Modular Seat Extension With Adjustable Footrest

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing passenger cabin seat configurations that convert into sleeper berths face challenges in optimizing space usage while maintaining standardized structures and ensuring minimum passage widths for safety and comfort, often resulting in unused spaces and increased costs due to complex transformation mechanisms and structural modifications.

Innovation Solution

A modular seat extension with a staggered arrangement, featuring a shell with an invariant and modular portion, allowing adjustable length without altering the seat structure, maintains constant passage width and optimizes space usage by allowing the seat extension to be modified between minimum and maximum lengths, including intermediate positions, and incorporates a hollow volume for footrest and storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a complex transformation mechanism is used to convert seats into sleeper berths, then the seat can achieve bed position, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseat conversion capabilityVSAvoidtransformation mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The seat is divided into independent functional modules: a seat unit with adjustable backrest, and a separate footrest unit that can be positioned independently. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized separately and simplifies the overall transformation mechanism compared to integrated designs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The footrest incorporates a telescopic mechanism with multiple extendable segments that can be dynamically adjusted to different lengths. This dynamic structure allows the footrest to adapt to various bed length requirements while maintaining a compact form when retracted, reducing the complexity of fixed-length designs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Area of stationary object

If the footrest is integrated into the shell of the seat in front, then space is optimized, but passenger comfort deteriorates due to vibrations and sounds

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidvibrations and sounds

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The footrest is extracted from the seat structure and implemented as a separate, independent unit positioned in front of the seat rather than integrated into the seat shell. This physical separation eliminates the transmission path for vibrations and sounds from the rear seat to the front seat passenger, while the footrest remains positioned to optimize space utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of manufacture

If standardized seat structures are used, then manufacturing costs are reduced, but space optimization is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestandardizationVSAvoidspace usage efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The footrest unit is designed as a universal module that can be paired with any standard seat unit. The telescopic mechanism and standardized interface allow the same footrest design to accommodate different seat types and configurations, enabling space optimization across various cabin layouts without requiring custom-designed seats for each application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Area of stationary object

If the passage width is maintained at minimum distance, then space is optimized, but passenger comfort and safety are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepassage spaceVSAvoidsafety and comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The footrest length is made dynamically adjustable, allowing it to be extended or retracted based on the available space and passage width requirements. When passage width is sufficient, the footrest can be extended to maximize bed length. When passage width is constrained, the footrest can be retracted to maintain adequate clearance, thereby adapting to different safety and comfort requirements without compromising either.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11608179B2Seat extension with modular length, unit comprising a seat extension and passenger cabin

Publication Date: 2023.03.21 AIRBUS ATLANTIC (SAS)

AI summary

A cabin of a vehicle for transporting passengers includes a plurality of units, each unit including a seat and a modular seat extension arranged staggered in the units. Each extension includes a shell having a front bottom and a rear opening determined by a hollow volume open towards the rear and a footrest area inside the hollow volume suitable for receiving the feet of a passenger. The shell of each extension includes an invariant portion and a modular portion located in front of the invariant portion. The modular portion making it possible during the fastening thereof to the invariant portion to obtain an extension with a length that can be modified between the opening and the bottom of the shell and, a width of passage towards the aisle between the seats and the extensions of the units is maintained constant during the use of the extensions by the passengers.