Panel attachment in a vehicle configured for low profile removal and reattachment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11780584-B2
Application number	US-202117527493-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 16, 2021
Priority date	Nov 16, 2021
Publication date	Oct 10, 2023
Grant date	Oct 10, 2023

Abstract

An assembly configured to be mounted within an interior of a vehicle. The assembly includes a monument wall configured to be mounted in the interior of the vehicle. A panel is configured to attach to a support structure above the monument wall with the panel having a first edge and a second edge. A latch configured to be mounted to the panel between the first edge and the second edge. A pull member is attached to the panel and comprises an elongated member attached to the latch and a handle. A translating hinge is configured to be mounted to the second edge of the panel to provide for translating and pivoting movement of the panel within an access area between the monument wall and the support structure to connect and disconnect the panel from the support structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly configured to be mounted within an interior of a vehicle, the assembly comprising:
a monument wall configured to be mounted in the interior of the vehicle;
panel configured to attach to a support structure above the monument wall, the panel comprising a first edge and an opposing second edge;
a latch configured to be mounted to the panel between the first edge and the second edge;
a pull member attached to the panel and comprising an elongated member attached to the latch and a handle positioned on the elongated member and positioned in proximity to the first edge of the panel;
a translating hinge configured to be mounted to the second edge of the panel to provide for translating and pivoting movement of the panel within an access space between the monument wall and the panel to connect and disconnect the panel from the support structure; and
wherein the access space comprises a height measured between the monument wall and the panel, and the panel comprises a height measured between an inboard edge and an outboard edge with the height of the access space smaller than the height of the panel.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the panel comprises an inward face and an outward face with the latch, the pull member, and the translating hinge positioned on the inward face.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pull member is movable relative to the latch to move the latch from an engaged position that is secured to the support structure and a released position that is released from the support structure.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the handle of the pull member is positioned within an envelope defined by a perimeter edge of the panel.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the translating hinge comprises:
a mating bracket configured to mount to the support structure, the mating bracket comprising a slot; and
a hinge bracket comprising a base configured to mount to the inward face of the panel and a neck that is spaced away from the base and configured to fit into the slot to provide for the translating and pivoting movement of the panel relative to the support structure.

6. The assembly of claim 5 , further comprising:
the mating bracket comprising a pair of extensions that are separated by a receptacle; and
the hinge bracket is configured to fit into the receptacle when the neck is fit into the slot.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the translating hinge is configured to pivot within a range of between 0°-10°.

8. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the height of the access space is less than one-half the height of the panel.

9. An assembly configured to be mounted within an interior of a vehicle, the assembly comprising:
a monument wall configured to be mounted in the interior of the vehicle;
a panel comprising an inward face configured to face into the support structure and an opposing outward face configured to face into the interior of the vehicle, the panel further comprising a perimeter edge that extends between the inward and outward faces;
a latch configured to be mounted to the inward face and spaced inward from the perimeter edge;
a pull member positioned on the inward face and comprising an elongated shape with a first end attached to the latch and a second end positioned at the perimeter edge of the panel; and
a translating hinge comprising:
a mating bracket configured to mount to the support structure of the vehicle, the mating bracket comprising a body with an opening and a pair of extensions that extend outward from the body adjacent to the opening, the pair of extensions being spaced apart and form a receptacle;
a hinge bracket comprising a base configured to mount to the inward face of the panel, an intermediate section connected to the base and that extends outward from the base, and a neck connected to the intermediate section and that is spaced away from the base;
wherein the intermediate section is configured to fit into the receptacle between the pair of extensions; and
wherein the neck is configured to fit into the opening to provide for translational and pivoting movement of the panel within an access space formed between the monument wall and the panel.

10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the neck comprises an exposed distal end and with the neck comprising a width that is less than a width of the slot to provide for the neck to fit into the slot and with the distal end positioned within the mating bracket.

11. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the translating hinge is configured to pivot within a range of between 0°-10° to maintain the outer face facing towards the monument wall during movement of the panel.

12. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the mating bracket is a first mating bracket and the hinge bracket is a first hinge bracket and further comprising a second mating bracket and a second hinge bracket wherein the first mating bracket and the first hinge bracket are positioned at a first lateral side of the panel and the second mating bracket and the second hinge bracket are positioned at a second lateral side of the panel.

13. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the second end of the pull member is positioned along an inboard edge of the panel and the hinge bracket is positioned along an opposing outboard edge of the panel.

14. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the access space comprises a height measured between the monument wall and the panel that is less than one-half a height of the panel measured between inboard and outboard edges.

15. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the intermediate section is configured to fit into the receptacle between the pair of extensions to provide forward/aft support and for the extensions to provide a structural load path.

16. A method of removing a panel from a support structure within an interior of a vehicle, the method comprising:
applying a force to a handle of a pull member that is positioned on an inward face of the panel while the panel is connected by a latch and a translating hinge to the support structure;
disengaging the latch from the support structure in response to applying the force to the handle and while the panel remains connected to the support structure at the translating hinge;
pivoting the panel about the translating hinge and moving a first edge of the panel downward away from the support structure and towards a monument wall that is positioned in the interior of the vehicle;
pivoting the panel about the translating hinge while a hinge bracket that is mounted to one of the panel and the support structure and is inserted within a mating bracket that is mounted to the other of the panel and the support structure;
pivoting the panel about a second edge within a range of between 0°-10° and maintaining the panel spaced away from the monument wall;
after pivoting the panel, translating the panel along the monument wall in a direction towards the interior of the vehicle and away from the support structure.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising pivoting the panel about the translating hinge that is positioned at a second edge of the panel.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising translating the panel into the interior of the vehicle and disengaging a hinge bracket that is mounted to the panel from a mating bracket that is mounted to the support structure.

19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising while the latch is disengaged from the support structure and the panel remains attached with the translating hinge to the support structure, moving the panel away fro

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Rhynard Steven Ellis
• Files Joe

Classifications

• B64D11/003 Primary

  Stowage devices for passengers' personal luggage · CPC title

• B64C7/00

  Structures or fairings not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B64D11/00 Primary

  Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B64C1/066

  Interior liners · CPC title