US 11,970,271 B2
Energy harvesting recline button for aircraft seating
Mark B. Dowty, Rural Hall, NC (US); David D. Nicolato, Winston Salem, NC (US); and Alen Wyss, Winston-Salem, NC (US)
Assigned to B/E Aerospace, Inc., Winston-Salem, NC (US)
Filed by B/E Aerospace, Inc., Winston-Salem, NC (US)
Filed on Mar. 29, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/707,644.
Prior Publication US 2023/0312099 A1, Oct. 5, 2023
Int. Cl. B64D 11/06 (2006.01); H01H 13/14 (2006.01); H01H 13/20 (2006.01)
CPC B64D 11/0624 (2014.12) [B64D 11/064 (2014.12); B64D 11/0644 (2014.12); H01H 13/14 (2013.01); H01H 13/20 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A recline mechanism comprising:
a cylinder and piston assembly couplable to a seatback of a passenger seat, the cylinder and piston assembly configurable between a locked state and an unlocked state, wherein the cylinder and piston assembly prevents angular adjustment of the seatback when the cylinder and piston assembly is in the locked state and permits the angular adjustment of the seatback when the cylinder and piston assembly is in the unlocked state;
an actuator coupled to the cylinder and piston assembly for causing the locked state and the unlocked state; and
a button configured to generate and transmit an electrical signal to the actuator in response to the button becoming depressed; wherein the actuator causes the unlocked state of the cylinder and piston assembly in response to receiving the electrical signal; wherein the button is configured to generate and transmit an additional electrical signal to the actuator in response to the button becoming released; wherein the actuator causes the locked state of the cylinder and piston assembly in response to receiving the electrical signal; wherein the button generates the electrical signal and the additional electrical signal without the button being connected to an electrical power supply; wherein the button generates the electrical signal by converting mechanical power to electrical power.