Life vest container device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11459108-B2
Application number	US-201916598085-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 10, 2019
Priority date	Oct 10, 2019
Publication date	Oct 4, 2022
Grant date	Oct 4, 2022

Abstract

The invention relates to a life vest container device, in particular aircraft seat life vest container device, for a life vest unit, with a life vest container comprising an accommodation unit that has an accommodation space as well as an access opening to the accommodation space, and with a monitoring device.
It is proposed that the monitoring device is at least configured to capture a change of at least one characteristic via at least one electric and/or electronic signal.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A life vest container device with a life vest container, comprising:
an accommodation unit that has an accommodation space as well as an access opening to the accommodation space,
a monitoring device, and
a life vest unit that is configured to be arranged in the accommodation space,
wherein
the monitoring device is at least configured to capture a change of at least one characteristic via at least one electric and/or electronic signal,
the monitoring device is at least configured to capture, via the at least one electric and/or electronic signal, a manipulation of the life vest container, a removal of the life vest unit out of the life vest unit's correct stowage position, in which the life vest unit is arranged in the accommodation space, and/or a presence of at least one foreign body in the accommodation space,
the monitoring device comprises at least one electric and/or electronic sensor unit,
at least one of the at least one electric and/or electronic sensor unit is configured for sensing of a weight and/or a volume, depending on at least one time characteristic,
at least one of the at least one electric and/or electronic sensor unit is at least partly arranged on the life vest container and/or on the accommodation unit.

2. The life vest container device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one electric and/or electronic sensor unit comprises at least one electric coupling unit, which is configured to close or open an electric circuit if the life vest unit is moved out of its stowage position in the accommodation space.

3. The life vest container device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one electric and/or electronic sensor unit comprises at least one detection element, which is fixedly connected with the life vest container.

4. The life vest container device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one electric and/or electronic sensor unit comprises at least one optical sensor.

5. The life vest container device according to claim 1 , wherein the monitoring device comprises at least one control and/or regulation unit, which is configured to capture the electric and/or electronic signal and to send an output signal to a checking system.

6. The life vest container device according to claim 1 , wherein the monitoring device comprises at least one output unit, which is configured to output at least one output signal.

7. The life vest container device according to claim 6 , wherein the at least one output unit comprises at least one optical and/or acoustical element that is arranged in an aircraft seat region.

8. An aircraft seat with a life vest container device according to claim 1 .

9. A method of monitoring a life vest container device according to claim 1 , comprising the life vest unit and the life vest container with the accommodation unit that defines the accommodation space for the life vest unit and the access opening to the accommodation space, the method comprising:
monitoring at least one of the life vest unit and the life vest container and
capturing a change of at least one characteristic of the life vest unit and/or the life vest container via at least one electric and/or electronic signal.

10. The life vest container device according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one electric and/or electronic sensor unit comprises at least two electric and/or electronic sensor units,
at least one of the at least one electric and/or electronic sensor unit determines one of the manipulation of the life vest container and the removal of the life vest unit out of the life vest unit's correct stowage position, in which the life vest unit is arranged in the accommodation space.

11. The life vest container device according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one electric and/or electronic sensor unit comprises first, second, and third electric and/or electronic sensor units,
the first electric and/or electronic sensor unit determines a manipulation of the life vest container,
the second electric and/or electronic sensor unit determines the removal of the life vest unit out of the life vest unit's correct stowage position, in which the life vest unit is arranged in the accommodation space, and
the third electric and/or electronic sensor unit determines a presence of at least one foreign body in the accommodation space.

12. A life vest container device with a life vest container, comprising:
an accommodation unit having an accommodation space and an access opening to the accommodation space;
a life vest unit arranged in the accommodation space; and
a monitoring device configured to determine a change of at least two characteristics of the life vest container,
wherein
the monitoring device is configured to detect at least two of
a manipulation of the life vest container,
a removal of the life vest unit out of the life vest unit's correct stowage position in the accommodation space, and
a presence of at least one foreign body in the accommodation space,

the monitoring device comprises two or more sensor units,
at least one of the two or more sensor units is configured to sense at least one of a weight and a volume in the accommodation space,
at least one of the two or more sensor units is at least partly arranged on one of the life vest container and the accommodation unit.

13. The life vest container device according to claim 12 , wherein
the monitoring device is configured to detect all three of
the manipulation of the life vest container,
the removal of the life vest unit out of the life vest unit's correct stowage position in the accommodation space, and
the presence of at least one foreign body in the accommodation space.

14. The life vest container device according to claim 12 , wherein the at two or more sensor units comprises at least one electric coupling unit that is configured to open or close an electric circuit if the life vest unit is moved out of a proper life vest stowage position in the accommodation space.

Assignees

• Recaro Aircraft Seating Gmbh & Co Kg

Inventors

• Steinmeyer Klaus
• Roderwald Martin
• Jung Daniel
• Streckert Michael
• Schuler Thomas

Classifications

• G08B13/149

  with electric, magnetic, capacitive switch actuation · CPC title

• B64D11/0631 Primary

  for life vests · CPC title

• B64F5/60

  Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems · CPC title

• G08B13/1481

  with optical detection · CPC title

• G08B7/06

  using electric transmission {, e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources} · CPC title