Aircraft passenger accommodation unit with deployable bed
View Patent ↗A passenger accommodation unit with deployable bed, including a passenger seat and a passenger bed positioned relative to the seat and adapted for movement between a stowed position wherein the bed is upright and adjacent to the seat, and a deployed position wherein the bed is horizontal for use and overlaps and is supported in part by the seat. The unit includes a credenza positioned adjacent the seat and between the seat and the bed that supports the bed when deployed.
1. A passenger accommodation unit, comprising:
(a) a passenger seat;
(b) a passenger bed positioned relative to the seat and adapted for movement between:
(i) a stowed position wherein the bed is upright and adjacent to the seat; and
(ii) a deployed position wherein the bed is horizontal for us overlaps the seat and is supported in part by the seat; and
(c) a credenza laterally adjacent the seat and between the seat and the bed.
2. A passenger accommodation unit according to claim 1 , wherein the credenza includes height adjustment mechanism for moving the credenza between a passenger use position and a relatively lower bed support position, and further wherein the bed is supported in part by the credenza in the bed support position.
3. A passenger accommodation unit according to claim 2 , and including an actuator for deploying the bed onto the credenza when the credenza is moved to the bed support position.
4. A passenger accommodation unit according to claim 1 , and including a foot extension panel in a deployed position forward of the seat for aligning with the height of the bed in the deployed position.
5. A passenger accommodation unit according to claim 4 , and including enclosure walls positioned around at least part of the periphery of an area occupied by the seat and the bed, and including a door opening and a door movable between an open ingress/egress position and a closed, privacy position.
6. A passenger accommodation unit according to claim 5 , wherein the door comprises a pair of door panels mounted adjacent the door opening and mounted for unison movement.
7. A passenger accommodation unit according to claim 5 , wherein the door comprises a pair of door panels mounted adjacent the door opening for unison movement on a rack-and-pinion assembly whereby movement of either door causes cooperative movement of the other door.
8. A passenger accommodation unit according to claim 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , or 7 , wherein the passenger accommodation unit comprises a aircraft passenger accommodation unit, and the seat comprises an aircraft passenger seat.
9. A passenger accommodation unit according to claim 7 , wherein the accommodation unit is adapted for being positioned in a cabin of an aircraft.
10. A long haul passenger seating set comprised of a plurality of passenger accommodation units according to claim 9 , the accommodation units being positioned in spaced-apart relation in the cabin, with at least some of the accommodation units positioned adjacent a fuselage of the aircraft and at least some of the accommodation units being positioned in an interior space in spaced-part relation to the fuselage.
11. A seating set according to claim 10 , wherein at least some of the accommodation units positioned adjacent the fuselage are positioned in an inwardly staggered, overlapping relation to each other.
12. A passenger accommodation unit according to claim 1 , wherein the credenza includes a meal tray positioned therein for movement between a stowed storage position and a deployed use position across the seat.
13. A passenger accommodation unit according to claim 12 , wherein the seat includes an armrest incorporated into the credenza.
14. A passenger accommodation unit, comprising:
(a) a passenger seat; and
(b) a passenger bed positioned relative to the seat and adapted for movement between:
(i) a stowed position wherein the bed is upright and adjacent to the seat;
(ii) a deployed position wherein the bed is horizontal for us and overlaps the seat and is supported in part by the seat;
(c) a credenza laterally adjacent the seat and between the seat and the bed, and including a height adjustment mechanism for moving the credenza between a passenger use position and a relatively lower bed support position wherein the bed is supported in part by the credenza; and
(d) an actuator for deploying the bed onto the credenza when the credenza is moved to the bed support position.
15. A passenger accommodation unit according to claim 14 , and including a foot extension panel in a deployed position forward of the seat for aligning with the height of the bed in the deployed position.
16. A passenger accommodation unit according to claim 15 , and including enclosure walls positioned around at least part of the periphery of an area occupied by the seat and the bed, and including a door opening and a door movable between an open ingress/egress position and a dosed, privacy position.
17. A method of providing seating and sleeping accommodations to a passenger, comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a passenger seat;
(b) providing a passenger bed positioned relative to the seat;
(c) providing a credenza laterally adjacent the seat and between the seat and the bed;
(d) moving the bed to a stowed position wherein the bed is upright and adjacent to the seat for access of the passenger to the seat; and
(e) moving the bed to a deployed position wherein the bed is horizontal for use; overlaps the seat, and is supported in part by the seat for access of the passenger to the bed for sleeping.
18. A method according to claim 17 , and includes the step of providing a credenza with a height adjustment mechanism for moving the credenza between a passenger use position and a relatively lower bed support position, and further wherein the bed is supported in part by the credenza in the bed support position.
19. A method according to claim 18 , and including the step of deploying the bed onto the credenza when the credenza is moved to the bed support position.
20. A method according to claim 19 , and including the step of positioning a foot extension panel in a deployed position forward of the seat for aligning with the height of the bed in the deployed position.
21. A method according to claim 20 , and including the step of providing
(a) enclosure walls positioned around at least part of the periphery of an area occupied by the seat and the bed, and
(b) a door opening and a door movable between an open ingress/egress position and a closed, privacy position.
22. A method according to claim 21 , and including the step of providing a door comprising a pair of door panels mounted adjacent the door opening and mounted for unison movement.
23. A method according to claim 22 , and including the step of providing a pair of door panels mounted adjacent the door opening for unison movement on a rack-and-pinion assembly whereby movement of either door causes cooperative movement of the other door.
24. A method according to claim 17 , wherein the passenger accommodation unit comprises a aircraft passenger accommodation unit, and the seat comprises an aircraft passenger seat.
25. A method according to claim 17 , and including the step of positioning a plurality of the accommodation units is in a cabin of an aircraft.
26. A method according to claim 25 , and including the steps of:
(a) positioning the accommodation units in spaced-apart relation in the cabin;
(b) positioning least some of the accommodation units adjacent a fuselage of the aircraft; and
(c) positioning at least some of the accommodation units being positioned in an interior space in spaced-part relation to the fuselage.
27. A method according to claim 26 , and including the steps of:
(a) positioning at least some of the accommodation units adjacent the fuselage in an inwardly staggered, overlapping relation to each other.
28. A method according to claim 17 , and including the step of incorporating a seat armrest into the credenza.