DESC:FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to an improved seating arrangement for multiple-seat vehicles or rooms. More particularly, the invention is concerned with providing a seating/sleeping arrangement adaptable for use in large occupant-carrying vehicles, especially Buses, Trains and Airlines, which allows considerably more occupant comfort without any appreciable increase in the space requirements.

BACKGROUND

Common carriers, such as occupant airlines, bus lines, and train lines, often contain multiple seats in one or more cabins/coaches/decks. Subject to their compliance with applicable safety regulations, seating arrangements may vary from carrier to carrier. Whereas travellers may prefer fewer seats per cabin to increase legroom, privacy, or other factors associated with decreased seat density, common carrier operators may prefer greater seats per cabin to increase revenue per transport. Optimizing, or at least enhancing, both occupant comfort and revenue generation is a significant issue in cabin/ coach design and layout.

In the case of business / executive class cabin design, various parameters, such as occupant comfort, bed and seat dimensions, living space, direct access to the aisle, angle of the bed surface to the cabin floor, and window view are additional considerations that influence cabin seating arrangements. For example, for occupant comfort, it is desirable to achieve a horizontal bed surface when in transport or flight or hotel.

There are various limitations associated with the current design of the coaches. Further, the arrangement of the seats limits the number of seats that can be installed in a coach of a predefined size as well as the utility of the coaches. For instance, installing the chairs in the coach may increase the number of seats but limits the coach’s usage for short-distance travel because of the absence of lying-down seats. In another instance, a bench may be installed in the coach for long-distance travel but limits the number of seats is reduced. One of the ways to mitigate this issue is to arrange the bench in such a way that a pair of benches are arranged facing each other. However, such an arrangement does not provide any privacy to the occupants. Another way to mitigate this issue is to have a convertible seat that has a mechanism to convert the seat into a bench for laying purposes. However, the usage of such as mechanism makes the seat complex in construction and difficult to operate.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts, in a simplified format, that are further described in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is neither intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the invention nor it is intended for determining the scope of the invention.

The present disclosure relates to the aspects of seat assembly for a coach. The seat assembly provides both seating and lying provisions. The seat assembly also provides privacy to the occupant.

In an embodiment, a seat assembly is disclosed that has a sitting area and a sleeping area. The sitting area includes a head portion adapted to support an upper body of an occupant and a seating portion having a first edge joined perpendicularly to a bottom of the head portion. Further, the seating portion is adapted to support a middle body of the occupant. The sitting area also includes a leg portion extending downwards from a second edge of the seating portion, the leg portion adapted to accommodate the legs of the occupant. The sleeping area is defined by the seating portion and another portion extending at an acute angle from the seating portion, such that the sleeping area acts as a berth for the occupant.

In another embodiment, a vehicle coach having a plurality of seat assemblies is disclosed. each of the plurality of seat assemblies has a sitting area and a sleeping area. The sitting area includes a head portion adapted to support an upper body of an occupant and a seating portion having a first edge joined perpendicularly to a bottom of the head portion. Further, the seating portion is adapted to support a middle body of the occupant. The sitting area also includes a leg portion extending downwards from a second edge of the seating portion, the leg portion adapted to accommodate the legs of the occupant. The sleeping area is defined by the seating portion and another portion extending at an acute angle from the seating portion, such that the sleeping area acts as a berth for the occupant.

According to the present disclosure, the portion that defines the sleeping area extends from the seating portion at an acute angle resulting in integrated seat assembly. Further, the extended portion is separate from the seating portion thereby alleviating the need for the conversion mechanism used in the conventional seats. Moreover, the acute angle enables privacy to the occupant from other occupants.

To further clarify the advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates a top view of a railway coach having a plurality of seat assemblies, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of a portion of a railway coach showing an arrangement of windows vis-a-vias the plurality of seat assemblies, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 3 illustrates another perspective view of the vehicle coach showing accessories for the seat assemblies, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 4 the assembling of adjacent pairs of seat assemblies, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 5 illustrates a side view of a pair of seat assemblies showing a barrier wall, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 6 illustrates a perspective view of the plurality of seat assemblies having a barrier wall with inserts, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 7 illustrates a set of seat assemblies showing a climbing structure, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 8 illustrates a set of seat assemblies showing steps and a grab handle, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 9 illustrates a top view of a portion of vehicle coach 100 highlighting the dimensions of the seat assemblies, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 10 illustrates a top view of a portion of vehicle coach 100 highlighting the obstruction in the field of view of an occupant with respect to another occupant, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 11 illustrates a top view of a pair of seat assemblies highlighting the width of seat assemblies, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 12 illustrates a top view of a pair of seat assemblies highlighting different sleeping positions on the seat assemblies, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
Figure 13 illustrates a top view of a pair of seat assemblies highlighting additional sleeping areas on the seat assemblies, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have necessarily been drawn to scale. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skilled in the art to which invention belongs. The system and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

For example, the term “some” as used herein may be understood as “none” or “one” or “more than one” or “all.” Therefore, the terms “none,” “one,” “more than one,” “more than one, but not all” or “all” would fall under the definition of “some.” It should be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the terminology and structure employed herein is for describing, teaching, and illuminating some embodiments and their specific features and elements and therefore, should not be construed to limit, restrict or reduce the spirit and scope of the present disclosure in any way.

For example, any terms used herein such as, “includes,” “comprises,” “has,” “consists,” and similar grammatical variants do not specify an exact limitation or restriction, and certainly do not exclude the possible addition of one or more features or elements, unless otherwise stated. Further, such terms must not be taken to exclude the possible removal of one or more of the listed features and elements, unless otherwise stated, for example, by using the limiting language including, but not limited to, “must comprise” or “needs to include.”

Whether or not a certain feature or element was limited to being used only once, it may still be referred to as “one or more features” or “one or more elements” or “at least one feature” or “at least one element.” Furthermore, the use of the terms “one or more” or “at least one” feature or element do not preclude there being none of that feature or element, unless otherwise specified by limiting language including, but not limited to, “there needs to be one or more...” or “one or more elements is required.”

Unless otherwise defined, all terms and especially any technical and/or scientific terms, used herein may be taken to have the same meaning as commonly understood by a person ordinarily skilled in the art.

Reference is made herein to some “embodiments.” It should be understood that an embodiment is an example of a possible implementation of any features and/or elements of the present disclosure. Some embodiments have been described for the purpose of explaining one or more of the potential ways in which the specific features and/or elements of the proposed disclosure fulfil the requirements of uniqueness, utility, and non-obviousness.

Use of the phrases and/or terms including, but not limited to, “a first embodiment,” “a further embodiment,” “an alternate embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “multiple embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “other embodiments,” “further embodiment”, “furthermore embodiment”, “additional embodiment” or other variants thereof do not necessarily refer to the same embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, one or more particular features and/or elements described in connection with one or more embodiments may be found in one embodiment, or may be found in more than one embodiment, or may be found in all embodiments, or may be found in no embodiments. Although one or more features and/or elements may be described herein in the context of only a single embodiment, or in the context of more than one embodiment, or in the context of all embodiments, the features and/or elements may instead be provided separately or in any appropriate combination or not at all. Conversely, any features and/or elements described in the context of separate embodiments may alternatively be realized as existing together in the context of a single embodiment.

Any particular and all details set forth herein are used in the context of some embodiments and therefore should not necessarily be taken as limiting factors to the proposed disclosure.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figures 1 to 8 illustrate different views of a vehicle coach 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 1 illustrates a vehicle coach 100 having a plurality of seat assemblies 102 whereas Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of a portion of the vehicle coach 100. Further, Figure 3 illustrates another perspective view of the vehicle coach 100 showing accessories for the seat assemblies 102. Figure 4 illustrates the assembling of adjacent pairs of seat assemblies 102 whereas Figure 5 illustrates a side view of a pair of seat assemblies 102 showing a barrier wall. Further, Figure 6 illustrates a perspective view of the plurality of seat assemblies having a barrier wall with inserts. Further, Figure 7 illustrates a set of seat assemblies showing a climbing structure whereas Figure 8 illustrates a set of seat assemblies showing steps and a grab handle.

The vehicle coach 100 can be a railway coach adapted to ferry occupants 108. The vehicle coach 100 can be a part of a train running on a railway track. The vehicle coach 100 including a pair of seating section 104 and an aisle 106. Further, the seating section 104 has the plurality of seat assemblies 102 installed thereon while the aisle 106 provides access to the seat assemblies 102 for the occupants 108. The seat assembly 102 is designed to provide both seating provision and laying provision to the occupant 108. As shown in Figure 3, the occupants 108-1 are seated whereas the occupants 108-2 are laying.

In one example, the seat assemblies 102 are arranged in such a way that one seat assembly 102 is arranged in a series fashion along the length of the vehicle coach 100 to form the seating section 104 of the coach 100. In addition, the seat assembly 102 are also arranged vertically in a matrix fashion as shown in Figures 2 and 3 forming an upper berth 110-1 and a lower berth 110-2. Furthermore, the seat assemblies 102 are arranged in a combination of the series fashion and matrix fashion.

In one example, the seat assemblies 102 is capable of being arranged in the aforementioned fashion because the seat assemblies 102 is detachably connected to each other. As shown in Figure 4, one side of the seat assembly 102 may include engaging members 400 that engages with the engaging members 402 of the adjacent seat assembly 102 to arrange the seat assemblies 102 in the series fashion. The seat assembly 102 has additional engagement members (not visible) that allow another seat assembly 102 to install over the seat assembly 102 to arrange the seat assemblies 102 in the matrix fashion. According to the present disclosure, the presence of the engagement members 400, and 402 makes the seat assembly 102 modular and eases the process of assembling the vehicle coach 100.

The seat assemblies 102 are arranged in such a way that each seat assembly 102 is installed adjacent to a window 112 as shown in Figures 2 and 4. The windows 112, in one example, can be a service window 112 that allows ingress and egress of at least one article through the service window 112. Further, the windows 112 allows light and air to enter the vehicle coach 100.

In one example, the vehicle coach 100 may include a barrier wall 114 arranged for each seat assembly 102 for a pair of vertically arranged seat assembly 102 as shown in Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8. The barrier wall 114 is configured to restrict the visibility of the occupant 108 in the seat assembly 102. In addition, the barrier wall 114 may include a light source 148 that provides light to the occupant 108. The barrier wall 114 may be made of a lightweight and strong material to keep the overall weight of the vehicle coach 100 low while being robust.

Further, the vehicle coach 100 may include a climbing structure 118 adapted to allow an occupant 108 to access the seat assemblies 102 in the upper berth 110-1. In one example, the climbing structure 118 can be a ladder for the occupant 108-2 as shown in Figure 7. In another example, the climbing structure 118 may be a grab handle as shown in Figure 8. In addition, the barrier wall 114 may include a pair of steps 120 that can also function as the climbing structure 118 for the occupant 108-2. In either case, the climbing structure 118 allows the occupant 108 to climb to the seat assembly 102 of the upper berth 110-1.

In one example, the vehicle coach 100 also includes various accessories for the occupants 108. For instance, the vehicle coach 100 may include a foldable table 122 for the occupant 108 to keep his/her items thereon. In addition, the vehicle coach 100 may include an infotainment system 124 having a display for the occupant 108 entertainment. The vehicle coach 100 may also include a holder 126 to hold a water bottle. In addition, the vehicle coach 100 may include an armrest 116 for the occupant 108.

The seat assembly 102 may be arranged in such a way that the space in the vehicle coach 100. Referring to Figures 9 and 10 that illustrate the arrangement of the seat assemblies 102. Specifically, Figure 9 illustrates a top view of a portion of vehicle coach 100 highlighting the dimensions of the seat assemblies 102 while Figure 10 illustrates a top view of a portion of vehicle coach 100 highlighting the obstruction in the field of view of an occupant 108 with respect to another occupant 108. In the illustrated example, two seat assemblies 102 facing each other are angled in such a way that a width ‘C’ of the aisle 106 is maximised for a given width of the vehicle coach 100. Further, two seat assemblies 102 facing each other are installed at a longitudinal offset ‘B’ such that an open end of each seat assembly 102 is not aligned. Such an arrangement prevents the occupant 108 to board and deboard the seat assembly 102 without obstructing the access to the parallelly facing seat assembly 102. Moreover, the seat assemblies are arranged in such a way that a field of view 900 of one of the occupants 108 is obstructed and thus the occupant cannot see what the other occupant 108 is doing in the parallelly positioned seat assembly 102. In addition, the barrier wall 114 restricts the field of view 900.

In one example, the seat assembly 102 is designed in such a way that the open end of the seat assembly 102 is skew or contoured to provide additional area 902 adjacent to the aisle 106, such that the occupant 108 can stand in the area 902 without blocking or obstructing the aisle 106. As a result, the seat assembly 102 optimizes the space in the vehicle coach 100.

According to the present disclosure, the seat assembly 102 of the present disclosure is designed in such a way that the occupant 108 can both sit and lay in the same seat. Moreover, the seat assembly 102 is designed such that the seat assembly 102 does not have any moving part that would transition from the sitting posture to laying posture. Details of the seat assembly 102 are explained with respect to Figures 11, 12, and 13 in conjunction with Figures 1 to 10.

Figure 11 illustrates a top view of a pair of seat assemblies 102 highlighting the width of seat assemblies 102 while Figure 12 illustrates a top view of a pair of seat assemblies 102 highlighting different sleeping positions on the seat assemblies 102. Further, Figure 13 illustrates a top view of a pair of seat assemblies 102 highlighting additional sleeping areas on the seat assemblies 102, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In one example, the seat assembly 102 may include a sitting area 128 and a sleeping area 130. The sitting area 128 may be configured to allow the occupant 108 to sit on the seat assembly 102. The sitting area 128 may include a head portion 132 that is adapted to support the upper body of the occupant 108. The head portion 132 may include a back rest 144 and a head rest 134. The head rest 134 is adapted to provide support to the head and the neck of the occupant 108. Further, the back rest 144 extends downwardly from the head rest 134 and is adapted to provide support to the back of the occupant 108.

The head portion 132 may have cushioning to provide comfort to the occupant 108 when the upper body of the occupant 108 rests against the head portion 132. Further, the head portion 132 may have bolsters to maximise support to the upper body of the occupant 108.

The seat assembly 102 may also include a seating portion 136 that is adapted to support the middle body of the occupant 108. The seating portion 136 is formed perpendicular to the head portion 132, such that a first edge of the seating portion 136 is joined perpendicular to a bottom of the head portion 132. The seating portion 136, like the head portion 132, may have the cushioning to support the middle body of the occupant 108. The seating portion 136, in one example, may be a part of the sleeping area 130.

In one example, the sitting area 128 may include a leg portion 138 that extends downwards from a second edge of the seating portion 136. The leg portion 138 may be formed as a triangular box that extends below a level of the seating portion 136 and is adapted to receive the legs of the occupant 108. The leg portion 138 may include a housing which defines the body of the leg portion 138. Further, the leg portion 138 includes a flap 140 that is moveably hinged to a joint 150 of the second edge seating portion 136 and the first end of the housing. The flap 140 enables the occupant 108 to access the leg portion 138 when the occupant 108 wants to sit. In addition, the flap 140 provides lumber support to the legs of the occupants 108.

The flap 140 may assume a close position as shown in the upper berth 110-1 in Figures 5, 11, and 12 and an open position as shown in the lower berth 110-2 in Figure 5. The flap 140 may move downward about the hinge into the housing to open the housing into the leg portion 138 so that the occupant 108 can insert his/her legs in the leg portion 138. The flap 140 can also move upward about the hinge towards a panel 142 (shown in Figures 5 and 11) close to the housing and assume the close position. In the close position, the flap forms an arm support area for the sleeping area. In operation, the occupant 108 may close the flap 140 when the occupant 108 wants to lie in the sleeping area 130. The flap 140 may have a free side that is adapted to lock to the panel 142 by a locking system to secure the flap 140 in the close position.

In one example, the sleeping area 130 is formed adjacent to the seating area 128. The sleeping area 130 is defined by the seating portion 136 and a berth portion 146 that extends from the seating portion 136 at an acute angle with respect to the seating portion 136. The sleeping area 130 acts as the berth for the occupant 108.

The berth portion 146 is sized in such a way that the occupant 108 is provided with maximum area for laying. Referring now to Figure 11, 12, and 13, the berth portion 146 has a wider central part ‘D’ than a lower part ‘E’. Further, the additional width is achieved by providing additional areas ‘Q’ on either side of the berth portion 146. The additional areas enable the occupant 108 to lay straight with a curve as shown by lines 150 in Figure 12 thereby making the seat assembly 102 ergonomic to use.

In one example, the seat assembly 102 may include one or more storage sections adapted to store one or more articles. The storage sections can be formed either below the seat assembly 102, above the seat assembly 102, behind the seat assembly 102, or in front of the seat assembly 102.

According to the present disclosure, the seat assembly 102 allows the occupants 108 to both sit and lie. Moreover, the seat assembly 102 does not have any moving parts that would otherwise make the seat assembly 102 converts between sitting posture and laying posture. Therefore, the seat assembly 102 has a robust construction. Further, the barrier wall 114 of the seat assembly 102 provides adequate privacy to the occupant 108 in the seat assembly 102. Further, the flap 140 allows the occupant 108 to maximize the sleeping area 130 by closing the housing.

While specific language has been used to describe the present disclosure, any limitations arising on account thereto, are not intended. As would be apparent to a person in the art, various working modifications may be made to the method in order to implement the inventive concept as taught herein. The drawings and the foregoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment. ,CLAIMS:WE CLAIM:

1. A seat assembly (102), comprising:
a sitting area (128) comprising:
a head portion (132) adapted to support an upper body of an occupant;
a seating portion (136) having a first edge joined perpendicularly to a bottom of the head portion (132), the seating portion (136) adapted to support a middle body of the occupant;
a leg portion (138) extending downwards from a second edge of the seating portion (136), the leg portion (138) adapted to accommodate legs of the occupant; and
a sleeping area (130) defined by the seating portion (136) and a berth portion extending at an acute angle from the seating portion (136), wherein the sleeping area (130) acts as a berth for the occupant.

2. The seat assembly (102) as claimed in claimed 1, wherein the leg portion (138) comprises a housing having a flap (140) moveably hinged to a joint (150) of the second edge of the seating portion (136) and a first end of the housing.

3. The seat assembly (102) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the flap (140) is adapted to:
move downwards about the hinge into the housing to open the housing into the leg portion (138), and
move upwards about the hinge towards a panel to close the housing and form an arm support area for the sleeping area (130),
wherein the panel is positioned parallelly in front of the sitting area (128), such that the occupant faces the panel while being seated in the sitting area (128).

4. The seat assembly (102) as claimed in claim 3, wherein a free side of the flap (140) is adapted to be locked into the panel by a locking system.

5. The seat assembly (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the head portion (132) comprises:
a head rest (134) adapted to provide support to the head and the neck of the occupant; and
a back rest (144) extending downwards from the head rest (134) and adapted to provide support to a back of the occupant.

6. The seat assembly (102) as claimed in claim 1, comprising at least one storage space adapted to store articles, in at least one of:
below the seat assembly (102),
above the seat assembly (102),
behind the seat assembly (102), and
in front of the seat assembly (102).

7. A vehicle coach (100) comprising a plurality of seat assemblies (102), each of the plurality of seat assemblies (102) comprising:
a sitting area (128) comprising:
a head portion (132) adapted to support an upper body of an occupant;
a seating portion (136) having a first edge joined perpendicularly to a bottom of the head portion (132), the seating portion (136) adapted to support a middle body of the occupant;
a leg portion (138) extending downwards from a second edge of the seating portion (136), the leg portion (138) adapted to accommodate legs of the occupant; and
a sleeping area (130) defined by the seating portion (136) and a berth portion extending at an acute angle from the seating portion (136), wherein the sleeping area (130) acts as a berth for the occupant.

8. The vehicle coach (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the plurality of seat assemblies (102) is placed in at least one of a series fashion, a matrix fashion, and a combination of the series fashion and the matrix fashion.

9. The vehicle coach (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of seat assemblies (102) comprises at least one climbing structures for the occupant to access one of the plurality of seat assemblies (102).

10. The vehicle coach (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of seat assemblies (102) comprises at least one barrier wall (114) on an aisle side of the sleeping area (130), the at least one barrier wall (114) adapted to restrict visibility of each of the seat assemblies (102) from the aisle side.

11. The vehicle coach (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the at least one barrier wall (114) comprises at least one service window for ingress and egress of at least one article through the service window.

12. The vehicle coach (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of seat assemblies (102) is adapted to be detachably connected to an adjacent seat assembly (102).