Energy attenuating mounting foot for a cabin attendant seat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10676196-B2
Application number	US-201615003233-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 21, 2016
Priority date	Jan 21, 2016
Publication date	Jun 9, 2020
Grant date	Jun 9, 2020

Abstract

In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides an energy attenuating mounting foot comprising a load beam having a longitudinal axis, a top surface, a bottom surface, an inner track interface lobe, and an outer track interface lobe, the inner track interface lobe and the outer track interface lobe extending laterally from the load beam, and a channel along the longitudinal axis having a depth extending from the load beam bottom surface toward the top surface. In various embodiments, the inner track interface lobe has a first length extending in a direction from the bottom surface towards the top surface and the outer track interface lobe has a second length extending in a direction from the bottom surface towards the top surface, the first length being less than the second length.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An energy attenuating mounting foot comprising:
a monolithic load beam having a longitudinal axis, a top surface, a bottom surface, an inner track interface lobe, and an outer track interface lobe, the inner track interface lobe and the outer track interface lobe extending laterally from the load beam, and
a channel along the longitudinal axis having a depth extending from the bottom surface toward the top surface,
wherein the inner track interface lobe has a first upper surface lying below a plane defined by a second upper surface of the outer track interface lobe,
wherein each of the inner track interface lobe and the outer track interface lobe are integral to the monolithic load beam,
wherein the inner track interface lobe and the outer track interface lobe are each configured to couple with a track having a plurality of mounting foot interface lobes,
wherein the monolithic load beam is configured to undergo a plastic deformation along the channel in response to a load normal to the longitudinal axis, wherein the plastic deformation is configured to close a gab between the first upper surface of the inner track interface lobe and an interior surface of one of the plurality of mounting foot interface lobes, such that the monolithic load beam is further configured to arrest the plastic deformation along the channel in response to a contact between the inner track interface lobe and said interior surface of one of the plurality of mounting foot interface lobes.

2. The energy attenuating mounting foot of claim 1 , wherein in response to coupling with the track, each of the inner track interface lobe and the outer track interface lobe lie below a plane defined by the plurality of mounting foot interface lobes.

3. The energy attenuating mounting foot of claim 1 , wherein the outer track interface lobe contacts the plurality of mounting foot interface lobes and the inner track interface lobe is separated from the plurality of mounting foot interface lobes in response to coupling with the track.

4. The energy attenuating mounting foot of claim 1 , wherein the channel extends along a portion of the longitudinal axis.

5. The energy attenuating mounting foot of claim 1 , wherein the load beam comprises at least one of steel, aluminum, aluminum alloy, titanium, or titanium alloy.

6. The energy attenuating mounting foot of claim 1 , wherein the load beam comprises a martensitic precipitation-hardening stainless steel.

7. The energy attenuating mounting foot of claim 5 , wherein a material grain direction of the load beam substantially parallels the longitudinal axis.

8. The energy attenuating mounting foot of claim 1 , wherein the load beam further comprises a stud integral to the load beam.

9. The energy attenuating mounting foot of claim 8 , wherein the stud is coupled to a cabin fixture.

10. An energy attenuating mounting foot comprising:
a monolithic load beam having a longitudinal axis, a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, a first inner track interface lobe, a second inner track interface lobe, a first outer track interface lobe, and a second outer track interface lobe, the first inner track interface lobe, the second inner track interface lobe, the first outer track interface lobe, and the second outer track interface lobe extending laterally from the load beam, wherein the first inner track interface lobe, the second inner track interface lobe, the first outer track interface lobe, and the second outer track interface lobe are displaced along the longitudinal axis, wherein the first inner track interface lobe extends from the first side surface and the second inner track interface lobe extends from the second side surface in a direction opposite to the extension of the first inner track interface lobe,
wherein the first inner track interface lobe and the second inner track interface lobe each comprise a first upper surface lying below a plane defined by a second upper surface of the first outer track interface lobe; and
a channel extending along the longitudinal axis between the first inner track interface lobe and the second inner track interface lobe, wherein the longitudinal extension of the channel terminates before the first outer track interlace lobe and the second outer track interface lobe, and wherein the channel has a depth extending from the bottom surface toward the top surface,
wherein each of the first inner track interface lobe, the second inner track interface lobe, the first outer track interface lobe, and the second outer track interface lobe are integral to the monolithic load beam,
wherein the first inner track interface lobe, the second inner track interface lobe, the first outer track interface lobe, and the second outer track interface lobe are each configured to couple with a track having a plurality of mounting foot interface lobes,
wherein the monolithic load beam is configured to undergo a plastic deformation along the channel in response to a load normal to the longitudinal axis and further configured to arrest the plastic deformation along the channel in response to a contact between at least one of the first inner track interface lobe and the plurality of mounting foot interface lobes or the second inner track interface lobe and the plurality of mounting foot interface lobes.

11. The energy attenuating mounting foot of claim 10 , wherein in response to coupling with the track each of the first inner track interface lobe, the second inner track interface lobe, the first outer track interface lobe, and the second outer track interface lobe lie below a plane defined by the plurality of mounting foot interface lobes.

12. The energy attenuating mounting foot of claim 10 , wherein the first outer track interface lobe contacts the plurality of mounting foot interface lobes and the first inner track interface lobe is separated from the plurality of mounting foot interface lobes in response to coupling with the track.

13. The energy attenuating mounting foot of claim 12 , wherein the first inner track interface lobe contacts one of the plurality of mounting foot interfaces lobe in response to the plastic deformation.

14. The energy attenuating mounting foot of claim 10 , wherein the load beam comprises a stud integral to the load beam.

15. The energy attenuating mounting foot of claim 10 , wherein the load beam comprises at least one of steel, aluminum, aluminum alloy, titanium, or titanium alloy.

16. The energy attenuating mounting foot of claim 10 , wherein the load beam comprises a martensitic precipitation-hardening stainless steel.

17. The energy attenuating mounting foot of claim 10 , wherein a material grain direction of the load beam substantially parallels the longitudinal axis.

Assignees

• Ami Ind Inc

Inventors

• Pacheco Chad R
• Foisie Douglas

Classifications

• B64C1/20

  specially adapted for freight · CPC title

• B60N2/42709

  involving residual deformation or fracture of the structure · CPC title

• B64D11/0691

  specially adapted for cabin crew · CPC title

• B64D11/0649

  Seats characterised by special features for reducing weight · CPC title

• B64D25/04

  Seat modifications · CPC title