Adjustable aircraft seat

Abstract

A seat for use in an aircraft is provided. The seat includes a support assembly adapted to be secured to the floor, a seat having a central portion and a rear portion, a seat back pivotably coupled to the support assembly for movement between an upright position and a reclined position relative to the support assembly, a pivot assembly having an arm pivotally coupled to the central portion of the seat at a first end and pivotally coupled to the support assembly at a second end permitting the seat to pivot about a pivot axis relative to the support assembly and translate relative to the support assembly. A connector assembly coupling the rear portion of the seat to the seat back and an adjustment assembly controlling the available degrees of freedom of movement of at least one of the seat and the seat back are also disclosed.

1 . A seat for use in an aircraft having a floor comprising a support assembly adapted to be secured to the floor, a seat having a central portion and a rear portion, a seat back pivotably coupled to the support assembly for movement between an upright position and a reclined position relative to the support assembly, a pivot assembly having an arm pivotally coupled to the central portion of the seat at a first end and pivotally coupled to the support assembly at a second end permitting the seat to pivot about a pivot axis relative to the support assembly and translate relative to the support assembly, a connector assembly coupling the rear portion of the seat to the seat back for causing the rear portion of the seat to pivot downwardly about the pivot axis and the seat to translate rearwardly in unison with the seat back as the seat back moves from the upright position to the reclined position and an adjustment assembly controlling the available degrees of freedom of movement of at least one of the seat and the seat back. 
     
     
         2 . The seat of  claim 1  wherein the support assembly includes an adjustment assembly for moving the pivot axis upwardly and downwardly relative to the support assembly so as to cause the seat to pivot about the connector assembly relative to the seat back whereby the seat can be inclined relative to the seat back when the seat back is in either its upright or reclined position. 
     
     
         3 . The seat of  claim 1 , wherein the support assembly comprises a lower support structure adapted to be secured to the floor, a mid support structure carried by the lower support structure, the seat back including a seat back support structure pivotably coupled to the mid support structure. 
     
     
         4 . The seat of  claim 3  wherein the adjustment assembly comprises a recline angle adjustment mechanism coupled to the mid support structure and the seat back support structure for adjustment of recline angle of the seat back, a seat height adjustment mechanism coupled to the lower support structure and mid support structure for adjustment of seat height, and wherein the pivot assembly comprises a seat angle adjustment mechanism for adjustment of seat angle. 
     
     
         5 . The seat of  claim 1  further comprising a restraint system coupled to the support assembly for restraint of an occupant.