WO2007038832A1

WO2007038832A1 - Guided removal and/or installation of a passenger seat

Info

Publication number: WO2007038832A1
Application number: PCT/AU2006/001440
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dickory Rudduck; John Wilson; Geoff Sizer; Adam Mcarthur; Otokar Kudrna; Scott Wilson; Scott Semenik
Original assignee: Telezygology Inc.
Priority date: 2005-10-04
Filing date: 2006-10-04
Publication date: 2007-04-12

Abstract

A guided installation and/or removal arrangement for a passenger seat (2) having a base (32) and a seatback (22), the arrangement comprising: base locking means (4) including a base locking component to secure the base (32) of the passenger seat (2) to the floor of a vehicle; rear locking means (20) including a seatback locking component to secure the seatback in either a storage position or an operational position; and communication means to electronically communicate a locking or a release signal between the base locking component (4) and said seatback locking component (20), preferably the base locking component (4) including a reciprocatable bolt (26) journaled to cooperate with a resiliently deformable rod intermediate its length, the rod terminating at each end in pins (12) that extend, in the operational position, between and through spaced apertures (30) in the base (32) whereby to lock said base (32) in position; and actuation of the bolt (26) being effected by shifting same axially to cause the rod to deform so that said pins (12) withdraw from said apertures (30) whereby to release said base (32) from said base locking component (4).

Description

GUIDED REMOVAL AND/OR INSTALLATION OF A PASSENGER SEAT FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the guided removal and/or installation of a passenger seat. More particularly, this invention relates to the guided removal and/or installation of a passenger seat using one or more fasteners which provide electronic feedback to the user to confirm proper positioning of the passenger seat.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following references to and descriptions of prior proposals or products are not intended to be, and are not to be construed as, statements or admissions of common general knowledge in the art. In particular, the following prior art discussion does not relate to what is commonly or well known by the person skilled in the art, but assists in the understanding of the inventive step of the present invention of which the identification of pertinent prior art proposals is but one part.

Jn many vehicles today, passenger seats can be removed and installed as needed to provide a user with more space options within the vehicle. Typical passenger seat installation involves the "blind" installation of the seat in the vehicle. A user simply hooks the seat in place and hopes for proper placement and installation. In any case, this blind method of installation tends to be difficult for a user to execute. Whilst this type of installation of a passenger seat is usually adequate, a user is constantly left to wonder if the seat was installed properly.

Improper passenger seat installation can present a major safety concern. A seat that is not properly installed may not function the way it is designed to function in cases of an accident. An improperly installed seat may actually cause a user more harm in an accident. This is of paramount importance where the installation involves a seat adapted to be repeatedly removed and reinstalled at the user's election. Therefore, it is imperative that seats that are designed to be removed are also designed to be properly re-installed every time. At least in some embodiments, the present invention deals with a seat that can solve the problem of proper re-instaliation and provide a user with a securely fastened passenger seat. Further comments regarding examples of such solutions are set out below,

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Broadly, in one aspect the invention relates to a guided removal and/or installation of a passenger seat including:

A base locking seat component; a seatback locking component; and means for electrical communication between said base locking seat component and said seatback locking component.

When a passenger seat is installed and removal is desired, a user simply has to activate the seatback locking component unlocking the seat. Once that is completed, means for electrical communication indicates that release of the front locking component i$ acceptable and the seat can be removed. When a passenger seat is removed and reinstallation is desired, the reverse process occurs. A user will simply place the seat in the base locking component and snap the seat down. If proper installation is achieved, then the seatback locking component is signaled and the seatback can be raised to its fully installed position.

When installing a passenger seat utilizing the guided installation of the type contemplated by the present invention, it is preferable to lock the seat properly into the base locking seat compartment first. Since the locks communicate with each other through electrical means, the seatback will not be usable until the passenger seat is properly placed in the front locking seat component, for example, on the floor first.

The base locking seat component can take on many embodiments. In one preferred embodiment, a box containing a fastener and mechanism to move locking pins can be attached to the passenger seat replacing typical hardware that simply utilized locking bars and a simple bracket. This box protects the moving parts that hold the The base locking seat component is capable of being activated remotely. When a user desires to remove the passenger seat, the fastener can be remotely activated and will begin to move the locking pins thereby releasing the seat.

The fastener within the base locking scat component can be a variety of fasteners. In a particularly preferred embodiment, a stud fastener may be utilized, but any suitable type of fastener can be used and it will be appreciated by the skilled person as falling within the scope of this invention.

Once the passenger seat is secured in place, an actuator signals an another actuator within the seat back to communicate the signal that it is safe to release the scat back into its upright position. Once that signal is received, a lock is released and the seat can be rotated upward. Since the preferred seat is dependent on remote activation and locking instead of manual or physical locks, preferably accommodations are made for the seat in case of an electrical failure. In the case of a high ambient temperature environment or in an overheat situation, the preferred fastener of the invention may include a failsafe clement to ensure the fastener stays in the locked position. For example, the fastener may include an unlock drive pin and in an overheat situation a failsafe element may be able to move up and block the drive pin so that the fastener stays in the locked position.

This invention places an emphasis on safety of the properly installed seat. The correct installation relies on the electronic means of communication between the locking components. The electronic communication means preferably runs outside of the front and seatback locking components. It can also be readily appreciated that this means for electronic communication can be a modular attachment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Possible and preferred features of the present invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it is to be understood that the features illustrated in and described with reference to the drawings are not to be construed as limiting on the broad scope of the invention, In the drawings: FIG. 1 is an underside perspective view of a seat base emphasizing a box. replacing typical prior art hardware for seat securing;

FIG, 2 is a perspective view of the seat base with the box comprising a fastener exploded out from the seat base; FIG, 3 is a perspective view of a front locking component in an unlocked position, whereby the fastener extends outward and locking pins move towards a centerline or midpoint between the pins;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the front locking component similar to that shown in FΪG. 3 in the unlocked position depicting arms in forward motion to allow the locking pins to retract;

FIG- 5 is a perspective view of the front locking seat component in a locked position,'

FIG. 6 is a derailed perspective view of the front locking component, comprising the fastener, a mechanism, and the locking pins; F(G. 7 is a perspective view of the seat indicating the location of the fastener of the front locking component and locking pins;

FlG. 8 is a detailed perspective view of the fastener of the front locking component;

FiG. 9 is a partially exploded view of the front locking seat component in the unlocked position;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a folded seat showing the front locking seat component, a rear locking device and a seatback locking device according to the preferred embodiment;

FIG, 11 is a perspective view of the rear locking device in a locked position; FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the rear locking device in an unlocked position; and DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to Figures 2, 7 and 10, in a preferred embodiment there is shown an arrangement for the guided installation and/or removal of a passenger seat 2. The arrangement comprises a base locking component 4 which comprises a front locking component 4a and a rear locking component 17, a scatback locking component 14 and an electronic means for communication 16 between the front locking component 4, rear locking component 17, and seatback locking component 14. The front locking component 4 replaces typical hardware present in existing removable seats of the prior art. With reference to Figures 1 - 6, the locking bars and bracket of the prior art are replaced with a box 6 comprising a fastener 8 and mechanism 10 to move the locking pins 12 that either release or hold the passenger seat 2 in place.

The base locking seat component 4 when installed in a vehicle is a permanent fixture and remains when the seat 2 is removed. When installing the seat 2 the user simply places the front of the passenger seat 2 into the front locking seat component 4a. The passenger seat 2 fits in and the locking pins 12 extend to hold the passenger scat 2 in place. With reference to Figures 6, 10 and 13, after the passenger seat 2 is firmly secured in place with the locking pins 12 and the fastener 8 in the locked position, the seat 2 can be rotated backwards to snap the back portion of the passenger seat 2 into place by securing in place the rear locking component 17. This operation is governed by the front locking component 4a whereby, if the front of the seat 2 is correctly placed in the front locking component 4, then the seat 2 has no where to go but to fit exactly into the rear locking component 17. Once the back portion of the seat 2 is snapped down into place, an electronic signal is sent and received via an electronic communication means or signaling device in the form of a base actuator 18 shown in Figure 1 1 and located on the side of the seat 2. The base actuator 18 sends an electronic signal to the seatback actuator 20 located adjacent a hinge 24 of the seatback 22. The seatback actuator 20 indicates that the seat 2 is properly secured on the floor or base of the vehicle and the signal indicates The seatback. actuator 20 advantageously includes a shape memory alloy strip capable of changing shape on application of heat as described in US 60/723,817 filed 4 October 2005 and the corresponding international application claiming priority therefrom and filed 4 October 2006, the entire contents of which international application are expressly incorporated herein by reference.

Once this electronic signal is received, the seat back locking component 14 can be unlocked and the seatback 22 can be rotated into its fully upright position. The seat back locking component 14 is shown in Figure 13 to comprise a seatback actuator 20 with a simple rotating hook lock 24. It is generally anticipated that any suitable lock can work with the seatback actuator 20.

When a user desires to remove the seat 2 from its deployed (installed) position, the user simply remotely activates the seatback actuator 20 to rotate downward into its stowed position. Once the seatback 22 is locked down properly and securely in its stowed position, the seatback actuator 20 signals to the base actuator IS that it is safe to begin removing the seat from the vehicle base. The front locking seat component 4 is unlocked freeing the seat 2 from the base of the vehicle to permit the seat's 2 removal.

Referring to Figures 1 -6 again, the box 6 of the front locking seat component 4 comprises a fastener 8 and mechanism 10 to move the locking pins 12. The fastener S is a radial fastener which includes a mechanism 10 comprising arms that move in cooperation with locking pins 12. Power is provided by the vehicle, such as an airplane, car, etc., such as from a DC/battery power source. Upon activation of the fastener 8 to unlock the seat 2 for its removal, a radial stud 26 slides away from the stud base 28. This motion in turn pulls the locking pins 12 inwardly to a centerline or midpoint in line with or corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the stud 26. Once the locking pins 12 are released, the passenger seat 2 is unlocked. Upon re-installation of the seat 2, the locking pins 12 move into the corresponding holes 30 on the seatbase 32 and the stud 26 locks into its base 28 securing the seat 2. It will be readily apparent to the skilled person that there are differing types of fasteners that will perform this function and can be anticipated with this invention. The preferred embodiment shown in Figures 10 - 13 comprises an electronic means 16 for communicating between the locking mechanisms. This electronic means 16 can also be incorporated as a modular component. As seen in the drawings, the electronic means 16 runs on the outside of the locking components 4, 14 and 17 indicating that it is possible to utilize this as an attachment to the locking components 4, 14 and 17.

Throughout the specification and claims the word "comprise" and its derivatives are intended to have an inclusive rather than exclusive meaning unless the contrary is expressly stated or the context requires otherwise. That is, the word "comprise" and its derivatives will be taken to indicate the inclusion of not only the listed components, steps or features that it directly references, but also other components, steps or features not specifically listed, unless the contrary is expressly stated or the context requires otherwise.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations may be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Orientational terms used in the specification and claims such as vertical, horizontal, top, bottom, upper and lower arc to be interpreted as relational and are based on the premise that the component, item, article, apparatus, device or instrument will usually be considered in a particular orientation, typically with the seatback uppermost.

Claims

1. A guided installation and/or removal arrangement for a passenger seat having a base and a seatback, said arrangement comprising: base locking means including a base locking component to secure the base of the passenger seal; a seatback locking means to secure the seatback in either a storage position or an operational position; communication means to electronically communicate a locking or a release signal between said base locking component and said seatback locking component.

2. The arrangement of claim I , wherein said base locking component is a front locking component and comprises a box further comprising a fastener and locking and/or a release mechanism that controls the movement of locking pins.

3. The arrangement of claim 1 , further including rear locking means including a rear locking component to secure the rear of the seat base in place, the seat base guided into position to engage the rear locking component once the base locking component has secured the seat base.

4. The arrangement of claim 2, wherein said front locking component receives signals from said seatback locking component by way of said electronic means.

5. The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the base locking means includes guide means to guide said seat base into engagement with said base locking component.

6. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the force associated with the mechanism is manually operated, the engagement of said base locking means and said base is sufficient to momentarily displace said locking pins and to allow them to move into the locking position without motorized assistance^

7. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the correctly aligned engagement of the base with the base locking component initiates the delivery of an electrical signal via the communication means to the seatback locking means to release same from the storage position.

8. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the communication means runs externally between the base looking means and the seatback locking means,

9. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the seatback locking means is located adjacent a hinge at the base of the seatback and is operative to release or lock the hinge.

10. The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the base locking component includes a reciprocatabie bolt joumaiied to cooperate with a resiliently deforrnable rod intermediate its length, said rod terminating at each end in pins that extend, in the operational position, between and through spaced apertures in the base whereby to lock said base in position; and actuation of the bolt by shifting same axially causes said rod to deform so that said pins withdraw from said apertures whereby to release said base from said base locking component.

1 1. A method for the guided installation of a passenger seat having a base and a seatback, said method including steps of: securing the base of the passenger seat using base locking means that includes a base locking component; releasing the seatback from a storage position to an operational position by releasing seatback locking means; communicating a release signal from said base locking component to said seatback locking component using electronic communication means indicating that the seat is secured to the base locking component whereby the seatback locking component may be safely released.