Aircraft seat

Abstract

An aircraft seat includes a hollow seat structure that is made from a single layer of a reinforced composite material. In a unitary construction, the seat structure has a seat portion and a backrest, and it is formed with a convex surface that is located under the seat portion. A base frame formed with a concave surface is attached to the aircraft fuselage, and it is oriented for juxtaposition with the convex surface of the seat structure to provide for a relative sliding motion of the seat structure on the base frame. A connector is also provided for selectively holding the convex surface of the seat structure in a fixed orientation relative to the concave surface of the base frame.

1 . An aircraft seat for attachment to an aircraft fuselage which comprises:
 a layer of composite material formed as a seat structure having a seat portion and a backrest, said layer of composite material also being formed with a convex surface, wherein the seat portion defines a plane and the backrest defines a plane and wherein the convex surface of the seat structure has a radius of curvature “R” measured from a line, and further wherein the seat portion is between the line and the convex surface, with the line being substantially parallel to the plane of the seat portion and to the plane of the backrest;   a base frame attached to the aircraft fuselage, wherein said base frame is formed with a concave surface for juxtaposition with the convex surface of the seat structure to provide for a relative sliding motion therebetween; and   a connector for selectively holding the convex surface of the seat structure in a fixed orientation relative to the concave surface of the base frame.   
   
   
       2 . An aircraft seat as recited in  claim 1  wherein the convex surface of the seat structure and the concave surface of the base frame have a same radius of curvature “R”. 
   
   
       3 . An aircraft seat as recited in  claim 1  wherein the seat structure is substantially hollow. 
   
   
       4 . An aircraft seat as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a headrest positioned on the backrest for adjustment to support a person sitting in said seat. 
   
   
       5 . An aircraft seat as recited in  claim 1  wherein the concave surface of said base frame comprises a plurality of mutually parallel rails, and the seat portion of said seat structure comprises a respective plurality of convex surfaces. 
   
   
       6 . An aircraft seat as recited in  claim 1  wherein the composite material is carbon fiber/epoxy and said seat further comprises a seat belt for holding a person on said aircraft seat. 
   
   
       7 . An aircraft seat as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a reinforcing member selectively affixed to said layer to provide rigidity for said seat. 
   
   
       8 . An aircraft seat for attachment to an aircraft fuselage which comprises:
 a hollow seat structure having a seat portion integral with a convex surface and a backrest integral with the seat portion, wherein the seat portion defines a plane and has a substantially straight forward edge with the convex surface extending from the forward edge of the seat portion to a line behind the backrest, with the seat portion substantially between the convex surface and the backrest, and with the convex surface distanced from the seat portion to establish a hollow space therebetween;   a base frame attached to the aircraft fuselage, wherein said base frame is formed with a concave surface for juxtaposition with the convex surface of the seat structure to provide for a relative sliding motion therebetween; and   a connector for selectively holding the convex surface of the seat structure in a fixed orientation relative to the concave surface of the base frame.   
   
   
       9 . An aircraft seat as recited in  claim 8  wherein said seat structure is made with a layer of composite material of carbon fiber/epoxy. 
   
   
       10 . An aircraft seat as recited in  claim 8  wherein the backrest defines a plane and wherein the convex surface of the seat structure has a radius of curvature measured from a line located opposite the seat portion from the convex surface, with the line being substantially parallel to the plane of the seat portion and to the plane of the backrest. 
   
   
       11 . An aircraft seat as recited in  claim 10  wherein the convex surface of the seat structure and the concave surface of the base frame have a same radius of curvature “R”. 
   
   
       12 . An aircraft seat as recited in  claim 8  further comprising a reinforcing member selectively affixed to said seat structure to provide rigidity for said seat. 
   
   
       13 . An aircraft seat as recited in  claim 8  wherein the concave surface of said base frame comprises a plurality of mutually parallel rails, and the seat portion of said seat structure comprises a respective plurality of convex surfaces. 
   
   
       14 . An aircraft seat as recited in  claim 8  further comprising:
 a seat belt for holding a person on said aircraft seat; and   a headrest positioned on the backrest for adjustment to support a person sitting in said seat.   
   
   
       15 . An aircraft seat for attachment to an aircraft fuselage which comprises:
 a base frame affixed to the aircraft, wherein the base frame is formed with at least one concave surface and wherein the concave surface is characterized by having a radius of curvature “R”;   a seat structure formed with a convex surface having a same radius of curvature “R”, with the convex surface of the seat structure juxtaposed with the concave surface of the base frame to provide for a relative sliding motion therebetween; and   a connector for selectively holding the seat structure in a fixed orientation relative to the base frame.   
   
   
       16 . An aircraft seat as recited in  claim 15  wherein the concave surface of the base frame is a depression, and the convex surface of the seat structure is a rail. 
   
   
       17 . An aircraft seat as recited in  claim 15  wherein the radius of curvature “R” is approximately three feet. 
   
   
       18 . An aircraft seat as recited in  claim 15  comprising a plurality of mutually parallel concave surfaces on the base frame, and a respective plurality of mutually parallel convex surfaces on the seat structure. 
   
   
       19 . An aircraft seat as recited in  claim 15  wherein the seat structure is of unitary construction and is formed with a seat portion and a backrest configured in combination to support a person, and wherein the seat structure further comprises a reinforcing member selectively affixed thereto to provide rigidity for the seat. 
   
   
       20 . An aircraft seat as recited in  claim 15  wherein the seat structure is made with a layer of composite material of carbon fiber/epoxy.