Patents by Inventor Alen Wyss

Alen Wyss has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11970271
    Abstract: A recline mechanism is described. The recline mechanism provides for adjusting an angle of a seatback of a passenger seat. The recline mechanism prevents angular adjustments of the seatback when a cylinder and piston assembly is in a locked state and permits the angular adjustments when in an unlocked state. A solenoid is provided to lock and unlock a valve of the recline mechanism. The solenoid is engaged and disengaged in response to receiving electrical signals from a button. The button generates an electrical signal when the button is depressed and again when the button is released. The button includes an electromagnet or a piezoelectric for generating the electrical signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Dowty, David D. Nicolato, Alen Wyss
  • Publication number: 20230312099
    Abstract: A recline mechanism is described. The recline mechanism provides for adjusting an angle of a seatback of a passenger seat. The recline mechanism prevents angular adjustments of the seatback when a cylinder and piston assembly is in a locked state and permits the angular adjustments when in an unlocked state. A solenoid is provided to lock and unlock a valve of the recline mechanism. The solenoid is engaged and disengaged in response to receiving electrical signals from a button. The button generates an electrical signal when the button is depressed and again when the button is released. The button includes an electromagnet or a piezoelectric for generating the electrical signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Mark B. Dowty, David D. Nicolato, Alen WYSS
  • Publication number: 20230227164
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an aircraft passenger seat installable in an aircraft cabin at an angle relative to an aircraft longitudinal axis. The passenger seat includes movable or shape changing seat elements for temporarily re-indexing the passenger orientation according to at least one predetermined flight condition such that the seat assembly meets predefined regulatory certification criteria in at least one of the predetermined flight conditions. The present disclosure further provides a method for effecting a temporary change in position of a seated passenger relative to the aircraft longitudinal axis (i.e., direction of flight) according to at least one predetermined flight condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Mark B. Dowty, Tracy N. Pence, Alen WYSS
  • Patent number: 10407176
    Abstract: In an illustrative embodiment, a seat is oriented at an oblique angle with respect to a centerline of an aircraft fuselage, the seat having an Aircraft Passenger Restraint System (APRS) with a pre-tensioner and integral retractable shoulder and seat belt webbing. In an illustrative example, the ARPS may be a three-point restraint to control a seat occupant's upper body, head and torso area. In some embodiments, the ARPS may further control the forces on the lower spine and torso. In some applications, the ARPS may operate to control the Head Injury Criteria (HIC) levels for the seat occupant's head, as well as the neck twist and upper spinal forces, to meet aircraft certification requirements imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and/or European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). In response to a deceleration event, the ARPS may rapidly retract the belt webbing to substantially remove slack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Benji Shane Meadows, Randy Penley, Alen Wyss, Michael P. Kurtzman
  • Patent number: 9828100
    Abstract: A side-facing aircraft passenger seat having a head rest, seat back, seat bottom and leg rest moveable between an upright seating position and a lie flat sleeping position, and including a plurality of air bags positioned in at least partially surrounding orientation in relation to the seat and inflatable to provide comfort and protection to a seat occupant while in the lie flat sleeping position. The seat may be oriented obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: B/E AEROSPACE, INC.
    Inventor: Alen Wyss
  • Publication number: 20170283079
    Abstract: In an illustrative embodiment, a seat is oriented at an oblique angle with respect to a centerline of an aircraft fuselage, the seat having an Aircraft Passenger Restraint System (APRS) with a pre-tensioner and integral retractable shoulder and seat belt webbing. In an illustrative example, the ARPS may be a three-point restraint to control a seat occupant's upper body, head and torso area. In some embodiments, the ARPS may further control the forces on the lower spine and torso. In some applications, the ARPS may operate to control the Head Injury Criteria (HIC) levels for the seat occupant's head, as well as the neck twist and upper spinal forces, to meet aircraft certification requirements imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and/or European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). In response to a deceleration event, the ARPS may rapidly retract the belt webbing to substantially remove slack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Benji Shane Meadows, Randy Penley, Alen Wyss, Michael P. Kurtzman
  • Publication number: 20170008632
    Abstract: An aircraft passenger restraint and protection system including an aircraft seat mounted at an oblique angle to a direction of forward travel, a multi-point seat belt associated with the aircraft seat, and a structural mounted airbag located forward of the aircraft seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: THOMAS CARLTON EBERLE, MACK THOMAS MOORE, ALEN WYSS, JOE GUTOSKY, RANDY PENLEY, STEPHEN BRYANT ADKINS, MARK EDWARD DEEVEY, MARC SCHATELL, KRIS CLARK, MATTHEW KARL
  • Patent number: 9469404
    Abstract: An aircraft passenger seat comprises 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) so as 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 wherein the secondary support surface (5) is rotatable about an axis between the reclined and substantially flat configurations, said axis being translated between the reclined and subs
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: 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
  • Publication number: 20150130244
    Abstract: A side-facing aircraft passenger seat having a head rest, seat back, seat bottom and leg rest moveable between an upright seating position and a lie flat sleeping position, and including a plurality of air bags positioned in at least partially surrounding orientation in relation to the seat and inflatable to provide comfort and protection to a seat occupant while in the lie flat sleeping position. The seat may be oriented obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventor: Alen Wyss
  • Publication number: 20140084647
    Abstract: An aircraft passenger seat comprises 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) so as 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 wherein the secondary support surface (5) is rotatable about an axis between the reclined and substantially flat configurations, said axis being translated between the reclined and subs
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    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: 8616643
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: 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
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20090302158
    Abstract: An aircraft passenger seat comprises 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) so as 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 wherein the secondary support surface (5) is rotatable about an axis between the reclined and substantially flat configurations, said axis being translated between the reclined and subst
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    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