Panel assembly for a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11753166-B2
Application number	US-202117527394-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 16, 2021
Priority date	Nov 16, 2021
Publication date	Sep 12, 2023
Grant date	Sep 12, 2023

Abstract

An assembly for an interior of a vehicle with the assembly having a monument wall configured to mount to the interior of the vehicle. A panel is configured to mount to an overhead support structure adjacent to the monument wall. The panel includes a front side configured to face into the interior of the vehicle and an opposing back side. One or more latch assemblies are configured to connect the panel to the overhead support structure adjacent to the monument wall. The latch assemblies include a latch mounted to the back side of the panel, a track with one or more rails, a follower with an arm and a head with the head sized to engage with the track, and a pull mechanism to unlock the latch.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly for an interior of a vehicle, the assembly comprising:
a panel configured to mount to an overhead support structure adjacent to a monument wall within the interior of the vehicle, the panel comprising a front side configured to face into the interior of the vehicle, a back side, and a perimeter edge that extends between the front and back sides;
one or more latch assemblies configured to connect the panel to the overhead support structure above the monument wall, the latch assemblies comprising:
a strike member configured to be mounted to the overhead support structure;
a latch mounted to the back side of the panel, the latch comprising a pair of jaws that are movable between a locked position that engage with the strike member and an unlocked position;
a track configured to be mounted to the overhead support structure, the track comprising one or more rails with an elongated shape and with a closed end and an open end with the open end facing away from the strike member;
a follower mounted to the back side of the panel, the follower comprising an arm and a head with the head sized to engage with the track; and
a pull mechanism mounted to the back side of the panel and comprising an elongated shape with a first end connected to the latch and a second end positioned in proximity to the perimeter edge of the panel;

the one or more rails of the track aligned to remain engaged with the follower when the latch is in the unlocked position to maintain the panel connected to the overhead support structure when the panel is moved relative to the overhead support structure as the follower translates along the track from the closed end to the open end and the strike member moves away from the latch.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the latch is positioned in proximity to an outboard edge of the panel and the second end of the pull mechanism is positioned in proximity to an inboard edge of the panel.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the latch is positioned on the back side of the panel between the follower and an outboard edge of the panel.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the panel further comprises a speaker mounted in a central section within the perimeter edge and is exposed on the front side.

5. An assembly for an interior of a vehicle, the assembly comprising:
a panel configured to be mounted to an overhead support structure above a monument wall that is mounted within the interior of the vehicle, the panel comprising a front side configured to face into the interior of the vehicle, a back side, a first edge and a second edge with each of the first and second edges extending between the front and back sides;
one or more latch assemblies configured to connect the panel to the overhead support structure, the latch assemblies comprising:
a latch mounted to the back side of the panel;
a translating assembly comprising a track and a follower with the track comprising a closed end and an open end and with the follower configured to engage with the track;
a pull mechanism mounted to the back side of the panel between the latch and the first edge and configured to move the latch from a locked position to an unlocked position;

the one or more latch assemblies configured to unlock the latch and for the follower to translate along the track towards the open end and for the latch to move towards the track to slide the panel within an access space formed between the monument wall and the overhead support structure.

6. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the track is configured to connect to one of the panel and the overhead support structure and the follower is configured to connect to the other of the panel and the overhead support structure, the follower sized to remain engaged with the track to maintain the panel connected to the overhead support structure after the latch is released from the overhead support structure.

7. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the track comprises first and second rails that are spaced apart to form a slot with the closed end and the open end and with the follower comprising a head sized to fit into the slot with the closed end configured to be positioned towards the latch when the latch is locked and with the open end facing away from the latch.

8. The assembly of claim 7 , further comprising a recessed catch detent in one of the first and second rails and positioned in proximity to an open end of the track, the catch detent sized to engage with the head of the follower.

9. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the latch is mounted to the panel in closer proximity to the second edge than the translating assembly.

10. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the panel further comprises:
an opening;
one of a speaker and an emergency air unit mounted at the opening.

11. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein an access space is formed between the monument wall and the panel with the access space comprising a height that is less than half a height of the panel.

12. A method of removing a panel from an overhead support structure that is positioned above a monument wall within an interior of a vehicle, the method comprising:
actuating a pull mechanism that extends along a back side of the panel;
disengaging a latch on the panel that is connected to the overhead support structure and vertically moving the latch downward away from the overhead support structure and towards the monument wall;
maintaining the panel attached to the overhead support structure after disengaging the latch and sliding a follower along a track and sliding the panel relative to the overhead support structure within an access area formed between the overhead support structure and the monument wall and with latch moving towards the track as the follower slides along the track; and
sliding the follower out of the track and thereby removing the panel from the overhead support structure.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising while the latch is disengaged and the panel is attached to the overhead support structure through the follower within the track, spacing the panel away from a front of the overhead support structure and accessing a closeout area formed within the overhead support structure.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising maintaining the orientation of the panel relative to the overhead support structure while sliding the panel within the access area.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising vertically moving the edge of the panel vertically downward away from the overhead support structure while a first section of the panel that is spaced away from the edge remains attached to the overhead support structure.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising disengaging the latch and pivoting the panel about the follower.

17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising after disengaging the latch and while the panel remains attached to the overhead support structure through the follower and track, accessing a personal services device that is mounted on a back side of the panel.

18. The method of claim 12 , further comprising maintaining the panel spaced away from the monument wall while sliding the follower along and out of the track.

19. The method of claim 12 , wherein actuating the pull mechanism comprises pulling a handle of the pull mechanism away from the edge of the panel and disengaging the latch.

20. The method of claim 12 , further comprising engaging the panel to the overhead support structure with at least two of the latches.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Files Joe
• Rhynard Steven Ellis
• Warren Daniel Paul
• Rand John Charles

Classifications

• B64D11/0015 Primary

  Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television · CPC title

• B64D11/003 Primary

  Stowage devices for passengers' personal luggage · CPC title

• B64D11/04

  Galleys · CPC title

• B64D11/0023

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