Aircraft privacy door and door frame assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11299250-B2
Application number	US-201916704845-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 5, 2019
Priority date	Feb 8, 2018
Publication date	Apr 12, 2022
Grant date	Apr 12, 2022

Abstract

A privacy door assembly for installation in an aircraft relative to a flight deck door of the aircraft includes a door frame having a first post and a second post, where the second post comprises a latch recess. The privacy door comprises a latch positioned on an edge of the privacy door and arranged to engage the latch recess when the privacy door is in a closed position within the door frame. An access door is positioned in the privacy door, where the access door is rotatable from a closed position to an open position in a forward direction. A first mechanical door handle system including a mechanical combination lock is positioned on an aft side of the privacy door and coupled to the latch, and a second mechanical door handle system is positioned on a forward side of the privacy door and coupled to the latch.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A privacy door assembly for installation in an aircraft relative to a flight deck door of the aircraft, the privacy door assembly comprising:
a door frame comprising a first post and a second post, wherein the second post comprises a latch recess;
a privacy door configured to be rotatably coupled to the first post via a set of hinges, wherein the privacy door comprises a latch positioned on an edge of the privacy door and arranged to engage the latch recess when the privacy door is in a closed position within the door frame;
a second latch recess positioned on a wall within an intermediate cabin area of the aircraft, wherein the second latch recess is arranged to engage the latch of the privacy door when the privacy door is in the open position;
an access door positioned in the privacy door, wherein the access door is rotatable from a closed position to an open position in a forward direction;
a first mechanical door handle system positioned on an aft side of the privacy door and coupled to the latch, wherein the first mechanical door handle system includes a mechanical combination lock, and wherein the latch is configured to disengage from the latch recess in response to entering a correct combination into the mechanical combination lock; and
a second mechanical door handle system positioned on a forward side of the privacy door and coupled to the latch.

2. The privacy door assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first mechanical door handle system further includes a handle, and wherein the latch is configured to disengage from the latch recess in response to entering the correct combination into the mechanical combination lock and turning the handle.

3. The privacy door assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second mechanical door handle system requires two hands to operate.

4. The privacy door assembly of claim 3 , wherein the second mechanical door handle system comprises:
a handle; and
a button, wherein pressing the button releases a pin that enables the handle to turn to thereby disengage the latch from the latch recess.

5. The privacy door assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first mechanical door handle system and the second mechanical door handle system are offset with respect to each other such that the second mechanical door handle system is disposed farther away from the edge of the privacy door than the first mechanical door handle system.

6. The privacy door assembly of claim 5 , wherein the access door has a width and a length configured to project and extend past the second mechanical door handle system when the access door is in the open position to thereby prevent reach of the second mechanical door handle system from the aft side of the privacy door when the access door is in the open position.

7. The privacy door assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second mechanical door handle system comprises:
a handle; and
a plunger extending vertically from the handle and positioned beneath the access door, wherein the plunger contacts the access door and is depressed when the access door is in the open position, and wherein the handle is locked and unable to turn to thereby disengage the latch from the latch recess when the plunger is depressed.

8. The privacy door assembly of claim 1 , wherein the set of hinges includes a hinge spring positioned to bias the privacy door from the closed position to the open position when the latch and the latch recess are disengaged.

9. A method for establishing a privacy door relative to a flight deck door of an aircraft, wherein the flight deck door, when in a closed position, separates a flight deck area of the aircraft from a cabin area of the aircraft, the method comprising:
positioning a door frame in the cabin area, aft of the flight deck door, wherein the door frame comprises a first post and a second post, and wherein the second post comprises a latch recess, wherein the door frame comprises a connector for coupling the door frame to an adjacent structure of the aircraft;
coupling the door frame to the aircraft by coupling the connector to the adjacent structure such that the door frame maintains at least one degree of freedom of movement with respect to the adjacent structure; and
coupling the privacy door to the first post via a set of hinges such that the privacy door, when in a closed position, separates the cabin area into an intermediate cabin area between the privacy door and the flight deck door and a main cabin area aft of the privacy door, wherein the privacy door is rotatable via the set of hinges into the intermediate cabin area to an open position, wherein the privacy door comprises a latch positioned on an edge of the privacy door arranged to engage the latch recess when the privacy door is in the closed position, and wherein the privacy door includes an access door that is rotatable from a closed position to an open position in a forward direction;
positioning a first mechanical door handle system on an aft side of the privacy door, wherein the first mechanical door handle system is coupled to the latch and includes a mechanical combination lock, and wherein the latch is configured to disengage from the latch recess in response to entering a correct combination into the mechanical combination lock; and
positioning a second mechanical door handle system on a forward side of the privacy door, wherein the second mechanical door handle system is coupled to the latch.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first mechanical door handle system further includes a handle, the method further comprising:
entering a correct combination into the mechanical combination lock; and
turning the handle to thereby disengage the latch from the latch recess to open the privacy door.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second mechanical door handle system comprises a handle and a button, the method further comprising:
pressing the button to release a pin in the second mechanical door handle system; and
while the button is depressed, turning the handle to thereby disengage the latch from the latch recess to open the privacy door.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the privacy door further comprises a slam latch positioned to engage a slot in the first post of the door frame when the privacy door is in the open position and the slam latch is in a first position, the method further comprising:
after coupling the privacy door to the first post via the set of hinges, rotating the privacy door to the open position; and
engaging the slam latch within the slot.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the slam latch is coupled to a lever positioned on a forward side of the privacy door, the method further comprising:
operating the lever to move the slam latch away from the first post to a second position, wherein moving the slam latch to the second position disengages the slam latch from the slot.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the connector comprises a slip pin positioned at an upper end of the first post and wherein the adjacent structure comprises a ceiling bracket, and wherein coupling the connector to the adjacent structure comprises coupling the slip pin to the ceiling bracket such that the door frame maintains at least two degrees of freedom of movement with respect to the ceiling bracket.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second mechanical door handle system comprises a handle and a plunger extending vertically from the handle and positioned beneath the access door, the method further comprising:
rotating the access door to the closed position; and
turning the handle to thereby disengage the latch from the latch recess to open the

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Movsesian Sami
• Dunn Jeffrey M
• Koo Min I
• Sauer Steven H

Classifications

• E05Y2201/22

  Locks · CPC title

• B64C1/1461 Primary

  Structures of doors or surrounding frames · CPC title

• E05Y2900/502

  for aircraft or spacecraft · CPC title

• E05B83/36

  Locks for passenger or like doors · CPC title

• E05B53/003

  flexible · CPC title