# US 7,607,730 B2 · Upholstery for a passenger seat > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,607,730 B2 - Document ID: US7607730B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/499,324 - Filed: 2006-08-04 - Published: 2007-05-31 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2005-08-08 - Assignees: Greiner Purtec GmbH - Inventors: Johann Möseneder - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7607730B2 ## CPC - A47C 5/06: Special adaptation of seat upholstery or fabric for attachment to tubular chairs - A47C 31/006: {Use of three-dimensional fabrics} - B60N 2/70: Upholstery springs {; Upholstery} - B64D 11/0647: {Seats characterised by special upholstery or cushioning features} - B64D 11/0649: {Seats characterised by special features for reducing weight} - D04B 21/20: specially adapted for knitting articles of particular configuration - D10B 2403/0243: enhancing functional properties - D10B 2505/08: Upholstery, mattresses - Y10T 442/40: Knit fabric [i.e., knit strand or strip material] - Y10T 442/469: Including a foamed layer or component - A47C: CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT - D04B: KNITTING - D10B: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The invention pertains to an upholstery (5) for a passenger seat (1), particularly an aircraft seat, that comprises at least one layer (7, 26) in the form of a textile surface (8) consisting of threads (9 to 11) and/or fibers forming these threads (9 to 11). The textile surface (8) is at least regionally formed by a knitted spacer fabric composed of at least two layers (12, 13) that are spaced apart from one another and pile threads extending therebetween, wherein the textile surface (8) can be at least regionally connected to a supporting frame (6). At least one functional element (19) is at least regionally assigned to the textile surface (8). ## Claims ### Claim 1 An upholstery for a passenger seat with a first supporting frame, particularly an aircraft seat, comprising: at least one layer in the form of a textile surface consisting of threads and/or fibers, wherein the textile surface is formed by a knitted spacer fabric composed of first layer portion and a second layer portion that are spaced apart from one another and having pile threads extending between the first and second layer portions; a first functional element embedded between the first and second layer portions; and a second functional element arranged on a side of the second layer portion facing away from a user, wherein the second functional element is at least one foamed plastic element, and wherein the textile surface can be connected to a second supporting frame such that the textile surface is subjected to different prestresses that are directed parallel to the textile surface, and the second functional element is arranged such that it is spaced apart from the textile surface in a direction extending perpendicular thereto. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The upholstery according to claim 1, wherein the textile surface is dimensionally knitted in the form of a one-piece textile surface that has a required three-dimensional shape. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The upholstery according to claim 1, wherein the textile surface comprises several layers. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The upholstery according to claim 1, wherein the textile surface is a knitted V-belt fabric. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The upholstery according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the textile surface has a varying thickness. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The upholstery according to claim 1, wherein the textile surface features a knitted border on an outer periphery thereof. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The upholstery according to claim 6, wherein several openings are arranged in a longitudinal direction along the knitted border and are spaced apart from one another. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The upholstery according to claim 6, wherein the knitted border is a tube. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The upholstery according to claim 1, wherein individual threads or fibers of the textile surface of the knitted spacer fabric are provided with a coating. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The upholstery according to claims 1, wherein individual threads or fibers of the textile surface of the knitted spacer fabric are also provided with an impregnation. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The upholstery according to claim 10, wherein the coating and/or the impregnation is selected from the group consisting of nanoparticles, varnishes and surface refinements. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The upholstery according to claim 10, wherein the coating and/or the impregnation is flame-retardant. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The upholstery according to claim 1, wherein the threads or fibers consist of an organic and/or inorganic and/or metallic material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The upholstery according to claim 1, wherein the threads and fibers have different elasticities and/or hardnesses and/or dimensions. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The upholstery according to claim 1, wherein the threads or fibers are of a material selected from the group consisting of glass, carbon, aramide, metal, steel, ceramic, plastic, carbon, cotton, hemp and animal hair. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The upholstery according to claim 1, wherein the fibers consist of elastomer fibers of polyurethane, polyether amide, polyetherester amide, polyolefin components, polyester components or a mixture thereof. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The upholstery according to claim 16, wherein the elastomer fibers consist of commercially available elastomer fibers or bicomponent fibers. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The upholstery according to claim 1, wherein the fibers or threads are staple fibers selected from the group consisting of aramide and/or paraaramide fibers, aramide of m-phenylenediamin and isophthalic acid, Technora, Teijinconex, phenol-formaldehyde fibers, polyamide/polyimide fibers, polybenzimidasole fibers and fiber mixtures thereof. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The upholstery according to claim 18, wherein the aramide and/or paraaramide fibers are mixed with carbon fibers Zefstat, Negastat, Resistat, steel fibers, copper fibers and/or metal fibers. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The upholstery according to claim 18, wherein the aramide and/or paraaramide fibers are mixed with carbon or metal fibers and elastomer fibers. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The upholstery according to claim 1, wherein individual threads or fibers of the textile surface of the knitted spacer fabric are flame-retardant. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The upholstery according to claim 1, wherein individual threads or fibers of the textile surface of the knitted spacer fabric are electrically conductive. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The upholstery according to claim 1, wherein an at least one additional layer is arranged on the second functional element on the side facing away from the user. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The upholstery according to claim 23, wherein the second functional element is connected to the additional layer. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The upholstery according to claim 1, wherein third functional element is arranged on the side of the textile surface facing the user. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The upholstery according to claim 1, wherein the first functional element is housed in receptacle space formed between the first and second layer portions of the knitted spacer fabric. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The upholstery according to claim 26, wherein the volume and/or hardness of the air cushion can be changed. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The upholstery according to claim 1, wherein the second functional element is a material selected from the group consisting of PUR-plastic foam with open-cell foam structure, plastic foam with viscoelastic properties, ester-based open-cell PUR plastic foam with viscoelastic properties, polyimide foam, polyether foam, silicone foam and silicone elastomer foam. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) The upholstery according to claim 1, wherein the second functional element has a density or volume weight between 30 kg/m3 and 100 kg/m3, preferably between 40 kg/m3 and 70 kg/m3. ### Claim 30 (depends on 26) The upholstery according to claim 26, wherein the second functional element has a hardness between 120 N and 450 N, preferably between 180 N and 220 N, and a compression strength of 1 kPa to 15 kPa at 40% depth of impression. ### Claim 31 (depends on 1) The upholstery according to claim 1, wherein the second functional element has a density or volume weight between 5 kg/m3 and 90 kg/m3, preferably between 15 kg/m3 and 70 kg/m3. ### Claim 32 (depends on 1) The upholstery according to claim 1, wherein the second functional element has a hardness between 800 N and 4000 N and a compression strength between 30 kPa and 100 kPa at 40% depth of impression. ### Claim 33 (depends on 1) The upholstery according to claim 1, wherein the second functional element has a hardness between 150 N and 550 N, preferably 400 N. ### Claim 34 (depends on 1) The upholstery according to claim 1, wherein the compression strength of the second functional element lies between 1 kPa and 20 kPa, preferably between 5 kPa and 10 kPa at 40% depth of impression. ### Claim 35 (depends on 1) The upholstery according to claim 1, wherein the second functional element has a density or volume weight between 50 kg/m3 and 80 kg/m3, preferably between 60 kg/m3 and 70 kg/m3, and wherein the at least one foamed plastic element preferably consists of an ester-based open-cell PUR plastic foam with viscoelastic properties that has a compression strength between 6 kPa and 25 kPa at 40% depth of impression. ### Claim 36 (depends on 1) The upholstery according to claim 1, wherein at least one supporting device is inserted or embedded in the at least one foamed plastic element. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The upholstery according to claim 36, wherein the supporting device consists of a stainless steel spring core. ### Claim 38 (depends on 1) The upholstery according to claim 1, wherein an at least one flame retardant is added to the second functional element and/or the at least one foamed plastic element is impregnated with a flame retardant. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The upholstery according to claim 38, wherein the at least one flame retardant is selected from the group consisting of melamine and ammonium polyphosphate and contains components that release nitrous oxides at elevated temperatures. ### Claim 40 (depends on 38) The upholstery according to claim 38, wherein the volume of the at least one flame retardant increases at elevated temperatures and the at least one flame retardant is selected from the group consisting of carbon and graphite. ### Claim 41 (depends on 1) The upholstery according to claim 1, further comprising a protective layer having at least one layer. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) The upholstery according to claim 41, wherein the protective layer consists of a flame-retarding cover fabric. ### Claim 43 (depends on 41) The upholstery according to claim 41, wherein the protective layer is at least arranged in the region of the upholstery facing a user. ### Claim 44 An upholstery for a passenger seat with a first supporting frame, particularly an aircraft seat, comprising at least one layer in the form of a textile surface consisting of threads and/or fibers, wherein the textile surface is formed by a knitted spacer fabric composed of at least two layers that are spaced apart from one another and pile threads extending therebetween, and the textile surface includes a knitted border on an outer periphery thereof, wherein several openings are spaced apart from one another and are arranged in a longitudinal direction along the knitted border, and wherein the textile surface can be connected to a second supporting frame such that the textile surface is subjected to different prestresses that are directed parallel to the textile surface.