# US 2017/0283064 A1 · Passenger seating with multi-mode privacy door

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

- Number: US 2017/0283064 A1
- Document ID: US20170283064A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/474,131
- Filed: 2017-03-30
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2016-04-01
- Assignees: Thompson Aero Seating Limited
- Applicants: Thompson Aero Seating Limited
- Inventors: Aaron Robinson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170283064A1

## CPC

- B64D 11/0606: {with privacy shells, screens, separators or the like (class dividers B64D11/0023)}
- B64C 1/1423: {Passenger doors}
- B64C 1/1438: {of the sliding type}
- B64D 11/0023: {Movable or removable cabin dividers, e.g. for class separation}
- E05D 15/58: with both swinging and sliding movements
- E06B 3/4654: {disappearing in pockets in the wall; Pockets therefor}
- E06B 3/5072: {the horizontal sliding wings having the possibility of an additional rotational movement}
- E06B 3/509: {where one of the sliding and rotating movements necessarily precedes the other}
- E05D 15/1005: {the wing being supported on arms movable in horizontal planes}
- E05Y 2900/212: Doors disappearing in pockets in the furniture body
- E05Y 2900/502: for aircraft or spacecraft
- 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
- E05D: HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS (pivotal connections in general F16C11/00)
- E06B: FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES (shades or blinds for greenhouses A01G9/22; curtains A47H; lids for car boots or bonnets B62D25/10; skylights E04B7/18; sunshades, awnings E04F10/00)
- E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF

## Abstract

Passenger seating comprises rows of seats with a door assembly at the end of each row for improving a seat occupant's privacy. The door assembly includes a door that slides into and out of a base in a primary mode of operation, and which supports a secondary mode of opening. The secondary mode may involve pivoting on hinges. A latch is provided to prevent the door from being opened routinely in the secondary mode. The door assembly is also capable of retracting with respect to the adjacent seat to improve access.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Passenger seating comprising at least one seat and at least one respective door assembly located at a side of a respective seat, the respective door assembly comprising a base portion and a door that, in a primary mode of operation, is movable with respect to the base portion between an open state and a closed state, and wherein said door is configured to support a second mode of opening out of said closed state that is different from said primary mode.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The passenger seating of claim 1, wherein said door is slidable with respect to said base portion in a fore-and-aft direction between said open state and said closed state in said primary mode.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The passenger seating of claim 1, wherein said door is configured to support said second mode by being formed in first and second parts that are coupled together at a joint that is exposed from said base portion when said door is in said closed state, said first part of the door being movable with respect to, or separable from, said second part at said joint.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The passenger seating of claim 3 wherein said first and second parts are pivotable with respect to each other at said joint, said joint typically extending substantially vertically in use, preferably along the entire height of the door.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The passenger seating of claim 1, comprising a plurality of rows of at least one seat, the rows being spaced apart to define a gap between adjacent rows, wherein the respective door of the or each respective door assembly of at least one of said rows, when in said closed state, closes the gap between the respective row and the row in front, and wherein, optionally, said at least one seat of each row is located within a respective shell structure, and wherein the respective door of the or each respective door assembly of at least one of said rows, when in said closed state, closes the gap between its shell structure and the shell structure of the row in front.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The passenger seating of claim 1, wherein said base portion is panel-like in shape and provides a wall at said side of the respective seat.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The passenger seating of claim 1, wherein said base portion includes a compartment for housing said door when in said open state.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The passenger seating of claim 1, wherein the, or each, door assembly further includes a first user-operable latch operable to selectively prevent the respective door opening in said second mode.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The passenger seating of claim 8, wherein said first user-operable latch is configured not to prevent operation of said door in said primary mode.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The passenger seating of claim 8, wherein said first latch is operable into and out of a latched state in which it prevents said first part of the door being movable with respect to, or being separable from, said second part at a joint.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The passenger seating of claim 10 wherein said first latch comprises a first latch formation provided on said first part of said door and a corresponding second latching formation provided in a shell structure of the row in front, said first and second latching formations being engagable when said door is in the closed state to prevent operation of said door in said secondary mode, said first latch formation typically comprising a projection projecting forwardly from said door and said second latch formation comprises a corresponding socket for receiving said projection.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The passenger seating of claim 8, wherein the or each door assembly comprises a first latch operating mechanism including a user control for controlling operation of said first latch, said user control preferably being located on an inside surface of said door assembly, more preferably on an inside surface of said door.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The passenger seating of claim 12, wherein the or each door assembly further includes an indicating device coupled to said first latch operating mechanism and being operable in response to operation of said first latch operating mechanism to indicate whether or not said first latch is in its latched state.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The passenger seating of claim 13 wherein said indicating device comprises a mechanical flag that is mechanically coupled to said first latch operating mechanism for movement between first and second states corresponding to the latched and unlatched states of the first latch, and wherein the mechanical coupling may be configured such that actuation of said mechanical flag from said second state to said first state causes said first latch to adopt its latched state.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The passenger seating of claim 1, wherein the, or each, door assembly includes a second user operable latch mechanism that is operable to selectively retain the respective door in its open state, and wherein, preferably, the or each door assembly includes a second latch operating mechanism including a user control for controlling operation of said second latch mechanism, said user control preferably being located on an inside surface of said door assembly, more preferably on an inside surface of said base portion.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The passenger seating of claim 1, wherein the or each door assembly includes a locking mechanism for selectively locking the respective door in its open state, and wherein, preferably, said locking mechanism includes a third user operable latch mechanism that is operable to selectively retain the respective door in its open state, and a respective latch operating mechanism including a user control for controlling operation of said third latch mechanism, said user control preferably being located on an outside surface or a top surface of said door assembly, more preferably on an outside surface or a top surface of said base portion.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The passenger seating of claim 1, wherein the or each door assembly is movable with respect to the respective seat between a normal state and an access state, wherein in said access state said door assembly is located rearwardly, with respect to the direction in which said seat faces, and/or outwardly with respect to said seat of its position in said normal state, and wherein the or each door assembly is typically pivotable with respect to said seat between said normal state and said access state, for example the or each door assembly may be pivotable outwardly and rearwardly with respect to said seat by means of at least one pivotable linkage, the or each pivotable linkage preferably comprising first and second parallel links, each link conveniently being pivotably coupled to the door assembly and to the shell structure, and wherein the or each door assembly may be slidable with respect to said seat between said normal state and said access state by means of at least one sliding mechanism, the or each sliding mechanism conveniently being provided at a lower end of the door assembly.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The passenger seating of claim 1, wherein said door is configured to support said second mode by being shaped to define a hatchway that is exposed from the base portion when the door is in the closed state and is dimensioned to allow a person to pass therethrough, and further including means for closing said hatchway.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The passenger seating of claim 1 wherein one or more frangible devices, for example frangible pins, couple the first and second parts of the door together at a joint.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The passenger seating of claim 1 further including a door assembly release mechanism comprising a clamp that is operable into and out of a clamping state in which it holds the door assembly in a fixed position with respect to a shell structure and/or the respective seat, and wherein, preferably, when out of the clamping state, allows the door assembly to move between its normal state and an access state, wherein the clamp is optionally located at an in use lower portion of the door assembly, for example at a lower support structure provided along a lower end of the door assembly.