Seating arrangement

摘要

A 3-seat seating grouping is presented that includes a center seat configured for vertical translation from a lower position to a raised position when converted from an upright to an inclined mode. The center seat can be disposed between an aft-facing seating assembly and a fore-facing seating assembly, and be configured to overlap both when in a lie-flat position. Non-overlapping footspace can be shared between a center passenger and an aft-facing passenger. When upright, a center seat can be at the same height as a non-translating aft- or fore-facing seat, reducing loads on a seat track during aircraft take-off. Seats within the 3-seat group can be angled or aligned with respect to cabin longitudinal axis. A plurality of 3-seat groups can be combined in various orientations to span a cabin. Groups can be arranged to mirror each other to maximize seating directed to an aisle.

主权项

1. A seating arrangement, comprising:
a fore-facing seating assembly having a fore-facing seat; an aft-facing seating assembly having an aft-facing seat; a center seating assembly positioned between said fore- and aft-facing assemblies, comprising a center seat having a seat bottom configured to vertically translate upward from a lower height above a cabin floor to a higher height above said cabin floor when said center seat is converted from an upright to a lie-flat mode, wherein said seat bottom of said center seat is disposed at generally the same height above a cabin floor as a seat bottom of said fore-facing seating assembly when said center seat is configured in said upright mode and a seat of said fore-facing seating assembly is configured in an upright mode; wherein said fore-facing seating assembly, said aft-facing seating assembly and said center seating assembly are configured to form a three-seat group; a footrest partition structure disposed between said center seating assembly and said aft-facing seating assembly, said footrest partition structure configured with a footrest for association with said center seat when said center seat bottom is raised to said higher height, said footrest disposed at an elevated height with respect to said lower height of said seat bottom of said center seat configured in said upright mode; wherein said footrest partition structure is configured to cooperate with said aft-facing seating assembly configured in a lie-flat mode to provide a bed for an occupant of said aft-facing seating assembly; and wherein said seat bottom of said fore-facing seating assembly is not configured to translate vertically upward when said seat of said fore-facing seating assembly is moved from said upright mode to a lie-flat mode.