Related Applications

[0001] This application claims priority from United States Provisional Patent Application No. 62/408,228 filed October 14, 2016; the contents of which are herein expressly incorporated by reference.

Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to accessories for aircraft passenger seats, and more specifically to an aircraft seat blocking insert.

Background of the Invention [0003] Passengers flying in economy class often do not have enough space around them to place objects such as books, magazines, briefcases, laptop computers, tablets, and so on. While an aircraft provides for a foldable tray at the back of the seat in front of a passenger, the foldable tray restricts the space above a passenger's lap, and may not be sufficient for holding all items the passenger has. Furthermore, at meal time the passenger will need to use the tray for eating, hence the foldable tray is not suitable for use throughout the flight to hold a passenger's personal items. Furthermore, the tray impedes the passenger's movement, hence it needs to be folded back when the passenger needs to get up and use the restroom, for example.

[0004] Sometimes airlines wish to offer economy class passengers some of the conveniences that business class passengers enjoy. One example would be to provide economy class passengers with extra space that they can use to place some of their personal items.

[0005] It is an object of this invention to provide a solution for the above problem. Summary of the Invention

[0006] According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a seat blocking insert for an aircraft passenger seat, comprising: a base adapted for receiving an aircraft seatbelt wrapped around the base for retaining the base in position on top of a seating portion of the aircraft passenger seat thus blocking the aircraft passenger seat; and a tray connected to a top portion of the base for supporting objects placed thereon.

[0007] In one embodiment, the base of the seat blocking insert has a back wall, two side walls, and a front wall having a generally horizontal groove formed thereon. The front wall groove may be sized and positioned for receiving the aircraft seatbelt. [0008] In one embodiment, each of the two sidewalls comprises a groove formed thereon. The side wall grooves may be sized for receiving the aircraft seatbelt, and positioned in continuity with the front wall groove for cooperatively receiving the aircraft seatbelt when the aircraft seatbelt is wrapped around the base.

[0009] In one embodiment, a beveled portion is formed near end portions of the front wall groove and the side wall grooves where the front wall groove and the side wall grooves meet.

[0010] In one embodiment, the side wall grooves are inclined such that they are higher at the front wall and lower at the back wall.

[0011] In one embodiment, the seat blocking insert further comprises an open loop with a locking mechanism for retaining the seatbelt in the side wall groove.

[0012] In one embodiment, the seat blocking insert further comprises a loop at a rear portion of the side wall groove, the rear loop for threading the seatbelt therethrough to provide an anchor point thus preventing the seat blocking insert from tipping forward. [0013] In one embodiment, the base of the seat blocking insert is generally rectangular and has a hollow interior. The hollow interior may be filled with polyethylene.

[0014] In one embodiment, the tray of the seat blocking insert is removably coupled to the base. [0015] In one embodiment, the tray comprises a top side for supporting items, and a bottom side; and the base comprises: a back support foldably attached to the bottom side; and two stands foldably attached to the back panel for supporting the seat blocking insert when the back panel is in a folded out position and the stands are in a folded out position.

[0016] In one embodiment, the back support is hingedly connected to a rear edge of the bottom side of the tray.

[0017] In one embodiment, the stands are pivotally connected to side edges of the back panel.

[0018] In one embodiment, the stands have connection ends, and the bottom side has slots for receiving respective connection ends such that the stands are retained in a folded out position for supporting the tray on a seating portion of the aircraft seat.

[0019] In one embodiment, the stands have front portions that are inclined such that a bottom end portion of each front portion is to the front of a respective top end portion of the front portion.

[0020] In one embodiment, the front portions of the stands each has a recess formed at a front edge thereof, the recess being sized and shaped for receiving a passenger aircraft seatbelt therein.

[0021] In one embodiment, the back support comprises a back panel. [0022] In one embodiment, the tray comprises at least one supporting section.

[0023] In one embodiment, the tray comprises at least one circular recess for supporting a beverage container.

[0024] In one embodiment, the tray comprises tapered sidewalls. The sidewalls may have a front height that is shorter than a rear height. The tray sidewalls become in alignment with the side stands in the folded out position.

[0025] In one embodiment, the supporting section is covered in a layer of material which provides traction.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0026] An embodiment will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures, wherein:

[0027] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a seat blocking insert for an aircraft seat in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the seat blocking insert of FIG. 1 ;

[0029] FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a seat blocking insert for an aircraft seat in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] FIG. 4A is a top view of the seat blocking insert of FIG. 3;

[0031] FIG. 4B is a front view of the seat blocking insert of FIG. 3;

[0032] FIG. 4C is a side view of the seat blocking insert of FIG. 3;

[0033] FIG. 4D is a side sectional view of the seat blocking insert of FIG. 3 taken at line 4D-4D ofFIG. 4A; [0034] FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the bottom side of a seat blocking insert for an aircraft seat in upside down folded mode, in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the bottom of the seat blocking insert of FIG. 5 with a back panel folded out;

[0036] FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the bottom of the seat blocking insert of FIG. 5 with one stand folded out of the back panel;

[0037] FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the bottom of the seat blocking insert of FIG. 5 with two stands folded out of the back panel; [0038] FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of the bottom of the seat blocking insert of FIG. 5 with both stands engaged to the back to the seat blocking insert in a supporting position;

[0039] FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of the seat blocking insert of FIG. 5 in an upright operating mode; [0040] FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of a seat blocking insert for an aircraft seat, in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention; and

[0041] FIG. 12 is a top perspective mode of the seat blocking insert of FIG. 11 coupled to an aircraft seat.

Detailed Description of the Embodiments [0042] While the Background of Invention described above has identified particular problems known in the prior art, the present invention provides, in part, a new and useful aircraft seat blocking insert that provides a tray to be used by passengers in adjacent aircraft seats to place personal items thereon.

[0043] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a seat blocking insert for an aircraft seat in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the seat blocking insert of FIG. 1. With reference to both FIG. 1, and FIG. 2, a seat blocking insert 100 is provided. Seat blocking insert 100 is comprised of a base 120, and a tray 101. Base 120 is of a generally rectangular configuration, and is sized to fit on a seating portion of an aircraft seat, between two armrests of the aircraft seat (not shown). Base 120 may be made from a solid material. For example, base 120 is preferably made from a resin polymer, but may also be made of a light metal or other suitable rigid material. Base 120 has a front wall 104, two side walls 105, and a back wall 106 as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. In a preferred embodiment, base 120 is hollow and is filled with a light material (400 in FIG. 4B below) such as polyethylene, so as to keep the weight of base 120 light while providing base 120 with some rigidity and resistance to damage such as denting or breakage. In another embodiment, the base 120 is hollow. In yet another embodiment, base 120 may be made from a flexible material or fabric, and is filled with a material that provides it with rigidity such as polyethylene or grains thereof.

[0044] In one embodiment base 120 has a tray 101 connected to a top portion (not visible) of base 120, and is made of the same material as base 120. In another embodiment, tray 101 is manufactured separately, possibly from a different material, and affixed to the top wall of base 120 by suitable means. It would be apparent to one skilled in the art that such suitable means may include adhesives, mechanical fasteners or any one of a variety of other options. In yet another embodiment, tray 101 is removably attached to base 120 by a suitable mechanism such as mechanical fasteners, magnetic fasteners, one or more hook and loop fasteners, and so on. Tray 101 may then be removed from base 120, so it may be cleaned, for example in a dishwasher. The top surface of tray 101 may be divided into supporting sections 102 for supporting different items placed on tray 101. Supporting sections 102 may be defined by having rib portions 109 formed on, and raised above, the surface of tray 101. Ribs 109 act as borders defining supporting sections 102, and serve to help keep items placed in a supporting section 102, in that section even if the seat blocking insert 100 is moving, due to turbulence for example. In some embodiments supporting sections 102 may include circular recesses 103 suitable for receiving beverage containers. In other embodiments sections 120 may have different sizes for accommodating items of varying sizes. Tray 101 may be encompassed by raised border 108, for preventing items placed onto any of the supporting sections 102 from falling off tray 101, when the tray undergoes shaking motion, due to turbulence for example. Supporting sections 102 may be covered in a layer of material which provides some traction that restricts the possibility that items placed thereon would slide back and forth due to motion of tray 101. Such material maybe leather, rubber, resin or any other suitable material as would be apparent to those of skill in the art. [0045] Seat blocking insert 100 is secured into position, on the seating portion of an aircraft seat (not shown), by means of an aircraft seatbelt (not shown). The seatbelt may be wrapped around the base and fastened along the base front wall 104. This keeps seat blocking insert 100 generally in place. However, accidentally lifting the seat blocking insert 100 upwards may cause the seatbelt to slip off a lower edge of front wall 104, which causes seat blocking insert 100 not to be secured in place on the seating portion of the aircraft seat. Advantageously, in a preferred embodiment, a front wall groove 110 is formed on front wall 104 of base 120. Front wall groove 110 runs generally horizontally along front wall 104, and has a width and depth suitable for receiving a standard aircraft seatbelt. As an aircraft seatbelt is wrapped around the base as described, a portion of the seatbelt is retained within front wall groove 110 thus preventing the aircraft seatbelt from slipping off the lower edge of front wall 104, thereby keeping seat blocking insert 100 secured in place on top of the seating portion of the aircraft seat. In yet another preferred embodiment side wall grooves 111 are formed on right and left side walls 105. Side wall grooves 111 are in functional continuity with groove 110 such that the seatbelt is retained in front wall grooves 110 and side wall grooves 111, as it is wrapped around the front wall 104 and side walls 105, respectively. Front wall grooves 110 and sidewall grooves 111 cooperate to better secure the seat blocking insert 100 to the aircraft seat as the seatbelt is further restrained from sliding off the base 120 by being further retained by the edges forming side wall grooves 111, in addition to being retained by the edges of front wall groove 110. In yet another preferred embodiment, beveled grooves 112 are formed at end portions of front groove 110 and side wall grooves 111, at the region where side wall grooves 111 meet front wall groove 110. Beveled grooves 112 are shaped to reduce stress on the seatbelt that maybe caused by having front wall groove 110 and side wall grooves 111 forming a sharp edge at the junction therebetween. In yet another preferred embodiment, side wall grooves 111 are inclined rear- to-front (or declined front-to-rear) with respect to the base 120, being formed at a higher point near the front portion of side walls 105, and extending towards a lower point near the rear portion of side walls 105. This inclined orientation for side wall grooves 111, serves to further secure seat blocking insert 100 in position. The inclined orientation of side wall grooves 111 causes tension in the fastened seat belt to have two components: a horizontal component for biasing seat blocking insert 100 towards a back portion of the aircraft seat, and a vertical component for biasing seat blocking insert 100 downwardly towards the seating portion of the aircraft seat. This ensures utmost stability and makes it highly unlikely that seat blocking insert 100 would be dislodged from its place.

[0046] Tuning now to FIG. 3, FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, and FIG. 4C, which depict a seat blocking insert for an aircraft seat, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Seat blocking insert 200 is similar to seat blocking device 100 depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 with some additional features. For example an open loop 201 with a hook and loop fastener is provided in at least one of grooves 111 of side walls 105. The open loop 201 is sized to wrap around an aircraft seatbelt and the hook and loop fastener keeps loop 201 fastened in a closed position. Fastening open loop 201 around the aircraft seatbelt further ensures that the seatbelt is retained in grooves 111 even if the seat blocking insert undergoes lateral motion in addition to vertical motion. In another embodiment (not shown) the open loop 201 maybe fastened around the seatbelt by means of buttons, clips, or by tying the ends thereof to a knot.

[0047] In yet another embodiment, a rear loop 202 is provided in side wall grooves 111 near back wall 106. Rear loop 202 is for receiving an aircraft seatbelt therethrough so as to hold seat blocking insert 200 in place on the back side, and to provide an anchor point in the rear of seat blocking insert 200 thus preventing seat blocking insert 200 from tipping forward. Additionally, rear loop 202 may help guide the seatbelt towards grooves 111. Loop 202 may be made of leather or other elastic material. Preferably loop 202 stretches to permit a standard aircraft seat buckle to pass therethrough, then fits around the seatbelt once the buckle has passed therethrough.

[0048] The seat blocking insert presented herein may be provided on-demand, or provided on passenger request at the time of reservation or the airline ticket. It is thus desirable for an aircraft to carry a number of the seat blocking inserts in storage and provide them to passengers when needed. Accordingly it is desirable for the seat blocking inserts to take as little space as possible when not in use, especially when used on smaller aircrafts with limited storage capabilities. [0049] In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, shown in FIGS. 5-10, there is provided a seat blocking insert, for an aircraft seat, that folds into a slim profile for easy stowing when not in use. With reference to FIG. 5, a seat blocking insert

500 is shown placed face down and in folded mode. Seat blocking insert 500 features a tray

501 having a similar structure to the previously described tray 101. Tray 501 may have supporting sections 102 and circular recesses 103, and is generally similar to the embodiments described above with reference to FIGS. 1-3 and 4A-4D. Seat blocking insert 500 also includes a foldable base formed of a back panel 502 and stands 505. Back panel 502 is provided in a hinged arrangement to tray 501. In one embodiment, back panel 502 is pivotally or hingedly attached to tray 501 via hinges 503. In another embodiment (not shown), back panel 502 is pivotally attached to tray 501 via a weakened portion of material, or other hinged means placed or formed between edges thereof, as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art. In other embodiments back panel 502 may not be foldably attached to the tray 501 but rather is removably attached to the back of tray 501 via other means such as clips or hook and loop fastener strips.

[0050] With reference to FIG. 6, back panel 502 has been folded away from the back of tray 501 by being rotated around hinges 503. In another embodiment (not shown) back panel 502 may have been removed from the back of tray 501 completely then inserted in an upright position, into a suitable slot in the back of tray 501. This may be accomplished by having tongues (not shown) extending from an edge of panel 502 being inserted into mating slots (not shown) onto the back of tray 501. As back panel 502 is folded out and is generally perpendicular to the tray 501, stands 505 can be seen. Stands 505 are pivotally attached to the right and left edges of panel 502 at hinged portions 506. Hinged portions 506 maybe hinges, resilient and/or portions of reduced thickness of a suitable material, or any suitable other hinge option for allowing stands 505 to fold out of back panel 502 around a vertical axis formed by the vertical edges of back panel 502. [0051] With reference to FIG. 7, a left stand 505 is shown in a folded out position. Stand 505 has a connection end 507 suitable for insertion in slot 504 on the back of tray 501 for retaining stand 505 in a tray supporting position. Similarly, with reference to FIG. 8, a right stand 505 is shown in a folded out position, and end 507 of both right stand and left stands 505 are in position above slot 504. With reference to FIG. 9, connection end 507 of each of right and left stands 505 has been inserted into a respective slot 504 formed on the back of tray 501. [0052] FIG. 10 shows seat blocking insert 500 in an upright operating mode suitable for being inserted into an aircraft seat for blocking such seat and providing a passenger in an adjacent seat with a supporting surface for storing items thereon. Tray 501 is connected to a top portion of the foldable base comprised of the back support panel 502 and stands 505. Seat blocking insert 500 maybe secured in place, on an aircraft seat, by means of an aircraft seatbelt. The seatbelt may be wrapped around stands 505 for keeping seat blocking insert 500 in position on the seating portion of an aircraft seat. When not in use, seat blocking insert 500 maybe folded back into storage position, in the reverse order in which it was folded out. Advantageously, the folded design of seat insert 500 provides for additional storage space under tray 501 when in use. When not in use seat insert 500 has a compact profile and may be easily stowed in storage until needed.

[0053] FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of a seat blocking insert 1100 for an aircraft seat, in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention. Seat blocking insert 1100 is a foldable seat blocking insert similar to seat blocking insert 500, but with additional features. Seat blocking insert 1100 is comprised of a tray 1101 having supporting sections 102 and beverage support circular recesses 103. Tray 1101 is supported by two side stands 1115 and a back support 1112. Back support 1112 is hingedly or pivotally connected to the rear edge of tray 1101 in the same manner that back panel 502 is connected to tray 501 of seat blocking insert 500. Tray 1101 has sidewalls 1105 that have a tapered shape with a height that is shorter at the front and taller at the back. The long rear height of sidewalls 1105 provides some robustness to the tray and better stability as it increase the surface area of sidewalls 1105 that is in alignment with side stands 1115. The short front height of sidewalls 1105 at the front of the tray provides for more storage space under the tray 1101. Side stands 1105 each has an inclined front portion 1115 such that a bottom portion of the front portion of 1115 is closer to the front of the seat blocking device than the top portion of the front portion of 1115. Front portions 1115 each has a recess 1117 sized and shaped for receiving a standard aircraft seat belt. When in use an aircraft seat belt is wrapped around the stands and is received by recesses 1117, then the buckle is fastened and the seatbelt is further tightened. The recesses 1117 help retain the seatbelt therein thus preventing it from sliding along a front edge of the front portions 1115. Additionally, since front portions 1115 are inclined, the force imparted by the tight seatbelt onto the seat blocking insert has a vertical and a horizontal component. The vertical force component pushes the seat blocking insert 1100 downwardly into the seat portion of the aircraft seat. The horizontal force component pushes the seat blocking insert 1100 backwards towards the aircraft seat back. Advantageously, both force components provide additional stability to the seat blocking insert as it is placed into an aircraft seat. [0054] FIG. 12 is a top perspective mode of the seat blocking insert of FIG. 11 installed into an aircraft seat. A seatbelt 1200 is wrapped around insert 1100 and is received by recesses 1117 formed on the front edge of front portions 1115 of stands 1105. A laptop computer 1300 is shown on the aircraft seat in the space formed below tray 1101 of seat blocking insert 1100. [0055] The various materials used to make the seat blocking insert preferably meet the very stringent FAR 25.853(a) and (c) fire test to aircraft material.

[0056] The above-described embodiments are intended to be examples of the present invention and alterations and modifications may be effected thereto, by those of skill in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the claims appended hereto.