GB2612048A

GB2612048A - Wide-bodied aircraft cabin comprising seat units with overlapping footprints

Info

Publication number: GB2612048A
Application number: GB2114980.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Byron Woodington James; James Rachel; Miedema Jurre
Original assignee: Deutsche Lufthansa AG; Safran Seats GB Ltd
Current assignee: Deutsche Lufthansa AG; Safran Seats GB Ltd
Priority date: 2021-10-19
Filing date: 2021-10-19
Publication date: 2023-04-26
Also published as: GB202114980D0

Abstract

An aircraft cabin 100 has opposing first and second cabin walls 103,104 running the length of respective sides. A first and second aisle 101,102 run along the length, between the walls, parallel to the cabin longitudinal axis X. Groups of seat units are positioned behind one another, along the length, a first number of seat units 120, outboard of the first aisle; a second number of seat units 140, outboard of the second aisle, between the second aisle and wall; and a third number of seat units 151 between the aisles. The first seat units are seat unit pairs 121A, with an aisle seat unit (fig.2,122A) having an aisle seat (fig.2,125A) adjacent the first aisle, spaced from the first wall; and a non-aisle seat unit 123A with a non-aisle seat 126A adjacent the first wall, spaced from the first aisle. For each pair of seat units, one unit has a footwell (fig.2,129A), the other furniture (fig.2,132A), the units arranged so either the pair’s footwell is directly below the pair’s furniture, or that of the pair in front; or the furniture is directly above the pair’s footwell, or that of the pair behind.

Description

WIDE-BODIED AIRCRAFT CABIN COMPRISING SEAT UNITS WITH

OVERLAPPING FOOTPRINTS

[0001] The present invention concerns aircraft cabins. More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention concerns an aircraft cabin comprising a seat unit having a foot well that is positioned beneath an item of furniture belonging to another seat unit. The invention also concerns a kit of parts for forming the aforementioned aircraft cabin [0002] Business class seating generally aims to provide aircraft passengers with maximum comfort and privacy. However, the design of aircraft passenger seat units for business class seating is constrained by the limited availability of space within an aircraft cabin. Increasing the packing density of seat units is highly desirable for airlines due to increased revenues that can result from the increased number of paying business class passengers that can be contained within a given aircraft cabin space.

[0003] W02014049362A1 and W02011/141134A1 both disclose examples of aircraft cabin arrangements in which seat units which are situated away from the cabin aisles are provided with aisle access paths that do not pass through any neighbouring seat units. A particular benefit of this type of configuration is that a passenger of a non-aisle seat unit is able to access the aisle without disturbing a passenger of the aisle seat unit. [0004] The present invention seeks to mitigate the above-mentioned problems. Alternatively or additionally, the present invention seeks to provide an improved aircraft cabin.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention provides, according to a first aspect, an aircraft cabin comprising: - a first cabin wall positioned on a first side of the cabin, - a second cabin wall positioned on a second, opposite side of the cabin, the first and second cabin walls running along a length of the cabin, - a first aisle and a second aisle running along the length of the cabin, substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cabin, between the first and second cabin walls,

-

a first plurality of seat units positioned on an outboard side of the first aisle, between the first aisle and the first cabin wall, the seat units being positioned behind one another along the length of the aircraft cabin, - a second plurality of seat units positioned on an outboard side of the second aisle, between the second aisle and the second cabin wall, the seat units being positioned behind one another along the length of the aircraft cabin - a third plurality of seat units positioned between the first and second aisles, the seat units being positioned behind one another along the length of the aircraft cabin,.

[0006] The first plurality of seat units is a plurality of pairs of seat units, each pair of seat units comprising a non-aisle seat unit and an aisle seat unit. The aisle seat unit comprises an aisle seat situated adjacent the first aisle and spaced apart from the first cabin wall and the non-aisle seat unit comprises a non-aisle seat situated adjacent the first cabin wall and spaced apart from the first aisle. For each pair of seat units, one of the seat units of the pair comprises a foot well and the other of the seat units of the pair comprises an item of furniture. The seat units are arranged with respect to one another along the length of the cabin so that, for any given pair either: - the foot well of the pair is situated directly below the item of furniture of the pair or directly below the item of furniture of a pair situated immediately in front of the pair, or the item of furniture of the pair is situated directly above the foot well of the pair or directly above the foot well of a pair situated immediately behind of the pair.

[0007] The aircraft cabin of the first aspect invention enables the packing density of seat units within the aircraft cabin to be increased by arranging the non-aisle seat units and aisle seat units of a given pair of seat units to have overlapping footprints. Such an arrangement reduces unused dead space within the aircraft cabin. The footprints of the seat units overlap in an overlapping area which contains a foot well of one of the seat units and an item of furniture belonging to the another of the seat units.

[0008] Each seat unit of the first plurality may be situated directly adjacent to the first aisle on an aisle-side of the seat units and directly adjacent to the first cabin wall on an opposite non-aisle-side of the seat units.

[0009] Each seat unit of the second plurality may be situated directly adjacent to the second aisle on an aisle-side of the seat units and directly adjacent to the second cabin wall on an opposite non-aisle-side of the seat units.

[0010] The walls of the cabin may be substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the cabin. The non-aisle seat unit of each pair of seat units may be situated in front of the aisle seat unit of the pair. Alternatively, the aisle seat unit of each pair of seat units may be situated in front of the non-aisle seat unit of the pair. Each seat unit may comprise a seat configurable between an upright sitting position and a lie-flat bed mode configuration. Each seat may comprise a seat pan, back rest, a leg rest, and a head rest. Each seat unit may comprise only a single seat. Each seat unit may comprise a foot well. Each seat unit may be configured such that the leg rest of the seat extends into the foot well when in the seat is in the lie-flat configuration. Alternatively or additionally, a foot support surface may be contained within the foot well. A foot well of an aisle seat unit may be positioned between the seat of each non-aisle seat unit and the first aisle. A foot well of a non-aisle seat unit may be positioned between the seat of each aisle seat unit and the first cabin wall.

[0011] The item of furniture may be one of an arm rest, a table surface, a cupboard, a storage area, a shelf or any other surface or item of furniture that can be used by a passenger of the seat unit in which the item of furniture is located. The aisle-side and non-aisle seat units of each pair of seat units may be at least partly formed by a shell. The shell may at least partially form the foot well of one or more of the seat units. The shell may at least partially provide the item of furniture of one or more of the seat units. [0012] The aisle-side and non-aisle seat units of each pair of seat units may be at least partly formed by a shell. The shell may at least partially form the foot well of one or more of the seat units. The shell may at least partially provide the item of furniture of one or more of the seat units.

[0013] Preferably the non-aisle seat unit of each pair comprises a foot well and the foot well is situated directly beneath an item of furniture of an aisle seat unit. Where a "pair" of seat units comprises a non-aisle seat unit and an aisle seat unit situated immediately in front of the non-aisle seat unit, the foot well of the non-aisle seat unit is situated directly beneath an item of furniture of the aisle seat unit of the pair. Where a pair" of seat units comprises a non-aisle seat unit and an aisle seat unit situated immediately behind the non-aisle seat unit, for a given pair, the foot well of the non-aisle seat unit is -4 -situated directly beneath an item of furniture of the aisle seat unit of the pair of seat units situated immediately in front.

[0014] Advantageously the aisle seat unit of each pair comprises a foot well and the foot well is situated directly beneath an item of furniture of a non-aisle seat unit. Where a "pair" of seat units comprises a non-aisle seat unit and an aisle seat unit situated immediately behind the non-aisle seat unit, the foot well of the aisle seat unit is situated directly beneath an item of furniture of the non-aisle seat unit of the pair. Where a "pair" of seat units comprises a non-aisle seat unit and an aisle seat unit situated immediately in front of the non-aisle seat unit, for a given pair, the foot well of the aisle seat unit is situated directly beneath an item of furniture of the non-aisle seat unit of the pair of seat units situated immediately in front.

[0015] Preferably the first plurality of seat units comprises at least one pair of seat units comprising an aisle seat unit comprising a foot well situated directly beneath an item of furniture of a non-aisle seat unit and further comprising an item of furniture situated directly above a foot well of a non-aisle seat unit and a non-aisle seat unit comprising a foot well situated directly beneath an item of furniture of an aisle seat unit and further comprising an item of furniture situated directly above a foot well of an aisle seat unit. In this particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one pair of seat units is arranged such that both of the seat units of the pair comprises two overlapping areas: one where an item of furniture of the seat unit is provided above the foot well of the seat unit positioned immediately to the rear and another where the foot well of the seat unit is positioned below an item of furniture of the seat unit positioned immediately in front. In this arrangement, the aisle seat unit of the pair shares an overlapping area with each of the non-aisle seat units situated immediately to the front and to the rear, and the non-aisle seat unit of the pair shares an overlapping area with each of the aisle seat units situated immediately to the front and to the rear.

[0016] Preferably, for the first plurality of seat units, the aisle and non-aisle seat units are spaced apart with respect to one another along the length of the aircraft cabin such that the non-aisle seat unit of a given pair is provided with an aisle access path between the aisle seat unit of the pair and the aisle seat unit of an immediately adjacent pair. The immediately adjacent pair may be the pair immediately in front of the given pair or the pair immediately behind the given pair. The aisle access path of a given pair may be positioned between the aisle seat unit of the pair and the aisle seat unit of the pair located -5 -directly in front. The aisle access path of a given pair may be positioned between the aisle seat unit of the pair and the aisle seat unit of the pair located directly behind. An arrangement in which the non-aisle seat unit is provided with an aisle access path that does not pass through the neighbouring aisle seat unit is particularly beneficial because the non-aisle passenger can access aisle without disturbing a passenger of the neighbouring non-aisle seat units who may, for example, be asleep with their seat in the lie-flat bed mode configuration.

[0017] Preferably the aisle access path has a width of no more than 50 centimetres. The aisle access path may have a width of at least 20 centimetres. Preferably the aisle access path has a width of at least 25 centimetres. Advantageously the aisle access path of each pair is oriented at an access path angle of between 0 and 90 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin. Preferably the access path angle is between 10 and 80 degrees, more preferably between 50 and 65 degrees. The aisle access path may define an access path axis. The angle between the aisle path axis and longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin may define the access path angle.

[0018] Preferably each aisle seat of the first plurality of seat units faces towards the first aisle. Preferably each non-aisle seat of the first plurality of seat units faces towards the first cabin wall. One of the factors determining the pitch of an aircraft seat unit is the length of the aircraft seat when in its longest configuration. This may be, for example, a lie flat configuration. Thus, when designing a seat unit, the pitch of a seat unit may be at a maximum where the seat faces in the direction of travel, substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin. Where there is space available across the width of the cabin it can be beneficial to orient the seats at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin in order to reduce the pitch of the seat unit. As such, a cabin arrangement in which the seats are oriented at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin can ensure both the space available both along the length of the cabin and along the width of the cabin is efficiently used to improve seat unit packing density.

[0019[ Advantageously, the aisle seat faces in a direction defining an aisle seat angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin and the non-aisle seat faces in a direction defining a non-aisle seat angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin. Preferably the aisle seat angle is greater than the non-aisle seat angle. Increasing the aisle seat angle allows for a wider aisle access path to be provided. The -6 -aisle seat angle can therefore be greater than the non-aisle seat angle in order to provide more space for an aisle access path. Preferably the aisle seat angle is at least 10 degrees. The aisle seat angle may be between 9 degrees and 29 degrees, preferably between 10 degrees and 22 degrees, or more preferably between 11 degrees and 15 degrees.

[0020] The aisle seat may face in a direction defining an aisle seat axis. The non-aisle seat may face in a direction defining a non-aisle seat axis. The non-aisle seat angle may be between 2 degrees and 16 degrees, preferably between 4 degrees and 14 degrees, or more preferably between 8 degrees and 12 degrees. The non-aisle seat angle may be at least 4 degrees. The non-aisle seat angle may be at least 8 degrees. The non-aisle seat angle may be at least 10 degrees. The angle between the aisle seat axis and the non-aisle seat axis may between 11 and 45 degrees, preferably between 14 and 36 degrees, or more preferably between 19 and 27 degrees.

[0021] Preferably the aisle seat units and non-aisle seat units of the first plurality of seat units are arranged along a seat unit axis such that the seat unit axis passes through both the aisle seat unit and non-aisle seat unit of each pair.

[0022] One of the factors determining the pitch of an aircraft seat unit is the length of the aircraft seat when in its longest configuration. This may be, for example, when the seat is in a lie flat configuration. Thus, when designing a seat unit, the pitch of a seat unit may be at a maximum where the seat faces in the direction of travel, substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin. It is well known to angle seats with respect to the longitudinal axis of an aircraft to reduce the overall pitch of a seat unit. However, angling the seats in this way increases the space used across the width of the cabin. This advantageous arrangement recognises that where there the cabin is arranged with a plurality of aisle and non-aisle seat units interposed, and where those seat units comprise seats that are angled to face away from one another in a herringbone-type manner, potentially unused space available across the width of the cabin can be used by arranging the seat units across the width of the cabin such that space directly behind a given seat unit along a seat unit axis is used by the seat unit that is positioned directly behind the given seat unit. Arranged as such, a seat unit axis, which is essentially a straight line drawn parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cabin, passes through each of the aisle and non-aisle seat units of each of the plurality of pairs of seat units. This optional feature therefore increases the packing efficiency of seat units within a cabin by improving use of space across the width of the cabin. -7 -

[0023] The aisle and non-aisle seats of a pair may both overlap the seat unit axis. For each seat unit, the seat unit axis may intercept or pass through one or more of the seat, an item of furniture, and/or through a space behind the seat into which the seat reclines when in the lie-flat configuration. Preferably the seat unit axis passes through the seat of each aisle seat unit and the seat of each non-aisle seat unit of each pair of seat units.

The seat unit axis may intercept an outer surface of each aisle seat and each non-aisle seat unit or the seat unit axis may pass substantially through the body of each aisle seat and each non-aisle seat. The -body" of a seat herein referring to one or more of a back rest, seat pan, leg rest, or head rest of the seat. For example, the seat unit axis may pass through the back rests of each of the aisle seats and each of the non-aisle seats.

[0024] Preferably each seat is configurable to an upright sitting configuration and the seat unit axis passes through the said seats when the seats are in the upright sitting configuration. Preferably each seat is configurable to a lie-flat configuration in which a back rest of the seat is reclined to form a substantially planar surface with a seat pan of the seat and the seat unit axis passes through the said seats when the seats are in the lie-flat configuration.

[0025] The aircraft cabin may comprise a 2-n-m arrangement of seat units across the width of the cabin, where "m" represents the number of seat units per row of the second plurality of seat units, and n represents the number of seat units per row of the third plurality of seat units. The second plurality of seat units may be a plurality of pairs of seat units, each pair of seat units comprising a non-aisle seat unit that is situated directly adjacent the second cabin wall and an aisle seat unit that is situated directly adjacent the second aisle.

[0026] Preferably the second plurality of seat units is arranged in substantially the same way as the first plurality of seat units. Advantageously, the first and second pluralities of seat units are symmetrically arranged about a longitudinal axis of the cabin. The second plurality of seat units may be a mirror image of the first plurality of seat units. The second plurality of seat units may be arranged in substantially the same way are the first plurality of seat units but the second plurality of seat units may be offset along the length of the aircraft cabin with respect to the first plurality of seat units.

[0027] The number of seat units n per row of the third plurality of seat units may be 1, 2, 3, 4, or more. The third plurality of seat units may comprise a plurality of rows of seat units comprising forward-facing and/or rear-facing seats. The forward-facing seats -8 -may be substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin. Alternatively, the third plurality of seat units may comprise a plurality of pairs of seat units arranged in a substantially identical way to the first plurality of seat units. For example, the first and third pluralities of seat units may be symmetrically arranged about the first aisle. In this case, the seat unit of the third plurality equivalent to the non-aisle seat unit would be adjacent to the second aisle and may be blocked off from the second aisle by a partition. The partition may be formed by a shell of the non-aisle seat unit. Alternatively, the non-aisle seat unit in such an arrangement may have direct access to the second aisle.

[0028] The third plurality of seat units may comprise a third plurality of pairs of seat units and a fourth plurality of pairs of seat units. The third and fourth pluralities of pairs of seat units may be arranged in a substantially identical way to the pairs of the first plurality of seat units. Arranged in this way, the aisle seat units of the third plurality of pairs may have access to the first aisle, and the aisle seat units of the fourth plurality of pairs may have access to the second aisle. The non-aisle seat units of the third plurality of pairs and the fourth plurality of pairs may be situated directly adjacent to one another. In this arrangement, the non-aisle seat units may be separated by a partition. The partition may be formed by a shell of one of the non-aisle-seat units. The partition may be lowerable. The third and fourth pluralities of pairs of seat units may therefore be symmetrically arranged about a longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin.

[0029] [0030] The present Invention provides, according to a second aspect, a kit of parts suitable for forming an aircraft cabin according to any preceding claim.

[0031] It will of course be appreciated that features described in relation to one aspect of the present invention may be incorporated into other aspects of the present invention. For example, the kit of parts of the invention may incorporate any of the features described with reference to the aircraft cabin of the invention and vice versa.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings of which: Figure I is a plan view of an aircraft cabin according to a first embodiment of the invention; -9 -Figure 2 is a plan view of a single pair of seat units of the aircraft cabin of Figure 1 in isolation with the seats in an upright sitting configuration; Figure 3 is a plan view of the single pair of seat units in isolation with the seats in a lie-flat bed mode configuration; Figure 4 an enlarged view of the portion of Figure 1 that is contained within the box labelled D; Figure 5 is a plan view of an aircraft cabin according to a second embodiment of the invention; and Figure 6 is a plan view of a single pair of seat units of the aircraft cabin of Figure 5 in isolation with the seats in an upright sitting configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] A plan view of an aircraft cabin 100 according to an embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 1. The aircraft cabin 100 is that of a wide-body aircraft and comprises a first aisle 101, a second aisle 102, and a 2-2-2 seating arrangement. The first and second aisles run along the length of the cabin 100, substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis X of the aircraft cabin 100. A first plurality seat units 120 is positioned on an outboard side of the first aisle 101, between the first aisle 101 and the starboard cabin wall 103. A second plurality of seat units 140 is positioned on an outboard side of the second aisle 102, between the second aisle 102 and the port cabin wall 104. A third plurality of seat units 150 is positioned inboard, between the first and second aisles. As can be seen in Figure 1, the first plurality of seat units 120 and second plurality of seat units 140 are arranged symmetrically about the longitudinal axis X and are therefore substantially identical mirror images of one another.

[0034] The third plurality of seat units is shown schematically in Figure 1 and consists of a plurality of pairs of seat units 151A, 151B, 151C situated behind one another along the cabin 100. The seat units of the third plurality 150 are of a type comprising forward-facing seats that face in a direction aligned with the longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin and will not be further described.

[0035] The first plurality of seat units 120 comprises a plurality of pairs of seat units 121A, 121B, 121C situated behind one another along a seat unit axis S1 that runs the length of the aircraft cabin 100, substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the aircraft cabin 100. Similarly, the second plurality of seat units 140 comprises a plurality -10 -of pairs of seat units 141A, 141B, 141C situated behind one another along a seat unit axis S2 that runs the length of the aircraft cabin 100, substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the aircraft cabin 100. Because each of the pairs of seat units 121A, 121B, 121C, 141A, 141B, 141C are arranged in substantially the same way, the arrangement of the pairs of seat units 121A, 121B, 121C, 141A, 141B, 141C will now be described with reference only to the single pair of seat units 121A that is depicted in isolation in Figure 2 and in Figure 3.

[0036] The pair of seat units 121A consists of an aisle seat unit 122A comprising an aisle seat 125A situated immediately adjacent the first aisle 101 with direct access to the first aisle 101, and a non-aisle seat unit 123A comprising a non-aisle seat 126A situated immediately adjacent the starboard wall 103 of the aircraft cabin 100 and spaced apart from the aisle 101. The aisle seat unit 122A and non-aisle seat unit 123A of the pair 121A are spaced apart along the aircraft cabin 100 such that the non-aisle seat unit 123A of the pair 121A is situated forwards of the aisle seat unit 122A. The aisle seat units 122A of adjacent pairs 121A are spaced apart along the cabin 100 to allow for an aisle access path 124A for each non-aisle seat unit 123A to be provided in the space between the aisle seat unit 122A of the pair 121A and the aisle seat unit 122B of the pair of seat units 121B situated immediately in front of the seat units 121A. The aisle access path 124A has a width V of 25 centimetres and defines an access path axis W that is oriented at an angle S of 55 degrees to the longitudinal axis X of the aircraft cabin. A passenger of the non-aisle seat unit 123A can thereby access the first aisle 101 via the aisle access path 124A without having to disturb passengers who might be situated in a neighbouring aisle seat unit 122A, 122B.

[0037] Each of the seat units 122A, 123A comprises a privacy wall 127A positioned in front of and to the rear of its respective seat 125A, 126A to enclose its respective seat 125A, 126A at its front and at its rear. The privacy walls 127A are each formed by a shell and separate each seat unit 122A, 123A from the seat units situated immediately in front and immediately behind. Arranged as such, the front privacy wall 127A of a given seat unit forms the rear privacy wall 127A of the seat unit situated immediately in front and vice versa. Each seat 125A, 126A comprises a seat pan 1251A, 1261A, a back rest 1252A, 1262A, and a leg rest 1253A, 1263A and is configurable between an upright sitting configuration, as depicted in Figure 2 and a lie-flat bed mode configuration, as depicted in Figure 3, in which the back rest is reclined to be substantially level with the seat pan and in which the leg rest is moved upwardly into a position in which it is substantially level with the seat pan.

[0038] As can be seen in Figure 2, the aisle seat unit 122A comprises a table surface 131A positioned at a side of the aisle seat 125A, between the aisle seat 125A and the starboard cabin wall 103 and the non-aisle seat unit 123A comprises a table surface 132A positioned at a side of the non-aisle seat 126A, between the non-aisle seat 126A and the aisle 101. The table surfaces 131A, 132A are configured for use by the passengers of the respective seat units 122A, 123A. Furthermore, each of the seat units 122A, 123A comprises a foot well 129A, 130A that is positioned in front of its respective seat 125A, 126A. As can be seen in Figure 3, when the seats 125A and 126A are configured to the lie-flat bed mode configuration, the leg rest 1253A, 1263A of each seat 125A, 126A extends into its respective foot well 129A, 130A. The foot well 130A, table surface 132A, and privacy wall 127A that separates the aisle seat unit 122A of a given pair and non-aisle seat unit 123A of that pair are formed by a single shell 135A and the foot well 131A, table surface 132B, and privacy wall 127A that separates the non-aisle seat unit 123A of the pair of seat units 121A from and aisle seat unit 122B of the pair of seat units 121B situated immediately in front of the pair 121A are formed by a single shell 136A.

[0039] The pitch P of a seat unit is the distance along the longitudinal axis X of the aircraft cabin 100 between a given point on a seat unit and the corresponding point the immediately adjacent seat unit situated to the front or to the rear. As an example, the pitch P of the seat units is illustrated in Figure 4 between the aisle seat unit 122A of the pair 121A and the aisle seat unit 122C of the pair of seat units 122C that is situated immediately behind the pair 122A. For a business class seating arrangement such as that described here, the pitch of a seat unit is dictated at least in part by the length of the seat when the seat is in the lie-flat bed mode configuration. Both the aisle seats 125A and the non-aisle seats 126A are oriented at an angle to the longitudinal axis X of the cabin 100 in order to reduce the pitch of their respective seat units 1 22A, 123A and to make efficient use of the space available across the width of the cabin 100. The non-aisle seats 126A face towards the immediately adjacent starboard cabin wall 103 in a direction defining a non-aisle seat axis Y which is at an angle of a = 10 degrees to the longitudinal axis X of the aircraft cabin 100. The aisle seats 125A face towards the first aisle 101 in a direction defining an aisle seat axis Z which is at an angle of 13= 12.5 -12 -degrees to the longitudinal axis X of the aircraft cabin 100. The angle between the non-aisle seat axis Y and the aisle seat axis Z is therefore 22.5 degrees. Such an arrangement results in a seat unit pitch P of 201 centimetres (79 inches). The aisle seat angle IS is greater than the non-aisle seat angle a in this case in order to provide adequate width V for the aisle access path 124A.

[0040] With the aisle and non-aisle seats 125A, 126A angled to face away from one another, the aisle and non-aisle seat units 122A, 123A can be arranged across the width of the cabin 100 such that they both overlap the seat unit axis Si. As can be seen in Figures 2 and 3, for both the aisle and non-aisle seat units 122A, 123A, the seat unit axis S1 passes through the seat 125A, 126A, table surface 131A, 132A, and through the space 137A, 138A behind the seat 125A, 126A into which the seat 125A, 126A reclines when in the lie-flat configuration. Arranged as such, potentially dead space behind an aisle or non-aisle seat unit 122A, 123A is utilised by the respective neighbouring non-aisle or aisle seat 123A, 122A. Such a configuration therefore increases the packing efficiency of seat units within the cabin 100.

[0041] The packing efficiency of the seat units within the cabin 100 is also increased by the aisle and non-aisle seat units 122A, 123A being arranged with overlapping footprints that overlap in overlapping areas in which space is used by both an aisle seat unit 122A and a non-aisle seat unit 123A. Each pair of seat units 121A is arranged such that the foot well 129A of the aisle seat unit 122A of a given pair of seat units 121A is situated directly below the table surface 132A of the non-aisle seat unit 123A of the given pair 121A. The foot well 129A of the aisle seat unit 122A and table surface 132A of the non-aisle seat unit 123A of a given pair are therefore positioned together in an overlapping area 133A. Similarly, the foot well 130A of the non-aisle seat unit 123A of a given pair of seat units 121A is situated directly below the table surface 131B of the aisle seat unit 122B of the pair of seat units 121B situated immediately in front of the given pair 121A. The foot well 130A of the non-aisle seat unit 123A of a given pair of seat units 121A and the table surface 131B of the pair of seat units 121B situated immediately in front of the given pair 121A are therefore positioned together in an overlapping area 134A.

[0042] An aircraft cabin 200 according to a second embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 5 and Figure 6 with seat unit axes Si' and S2'. Many features of the aircraft cabin 200 are similar to those of the aircraft cabin 100 of the first embodiment of the invention and, where present, features in common with the aircraft cabin 100 of the first embodiment of the invention have been numbered with corresponding reference numerals but having the prefix -2" instead of -1". For example, the aircraft cabin of the first embodiment of the invention has a plurality of pairs of seat units 121 whereas the aircraft cabin of the second embodiment of invention has a plurality of pairs of seat units 221. As with the description of the first embodiment of the invention, the cabin arrangement will be described with reference to a single pair of seat units 221A only.

[0043] In the aircraft cabin 200 of the second embodiment of the invention the non-aisle seat axis Y' is at an angle of a' = 2 degrees to the longitudinal axis X' of the aircraft cabin and the aisle seat axis Z' is at an angle of r = 18 degrees to the longitudinal axis X' of the aircraft cabin 200, while the pitch P' of 201 centimetres has been maintained. In this arrangement there is an overlapping area 234A between the foot well 230A of the non-aisle seat unit 226A and a storage cupboard 239A of the aisle seat unit 225A situated in front of the non-aisle seat unit 226A. However, the foot well 229A of the aisle seat unit 225A does not form part of an overlapping area with the non-aisle seat unit 226B situated immediately in front The increased aisle seat angle f3' has moved the foot well 229A of the aisle seat unit 225A into a position in which it is too far away from the non-aisle seat to be positioned beneath an item of furniture that is easily accessible from the non-aisle seat. As with the cabin 100 of the first embodiment of the invention, the non-aisle overlapping area 234A contains the foot well 230A of the non-aisle seat unit 226A. However, in this embodiment of the invention a storage cupboard 239A is located in the aisle seat unit 225A above the foot well 230A of the non-aisle seat unit 226A in place of a table surface 131A.

[0044] Whilst the present invention has been described and illustrated with reference to particular embodiments, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention lends itself to many different variations not specifically illustrated herein. By way of example only, certain possible variations will now be described. [0045] While the above-described embodiments of the invention correspond to 2-2-2 cabin arrangements, the invention may include any 2-n-m arrangement, where n is the number of seat units per row of the third plurality of seat units between the first and second aisles, m is the number of seat units per row of the second plurality of seat units, and the 2 represents a plurality of pairs of seat units that are substantially identical to -14 -those described for the first embodiment of the invention and shown in Figures 2 and [0046] In another 2-2-2 embodiment of the invention, the first and third pluralities of seat units both consist of a plurality of pairs of seat units arranged in a substantially identical way to the first plurality of seat units of the first embodiment of the invention. For example, the first and third pluralities of seat units may be symmetrically arranged about the first aisle. In this case, the seat unit of the third plurality equivalent to the non-aisle seat unit is adjacent to the second aisle and is blocked off from the second aisle by a partition formed by the shell of the non-aisle seat unit. In another similar arrangement, the non-aisle seat unit has direct access to the second aisle.

[0047] In a 2-4-2 embodiment of the invention, the first and second pluralities of pairs of seat units are arranged in a substantially identical way to the respective first plurality of seat units and second plurality of seat units of the first embodiment of the invention. However, the third plurality of seat units comprises a third plurality of pairs of seat units and a fourth plurality of pairs of seat units. The third plurality of pairs of seat units are substantially identically arranged to the second plurality of pairs of seat units. However, the aisle-seat unit is adjacent the first aisle. Similarly, the fourth plurality of pairs of seat units is substantially identically arranged to the first plurality of pairs of seat units but with the aisle-seat units is adjacent the second aisle. Arranged in this way, the nonaisle-seat units of the third plurality of pairs and the fourth plurality of pairs are situated directly adjacent to one another and are separated by a partition formed by the respective shells of the seat units. The first and second pluralities of pairs of seat units may therefore be symmetrically arranged about a longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin. [0048] Where in the foregoing description, integers or elements are mentioned which have known, obvious or foreseeable equivalents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. Reference should be made to the claims for determining the true scope of the present invention, which should be construed so as to encompass any such equivalents. It will also be appreciated by the reader that integers or features of the invention that are described as preferable, advantageous, convenient or the like are optional and do not limit the scope of the independent claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that such optional integers or features, whilst of possible benefit in some embodiments of the invention, may not be desirable, and may therefore be absent, in other embodiments.

Claims

-15 -CLAIMSI. An aircraft cabin comprising: - a first cabin wall positioned on a first side of the cabin, - a second cabin wall positioned on a second, opposite side of the cabin, the first and second cabin walls running along a length of the cabin, - a first aisle and a second aisle running along the length of the cabin, substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cabin, between the first and second cabin walls, - a first plurality of seat units positioned on an outboard side of the first aisle, between the first aisle and the first cabin wall, the seat units being positioned behind one another along the length of the aircraft cabin, - a second plurality of seat units positioned on an outboard side of the second aisle, between the second aisle and the second cabin wall, the seat units being positioned behind one another along the length of the aircraft cabin, - a third plurality of seat units positioned between the first and second aisles, the seat units being positioned behind one another along the length of the aircraft cabin, wherein the first plurality of seat units is a plurality of pairs of seat units, each pair of seat units comprising a non-aisle seat unit and an aisle seat unit, wherein the aisle seat unit comprises an aisle seat situated adjacent the first aisle and spaced apart from the first cabin wall and the non-aisle seat unit comprises a non-aisle seat situated adjacent the first cabin wall and spaced apart from the first aisle, wherein for each pair of seat units, one of the seat units of the pair comprises a foot well and the other of the seat units of the pair comprises an item of furniture, and the seat units are arranged with respect to one another along the length of the cabin so that, for any given pair either: the foot well of the pair is situated directly below the item of furniture of the pair or directly below the item of furniture of a pair situated immediately in front of the pair, or -16 -the item of furniture of the pair is situated directly above the foot well of the pair or directly above the foot well of a pair situated immediately behind of the pair.
2 An aircraft cabin according to claim 1, wherein the non-aisle seat unit of each pair comprises a foot well and the foot well is situated directly beneath an item of furniture of an aisle seat unit
3. An aircraft cabin according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the aisle seat unit of each pair comprises a foot well and the foot well is situated directly beneath an item of furniture of a non-aisle seat unit.
4. An aircraft cabin according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first plurality of seat units comprises at least one pair of seat units comprising: - an aisle seat unit comprising a foot well situated directly beneath an item of furniture of a non-aisle seat unit and further comprising an item of furniture situated directly above a foot well of a non-aisle seat unit, and - a non-aisle seat unit comprising a foot well situated directly beneath an item of furniture of an aisle seat unit and further comprising an item of furniture situated directly above a foot well of an aisle seat unit.
An aircraft cabin according to any preceding claim, wherein, for the first plurality of seat units, the aisle and non-aisle seat units are spaced apart with respect to one another along the length of the aircraft cabin such that the non-aisle seat unit of a given pair is provided with an aisle access path between the aisle seat unit of the pair and the aisle seat unit of an immediately adjacent pair.
6. An aircraft cabin according to claim 5, wherein the aisle access path has a width of no more than 50 centimetres -17 -
7 An aircraft cabin according to claim 6, wherein the aisle access path of each pair is oriented at an access path angle of between 0 and 90 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin.
8. An aircraft cabin according to any preceding claim, wherein, for the first plurality of seat units, each aisle seat faces towards the aisle.
9. An aircraft cabin according to any preceding claim, wherein, for the first plurality of seat units, each non-aisle seat faces towards the first cabin wall.
10. An aircraft cabin according to claim 9 when dependent on claim 8, wherein the aisle seat faces in a direction defining an aisle seat angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin and the non-aisle seat faces in a direction defining a non-aisle seat angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin, and wherein the aisle seat angle is greater than the non-aisle seat angle
11. An aircraft cabin according to claim 10, wherein the aisle seat angle is at least 10 degrees
12. An aircraft cabin according to claim 11, wherein the non-aisle seat angle is at least 10 degrees.
13. An aircraft cabin according to any of claims 10 to 13, or claim 9 when dependent on claim 8, wherein, for the first plurality of seat units, the aisle seat units and non-aisle seat units are arranged along a seat unit axis such that the seat unit axis passes through both the aisle seat unit and non-aisle seat unit of each pair.
14. An aircraft cabin according to claim 13, wherein the seat unit axis passes through the seat of each aisle seat unit and the seat of each non-aisle seat unit of each pair of seat units.
15. An aircraft cabin according to claim 14, wherein each seat is configurable to an upright sitting configuration and wherein the seat unit axis passes through the said seats when the seats are in the upright sitting configuration.
16 An aircraft cabin according to claim 14 or claim 15, wherein each seat is configurable to a lie-flat configuration in which a back rest of the seat is reclined to form a substantially planar surface with a seat pan of the seat, and wherein the seat unit axis passes through the said seats when the seats are in the lie-flat configuration
17. An aircraft cabin according to any preceding claim, wherein the second plurality of seat units is arranged in substantially the same way as the first plurality of seat units.
18. A kit of parts suitable for forming an aircraft cabin according to any preceding claim