Movable Divider Screen for Flexible Aircraft Suite Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current first class aircraft seating arrangements often lack efficient use of cabin space, limiting the size of suites and flexibility in transforming between private and shared configurations, which restricts passenger comfort and interaction.
Innovation Solution
A seating arrangement featuring a divider screen that slides along the floor between accommodation spaces, allowing conversion from two separate suites to one large shared suite, with seats and ottomans that convert to bed positions and an inflatable member to create a shared bed surface, enabling flexible configuration and enhanced privacy control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a central divider is used to create shared suites, then passenger interaction is enabled, but the suite size is limited and the placement is dependent on the console
Solution Approach 1:
The divider screen is made movable between a stowed position (allowing passenger egress and creating shared suite configuration) and a deployed position (providing privacy between suites). This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction by allowing the suite area to expand when privacy is not needed, while maintaining the ability to provide separation when required.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If separate suites are configured for each passenger, then privacy is provided, but cabin space is not efficiently utilized and passenger interaction is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cabin is divided into multiple accommodation spaces that can independently function as separate suites for privacy, or be combined into a larger shared suite by stowing the divider screen. This segmentation allows flexible reconfiguration to optimize both privacy and space utilization based on operational needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The divider screen serves multiple functions: it provides privacy separation when deployed, and enables shared suite configuration when stowed. This multi-functionality allows the same structure to support both private and social passenger experiences, resolving the contradiction between privacy and space efficiency.
3Reliability
If the divider is fixed at console level, then suite separation is maintained, but the suite is limited in size and cannot be transformed into a large shared suite
Solution Approach 1:
The divider screen transitions from a fixed console-level divider to a movable screen that can be positioned at different locations. When stowed, it allows the formation of a large shared suite; when deployed, it provides reliable separation. This dynamic capability resolves the contradiction between maintaining separation and enabling transformation.
Data Source
AI summary
Described are examples of a seating arrangement for an aircraft with a first seat in a first accommodation space and a second seat in a second accommodation space, wherein the first and second accommodation spaces are configured to share a common floor space at a floor level of the aircraft. One seating arrangement includes a divider screen located between the first and second accommodation spaces, moveable, by sliding in a direction along the common floor space, between a stowed position permitting passenger egress between the first and second accommodation spaces across the common floor space, and a deployed position preventing passenger egress between the first and second accommodation spaces across the common floor space.