Passenger seat folding privacy shield
A passenger seat folding privacy shield can include a partition pivotable about a pivot edge or otherwise adjustable between a deployed position and a stowed position. In the deployed position, the privacy shield can extend forward from a lateral edge of the seat back so as to form at least a partial barrier between a living space of the passenger seat and an adjacent seat. In the stowed position, the partition may be arranged overlying a cushioning portion of the seat back or situated laterally outward from a perimeter of the seat back.
1 . A method of enhancing privacy for a passenger of a passenger seat, the method comprising:
deploying at least one of an upper shield and a lower shield relative to an axis along a lateral edge of the passenger seat from a stowed position in which the at least one of the upper shield and the lower shield is arranged overlying a cushioning portion of a seat back of the seat or situated laterally outward from a perimeter of the seat back, wherein the lateral edge comprises a pivot edge, wherein a hinge connects the at least one of the upper shield and the lower shield with the pivot edge, wherein the hinge comprises a fabric juncture connecting the at least one of the upper shield and the lower shield with the pivot edge, wherein a knitted structure forms at least a portion of the fabric juncture, and wherein each of the upper shield and the lower shield comprises a plurality of slidably connected plates; and
positioning the at least one of the upper shield and the lower shield to extend forward from the lateral edge of the seat back so as to form at least a partial barrier between a living space of the passenger seat and an adjacent seat.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the lateral edge comprises a first lateral edge, and the method further comprises deploying at least one of a second upper shield and a second lower shield from a second lateral edge of the seat back, the second lateral edge opposing the first lateral edge.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein deploying the at least one of the upper shield and the lower shield comprises deploying both the upper shield and the lower shield.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the lateral edge comprises a first lateral edge, deploying the at least one of the upper shield and the lower shield comprises deploying both the upper shield and the lower shield, and the method further comprises deploying both a second upper shield and a second lower shield from a second lateral edge of the seat back, the second lateral edge opposing the first lateral edge.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein deploying the at least one of the upper shield and the lower shield comprises swinging the at least one of the upper shield and the lower shield laterally about the axis along the lateral edge of the passenger seat.
6 . A passenger seat comprising:
a seat pan;
a seat back comprising a lateral edge, the lateral edge comprising a pivot edge;
a privacy shield comprising an upper privacy shield and a lower privacy shield, the upper privacy shield and the lower privacy shield each comprising a plurality of slidably connected plates; and
a hinge connecting the privacy shield with the pivot edge, wherein the hinge comprises a fabric juncture connecting the privacy shield with the pivot edge, and wherein a knitted structure forms at least a portion of the fabric juncture;
wherein the each of the upper privacy shield and the lower privacy shield are adjustable between:
a stowed position in which a respective privacy shield is arranged overlying a cushioning portion of the seat back or situated laterally outward from a perimeter of the seat back; and
a deployed position extending forward from a lateral edge of the seat back so as to form at least a partial barrier between a living space of the passenger seat and an adjacent seat, the respective privacy shield movable between the stowed position and the deployed position at least partially by pivoting about the pivot edge.
7 . The passenger seat of claim 6 , wherein the cushioning portion of the seat back remains fixed within the perimeter of the seat back in the stowed position of each of the upper privacy shield and the lower privacy shield, in the deployed position of each of the upper privacy shield and the lower privacy shield, and in transition between the stowed position and the deployed position of each of the upper privacy shield and the lower privacy shield.
8 . The passenger seat of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the upper privacy shield and the lower privacy shield is releasably mounted to the seat back.
9 . The passenger seat of claim 6 , wherein each of the upper privacy shield and the lower privacy shield is stowable against the seat back.
10 . The passenger seat of claim 6 , wherein the cushioning portion of the seat back is sandwiched between a rear portion of the seat back and a cushioning material in at least one of the upper privacy shield and the lower privacy shield in the stowed position.
11 . The passenger seat of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the upper privacy shield and the lower privacy shield comprises one or more layers sized to cover a portion of a front surface of the seat back in the stowed position, wherein the one or more layers have a combined thinness through which the cushioning portion of the seat back are configured to support a passenger when seated in the seat.
12 . The passenger seat of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the upper privacy shield and the lower privacy shield is stowable in an arrangement extending laterally to overlay a portion of the adjacent seat.
13 . The passenger seat of claim 6 , wherein the privacy shield comprises a first privacy shield, and wherein the passenger seat further comprises a second privacy shield coupled along an opposite lateral edge of the seat back and pivotable to position a free end of the second privacy shield to overlap the first privacy shield in the stowed position.
14 . A passenger seat privacy shield comprising:
an upper partition and a lower partition, each sized to extend in a deployed position forward from a lateral edge of a seat back of a passenger seat so as to form at least a partial barrier between a living space of the passenger seat and an adjacent seat, each of the upper partition and the lower partition comprising a plurality of slidably connected plates;
a pivot edge along which the upper partition and the lower partition are pivotable between the deployed position and a stowed position in which a respective partition is arranged overlying a cushioning portion of the seat back of the seat or situated laterally outward from a perimeter of the seat back; and
a hinge connecting the upper partition and the lower partition with the pivot edge, wherein the hinge comprises a fabric juncture connecting the upper partition and the lower partition with the pivot edge, and wherein a knitted structure forms at least a portion of the fabric juncture.
15 . The passenger seat privacy shield of claim 14 , wherein the passenger seat privacy shield is at least one of:
deployable relative to a torso portion of the seat back; or
deployable relative to a headrest portion of the seat back.
16 . The passenger seat privacy shield of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the upper partition and the lower partition comprises cushioning material.
17 . The passenger seat privacy shield of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the upper partition and the lower partition is collapsable to fit within a space between the lateral edge of the seat back of the passenger seat and the adjacent seat.