Adjustable width passenger seat
AssigneeB/E Aerospace, Inc.
InventorSambasiva Rao Kodati
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A passenger seat including laterally repositionable armrests wherein a seat bottom width adjusts automatically according to the lateral armrest position. Adjustment mechanisms positioned on the opposing lateral sides of the seat carry the armrests and are driven inward and outward to laterally reposition the armrests. In some embodiments, the adjustment mechanism includes levers drive by a connecting frame coupled to a motion driver such as a rack-and-pinion mechanism positioned in the seat bottom. In embodiments, the cushion utilizes stored internal energy from the cushion construction to expand when the armrests are repositioned laterally outward.
Claims15
A passenger seat, comprising:
- a frame assembly including spaced longitudinal frame members and at least one transverse frame member;
- a first lateral adjustment mechanism movably attached to a first lateral side of the frame assembly;
- a first armrest mechanism positioned on an outboard lateral side of the first lateral adjustment mechanism;
- a second lateral adjustment mechanism movably attached to a second lateral side of the frame assembly;
- a second armrest mechanism positioned on an outboard lateral side of the second lateral adjustment mechanism;
- and
- a cushion element supported by the frame assembly, the cushion element including at least one laterally expandable portion;
- wherein the at least one laterally expandable portion is configured to automatically expand as the respective first and second armrest mechanisms are repositioned laterally outward, and automatically contract as the respective first and second armrest mechanisms are repositioned laterally inward.
An armrest mechanism for laterally repositioning an armrest relative to a seat, comprising:
- a frame movably attachable to a lateral side of a seat frame;
- at least one lever configured to adjust lateral spacing between the frame and the seat frame, the at least one lever including spaced first and second levers links attached at a rotating joint, the first and second links configured to interact with the seat frame;
- a connecting frame configured to couple the at least one lever to the seat frame;
- an armrest assembly attached to the frame;
- and
- a motion driver coupled to the connecting frame operable for moving the connecting frame relative to the seat frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.