Aircraft seat

Abstract

A reclining seat for use in a vehicle is provided with a back shell at least partially surrounding the back so that between a first upright position and a second reclined position the back shell is capable of independent positioning relative to said back cushion, whereby privacy may be enhanced by the position of the back shell. Preferably, the armrest is selectively moveable from above the seating surface to a position approximately level with the seating surface, and most preferably there is also at least one shoulder privacy panel selectively extendible within an area between the seating surface and the back shell. In certain preferred embodiments the back shell has a range of pivot of about 15 degrees between a first position and a second position. In another aspect of the present invention, a video monitor is integrated into the back shell, preferably independently tiltable from a fist position to a second position, most preferably within a range of tilt of approximately 25-degrees. Seats made in accordance with the present invention also preferably include such features as at least one storage compartment, a footwell and at least one handhold integrated into the back shell. The present invention also provides improvements to seat controls and in this regard provides a control panel disposed on the armrest comprising at least one seat control switch and preferably further comprising a recessed control panel. The recessed control panel most preferably comprises a membrane switch panel and is not parallel to a surface defined by the armrest to provide a tilted viewing surface. In certain preferred embodiments, the control panel is back lit.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A reclining seat for use in a vehicle comprising: 
 a back having a back cushion attached thereto;    a base having a seat cushion attached thereto connected at least indirectly to the back;    a back shell at least partially surrounding said back that is pivotally connected to the base, wherein said back cushion and said seat cushion move between a first upright position and a second reclined position and said back shell is capable of independent positioning relative to said back cushion, whereby privacy may be enhanced by the position of the back shell.    
     
     
         2 . A seat according to  claim 1  further comprising at least one armrest selectively moveable from a first position above a seating surface defined by the seat cushion to a second position approximately level with the seating surface.  
     
     
         3 . A seat according to  claim 1  future comprising at least one shoulder privacy panel selectively extendible within an area between the seating surface and the back shell.  
     
     
         4 . A seat according to  claim 1 , wherein the back shell has a range of pivot of about 15 degrees between a first position and a second position.  
     
     
         5 . A seat according to  claim 1 , further comprising a footrest extending from the base.  
     
     
         6 . A seat according to  claim 1 , further comprising a video monitor integrated into the back shell.  
     
     
         7 . A seat according to  claim 6 , wherein the video monitor is independently tiltable from a fist position to a second position.  
     
     
         8 . A seat according to  claim 7  wherein the video monitor has a range of tilt of approximately 25-degrees.  
     
     
         9 . A seat according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one storage compartment integrated into the back shell.  
     
     
         10 . A seat according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one handhold integrated into the back shell.  
     
     
         11 . A seat according to  claim 1 , further comprising a footwell integrated into the back shell.  
     
     
         12 . A seat according to  claim 1  further comprising a control panel disposed on the armrest, said control panel comprising at least one seat control switch.  
     
     
         13 . A seat according to  claim 12  further comprising a recessed control panel.  
     
     
         14 . A seat according to  claim 13  wherein said recessed control panel comprises a membrane switch panel.  
     
     
         15 . A seat according to  claim 13  wherein said recessed control panel is not parallel to a surface defined by the armrest to provide a tilted viewing surface.  
     
     
         16 . A seat according to  claim 12  wherein the control panel is backlit.  
     
     
         17 . A control panel for a seat, disposed on an armrest of the seat, said control panel comprising at least one seat control switch and a recessed control panel.  
     
     
         18 . The control panel of  claim 17  wherein said recessed control panel comprises a membrane switch panel.  
     
     
         19 . The control panel of  claim 18  wherein recessed control panel is not parallel to a surface defined by the armrest to provide a tilted viewing surface.  
     
     
         20 . The control panel of  claim 17  wherein the control panel is backlit.