# US 8,783,771 B2 · Extendable seat pan assembly with comfort spring > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,783,771 B2 - Document ID: US8783771B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/301,278 - Filed: 2011-11-21 - Published: 2013-05-23 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2011-11-21 - Assignees: BE Aerospace, Inc. - Applicants: Michael L. Oleson - Inventors: Michael L. Oleson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783771B2 ## CPC - B64D 11/06: {Arrangements of seats, or adaptations or details specially adapted for aircraft seats (crew seat constructions for emergency purposes B64D25/04)} - B64D 11/064: {Adjustable inclination or position of seats} - B64D 11/0641: {Seats convertible into beds} - B64D 11/0649: {Seats characterised by special features for reducing weight} - Y02T 50/40: Weight reduction - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract An extendable seat pan assembly configured to be supported on spaced side walls of a seat frame and including a seat pan frame having spaced frame rails retained longitudinally parallel to and adjacent the side walls, and a seat pan slidably supported on the frame rails and defining an opening therethough spanned by a spring assembly including a plurality of springs. An aircraft passenger seat including an extendable seat pan assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An extendable seat pan assembly configured to be supported on spaced side walls of a seat frame, comprising: a seat pan frame having spaced frame rails each retained longitudinally parallel to and adjacent one of the side walls of the seat frame; a seat pan supported on the frame rails and slidable relative thereto in a direction longitudinally parallel to the frame rails, the seat pan defining an opening therethough spanned by a spring assembly including a plurality of springs; and the spaced side walls rotatably supporting rollers at their forward ends, the frame rails each having a cam profile along an underside of their forward end that travels on the rollers such that the cam profile moves the seat pan frame up and forward as the seat pan frame moves forward relative to the side walls. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The extendable seat pan assembly according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of springs comprise elongated sinuous wire springs arranged generally parallel to one another and independently supported within a spring frame. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The extendable seat pan assembly according to claim 2, wherein the spring frame includes spaced bars. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The extendable seat pan assembly according to claim 2, further comprising at least one stringer transversely bridging and interconnecting the plurality of elongated sinuous wire springs and maintaining lateral spacing therebetween. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The extendable seat pan assembly according to claim 1, wherein the seat pan frame further comprises spaced forward and rear cross members interconnecting the spaced frame rails. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The extendable seat pan assembly according to claim 5, wherein the seat pan defines a downward extending flange along a rear edge thereof that contacts the rear cross member to limit forward extension of the seat pan relative to the seat pan frame. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The extendable seat pan assembly according to claim 1, further comprising spaced slides mounted under and to the sides of the seat pan that are guidingly retained within guides attached alongside the frame rails. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The extendable seat pan assembly according to claim 1, wherein the seat pan frame is attached via links to a bottom end of a backrest below a backrest pivot. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The extendable seat pan assembly according to claim 1, wherein the seat pan laterally overlaps the frame rails and is generally planar and includes a top surface having a plurality of holes. ### Claim 10 An aircraft passenger seat having an extendable seat pan, comprising: a seat frame including a backrest pivotably attached to spaced seat bottom side walls; and an extendable seat pan assembly supported on the spaced side walls, the seat pan assembly including a seat pan frame having spaced frame rails each retained longitudinally parallel to and adjacent one of the side walls of the seat frame, and a seat pan supported on the frame rails and slidable relative thereto in a direction longitudinally parallel to the frame rails, the seat pan defining an opening therethough spanned by a spring assembly including a plurality of springs, and the spaced side walls rotatably supporting rollers at their forward ends the frame rails each having a cam profile along an underside of their forward end that travels on the rollers such that the cam profile moves the seat pan frame up and forward as the seat pan frame moves forward relative to the side walls. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The aircraft passenger seat according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of springs comprise elongated sinuous wire springs arranged generally parallel to one another and independently supported within a spring frame. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The aircraft passenger seat according to claim 11, wherein the spring frame includes spaced bars. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The aircraft passenger seat according to claim 11, further comprising at least one stringer transversely bridging and interconnecting the plurality of elongated sinuous wire springs and maintaining lateral spacing therebetween. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The aircraft passenger seat according to claim 11, wherein the seat pan frame further comprises spaced forward and rear cross members interconnecting the frame rails. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The aircraft passenger seat according to claim 14, wherein the seat pan defines a downward extending flange along a rear edge thereof that contacts the rear cross member to limit forward extension of the seat pan relative to the seat pan frame. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The aircraft passenger seat according to claim 10, further comprising spaced slides mounted under and to the sides of the seat pan that are guidingly retained within guides attached alongside the frame rails. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The aircraft passenger seat according to claim 10, wherein the seat pan frame is attached via links to the bottom of the backrest. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The aircraft passenger seat according to claim 10, wherein the seat pan laterally overlaps the frame rails and is generally planar and includes a top surface having a plurality of holes.