Aircraft cabinet with detachable outer panels and attachement mechanism therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10660440-B2
Application number	US-201515521144-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 29, 2015
Priority date	Oct 31, 2014
Publication date	May 26, 2020
Grant date	May 26, 2020

Abstract

A cabinet for installation in an aircraft, having a shell ( 22 ) defining a load-bearing structure of the cabinet and an outer panel ( 18 ) configured to be detachably connected to the shell ( 22 ), the outer panel ( 18 ) defining at least a part of the visible surfaces of the cabinet. The outer panel ( 18 ) is detachably connected to the shell ( 22 ) in a stationary position relative to the shell ( 22 ) through engagement of complementary attachment members ( 50, 51 ) respectively attached to the outer panel ( 18 ) and to the shell ( 22 ), the complementary attachment members ( 50, 51 ) allowing an adjustment of the stationary position of the outer panel ( 18 ) relative to the shell ( 22 ) when the outer panel ( 18 ) is detached from the shell ( 22 ). A method of manufacturing a cabinet for an aircraft is also discussed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A cabinet for installation in an aircraft, the cabinet having a plurality of visible surfaces configured to be apparent when the cabinet is installed in the aircraft, the cabinet comprising:
a shell defining a load-bearing structure of the cabinet; and
an outer panel detachably connected to the shell for defining at least a part of the visible surfaces of the cabinet;
wherein:
the outer panel is configured to be detachably connected to the shell in a stationary position relative to the shell through engagement of complementary attachment members respectively attached to the outer panel and to the shell, the complementary attachment members allowing an adjustment of the stationary position of the outer panel relative to the shell when the outer panel is detached from the shell;
the complementary attachment members include:
a first attachment member having a portion adjustable relative to the outer panel or to the shell; and
a second attachment member detachably engaged to the portion of the first attachment member; and

the portion of the first attachment member has an adjustable position with respect to the shell, and the second attachment member is connected to the outer panel with a fixed position relative thereto.

2. The cabinet as defined in claim 1 , wherein the outer panel is part of a plurality of outer panels each configured to be detachably connected to the shell, the plurality of outer panels each defining a respective part of the visible surfaces of the cabinet.

3. The cabinet as defined in claim 2 , wherein the outer panel is a first outer panel, the plurality of outer panels including at least one second outer panel configured to be detachably connected to the shell in a stationary position relative to the shell through engagement of additional complementary attachment members respectively attached to the at least one second outer panel and to the shell, the additional complementary attachment members allowing an adjustment of the stationary position of the at least one second outer panel relative to the shell when the at least one second outer panel is detached from the shell.

4. The cabinet as defined in claim 1 , wherein the adjustment is defined at least along a direction perpendicular to an inner surface of the outer panel, the inner surface facing the shell when the outer panel is detachably connected to the shell.

5. The cabinet as defined in claim 1 , wherein the adjustment is defined only along a direction perpendicular to an inner surface of the outer panel, the inner surface facing the shell when the outer panel is detachably connected to the shell.

6. The cabinet as defined in claim 1 , wherein the outer panel is connected to the shell through engagement of the complementary attachment members and through at least one fastener spaced apart from the complementary attachment members.

7. The cabinet as defined in claim 1 , wherein the shell includes a plurality of interconnected shell panels defining inner surfaces of the cabinet, the outer panel covering and concealing at least one of the shell panels.

8. The cabinet as defined in claim 1 , further comprising a door hingedly connected to the outer panel, the door being connected to the shell only through the outer panel.

9. The cabinet as defined in claim 1 , wherein:
the second attachment member is a female attachment member having a slot, the slot having an entry portion and a retention portion; and
the first attachment member is a male attachment member including a base, the portion including a pin support and a pin extending from the pin support, wherein:
the pin has an elongated body and an enlarged head retained at an end of the body opposite the pin support, the body being sized to be insertable into the slot, the enlarged head being sized to be insertable in the entry portion of the slot and retained in the retention portion of the slot; and
the pin support is engaged to the base with a position of the pin support relative to the base being adjustable along a direction of a central longitudinal axis of the pin.

10. A kit including the cabinet as defined in claim 1 , further comprising an additional outer panel configured for detachable connection to the shell interchangeably of the outer panel.

11. An attachment mechanism for detachably connecting two panels with an adjustable stationary relative position, the mechanism comprising:
a female attachment member having a slot, the slot having an entry portion and a retention portion;
a male attachment member including a base, a pin support and a pin extending from the pin support, wherein:
the pin has an elongated body and an enlarged head retained at an end of the body opposite the pin support, the body being sized to be insertable into the slot, the enlarged head being sized to be insertable in the entry portion of the slot and retained in the retention portion of the slot; and
the pin support is engaged to the base with a position of the pin support relative to the base being adjustable along a direction of a central longitudinal axis of the pin.

12. The attachment mechanism as defined in claim 11 , wherein the pin is slidingly received in the pin support to be slidable along the direction of the central longitudinal axis of the pin between an extended position and a retracted position, the pin being biased toward the extended position.

13. The attachment mechanism as defined in claim 12 , wherein:
the pin support has an open cavity defined therein, a bottom wall of the cavity having an opening defined therein concentric with the cavity, the cavity being sized to receive the enlarged head of the pin, the opening being sized to receive the body of the pin while preventing the enlarged head from passing therethrough;
the pin includes an enlarged end opposite the enlarged head, the opening being sized to prevent the enlarged end from passing therethrough, the pin extending through the cavity and opening with the enlarged head and enlarged end being on opposite sides of the bottom wall of the cavity; and
the pin is biased toward the extended position by a spring received within the cavity around the body of the pin, the spring extending between the enlarged head and the bottom wall of the cavity.

14. The attachment mechanism as defined in claim 11 , wherein the pin support has a cylindrical body defining a threaded outer surface, the threaded outer surface being threadingly engaged with a threaded inner surface of a cylindrical cavity defined in the base, and the pin extending concentrically with the pin support, the position of the pin support being adjustable relative to the base through a relative rotation of the threaded surfaces creating a movement of the pin support with respect to the base along the direction of the central axis of the pin support.

Assignees

• Bombardier Inc

Inventors

• Rocamora Yvan
• Perrotta Pasquo
• Charlebois Frederic
• Houle Mathieu
• Bharaj Surinder
• Beauparlant Jonathan

Classifications

• B64D2011/0046

  Modular or preassembled units for creating cabin interior structures · CPC title

• B64D11/00

  Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• A47B96/20 Primary

  Furniture panels or like furniture elements · CPC title

• A47B81/00 Primary

  Cabinets or racks specially adapted for other particular purposes, e.g. for storing guns or skis · CPC title

• A47B47/00

  Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features related to dismountability or building-up from elements (A47B43/00, A47B45/00 take precedence; features for adjusting shelves or partitions A47B57/00) · CPC title