# US 10,864,992 B2 · Transformable seat assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,864,992 B2 - Document ID: US10864992B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/223,531 - Filed: 2018-12-18 - Published: 2020-06-18 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2018-12-18 - Assignees: The Boeing Company - Applicants: The Boeing Company - Inventors: John G. Schultz; Haftom Y. Dessalegn - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864992B2 ## CPC - B60N 2/242: {Bus seats} - B64D 11/064: {Adjustable inclination or position of seats} - B60N 2/206: {to a position in which it can be used as a support for objects, e.g. as a tray} - B60N 2/233: {by linear screw mechanisms} - B60N 2/305: {the cushion being hinged on the vehicle frame} - B60N 2/66: Lumbar supports - B60N 2/995: {Lower-leg-rests, e.g. calf-rests} - B60N 3/06: of footrests - B64D 11/06395: {characterised by the arrangement of electric motors for adjustment} - B64D 11/0643: {Adjustable foot or leg rests} - A47C 1/024: the parts, being the back-rest, or the back-rest and seat unit, having adjustable inclination - B60N 2/0292: {Multiple configuration seats, e.g. for spacious vehicles or mini-buses} - B60N 2/23: by {linear actuators, e.g.} linear screw mechanisms - B60N 2002/0055: {characterised by special measures to ensure that no seat or seat part collides, during its movement, with other seats, seat parts or the vehicle itself} - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT - A47C: CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS ## Abstract A transformable seat assembly includes a seat support structure and a back support structure connected to the seat support structure with a hinge defining an axis of rotation. An actuator assembly includes a cylinder and a piston positioned within the cylinder, wherein the cylinder is secured to one of the back support structure or the seat support structure and the piston is secured to other of the one of the back support structure or the seat support structure. Additionally a blocking member is positioned within and adjustable along the cylinder. With blocking member in a first position, piston is limited to travel to a first limit position and the back support structure to a first reclined position. With the blocking member in a second position, piston is limited to travel to a second limit position and back support structure is permitted to rotate to second reclined position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A transformable seat assembly, comprising: a seat support structure; a back support structure is connected to the seat support structure with a hinge wherein the hinge defines an axis of rotation; an actuator assembly comprising a cylinder and a piston positioned within the cylinder, wherein: the cylinder is secured to one of the back support structure or the seat support structure; the piston is secured to other of the one of the back support structure or the seat support structure; and a blocking member positioned within and adjustable along the cylinder wherein: the blocking member defines an opening which extends within and along a length of the blocking member and defines a plurality of threads positioned along a surface of the opening within the blocking member; a threaded shaft, associated with the opening, defining a plurality of threads compatible with the plurality of threads positioned along the surface of the opening within the blocking member; the plurality of threads of a first end portion of the threaded shaft engage the plurality of threads defined by the blocking member with a second end portion of the threaded shaft connected to a motor, wherein: with the blocking member in a first position, the blocking member limits linear travel of the piston in a first direction to a first limit position of the piston such that rotational travel of the back support structure about the axis of rotation is limited from rotating the back support structure beyond a first reclined position; or with the blocking member in a second position, the blocking member permits linear travel of the piston in the first direction beyond the first limit position of the piston such that rotational travel of the back support structure about the axis of rotation is permitted to rotate beyond the first reclined position to a second reclined position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The transformable seat assembly of claim 1, further includes a seat cushion positioned overlying a seat support portion of the seat support structure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The transformable seat assembly of claim 1, further includes a back cushion positioned overlying the back support structure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The transformable seat assembly of claim 1 further includes a lumbar cushion positioned overlying the back support structure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The transformable seat assembly of claim 1 wherein: the cylinder is pivotally secured to one of the back support structure or the seat support structure; and the piston is pivotally secured to other of the one of the back support structure or the seat support structure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The transformable seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the motor imparts rotation to the threaded shaft, which results in linear movement of the blocking member along the cylinder. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The transformable seat assembly of claim 6, wherein with rotation of the threaded shaft by the motor in a first rotational direction, the blocking member moves from the first position toward the second position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The transformable seat assembly of claim 6, wherein with rotation of the threaded shaft by the motor in a second rotational direction, the blocking member moves from the second position toward the first position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The transformable seat assembly of claim 1, wherein with the blocking member in the first position, the blocking member is a first distance from an end of the cylinder such that with the piston positioned at the end of the cylinder, the back support structure is in an upright position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The transformable seat assembly of claim 1, wherein with the blocking member in the second position, the blocking member is a second distance from the end of the cylinder greater in distance than a first distance of the blocking member from the end of the cylinder with the blocking member in the first position. ### Claim 11 A method for transforming a transformable seat assembly, comprising steps of: moving a blocking member from a first position to a second position with the blocking member positioned within a cylinder of an actuator assembly, which includes a piston positioned within the cylinder, wherein: the blocking member defines an opening which extends in a direction within and along a length of the blocking member with a plurality of threads defined by the blocking member positioned along a surface of the opening within the blocking member; and a threaded shaft, associated with the opening defined by the blocking member, defines a plurality of threads compatible with the plurality of threads defined by the blocking member such that the plurality of threads of a first end portion of the threaded shaft engages the plurality of threads defined by the blocking member and a second end portion of the threaded shaft is connected to the motor; and activating the motor to rotate the threaded shaft, which imparts linear movement of the blocking member along the cylinder, wherein: the transformable seat assembly comprises a seat support structure connected to a back support structure with a hinge, which defines an axis of rotation; the cylinder is secured to one of the back support structure or the seat support structure; the piston is secured to other of the one of the back support structure or the seat support structure; with the blocking member in a first position, the blocking member limits linear travel of the piston in a first direction to a first limit position of the piston such that rotational travel of the back support structure about the axis of rotation is limited from rotating the back support structure between an upright position and a first reclined position; or with the blocking member in a second position, the blocking member permits linear travel of the piston in the first direction beyond the first limit position of the piston such that rotational travel of the back support structure about the axis of rotation is permitted to travel beyond the first reclined position to a second reclined position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the transformable seat assembly further includes a seat cushion positioned in overlying relationship to the seat support structure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the transformable seat assembly further includes a back cushion and a lumbar cushion positioned in overlying relationship to the back support structure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein with the cylinder pivotally secured to the one of the back support structure or the seat support structure and the piston pivotally secured to other of the one of the back support structure or the seat support structure, rotating the back support structure about the axis of rotation includes the cylinder pivotally rotating relative to the one of the back support structure or the seat support structure and includes the piston pivotally rotating relative to the other of the one of the back support structure or the seat support structure. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein rotating the threaded shaft in a first rotational direction moves the blocking member from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further includes, with the blocking member in the second position, rotating the threaded shaft in a second rotational direction moving the blocking member from the second position to the first position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The transformable seat assembly of claim 9, with the blocking member in the first position and the piston positioned at the end of the cylinder, the piston and the blocking member are spaced apart from one another. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The transformable seat assembly of claim 1, with the blocking member in the first position and the piston positioned abutting the blocking member, the back support structure is positioned in the first reclined position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The transformable seat assembly of claim 10, with the blocking member in the second position, the second distance is greater than a first distance blocking member is positioned from the end of the cylinder when the blocking member is positioned in the first position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 10) The transformable seat assembly of claim 10, wherein with the piston abutting the blocking member in the second position, the back support structure is positioned in the second reclined position.