US 12,420,934 B2 · Pilot sleeper seat with integrated rudder controls and lockout function

Abstract

A seat system for an aircraft including a pilot seat configured to operate in a piloting mode and in a rest mode. The pilot seat includes a dual function component configured to function as a flight controller when the pilot seat is operating in the piloting mode and a rest surface when the pilot seat is operating in the rest mode. The piloting mode and the rest mode are mutually exclusive operating modes. The seat system further includes a control system in electronic communication with the pilot seat and configured to activate the flight controller when the pilot seat is operating in the piloting mode, deactivate the flight controller when the pilot seat is operating in the rest mode. The pilots seats may be utilized in a two-pilot aircraft to provide provisions for pilot rest in an aircraft cockpit.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A pilot seat, comprising:

a frame;
a seat bottom mounted to the frame;
a seat back mounted to the frame;
a lower leg and foot rest assembly mounted to the frame, the lower leg and foot rest assembly comprising:
a first subassembly including a first lower leg support and a first rudder pedal pivotally mounted to a first linear slide;
and
a second subassembly including a second lower leg support and a second rudder pedal pivotally mounted to a second linear slide;
wherein the first and second subassemblies are independently adjustable;
and
a controller configured to operate the pilot seat in a piloting mode and a rest mode, wherein the piloting mode and the rest mode are mutually exclusive operating modes of the pilot seat, and wherein:
when the pilot seat is operating in the piloting mode, the first and second subassemblies are operable as flight controllers;
and
when the pilot seat is operating in the rest mode, the first and second subassemblies are inoperable as flight controllers.

10 more elements

A cockpit layout for a two-pilot aircraft, comprising:

first and second pilot seats each comprising:
a frame;
a seat bottom mounted to the frame;
a seat back mounted to the frame;
a lower leg and foot rest assembly mounted to the frame, the lower leg and foot rest assembly comprising:
a first subassembly including a first lower leg support and a first rudder pedal pivotally mounted to a first linear slide;
and
a second subassembly including a second lower leg support and a second rudder pedal pivotally mounted to a second linear slide;
wherein the first and second subassemblies are independently adjustable;
and
a controller configured to operate the first and second pilot seats in a piloting mode and a rest mode, wherein the piloting mode and the rest mode are mutually exclusive operating modes of the first and second pilot seats, and wherein:
when the first and second pilot seats are operating in their respective piloting mode, the first and second subassemblies are operable as flight controllers;
when the first and second pilot seats are operating in their respective rest mode, the first and second subassemblies are inoperable as flight controllers;
and
when one of the first and second pilot seats is operating in the rest mode the other of the first and second pilot seats is precluded from operating in the rest mode.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Pilot sleeper seat with integrated rudder controls and lockout function

Life of this patent

Pilot sleeper seat with integrated rudder controls and lockout function

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10