Ceiling header system for aircraft cabin

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11034429-B2
Application number	US-201816112068-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 24, 2018
Priority date	Aug 24, 2018
Publication date	Jun 15, 2021
Grant date	Jun 15, 2021

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an example ceiling header system for an aircraft cabin that includes a ceiling between a first storage bin and a second storage bin. The ceiling header system includes a ceiling header that includes a top surface that conforms to the ceiling and a bottom surface that is opposite the top surface. The ceiling header system also includes a curtain track. The top surface is configured to be held against the ceiling via the curtain track being placed against the bottom surface, the curtain track being (i) attachable at a first end of the curtain track to a first rail of the first storage bin and (ii) attachable at a second end of the curtain track to a second rail of the second storage bin.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A ceiling header system for an aircraft cabin that includes a ceiling between a first storage bin and a second storage bin, the ceiling header system comprising:
a ceiling header comprising:
a top surface that conforms to the ceiling; and
a bottom surface that is opposite the top surface; and

a curtain track, wherein the top surface is configured to be held against the ceiling via the curtain track being placed against the bottom surface, the curtain track being (i) attachable at a first end of the curtain track to a first rail of the first storage bin and (ii) attachable at a second end of the curtain track to a second rail of the second storage bin, the curtain track having telescopic features configured for adjusting a length of the curtain track.

2. The ceiling header system of claim 1 , wherein the top surface comprises a compressible gasket.

3. The ceiling header system of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the ceiling is concave and at least a portion of the top surface is convex to conform to the ceiling.

4. The ceiling header system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first support fitting attached to the bottom surface,
wherein the first support fitting is configured to attach the ceiling header to the first rail.

5. The ceiling header system of claim 4 , further comprising:
a second support fitting attached to the bottom surface,
wherein the second support fitting is configured to attach the ceiling header to the first rail.

6. The ceiling header system of claim 4 , further comprising:
a third support fitting attached to the bottom surface,
wherein the third support fitting is configured to attach the ceiling header to the second rail.

7. The ceiling header system of claim 1 , the ceiling header further comprising a concave side surface between the top surface and the bottom surface, wherein the concave side surface conforms to a convex surface of the second rail.

8. The ceiling header system of claim 7 , the concave side surface comprising a compressible gasket.

9. The ceiling header system of claim 7 , wherein the top surface extends beyond the bottom surface to form a first edge of the ceiling header with the concave side surface.

10. The ceiling header system of claim 1 , wherein the top surface meets the bottom surface at a second edge of the ceiling header.

11. The ceiling header system of claim 1 , wherein the top surface is configured to be held against the ceiling via the curtain track being placed against the bottom surface such that the first end of the curtain track is forward of the second end of the curtain track or such that that the second end of the curtain track is forward of the first end of the curtain track.

12. The ceiling header system of claim 1 , wherein the top surface defines a perimeter of an open top end of the ceiling header.

13. A ceiling header system for an aircraft cabin that includes a ceiling between a first storage bin and a second storage bin, the ceiling header system comprising:
a first ceiling header comprising:
a first top surface that conforms to the ceiling; and
a first side surface that is adjacent to the first top surface, wherein the first side surface extends away from the first top surface moving forward or aft from a first end of the first ceiling header toward a second end of the first ceiling header; and

a substantially flat ceiling panel that is attachable to the first ceiling header at the second end of the first ceiling header.

14. The ceiling header system of claim 13 , the first ceiling header further comprising a first flat bottom surface between the first side surface and the second end of the first ceiling header.

15. The ceiling header system of claim 13 , further comprising a second ceiling header that comprises:
a second top surface that conforms to the ceiling; and
a second side surface that is adjacent to the second top surface, wherein the second side surface extends away from the second top surface moving forward or aft from a first end of the second ceiling header toward a second end of the second ceiling header,
wherein the substantially flat ceiling panel is attachable to the second ceiling header at the second end of the second ceiling header.

16. The ceiling header system of claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the ceiling is concave and at least a portion of the first top surface is convex to conform to the ceiling.

17. The ceiling header system of claim 13 , wherein the ceiling header system provides a storage area between the ceiling and the substantially flat ceiling panel when the ceiling header system is installed in the aircraft cabin.

18. The ceiling header system of claim 13 , wherein the substantially flat ceiling panel comprises a transparent or translucent aperture.

19. The ceiling header system of claim 13 , wherein the substantially flat ceiling panel comprises a light source, a speaker, or a display screen that is configured to be electrically coupled to a power source in the aircraft cabin.

20. A method of installing a ceiling header system in an aircraft cabin that includes a ceiling between a first storage bin and a second storage bin, the method comprising:
placing a top surface of a ceiling header against the ceiling such that the top surface conforms to the ceiling;
placing a curtain track against a bottom surface of the ceiling header; and
using telescopic features of the curtain track to adjust a length of the curtain track, attaching a first end of the curtain track to a first rail of the first storage bin and attaching a second end of the curtain track to a second rail of the second storage bin such that the top surface is held against the ceiling by the curtain track.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Tubbs Gregory A
• Wilcynski Paul J

Classifications

• B64C1/066 Primary

  Interior liners · CPC title

• B64D11/0023 Primary

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

• B64D11/0015

  Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television · CPC title