Vehicle seating with storage feature
A passenger seat for a vehicle includes a seat bottom and a seat back mounted to a frame. The passenger seat includes at least one storage feature. One of the storage features may be a storage unit positioned underneath the seat bottom which is moveable between a first position in which the unit is readily accessible by a seated passenger, and a second position in which the unit is held upright or against the said seat bottom to reduce the intrusion of the unit into the under-seat space. Another storage feature may be a recess formed in the upper part of the seat bottom. The recess is covered by a moveable lid which forms part of the seating surface when closed.
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This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/529,686 filed Dec. 15, 2003, and Provisional Application No. 60/589,297, filed Jul. 20, 2004.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates generally to vehicle seating and more particularly to tourist or coach class aircraft seating. Aircraft seating is typically divided into various classes, for example first class, business class, and coach or tourist class. For each class of seating, an individual passenger is allotted a preselected amount of space (both area and volume). First-class seats provide the most individual space, and also may include features to improve comfort, such as fully reclining sleeper functions. In contrast, the tourist/coach class is provided with a relatively small amount of space, in order to provide the most efficient transportation and lowest cost.
Passengers also typically bring carry-on baggage or other personal items on to airline flights. These items must be stored in available spaces, such as underneath the seat in front of the passenger's seat. However, given the already limited space, storage of items in these areas decreases the room available for the passenger to achieve different seating positions.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONTherefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a vehicle passenger seat which allows a passenger to store and retrieve various items underneath his or her seat.
It is another object the invention to provide a seat bottom for a passenger seat having a built-in storage compartment.
These and other objects are met by the present invention, which in one embodiment provides a passenger seat including a frame for being attached to a floor of a vehicle; a seat bottom carried by the frame for supporting a passenger; an upwardly-extending seat back carried by the frame; and a storage unit disposed underneath the seat bottom, the storage unit having an access opening disposed at a front end thereof. The storage unit is mounted so as to be moveable between a first position in which the access opening is readily accessible by a passenger seated on the seat bottom, and a second position in which the container is held against the a lower surface of the seat bottom so as to reduce the intrusion of the container into a space defined by the seat bottom and the frame.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the storage unit is generally rectangular and includes opposed top and bottom walls, opposed side walls, and a rear wall disposed opposite the access opening.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the front end of the storage unit is pivotally mounted to the seat bottom.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the passenger seat further includes a releasable latch operable to selectively retain the storage unit in the first position.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the passenger seat further includes wherein includes a release handle disposed so as to be reachable by a passenger seated on the seat bottom and operably connected to the latch so as to release the latch in response to movement of the handle.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the passenger seat further includes means for selectively retaining the storage unit in the first position.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a passenger seat for a vehicle includes a frame for being attached to a floor of a vehicle; an upwardly-extending seat back carried by the frame; a seat bottom disposed on the frame for supporting a passenger, the seat bottom having a recess formed therein which is accessible from an upper surface of the seat bottom; and a lid disposed over the recess. The lid is moveable between a closed position in which an upper surface of the lid forms a seating surface; and an open position in which the recess is accessible.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a rear end of the lid is pivotally attached to the seat bottom.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the recess extends downward into a front face of the seat bottom to improve access thereto.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the lid includes a downwardly-extending front panel.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the lid includes at least one finger slot formed therein.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the upper surface of the lid has upholstery material or padding disposed thereon.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a passenger seat includes a frame for being attached to a floor of a vehicle; a seat bottom carried by the frame for supporting a passenger; an upwardly-extending seat back carried by the frame; and a storage unit disposed underneath the seat bottom. The storage unit has an access opening disposed at an upper end thereof. The storage unit is moveable between a first position in which the access opening is readily accessible by a passenger seated on the seat bottom, and a second position in which the storage unit is held in an upright orientation underneath the seat bottom with the front wall substantially flush with a front edge of the seat bottom.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the storage unit is generally rectangular and includes opposed front and rear walls, opposed side walls, and a bottom wall disposed opposite the access opening.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the bottom end of the storage unit is pivotally mounted adjacent the floor.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the passenger seat further including means for selectively retaining the storage unit in the first position.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the passenger seat includes a handle disposed so as to be reachable by a passenger seated on the seat bottom.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe subject matter that is regarded as the invention may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in which:
Referring to the drawings wherein identical reference numerals denote the same elements throughout the various views,
The storage unit 32 comprises a container having an access opening 34 at its front end 36, opposed top and bottom walls 38 and 40, opposed side walls 42 and 44, and a rear wall 46 at its aft end 48. The storage unit 32 is mounted under the seat bottom 24 and is accessible by a seated passenger by reaching under the seat cushion for storage of small items, indicated generally at 50. In order to improve the accessibility of the storage unit 32 for loading and unloading, it may be tilted downward as shown in
The illustrated storage unit 32 includes a latching mechanism comprising a pivotally mounted release handle 54, a connecting rod 56, a latch 58 including a hook 60, and a return spring 62. As shown in
The storage compartment, denoted 132, comprises a recess 134 built into the upper surface of the seat bottom 124. The recess 134 is defined by one more side panels 136 and a bottom panel 138. The front edge 140 of the recess 134 may extend downward into the front face 142 of the seat bottom 124 to improve access. The storage compartment 132 may be used for storage of small items, indicated generally at 144. A lid 146 is provided which is hinged to the seat bottom 124, in this case near the back of the seat bottom 124. The lid 146 covers and encloses the recess 134 in the closed position as shown in
Each storage unit 232 and 232′ comprises a container having an access opening 234 at its upper end, opposed back and front walls 238 and 240, opposed side walls 242 and 244, and a bottom wall 246. The storage units 232 and 232′ are pivotally mounted to the seat set 210, for example using a shaft 248, a portion of which is visible in
The storage unit is loaded or unloaded by first tilting it forward about the shaft 248. A small tab or handle 252 may be provided for this purpose. In
The foregoing has described a seating arrangement having one or more storage features. While specific embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications thereto can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and the best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation, the invention being defined by the claims.
Claims
1. A passenger seat comprising:
- a frame for being attached to a floor of a vehicle;
- a seat bottom carried by said frame for supporting a passenger;
- an upwardly-extending seat back carried by said frame; and
- a storage unit disposed underneath said seat bottom, said storage unit having an access opening disposed at a front end thereof and being mounted so as to be moveable between:
- a first position in which said access opening is readily accessible by a passenger seated on said seat bottom, and
- a second position in which said storage unit is held against said a lower surface of said seat bottom so as to reduce the intrusion of said storage unit into a space defined by said seat bottom and said frame.
2. The passenger seat of claim 1 wherein said storage unit is generally rectangular and includes opposed top and bottom walls, opposed side walls, and a rear wall disposed opposite said access opening.
3. The passenger seat of claim 2 wherein the front end of said storage unit is pivotally mounted to said seat bottom.
4. The passenger seat of claim 3 further including a releasable latch operable to selectively retain said storage unit in said first position.
5. The passenger seat of claim 4 wherein includes a release handle disposed so as to be reachable by a passenger seated on said seat bottom and operably connected to said latch so as to release said latch in response to movement of said handle.
6. The passenger seat of claim 1 further including means for selectively retaining said storage unit in said first position.
7. A passenger seat for a vehicle, comprising:
- a frame for being attached to a floor of a vehicle;
- an upwardly-extending seat back carried by said frame;
- a seat bottom carried by said frame for supporting a passenger, said seat bottom having a recess formed therein which is accessible from an upper surface of said seat bottom; and
- a lid disposed over said recess which is moveable between: a closed position in which an upper surface of said lid forms a seating surface; and an open position in which said recess is accessible.
8. The passenger seat of claim 7, in which a rear end of said lid is pivotally attached to said seat bottom.
9. The passenger seat of claim 8 wherein said recess extends downward into a front face of said seat bottom to improve access thereto.
10. The passenger seat of claim 9 wherein said lid includes a downwardly-extending front panel.
11. The passenger seat of claim 8 wherein said lid includes at least one finger slot formed therein.
12. The passenger seat of claim 7 wherein said upper surface of said lid has upholstery material or padding disposed thereon.
13. A passenger seat comprising:
- a frame for being attached to a floor of a vehicle;
- a seat bottom carried by said frame for supporting a passenger;
- an upwardly-extending seat back carried by said frame; and
- a storage unit disposed underneath said seat bottom, said storage unit having an access opening disposed at an upper end thereof and being mounted so as to be moveable between:
- a first position in which said access opening is readily accessible by a passenger seated on said seat bottom, and
- a second position in which said storage unit is held in an upright orientation underneath said seat bottom with said front wall substantially flush with a front edge of said seat bottom.
14. The passenger seat of claim 13 wherein said storage unit is generally rectangular and includes opposed front and rear walls, opposed side walls, and a bottom wall disposed opposite said access opening.
15. The passenger seat of claim 4 wherein the bottom end of said storage unit is pivotally mounted adjacent said floor.
16. The passenger seat of claim 15 further including means for selectively retaining said storage unit in said first position.
17. The passenger seat of claim 16 further including a handle disposed so as to be reachable by a passenger seated on said seat bottom.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 9, 2004
Publication Date: Jan 12, 2006
Applicant: BE AEROSPACE, INC. (Wellington, FL)
Inventors: Trevor Skelly (Winston-Salem, NC), James Penley (Pfafftown, NC), Alexander Grauls (Couffouloeux), Edgar Kinnier (Winston-Salem, NC), Glenn Johnson (King, NC), Michael Princip (Winston-Salem, NC), Gary McKelvey (Dallas, TX)
Application Number: 11/008,684
International Classification: A47C 7/62 (20060101);