Passenger Seat Decoupling Mechanism for PRM Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft seating configurations for passengers with reduced mobility (PRM) are difficult and costly to adapt, especially for angled or spaced-apart seats, leading to challenges in transferring PRMs due to increased distance from the aisle and potential injury risks.
Innovation Solution
A passenger seat assembly with a decoupling mechanism that allows the seat back to be locked upright and the seat translated forward, incorporating a frame subassembly, motion subassembly, and decoupling mechanism to facilitate PRM seating by reducing the distance to the aisle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If temporary adjustments are made to the space surrounding the passenger seat to facilitate PRM seating, then the PRM transfer becomes easier, but the implementation becomes difficult and costly due to cabin configuration constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a multi-functional seat system that combines both comfortable angled seating and PRM transfer facilitation in a single integrated solution. The seat assembly with adjustable positioning serves dual purposes: providing ergonomic seating during flight and enabling easy PRM transfer when needed. This eliminates the need for separate temporary adjustments or specialized cabin configurations, making the solution universally applicable to different cabin layouts.
2Ease of operation
If the seat is positioned farther from the aisle to provide adequate legroom and spacing, then the passenger comfort is improved, but the time and effort required for PRM transfer increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning the seat in the extended position before PRM transfer is needed. The seat can be moved to the forward position in advance, preparing the transfer path and minimizing the actual transfer time when a PRM needs to be seated. This proactive positioning eliminates delays that would occur if the seat needed to be moved during the transfer process.
Data Source
AI summary
A passenger seat for facilitating seating passengers with reduced mobilities (PRM) in a conveyance such as an aircraft. The passenger seat includes a motion subassembly and a decoupling mechanism configured to couple the motion assembly to the seat back, and decouple the motion assembly from the seat back to lock the seat back in an upright position such that the passenger seat can be translated forward to a position nearer, for example, an aisle. In use, decoupling and seat back locking occur in a synchronous manner, as does coupling and seat back unlocking action thereby allowing seat back recline motion. In embodiments, the passenger seat includes a manual release lever for actuating the decoupling mechanism to decouple the seat back motion subassembly.