GB2203035A

GB2203035A - Arm rest for passenger vehicle seating

Info

Publication number: GB2203035A
Application number: GB08707956A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Tcheng
Original assignee: Flight Equipment and Engineering Ltd
Current assignee: BE Aerospace UK Ltd
Priority date: 1987-04-02
Filing date: 1987-04-02
Publication date: 1988-10-12
Anticipated expiration: 2007-04-02
Also published as: GB2203035B; GB8707956D0

Abstract

A seating unit for use in passenger vehicles provides two or more seats abreast with intermediate armrests between adjacent seats. Each intermediate armrest has an operative upper surface which is narrow at its front end and wider at its rear end. The wider rear end can comfortably accommodate the elbows of passengers occupying adjacent seats, thus avoiding competition between passengers and improving their comfort. <IMAGE>

Description

PASSENGES VEHICLE SEATIIZe Seating in passenger vehicles (land vehicles, ships and aircraft commonly arranged in seating units each comprising two or more seats abreast with armrests between them. Usually, because of a commercial requirement tD accommodate the maximum number of passengers in the available space, these armrests are quite narrow, with an operative upper surface which is typicall about two inches (50 mm.) wide. Such an armrest serves mainly to separate the adjacent, seat spaces and whilst its upper surface is adequate for one passenger to rest his or her arm or eibow, it cannot accommodate the arms or elbows or two passengers. As a result, adjacent passengers freouently find themselves competing for use of the armrest between them. This invention sees to avoid such competition.

According to the invention an armrest for a seating unit for passenger vehicie has an operative upper surface which is narrow at its front end and wlder at its rear end.

Preferably the operative surface of the armrest comprises a front portion of substantially constant width and a rear portion having a maximum width at least twice that constant width.

The sites of the rear portion may be straight or curved. They may comprise major parts which are substantially parallel and minor straight or curved parts joining the major parts to the sides of the front portion. When curved, the sides of the rear portion may meet the sides of the front portion tangentially.

The invention includes a seating unit incorporating an armrest as described between adjacent seats and a vehicle having such a seating unit.

In a seating unit incorporating an armrests as described between adjacent seats, the seat space available to occupants and ease of access to and exit from the seats are virtually the same as in a seating unit with conventional narrow armrests, but the rear parts of the armrests can accommodate the elbows of passengers occupying both the adjacent seats and provide improved lateral support and comfort for the passengers.

r.Th embodiment of the invention is illustrated bv way of example r-b- r; K accompanving drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan of a seating unit providing three seats abreast, ant Figure 2 is a front elevation of the seating unit shown in Figure 1.

The seating unit comprises a bottom part 1 and three backrest parts 2, eacn hinge adjacent to the rear edge of the bottom part 1. Side armrests are mounted at each side of the unit and two intermediate armrests 4 defir.

and separate the three seats. Each intermediate armrest 4 has an operative upper surface comprising, a front portion 5 having parallel sides and a rear portion tj, the sides oi which comprise major parts 7 which are parallel and minor inclined portions & joining them to the front portions. Typically, the front portions 5 are about two inches (50 mm.) wide and the rear portions are about Iour inches (100 mm.) wide between their major side parts 7.The usual adequate widtb is provided between the front portions of the intermediate armrests and their rear portions can accommodate the elbows of passengers occupyin two adjacent seats and provide improved lateral support and comfort lor the passengers. The upper surfaces of the intermediate armrests are preferably upholstered in the usual manner.

The adjacent sides of the backrest parts 2 are rebated at 9 so that they wiii ciear the intermediate armrests when they are folded forwardly. Tc give a neat appearance and provide comfort for passengers, small fixed backrest elements 10 are mounted adjacent to the rear ends of the intermediate armrests to fill these rebates when the backrest parts 2 are in their normal substantially upright positions. Alternatively the rear ends cf the intermediate armrests could be extended rearwardly and upwardly to fill these rebates and blend with the adjacent surfaces of the backrest parts 2.

Claims

1. An armrest for a seating unit for a passenger vehicle having an operative upper surface which is narrow at its front end and wider at its rear en-.

2. An armrest as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the operative upper suriaE comprises a front portion of substantially constant width and a rear portion having a maximum width at least twice that constant width.

3. An armrest as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the rear portion has sid- comprising maior parts which are substantially parallel and minor partE joining the major parts to the sides of the front portion.

4. fin armrest as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the rear portion h-- siae- which are curved and meet the sides of the front portion tangentially.

5. An armrest for a seating unit for a passenger vehicle substantially a hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated bv the accompanying drawings.

6. A seating unit for a passenger vehicle incorporating an armrest as claimed in anv preceding claim.

7. h seating unit for a passenger vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

8. A passenger vehicle having a seating unit as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows.

CLAIMS i. An armrest, for use between adjacent seats in a seating unit comprising at least two seats abreast for a passenger vehicle, having an operatiye upper surface which is narrow at its front end and wider at its rear end.

2. An armrest as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the operative upper surface comprises a front portion of substantially constant width and a rear portion having a maximum width at least twice that constant width.

3. An armrest as claimed in Claim 2. wherein the rear portion has sides comprising major parts which are substantially parallel and minor parts loining the major parts to the sides of the front portion.

4. kn armrest as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the rear portion has sides which are curved and meet the sides of the front portion tangentially.

5. An armrest for a seating unit for a passenger vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

. A seating unit for a passenger vehicle, comprising at least two seats abreast, incorporating an armrest as claimed in any preceding claim between two adjacent seats.

7. A seating unit for a passenger vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.