Plural Related Seats Patents (Class 297/232)
  • Publication number: 20140306500
    Abstract: A passenger seating arrangement in an aircraft cabin includes a plurality of pairs of seat units, the pairs of seat units being located directly behind one another, and each seat unit having a longitudinal axis. Each pair of seat units includes an aisle-seat unit and a non-aisle-seat unit. The longitudinal axes of the non-aisle-seat units are arranged in-line with one another, and the longitudinal axis of the aisle-seat unit of each pair of seat units is angled so as to provide a passenger access path linking the non-aisle-seat unit of a pair, with the aisle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: Acumen Design Associates Ltd.
    Inventors: Ian Hamilton DRYBURGH, John David Henry MCKEEVER, Ali ERSAN
  • Publication number: 20140300152
    Abstract: An aircraft seating system including a plurality of personal units, with each personal unit including a seat having a top portion and bottom portion, a central partition extending along one side of the seat from a rear surface of the seat to an area in front of the seat, a surface between the central partition and the seat, with the surface affixed to the central partition at a predetermined height, where the personal units are arranged in a first column and a second column along a central axis such that each personal unit includes a side aligned with the central axis, and the predetermined height of the surface is configured such that a passenger in a first personal unit may insert their legs and feed into the space below the surface of a second personal unit in front of the first personal unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: James Park, John Tighe, Ben Orson
  • Publication number: 20140300149
    Abstract: A sidewall integrated armrest includes a plurality of armrest segments upon which an arm may rest. Each of the plurality of armrest segments are supported by a structure proximate a sidewall and adjacent to but not supported by a seat. Each of the seats is disposed in a line along the sidewall and spaced apart at a seating pitch. The armrest further includes at least one armrest spacer disposed between the plurality of armrest segments. The at least one armrest spacer has a combined length between the plurality of armrest segments to establish a pitch between the plurality of armrest segments substantially equal to the seating pitch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: B/E AEROSPACE, INC.
    Inventors: Stephanie N. Lightbody, Jefferey M. McKee
  • Publication number: 20140265485
    Abstract: An inflatable device includes an upper layer, a lower layer, and at least one strap alternately connected to the upper layer and the lower layer to form a wavelike pattern between the upper layer and the lower layer so as to limit deformation of both the upper layer and the lower layer. The strap includes a plurality of first contact portions connected to the upper layer, and a plurality of second contact portions connected to the lower layer. The first contact portions are offset from the second contact portions in a horizontal plane respectively defined by the upper layer and the lower layer, such that the first contact portions are not superimposed with the second contact portions from a perspective orthogonal to the upper and lower layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Cheng-Chung Wang, Chien-Hua Wang
  • Publication number: 20140265484
    Abstract: The subject matter discloses a vehicle seat for children, including a bench on which a first child and a second child sit while in the vehicle seat; a back support to provide back support to the child sitting in the children vehicle sit; a partition unit in the center of the children vehicle sit, wherein the partition unit protrudes from the bench and defines a first seat and a second seat, wherein the first seat and the second seat are two separate seats; two safety belt units to secure two children sitting in the children car seat, wherein one safety belt unit is positioned in the first seat of the vehicle seat and another safety belt unit is positioned in the second seat of the vehicle seat; the bench is securely affixed to the back support; the partition unit is affixed to the bench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: David ELHARAR, Shirly BRANDES-BALLAN
  • Publication number: 20140252821
    Abstract: A portable passenger seat divider and method for providing a protective separator between adjacent seats. The passenger seat divider includes a middle portion formed into a channel that is adapted to be removably mounted to an armrest disposed between the adjacent seats. The passenger seat divider also includes an upper portion extending above the armrest when the passenger seat divider is mounted to the armrest and a lower portion adapted to extend below the armrest of the seat when the passenger seat divider is mounted to the armrest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventor: Ken Friedlander
  • Publication number: 20140252822
    Abstract: A main object of the invention is a textile strip forming at least partially a safety belt intended to be fastened to a fixed structure of a seat or of a passenger compartment, characterised in that a notch is formed on the textile strip (10) in order to allow for the folding of the textile strip onto itself in such a way as to surround the fixed structure of the seat or of the passenger compartment by insertion of an end of the textile strip into the notch made in the textile strip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventor: Vincent Tejedor
  • Patent number: 8820836
    Abstract: A seating arrangement for stadia and the like includes a beam for receiving one or more seats, where the seat has a backrest portion fixedly mounted to the beam and a movable seat portion mounted on the beam for pivotable movement about the beam from a generally horizontal seating position to a generally upright non-seating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Ove Arup & Partners International Limited
    Inventors: Rebecca Stewart, James Cross
  • Publication number: 20140232153
    Abstract: A lightweight aircraft passenger seat assembly comprises at least one seat portion and at least one supporting portion for supporting the at least one seat portion relative to an aircraft structure. In order to provide an improved lightweight aircraft passenger seat assembly having a reduced weight, size and complexity as compared to conventional lightweight passenger seat designs, the invention provides a lightweight aircraft passenger seat assembly, comprising at least one seat portion with at least one seat shell for an aircraft passenger and at least one supporting portion for supporting the at least one seat portion relative to an aircraft structure, wherein the at least one seat shell and the at least one supporting portion are constructed as light-weight components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Composite Designs EU GmbH
    Inventors: Duncan Bell, Phil Hall, Rocco Passari
  • Patent number: 8757717
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat part and a partitioned back rest. The back rest has a first segment and a second segment. The segments are each equipped with an inclination adjuster. The adjusters include means for limiting the inclination of one segment relative to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Stefan Funk, Franz Albers, James Abraham, Bernd Engels
  • Publication number: 20140167461
    Abstract: In herringbone seats of the prior art, armrests on the closed angle side form an obstacle for the passengers in the seat in case of a shock, since the latter are generally projected along the axis of the vehicle and thus towards the armrest thus creating a high risk of injury for the passenger in case of a shock. The present invention. provides a secure herringbone arrangement for the armrest of a seat i.e. making it possible to reduce the risk injuries caused by the armrest, in case of a shock. Therefore, the present invention provides to leave a space between the seating part structure and the armrest to enable the passenger on the seat to be projected along the axis of the airplane in case of a shock without hitting the armrest. More precisely, the aim of the invention is a herringbone arrangement for the armrest of a seat (30) wherein the armrest (31) is angularly shifted with respect to the seat so as to form a free space (33) between the seat (30) and the armrest (31).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Zodiac Seats France
    Inventor: Jeremy Cailleteau
  • Publication number: 20140159440
    Abstract: A seating arrangement for location at the longitudinal centre line of a commercial passenger vehicle that has a longitudinally extending passenger seating area. The seating arrangement includes a pair of seats disposed alongside and secured to each other. Each seat comprising a backrest portion, and a seat pan portion, wherein the seats face at an acute angle to each other, and wherein the backrest portions of the respective seats are nearest the vertex of the acute angle than the seat pan portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventor: Glen Wilson Porter
  • Publication number: 20140159444
    Abstract: A seating device with reduced bulk, for example for an aircraft. This seating device comprises a backrest which describes a circular translational movement towards the front and upwards of the device when the seating device is brought to the retracted configuration. A seating structure is provided comprising a bearing piece on which are fixed, side by side, a plurality of seating devices with reduced bulk. An aircraft is provided comprising a seating device with reduced bulk mounted in its cabin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventor: Bernard Guering
  • Publication number: 20140152062
    Abstract: A plurality of seating assemblies 9, 10, 7 which may be operatively deployed upon a selectively movable assembly 12 and which includes independently formed and ribbed members what make the deployed seat assemblies light weight and durable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventor: John Micheli
  • Publication number: 20140110981
    Abstract: A vehicle seat, in particular an aircraft seat, has at least one seating device, which has at least one seat unit and at least one bench unit which is arranged at one side of the seat unit in a transverse direction oriented at least substantially perpendicular to a seat unit longitudinal direction and has a bench unit surface which forms a lying surface with at least one seat bottom unit of the seat unit in at least one seat position. The bench unit can have at least one cavity, which is provided in at least one seat position for accommodating the legs of a passenger sitting in a seating device arranged, in relation to the seat unit longitudinal direction, behind said seating device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: RECARO Aircraft Seating GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Satoshi HASEGAWA, Djunianto KO, Jochen LOHRMANN, Juri VNUKOVSKI, Vasco BROENNER, Timea RODERWALD-VINCZE
  • Publication number: 20140110982
    Abstract: A vehicle seat, in particular an aircraft seat, includes at least one seating device, which has at least one seat unit and at least one bench unit, which is arranged at one side of the seat unit in a transverse direction oriented at least substantially perpendicular to a seat unit longitudinal direction. The bench unit, in at least one seat position, can have at least one bench unit section which projects rearward beyond the seat unit in relation to the seat unit longitudinal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: RECARO Aircraft Seating GmbH & Co. KG.
    Inventors: Satoshi HASEGAWA, Djunianto KO, Jochen LOHRMANN, Juri VNUKOVSKI, Vasco BROENNER, Timea RODERWALD-VINCZE
  • Patent number: 8696062
    Abstract: A multiple-chair cover having a front side, a back side a right edge and a left edge with an open interior area positioned therebetween. At least one divider is positioned within the open interior which separates the open interior into separate compartments. At least one pad is positioned within the open interior. This provides a multiple-chair cover which prevents chairs from rattling against one another while in transit while also maintaining the alignment and position of multiple chairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Inventor: Kent L. Brown
  • Patent number: 8678497
    Abstract: A multi-row vehicle seating arrangement includes a second row of vehicle seats including a first lateral side seat, a second lateral side seat, and a center seat disposed between the first and second lateral side seats. The center seat has a pair of spaced apart seat anchors fixably secured thereto for securing a child seat to the center seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Kyogoku, Rudy M. Mayne, Jr., Spyro G. Blatseas, William Charles Lanz, Mark D. Herbert, Wataru Takayasu, J. Zachary Sorrell
  • Publication number: 20140062149
    Abstract: A seat divider device, in particular an air passenger seat divider device, has at least one seat divider unit which has at least two main support elements formed separately from one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Recaro Aircraft Seating GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Kurt MUELLER
  • Publication number: 20140042787
    Abstract: A motor vehicle is provided with a seat arrangement. The seat arrangement includes, but is not limited to a motor vehicle bench seat and a boundary of the interior. The motor vehicle bench seat is connected with the boundary of the interior via a seat adapter. In the seat adapter for fastening the motor vehicle seats to a motor vehicle floor, including, but not limited to a seat frame for fastening the motor vehicle seats to the motor vehicle floor, that includes, but is not limited to the seat frame has at least one track unit, facing the motor vehicle floor, with a track guide on the motor vehicle side and with a track slide on the frame side, cooperating therewith, which are pre-mounted on the seat frame, in order to move the seat frame with the motor vehicle seats along the motor vehicle floor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Michael HOEFGEN-ALLMANN, Eduard WOLF
  • Patent number: 8622345
    Abstract: A passenger seat system including a plurality of seat modules, in which each seat module may be configured to form a more or less flat bed. The seat modules are arranged side by side in longitudinally offset relative positions, and each seat module is configured to form a bed from a convertible seat and a fixed footrest. The footrest is integrated into a box structure, which includes an upper surface arranged as a fixed shelf for the passenger in the adjacent seat module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus
    Inventors: Alexandra Collins, Mark Collins
  • Patent number: 8616628
    Abstract: There is provided a reconfigurable furniture assembly having a substantially planar surface member movable about a horizontal axis in an endless manner, a support member holding the substantially planar surface over the ground surface, and a plurality of assigned location around the planar surface member for individuals to occupy and face a portion of the planar surface member. A drive element moves the planar surface member and assigned locations about a horizontal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Inventor: Francis Beauchamp
  • Publication number: 20130328366
    Abstract: An aircraft seating arrangement for accommodating high-percentile hip widths including a seating unit including a plurality of adjacent, side-by-side seats and a plurality of armrests including end armrests positioned at opposing ends of the seating unit and middle armrests positioned between adjacent seats, wherein the end armrests are narrower than the middle armrests to maximize available hip space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventor: R. Klaus Brauer
  • Publication number: 20130320723
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include seating systems shaped to look like various types of beverage containers, such as for promotional, advertising, sponsorship, spectator viewing, broadcasting, announcing, novelty, or other purposes. Among other things, the seating system includes a body portion and two end portions, where the body portion is typically decorated to look like a specific beverage container and the end portions are configured to look like the top and bottom portions, respectively, of that specific beverage container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventor: Scott F. Suprina
  • Publication number: 20130320722
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a seat divider extension device. The seat divider extension is comprised of two lower, vertically extending portions that are attached to a connecting portion from which the lower portions vertically extend, and an upper, vertically extending portion that is attached to the connecting portion and from which the upper portion vertically extends. The seat divider extension device is configured to be placed over a seat divider positioned between adjacent seats, and thereby extend the personal space of a seat and provide additional privacy for an occupant in a seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventor: Dana Michele Lavey
  • Publication number: 20130320724
    Abstract: An aircraft seating arrangement including pairs of seat groupings arranged with the seats of each seat grouping parallel with the other, and with each seat and seat pair positioned at an offset angle in relation to the longitudinal axis of the cabin. Privacy shells enclose the seats and include amenities such as a viewing monitor, and accommodation for the feet and lower legs when the seat is in the lie-flat condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventor: Tommy George Plant
  • Patent number: 8590126
    Abstract: An aircraft passenger seat configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention utilizes composite materials to achieve significant weight savings relative to conventional seat designs. The seat includes one or more lightweight composite support legs, a lightweight composite seat pan, and a lightweight composite seat back structure. The support legs are coupled to the seat pan, which is in turn coupled to the seat back structure. The support legs utilize composite frame elements that are formed as continuous compression molded composite extrusions. The seat pan includes composite fore and aft cross beams that are also formed as continuous compression molded composite extrusions. The aft cross beam includes a rear flange that serves as a flexible “hinge” for the seat back structure. The seat can leverage producible and relatively inexpensive composite manufacturing techniques such that the seat can be economically produced for use as an economy class seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Max U. Kismarton, James A. Fullerton
  • Patent number: 8585142
    Abstract: Motion seat systems and methods of powering motion seating are described. A modular design allows configurations as to the number and arrangement of seats, and provides each person on a seat with the same motion such as pitch and/or roll. The seats can be coupled together. Each seat has one or more rotary shafts that pass under or through the seat. One or more rotating shafts cause each seat to pitch and roll according to the position of the shaft(s). The shaft of a master seat is rotatably coupled to the shaft of one or more slave seats to transfer the motion to the slave seat(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: MediaMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Robert Jamele, Norman Ellison
  • Publication number: 20130241252
    Abstract: A motor vehicle rear seat has two units, which are set side by side along a horizontal axis, are each provided with a respective squab and a respective backrest and are arranged on opposite sides of a support device having a lower base designed to be fastened to a floorpan of the motor vehicle; the device has a body that supports the two units and has a position that can be adjusted in a longitudinal direction and in height with respect to the lower base; a fixing device is provided to block this body in the desired position with respect to the lower base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A.
    Inventor: Marco Genta
  • Patent number: 8528861
    Abstract: A seating system may comprise a first seat, a second seat, and a plurality of armrests. The plurality of armrests may be located between the first seat and the second seat. The plurality of armrests may be capable of being deployed to change a seating space for the first seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Heidi J. Kneller, Shawn A. Claflin, Buddy L. Sharpe, Mark Edward Wentland
  • Patent number: 8517466
    Abstract: A convertible boat seat transforms from a standard bench-style seat configuration capable of accommodating multiple occupants to a lounger that allows a single occupant to comfortably lounge without impeding into the available deck space. A convertible boat seat comprises a chaise lounge type seat having a plurality of configurable components including a two-piece back rest, a configurable armrest, a hinging bench seat assembly, and an inclined chaise end forming a lounge backrest adapted with a pivoting armrest. The two-piece backrest includes first and second backrest components that are each configurable between a raised position and a lowered position. The inclined chaise end includes a pivoting armrest configurable between a stowed, out-of-the-way position, and a deployed position wherein it functions as a lounge armrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: John O. Wizorek, Don Mason, Bob Fieldhouse
  • Publication number: 20130193726
    Abstract: Arrangements for safety and comfort in vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Inventor: Arjuna Indraeswaran Rajasingham
  • Publication number: 20130193728
    Abstract: A ready to assemble or knockdown sofa having a back rest that can be reconfigured between a use configuration in which the sofa is has a conventional L-shaped cross-section and a shipping or storage configuration in which the sofa is arranged in a more efficiently stacked rectangular cross-section. The rectangular cross-section allows the sofa to be more efficiently stacked with other sofas during shipping or storage. The back rest has an upper back rest portion and a lower back rest portion in which the upper back rest portion can be rotated forward toward the front of the sofa and downwardly into a nesting region against the top of the seat base to provide a more efficient shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Inventor: Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130187421
    Abstract: A vehicle seat comprises a frame, a primary seat support secured to the frame, a seat back secured to the frame, and a child seat assembly secured to the frame. The child seat assembly comprises at least one panel, a harness, an adjustment assembly, and at least one guard member. The at least one panel is pivotable relative to the frame. The harness is configured to removably secure an occupant of the child seat assembly relative to the frame and includes. The adjustment assembly is configured to provide adjustment of the harness and is positioned above a shoulder portion of the harness. The adjustment assembly comprises a pivoting member operable to selectively restrain movement of at least a portion of the harness. The at least one guard member is configured to deflect hair away from the adjustment assembly during sliding movement of the harness relative to the adjustment assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: INDIANA MILLS AND MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher W. Foye, Chad A. Sparling
  • Patent number: 8444221
    Abstract: A booster seat assembly may be used with a bench seat assembly and with a seat belt assembly for each occupant. The booster seat assembly may support at least two child sized occupants and may permit each child sized occupant to access the seat belt assembly for self latching and self unlatching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jack Alan Strahm, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20130106156
    Abstract: A passenger seating arrangement for an aircraft cabin that includes first and second adjacent columns of at least two seats that define a first longitudinally extending center axis that extends approximately parallel to a longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin. The seats in the first column face away from and form an angle with the first axis of between about 1° and about 44°, and the seats in the second column face away from and form an angle with the first axis of between about 1° and about 44°. Each seat in the first column is staggered fore of a seat in the second column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: C&D ZODIAC, INC.
    Inventor: C&D Zodiac, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130093226
    Abstract: A seat back frame includes a main frame that forms a frame of a seat back of a main seat, and an auxiliary frame that forms a frame of a seat back of an auxiliary seat adjacent to the main seat in a width direction, and that is integrally formed with the main frame. The main frame has a first open portion that opens toward a side with the auxiliary seat in the width direction. An end portion of the auxiliary frame is a fitting structure that fits together with the first open portion, and a portion of the fitting structure is welded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicants: NHK SPRING CO., LTD., TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA, NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
  • Patent number: 8414076
    Abstract: The present invention provides an aircraft passenger seat assembly that includes: (a) first and second seats selectively movable between upright and reclined positions and adapted for being positioned beside and at inwardly-facing angles relative to each other; (b) a center console having a relatively wide aft end and a relatively narrow forward end for being positioned between the first and second seats; and © the relatively wide aft end of the center console including first and second foot wells therein adapted to permit the feet of a passenger seated in an aft-positioned first or second seat to extend therein when the aft-positioned first or second seat is in the recline position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: BE Aeroaspace, Inc.
    Inventor: Tommy George Plant
  • Patent number: 8401742
    Abstract: A control and monitoring system is provided in the aircraft cabin and controls a reconfiguration process with corresponding software in combination with reconfiguration data received from the ground personnel. The control is realized, for example, with a suitable light signals and the unlocking of the seats at certain times. All work sequences are acoustically and/or optically displayed such that the reconfiguration can also be carried out by untrained personnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Schliwa, Tobias Mayer
  • Patent number: 8393676
    Abstract: A bench or seat assembly including a decorative work bonded thereto in an essentially permanent fashion is provided wherein the work includes a photoluminescent material. The assembly includes a masonry seat member having an upper surface, a masonry back member having front and back surfaces and a support having exterior surfaces for supporting the seat member at a desired height. The work may include advertising or an image of which the photoluminescent material is a part of. The photoluminescent material may be photoluminescent particulate pigment or at least one photoluminescent stone which gives off light sufficient to allow at least a portion of the work to be viewed under limited ambient light conditions. In this way, the assembly is decorative not only in the daytime but also at night. The assembly may be an interlocking precast slab bench or seat assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Inventor: Dennis Michael Hill
  • Publication number: 20130057036
    Abstract: An improved seating hinge includes a pin having a race member at a distal end and a shaft at a proximal end, and a bracket having a socket, wherein the pin is inserted into the bracket so that the race member is in contact with the socket, the shaft protrudes from the socket, and the pin is rotatable within the socket. The seating hinge further includes a telescoping connection that allows for varying seat widths and placements. Adjustment and/or alignment of the seat bottom can be performed without requiring support leg to be moved or replaced. The hinge can accommodate an auditorium having both straight sections of seating and curved sections of seating with varying degrees of curvature, where some support legs are mounted parallel and others non-parallel relative to each other. The hinge design can withstand weather and elements such as those present in many outdoor locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Inventor: Alvaro Mauricio Olarte
  • Publication number: 20130043345
    Abstract: A passenger seat assembly for a vehicle, particularly an aircraft, which is adapted to provide self-contained, individual seating and sleeping accommodation for a passenger, said seating assembly includes a supporting structure (42) for supporting said assembly off the floor of a vehicle; one or more movable, passenger-bearing, structural components (71,72); and means for connecting said movable, structural components to said structure such that said components can be selectively moved between a seat configuration, in which a plurality of passenger-bearing surfaces on said one or more structural, movable components (71,71) or said supporting structure form a seat for the passenger, and a bed configuration, in which a plurality of said bearing surfaces (47,48,67,74,76) are disposed substantially coplanarly and substantially contiguously to form a bed for the passenger; characterized in that at least one of said movable components (72) is double-sided, comprising first and second opposite sides, one of said sid
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited
    Inventor: Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited
  • Publication number: 20130032668
    Abstract: Passenger seating arrangements are detailed. At least some arrangements permit each passenger to access an aisle of a vessel without contacting an adjacent passenger. Movable footwells may be utilized to floor-level access when retracted and function as steps when extended as a seat is converted to a bed. This structure authorizes decrease in seat pitch without decrease of bed length, permitting additional seating to be included in a cabin of a vessel without diminishment of passenger comfort.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Inventors: Benjamin Foucher, Philippe Roy
  • Patent number: 8336965
    Abstract: An aircraft passenger seat configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention utilizes composite materials to achieve significant weight savings relative to conventional seat designs. The seat includes one or more lightweight composite support legs, a lightweight composite seat pan, and a lightweight composite seat back structure. The support legs are coupled to the seat pan, which is in turn coupled to the seat back structure. The support legs utilize composite frame elements that are formed as continuous compression molded composite extrusions. The seat pan includes composite fore and aft cross beams that are also formed as continuous compression molded composite extrusions. The aft cross beam includes a rear flange that serves as a flexible “hinge” for the seat back structure. The seat can leverage producible and relatively inexpensive composite manufacturing techniques such that the seat can be economically produced for use as an economy class seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Max U. Kismarton, James A. Fullerton
  • Publication number: 20120313406
    Abstract: An aircraft passenger seat having a primary seat (1) having a seat back (3) and a seat pan (4), and a secondary support surface (5) located or locatable opposite the primary seat (1), the passenger seat being able to adopt each of an upright configuration, a reclined configuration and a substantially flat configuration, such that in the reclined configuration, the primary seat (1) is reclined relative to the upright configuration and the secondary support surface (5) is angled upwardly towards the primary seat (1) to support the lower leg(s) of a passenger seated in the primary seat (1); and in the substantially flat configuration, the secondary support surface (5) is substantially horizontal and the seat back (3), the seat pan (4), and the secondary support surface (5) form a substantially flat and continuous surface where the secondary support surface (5) is rotatable about an axis between the reclined and substantially flat configurations, the axis being translated between the reclined and substantially fl
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: British Airways Plc
    Inventors: Martin DARBYSHIRE, Matthew Round, Asa Dancy Herring, III, Dennis Isaac Waldrip, Marc Schatell, Alen Wyss, Gregory Hall, Walter Sutcavage, John Lovingood, Dan Alford
  • Patent number: 8322792
    Abstract: This invention concerns a sofa which solves the problems of the prior art by providing a sofa that can easily be assembled or disassembled by the end consumer at home. The furniture set described can be assembled so the major piece is either to the left of the secondary piece or to the right of the secondary piece. The way this invention accomplishes these results is as follows: Chaise sections can be assembled by placing the seat back flat on the ground and placing the seat frame/arm upright on top of the seat back. A metal threaded rod is used to connect the seat frame and the seat back. A metal nut is used to secure the seat frame to the back using a wrench that comes provided in the package of the kit. The legs are then twisted onto the bottom of the seat frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Inventor: Lionel T. Chen
  • Publication number: 20120299347
    Abstract: The invention relates to seating furniture comprising two frames (2) arranged at a distance to each other on a support (1), between which frames a seat part (3) and a backrest part (4) can be mounted, and the frames (2) have one upper frame part (6) and a lower frame part (7) each which mechanically immobilize the seat part (3) and the backrest part (4) on the edges thereof. The support (1) contains a horizontal bar (11), extending between two legs (5), on which the frames (2) can be mounted as a terminal frame or intermediate frame via respective frame bases (12). The bar (11) comprises a linking piece (13) which is put on a detachable, form-fitting pin connection (14) together with the frame base (12) of a terminal frame and a leg (5) in a certain order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: Kusch + Co., GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Dieter Kusch, Robert De Le Roi, Karl-Heinz Seipp
  • Publication number: 20120299346
    Abstract: A seating system may comprise a first seat, a second seat, and a plurality of armrests. The plurality of armrests may be located between the first seat and the second seat. The plurality of armrests may be capable of being deployed to change a seating space for the first seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Heidi J. Kneller, Shawn A. Claflin, Buddy L. Sharpe, Mark Edward Wentland
  • Publication number: 20120297535
    Abstract: A sofa configured to be converted into various positions, including a sofa, lounge, bed and chaise position. The sofa includes a seat deck and a backrest. Further, the sofa includes a first type of click-clack mechanisms placed between the seat deck and backrest which are used to convert the sofa to the lounge or bed position. Also, the sofa includes a second type of click-clack mechanisms placed throughout the seat deck and backrest. These are used to convert the sofa to one of two possible chaise positions. In particular, these click-clack mechanisms enable the sides of the seat deck and backrest to be raised to various levels (e.g., 20 degrees, 40 degrees). As a result, opposing sides of the seat deck and backrest can be raised at the appropriate level thereby providing two individual chaises facing one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: LIFESTYLE SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Abedan Kanthasamy
  • Publication number: 20120299348
    Abstract: The invention relates to seating furniture comprising two frames arranged at a distance to each other on a support, between which frames a seat part and a backrest part can be mounted, and the frames have one upper frame part and a lower frame part each which mechanically immobilize the seat part and the backrest part a the sides thereof. The upper frame part and the lower frame part are clamping elements that can be braced with each other. At least one clamping element has a laterally extending recess on each edge which recess forms a frame groove in which a respective engaging element provided on the edges of the seat part and of the backrest part can be mounted by way of a frictional connection to the upper frame part and the lower frame part. The recess has an undercut portion which forms a stop for holding the clamped engaging element by a form fit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: Kausch +Co. GmgH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dieter Kusch, Robert De Le Roi, Karl-Heinz Seipp