Aircraft Seat Back Assembly With Mesh Diaphragm for More Passenger Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft seat designs face challenges in maximizing passenger space, reducing weight, and minimizing costs, as they often rely on thick cushions and upholstery that are costly and heavy, with previous attempts at hammock-type seating and diaphragm-only seats not gaining industry acceptance due to comfort and structural issues.
Innovation Solution
The Aircraft Seat Back Assembly features a novel combination of a conventional seat bottom with a seat back utilizing an elastomer mesh diaphragm, eliminating the need for cushions and upholstery, supported by a lightweight structural frame with a thermoformed plastic shroud closeout, providing enhanced comfort and space efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional cushions and upholstery are used in aircraft seats, then passenger comfort is improved, but weight increases and available passenger space decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional thick foam cushions and upholstery with a thin flexible membrane that provides seating comfort. This membrane acts as a flexible shell that conforms to the passenger's body while maintaining minimal thickness, thereby reducing weight and maximizing passenger space while still providing adequate comfort support.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the seating system by transitioning from bulky cushion materials to a tensioned membrane system. The membrane is stretched and secured to the frame at specific tensions that optimize both comfort and space efficiency, representing a fundamental parameter change in how seating support is achieved.
2Ease of operation
If traditional cushions and upholstery are used in aircraft seats, then passenger comfort is improved, but the cost of manufacture and maintenance increases
Solution Approach 1:
By using a simple flexible membrane instead of multiple layers of cushions, foam, and upholstery fabric, the manufacturing process is simplified. The membrane can be stretched and secured directly to the frame without complex assembly steps, reducing both manufacturing cost and maintenance requirements while maintaining comfort functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes the unnecessary components of traditional seating systems (thick cushions, multiple upholstery layers, complex padding) and retains only the essential function of providing comfort through a simplified membrane structure, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
3Volume of moving object
If cushions and upholstery are eliminated to maximize space, then weight and cost are reduced, but structural integrity and comfort may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane is stretched taut and secured to a rigid frame structure, creating a tensioned system that provides both structural integrity and comfort. The membrane's tension and the frame's geometry work together to maintain structural strength while eliminating the need for thick cushioning materials, thereby maximizing passenger space.
Solution Approach 2:
The seating system combines a rigid frame structure with a flexible membrane material to create a composite system that leverages the strengths of both materials. The frame provides structural integrity and support, while the membrane provides comfort and conforms to the passenger's body, achieving both structural requirements and space efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution creates a comfortable, lightweight, and cost-effective seating system that maximizes passenger space by eliminating the thickness of cushions and upholstery, while maintaining structural integrity and aesthetic appeal, addressing the limitations of previous designs.
Implementation Method 1
A diaphragm made of elastomeric seating suspension fabric is mounted and stretched in the frame to form the comfort system and passenger interface
Data Source
AI summary
The seat back portion of a passenger aircraft seat is built of an elastomer mesh type diaphragm without conventional cushions or dress covers, in order to maximize space available to the passenger while reducing costs and weight. The diaphragm is attached and tensioned into a structural frame, which also supports a slide-in rear shroud closeout. The frame is designed to remain exposed, showing a decorative finish.