REMOVABLE BACK SHELL FOR AN AIRCRAFT SEAT

1 . An aircraft seat comprising:

a seat bottom frame having a back;

a seat back frame pivotally connected to the back of the seat bottom frame; and

a seat back shell comprising:

a front panel;

a back panel opposing the front panel;

at least two side panels disposed between the front and back panels, connecting the front panel to the back panel;

wherein the front, back, and side panels form a gap to receive the entire seat back frame.

2 . The aircraft seat of claim 1 , wherein the seat back shell consists of the front panel, the back panel, and two side panels.

3 . The aircraft seat of claim 1 , wherein a single gap is formed to receive the entire seat back.

4 . The aircraft seat of claim 1 , wherein the seat back shell only encloses the seat back frame.

5 . The aircraft seat of claim 1 , wherein the seat back frame comprises a flange to engage a top of the seat back shell to retain the seat back shell on the seat back frame.

6 . The aircraft seat of claim 1 , wherein a size of the front panel is different from the back panel.

7 . The aircraft seat of claim 1 , wherein a size of the front panel is the same as the back panel.

8 . The aircraft seat of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the side panels are formed in at least one of a triangular and a trapezoidal shape.

9 . The aircraft seat of claim 1 , wherein the seat back shell is upholstered separate from the aircraft seat.

10 . The aircraft seat of claim 9 , wherein the upholstered seat back shell is removably and replacably engaged to the seat back frame while the seat back frame remains connected to the seat bottom frame.

11 . A seat back shell for an aircraft seat comprising:

a front panel;

a back panel opposing the front panel;

at least two side panels disposed between the front and back panels, connecting the front panel to the back panel;

wherein the front, back, and side panels form a gap to receive an entire seat back frame of the aircraft seat.