# US 11,077,947 B2 · Suite bridge with privacy panel

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,077,947 B2
- Document ID: US11077947B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/685,184
- Filed: 2019-11-15
- Published: 2021-05-20
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2019-11-15
- Assignees: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
- Applicants: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
- Inventors: Mark B. Dowty; Ian L. Frost; Martin R. Darbyshire; Dennis M. Heuer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11077947B2

## CPC

- B64D 11/0606: {with privacy shells, screens, separators or the like (class dividers B64D11/0023)}
- B64C 1/1438: {of the sliding type}
- B64D 11/0605: {including tables or desks}
- Y02T 50/40: Weight reduction
- B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
- B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

A passenger suite seating unit is disclosed. In embodiments, the passenger suite seating unit includes a first set of one or more passenger suites and a second set of one or more passenger suites. The passenger suite seating unit may further include a first privacy shell element defining at least a portion of a first side of the passenger suite seating unit, and a second privacy shell element defining at least a portion of a second side of the passenger suite seating unit. The passenger suite seating unit may further include a privacy bridge assembly including a bridge structure extending from the first privacy shell element to the second privacy shell element, and a partition wall coupled to the bridge structure, the partition wall configured to at least partially separate the first set of one or more passenger suites and the second set of one or more passenger seats.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A passenger suite seating unit, comprising:
a first set of one or more passenger suites and a second set of one or more passenger suites;
a first privacy shell element defining at least a portion of a first side of the passenger suite seating unit, and a second privacy shell element defining at least a portion of a second side of the passenger suite seating unit; and
a privacy bridge assembly comprising:
a bridge structure extending from the first privacy shell element to the second privacy shell element; and
a partition wall coupled to the bridge structure, the partition wall configured to at least partially separate the first set of one or more passenger suites and the second set of one or more passenger seats,
wherein one or more privacy structures comprise one or more privacy panels configured to be actuated along a track disposed within the bridge structure,
wherein one or more display devices are disposed on the one or more privacy panels,
wherein a front surface of the one or more display devices is substantially flush with a front surface of the one or more privacy panels.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The passenger suite seating unit of claim 1, wherein the bridge structure is configured to structurally support the first privacy shell element and the second privacy shell element.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The passenger suite seating unit of claim 1, wherein the bridge structure extends from an upper surface of the first privacy shell element to an upper surface of the second privacy shell element.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The passenger suite seating unit of claim 1, wherein the partition wall comprises the one or more privacy structures coupled to a lower surface of the bridge structure.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The passenger suite seating unit of claim 1, wherein the passenger suite seating unit is disposed within a cabin of an aircraft.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The passenger suite seating unit of claim 1, further comprising a first set of one or more openings disposed within the first privacy shell element, and a second set of one or more openings disposed within the second privacy shell element, wherein the first set of one or more openings and the second set of one or more openings are configured to provide ingress and egress to the first set of one or more passenger suites and the second set of one or more passenger suites.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The passenger suite seating unit of claim 6,
wherein the first privacy shell element includes one or more actuatable doors configured to be selectively actuated to a closed position in order to at least partially close the first set of one or more openings, and
wherein the second privacy shell element includes one or more actuatable doors configured to be selectively actuated to a closed position in order to at least partially close the second set of one or more openings.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The passenger suite seating unit of claim 7,
wherein the first set of one or more actuatable doors are slidingly coupled to the first privacy shell element and configured to be slidingly actuated between an open position and the closed position, and
wherein the second set of one or more actuatable doors are slidingly coupled to the second privacy shell element and configured to be slidingly actuated between an open position and the closed position.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The passenger suite seating unit of claim 1,
wherein the first set of one or more passenger suites comprises a first passenger suite and a second passenger suite, and
wherein the second set of one or more passenger suites comprises a third passenger suite and a fourth passenger suite.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The passenger suite seating unit of claim 9, wherein the first passenger suite includes a first forward-facing passenger seat, the second passenger suite includes a second forward-facing passenger seat, the third passenger suite includes a third rearward facing passenger seat, and the fourth passenger suite includes a fourth rearward facing passenger seat.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The passenger suite seating unit of claim 9, further comprising one or more suite dividers arranged substantially orthogonal with respect to the partition wall, wherein the one or more suite dividers are configured to at least partially separate the first passenger suite and the second passenger suite of the first set of one or more passenger suites, and at least partially separate the third passenger suite and the fourth passenger suite of the second set of one or more passenger suites.

### Claim 12

A passenger suite seating unit, comprising:
a first privacy shell element defining at least a portion of a first side of the passenger suite seating unit, and a second privacy shell element defining at least a portion of a second side of the passenger suite seating unit;
a bridge structure extending from a top surface of the first privacy shell element to a top surface of the second privacy shell element, the bridge structure configured to structurally support the first privacy shell element and the second privacy shell element; and
a partition wall comprising one or more privacy structures coupled to a lower surface of the bridge structure, the partition wall configured to at least partially separate a first set of one or more passenger suites and a second set of one or more passenger seats of the passenger suite seating unit
wherein one or more privacy structures comprise one or more privacy panels configured to be actuated along a track disposed within the bridge structure,
wherein one or more display devices are disposed on the one or more privacy panels,
wherein a front surface of the one or more display devices is substantially flush with a front surface of the one or more privacy panels.
