Side facing multi-passenger divan assembly

Abstract

A side facing, multi-passenger aircraft divan assembly having a seat pan support assembly, with a front end, a rear end, a first side and a second side, and defining at least two passenger seating zones, a seat back assembly operatively coupled to the seat pan support assembly, and a base assembly extending downwardly from the seat pan support assembly into secure engagement with an underlying support surface of the aircraft. The adjacent passenger seating zones are spaced 27 inches from mid point to mid point of one another so as to prevent hazardous contact between passengers disposed in adjacent passenger seating zones during a longitudinally directed impact on the divan assembly. Furthermore, the base assembly also includes at least a forward support member and a rear support member extending downwardly from the seat pan support assembly, and a cross support assembly extending generally from the forward support member to the rear support member and structured to selectively resist compression of the forward and rear support members towards one another and to permit expansion of the forward and rear support members away from one another.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . For an aircraft, a side facing, multi-passenger divan assembly comprising: 
 a seat pan support assembly, said seat pan support assembly including a front end, a rear end, a first side and a second side;    a seat back assembly operatively coupled to said seat pan support assembly;    a base assembly extending downwardly from said seat pan support assembly into secure engagement with an underlying support surface of the aircraft;    said base assembly including at least a first forward support member and a first rear support member extending downwardly from said seat pan support assembly, in generally spaced apart relation from one another, at generally said first side thereof;    at least a first cross support assembly extending generally from said first forward support member to said first rear support member;    said first cross support assembly structured to resist compression of said first forward support member and said first rear support member generally towards one another; and    said first cross support assembly further structured to permit expansion of said first forward support member and said first rear support member generally away from one another.    
     
     
         2 . A side facing, multi-passenger divan assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein said first cross support assembly extends generally angularly between said first forward support member and said first rear support member.  
     
     
         3 . A side facing, multi-passenger divan assembly as recited in  claim 2  wherein said first cross support assembly extends from said seat pan support assembly at generally an upper end of said first rear support member towards generally a lower end of said first forward support member.  
     
     
         4 . A side facing, multi-passenger divan assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein said first cross support assembly comprises a first segment and a second segment movably disposed relative to one another and structured to abut one another so as to resist compression of said first forward support member and said first rear support member towards one another.  
     
     
         5 . A side facing, multi-passenger divan assembly as recited in  claim 4  wherein said first segment comprises a fastener end at which said first segment is secured generally at said first rear support member, and said second segment comprises a fastener end at which said second segment is secured generally at said first forward support member, said first and said second segments being operatively disposed relative to one another such that a relative spacing between said fastener end of said first segment and said fastener end of said second segment increases upon expansion of said first forward support member and said first rear support member away from one another.  
     
     
         6 . A side facing, multi-passenger divan assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein said first cross support assembly comprises at least a first segment and a second segment.  
     
     
         7 . A side facing, multi-passenger divan assembly as recited in  claim 6  wherein said second segment includes an elongate slot defined therein and said first segment includes a pin element structured to extend through said elongate slot so as to slidably couple said second segment to said first segment and permit relative movement therebetween.  
     
     
         8 . A side facing, multi-passenger divan assembly as recited in  claim 7  wherein said elongate slot and said pin element are structured and disposed relative to one another so as to permit said first and said second segments to abut one another upon compression of said first forward-support member and said first rear support member towards one another, thereby resisting said compression.  
     
     
         9 . A side facing, multi-passenger divan assembly as recited in  claim 8  wherein said elongate slot and said pin element are structured and disposed relative to one another such that said pin element slides within said elongate slot upon expansion of said first forward support member and said first rear support member away from one another, thereby permitting said expansion.  
     
     
         10 . A side facing, multi-passenger divan assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein said first cross support is further structured to permit a small amount of compression between said first front support member and said first rear support member so as to reduce a compressive force that must be resisted thereby.  
     
     
         11 . A side facing, multi-passenger divan assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein said base assembly further comprises at least a second forward support member and a second rear support member extending downwardly from said seat pan support assembly, in generally spaced apart relation from one another, at generally said second side thereof.  
     
     
         12 . A side facing, multi-passenger divan assembly as recited in  claim 11  further comprising: 
 a second cross support assembly extending generally from said second forward support member to said second rear support member;  
 said second cross support assembly structured to resist compression of said second forward support member and said second rear support member towards one another; and  
 said second cross support assembly further structured to permit expansion of said second forward support member and said second rear support member away from one another.  
 
     
     
         13 . A side facing, multi-passenger divan assembly as recited in  claim 11  wherein said base assembly further comprises at least one intermediary rear support member extending downwardly from said seat pan support assembly, at generally said rear end thereof, so as to maintain a generally open area beneath said seat pan support assembly generally between said first and said second forward and rear support members, said generally open area structured to receive at least one safety article therein.  
     
     
         14 . A side facing, multi-passenger divan assembly as recited in  claim 13  wherein said safety article comprises a life raft.  
     
     
         15 . A side facing, multi-passenger divan assembly as recited in  claim 13  further comprising at least two rear cross elements extending generally from said first and said second rear support members to said intermediary rear support member.  
     
     
         16 . A side facing, multi-passenger divan assembly as recited in  claim 1  further comprising at least one arm rest disposed at least one end of said seat pan support assembly.  
     
     
         17 . A side facing, multi-passenger divan assembly as recited in  claim 16  wherein said seat pan support assembly includes a two passenger configuration structured to be at least generally about 53 inches wide.  
     
     
         18 . A side facing, multi-passenger divan assembly as recited in  claim 17  wherein said seat back assembly extends at least generally about 23 inches above said seat pan support assembly.  
     
     
         19 . A side facing, multi-passenger divan assembly as recited in  claim 18  further comprising at least two restraint assemblies extending from said seat back assembly towards said seat pan support assembly, each of said restraint assemblies extending from said seat back assembly at a point generally near mid point of a corresponding passenger seating zone defined on said seat pan support assembly.  
     
     
         20 . A side facing, multi-passenger divan assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein said seat pan support assembly defines at least two passenger seating zones.  
     
     
         21 . A side facing, multi-passenger divan assembly as recited in  claim 20  wherein mid points of adjacent ones of said passenger seating zones are spaced generally at least about 27 inches from one another so as to prevent hazardous contact between passengers disposed in adjacent ones of said passenger seating zones during a longitudinally directed impact on the divan assembly.  
     
     
         22 . For installation in an aircraft, a side facing, two passenger divan assembly comprising: 
 a seat pan support assembly, said seat pan support assembly including a front end, a rear end, a first side and a second side;    a seat back assembly operatively coupled to said seat pan support assembly;    a base assembly extending downwardly from said seat pan support assembly into secure engagement with an underlying support surface of the aircraft; and    said seat pan support assembly being generally at least about 53 inches wide so as to accommodate two adjacent passengers and minimize contact between said two adjacent passengers during a longitudinally directed impact on the divan assembly.    
     
     
         23 . A side facing, two passenger divan assembly as recited in  claim 22  wherein said seat back assembly extends at least generally about 23 inches above said seat pan support assembly.  
     
     
         24 . A side facing, two passenger divan assembly as recited in  claim 23  wherein said seat pan support assembly defines two passenger seating zones.  
     
     
         25 . A side facing, two passenger divan assembly as recited in  claim 24  further comprising at least two restraint assemblies extending from generally an upper portion of said seat back assembly towards said seat pan support assembly at generally a mid point of a corresponding one of said passenger seating zones.  
     
     
         26 . A side facing, two passenger divan assembly as recited in  claim 23  further comprising at least one arm rest disposed at least one end of said seat pan support assembly.  
     
     
         27 . A side facing, two passenger divan assembly as recited in  claim 22  wherein said base assembly further comprises: 
 at least a first forward support member and a first rear support member extending downwardly from said seat pan support assembly, in generally spaced apart relation from one another, at generally said first side thereof;  
 at least a first cross support assembly extending generally from said first forward support member to said first rear support member;  
 said first cross support assembly structured to resist compression of said first forward support member and said first rear support member towards one another; and  
 said first cross support assembly further structured to permit expansion of said first forward support member and said first rear support member away from one another.  
 
     
     
         28 . A side facing, two passenger divan assembly as recited in  claim 27  wherein said base assembly further comprises: 
 a second cross support assembly extending generally from said second forward support member to said second rear support member;  
 said second cross support assembly structured to resist compression of said second forward support member and said second rear support member towards one another; and  
 said second cross support assembly further structured to permit expansion of said second forward support member and said second rear support member away from one another.  
 
     
     
         29 . A side facing, two passenger divan assembly as recited in  claim 28  wherein each of said first and said second cross support assemblies comprise at least a first segment and a second segment.  
     
     
         30 . A side facing, two passenger divan assembly as recited in  claim 29  wherein said second segment includes an elongate slot defined therein and said first segment includes a pin element structured to extend through said elongate slot so as to slidably couple said second segment to said first segment and permit relative movement therebetween.  
     
     
         31 . A side facing, two passenger divan assembly as recited in  claim 30  wherein said elongate slot and said pin element are structured and disposed relative to one another so as to permit said first and said second segments to abut one another upon compression of said first forward support member and said first rear support member towards one another, and said second forward support member and said second rear support member towards one another, thereby resisting said compression.  
     
     
         32 . A side facing, two passenger divan assembly as recited in  claim 31  wherein said elongate slot and said pin element are structured and disposed relative to one another such that said pin element slides within said elongate slot upon expansion of said first forward support member and said first rear support member away from one another, and said second forward support member and said second rear support member away from one another, thereby permitting said expansion.  
     
     
         33 . For installation in an aircraft, a side facing, multi-passenger divan assembly comprising: 
 a seat pan support assembly, said seat pan support assembly including a front end, a rear end, a first side and a second side, and defining at least two passenger seating zones;    a seat back assembly operatively coupled to said seat pan support assembly;    a base assembly extending downwardly from said seat pan support assembly into secure engagement with an underlying support surface of the aircraft; and    adjacent ones of said passenger seating zones being spaced generally at least about 27 inches from mid point to mid point so as to prevent hazardous contact between passengers disposed in adjacent ones of said passenger seating zones during a longitudinally directed impact on the divan assembly.    
     
     
         34 . A side facing, multi-passenger divan assembly as recited in  claim 33  wherein said seat back assembly extends at least generally about 23 inches above said seat pan support assembly.  
     
     
         35 . A side facing, multi-passenger divan assembly as recited in  claim 34  wherein said base assembly further comprises: 
 at least a first forward support member and a first rear support member extending downwardly from said seat pan support assembly, in generally spaced apart relation from one another, at generally said first side thereof;  
 at least a first cross support assembly extending generally from said first forward support member to said first rear support member;  
 said first cross support assembly structured to resist compression of said first forward support member and said first rear support member towards one another; and  
 said first cross support assembly further structured to permit expansion of said first forward support member and said first rear support member away from one another.