Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DOUBLE MODULE FOR AIRCRAFT PASSENGER(S)
The present invention relates to a double module for aircraft passenger(s).
Most airline companies offer their passengers three levels of travel comfort.
By increasing comfort level, therefore, there generally are in an aircraft
(for
medium or long flights) an economy class, a business class and a first class.
These different classes have different names depending on the airline company
with which a person is flying.
Most often, in an aircraft cabin, seats of a first type are used for first
class,
next to the aircraft cockpit, seats of a second type are used for business
class,
generally immediately aft of first class, and finally seats of a third type
are used in
economy class, near the rear of the aircraft. For a given aircraft, the
configuration
chosen is most often fixed. For airline companies, however, it is of interest
to vary
the distribution among the number of seats offered in the three classes. Thus
it is
known to modify the interior configuration of an aircraft by replacing the
first-class
seats by business-class seats or vice versa. This operation is very time-
consuming, and it necessitates a very long ground time on the order of five
days,
because it is necessary to remove and reinstall seats and accessory units.
The objective of the present invention is therefore to provide means with
which the ground time of an aircraft can be shortened while part of its
business
class is being converted to first class or vice versa.
To this end, in one aspect, the invention proposes a module for aircraft
passenger(s) provided with:
- two seats disposed beside one another and oriented in the same
direction, each of these seats being a seat that can be converted to a berth,
- a side wall surrounding the two seats, at least partly,
- an opening provided in the side wall to permit access to the module, and
- a partition intended to achieve separation between the two seats, this
partition being displaceable from a first position, in which it achieves
separation of
the two seats, to a second stored position, in which it does not form a
barrier
between the two seats.
In a further aspect, the present invention proposes an aircraft cabin,
comprising: a module for aircraft passenger(s), the module including: two
seats
disposed beside one another and oriented generally along the axis of the cabin
in
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the same direction, each of said two seats being convertible to a berth
independently of any other seat, a side wall surrounding the two seats, at
least
partly, an opening provided in the side wall to permit access to the module,
and a
partition separating the two seats, said partition being displaceable from a
first
position, in which the partition separates the two seats, to a second stored
position, in which the partition does not form a barrier between the two
seats,
wherein said opening faces said two seats, said opening is provided in front
of
said two seats along said same direction in which said two seats are oriented,
said partition extends substantially perpendicular to a portion of said side
wall
defining said opening in said side wall, and said side wall extends only along
a
partial height of the cabin.
Further aspects of the invention will become apparent upon reading the
following detailed description and drawings, which illustrate the invention
and
preferred embodiments of the invention.
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Such a module can accommodate two passengers, who can then travel
either in seated position or in recumbent position. This corresponds to the
standard of most airline companies as regards business-class comfort. By
virtue of
the configuration of the module, it can be arranged in various ways. Firstly,
the
partition can be disposed in such a way that it no longer creates separation
between the two seats. The module can then accommodate two business-class
passengers who know one another and wish to be together. It is also
conceivable
to transform one seat to a berth and to leave the other seat in its upright
position.
The interior of the module then forms a private space for a passenger to
stretch
out or sit up. The berth can also be used as a banquette.
In order to achieve even more variability, it is proposed that the module
according to the invention be additionally provided with elements such as
foamed
plastic elements, with which the interior space of the module can be shaped.
Such
elements make it possible to configure the space inside the side wall as
desired. It
is then possible to modify the module in such a way that an uninformed
passenger
does not become aware that the module reserved for a first-class passenger
corresponds to two modules of a business-class passenger. In this embodiment,
the elements used make it possible, for example, to transform a berth to a
banquette with back.
Advantageously, a module according to the invention is provided with a
storage space intended in particular to accommodate elements for organization
of
the interior space of the module. This storage space is disposed under the
seats,
for example. Depending on the configuration of the cabin, a hatch provided in
the
side wall may permit access to the storage space.
A preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the side wall
surrounding the two seats defines a substantially rectangular space, the two
seats
occupying substantially the entire width of that space and being disposed at
one
end thereof. Such a form and such a disposition make it possible to optimize
the
space in an aircraft cabin and, for a given cabin, make it possible a priori
to
accommodate the largest number of passengers without detracting from their
comfort.
The side wall preferably has an opening disposed facing the seats and
in middle position relative thereto. In this case, the same opening permits
access
to two seats in business class and permits access to the first-class module.
This
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disposition is advantageous, because it avoids having two openings in the side
wall, one of these openings then not being useful when the module is intended
for
a first-class passenger.
An alternative embodiment provides that the partition is, for example, a
partition that slides between a first high position, in which it achieves
separation
between the two seats, and a second low position, in which it is entirely
retracted
between the two seats.
According to another alternative embodiment, the partition can be a
removable partition. In this alternative embodiment, a reserve space is
advantageously provided to accommodate the partition when it is removed.
A module for aircraft passenger(s) according to the invention is
preferably provided with seats such that each seat has a fixed frame. This
makes
it possible to limit the space requirement of the seats in the module and
therefore
to leave more space for the passenger(s). With such a seat, it is possible to
provide that a supplementary berth can cooperate with the seat to form a
substantially plane surface capable of accommodating a passenger in recumbent
position. Such seats and supplementary berths are described in French Patent
FR
2860194, for example.
The present invention also relates to an aircraft cabin and to an aircraft,
characterized in that they are provided with at least one module such as
described
in the foregoing.
Details and advantages of the present invention will be better
understood from the description hereinafter with reference to the attached
schematic drawings, wherein:
Fig. 1 is a schematic horizontal projection of an aircraft cabin zone
encompassing the first classes and the business classes,
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a module according to the invention when
it is intended for a business-class space, and
Fig. 3 is a module according to the invention when it is intended for a
first-class space.
Fig. 1 shows a first-class zone 2 as well as a business-class zone 4 in
an aircraft cabin.
In the cabin illustrated in Fig. 1, the structure of the seats and modules
used in first-class zone 2 is identical to that of the seats and modules of
business
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class 4. Only the arrangement of the modules is different.
The basic element used here for arrangement of first-class zone 2 and
business-class zone 4 is a double module 8, which can be organized to
accommodate either one single first-class passenger or two business-class
passengers. An example of a module of this type is described hereinafter with
reference to the attached schematic drawings.
In business-class zone 4 of Fig. 1, it is seen that each of the double
modules 8 has two seats 10. Facing each of these seats 10, and spaced apart
therefrom, there is disposed an accessory unit 12, which may be, for example,
a
baggage compartment, a small table, a footrest or even a cabinet in which a
television screen, for example, is integrated. Preferably this accessory unit
12 is
provided with a support surface disposed substantially (for example, within
twenty
cm) at the same height as the bottom of corresponding seat 10. This seat is a
convertible seat. The support surface of accessory unit 12 then cooperates
with
the convertible seat and if necessary with a supplementary berth to form a
sleeping surface providing a bed for the passenger, as illustrated in Fig. 2.
Each double module 8 intended to accommodate one first-class
passenger or two business-class passengers is defined by a side wall 14. By
passing behind the seats, this wall surrounds the seats as well as accessory
units
12. This side wall 14 may have substantially constant height or, for example,
may
be higher next to seats 10 than next to accessory units 12. As a non-
limitative
example, it may be considered, for example, that the side walls defining
double
modules 8 have a height between 0.60 m and 1.50 m.
On the whole, side wall 14 has substantially rectangular shape. Seats
10 are disposed at one end of module 8, and occupy substantially the entire
width
of the module. As regards accessory units 12, they have smaller width than the
seats. These accessory units are disposed in the corners of module 8 at the
side
opposite seats 10.
An opening is provided in each side wall 14 to permit access to seats
10. This opening 16 is made between accessory units 12. A door or a gate may
be
provided if necessary in order to close each opening 16_
Each double module 8 illustrated here is substantially symmetric
relative to an axis passing between the two seats 10 and via the middle of
opening
16. This symmetry plane is given physical form by a partition 18 disposed
between
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the two seats 10. This partition 18 achieves separation between the two seats
in
such a way that the two passengers traveling in the double module when it is
organized for business class can be isolated from one another. In this way the
private space of each of the passengers is preserved.
5 This partition 18 is a movable partition. In its first position
described
hereinabove it achieves separation between the two seats 10 and transforms
double module 8 to two single modules. Nevertheless, when the two passengers
(in business class) know one another and wish to be together, this partition
18
then assumes a second position in which it no longer achieves this separation.
A
mechanism can then be provided to lower partition 18 and make it disappear
between the two seats 10. Conceivably this partition also may be removed. The
removed partition then may be placed, for example, in a reserve space (not
illustrated) provided in the thickness of side wall 14, for example behind the
two
seats 10.
As indicated hereinabove, seats 10 are convertible seats. They are
preferably seats such as those described in French Patent 2860194. Reference
is
made here to that document as regards the description of the seats used here
as
well as a possible supplementary berth cooperating with the seat to form a
plane
surface capable of accommodating a passenger in recumbent position. The seats
described in that document have the advantage that their weight is lighter and
that
they do not necessitate installation of bulky motors to move them from the
upright
position to the position converted to a berth. By virtue of this fact, a large
space is
available underneath the bottom of seats 10. Of course, the present invention
can
be implemented with seats different from those described in the aforesaid
patent
application, but the embodiment of these seats is the embodiment preferred
here.
Fig. 3 illustrates the same module as that illustrated in Fig. 2, when it is
configured to accommodate one first-class passenger. In this configuration,
separating partition 18 is made to disappear by retracting it between seats 10
or
by removing it and placing it in a reserve space provided for this purpose.
In the configuration example illustrated in Fig. 3, one seat 10 of double
module 8 is in upright position, while the other seat is in its position
converted to a
bed. The seat converted to a bed is transformed to a banquette by means of
foamed-plastic elements 20, which form in particular the back of the banquette
and
possible additions to the bottom. These foamed-plastic elements 20 can be
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fastened by means of hook and loop tapes (known by the registered trademark
Velcro), by means of snap-in studs or by any other means.
In an advantageous embodiment, all of the foamed-plastic elements
and possible cushions are kept in the space available under seats 10. Access
to
this storage space can be achieved via a hatch provided for this purpose in
side
wall 14 or directly via the front of seat 10. If this seat is equipped with a
leg rest,
this is raised to permit access to the storage space. It is also possible to
provide
for storage of foamed-plastic elements 20 in accessory units 12. This storage
space can be extremely roomy, and may extend without interruption under both
seats 10 of the module. Thus it can accommodate foamed-plastic elements 20 of
large size.
The arrangements shown for a first-class module are given as non-
limitative examples. By adapting the form (and number) of foamed-plastic
elements, it is possible to conceive of a quasi-infinity of different
arrangements.
As follows from the foregoing description, the transformation of a double
module 8 intended to accommodate two business-class passengers to a double
module intended to accommodate one first-class passenger can be achieved
quickly. No structural element has to be displaced. It is sufficient merely to
incline
the seats or to return them to upright position, to shift a partition and to
organize
foamed-plastic elements. These elements are preferably available in the module
itself or may be stored at some other place in the aircraft (in the cabin or
even in
the hold).
With the concept presented in the foregoing, it becomes possible to
transform a first-class space to a business-class space in only three hours,
whereas such a transformation in prior art aircraft generally takes five days.
It
becomes conceivable to change the configuration of the aircraft during a
scheduled stop. Thus it is possible to modify the interior of an aircraft
cabin from
one flight to another. This is naturally highly advantageous for the airline
companies, which can therefore adapt the interior arrangements of the cabin
for
each flight as a function of the reservations received. In this way the
profitability of
the space dedicated to first class and to business class in the aircraft is
increased.
It is noted in Fig. 1 that not only double modules 8 such as described
hereinabove but also single modules 22 are provided in business class. This
makes it possible to optimize the space available in the aircraft cabin. The
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example shown therefore makes it possible to have seven passengers abreast in
business class. That represents three double modules 8 and one single module
22. Such a single module 22 corresponds to one half of a double module 8. Such
a module is also disclosed in French Patent 2843730, especially in Fig. 14 of
that
document, and in the corresponding description. When part of business-class
space 4 is transformed to first-class space, there then are, as illustrated in
Fig. 1,
three double modules 8, permitting three first-class passengers to travel
abreast.
In first class zone 2, single modules 22, as illustrated in Fig. 1, are then
covered
up and can be used, for example, as storage space for the baggage of the
travelers in first-class zone 2.
The present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment
described hereinabove as a non-limitative example. It also relates to all
alternative
embodiments that can be understood by the person skilled in the art within the
scope of the claims hereinafter.
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