Molded sidewall armrest between fuselage frame bays

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10322809-B2
Application number	US-201615233747-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 10, 2016
Priority date	Aug 10, 2016
Publication date	Jun 18, 2019
Grant date	Jun 18, 2019

Abstract

An armrest system may include an inner sidewall panel attached to a vehicle frame. The inner sidewall panel may abut at least two parallel frame members of the vehicle frame. The system may further include a ledge molded into a shape of the inner sidewall panel. The ledge may be positioned horizontally along a front surface of the inner sidewall panel and may be positioned between the at least two parallel frame members.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An armrest system comprising:
an inner sidewall panel attached to a vehicle frame, wherein the inner sidewall panel abuts at least two parallel frame members of the vehicle frame; and
a ledge molded into a shape of the inner sidewall panel, wherein the ledge is positioned horizontally along a front surface of the inner sidewall panel and is positioned between the at least two parallel frame members, a length of the ledge extending from a first side of the ledge to a second side of the ledge, wherein the ledge terminates at the first side and at the second side to become flush with the front surface of the inner sidewall panel at portions of the inner sidewall panel that abut the at least two parallel frame members.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one seat attached to the vehicle frame, wherein the inner sidewall panel is adjacent to the seat.

3. The armrest system of claim 1 , wherein a front edge of the ledge extends outward from the front surface of the inner sidewall panel.

4. The armrest system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a depression in the front surface of the inner sidewall panel that extends inward, wherein the depression extends into a space between the at least two parallel frame members, and wherein a back edge of the ledge extends into the depression.

5. The armrest system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a lower depression in the front surface of the inner sidewall that extends inward, the lower depression being below the ledge.

6. The armrest system of claim 5 , further comprising:
a storage retaining mechanism attached to the inner sidewall and configured to retain items within the lower depression.

7. The armrest system of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one opening in the inner sidewall panel, the opening configured to frame a window of the vehicle.

8. The armrest system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second inner sidewall panel attached to the vehicle frame above the first inner sidewall panel, the second inner sidewall panel comprising at least one opening configured to frame a window of the vehicle.

9. The armrest system of claim 1 , wherein the inner sidewall panel is formed from a fiberglass honeycomb material.

10. The armrest system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle frame is an airframe of an aircraft.

11. An armrest system comprising:
an inner sidewall panel configured to attach to a vehicle frame, wherein the inner sidewall panel is further configured to abut at least two parallel frame members of the vehicle frame when attached to the vehicle frame; and
a ledge formed into a shape of the inner sidewall panel, wherein the ledge is positioned horizontally along a front surface of the inner sidewall panel, a length of the ledge extending from a first side of the ledge to a second side of the ledge, wherein the ledge terminates at the first side and at the second side to become flush with the front surface of the inner sidewall panel at portions of the inner sidewall panel that are configured to abut the at least two parallel frame members.

12. The armrest system of claim 11 , wherein the ledge is positioned between the at least two frame members when the inner sidewall panel is attached to the vehicle frame.

13. The armrest system of claim 11 , wherein a front edge of the ledge extends outward from the front surface of the inner sidewall panel.

14. The armrest system of claim 11 , further comprising:
a depression in the front surface of the inner sidewall that extends inward, wherein the depression extends into a space between the at least two parallel frame members when the inner sidewall panel is attached to the vehicle frame, and wherein a back edge of the ledge extends into the depression.

15. The armrest system of claim 11 , further comprising:
a lower depression in the front surface of the inner sidewall that extends inward, the lower depression being below the ledge.

16. The armrest system of claim 11 , further comprising:
a second inner sidewall panel configured to attach to the vehicle frame above the first inner sidewall panel, the second inner sidewall panel comprising at least one opening configured to frame a window of the vehicle when attached to the vehicle frame.

17. The armrest system of claim 11 , wherein the inner sidewall panel is formed from a fiberglass honeycomb material.

18. The armrest system of claim 11 , wherein the vehicle frame is an airframe of an aircraft.

19. A method of forming an armrest system, the method comprising:
forming an inner sidewall panel configured to attach to a vehicle frame, wherein the inner sidewall panel is further configured to abut at least two parallel frame members of the vehicle frame when attached to the vehicle frame; and
forming a ledge into a shape of the inner sidewall panel, wherein the ledge is positioned horizontally along a front surface of the inner sidewall panel, a length of the ledge extending from a first side of the ledge to a second side of the ledge, wherein the ledge terminates at the first side and at the second side to become flush with the front surface of the inner sidewall panel at portions of the inner sidewall panel that are configured to abut the at least two parallel frame members.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
attaching the inner sidewall panel to the vehicle frame.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Leblanc Thomas Leonard

Classifications

• B64D11/0646 Primary

  Seats characterised by special features of stationary arms, foot or head rests · CPC title

• B64C1/066

  Interior liners · CPC title

• B64D11/0636

  Personal storage means or waste disposal bags · CPC title

• Y02T50/40

  Weight reduction · CPC title