GB2523309A

GB2523309A - Aircraft passenger seating arrangements

Info

Publication number: GB2523309A
Application number: GB1402455.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Darbyshire
Original assignee: British Airways PLC
Current assignee: British Airways PLC
Priority date: 2014-02-12
Filing date: 2014-02-12
Publication date: 2015-08-26
Anticipated expiration: 2034-02-12
Also published as: US20150225086A1; GB201402455D0; GB2523309B; EP2907754A1

Abstract

An aircraft passenger seating arrangement comprises first and second columns C2, C1 of seating arrangements, the columns both extending parallel to and on either side of a centre line L of the cabin. The central axes of the seats of the first column C2 face forward at a first angle to the centre line L and away from the second column C1, and the central axes of the seats of the second column C1 face backward at a second angle to the centre line L and away from the first column C2. The seats are each provided with foot and leg rests, a privacy screen and a table, and are convertible to a bed position.

Description

Aircraft Passenger Seating Arrangements The present invention relates to an aircraft passenger seating arrangement, to an array of such seating arrangements, and to an aircraft cabin including such an array.

Background to the Invention

Examples of prior art aircraft sleeper seats are disclosed in the applicant's patent publications WO-A-96 18537, WO-A-002 1831, WO-A-2007/072045, WO-A- 2007/135373 and WO-A-2009/066054, cmbodimcnts of which includc currcnt and previous versions the British Airways First and Club World (RTM) seats. These seats can be converted into a flat, horizontal bed, and have enjoyed great commercial success.

However, there is intense competition to provide ever-greater comfort and space for aircraft passcngcrs.

Passenger seats for aircraft are subject to stringent design constraints, many ol which are not applicable to seats for other vehicle types. One problem is the need to meet the rclevant safcty standards for aircraft passenger scats. such as thc lôg tcst that rcquircs seats to survive deceleration of 16g in a takeoff/landing position. Another problem is thc nccd to mininiizc thc wcight of thc seat, sincc carrying cxtra wcight on an aircraft incrcases fuel consumption and thcrefore monetary and cnvironmenta cost. Hence, the scat must bc both strong and light.

Another problem relates to the use of space. Any given aircraft cabin has a maximum area available for passcngcr seating. which must be used in the most space-efficient manner possible so as to maximize the seating area and legroom available to each passenger, while allowing unimpeded exit from the seat. It is also desirable for cost reasons to fit as many passenger seats as possible in the available area, without sacrificing passenger comfort and convenience.

Another problem relates to the level of comiort ol the seat. Aireralt passenger seats may be used for day flights, in which the passenger will want to work, eat and/or relax, and night flights during which the passenger will want to sleep. Preferably, an aircraft passenger seat should allow a passenger to adopt comfortable positions for all of these activities.

Another problem relates to the psychological and/or social needs of aircraft passengers, who may desire privacy while working, eating or sleeping, or may wish to interact with a travefling companion.

Another problem relates to the amount of personal storage space available to the aircraft passenger. Conventionally, much of the space around an individual seat is taken up by reclining mechanisms, or needs to he kept clear to allow movement of the seat, so cannot be used for storage.

Statement of the Invention

Aspects of the present invention comprises an array of aircraft passenger seating arrangements according to claim I and 3. Specific embodiments arc defined in the dependent claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings identified below.

Figures Ia to Ic arc perspective views from different angles of an array of aircraft passenger seating arrangements in a first embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of an array of aircraft passenger seating arrangements in a second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a schematic plan view of an array of aircraft passenger seating arrangements in a third embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a schematic plan view of an array of aircraft passenger seats in a fourth embodiment, in an aircraft cabin section.

Figure 5 is a schematic plan view of an array of aircraft passenger seats in a fifth embodiment, in an aircraft cabin section.

Detailed Description of the Embodiments

Terminology In describing the embodiments. horizontal' and vertical' are defined with reference to the floor ol the passenger seating area of the aircralt. As in well known iii the art, the angle of the floor relative to the gravitational horizontal is determined by the pitch of the aircraft, which is about 15° during takeoff and landing, and about 3° in level flight.

When describing an individual seating arrangement. forward' and rearward' are defined with reference to direction in which the passenger faces. Inward' and outward' are defined with reference to a central longitudinal axis of the cabin.

Similar parts between different embodiments are indicated by the same reference numerals, and their description is not necessarily repeated for each embodiment.

First Embodiment As shown in Figuresla to ic, an aircraft passenger seating arrangement in a first embodiment of the present invention comprises the following main components: a seatl comprising a seat back la and a seat pan lb. a seat housing or shell 2 surrounding the seat 1, and a eg/1oot support 4 spaced forward of the seat I. Armrests 5 are provided to either side of the seat 1. A side surface 6 is provided to one side of the seat 1. preferably on an aisle-facing side of the seating arrangement. beyond one of the armrests 5. A tray table 7 may be deployable from a stowed position to a deployed position opposite the seat 1. A privacy screen 8 may be arranged on the far side of the side surface 6 from the seat 1, preferably facing the aisle of the aircraft cabin. An IFE (in-flight entertainment) screen 9 is positioned on a portion of the shell 2 facing the seat 1.

The seat I is reclinable between a sitting position, shown on the right hand side of Figures la and lb, and a bed positionshown on the left hand side of Figures la and lb. In the sitting position, the seat back la is substantially vertical but reclined slightly backwards, and the seat pan lb is substantially horizontal but reclined slightly backwards. The angle of recline of the seat back Ia and/or the seat pan lb may he adjusted. In the bed position, the seat back la and seat pan lb are substantially horizontal, and coplanar with the leg/foot support 4 so as to form a bed surface.

A leg rest 3 be provided to fill any space between the seat pan lb and the foot/leg support 4 in the bed position, the leg rest 3 being substantially horizontal and coplanar with the seat hack Ia, seat pan lb and leg/loot support 4 in this position, so as to lorm part of the bed surface. The leg rest 3 may he pivotally attached at the front end of the seat pan lb. and may he stowed in a substantially vertical position below the seat pan lb when not in use, as shown for example in Figure la. Alternatively, in a seat configuration where the scat pan lb lies adjacent to the foot/leg support 4 in the bed position, the leg rest 3 may not be required.

The armrests 5 may be fixed, and the scat 1 may rise into the bed position so as to be level with the upper surface of the arrnrests 5, so that the arrnrests 5 form part of the bed surface. Alternatively, the aimrests 5 may be lowered so as to be level with the seat 1 in bed position.

The seat 1 may be continuously reclinable between (he sitting position and (he bed position. driven for example hy one or more drive motors under the control of the passenger. The angle of the seat back Ia and seat pan lb may he governed by a reclining mechanism as disclosed for example in WO-A-2007/072045.

Instead of rechning from the sitting to the bed position, the seat I may flip over, as disclosed for example in WO-A-03013903. In this alternative, the back la may rotate forwardly over the seat pan lb so that the rear surface of the seat back la forms part of the bed surface.

The seating arrangements are arranged in a column, each seat extending at an angle to the longitudinal direction of the column. This arrangement allows the side surface 6 to extend over the leg/foot support 4 of the adjacent seating arrangement in the column, thus providing more usable space for the passenger. Different column arrangements will now be described.

Second Embodiment Figure 2 shows a second embodiment, in which the seating arrangements similar to those of the first embodiment are arranged in first and second colunms Cl, C2 both extending along either side of a centre line L. The seating arrangements of the first column Cl are staggered in the longitudinal direction such that the shell 2 extends over the centre line L of the columns Cl, C2. The upper ends of the seat backs la also extend over the centre line L in the bed position, thus providing improved packing density of the seating arrangements.

The centre line L may be substantially coincident with the central longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin, and aisles arranged outside (he columns Cl and C2. The seats I of the first and second columns Cl, C2 lace away from (he centre line L in mutually opposite directions. with the seats 1 of one column Cl facing towards the front of the aircraft cabin and the seats 1 of the other column C2 facing towards the back of the cabin. For each seat 1, a seat axis S may he defined in the direction in which the seat I faces when sitting, and extends in the bed position. An angle a may he defined between the seat axis S and the centre line L. Hence, if the direction of the seat axes S of column CI are at angle a to a longitudinal direction of the colunms Cl, C2. then direction of the seat axes S of column C2 are at an angle of 180° + a to a longitudina' direction. Angle a is approximately 400 in this embodiment, but may be in the range 30° to 50°, and preferably 35° to 45°.

In this embodiment, the seat pitch P (i.e. the seat spacing in the longitudinal direction) is 38 inches (0.97 m). The bed surface length is approximately 74 inches (1.88 metres).This arrangement is suitable for the main deck of an Airbus A380 (RTM) passenger aircraft.

Third Embodiment Figure 3 shows a third embodiment similar to the second embodiment, but with an angle a of approximately 35°. The seat pitch P is approximately 43.5 inches (1. lmetres). This arrangement is suitable for the main deck of a Boeing 777 RTM) passenger aircraft. Alternative arrangements may be provided for different aircraft cabin sizes and/or shapes.

Fourth Embodiment Figure 4 shows a LOPA (Layout of Passenger Accommodation) of seating arrangements in a fourth embodiment, in an aircraft cabin section, such as the main deck of an Airhus A380 (RTM) passenger aircraft. The seating arrangements are arranged in four columns CI to C4, each comprising 12 seating arrangements, providing 48 seating arrangements within the cabin section. The seating arrangements of the two central columns CI, C2 are similar to those of the second embodiment. Outer columns C3, C4 of seating arrangements are provided adjacent respective cabin sidewalls, separated by a respective aisle Al, A2 from respective central columns Cl, C2. The aisle width Wl at floor level is 17.6 inches (0.447 metres), while the aisle width between privacy screens 8 is 23.1 inches (0.587 metres) The seating arrangements of the outer columns C3. C4 are angled inwardly from the cabin sidewalls at approximately the same angle a as the central columns Cl, C2.

Fifth Embodiment Figure 5 shows a LOPA (Layout of Passenger Accommodation) of seating arrangements in a fifth embodiment in an aircraft cabin section, for example in a Boeing 787 (RTM) passenger aircraft. The seating arrangements are arranged in three columns Cl to C3. separated from one another by respective aisles. The seating alTangements of the outer columns Cl, C3 are angled inwardly from the cabin sidewalls at approximately the same angle a. The seating arrangements of the central column C2 are angled at approximately the same angle a.

The seat pitch P in this embodiment is approximately 34 inches (86.36 cm). and the angle a is approximately 47.5°.

Alternative Embodiments Alternative embodiments of the invention may be apparent from reading the above IS description. Such alternative embodiments may nevertheless fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claims 1. An array of passenger seating arrangements for an aircraft passenger cabin, each said seating arrangement comprising: a. a seat (1) convertible between a substantially upright seating position and a substantially flat, horizontal bed position extending substantially parallel to a central axis of the scat (1); h. a foot/leg rest (4) positioned opposite the scat (I) so as to form part of a bed surface together with the seat (I) in the bed position; and c. a side surface (6) provided to one side of the seat (1); whcrcin thc array comprises a column (Cl; C2; C3; C4) of said scating arrangements extending substantially parallel to a centre line (L) of the cabin, and the central axes of the seats within the column extend at an angle to the centre line (L). towards an aisle (Al: A2) of the cabin; whereinthe side surface (6) of each said seating arrangement extends over a portion of an adjacent one of the seating arrangements within the column (Cl: C2: C3: C4); and wherein a privacy screen (8) is arranged on a side of the side surface away from the seat (1), and towards the aisle (Al; A2).
2. The array of passenger seating arrangements of claim I, wherein the array comprises first and second columns (Cl, C2) of said seating arrangements, the columns both extending parallel to and at either side of a centre line (L) of the cabin, wherein the central axes of the seats (1) of the first column C2) face forward at a first angle to the centre line (L) and away from the second column (Cl), and the central axes of the seats (1) of the second column (Cl) face backward at a second angle to the centre line L) and away from the first column (C2).
3. An array of passenger seating arrangements for an aircraft passenger cabin, cach said seating arrangcmcnt comprising: a. a seat (1) convertible between a substantially upright seating position and a substantially flat, horizontal bed position extending substantially parallel to a central axis of the seat (I); b. a foot/leg rest (4) positioned opposite the seat (1) so as to foim part of a bed surface together with the seat (1) in the bed position; and c. a side surface (6) provided to one side of the seat (1); wherein the army comprises first and second columns (Cl, C2) of said seating arrangements, the columns both extending parallel to and at either side of a centre line L) of the cabin, wherein the central axes of the seats (l)of the first column (C2) face forward at a first angle to the eentreline(L) and away from the second column (Cl), and the central axes of the seats (I) of the second colunm (Cl) face backward at a second angle to the centre line(L) and away from the first column C2); and wherein the side surface (6) of each said seating arrangement extends over a portion of an adjacent one of the seating arrangements within the same column (Cl: C2).
4. The array of claim 3. wherein the first and second columns (Cl, C2) overlap over the centre line (L) of the cabin.
5. The alTay of any preceding claim, wherein said angle is in the range 300 to 50°.
6. The array of claim 5, wherein the angle is in the range 350 to 45°.
7. The array of any preceding claim, wherein the side surface (6) extends over the foot/leg rest (4) of the adjacent one of the seating arrangements.
8. An aircraft cabin including the array of any preceding claim.
9. An aircraft passenger seating arrangement, array or layout substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.