Aircraft passenger accommodation unit with deployable bed

1. A method of providing an aircraft passenger accommodation unit, comprising the steps of:

providing a passenger seat including at least one armrest;

providing a passenger bed positioned proximate the seat;

moving the armrest between a passenger use position and a relatively lower bed support position wherein the bed is supported at least in part by the armrest;

moving the bed to a stowed position to rest on a deck wherein the bed is upright and adjacent to the seat when the passenger is to be seated in an upright or reclined position;

moving the bed to a deployed position wherein a supporting surface of the bed is horizontal for use and supported at least in part by the armrest; and

deploying the bed onto the armrest when the armrest is moved to the bed support position;

wherein movement of the passenger bed between the stowed and deployed positions includes pivoting the passenger bed about a longitudinal axis, and movement of the passenger bed from the stowed position to the deployed position includes the step of elevating the passenger bed.

2. A method of providing an aircraft passenger accommodation unit in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising providing a credenza positioned between a seat bottom and the bed when the bed is in the stowed position.

3. A method of providing an aircraft passenger accommodation unit in accordance with claim 2 , wherein the at least one armrest is integrated into the credenza.

4. A method of providing an aircraft passenger accommodation unit in accordance with claim 2 , further comprising providing 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 at least in part by the credenza in the bed support position.

5. A method of providing an aircraft passenger accommodation unit in accordance with claim 4 , further comprising providing an actuator for deploying the bed onto the credenza when the credenza is moved to the bed support position.

6. A method of providing an aircraft passenger accommodation unit in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the bed in the deployed position extends along a sidewall of the aircraft.

7. A method of providing an aircraft passenger accommodation unit in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising providing enclosure walls positioned wound 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.

8. A method of providing an aircraft passenger accommodation unit in accordance with claim 7 , 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.