The present invention relates to an array of aircraft seats.

Aircraft passenger seats are arrayed in an aircraft cabin in accordance with a

Layout Of Passenger Accommodation, known in the art as a LOPA. A LOPA generally refers to the layout for an entire aircraft and includes not only seating, but also galleys and lavatories. The present invention relates to an array primarily, but not exclusively, for sleeper seats; that is seats that are convertible from sitting mode to sleeping mode. Such seats usually comprise a proportion only of the total seating in a cabin. Accordingly in this specification, the term "array of aircraft seats" of aircraft seats is used to denote arrangement of a proportion, or indeed possibly the totality, of the seats in an overall LOPA.

In design of a LOPA, a major consideration is efficient utilisation of the cabin, that is maximising the number of seats or at least maximising revenue from the seats, bearing in mind that sleeper seats command a substantial premium with respect to economy seats.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved array of aircraft seats.

According to the invention there is provided an array of aircraft seats comprising: • two columns of seats arranged for array along an aircraft cabin on respective sides of a longitudinal axis of the array;

• the seats having respective central axes,

• the seats in both columns having their central axes angled with respect to the longitudinal axis and • the array including at least one quartet of the seats having:

• two seats from one column on one side of the longitudinal axis, with

• one of these two seats facing inwards towards the longitudinal axis and • the other of these two seats facing outwards from the longitudinal axis and

• two seats from the other column on the other side of the longitudinal axis, with • one of these two seats facing inwards towards the longitudinal axis and

• the other of these two seats facing outwards from the longitudinal axis.

Preferably the seats in the or each quartet of seats are arranged in pairs of adjacent seats, • each pair of adjacent seats having one seat from one column on one side of the longitudinal axis and the other seat from the other column on the other side of the longitudinal axis, • the pairs of seats facing in opposite directions along the longitudinal axis:

• the seats of one pair facing inwards towards the longitudinal axis and • the seats of the next pair along the longitudinal axis facing outwards from the longitudinal axis.

Whilst it can be envisaged that the seats in the two columns may all be set parallel with each other, in the preferred embodiment, the seats are set in a chevron array.

In the case of a chevron array, the angle of the seats, i.e. the angle between the longitudinal axis and the central axes of the seats is referred to as the "herringbone" angle of the array. The direction across the seats, as at the junction of a back rest and a seat cushion or seat pan, is referred to as a "complementary herringbone" angle, i.e. the third angle of a right angle triangle having the herringbone angle as the second angle.

Again, it can be envisaged that the seats are staggered, whereby corresponding seats in one column are longitudinally displaced with respect to each other. However it is preferred that they are arrayed to have equidistant longitudinal positions in the two columns. Preferably, the pairs of seats are separated - in sleeping mode - only by a longitudinal divider along the longitudinal axis. In the preferred embodiment, the inwards facing pairs of seats have respective ottomans on either side of the divider, the ottomans being triangular, one side extending along the divider, a second side extending at substantially the complementary herringbone angle across the end of a leg rest of the seat in sleeping mode and the third side extending away from the divider. The inner corner of the leg rests substantially abut the longitudinal divider. Similarly the inner corner of the head rests (in sleeping mode) of the outwards facing seats substantially abuts the longitudinal divider.

Additionally to the longitudinal divider, the individual seats in the columns have inter-seat dividers between them. Whilst these can deviate from being at right angles from the longitudinal divider, where they meet the latter, particularly towards the complementary herringbone angle where they cross behind head rests at the longitudinal divider and away from the complementary angle where they cross in behind a ottoman at the longitudinal divider (in both cases behind being used in the context of relative position from the perspective of a user of the seat); preferably the inter-seat dividers extend substantially at right angles to the longitudinal divider.

At aisles opposite the seats from the longitudinal divider, the inter-seat dividers can end or be continued along the aisle. Where they cross behind head rests of inwards facing seats, they can be angled towards the complementary herringbone angle, but are preferably substantially at right angles to the longitudinal divider. Further, at the aisle, they preferably continue along the aisle. Where the inter-seat dividers extend behind ottomans, they are preferably angled away from the complementary angle. Such angling allows the ottoman to be of appreciable size, without impinging on the access space.

Preferably, the array includes on opposite sides of the aisles, two side columns of angled, alternate-facing seats set against cabin side walls, one side column on one side of the two columns along the longitudinal axis and the other on the other side. Preferably the seats and inter-seat dividers are arranged in the side columns in like manner to the seats and inter-seat dividers in the central columns. Whilst the seats on opposite sides of the aisles can be parallel to each other, they are preferably in chevron array, albeit a staggered chevron.

To help understanding of the invention, a specific embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a short array of six sleeper seats arrayed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a LOPA view of the seats of Figure 1 in an aircraft cabin; Figure 3 is an equivalent LOPA to that of Figure 2 showing a cabin equipped with conventional seats;

Figure 4 is a LOPA view of the seats of Figure 1 in another aircraft cabin;

Figure 5 is an equivalent LOPA to that of Figure 4 showing a cabin equipped with conventional seats; Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 1 of an alternative array in accordance with the invention; and

Figure 7 is a further view similar to Figure 1 of another alternative array in accordance with the invention.

Referring to Figures 1 & 2, the sleeper seats 1 are shown there in sleeping mode. Each comprises a head rest 2, a back rest 3, a seat pan or seat cushion 4 and a leg rest 5, all of which move in a conventional manner when the seat is moved from sleeping mode to sitting mode. The seats also include ottomans 6. Further they have inter-seat dividers 7 between the individual seats within the their column. The six seats shown in Figure 1 - at the right of the Figure - are arranged in a chevron formation or array and two columns 8,9. All the seats in each column are parallel with each other and have central axes A set at a "herringbone" angle α to the column direction and in particular to a longitudinal axis 10 of the array. This angle is measured anti-clockwise from the longitudinal axis for the seats in column 8 and clockwise for the seats in column 9.

However, whilst being angled at the same herringbone angle, alternate seats face in alternate directions. Thus seats 11, 12, 14, 15 face outwards, whilst intervening seats 16,17 face inwards. Please note the terms "outwards" and "inwards" are used in respect of the direction out from and in towards the longitudinal axis A ₅ which will generally be along the centre of the aircraft cabin in which the seats will be arrayed when installed.

It should be noted that seats 11,14,16,17 are arrayed as a quartet of the seats having: • two seats 11,16 from one column 8 on one side of the longitudinal axis 10, with

• one 16 of these two seats facing inwards towards the longitudinal axis and

• the other 11 of these two seats facing outwards from the longitudinal axis and • two seats 14,17 from the other column 9 on the other side of the longitudinal axis

10, with

• one 17 of these two seats facing inwards towards the longitudinal axis and

• the other 14 of these two seats facing outwards from the longitudinal axis. The seats 16,17,12,15 are similarly arrayed.

Whilst it can be appreciated that when the seats are moved from sleeping mode as shown to sitting mode, access to the outwards facing seats is readily available via their passage spaces 18 between their side furniture 19 and their triangular ottomans 20. Inter-seat dividers 7 give the individual seats privacy. At the head end of each of these seats, a longitudinal divider 22 on the longitudinal axis 10 extends between the inter-seat dividers and indeed along the axis. The inter-seat dividers extend away from the longitudinal dividers at right angles.

The inwards facing seats have an access passage 24, between the foot end 25 of a divider from an adjacent seat and side furniture 26 of the seat in question. An extension 27 of this seat's divider extends around an aisle side of the seat head rest. Opposite the seat, against the longitudinal divider is a side furniture shelf 28. At the foot of the bed is its ottoman 29. This is triangular, with one side against the longitudinal divider, one against the inter-seat divider 30 and a third at the complementary herringbone angle (defined above). The herringbone angle α of the array in Figure 1 is 33°. o

It should be noted that the seats on either side of the longitudinal divider come close to each other - being in effect separated by it only at the inboard corners 31 of the head rests of the outwards facing seats and the inboard corners 32 of the leg rests of the inwards facing seats, these corners being slightly rounded. Also at intermediate portions 33 of the inter-seat dividers, these extend at the herringbone angle, before turning more directly towards the aisles 34. Those inter-seat divider portions 25 passing along the ottomans 20 of the outwards facing seats do not turn fully perpendicular again to the longitudinal dividers, so as not to restrict the size of these ottomans, whilst portions 36 at the head rest ends of the inwards facing seats do turn perpendicular to meet their extensions 27.

On the other side of the aisles 33 are a single column of seats 41,42,43, also in herringbone, alternately facing array. These seats are to all intents and purposes the same as the seats of the two central columns, save only that their herringbone angle is very slightly different at 32°. It should be noted that they are in chevron array with respect to the central seats also fronting the aisle.

Turning to Figure 2, there is shown two arrays 51,52 in accordance with the invention in a three class/fare aircraft cabin. Corresponding cabin wall seats 53, 54 are provided. It will be noted that:

• the chevrons of the arrays 51 ,52 point forwards in the cabin;

• there are different numbers of seats in the array 51 from the side wall seats 53, at least as regards those fronting the same aisle;

• the array 52 has one seat missing and its place taken by a lavatory 58 and a cupboard 59.

It can be noted that the array of Figure 1 has advantages, which can be appreciated from Figure 2 by comparison with Figure 3. The latter shows an equivalent business class passenger count LOPA using conventional business class seats 22, in which LOPA it is necessary for the business class seats to be arrayed three abreast along the centre of the cabin. This requires central passengers to step over their neighbours for aisle access, as is required for window seat passengers seated against the side wall of the cabin. By contrast, the seats arrayed in accordance with the invention all have direct aisle access. Further, it will be noted that the array in accordance with the invention allows an increase by twelve in the number of economy class seats 23.

Turning on to Figures 4 & 5, two similar cabins of a two class/fare aircraft are shown. Again, the array of the invention shows advantages in providing for the same number of business class passengers, but an additional seventeen economy class passengers.

Turning on to Figure 6, an alternative array of the seats in accordance with the invention is shown. It is substantially identical to the array of Figure 1, except that the seats of column 108 are a mirror image of the seats of column 8. Thus all the seats have their axes A parallel to each other and set at the same angle α with respect to the longitudinal axis and measured in the same, i.e. clockwise, direction for all the seats in both columns. Further the seats are arranged in pairs facing either inwards or outwards. Thus pairs of seats 111, 112 & 114, 115 face outwards, whilst intervening seats 116,117 face inwards. And again, the seats 111, 114, 116, 117 are arrayed as a quartet of the seats having:

• two seats 111,116 from one column 108 on one side of the longitudinal axis 110, with

• one 116 of these two seats facing inwards towards the longitudinal axis and

• the other 111 of these two seats facing outwards from the longitudinal axis and

• two seats 114,117 from the other column 109 on the other side of the longitudinal axis 10, with • one 117 of these two seats facing inwards towards the longitudinal axis and the other 114 of these two seats facing outwards from the longitudinal axis.

Turning on again to Figure 7, another alternative array of the seats in accordance with the invention is shown. Five seats 211 ,216,212,251 ,252 are shown in column 208 and three seats 214,217,215 are shown in column 209. The array is substantially identical to the array of Figure 1, except that the seats of column 208 are translated with respect to the seats of column 8. Thus all the seats alternate in their columns as to the direction in which they face and they are in a staggered chevron a

array. If the extent of translation were less, they would be are arranged in pairs facing either inwards or outwards. However as shown in Figure 7 outwards facing seat 211 is no longer paired with outwards facing seat 214. Rather, inwards facing seat 216 is paired with outwards facing seat 214; and so on along the array. However, again, the seats 216,212,214,217 are arrayed as a quartet of the seats having:

• two seats 216,212 from one column 208 on one side of the longitudinal axis 210, with

• one 216 of these two seats facing inwards towards the longitudinal axis and

• the other 212 of these two seats facing outwards from the longitudinal axis and • two seats 214,217 from the other column 209 on the other side of the longitudinal axis 210, with

• one 217 of these two seats facing inwards towards the longitudinal axis and

• the other 214 of these two seats facing outwards from the longitudinal axis. It will be noted that the central axes A of the seats 214,216 intersect the longitudinal axis 210 at different points 214 A,216 A.