Contoured class divider

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10676194-B2
Application number	US-201615291863-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 12, 2016
Priority date	Apr 4, 2016
Publication date	Jun 9, 2020
Grant date	Jun 9, 2020

Abstract

In a preferred embodiment, a contoured class divider for dividing an aircraft cabin includes a panel positioned between an aft seat and a forward seat, the panel having an aft-facing convex contour closely matching an aft-facing contour of a seatback of the forward seat and configured to enhance space utilization. The contoured class divider may include an articulation system to articulate at least a portion of the panel from a first position (normal operation) to a second position (emergency landing). The contoured class divider may provide up to an additional 12 inches of space which can be used to reduce seat pitch (and thereby enhance passenger comfort) or increase the number of rows of seats on a given aircraft.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A contoured class divider for dividing an aircraft cabin arrangement between at least one forward passenger seat and at least one aft passenger seat, the contoured class divider comprising:
a panel positioned adjacent to and rearwardly of the at least one forward passenger seat, the panel having a contoured shape for receiving a back of the forward passenger seat in at least one of a reclined position and an upright position, the panel extending substantially from an underside of an overhead bin to a lower support assembly comprising at least one leg comprising a floor mount,
wherein the lower support assembly supports a lower edge of the panel above a floor of an aircraft cabin;

an upper connector that connects a top end of the panel with the overhead bin; and
an articulation means connected to the upper connector and the overhead bin to articulate the panel from a rearward position during normal operation to a forward position during emergency landing, the articulation means causes the upper connector and the top end of the panel to move forward when the panel articulates from the rearward position to the forward position;
wherein the articulation means includes a straight channel comprising a first end and a second end, and a pin extending into the straight channel and actuating in response to a dynamic load greater than 16 G to slide in a single direction within the straight channel from the first end to the second end and limited from sliding back to the first end;
wherein the pin is a shear pin and the channel comprising a channel region more narrow than the first end or the second end, the shear pin inserted in the first end of the channel, the channel configured to limit movement of the shear pin in response to dynamic loads less than 16 G, and in response to a dynamic load greater than 16 G, receive the shear pin through the channel region to articulate the panel from the rearward position to the forward position.

2. The contoured class divider of claim 1 , wherein the articulation means includes a spring biasing the contoured class divider into the forward position or the rearward position.

3. The contoured class divider of claim 1 , wherein the articulation means articulates the panel to the forward position when the panel is subjected to a dynamic load of greater than 16 G.

4. The contoured class divider of claim 1 , wherein the lower support assembly includes at least one pivot.

5. The contoured class divider of claim 1 , wherein the lower support assembly is mounted in a floor track of the aircraft cabin.

6. The contoured class divider of claim 1 , wherein the panel includes a first region and a second region, which pivot relative to one another.

7. The contoured class divider of claim 1 , wherein the panel is located within one inch of the at least one forward passenger seat when the at least one forward passenger seat is in a take-off taxi and landing (TTOL) operational position.

8. The contoured class divider of claim 1 , wherein the panel includes at least one mitigation means for mitigating head impact.

9. The contoured class divider of claim 1 , wherein the panel and the at least one forward seat are configured to share loads during emergency landing.

10. A method for dividing an aircraft cabin arrangement between at least one forward passenger seat and at least one aft passenger seat, the method comprising:
positioning a panel of a contoured class divider adjacent to and rearwardly of the at least one forward passenger seat, the panel having a contoured shape for receiving a back of the forward passenger seat in at least one of a reclined position and an upright position;
fixing a lower support assembly of the contoured class divider to a structure of a floor of an aircraft cabin, the lower support assembly comprising at least one leg comprising a floor mount, wherein the panel extends substantially from an underside of an overhead bin to the lower support assembly,
wherein the lower support assembly supports a lower edge of the panel above the floor of the aircraft cabin; and

connecting an upper edge of the panel to the overhead bin using an upper connector coupled with a top end of the panel; and
providing an articulation mechanism between the upper connector and the overhead bin that causes the panel to articulate during emergency landing from a rearward position used during normal operation to a forward position and the upper connector and the top end of the panel to move forward and upon connection of the upper edge of the panel to the overhead bin, the panel extends substantially from the underside of the overhead bin to the lower support assembly, wherein the articulation mechanism includes a straight channel comprising a first end and a second end, and a pin extending into the straight channel and actuating in response to a dynamic load greater than 16 G to slide in a single direction within the straight channel from the first end to the second end and limited from sliding back to the first end;
wherein the pin is a shear pin and the channel comprising a channel region more narrow than the first end or the second end, the shear pin inserted in the first end of the channel, the channel configured to limit movement of the shear pin in response to dynamic loads less than 16 G, and in response to a dynamic load greater than 16 G, receive the shear pin through the channel region to articulate the panel from the rearward position to the forward position.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the articulation mechanism is configured to withstand deceleration of less than 16 G without articulating the panel.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the lower support assembly includes at least one pivot.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the structure of the floor of the aircraft cabin is a floor track.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein positioning the panel comprises positioning the panel in the rearward position within one inch of a recline position of the at least one forward passenger seat.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein positioning the panel comprises positioning the panel in the rearward position within a head impact zone of an aft-seated passenger in the at least one aft passenger seat, wherein the panel comprises at least one head impact zone protection feature.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein an at least one head impact zone protection feature comprises energy absorbing material embedded in a portion of the panel within a head impact zone.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein positioning the panel comprises positioning the panel such that, upon articulation, the panel is positioned to contact the at least one forward seat.

18. The method of claim 10 , further comprising: prior to positioning the panel, relocating the at least one aft passenger seat closer to the at least one forward passenger seat.

Assignees

• Be Aerospace Inc

Inventors

• Papke Robert
• Claflin Shawn
• Mckee Jefferey
• Skelly Trevor
• DILIANI Mario

Classifications

• B64D11/0606

  with privacy shells, screens, separators or the like (class dividers B64D11/0023) · CPC title

• B64D11/0023 Primary

  Movable or removable cabin dividers, e.g. for class separation · CPC title

• B64D11/0636

  Personal storage means or waste disposal bags · CPC title