Stowage bin lighting assembly and method for lighting a stowage bin assembly of a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11851185-B2
Application number	US-202217586882-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 28, 2022
Priority date	Jan 28, 2022
Publication date	Dec 26, 2023
Grant date	Dec 26, 2023

Abstract

A stowage bin lighting assembly for mounting to an internal cabin of a vehicle includes a chassis having a plate extending longitudinally between ends. The chassis supports light mount pedestals, wire standoffs, and at least one valance support above the upper surface. The stowage bin lighting assembly includes a light mounted to the light mount pedestals positioned above the plate by the light mount pedestals for providing lighting from the stowage bin assembly to the internal cabin of the vehicle. The stowage bin lighting assembly includes a wire electrically connected to the light to supply power to the light and coupled to at least one of the wire standoffs to control a position of the wire relative to the plate. The stowage bin lighting assembly includes a valance coupled to the valance mount pedestals configured to be coupled to the stowage bin assembly by the valance support.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A stowage bin lighting assembly for mounting to an internal cabin of a vehicle, comprising:
a chassis including a plate extending longitudinally between a first end and a second end and mounted directly to a stowage bin assembly of the internal cabin, the chassis supporting light mount pedestals and wire standoffs;
a light assembly removably coupled to the chassis, the light assembly including a light and a wire electrically connected to the light, the light coupled to the light mount pedestals for providing lighting from the stowage bin assembly to the internal cabin of the vehicle, the wire supplying power to the light, the wire being coupled to at least one of the wire standoffs to control a position of the wire.

2. The stowage bin lighting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the light and the wire are pre-assembled to the chassis prior to mounting the chassis to the stowage bin assembly.

3. The stowage bin lighting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the light mount pedestals provide multiple attachment points for the light, the plate maintaining spacing of the light mount pedestals relative to each other.

4. The stowage bin lighting assembly of claim 1 , wherein each light mount pedestal comprises an alignment mounting feature supporting a portion of the light, wherein the alignment mounting features are offset relative to each other and relative to a longitudinal fuselage axis of the vehicle, the alignment mounting features of the light mount pedestals define a longitudinal mounting axis tapered transversely relative to the longitudinal fuselage axis, the light held along the longitudinal mounting axis.

5. The stowage bin lighting assembly of claim 4 , wherein each alignment mounting feature comprises a height that is different from a height of at least one other alignment mounting feature such that the longitudinal mounting axis is vertically tapered relative to the longitudinal fuselage axis.

6. The stowage bin lighting assembly of claim 4 , wherein each alignment mounting feature comprises an angled mounting surface formed at an angle relative to an upper surface of the plate, wherein each angled mounting surface is formed at a different angle relative to at least one other angled mounting surface, and wherein all the angled mounting surfaces define the longitudinal mounting axis.

7. The stowage bin lighting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the light mount pedestals have different heights such that the light extends along the longitudinal mounting axis.

8. The stowage bin lighting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plate includes a step feature, the step feature configured to span across a gap from the stowage bin assembly to an adjacent stowage bin assembly.

9. The stowage bin lighting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the chassis includes a wire guide boss extending from an upper surface of the plate, the wire guide boss supporting a wire guide on the chassis, the wire guide controlling routing of the wire between the light and the wire standoffs.

10. The stowage bin lighting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the wire is coiled around at least two of the wire standoffs.

11. The stowage bin lighting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the chassis includes a wire disconnect mounting bracket, the wire having a wire disconnect at an end of the wire, the wire disconnect coupled to the wire disconnect mounting bracket to position the wire disconnect relative to the chassis.

12. The stowage bin lighting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the light is a first light, the light assembly further comprising a second light mounted to the corresponding light mount pedestals, the light mount pedestals positioning the first light adjacent the second light on the chassis.

13. The stowage bin lighting assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first light extends along a first axis and the second light extends along a second axis, the light mount pedestals holding the first and second lights with the first axis congruent with the second axis.

14. The stowage bin lighting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the light mount pedestals are integral with the plate.

15. The stowage bin lighting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the chassis includes at least one valance support supported by the chassis, a valance coupled to the at least one valance support, wherein the valance is configured to be coupled to the stowage bin assembly by the valance support.

16. The stowage bin lighting assembly of claim 15 , wherein the valance support includes a rail and a plurality of spring clips coupled to the rail, a lower edge of the valance being coupled between the rail and the spring clips.

17. The stowage bin lighting assembly of claim 16 , wherein the rail includes a lip, the spring clips including mounting ends coupled to the rail and clip ends opposite the mounting ends facing the lip, the lower edge of the valance being captured between the lip and the clip ends of the spring clips.

18. The stowage bin lighting assembly of claim 15 , wherein the valance includes a valance panel including an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface forming a valance pocket, the valance including ribs in the valance pocket supporting the valance panel, the ribs including cam surfaces configured to engage guide rollers extending from the stowage bin assembly to control mating of the valance to the valance support.

19. The stowage bin lighting assembly of claim 15 , wherein the valance support includes valance latches, the valance being latchably coupled to the valance latches.

20. The stowage bin lighting assembly of claim 19 , wherein the chassis further comprises valance mount pedestals extending from an upper surface of the plate, the valance latches being coupled to the corresponding valance mount pedestals, the valance mount pedestals positioning the plurality of valance latches relative to the plate.

21. The stowage bin lighting assembly of claim 20 , wherein each valance mount pedestal comprises an alignment mounting feature supporting the corresponding valance latch, wherein the alignment mounting features are offset relative to each other and relative to a longitudinal fuselage axis of the vehicle, the alignment mounting features of the valance mount pedestals define a longitudinal mounting axis tapered transversely relative to the longitudinal fuselage axis, the valance held along the longitudinal mounting axis.

22. A stowage bin lighting assembly for mounting to an internal cabin of a vehicle, comprising:
a chassis including a plate extending longitudinally between a first end and a second end, the plate having an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface mounted directly to a stowage bin assembly of the internal cabin, the chassis supporting light mount pedestals above the upper surface, the chassis supporting wire standoffs above the upper surface, the chassis supporting at least one valance support above the upper surface;
a light mounted to the light mount pedestals, the light being positioned above the plate by the light mount pedestals for providing lighting from the stowage bin assembly to the internal cabin of the vehicle;
a wire electrically connected to the light to supply power to the light, the wire being coupled to at least one of the wire standoffs to control a position of the wire relative to the plate; and
a valance coupled to the valance mount pedestals, wherein the valance is configured to be coupled to the stowage bin assembly by the valance support.

23. The stowage bin lighting assem

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Rhynard Steven Ellis
• Files Joe
• Logue Adam Arthur
• Duong Long Hoang
• Reynolds Kenneth Merkley
• Mullins Jason W

Classifications

• B64D11/003 Primary

  Stowage devices for passengers' personal luggage · CPC title

• B64D2011/0038

  Illumination systems for cabins as a whole · CPC title

• B64D2011/0046

  Modular or preassembled units for creating cabin interior structures · CPC title

• B64D11/00 Primary

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

• B64D47/02

  Arrangements or adaptations of signal or lighting devices · CPC title