Patents by Inventor Mark B. Dowty

Mark B. Dowty 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).

  • Publication number: 20210214084
    Abstract: An aircraft passenger compartment suite may include a privacy divider configured to separate a first side of the aircraft passenger compartment suite including a first aircraft seat and a second side of the aircraft passenger compartment suite including a second aircraft seat. The aircraft passenger compartment suite may include a collapsible display device positioned proximate to the privacy divider of the aircraft passenger compartment suite. The aircraft passenger compartment suite may include a first display device and a first plate configured to be an extension of a horizontal surface in the first side when the first display device is in a first display device stowed position. The aircraft passenger compartment suite may include a second display device and a second plate configured to be an extension of a horizontal surface in the second side when the second display device is in a second display device stowed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Glenn A. Johnson, Robert D. Wilkey, Mark B. Dowty, Lyle T. Davis, Dennis M. Heuer
  • Patent number: 11046437
    Abstract: Passenger seating groups positionable in a column in an aircraft between a longitudinal aisle and a fuselage wall. Each passenger seating group includes a first passenger seat positioned along an aisle side and facing a first direction, a first footwell positioned along the aisle side and facing the first passenger seat, a second passenger seat positioned along the wall side and facing the first direction, and a second footwell positioned along the wall side and facing the second direction to serve a second passenger seat in an adjacent like seating group. Each seat has its own dedicated entry from the longitudinal aisle and seats within the same seating group are physically separated by privacy walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Javier Valdes De La Garza, Glenn A. Johnson, Daniel I. Udriste, Alexander N. Pozzi, Mark B. Dowty
  • Publication number: 20210179268
    Abstract: An aircraft passenger compartment suite may include a first side with a first display device, a second side with a second display device, and a privacy divider separating the first side and the second side. The first display device may be configured to actuate between a first deployed position and a first stowed position via a first stowage mechanism. The second display device may be configured to actuate between a second deployed position and a second stowed position via a second stowage mechanism. The privacy divider may include one or more panels configured to actuate between a panel deployed position and a panel stowed position. The privacy divider may be open when at least one of the first display device is in the first stowed position, the second display device is in the second stowed position, or the one or more panels are in the panel stowed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Mark B. Dowty, Dennis M. Heuer, Lyle T. Davis, Robert J. Henshaw, Robert D. Wilkey
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20210147085
    Abstract: A system and method for vehicle compartment item presence indication senses an item within a vehicle compartment and notifies a user if the item is expected or unexpected within the compartment based on a vehicle state. Should the item be expected in a compartment during a phase of flight where the compartment is expected to contain items, there is no abnormal indication. However, if a compartment is expected to be empty during a specific phase of flight and the sensors indicate an item is present, the system will alert the user to the unexpected item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventor: Mark B. Dowty
  • Publication number: 20210061474
    Abstract: An aircraft cabin attendant seat is disclosed. In some embodiments, the aircraft cabin attendant seat includes a support element extending from a cabin floor. The support element includes a bottom support element portion that is attached to the cabin floor, a top support element portion, and a coupler that connects the bottom support element portion to the top support element portion. In some embodiments, the coupler is configured to allow the top support element portion to rotate along a horizontal axis. The aircraft cabin attendant seat further includes a backrest and a headrest that is coupled to the top support element portion. The aircraft cabin attendant seat includes a seating portion coupled to the top support element portion. The seating portion includes both seat and a hinge configured to connect the seat to the top support element portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Mark B. Dowty, J.C. Matthew Bratland
  • Publication number: 20210031924
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring passenger activity in an aircraft cabin environment to predict immediate future passenger needs. The systems and methods make use of sensors positioned within an aircraft cabin environment configured to sense condition changes of objects corresponding to predetermined service issues, device(s) usable by the service crew indicating the sensed condition changes, and processing circuitry configured to receive sensor signals and indicate the condition changes through the device(s) such that the service crew is made aware of the condition changes requiring actions to be completed by the service crew to attend to the immediate future passenger needs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Mark B. Dowty, Glenn A. Johnson, Kent Kroener
  • Patent number: 10870489
    Abstract: An armrest assembly for an aircraft passenger seat including a base, a first arm having a first end pivotally attached to the base, a second arm having a first end pivotally attached to the base, and an arm support element pivotally connected to a second end of the first arm and pivotally connected to a second end of the second arm. An assist device applies force to bias the arm support element from a first position toward a second position higher than the first position. The base, the arm support element, the first arm, and the second arm operate together as a four-bar linkage system. Upon actuation of a user-actuatable release device, the arm support element can be moved from the first position to the second position with force assistance from the assist device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Dowty, Tracy N. Pence, Charles B. Cline, Twinkle V. Jacob
  • Publication number: 20200385125
    Abstract: A set of consolidated electronics packages for staggered aircraft seats may include a first consolidated electronics package and a second consolidated electronics package. The first consolidated electronics package and a second consolidated electronics package may be installed within a primary passenger compartment. The first consolidated electronics package and the second consolidated electronics package may be configured to provide electrical connectivity to the primary passenger compartment and an auxiliary passenger compartment including an auxiliary aircraft seat. A primary aircraft seat and the auxiliary aircraft seat may be installed in a staggered configuration within an aircraft cabin including the primary passenger compartment and the auxiliary passenger compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventor: Mark B. Dowty
  • Publication number: 20200369389
    Abstract: An armrest assembly for an aircraft passenger seat including a base, a first arm having a first end pivotally attached to the base, a second arm having a first end pivotally attached to the base, and an arm support element pivotally connected to a second end of the first arm and pivotally connected to a second end of the second arm. An assist device applies force to bias the arm support element from a first position toward a second position higher than the first position. The base, the arm support element, the first arm, and the second arm operate together as a four-bar linkage system. Upon actuation of a user-actuatable release device, the arm support element can be moved from the first position to the second position with force assistance from the assist device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Mark B. Dowty, Tracy N. Pence, Charles B. Cline, Twinkle V. Jacob
  • Publication number: 20200369388
    Abstract: Passenger seating groups positionable in a column in an aircraft between a longitudinal aisle and a fuselage wall. Each passenger seating group includes a first passenger seat positioned along an aisle side and facing a first direction, a first footwell positioned along the aisle side and facing the first passenger seat, a second passenger seat positioned along the wall side and facing the first direction, and a second footwell positioned along the wall side and facing the second direction to serve a second passenger seat in an adjacent like seating group. Each seat has its own dedicated entry from the longitudinal aisle and seats within the same seating group are physically separated by privacy walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Javier Valdes De La Garza, Glenn A. Johnson, Daniel I. Udriste, Alexander N. Pozzi, Mark B. Dowty
  • Patent number: 10829222
    Abstract: An aircraft seat assembly for achieving a reclined sitting position suitable for taxi-take-off and landing (TTOL). The assembly includes an independently adjustable seat back and seat bottom coupled to a frame member configured to translate relative to a base and actuators dedicated for driving independent articulation of each of the seat back, seat pan and optional legrest to achieve sitting positions including upright, lie-flat and positions therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Javier Valdes De La Garza, Daniel I. Udriste, Mark B. Dowty
  • Patent number: 10773804
    Abstract: A seating arrangement for a cabin of a passenger aircraft that includes 5-abreast passenger accommodation suites, each including a privacy wall and a seat movable between a seating position and a lie-flat bed position, and adapted to be laterally positioned in the aircraft cabin in respective adjacent outboard, middle and inboard positions. Three of the suites are adapted to be positioned in a longitudinally-offset position in relation to each other and defining respective ingress/egress paths to a cabin aisle extending along a longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin adjacent the third suite. Two of the suites are positioned in a longitudinally-offset position in relation to each other and defining respective ingress/egress paths on the opposite side of the cabin aisle. At least some of the suites define an angular offset relative to the longitudinal axis of the cabin aisle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: B/E AEROSPACE, INC.
    Inventors: Javier Valdes De La Garza, Glenn A. Johnson, Daniel I. Udriste, Alexander N. Pozzi, Mark B. Dowty
  • Publication number: 20200262562
    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: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Mark B. Dowty, Eric J. Aulet, Ian L. Frost, Shirley E. Govea Bravo, John R. Kuyper, Robert J. Lawrence
  • Patent number: 10696405
    Abstract: A four-suite unit positionable in an aircraft cabin to one side of a longitudinal aisle and including first and second suites positioned longitudinally-aligned and facing each other, a shared passageway positioned between foot ends of the first and second suites, third and fourth suites positioned longitudinally-aligned and to one side of the respective first and second suites, a first passageway positioned between a portion of the first suite and a portion of the third suite for accessing the third suite from the shared passageway, and a second passageway positioned between a portion of the second suite and a portion of the fourth suite for accessing the fourth suite from the shared passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Dowty, Tracy N. Pence, Matt Round, Vien McArthur Nguyen, Martin Hong Lun Mo, Erik Eivind Sutton Nilsen, Anthony Michael Charles, Brian Jeremy Conner, Harry Howard Hanson
  • Patent number: 10661903
    Abstract: In an illustrative embodiment, a premium class seating arrangement for an aircraft cabin includes at least three passenger suites, each passenger suite including a seat movable between an upright position and a horizontal bed position and an ottoman which expands a surface area of the bed position. The passenger suites may cooperatively form a nested arrangement capable of nesting with identical passenger suite arrangements longitudinally within the cabin area. At least two of the ottomans of the passenger suites may be longitudinally offset in installation position. Each passenger suite in the arrangement is afforded direct aisle access without interference by another passenger suite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace Inc.
    Inventor: Mark B. Dowty
  • Publication number: 20200156794
    Abstract: An aircraft passenger seat arrangement such as a business seating class arrangement including a plurality of passenger seat groups positioned adjacent a longitudinal aisle, each passenger seat group including an inboard seat and an outboard seat angled toward the longitudinal aisle, with the inboard seat angle being greater than the outboard seat angle to improve access to the outboard seat along a branch aisle extending from the longitudinal aisle forward of the inboard seat to a forward end of the outboard seat, as well as reducing seat pitch between longitudinally adjacent inboard and outboard seats with at least equivalent seat egress.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Mark B. Dowty, Eric J. Aulet
  • Patent number: 10549857
    Abstract: Passenger seating arrangements for an airliner or other conveyance including a plurality of individual suites arranged into longitudinal columns. Lateral aisles extending from longitudinal aisles lead to branch aisles that provide access to suites spaced apart from the longitudinal aisles, and each lateral aisle can be shared to provide access to two outboard suites. Suites are arranged to maximize seating density and privacy, and each suite is equipped with premium features and amenities for use by occupants during flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Dowty, Tracy N. Pence, Matt Round, Vien McArthur Nguyen, Martin Hong Lun Mo, Erik Eivind Sutton Nilsen, Anthony Michael Charles, Brian Jeremy Conner, Harry Howard Hanson
  • Publication number: 20190329890
    Abstract: An amenity monument for installation in an aircraft cabin space that utilizes non-seat space in a seating layout while simultaneously providing features and amenities desirable to passengers. The amenity monument enhances the array of seating options and configurations available to an aircraft interior designer, and in some embodiments, may be equipped with one or more of display space, work space, and electronic features. The amenity monument is configured such that space beneath a counter can be utilized for other purposes, such as footwell space for seats positioned adjacent the amenity monument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Glenn A. Johnson, Mark B. Dowty
  • Publication number: 20190322371
    Abstract: A privacy panel assembly for a passenger cabin environment including a flexible privacy panel having a leading edge and a trailing edge, the flexible privacy panel moveable between a stowed position leaving open an opening between spaced structures and a deployed position closing the opening, wherein the leading edge of the flexible privacy panel, when the flexible privacy panel is in the deployed position, is moveable out of a plane of the opening by way of force against the flexible privacy panel. A passenger suite configuration including a suite entrance formed between spaced walls and a flexible privacy panel moveable between a stowed position leaving open the suite entrance and a deployed position closing the suite entrance, wherein a portion of the flexible privacy panel is moveable out of a plane of the opening by way of force against the flexible privacy panel, for example, during emergency exit from the suite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: Mark B. Dowty, Kent M. Kroener