Aircraft Seat Backrest Rotation Axis Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Passenger seats in aircraft cabins often lack sufficient movement space, limiting passenger comfort and the ability to accommodate more seats in a given area.

Innovation Solution

A passenger seat design with a frame attached to the cabin floor and a pivotally mounted backrest, where the axis of rotation is positioned close to the seat reference point, reducing the distance between them to less than 40 mm, allowing for deeper curvature and increased movement space without altering the seat reference point, thereby enhancing comfort and accommodating more seats.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the rotation axis of the backrest is positioned at a conventional distance from the seat reference point, then the seat structure is simpler and easier to manufacture, but the passenger movement space is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepassenger movement spaceVSAvoidseat structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent repositions the rotation axis from a conventional location to a position closer to the seat reference point (within 40mm, preferably within 10mm), effectively changing the spatial dimension and configuration of the seat structure. This dimensional change allows the backrest to have a deeper curvature when viewed from above, creating additional movement space for passengers without adding structural complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the key parameter of the rotation axis position relative to the seat reference point. By specifying that the distance between the rotation axis and SRP is less than 40mm (preferably less than 10mm), the patent optimizes the geometric parameters to achieve deeper backrest curvature and increased passenger movement space while maintaining structural simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the seat design accommodates more passengers in a given area, then the space efficiency increases, but the movement space per passenger decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseat accommodation capacityVSAvoidpassenger movement space
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By changing the rotation axis position parameter to be within 40mm of the seat reference point, the patent achieves a more compact seat footprint. This parameter optimization allows airlines to accommodate more seats in the same cabin area while the deeper backrest curvature compensates by providing adequate movement space for each passenger

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes deeper curvature of the backrest (when viewed from above) created by the repositioned rotation axis. This increased curvature allows the seat to occupy less lateral space while maintaining comfort, enabling higher seat density without sacrificing individual passenger movement space

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentEP2803579B2Aircraft passenger seat with a frame
Publication Date: 2024.11.06 ZIM AIRCRAFT SEATING GMBH
  • EP2803579B2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2803579B2 patent drawingFigure 2~4

AI summary

A passenger seat (9) is proposed, comprising a frame (5) designed for attachment to a floor (8) of an aircraft cabin and a backrest (3) pivotable or fixedly mounted on the frame (5) via a pivot axis (7), wherein the seat has a seat reference point (SRP) defined according to SAE International Aerospace Standard AS8049. According to the invention, the pivot axis (7) of the backrest (3), viewed in a line parallel to the cabin floor and parallel to the direction of flight, has a distance n of less than 40 mm from the seat reference point (SRP).