Interior aircraft frame assembly for furnishings

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11230380-B2
Application number	US-201815872055-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 16, 2018
Priority date	Jan 16, 2018
Publication date	Jan 25, 2022
Grant date	Jan 25, 2022

Abstract

A wall assembly for an interior of an aircraft includes a frame member secured within a cabin of the aircraft having a first side and a second opposing side. The assembly further includes a first decorative panel secured to the frame member on a first side of the frame and a second decorative panel secured to the frame member on a second side of the frame.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A wall assembly for an interior of an aircraft, comprising:
a frame member secured within a cabin of the aircraft having a first side and a second opposing side, wherein:
the frame member defines openings, which extend through the frame member and are spaced apart from one another along the frame member; and
the frame member comprises a leg member which extends within a first channel comprising a first sidewall and a second sidewall, which are spaced apart with a base extending between the first sidewall and the second sidewall, such that the leg member is secured to the first sidewall and the second sidewall and the leg is aligned with the base;

a seat track adapter releasably secured to the base of the first channel such that the base aligns with the seat track adapter and the seat track with the seat track adapter secured to a seat track;
a first decorative panel secured to the frame member on the first side of the frame member; and
a second decorative panel secured to the frame member on the second side of the frame member.

2. The wall assembly of claim 1 , wherein the frame member is constructed of a composite material.

3. The wall assembly of claim 2 , wherein the frame member is constructed of a honeycomb core with a first face sheet positioned on the first side of the frame member and a second face sheet positioned on the second side of the frame member.

4. The wall assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second decorative panels are constructed of composite material.

5. The wall assembly of claim 4 , wherein:
the first decorative panel comprises a honeycomb core with a first face sheet positioned on a first side of the first decorative panel and a second face sheet positioned on a second opposing side of the first decorative panel; and
the second decorative panel comprises a honeycomb core with a first face sheet positioned on a first side of the second decorative panel and a second face sheet positioned on a second opposing side of the second decorative panel.

6. The wall assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the first decorative panel is releasably secured to the first side of the frame member with at least one bolt; and
the second decorative panel is releasably secured to the second side of the frame member with at least one bolt.

7. The wall assembly of claim 1 , wherein the frame member comprises a securement panel for securing a fixture positioned on the first side or the second side of the frame member.

8. The wall assembly of claim 1 , wherein the frame member comprises a leg member which extends from the frame member and is releasably secured to a seat track adapter assembly.

9. The wall assembly of claim 8 , wherein the leg member extends within a plane defined by the frame member.

10. The wall assembly of claim 8 , wherein the leg member extends from a first end of the frame member in a direction aligned with a seat track of the aircraft.

11. The wall assembly of claim 8 , wherein the frame member comprises an arm member which extends within a plane defined by the frame member.

12. The wall assembly of claim 11 , wherein the arm member extends from a second end of the frame member in a direction aligned with a ceiling support rail.

13. The wall assembly of claim 12 , wherein the arm member engages a slot within the ceiling support rail which restrains movement of the arm member in a forward and aft directions of the aircraft.

14. The wall assembly of claim 1 , further includes a trim member which includes a panel positioned to extend over an edge of the first decorative panel, extend from the edge of the first decorative panel to an edge of the second decorative panel, extend over the edge of the second decorative panel and extend along the edge of the first decorative panel and the edge of the second decorative panel.

15. A connector assembly for a wall assembly for an interior of an aircraft, comprising:
a first channel for holding a leg member of a frame member having a first side and a second opposing side including a first decorative panel releasably secured to the first side and a second decorative panel releasably secured to the second side, wherein:
the first channel comprises a first sidewall spaced apart from a second sidewall with a base extending between the first sidewall and the second sidewall, such that the leg member of the frame member and the first and second decorative panels extend between the first and second sidewalls and the leg member is secured to the first and second sidewalls and is aligned with the base;
a first aperture is positioned extending through the leg member of the frame member;
a second aperture is positioned extending through the first sidewall of the first channel and a third aperture is positioned extending through the second sidewall of the first channel;
a bolt member extends through the first, second and third apertures for securing the leg member, the first decorative panel and the second decorative panel to the first channel; and

a seat track adapter releasably secured to the base of the first channel wherein the seat track adapter comprises a head having a dimension smaller than an opening defined within a seat track.

16. The connector assembly of claim 15 , wherein:
the first channel is positioned in overlying relationship to a first side of a seat track within the aircraft;
the seat track defines a slot in communication with the opening;
the slot has a smaller dimension than the opening; and
the seat track defines a second channel positioned on a second side opposing the first side of the seat track and in communication with the opening and the slot.

17. A connector assembly for a wall assembly for an interior of an aircraft, comprising:
a first channel for holding a leg member of a frame member having a first side and a second opposing side including a first decorative panel releasably secured to the first side and a second decorative panel releasably secured to the second side, wherein:
the first channel comprises a first sidewall spaced apart from a second sidewall for receiving, the leg member of the frame member and the first and second decorative panels between the first and second sidewalls;
a first aperture is positioned extending through the leg member of the frame member;
a second aperture is positioned extending through the first sidewall of the first channel and a third aperture is positioned extending through the second sidewall of the first channel;
a bolt member extends through the first, second and third apertures for securing the leg member, the first decorative pane and the second decorative panel to the first channel; and

a seat track adapter releasably secured to the first channel wherein the seat track adapter comprises a head having a dimension smaller than an opening defined within a seat track, wherein:
the first channel is positioned in overlying relationship to a first side of the seat track within the aircraft;
the seat track defines a slot in communication with the opening;
the slot has a smaller dimension than the opening; and
the seat track defines a second channel positioned on a second side opposing the first side of the seat track and in communication with the opening and the slot
the seat rack adapter further includes a rail which extends along one side of the head;
the rail has a dimension less than a dimension of the slot;
with the head positioned aligned with the opening, the head is removable from the second channel of the seat track, and with the head positioned out of alignment with the opening and aligned with

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Cysewski Sean R
• Erickson Harold
• Sultan Saif
• Banihashemi Bejan B
• Prince Kevin D
• Demarne Alex H

Classifications

• B64C1/061

  Frames · CPC title

• Y02T50/40

  Weight reduction · CPC title

• B64C1/20

  specially adapted for freight · CPC title

• B64D11/0023 Primary

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

• B64D11/0696 Primary

  Means for fastening seats to floors, e.g. to floor rails · CPC title