Method for detecting a breach of a barrier or stowage container

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10640269-B2
Application number	US-201715702057-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 12, 2017
Priority date	Sep 12, 2017
Publication date	May 5, 2020
Grant date	May 5, 2020

Abstract

A method for detecting tampering with a stowage container can include configuring the stowage container, the stowage container comprising a container housing and a barrier, wherein edges of the barrier overlap edges of the container housing to prevent access to an interior of the stowage container between the container housing and the barrier when the barrier is in a closed position. A tamper-evident device can be positioned such that the tamper-evident device is viewable from at least one predetermined eyepoint under an ambient light environment. The tamper-evident device can be configured to be inaccessible from an exterior of the stowage container and provides a distinct color contrast with the stowage container and an indication that tampering has occurred.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for detecting tampering with a stowage container in an aircraft, comprising:
positioning the stowage container in the aircraft, the stowage container comprising a container housing and a barrier, wherein edges of the barrier overlap edges of the container housing to prevent access to an interior of the stowage container when the barrier is in a closed position, wherein the barrier comprises a front panel and a back panel that define a slot therebetween, and wherein the front panel comprises a front panel window; and
positioning a tamper-evident device in the slot, wherein the tamper-evident device is not visible through the front panel window when the stowage container is in a first state, and wherein the tamper-evident device is visible through the front panel window when the stowage container is in a second state, wherein the tamper-evident device defines a notch, and wherein the container housing comprises a post that is positioned at least partially in the notch when the stowage container is in the first state.

2. The method of 1 , wherein the tamper-evident device is manually inaccessible when the barrier is in the closed position and when the barrier is in an open position.

3. A method for detecting tampering with a stowage container in an aircraft, comprising:
positioning the stowage container in the aircraft, the stowage container comprising a container housing and a barrier, wherein edges of the barrier overlap edges of the container housing to prevent access to an interior of the stowage container when the barrier is in a closed position, wherein the barrier comprises a front panel and a back panel that define a slot therebetween, and wherein the front panel comprises a front panel window;
positioning an indicator assembly in the slot, wherein the indicator assembly is not visible through the front panel window when the stowage container is in a first state, and wherein the indicator assembly is visible through the front panel window from a range of eyepoints under an ambient light environment when the stowage container is in a second state, wherein the indicator assembly defines a notch, and wherein the container housing comprises a post that is positioned at least partially in the notch when the stowage container is in the first state; and
configuring the indicator assembly such that the indicator assembly is inaccessible from an exterior of the stowage container and from an interior of the stowage container such that the indicator assembly is inaccessible in both the closed position and an open position,
wherein the indicator assembly provides a distinct color contrast with the stowage container and an indication that tampering has occurred.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising configuring the indicator assembly to be manually inaccessible from the exterior of the stowage container.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising attaching the stowage container to a seat of the aircraft.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the positioning of the indicator assembly comprises positioning the indicator assembly to be viewable by a standing adult from an aisle of the aircraft.

7. The method of claim 3 , wherein the positioning of the indicator assembly further comprises positioning the indicator assembly to be viewable by an adult in any posture from standing to bending.

8. A method for detecting tampering with a stowage container in an aircraft, comprising:
positioning a tamper-evident device in a barrier of the stowage container, wherein the tamper-evident device is not visible through a front panel window of the barrier when the stowage container is in a first state, and wherein the tamper-evident device is visible through the front panel window when the stowage container is in a second state, and wherein the tamper-evident device defines a notch that is configured to receive a post when the stowage container is in the first state.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising positioning the tamper-evident device to be viewable from at least one predetermined eyepoint under an ambient light environment.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising attaching the stowage container to the aircraft.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising positioning the stowage container such that the tamper-evident device is viewable by a standing adult from an aisle of the aircraft.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the positioning of the tamper-evident device further comprises positioning the tamper-evident device to be viewable by an adult in any posture from standing to bending.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the positioning of the tamper-evident device further comprises positioning the tamper-evident device to be viewable under the ambient light environment without use of either a flashlight or a mirror.

14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising attaching the stowage container to a seat of the aircraft.

15. The method of claim 8 , wherein the tamper-evident device provides a color contrast with the stowage container when in the second state.

16. The method of claim 8 , wherein the barrier comprises a front panel and a back panel that define a slot therebetween, and wherein the tamper-evident device is positioned at least partially within the slot.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the post extends substantially horizontally into the notch, and wherein, as the barrier moves through an arc, the post is withdrawn from the notch, causing the tamper-evident device to move within the slot due to gravity to make the tamper-evident device visible.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the back panel is visible through the front panel window when the stowage container is in the first state, and wherein the back panel is not visible through the front panel window when the stowage container is in the second state.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the back panel comprises a back panel window, wherein the post extends at least partially through the back panel window when the stowage container is in the first state, and wherein the post does not extend through the back panel window when the stowage container is in the second state.

20. The method of claim 8 , wherein the tamper-evident device comprises a hook that at least partially defines the notch, and wherein the tamper-evident device hangs by the hook from the post when the stowage container is in the first state.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Lumsden Jason S
• Tuba Anika N
• Kennedy Kathryn

Classifications

• B65D85/18

  for wearing apparel, headwear or footwear · CPC title

• B65D55/026 Primary

  initial opening or unauthorised access being indicated by a visual change using indicators other than tearable means, e.g. change of colour, pattern or opacity (B65D55/066 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B64D11/0631 Primary

  for life vests · CPC title

• B65D43/16

  hinged for upward or downward movement · CPC title

• B64F5/60 Primary

  Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems · CPC title