Patents by Inventor Ian L. Frost

Ian L. Frost 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: 11952124
    Abstract: An aircraft tray table may include a body with a defined interior cavity, a personal electronic device support, and a magnification lens. The personal electronic device support may be configured to hold a personal electronic device when the personal electronic device support is in a support deployed position. The magnification lens may be configured to fit within the interior cavity when the magnification lens is in a lens stowed position. The magnification lens may include a lens configured to magnify content displayed on the personal electronic device held by the personal electronic device support when the magnification lens is in a lens deployed position. The personal electronic device support may be parallel to the magnification lens when the personal electronic device is in the support deployed position and the magnification lens is in the lens deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian L. Frost, Daniel I. Udriste, Charles Zurian, Mark Vaughan
  • Patent number: 11691732
    Abstract: A dual-occupancy aircraft minisuite incorporating a modular multiple-egress door assembly is disclosed. In embodiments, the dual-occupancy minisuite can accommodate two passengers in enhanced privacy. Access to (and egress from) the minisuite is through the modular multiple-egress door assembly, which provides forward and rear (relative to the egress gap between) sets of outer, intermediate, and inner doors. The outer doors translate laterally along rails in the intermediate doors, and the intermediate doors likewise translate laterally along rails in the inner doors, to open the minisuite for passenger access or direct view (or to close the minisuite for enhanced privacy). The forward and rear sets of doors are proportioned such that when any forward or rear translating door is jammed in a closed position, the remaining egress gap is of sufficient width to provide a distinct and independent emergency egress path for each occupying passenger of at least minimum required width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian L. Frost, Shirley E. Govea Bravo
  • Patent number: 11618567
    Abstract: An aircraft berth includes a bowed slat surface; the bowed slats provide a degree of cushioning apart from a foam mattress. The bowed slats are held in deformable brackets that allow the bowed slats to expand laterally as they are compressed vertically, and allow a degree of twisting of individual bowed slats. The bowed slats may be placed in a berth frame with greater or lesser density along the length of the berth frame to provide more or less support at particular locations. Alternatively, or in addition, bowed slats with greater cross-sectional thickness may be used were more support is desirable. The bowed slats may be organized in sub-frames that may be oriented to provide head and/or knee support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerry Overhiser, Ian L. Frost, Adam Loewy
  • Patent number: 11613359
    Abstract: An aircraft seat for an aircraft passenger compartment suite may include a primary section with an upper actuatable portion and a lower actuatable portion. The primary section may be configured to actuate between a primary upright position and a primary lie-flat position. The aircraft seat may include an auxiliary section including an auxiliary seatback portion coupled to a privacy shell element of the aircraft passenger compartment suite and an auxiliary seat base portion configured to actuate between an auxiliary upright position and an auxiliary lie-flat position. The auxiliary seatback portion may include an actuatable element. The actuatable element may be configured to actuate between an open position and a closed position. The actuatable element may be configured to provide access to a stowage compartment when the actuatable element is in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Dowty, Ian L. Frost, Martti Johannes Lampela, Adil Mumdood Ali, Garen P. Moreno, Suzuko Hisata, Robert J. Henshaw
  • Patent number: 11597522
    Abstract: A passenger seat or group of seats includes a tray table set into the armrest on either side of the associated seat, the tray table capable of translating lengthwise along the armrest and pivoting between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. In the stowed configuration, the tray table extends vertically above the armrest and may be stowed between (and partially behind) the associated seat and an adjacent seat, serving as a partial barrier between the two seats. In the deployed configuration, the tray table extends horizontally across the associated seat for use by the occupying passenger. The tray table is padded on its underside to provide the passenger with head and shoulder support when in the stowed configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventor: Ian L. Frost
  • Patent number: 11490203
    Abstract: A passenger suite for an aircraft passenger cabin includes a seat having an adjustable backrest, multiple forward sound drivers, left side drivers, right side drivers, at least one sensor detecting the position of the backrest, and a controller in communication with the drivers and operable to adjust an output of at least one of the drivers based on the position of the backrest. A third driver may be positioned within or behind the seat in communication with the controller. The forward drivers may be tweeter drivers; the side drivers may be midrange drivers; and the third driver may be a woofer driver. In some embodiments, a particular left side driver and a particular aligned right side driver are active to deliver audio content according to the position of the backrest. A surround sound system installable in an aircraft cabin, such as within an aircraft passenger suite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian L. Frost, David J. Druckman
  • Patent number: 11466497
    Abstract: A dampened hinge construction for braking pivoting movement of one structure relative to another. The dampened hinge construction can be utilized in a folding table assembly in an aircraft passenger suite including a base panel and at least one folding panel pivotally attached to the base panel by multiple dampened hinges. Each dampened hinge includes a first assembly attachable to a first structure and a second assembly attachable to a second structure such that the first structure is pivotable relative to the second structure between a first condition and a second condition, such as a folded condition and a planar condition, and at least one damper that brakes pivoting movement of the first structure relative to the second structure as the first condition or second condition is approached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: John Kuyper, Deepak Chandra Kokkalla, Ian L. Frost
  • Patent number: 11345476
    Abstract: Arrangements for an aircraft passenger cabin including a seating area containing first and second passenger seats, a monument disposed at one end of the seating area, and at least one privacy divider deployable in a longitudinal direction of the seating area to divide at least a portion of the seating area for privacy. In some embodiments, the at least one privacy divider includes a first privacy divider adapted to deploy to divide the seating area forward of the first and second passenger seats and a second privacy divider deployable to the seating area between the first and second passenger seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Dowty, Eric J. Aulet, Ian L. Frost, Shirley E. Govea Bravo, John R. Kuyper, Robert J. Lawrence
  • Patent number: 11230381
    Abstract: An adjustable table assembly for use in a passenger cabin environment such as an aircraft passenger suite including a passenger seat. The table assembly includes a fixed rail assembly attached to a monument, a support column rotatably mounted on the rail assembly, and a table mounted on the support column, the table having a stowed position and deployed positions in a first direction generally toward the passenger seat from the stowed position. The table has a predetermined stowage orientation at which the support column and table are movable along the rail assembly in a second direction opposite the first direction to the stowed position, and the rail assembly prevents the table from moving into the stowed position when the table is rotated out of the predetermined stowage orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian L. Frost, Gerry J. Overhiser
  • Publication number: 20220009636
    Abstract: A dual-occupancy aircraft minisuite incorporating a modular multiple-egress door assembly is disclosed. In embodiments, the dual-occupancy minisuite can accommodate two passengers in enhanced privacy. Access to (and egress from) the minisuite is through the modular multiple-egress door assembly, which provides forward and rear (relative to the egress gap between) sets of outer, intermediate, and inner doors. The outer doors translate laterally along rails in the intermediate doors, and the intermediate doors likewise translate laterally along rails in the inner doors, to open the minisuite for passenger access or direct view (or to close the minisuite for enhanced privacy). The forward and rear sets of doors are proportioned such that when any forward or rear translating door is jammed in a closed position, the remaining egress gap is of sufficient width to provide a distinct and independent emergency egress path for each occupying passenger of at least minimum required width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: Ian L. Frost, Shirley E. Govea Bravo
  • Publication number: 20210354829
    Abstract: An aircraft berth includes a bowed slat surface; the bowed slats provide a degree of cushioning apart from a foam mattress. The bowed slats are held in deformable brackets that allow the bowed slats to expand laterally as they are compressed vertically, and allow a degree of twisting of individual bowed slats. The bowed slats may be placed in a berth frame with greater or lesser density along the length of the berth frame to provide more or less support at particular locations. Alternatively, or in addition, bowed slats with greater cross-sectional thickness may be used were more support is desirable. The bowed slats may be organized in sub-frames that may be oriented to provide head and/or knee support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Gerry Overhiser, Ian L. Frost, Adam Loewy
  • Publication number: 20210339870
    Abstract: An aircraft tray table may include a body with a defined interior cavity, a personal electronic device support, and a magnification lens. The personal electronic device support may be configured to hold a personal electronic device when the personal electronic device support is in a support deployed position. The magnification lens may be configured to fit within the interior cavity when the magnification lens is in a lens stowed position. The magnification lens may include a lens configured to magnify content displayed on the personal electronic device held by the personal electronic device support when the magnification lens is in a lens deployed position. The personal electronic device support may be parallel to the magnification lens when the personal electronic device is in the support deployed position and the magnification lens is in the lens deployed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Ian L. Frost, Daniel I. Udriste, Charles Zurian, Mark Vaughan
  • Publication number: 20210331804
    Abstract: A passenger seat or group of seats includes a tray table set into the armrest on either side of the associated seat, the tray table capable of translating lengthwise along the armrest and pivoting between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. In the stowed configuration, the tray table extends vertically above the armrest and may be stowed between (and partially behind) the associated seat and an adjacent seat, serving as a partial barrier between the two seats. In the deployed configuration, the tray table extends horizontally across the associated seat for use by the occupying passenger. The tray table is padded on its underside to provide the passenger with head and shoulder support when in the stowed configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventor: Ian L. Frost
  • Publication number: 20210245886
    Abstract: An aircraft seat for an aircraft passenger compartment suite may include a primary section with an upper actuatable portion and a lower actuatable portion. The primary section may be configured to actuate between a primary upright position and a primary lie-flat position. The aircraft seat may include an auxiliary section including an auxiliary seatback portion coupled to a privacy shell element of the aircraft passenger compartment suite and an auxiliary seat base portion configured to actuate between an auxiliary upright position and an auxiliary lie-flat position. The auxiliary seatback portion may include an actuatable element. The actuatable element may be configured to actuate between an open position and a closed position. The actuatable element may be configured to provide access to a stowage compartment when the actuatable element is in the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Mark B. Dowty, Ian L. Frost, Martti Johannes Lampela, Adil Mumdood Ali, Garen P. Moreno, Suzuko Hisata, Robert J. Henshaw
  • Patent number: 11077947
    Abstract: A passenger suite seating unit is disclosed. In embodiments, the passenger suite seating unit includes a first set of one or more passenger suites and a second set of one or more passenger suites. The passenger suite seating unit may further include a first privacy shell element defining at least a portion of a first side of the passenger suite seating unit, and a second privacy shell element defining at least a portion of a second side of the passenger suite seating unit. The passenger suite seating unit may further include a privacy bridge assembly including a bridge structure extending from the first privacy shell element to the second privacy shell element, and a partition wall coupled to the bridge structure, the partition wall configured to at least partially separate the first set of one or more passenger suites and the second set of one or more passenger seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Dowty, Ian L. Frost, Martin R. Darbyshire, Dennis M. Heuer
  • Publication number: 20210198930
    Abstract: A dampened hinge construction for braking pivoting movement of one structure relative to another. The dampened hinge construction can be utilized in a folding table assembly in an aircraft passenger suite including a base panel and at least one folding panel pivotally attached to the base panel by multiple dampened hinges. Each dampened hinge includes a first assembly attachable to a first structure and a second assembly attachable to a second structure such that the first structure is pivotable relative to the second structure between a first condition and a second condition, such as a folded condition and a planar condition, and at least one damper that brakes pivoting movement of the first structure relative to the second structure as the first condition or second condition is approached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: John Kuyper, Deepak Chandra Kokkalla, Ian L. Frost
  • Publication number: 20210147083
    Abstract: A passenger suite seating unit is disclosed. In embodiments, the passenger suite seating unit includes a first set of one or more passenger suites and a second set of one or more passenger suites. The passenger suite seating unit may further include a first privacy shell element defining at least a portion of a first side of the passenger suite seating unit, and a second privacy shell element defining at least a portion of a second side of the passenger suite seating unit. The passenger suite seating unit may further include a privacy bridge assembly including a bridge structure extending from the first privacy shell element to the second privacy shell element, and a partition wall coupled to the bridge structure, the partition wall configured to at least partially separate the first set of one or more passenger suites and the second set of one or more passenger seats.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Mark B. Dowty, Ian L. Frost, Martin R. Darbyshire, Dennis M. Heuer
  • Patent number: 10947766
    Abstract: A dampened hinge construction for braking pivoting movement of one structure relative to another. The dampened hinge construction can be utilized in a folding table assembly in an aircraft passenger suite including a base panel and at least one folding panel pivotally attached to the base panel by multiple dampened hinges. Each dampened hinge includes a first assembly attachable to a first structure and a second assembly attachable to a second structure such that the first structure is pivotable relative to the second structure between a first condition and a second condition, such as a folded condition and a planar condition, and at least one damper that brakes pivoting movement of the first structure relative to the second structure as the first condition or second condition is approached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: John Kuyper, Deepak Chandra Kokkalla, Ian L. Frost
  • Patent number: 10946966
    Abstract: A multi-panel privacy screen assembly adapted to be deployed between laterally-adjacent passenger seats. The assembly includes an overhead beam having a plurality of tracks, a plurality of hanging panels, a plurality of coupling members suspending each of the plurality of hanging panels from the overhead beam, each coupling member coupled to one of the plurality of hanging panels, to one of a plurality of driven cables, and having rollers rollable along at least one of the plurality of tracks, and a drive mechanism including an intermittent gear assembly operable for driving the plurality of driven cables to move the plurality of hanging panels along at least one of the plurality of tracks according to predetermined deployment sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian L. Frost, Shirley E. Govea Bravo, John R. Kuyper, Robert J. Lawrence
  • Publication number: 20210021932
    Abstract: A passenger suite for an aircraft passenger cabin includes a seat having an adjustable backrest, multiple forward sound drivers, left side drivers, right side drivers, at least one sensor detecting the position of the backrest, and a controller in communication with the drivers and operable to adjust an output of at least one of the drivers based on the position of the backrest. A third driver may be positioned within or behind the seat in communication with the controller. The forward drivers may be tweeter drivers; the side drivers may be midrange drivers; and the third driver may be a woofer driver. In some embodiments, a particular left side driver and a particular aligned right side driver are active to deliver audio content according to the position of the backrest. A surround sound system installable in an aircraft cabin, such as within an aircraft passenger suite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Ian L. Frost, David J. Druckman