Stacked Vehicular Seating Suites for Dense Lie-Flat Travel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicular seating configurations, especially in long-distance travel, fail to provide comfortable seating options that balance density and safety regulations, often resulting in uncomfortable travel experiences due to limited recline and high costs associated with premium seating.
Innovation Solution
A vehicular seating suite configuration featuring vertically stacked seating suites with elongated horizontal seating surfaces and vertical backrests, allowing passengers to transition seamlessly between sitting and lying positions without motorized components, thereby increasing seating density and comfort while adhering to safety regulations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If vertically stacked seating suites are implemented, then seating density increases, but safety regulations may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional horizontal seating arrangements to a vertical stacking configuration, utilizing the vertical dimension to increase seating capacity. Multiple seating suites are stacked vertically with each suite having a seating surface and backrest, allowing passengers to be positioned at different vertical levels while maintaining safe horizontal spacing and compliance with safety regulations.
2Ease of operation
If motorized reclining seats are provided, then passenger comfort improves, but vehicle operating costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The seating suites are designed to allow passengers to manually adjust their own seating positions and recline angles without requiring motorized mechanisms. Each seating suite includes manual adjustment capabilities that enable passengers to achieve comfortable positions through their own effort, eliminating the need for expensive motorized systems while maintaining comfort.
3Productivity
If limited recline is provided in standard seats, then seating density is maintained, but passenger comfort during long trips deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The seating suites incorporate dynamic, adjustable backrests and seating surfaces that can be manually repositioned to various angles and configurations. This allows passengers to adapt the seating position to their comfort needs during long trips, transforming static limited-recline seats into dynamically adjustable positions that maintain both density and comfort.
Data Source
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AI summary
A vehicular seating suite configuration (10) comprises a plurality of vertically stacked seating suites (12, 14) configured to be positioned within a vehicle. Each seating suite (12, 14) comprises a generally horizontal seating portion (502, 508), and a generally horizontal bed portion (504, 510) adjacent to the generally horizontal seating portion (502, 508). A distal end (1310, 1312) of at least one generally horizontal bed (504, 510) portion of the plurality of seating suites (12, 14) of a first vehicular suite configuration (1302) is configured to at least partially overlap a distal end (1314, 1316) of at least one adjacent generally horizontal bed portion (504, 510) of a plurality of seating suites (12, 14) of a second vehicular seating suite configuration (1304).