Retractable Flight Attendant Seat With Adjustable Seat Height

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional flight attendant seats in aircraft occupy additional cabin space when not in use and do not allow for flexible floor-to-seat distance adjustment, which can affect comfort and visibility for attendants.

Innovation Solution

A flight attendant seat system with a carrier device and guiding means that allows segments to slide and pivot, providing a storage compartment for the seat when not in use and adjustable floor-to-seat distance through a locking mechanism, ensuring comfort and visibility by allowing the seat to be easily moved between stored and exposed positions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the flight attendant seat is mounted to a wall of a monument or attached to the floor, then the seat provides basic comfort and support, but it occupies additional cabin space when not in use

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseat comfortVSAvoidcabin space

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The seat is designed to be movable between a stowed position within a compartment and an extended operational position, transforming from a static space-occupying object to a dynamic element that only occupies space when needed. The guiding means enable smooth transitions between positions while maintaining comfort during use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The seat structure is nested within a monument compartment when not in use, with the seat elements stored compactly inside the monument body. This nesting approach allows the seat to be completely retracted into the monument, eliminating its footprint in the cabin passageway area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the seat is fixed in position, then it provides stable support, but it does not allow for flexible floor-to-seat distance adjustment affecting comfort and visibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseat stabilityVSAvoidfloor-to-seat distance adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The seat incorporates adjustable positioning mechanisms that allow the floor-to-seat distance to be modified according to different flight attendant requirements. The guiding means enable smooth transitions between positions while maintaining comfort during use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The seat design allows for adjustment of key parameters such as floor-to-seat distance and backrest angle, enabling flight attendants to optimize comfort and visibility for different operational scenarios while maintaining structural stability through the guiding means.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Area of stationary object

If the seat structure is simple and compact, then it saves space when stored, but it may compromise comfort and support for long-range aircraft

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecabin spaceVSAvoidseat comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The seat structure is nested within a monument compartment when not in use, with the seat elements stored compactly inside the monument body. This nesting approach allows the seat to be completely retracted into the monument, eliminating its footprint in the cabin passageway area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The seat incorporates adjustable positioning mechanisms that allow the floor-to-seat distance to be modified according to different flight attendant requirements. The guiding means enable smooth transitions between positions while maintaining comfort during use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3248875B1Flight attendant seat, system comprising flight attendant seat as well as arrangement and aircraft area comprising system

Publication Date: 2018.08.29 AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH

Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2

AI summary

A flight attendant seat (10) comprises a carrier device (12) having guiding means (14) with opposed first and second (18) ends, and a storage compartment (20) within which the first end of the guiding means (14) is disposed. The guiding means (14) are adapted to provide guidance along their longitudinal extension between their first and second (18) ends. The flight attendant seat (10) further comprises a plurality of segments (22) each of which slidingly mounted to the guiding means (14) so as to allow a sliding movement of said plurality of segments (22) along the guiding means (14) and relative to the carrier device (12) between a stored position of the plurality of segments (22), in which the plurality of segments (22) is received within the storage compartment (20) of the carrier device (12), and an exposed position of the plurality of segments (22). A seat element (24) of the flight attendant seat (10) is pivotally mounted to a first segment (26) of said plurality of segments (22) so as to be pivotable between an inoperative position and an operative position in which a flight attendant may sit down on the seat element (24). At least one backrest element (28) of the flight attendant seat (10) is respectively mounted to at least one second segment (30) of said plurality of segments (22). With the plurality of segments (22) being in its exposed position, the seat element (24) when pivoted to its operative position and the at least one backrest element (28) together are adapted to be used by a flight attendant as flight attendant seat.