Seating for a passenger vehicle

Abstract

A seating arrangement for a passenger-carrying vehicle, especially aircraft. The arrangement provides a plurality of seating positions, a seating position comprising a seat and a footwell. The footwell of a first seating position is located beside the seat of a second seating position, the second seating position being located generally forward of the first seating position. Each seat is operable into a reclined state in which a leg-supporting component of the seat projects into the associated footwell. A tray assembly is associated with each console, the tray assembly being deployable from a stowed state in or on the console in which it is disposed generally parallel with a ground surface on which the seating arrangement rests during use.

1 . A seating arrangement for a passenger-carrying vehicle, the arrangement providing a plurality of seating positions, a seating position comprising a seat and a footwell, the footwell of a first seating position being located beside the seat of a second seating position, the second seating position being located generally forward of the first seating position, wherein each footwell is partially enclosed to define a console adjacent one or both respective seats, wherein a tray assembly comprising at least one tray leaf is associated with each console, the tray assembly being deployable from a stowed state in or on the console in which it is disposed generally parallel with a ground surface on which the seating arrangement rests during use. 
     
     
         2 . A seating arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said console is shaped to define a stowage area for said tray assembly when in said stowed state, said stowage area comprising a substantially flat-topped region of said console, said tray assembly being located on said flat-topped region when in said stowed state, said at least one tray leaf being exposed for use as a tray surface when said tray assembly is in said stowed state. 
     
     
         3 . A seating arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said console is shaped to define a flat-topped region and stowage area for said tray assembly when in said stowed state, said stowage area being located beneath said flat-topped region. 
     
     
         4 . A seating arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one tray leaf comprises first and second tray leaves foldable with respect to one another between a folded state in which said first tray leaf is located on top of said second tray leaf, and a deployed state in which said first and second tray leaves are located side-by-side. 
     
     
         5 . A seating arrangement as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said at least one tray leaf comprises first and second tray leaves foldable with respect to one another between a folded state in which said first tray leaf is located on top of said second tray leaf, and a deployed state in which said first and second tray leaves are located side-by-side, and wherein said first and second tray leaves adopt said folded state when said tray assembly is in said stowed state, said first tray leaf being exposed for use as said tray surface. 
     
     
         6 . A seating arrangement as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said first and second tray leaves adopt said folded state when said tray assembly is in said stowed state, said tray assembly being deployable from said stowed state with said first and second tray leaves in said folded state, whereupon said first and second tray leaves are unfoldable across a respective one of said seats into said deployed state. 
     
     
         7 . A seating arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said tray assembly is configured for movement into and out of said stowed state, wherein said movement comprises pivotable movement of said at least one tray leaf about an axis that is substantially perpendicular to said ground surface. 
     
     
         8 . A seating arrangement as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said tray assembly is configured such that, during said pivotable movement, said at least one tray leaf is substantially parallely disposed with respect to said ground surface. 
     
     
         9 . A seating arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, in a deployed state, said tray assembly is configured such that said at least one tray leaf is movable with respect to a respective one of said seats in a direction that is substantially parallel to the direction in which a seated passenger faces during use. 
     
     
         10 . A seating arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a shell shaped to define a respective station for one or more of said seats and to define a respective footwell on one or both sides of the or each seat station, wherein the shell includes a respective buttress portion extending between adjacent seats, or adjacent a single seat, the buttress portion being shaped to define a respective footwell and to provide said console. 
     
     
         11 . A seating arrangement as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the buttress portion includes a stowage area for said table.