US 12,420,930 B2
Aircraft passenger accommodation unit
Lee Neale, Cwmbran (GB); and Clive Pearce, Cwmbran (GB)
Assigned to Safran Seats GB Limited, Cwmbran (GB)
Appl. No. 17/787,887
Filed by Safran Seats GB Limited, Cwmbran (GB)
PCT Filed Dec. 31, 2020, PCT No. PCT/GB2020/053380
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 21, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/136935, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 8, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 2000044 (GB), filed on Jan. 3, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0018064 A1, Jan. 19, 2023
Int. Cl. B64D 11/06 (2006.01); B64D 11/00 (2006.01)
CPC B64D 11/0606 (2014.12) [B64D 11/0602 (2014.12); B64D 2011/0046 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An aircraft passenger accommodation unit for location in an aircraft cabin adjacent to an aisle, the unit comprising:
(i) a seat;
ii) a shell, at least partially surrounding the seat, wherein the shell defines an opening that allows a passenger to egress between the aisle and the seat;
(iii) a door for providing variable access through the opening between the aisle and the seat, wherein the door is translatable along a first path in a first direction across the opening between a closed position in which passenger access through the opening is at least partially blocked, and an open position which allows passenger access between the seat and the aisle through the opening,
wherein the door is translatable in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction, between a first, raised, configuration and a second, dropped, configuration,
wherein, when the door is in the first configuration, the door is translatable across the opening along the first path, and,
wherein, when the door is in the second configuration, the door is translatable across the opening along a second path, wherein the first path and the second path are discrete paths;
(iv) a first support mechanism, wherein the first support mechanism is arranged to support the door in the first configuration, wherein the first support mechanism comprises a first guide mechanism arranged to guide translation of the door along the first path; and
(v) a second support mechanism, wherein the second support mechanism is arranged to support the door in the second configuration; wherein the second support mechanism comprises a second guide mechanism, and the second guide mechanism comprises a guide track arranged to guide translation of the door as the door is translated along the second path.