Assembly for an aircraft comprising an instrument panel and a support system for a touch tablet

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11945602-B2
Application number	US-202117164514-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 1, 2021
Priority date	Feb 3, 2020
Publication date	Apr 2, 2024
Grant date	Apr 2, 2024

Abstract

An assembly for an aircraft. The assembly comprises a frame, an instrument panel fixed to the frame, a support system with an arm bearing a tray in which the arm positions the tray behind the instrument panel, and in which the tray comprises a first attachment arrangement, and a support comprising a second attachment arrangement which cooperates with the first attachment arrangement to removably fix the support onto the tray. The support also comprises a fixing system which ensures the removable fixing of a touch tablet onto the support. With such an assembly, the touch tablet is held without the aid of the pilot and it is positioned in front of him or her for easy access.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An assembly for an aircraft, said assembly comprising:
a frame configured to be fixed to a structure of the aircraft,
an instrument panel fixed to the frame and facing a user's space in the aircraft,
a support system comprising an arm of which a first end is fixed to the frame and a tray mounted at a second end of the arm, in which the arm is arranged to displace the tray alternately from a retracted position in which the tray is inside the instrument panel to an extended position in which the tray is extended in a direction towards the user's space, and in which the tray comprises a first attachment means, and
a support comprising a second attachment means which cooperates with the first attachment means to removably fix the support onto the tray, and a fixing system configured to ensure a removable fixing of a touch tablet onto the support,
wherein the tray is composed of a lower sub-tray fixed to the arm and an upper sub-tray mounted to be rotationally movable on the lower sub-tray between a folded position and an unfolded position, in that the lower sub-tray has a top face,
wherein the upper sub-tray has a bottom face and a top face bearing the first attachment means,
wherein, in the folded position, the bottom face of the upper sub-tray is against the top face of the lower sub-tray, and
wherein, in the unfolded position, the top face of the lower sub-tray is aligned with the bottom face of the upper sub-tray.

2. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the instrument panel comprises a window, and wherein the arm is movable alternately between a lying-flat position of use in which the tray is projected towards the user's space, and a retracted position in which the tray is retracted into the instrument panel by entering through the window.

3. The assembly according to claim 2 , wherein a transition from the retracted position to the position of use is performed by a translation.

4. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the support comprises a first part and a second part, wherein the first part comprises a first jaw and the second part comprises a second jaw, the first and second jaws facing each other, wherein the first and second parts are translationally movable with respect to one another between a tightened position in which the first and second jaws are brought closer together and a separated position in which the first and second jaws are moved away from one another, and wherein the support comprises a return means which constrains the two parts into the tightened position.

5. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a link between the first attachment means and the second attachment means is formed as a fixing of bayonet type.

6. The assembly according to claim 5 ,
wherein the second attachment means is formed as a male cylinder provided with two protruding lugs,
wherein the first attachment means is formed as a female cylinder comprising, for each lug, a groove which extends parallel to a cylinder axis,
wherein at the bottom of each groove a recess is provided which extends over a periphery of the female cylinder, and
wherein each recess extends on either side of the groove.

7. A cockpit of an aircraft, said cockpit comprising a seat for a pilot and an assembly for an aircraft, said assembly comprising:
a frame configured to be fixed to a structure of the aircraft,
an instrument panel fixed to the frame and facing a user's space in the aircraft,
a support system comprising an arm of which a first end is fixed to the frame and a tray mounted at a second end of the arm, in which the arm is arranged to displace the tray alternately from a retracted position in which the tray is inside the instrument panel to an extended position in which the tray is extended in a direction towards the user's space, and in which the tray comprises a first attachment means, and
a support comprising a second attachment means which cooperates with the first attachment means to removably fix the support onto the tray, and a fixing system configured to ensure a removable fixing of a touch tablet onto the support,
wherein said assembly is disposed in front of said seat, said cockpit further comprising:
a parcel tray disposed alongside the seat, and
wherein the parcel tray is equipped with a connector which interconnects with a connector of the touch tablet when the latter is in the parcel tray.

8. The assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the instrument panel comprises a window, and wherein the arm is movable alternately between a lying-flat position of use in which the tray is projected towards the user's space, and a retracted position in which the tray is retracted into the instrument panel by entering through the window.

9. The assembly according to claim 8 , wherein a transition from the retracted position to the position of use is performed by a translation.

10. The assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the support comprises a first part and a second part, wherein the first part comprises a first jaw and the second part comprises a second jaw, the first and second jaws facing each other, wherein the first and second parts are translationally movable with respect to one another between a tightened position in which the first and second jaws are brought closer together and a separated position in which the first and second jaws are moved away from one another, and wherein the support comprises a return means which constrains the two parts into the tightened position.

11. The assembly according to claim 7 wherein a link between the first attachment means and the second attachment means is formed as a fixing of bayonet type.

12. The assembly according to claim 11 ,
wherein the second attachment means is formed as a male cylinder provided with two protruding lugs,
wherein the first attachment means is formed as a female cylinder comprising, for each lug, a groove which extends parallel to a cylinder axis,
wherein at the bottom of each groove a recess is provided which extends over a periphery of the female cylinder, and
wherein each recess extends on either side of the groove.

Assignees

• Airbus Operations Sas

Inventors

• Auriac Vincent
• Salgues Patrick
• Feuillerac Laurent

Classifications

• B64D43/00 Primary

  Arrangements or adaptations of instruments · CPC title

• B64D2045/0075

  Adaptations for use of electronic flight bags in aircraft; Supports therefor in the cockpit · CPC title

• B64D47/00 Primary

  Equipment not otherwise provided for · CPC title