US20020109379A1

US20020109379A1 - Part of plane seat with covering fabric and assembly process of this part

Info

Publication number: US20020109379A1
Application number: US10/066,288
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert Marechal; Marcel Barroca; Guy Mercier
Original assignee: Societe Industrielle et Commerciale de Materiel Aeronautique SICMA Aero Seat SA
Current assignee: Safran Seats SA
Priority date: 2001-02-05
Filing date: 2002-02-05
Publication date: 2002-08-15
Also published as: EP1228962B1; FR2820399A1; DE60200057T2; FR2820399B1; EP1228962A1; JP2002325649A; DE60200057D1; DE1228962T1

Abstract

A first object of the invention is an aircraft seat element comprising:

a rigid frame (1) having two substantially parallel lateral rods (2, 3) immovably attached rigidly at one of their ends (2 a, 3 a) to a cross-member (4), the other end (2 b, 3 b) of said rods being fixed in an articulated manner to a shaft (5), said shaft (5) being removable;

a tubular cloth (6) slipped over said frame (1) and forming the back piece of said seat element.

This seat element is characterized in that the cloth (6) used is an elastic cloth, the fibers of which have different stiffnesses depending on their direction.

Another object of the invention is the method for mounting said seat element.

Description

The invention relates to an aircraft seat element having a covering cloth.

Existing conventional seat backs for aircraft seats comprise a tubular structure with a back piece made of aluminium plate. A seat back cushion is positioned on this structure and the whole is covered with a protective cover.

The weight of such a cushion can vary between 1 and 1.5 kg.

The object of the invention is to produce a lighter aircraft seat element, with neither cushion nor sheet metal back piece, which ensures comfort for the passenger.

To that end, a first object of the invention is a seat element comprising:

a rigid frame having two substantially parallel lateral rods immovably attached rigidly at one of their ends to a cross-member, the other end of said rods being fixed in an articulated manner to a shaft, said shaft being removable;

a tubular cloth slipped over said frame and forming the back piece of a seat back and/or of a seat base.

The cloth used is an elastic cloth, the fibres of which have different stiffnesses depending on their direction.

In one embodiment, the cloth used is a cloth with unidirectional elasticity disposed so that the direction of the elastic fibres of said cloth is horizontal, substantially perpendicular to the lateral rods of the seat back and/or of the seat base.

The tubular cloth can be produced in a single piece of substantially rectangular shape, the lateral edges of which are assembled by assembling means.

The tubular cloth can comprise two pieces of cloth of substantially rectangular shape assembled by their lateral edges so as to take the shape of said seat element.

The two pieces of cloth can for example be assembled by sewing.

Means of attachment to the articulation shaft of the seat element can be provided on the lower part of the tubular cloth, so that the latter is stretched vertically on said frame.

In one embodiment, the seat element comprises a foam-lined protective cover slipped over said tubular cloth.

The aluminium plate back piece is thus replaced by a cloth back piece, while the cushion of the seat element is eliminated, which makes it possible to reduce the weight of said element and consequently the weight of the aircraft equipment.

Furthermore, the tubular cloth makes it possible to maintain adaptive shapes comfortable for the passenger. The cloth is stretched at the front and the rear of the seat element, which makes it possible to avoid the passenger in the seat feeling knocks from the knees of the passenger seated behind them.

A second object of the invention is a method for mounting a seat element as described previously, comprising the steps consisting in:

slipping the tubular cloth over the rods of the frame by way of the ends of the rods opposite the cross-member, the articulation shaft of said seat element being removed, so that said ends opposite the cross-member of said rods are narrowed to facilitate the passage of the tubular cloth;

fixing the articulation shaft of said seat element onto said ends opposite the cross-member of said rods in order to move the latter apart and stretch the tubular cloth laterally;

fixing the tubular cloth onto the articulation shaft by means of attaching said cloth in order to stretch the cloth vertically.

In one embodiment, the mounting method also comprises the steps consisting in:

slipping the foam-lined protective cover over the seat element frame by way of the upper end thereof, the tubular cloth being in place;

closing the lower end of said protective cover by said protective cover closure means.

Other objects and advantages will emerge in the course of the following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limitative examples, in which: [0024]
FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the frame of a seat element, without the tubular cloth; [0025]
FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the frame of the seat element covered with the tubular cloth; [0026]
FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the mounting of the protective cover on the frame of the seat element with the tubular cloth; [0027]
FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic representations of the mounting of the cloth on the frame of the seat element; [0028]
FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of a seat comprising a seat base and a seat back covered with cloth.[0029]
The seat element according to the invention comprises: [0030]
a rigid frame having two substantially parallel lateral rods immovably attached rigidly at one of their ends to a cross-member, the other end of said rods being fixed in an articulated manner to a shaft, said shaft being removable; [0031]
a tubular cloth slipped over said frame and forming the back piece of said seat element. [0032]
This seat element can be a seat back or seat base structure of an aircraft seat. [0033]
In the remainder of the description, a seat element forming a seat back structure is described in detail in FIGS. [0034] 1 to 4.
A seat element forming a seat base structure is similar to the seat back structure and will therefore not be described in further detail. [0035]
The cloth used is an elastic cloth, the fibres of which have different stiffnesses depending on their direction. [0036]
In one embodiment, the cloth used is a cloth with bidirectional elasticity, the fibres of which have different stiffnesses depending on their direction according to the part of the body to be supported. [0037]
Thus, when the seat element is a seat back structure, in order to have a good distribution of pressure of the back of the passenger on the seat back, it is necessary for the cloth to adjust itself to the shape thereof vertically and horizontally. [0038]
The cloth must then adopt substantially a concave shape in horizontal cross-section, that is to say along the substantially horizontal fibres perpendicular to the lateral rods, the concavity being directed towards the back of the passenger, and a substantially S shape along a vertical cross-section, that is to say along the longitudinal fibres. To that end, the stiffnesses of the fibres of the cloth are different and vary depending on the direction and position of the fibres. [0039]
When the seat element is a seat base structure, the cloth must then adopt a concave shape in both directions of the fibres. [0040]
In another embodiment, the cloth used is a cloth with unidirectional elasticity disposed so that the direction of the elastic fibres of said cloth is horizontal, substantially perpendicular to the lateral rods of the seat back and/or of the seat base. [0041]
With reference to FIG. 1, the seat back structure is described. [0042]
This structure comprises a [0043] rigid frame 1 having two substantially vertical lateral rods 2, 3 immovably attached rigidly at their upper end 2 a, 3 a, to a cross-member 4.
These [0044] rods 2, 3 are substantially parallel to one another.
The [0045] rods 2, 3 and the cross-member 4 can consist of a single component or a number of components fixed to one another by appropriate means, for example by screws, by welding, or any other equivalent means.
The [0046] rods 2, 3 and the cross-member 4 can be solid or tubular components made of a sufficiently rigid material so as not to deform in use and to meet the required safety criteria for aircraft seats.
The [0047] lower ends 2 b, 3 b, of said rods 2, 3 are fixed in an articulated manner to a shaft 5, said shaft being removable (FIG. 2).
The [0048] shaft 5 is for example fixed onto the rods 2, 3 by means of screws.
The seat back structure comprises a [0049] tubular cloth 6 slipped over said frame 1 in order to form the back piece of said seat back.
In the embodiment depicted, the [0050] cloth 6 used is a cloth with unidirectional elasticity disposed so that the direction of the elastic fibres of said cloth is horizontal, that is to say substantially perpendicular to the lateral rods 2, 3.
The [0051] tubular cloth 6 can thus adapt itself to the morphology of the passenger in order to ensure their comfort.
With reference to FIG. 1, the [0052] tubular cloth 6 comprises two pieces 6 a, 6 b of cloth of substantially rectangular shape assembled by their lateral edges so as to take the shape of the seat back.
One of the pieces of [0053] cloth 6 a, 6 b is for example directed towards the passenger, the other piece of cloth being directed towards the seat situated behind the passenger.
In the embodiment depicted, the two pieces of [0054] cloth 6 a, 6 b are assembled by sewing.
Provision can however be made for the assembling to be carried out by reversible means such as Velcro strips, zip fasteners, buttons, or any other similar means. The cloth can furthermore consist of a single piece. [0055]
The [0056] cloth 6 can for example comprise a single substantially rectangular piece, the lateral edges of which are assembled by reversible assembling means 13 such as Velcro strips, zip fasteners, buttons or any other similar means.
The [0057] cloth 6 is then disposed on the seat back so that the assembling means 13 are disposed on the surface of the seat back which is not in contact with the passenger.
The [0058] tubular cloth 6 has, on its lower part 7, situated in proximity to the shaft 5 when the cloth 6 is placed on the frame 1, means of attachment 8 to the articulation shaft 5 of the seat back structure so that said tubular cloth is stretched vertically on said frame 1.
The attachment means [0059] 8 can be reversible such as Velcro strips, zip fasteners, buttons, or any other similar means.
Once put in place on the [0060] frame 1, the cloth 6 therefore takes the shape thereof (FIGS. 2 and 5).
A substantially [0061] identical frame 1 can be used to form the seat base of a seat. The latter then comprises two frames 1 disposed in two planes inclined with respect to one another, as depicted in FIG. 6.
In a variant, in order to improve the comfort of the passenger, shaped sections [0062] 9 can be provided, fixed on the rods 2, 3 of a frame 1 for a seat back. These shaped sections 9 have for example a longitudinal substantially flat part made immovably attached to the rod 2, 3, of the frame and projecting substantially perpendicular to the plane formed by the frame 1 in the direction of the seat base of the seat.
The projecting part of each shaped section [0063] 9 is larger towards the lower part of the frame in order to provide a better support for the back of the passenger.
In the embodiment depicted, the [0064] articulation shaft 5 is fixed by screws and bolts onto the lower ends of the rods of said frame.
However, other means of fixing can be provided such as by riveting or similar. [0065]
The [0066] frame 1 depicted in the figures is tubular, and the shaft 5 has two radial arms 10 fitting into the lower parts 2 b, 3 b of the rods. Once inserted, the arms 10 are made immovably attached by screws and bolts or similar to the rods 2, 3.
In order to cover the seat back and/or seat base structure and improve the comfort of the passenger, said structure comprises a [0067] protective cover 11 which can for example be foam-lined and which is slipped over said tubular cloth 6.
Said protective cover can notably comprise closure means [0068] 12 ensuring it is held on the seat structure and allowing it to be installed and removed easily to change or wash it.
These closure means are for example Velcro strips, zip fasteners, buttons, or similar. [0069]
These closure means [0070] 12 can for example be situated on one side and on the lower part of the protective cover 11, or on any other part of the protective cover facilitating its being put in place on the frame 1 and not interfering with the passenger.
The method for mounting the seat back structure according to the invention is now described with reference to FIGS. [0071] 1 to 3, the arrows indicating the directions of mounting of the elements.
This method comprises the steps consisting in: [0072]
slipping the tubular cloth over the [0073] rods 2, 3 of the frame 1 by way of the ends of the rods opposite the cross-member, the articulation shaft 5 being removed, so that the ends opposite the cross-member of said rods are narrowed to facilitate the passage of the tubular cloth 6 (FIG. 1);
fixing the [0074] articulation shaft 5 onto the ends opposite the cross-member of the rods in order to move said rods apart and stretch the tubular cloth laterally (FIG. 2);
fixing the tubular cloth onto the articulation shaft by means of attaching said cloth in order to stretch the cloth vertically (FIG. 3). [0075]
The [0076] cloth 6 thus provides the function of seat back and/or seat base back piece, the double thickness of cloth protecting the seated passenger from knocks given in the rear of the seat back.
Where the cloth comprises a single rectangular piece, the method comprises the steps consisting in: [0077]
placing the cloth on the [0078] frame 1 and assembling the lateral edges of the cloth by the assembling means 13;
fixing the tubular cloth onto the articulation shaft by means of attaching [0079] 8 said cloth in order to stretch the cloth vertically (FIG. 5).
The [0080] articulation shaft 5 can optionally be removed before the assembly of the cloth by the assembling means 13 in order to facilitate the assembly of the cloth.
In one embodiment, with reference to FIG. 3, the method also comprises the steps consisting in: [0081]
slipping the foam-lined protective cover over the seat back frame by way of the upper end thereof, the tubular cloth being in place; [0082]
closing said protective cover by said protective cover closure means. [0083]
The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. [0084]
Other embodiments can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention. [0085]
Notably, mounting the [0086] tubular cloth 6 by way of the upper part of the seat back can be envisaged, and also, the protective cover 11 can be put in place by way of one side of the seat structure.
The seat back structure can furthermore have a headrest, in which case the tubular cloth can cover the part forming the headrest or not cover it, the protective cover on the other hand covering the headrest. [0087]

Claims

1. An aircraft seat element, comprising:

a rigid frame (1) having two substantially parallel lateral rods (2, 3) immovably attached rigidly at one of their ends (2 a, 3 a) to a cross-member (4), the other end (2 b, 3 b) of said rods being fixed in an articulated manner to a shaft (5), said shaft (5) being removable;

a tubular cloth (6) slipped over said frame (1) and forming the back piece of said seat element,

characterised in that the cloth (6) used is an elastic cloth, the fibres of which have different stiffnesses depending on their direction.

2. A seat element according to claim l, characterised in that the cloth (6) is a unidirectional elastic cloth disposed so that the direction of the elastic fibres of said cloth is perpendicular to the lateral rods (2, 3) of said seat element.

3. A seat element according to either of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the cloth (6) comprises two pieces of cloth (6 a, 6 b) of substantially rectangular shape assembled by their lateral edges so as to take the shape of said element.

4. A seat element according to claim 3, characterised in that the two pieces of cloth (6 a, 6 b) are assembled by sewing.

5. A seat element according to either of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the cloth (6) comprises a single substantially rectangular piece, the lateral edges of which are assembled by assembling means (13).

6. A seat element according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the tubular cloth (6) has, on its lower part (7), means of attachment (8) to the articulation shaft (5) of said element so that said tubular cloth (6) is stretched vertically on said frame (1).

7. A seat element according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the articulation shaft (5) is fixed by screws and bolts onto the lower ends (2 b, 3 b) of the rods of said frame (1).

8. A seat element according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that it comprises a foam-lined protective cover (11) slipped over said tubular cloth (6).

9. A seat element according to claim 8, characterised in that said protective cover (11) comprises closure means (12).

10. A seat element according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that said seat element forms the structure of the seat back or of the seat base of the seat.

11. A method for mounting the seat element according to one of claims 1 to 4 and 6 to 10 when they depend on claim 3, characterised in that it comprises the steps consisting in:

slipping the tubular cloth (6) over the rods (2, 3) of the frame (1) by way of the ends (2 a, 2 b) of the rods opposite the cross-member, the articulation shaft (5) of said element being removed, so that the ends opposite the cross-member (2 b, 3 b) of said rods are narrowed to facilitate the passage of the tubular cloth (6);

fixing the articulation shaft (5) of said element onto the ends opposite the cross-member (2 b, 3 b) of the rods in order to move the latter apart and stretch the tubular cloth (6) laterally;

fixing the tubular cloth (6) onto the articulation shaft (5) by means of attaching (8) said cloth in order to stretch the cloth vertically.

12. A method for mounting the seat element according to one of claims 1 to 2, 5 and 6 to 10 when they depend on claim 5, characterised in that it comprises the steps consisting in:

placing the cloth on the frame 1 and assembling the lateral edges of the cloth by the assembling means (13);

13. A mounting method according to claims 12 or 13, characterised in that it also comprises the steps consisting in:

slipping a foam-lined protective cover (11) over the seat element frame (1) by way of the end thereof on the same side as the cross-member, the tubular cloth (6) being in place;

closing said protective cover (11) by said protective cover closure means (12).