Modular Passenger Seat Console With Quick Connect Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional passenger seats, especially those for business and first class, are dimensionally limited by aircraft doors, requiring separate seat models for different aircraft types, leading to inefficiencies in installation and customization.

Innovation Solution

A passenger seat design featuring a removable modular component with a quick connect structure, including structural members and an electrical wiring consolidation device, allowing for easy attachment and detachment of modular components to the seat, facilitating installation through aircraft doors and enabling customization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If passenger seats are designed with fixed dimensions to fit through primary aircraft doors, then installation is straightforward, but the seats cannot be used in different aircraft models and require separate seat models for each aircraft type

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseat compatibility across aircraft modelsVSAvoidnumber of separate seat models
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The passenger seat is divided into modular components that can be detached and reconfigured. The seat includes removable sections that allow the overall dimensions to be reduced for passing through different aircraft doors, while maintaining the full functionality when assembled. This segmentation enables a single seat design to serve multiple aircraft models.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The seat incorporates adjustable and reconfigurable elements that can change the seat's external dimensions dynamically. Components such as removable armrests, adjustable headrests, and detachable console sections allow the seat to adapt its size profile to fit through various door openings while preserving all original features when fully assembled.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If passenger seats are designed with larger dimensions to accommodate premium features, then comfort and functionality are improved, but the seats cannot pass through smaller aircraft doors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseat fit through different door sizesVSAvoidinstallation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The seat is divided into modular sections with standardized connection interfaces. The removable components can be detached to reduce the seat's external dimensions for door passage, then easily reattached inside the aircraft. This segmentation simplifies the installation process by allowing components to be assembled in a logical sequence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The seat components are pre-assembled into modular units with integrated connection mechanisms before installation. The quick-connect structures are pre-configured with alignment features and interlocking elements that guide the assembly process, reducing the skill level and time required for installation while ensuring proper configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of manufacture

If separate seat models are developed for different aircraft types, then each seat is optimized for its specific aircraft, but development time and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseat production efficiencyVSAvoiddevelopment time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

A universal base seat model is designed with standardized mounting interfaces, connection points, and modular component attachments that can accommodate multiple aircraft types. The same fundamental seat structure serves different aircraft models by simply adjusting or removing specific components, eliminating the need for separate development programs for each aircraft type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The seat design incorporates adjustable parameters such as component dimensions, material selections, and assembly configurations that can be modified to suit different aircraft requirements. By changing specific parameters rather than redesigning the entire seat, the same base model can be adapted to various aircraft types, significantly reducing development time and costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4178858B1Passenger seat with removable modular component
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 ZODIAC SEATS US LLC
  • EP4178858B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4178858B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4178858B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

Described is a passenger seat having a center console. The center console has a stationary portion including: a stationary portion structural member positioned at a connecting end of the stationary portion; and a disconnect panel. The center console has a separable modular portion having: a separable modular portion structural member positioned at a connecting end of the separable modular portion and coupleable to the stationary portion structural member; and an electrical wiring consolidation device that includes: an electrical cable bundle; and an electrical connector coupleable to the disconnect panel. The stationary portion structural member, the disconnect panel, the separable modular portion structural member, and the electrical wiring consolidation device form a quick connect structure for coupling the separable modular portion with the stationary portion.