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US 11,767,905 B2Granted
Laminated rack assembly for powered motion of aircraft seats
AssigneeAMI Industries, Inc.
InventorsDouglas E. Hoover, Keith M. Ferguson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rack is made from a plurality of laminated layers. Each layer defines an alignment feature that allows all of the layers to be affixed to a base plate of an aircraft seat assembly and align the teeth of the rack to within five ten-thousandths of an inch. The rack includes a straight portion and a curved portion such that a pinion gear on the aircraft seat assembly can move the aircraft seat assembly along tracks with straight and curved portions.
Claims10
A rack for engaging a pinion gear, the rack comprising:
- a plurality of layers, each layer defining:
- at least a straight portion and a curved portion;
- and
- a plurality of teeth configured to align each of the plurality of layers, wherein:
- each of the plurality of layers except for a topmost layer and a bottommost layer define weight saving portions comprising slots cut out of an interior of the layer;
- and
- the weight saving portions of neighboring layers in the plurality of layers do not overlap.
4 more elements
An aircraft seat assembly comprising:
- a base plate defining a plurality of tracks, each comprising at least a straight portion and a curved portion;
- an aircraft seat having a plurality base plate engaging elements, each configured to engage a corresponding track;
- a pinion gear driven by a motor connected to the aircraft seat;
- and
- a rack for engaging the pinion gear disposed on the base plate, the rack comprising:
- a plurality of layers, each layer defining:
- at least a straight portion and a curved portion conforming to the straight portion and the curved portion of the base plate tracks;
- and
- a plurality of teeth configured to align each of the plurality of layers,
- wherein:
- the pinion gear is configured to drive the rack and move the aircraft seat from a first orientation corresponding to the straight portion of the rack and base plate tracks to a second orientation corresponding to the curved portion of the rack and base plate tracks;
- each of the plurality of layers except for a topmost layer and a bottommost layer define weight saving portions comprising slots cut out of an interior of the layer;
- and
- the weight saving portions of neighboring layers in the plurality of layers do not overlap.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.