Aircraft Seat Backrest Structure for Recline and Side-Sleeping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft passenger seats lack optimal comfort and flexibility, particularly in long-haul flights, as existing designs do not adequately support reclining or side-sleeping positions, and often compromise on ergonomics and space efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The seat device features a backrest unit rigidly coupled to the seat base unit with a pivotable upper portion, allowing for adjustable angles and a bearing unit with an offset pivot axis, along with laterally extending contact elements and an armrest unit with pivotable support elements, enabling comfortable recline and side-sleeping positions while maintaining ergonomic alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the backrest unit is rigidly coupled to the seat base unit with a pivotable upper portion, then passenger comfort and ergonomics are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The backrest unit is divided into a lower rigid portion and an upper pivotable portion, allowing independent movement of the upper section while maintaining structural integrity of the lower section. This segmentation enables the backrest to adapt to different passenger positions without requiring the entire backrest to be movable, thus improving comfort while limiting complexity increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The upper portion of the backrest unit is designed to be pivotable relative to the lower rigid portion, creating a dynamic structure that can adjust to passenger needs. This dynamic element allows the backrest to transition between different angles and positions, enhancing ergonomics while confining the complexity to a specific pivot mechanism rather than the entire structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the bearing unit has an offset pivot axis, then flexibility for reclining and side-sleeping positions is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing unit employs an offset pivot axis rather than a symmetric central pivot, creating asymmetric geometry that enables the backrest to achieve both reclining and side-sleeping positions. This asymmetric design provides greater angular range and positioning flexibility, though it requires precise manufacturing to ensure proper alignment and function of the offset pivot mechanism.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a seating device, in particular an airplane passenger seating device, comprising at least one seat base unit (14) and a backrest unit (26) which is connected to the seat base unit (14), at least the back rest unit (26) being able to be positioned in a comfort position and in an additional seating position. According to the invention, the comfort position is designed as a base position optimized for passenger comfort.