Galley slide out utensil drawer and message center

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11623748-B2
Application number	US-202016801428-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 26, 2020
Priority date	Feb 26, 2020
Publication date	Apr 11, 2023
Grant date	Apr 11, 2023

Abstract

A galley message center defines a tablet recess were a tablet is docked, substantially flush with the surrounding bulkhead so that a utensil storage drawer may be closely disposed to the message center and slide out in front of the tablet without the tablet needing to be removed. The docking element of the message center may be hinged to allow the tablet to be folded down with the screen against a recessed surface to protect the screen and prevent undesired or accidental interaction. The utensil storage drawer includes a plurality of features for securely holding utensils when not in use and place all of the stored utensils within reach of the flight staff, in proximity to a galley working surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An aircraft galley message center comprising:
a recessed portion defined by an aircraft bulkhead;
a docking element configured to releasably hold a tablet within the recessed portion and rotate the tablet from an upper recessed portion of the recessed portion to a lower recessed portion of the recessed portion, flush with a surface of the aircraft bulkhead when disposed in either the upper recessed portion or the lower recessed portion;
an adhesive silicone layer disposed on the tablet facing surface of the lower recessed portion configured to enhance adhesion of reusable adhesive notes;
a charging element disposed within the docking element;
an upper latch configured to engage a superior surface of the tablet and retain the tablet in the upper recessed portion with a screen facing out; and
a lower latch configured to engage the superior surface of the tablet and retain the tablet in the lower recessed portion.

2. The galley message center of claim 1 , wherein the recessed portion comprises an upper recessed portion configured to receive the tablet and a lower recessed portion adapted to receive self-adhesive notes.

3. An aircraft galley comprising:
a message center comprising:
a recessed portion defined by an aircraft bulkhead;
a rotatable docking element configured to releasably hold a tablet within the recessed portion and rotate the tablet from an upper recessed portion of the recessed portion to a lower recessed portion of the recessed portion, flush with a surface of the aircraft bulkhead when disposed in either the upper recessed portion or the lower recessed portion;
an adhesive silicone layer disposed on the tablet facing surface of the lower recessed portion configured to enhance adhesion of reusable adhesive notes;
an upper latch configured to engage a superior surface of the tablet and retain the tablet in the upper recessed portion with a screen facing out;
a lower latch configured to engage the superior surface of the tablet and retain the tablet in the lower recessed portion; and
a charging element disposed within the docking element; and

a secure utensil drawer comprising:
a vertical slideout disposed in an aircraft galley bulkhead;
a plurality of utensil retaining features disposed on a vertical surface of the vertical slideout; and
one or more bin disposed on a lower horizontal surface,

wherein:
the plurality of utensil retaining features comprises at least one closed finger loop hook, at least one clip, and at least one elastic band.

4. The aircraft galley of claim 3 , wherein the secure utensil drawer further comprises one or more magnetic elements disposed on the vertical surface.

5. The aircraft galley of claim 3 , wherein the vertical surface comprises a first vertical surface, and wherein the secure utensil drawer further comprises a second vertical surface comprising one or more magnetic element, the second vertical surface being disposed in front of the first vertical surface, and being laterally displaceable.

6. The aircraft galley of claim 3 , wherein the at least one hook comprises a T-shaped element.

Assignees

• Be Aerospace Inc

Inventors

• Jolley Richard H

Classifications

• H02J7/731

  specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A47B77/14

  by incorporation of racks or supports, other than shelves, for household utensils · CPC title

• B64D11/0007

  Devices specially adapted for food or beverage distribution services · CPC title

• A47B88/42

  Vertically-oriented drawers, i.e. drawers where the height exceeds the width · CPC title

• B64D11/04 Primary

  Galleys · CPC title