Fixed bin hinge system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11293208-B2
Application number	US-201916341032-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 2, 2019
Priority date	Apr 4, 2018
Publication date	Apr 5, 2022
Grant date	Apr 5, 2022

Abstract

A hinge assembly for an aircraft overhead storage bin that includes a housing having a hinge space and a hinge opening defined therein, an arm pivotably connected to the housing within the hinge space, and a dampener. The hinge opening communicates the hinge space with an exterior of the housing. The arm is pivotable between a closed position and an open position and extends through the hinge opening such that the first end of the arm is positioned outside of the housing. The dampener includes first and second ends. The first end is connected to the housing and the second end is connected to the arm. The dampener biases the arm from the closed position to the open position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An overhead storage bin comprising:
a bin housing that includes a top, a bottom and first and second end panels that cooperate to define a bin interior,
a door that is movable with respect to the bin housing between a closed position, an open position and an over-travel position, the open position is located between the closed and over-travel positions,
a first hinge assembly connected to the first end panel, the first hinge assembly including
a first housing that includes a first connection member and a first hinge space defined therein, a first hinge opening is defined in the first housing, and the first hinge opening communicates the first hinge space with an exterior of the first housing,
a first arm pivotably connected to the first housing within the first hinge space, the first arm is pivotable between a closed position, an open position and an over-travel position, the first arm extends through the first hinge opening and a first end of the first arm is positioned outside of the first housing, the first end of the first arm is connected to the door, and
a first dampener that includes first and second ends, the first end is connected to the first housing and the second end is connected to the first arm, the first dampener biases the first arm from the closed position to the open position, the first end of the first dampener includes a first connection opening defined therein that receives the first connection member therein, the first connection opening has a larger dimension than the first connection member, such that the first connection member is movable within the first connection opening, the second end of the first dampener moves axially when the door moves from the closed position to the open position and both of the first and second ends of the first dampener move axially when the door moves from the open position to the over-travel position,

a second hinge assembly connected to the second end panel, the second hinge assembly including
a second housing that includes a second connection member and a second hinge space defined therein, a second hinge opening is defined in the second housing, and the second hinge opening communicates the second hinge space with an exterior of the second housing,
a second arm pivotably connected to the second housing within the second hinge space, the second arm is pivotable between a closed position, an open position and an over-travel position, the second arm extends through the second hinge opening and a first end of the arm is positioned outside of the second housing, the first end of the second arm is connected to the door, and
a second dampener that includes first and second ends, the first end is connected to the second housing and the second end is connected to the second arm, the second dampener biases the second arm from the closed position to the open position, the first end of the second dampener includes a second connection opening defined therein that receives the first second member therein, the second connection opening has a larger dimension than the second connection member, such that the second connection member is movable within the second connection opening, the second end of the second dampener moves axially when the door moves from the closed position to the open position and both of the first and second ends of the second dampener move axially when the door moves from the open position to the over-travel position, and

a latch that maintains the door in the closed position, when the latch is disengaged the first and second dampeners expand to move the door to the open position.

2. The overhead storage bin of claim 1 the first arm includes a second end opposite the first end, the second end of the first dampener is connected to the second end of the first arm, the first arm is pivotably connected to the first housing about a pivot axis, the pivot axis is located between the first and second ends of the first arm, and the second arm includes a second end opposite the first end, the second end of the second dampener is connected to the second end of the second arm, the second arm is pivotably connected to the second housing about a pivot axis.

3. The overhead storage bin of claim 1 the first housing includes a first stop member, the first arm contacts the first stop member when the first arm is in the over-travel position, the second housing includes a second stop member, the second arm contacts the second stop member when the second arm is in the over-travel position.

4. The overhead storage bin of claim 3 the first arm includes a second end opposite the first end, the second end of the first dampener is connected to the second end of the first arm, the first arm is pivotably connected to the first housing about a pivot axis, the pivot axis is located between the first and second ends of the first arm, and the second arm includes a second end opposite the first end, the second end of the second dampener is connected to the second end of the second arm, the second arm is pivotably connected to the second housing about a pivot axis.

5. The overhead storage bin of claim 4 the first housing includes first inner and first outer housing members that cooperate to define the first hinge space therebetween, the pivot axis is defined by a first pivot axle that extends from one of the first inner and first outer housing members, and the first stop member is secured to one of the first inner and first outer housing members, the second housing includes second inner and second outer housing members that cooperate to define the second hinge space therebetween, the pivot axis is defined by a second pivot axle that extends from one of the second inner and second outer housing members, and the second stop member is secured to one of the second inner and second outer housing members.

6. The overhead storage bin of claim 1 the first housing includes a first stop member that is movable between a first stop position and a second stop position, the first stop member is biased to the first stop position, the first arm contacts the first stop member when the first arm is in the open position, the first stop member moves to the second stop position when the first arm is moved to the over-travel position, the second housing includes a second stop member that is movable between a first stop position and a second stop position, the second stop member is biased to the first stop position, the second arm contacts the second stop member when the second arm is in the open position, and the second stop member moves to the second stop position when the second arm is moved to the over-travel position.

Assignees

• Safran Cabin Inc

Inventors

• Heimbach Eric

Classifications

• B60R7/04

  in driver or passenger space {, e.g. using racks (B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence)} · CPC title

• B64D11/003

  Stowage devices for passengers' personal luggage · CPC title

• E05Y2900/502

  for aircraft or spacecraft · CPC title

• E05F5/08

  with springs · CPC title

• E05F5/022

  specially adapted for vehicles, e.g. for hoods or trunks · CPC title