IP Library Granted Patent US 9,051,053
Granted Patent B2
US 9,051,053 · App. 13/738,755 · Granted Jun 9, 2015

Seat base for aircraft

Inventors: Barry Ward (Bel Aire, KS); Daniel James Hoverson (Valley Center, KS); Prasannakumar Bhonge (Wichita, KS); Thang Chien Phi (Bel Aire, KS)
Assignee: Textron Innovations, Inc.
B64D11/06B64D11/0689B64D25/04B64D11/0696B64D11/0619
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,051,053
App. No.
13/738,755
Granted
Jun 9, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A seat base for use in aircraft has a first cross member, a second cross member, a first leg, a second leg, and a base plate having a first bendable tab and a second bendable tab facing away from the first tab. The first cross member, the second cross member, and the base plate are each configured to be secured to the first and second legs in an extended position and a retracted position. The first and second legs are configured to be secured to seat feet and floor tracking rails. The first and second cross members are secured to the base plate so as to allow for selective rotation of the first and second cross members in response to relative vertical movement of the first leg with respect to the second leg.

Claims (56)

1. A seat base for use in aircraft comprising:

a first cross member and a second cross member;

a first leg and a second leg; and

a base plate having a first bendable tab and a second bendable tab facing away from the first tab;

wherein the first cross member, the second cross member, and the base plate are each configured to be secured to the first and second legs in an extended position and a retracted position;

wherein the first and second legs are configured to be secured to seat feet and floor tracking rails;

wherein the first and second cross members are secured to the base plate so as to allow for selective rotation of the first and second cross members in response to relative vertical movement of the first leg with respect to the second leg.

2. The seat base of claim 1 , wherein:

the first leg is generally identical to the second leg; and

the first cross member is generally identical to the second cross member.

3. The seat base of claim 2 wherein:

the first and the second legs each have a central slot;

the first bendable tab is secured within the central slot of the first leg; and

the second bendable tab is secured within the central slot of the second leg.

4. The seat base of claim 3 , wherein:

the first leg and the second leg each have a proximal slot and a distal slot;

the first cross member is secured within the proximal slot of the first leg and the proximal slot of the second leg; and

the second cross member is secured within the distal slot of the first leg and the distal slot of the second leg.

5. The seat base of claim 4 , wherein the first and second tabs are configured to bend in response to relative vertical movement of the first leg with respect to the second leg.

6. The seat base of claim 1 wherein:

the first leg and the second leg each include a receiving member;

each receiving member has two semi-circular portions.

7. The seat base of claim 6 wherein the seat feet comprise semi-circular grooves configured to mate with the semi-circular portions.

8. The seat base of claim 1 further comprising a swivel ring secured to the base plate.

9. The seat base of claim 8 wherein the swivel ring comprises a plurality of openings, each opening in the plurality being spaced about four degrees apart from an adjacent opening.

10. The seat base of claim 8 wherein:

the first and second legs each have a straight portion and a sloped portion; and

leg space afforded by the seat base in retracted and extended positions is about nine inches and about twelve inches respectively.

11. A seat base comprising:

a first leg having a side surface and a top surface, a first proximal slot, a first central slot and a first distal slot extending through the first leg side surface, a first proximal opening upwardly adjacent the first proximal slot, a first central opening upwardly adjacent the first central slot, and a first distal opening upwardly adjacent the first distal slot extending through the first leg top surface;

a second leg having a side surface and a top surface, a second proximal slot, a second central slot, and a second distal slot extending through the second leg side surface, a second proximal opening upwardly adjacent the second proximal slot, a second central opening upwardly adjacent the second central slot, and a second distal opening upwardly adjacent the second distal slot extending through the second leg top surface;

a first cross member having a top surface and a side surface with a first central aperture extending therethrough, the first cross member including at opposing ends a first side member and a second side member, the first side member having a first aperture and a second aperture extending through the top surface, the second side member having a third aperture and a fourth aperture extending through the top surface;

a second cross member having a top surface and a side surface with a second central aperture extending therethrough, the second cross member including at opposing ends a third side member and a fourth side member, the third side member having a fifth aperture and a sixth aperture extending through the top surface, the fourth side member having a seventh aperture and an eighth aperture extending through the top surface; and

a base plate having a first attachment member, a second attachment member, a first bendable tab, and a second bendable tab, the first attachment member and the first tab respectively facing away from the second attachment member and the second tab;

wherein the first cross member, the second cross member, and the base plate are each configured to be secured to the first and second legs in an extended position and a retracted position;

wherein the first and second legs are configured to be secured to seat feet and floor tracking rails;

wherein the first and second cross members are secured to the base plate so as to allow for selective rotation of the first and second cross members in response to relative vertical movement of the first leg with respect to the second leg.

12. The seat base of claim 11 , further comprising a swivel ring secured to the base plate; and

wherein the swivel ring comprises a plurality of openings, each opening in the plurality being spaced about four degrees apart from an adjacent opening.

13. The seat base of claim 12 , wherein the first and second tabs are designed to bend in response to relative vertical movement of the first leg with respect to the second leg.

14. The seat base of claim 13 wherein:

the first leg and the second leg each include a receiving member;

each receiving member has two semi-circular portions.

15. The seat base of claim 14 wherein the seat feet comprise semi-circular grooves configured to mate with the semi-circular portions.

16. A seat base for use in aircraft comprising:

a first cross member and a second cross member;

a first leg and a second leg; and

a base plate having a first bendable tab and a second bendable tab facing away from the first tab;

wherein the first and second cross members are secured to the base plate so as to allow for selective rotation of the first and second cross members in response to relative vertical movement of the first leg with respect to the second leg;

wherein the first cross member, the second cross member, and the base plate are each configured to be secured to the first and second legs in an extended position and a retracted position.

17. A seat base comprising:

a first cross member and a second cross member;

a first leg and a second leg; and

a base plate having a first bendable tab and a second bendable tab facing away from the first tab;

wherein the first leg includes a first central slot for reception of the first bendable tab and the second leg includes a second central slot for reception of the second bendable tab;

wherein the first and second cross members are secured to the base plate so as to allow for selective rotation of the first and second cross members in response to relative vertical movement of the first leg with respect to the second leg.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 2, 2015
From: CESSNA AIRCRAFT COMPANY
To: CESSNA AIRCRAFT RHODE ISLAND
Reel/Frame 035551/0376 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 2, 2015
From: CESSNA AIRCRAFT RHODE ISLAND
To: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 035551/0384 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 19, 2014
From: CESSNA AIRCRAFT COMPANY
To: CESSNA AIRCRAFT RHODE ISLAND
Reel/Frame 033976/0736 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 19, 2014
From: CESSNA AIRCRAFT RHODE ISLAND
To: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 033976/0743 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2013
From: WARD, BARRY; HOVERSON, DANIEL JAMES; BHONGE, PRASANNAKUMAR; PHI, THANG CHIEN
To: CESSNA AIRCRAFT COMPANY
Reel/Frame 029607/0490 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140191081A1 · Jul 10, 2014