Abstract: A longitudinal member for a support frame for a vehicle multiple passenger seating unit, the support frame including two transverse, parallel horizontal beams joined by at least two spaced, generally horizontal longitudinal members, is formed in one piece with at least a major part of an armrest and provides bores through which the beams pass. When located at a side of the support frame adjacent an aisle, the longitudinal member defines a recess in a side thereof facing the aisle in which constructional elements of the support frame can be positioned, and a panel is snap fit within a groove in the longitudinal member to cover the recess and the constructional elements therein.

Abstract: An aircraft passenger seating unit providing seats for two or more passengers abreast which is convertible to provide different widths of seats by moving seat parts laterally with respect to one another between two configurations, wherein the seats are defined by an end armrest (4, 5) at each side of the unit and by a pair of intermediate armrests (6, 7, 8, 9) between the or each pair of adjacent seats and lost-motion devices move the intermediate armrests apart when the unit is moved to the configuration providing wider seats and enable them to be moved together when the unit is moved to the configuration providing narrower seats. The lost-motion devices may be headed rods.

Abstract: A vehicle seat having a backrest part hingedly connected to the frame so as to break forwardly about the hinged connection from a normal substantially upright position includes a braking device for preventing forward movement of the backrest part about the hinged connection under forces equivalent to less than a predetermined maximum forward force applied to the top of the backrest part but to permit forward movement of the backrest part under greater forces against a reaction provided by the braking device. The backrest part is preferably so constructed that no significant force may be applied to it by the knees of a passenger in a seat immediately behind. For example it may have an aperture in the region which will be immediately in front of the knees of a passenger occupying a seat immediately behind.

Abstract: An adjustable-width seating unit for a passenger-carrying vehicle has a pillar pivotally connected to its support frame to swing about a first axis substantially longitudinally disposed with respect to the seating unit, an armrest mounted on the pillar and rotatable relative to the pillar about a second axis, fixed relative to the pillar and substantially longitudinally disposed with respect to the seating unit. On swinging the pillar about the first axis the armrest may be moved between laterally-spaced positions and by rotating the armrest about the second axis its angular disposition relative to the seating unit may be maintained.A detent adjacent to the pivotal connection of the pillar to the frame locates the pillar positively but releasably in its respective positions and a detent adjacent to the rotational mounting of the armrest similarly locates the armrest in different angular positions relative to the pillar. The arrangement can be such that both detents may be released in a single action.

Abstract: An adjustable seating unit, particularly for aircraft, comprises a backrest part and a bottom part capable of accommodating either three narrower seats or two wider seats, with intermediate armrests which are movable laterally between positions defining respectively the three narrower seats and the two wider seats. The intermediate armrests are anchored to the seating unit by linkages and complementary components are provided on the intermediate armrests and on the seating unit for selective engagement to locate the intermediate armrests positively in their respective positions.

Abstract: A reclinable seat for use in vehicles provides two systems enabling an occupant to adopt reclining postures. The seat comprises a bottom part and a back support part which are rotatable together about an axis in a support frame to be fixed in the vehicle. The axis is transverse to the seat and is adjacent to the bottom part, enabling the seat to be rotated bodily about the axis into reclining positions. The back support part is pivoted to the bottom part so that it can be tilted separately into reclining positions. Separate piston/cylinder control assemblies are provided for respectively locating the seat in positions angularly spaced about the axis and for locating the back support part in angularly spaced positions relative to the bottom part.