Aircraft seat with flexible seat back

Abstract

A seat for use in an aircraft by an aircraft occupant having a back is disclosed. The seat includes a support assembly adapted to be secured to the floor, a seat carried by the support assembly, and a seat back connected to at least one of the support assembly and the seat back. The seat back includes a sheet of plastic approximating the size of the aircraft occupant's back for forming a flexible seat back. A method of construction and an armrest for an aircraft seat are further disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A seat for use in an aircraft having a floor by an aircraft occupant having a back comprising a support assembly adapted to be secured to the floor, a seat carried by the support assembly, and a seat back connected to at least one of the support assembly and the seat back, the seat back including a sheet of plastic approximating the size of the aircraft occupant's back for forming a flexible seat back. 
     
     
         2 . The seat of  claim 1  wherein the sheet of plastic is of constant thickness. 
     
     
         3 . The seat of  claim 2  wherein the Sheet of plastic is contoured to approximate the contour of the aircraft occupant's back. 
     
     
         4 . The seat of  claim 1  further comprising a rigid frame for supporting the sheet of plastic and having at least one attachment element for coupling the sheet of plastic to the frame and permitting the sheet of plastic to flex relative to the frame. 
     
     
         5 . The seat of  claim 4  wherein the at least one attachment element includes an upper attachment element and a lower attachment element. 
     
     
         6 . The seat of  claim 1  wherein the sheet of plastic includes a rear surface, the seat back including a lumbar adjustment mechanism for engaging the rear surface of the sheet of plastic for adjustment of lumbar region support of the occupant's back provided by the seat back.