the housing halves to the closed position after opening, without requiring manual intervention. This self-service mechanism ensures secure storage is restored after access, maintaining reliability while minimizing operational complexity.
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 quick access to the lifejacket during emergencies while optimizing stowage space by allowing the legrest to pivot out of the way, enhancing user safety and convenience without compromising security or stowage capacity.
Implementation Method 1
the device has a spring device, wherein the first housing half is subjected to a spring force of the spring device with respect to the second housing half, with the result that the first housing half can be moved from an open position relative to the second housing half toward a closed position relative to the second housing half
Data Source
AI summary
A legrest for an aircraft passenger seat, comprising a device, wherein: the device has a housing; the housing has a first and a second housing half; 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; the device is provided on a main structure of the legrest; the first housing half is spring-loaded with respect to the second housing half by the spring force of a spring device of the device, such that the first housing half can be moved from an open position relative to the second housing half towards a closed position relative to the second housing half.