Pilot Seat Assembly With Integrated Rest Position in Flight Deck

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pilot seats in vehicles, such as aircraft, lack integrated rest capabilities, necessitating separate crew rest areas that reduce passenger and cargo capacity and are not feasible in all vehicle types.

Innovation Solution

A pilot seat assembly with a track, support base, and seat pan that allows the seat to transition between a control position and a reclined rest position, incorporating adjustable mechanisms for longitudinal and lateral movement, enabling the pilot to rest within the flight deck.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a dedicated crew rest area is allocated outside the flight deck, then pilot rest comfort is improved, but passenger and cargo capacity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepilot rest comfortVSAvoidpassenger and cargo capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the pilot seat and rest bed into a single integrated assembly. The seat back section can be reclined to form a rest position, allowing the pilot to rest within the flight deck space rather than requiring a separate rest area. This combining of functions eliminates the need for dedicated rest space that would otherwise reduce passenger or cargo capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The pilot seat assembly is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a control position seat and a rest position bed. The seat back section is selectively reclinable between an upright control position and a reclined rest position, allowing the same physical space to serve multiple purposes throughout the flight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If a dedicated crew rest area is provided, then pilot rest requirements are met, but space for passengers and cargo is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepilot rest requirements complianceVSAvoidavailable space for passengers and cargo

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The pilot seat and rest bed functions are merged into one integrated assembly located within the flight deck. The support base with track mechanism enables the seat to transition between control and rest positions without requiring separate rest area space, thereby maintaining full passenger and cargo capacity while still meeting rest requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the seat back section is made reclinable, then rest position capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverest position capabilityVSAvoidseat mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The seat back section is designed with selective reclinability, transitioning from a fixed upright position to a reclined rest position. This dynamic capability allows the same structure to serve multiple functions (control and rest) without requiring entirely separate seating arrangements, balancing adaptability with manageable complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12459649B2Pilot seat assembly with integrated rest position

Publication Date: 2025.11.04 THE BOEING CO

AI summary

A pilot seat assembly includes a track, a support base, a seat pan, and a seat. The track is mounted on a floor of a vehicle and defines a travel path from a forward end of the track to an aft end of the track. The support base is coupled to the track and is selectively moveable along the travel path. The seat pan is mounted to the support base and is selectively movable in an outboard direction and an inboard direction relative to the support base. The seat is mounted on the seat pan such that the seat pan is between the seat and the support base. A seat back section of the seat is selectively reclinable relative to a seat bottom section of the seat to transition the pilot seat assembly between a control position and a rest position.