Attendant Passenger Seat Row Including Assist Space

The present invention is directed to a seat row arrangement and more particularly to such arrangement on various modes of transportation, including aircraft, wherein the arrangement comprises at least on passenger seat and one flight attendant seat.

During air travel, flight attendants typically stand while performing their various duties. During take-offs and landings, however, they are typically required, by various regulations, to be seated and are generally seated at the front or rear of the aircraft cabin, at a distance from the remaining passengers.

In emergency situations, flight attendants have various other duties, including, for example, the operation of emergency cabin doors during emergency landings. Under such circumstances, it may be easier, more prudent and reassuring to the passengers to have the attendants sit adjacent the emergency doors.

Moreover, when flight attendants sit in a remote location with respect to the passengers, additional frame structures must be constructed for such seats. If flight attendants sit in special seats, but in the same row as at least another passenger seat, the flight attendant's seat may share some of the frame of the passenger seat, thereby reducing construction costs.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to enable flight attendant personnel to assume seats, especially during the starting and landing operations to eliminate any hazard or danger particularly during these times.

Another object of the invention is to provide flight attendant seats in such a way that they occupy a comparatively small volume when not used. This provides the required assist space (12".times.20") according to FAR/JAR in case of emergency evacuations.

A still further object of the invention is to combine flight attendant seats with passenger seats in a shared or adjacent frame.

Yet another objection of the invention is to provide a flight attendant seat in a row with a passenger seat wherein the flight attendant seat is adjacent to an exit door.

These and other objects of the invention, which will become apparent hereafter are achieved by the attendant-passenger seat row arrangement having a passenger seat, a flight attendant seat and at least one adapter in the region of the flight attendant seat connectable to a junction coupling in the region of the passenger seat. The flight attendant seat generally comprises a frame carrying the adapter, a back rest connected to the frame and a seat cushion or seating surface pivotable relative to the back rest.

The adapter facilitates the connection of the flight attendant seat by a junction coupling in the region of the passenger seat. The pivotable seating surface of the flight attendant seat means that it consumes a smaller volume when the flight attendant seat is not being used and also improves accessibility of the adapter and the junction coupling in the course of performing an assembly.

To obtain the same line of sight for passengers and flight attendants, the passenger seats, as well as the flight attendant seats, may have the same orientation. Alternatively, the flight attendant can be made to face the passengers by having the passenger seats and the flight attendant seats point in different directions.

The invention will be better understood by the Detailed Description of the Preferred embodiment, in connection with the drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the attendant-passenger seat row shown as comprising two passenger seats and one flight attendant seat;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the seat row arrangement depicted in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the attendant-passenger seat row in which the passenger seats and the flight attendant seat are oriented in the same direction and the flight attendant seat cushion is folded upward.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals reflect like elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an attendant-passenger seat row comprising two passenger seats 1 and one flight attendant seat 2. The passenger seats 1 are supported by frame 3 which sits on the cabin floor. The seats 1 comprise seat cushions 4, back rests 5 and arm rests 6 in the seating area and storage pockets 8, as well as folding tables 9 on the rear wall 7.

Flexibility in manufacture and simplified assembly using standardized components is made possible by connecting the flight attendant seat 2 to the passenger seats 1 in a modular fashion. The flight attendant seat 2 is adjacent to one of the passenger seats and comprises a back rest 11 and a seat cushion 10 supported to be pivotable relative to the back rest 11. The seat cushion 10 and the back rest 11 are retained by a frame 12. An adapter 13 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) beneath a plane defined by the seat cushion 10, is connected with a junction coupling 14 (see FIG. 2) beneath a plane defined by the seat cushion 4. Such construction provides adequate stability of the arrangement and avoids impairments to the freedom of shaping the device. The adapter 13, as well as the junction coupling 14, is provided with an essentially wedge-shaped design which widens in the direction of the junction couplings. The respectively stressed or load-carrying cross-section is adapted because of this wedge-shaped design to a locally existing force application. Instead of a linearly bounded wedge it is also possible to provide a contour bounded by a curve to correspond to the force application.

The flight attendant seat 2 is provided with a higher back rest than that of the passenger seats 1 to improve its functionality. Seat belts 15 are provided for the flight attendant seat 2 as well as for the passenger seats 1. (Safety belts 16 in FIG. 3). A free space 17 is provided beneath the seat cushion 10 of the flight attendant seat 2.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the flight attendant seat 2 and the passenger seats 1 face away from each other. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the flight attendant seat 2 and the passenger seats 1 face the same direction. With a module-like connection, it is possible to connect the flight attendant seat to the passenger seats in a predetermined direction or orientation with respect to each other. With a module-like design, identical components for designing the adapter 3 can be provided in the region of the flight attendant seat 2 and appropriately matching junction couplings 14 can be provided in the region of the passenger seat 1.

The arrangement including the passenger seats 1 and the flight attendant seat 2 is especially suited to be located in the area of doors of an aircraft cabin. When the flight attendant seat cushion 10 is folded up, there is improved accessibility and increased amount of useful space.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in detail, modifications and adaptations of such embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and adaptations are within the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims: