Entry step lighting system for aircraft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12049992-B2
Application number	US-202318484625-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 11, 2023
Priority date	Oct 11, 2022
Publication date	Jul 30, 2024
Grant date	Jul 30, 2024

Abstract

An entry step lighting system for a deployable aircraft stairway. The system includes steps that having integrated light sources that direct and provide illumination to the steps. Some light sources illuminate strip lenses which indicate proximity to the step edges. Light emitted by a second group of light sources is directed into an angled face established on a riser wall between each step. The light bounces off of each angled face to illuminate the step below.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A stairway lighting system for an aircraft entryway, comprising:
a deployable aircraft staircase including a plurality of steps including a first step and
a second step below and in front of the first step;
one or more first light sources located underneath a first traction-enhancing surface on the first step, the one or more first light sources configured to direct illumination up through one or more strip lenses incorporated into the first traction-enhancing surface and create a step edge indication;
one or more second light sources located underneath a front edge of the first traction-enhancing surface on the first step, the one or more second light sources being configured to direct illumination down onto a reflective face established into a riser existing below the first step, the reflective face being configured to reflect light received from the one or more second light sources and direct the light to illuminate a top surface of the second step.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the stairway is supported by an integral fiberglass base portion.

3. The stairway lighting system of claim 1 wherein the one or more strip lenses are fabricated from a substantially translucent material.

4. The stairway system of claim 3 wherein the substantially translucent material comprises transparent mix of polycarbonate (PC) and an amorphous polyester.

5. The stairway lighting system of claim 1 comprising a plurality of lateral grooves included in the traction-enhancing surface.

6. The stairway lighting system of claim 1 wherein the second step includes a second traction-enhancing surface, and a door handle is incorporated into the second traction-enhancing surface.

7. The stairway lighting system of claim 6 comprising:
wherein a first direction indicator and a second direction indicator are both incorporated into the second traction-enhancing surface of the second step, the first direction indicator indicating a first direction to move the handle to lock the door, and the second direction indicator indicating a second direction to move the handle to unlatch the door.

8. The stairway lighting system of claim 7 wherein the first and second direction indicators suggest opposite rotational directions.

9. The stairway lighting system of claim 1 wherein the one or more first light sources are configured within a light module wherein the light module is incorporated underneath the first traction-enhancing surface such that light is presented up through the one or more strip lenses.

10. The stairway lighting system of claim 9 wherein the one or more first light sources are secured into a base plate using a plurality of clips wherein each base plate is configured to fit within the module.

11. The stairway lighting system of claim 9 wherein a first end cap secures a first end of the first light source, and a second end cap secures an opposite second end of the first light source.

12. The stairway lighting system of claim 1 wherein the first and second light sources each include at least one light emitting diode.

13. A stairway lighting system for an aircraft entryway, the system comprising:
a stairway, the stairway including a plurality of steps wherein a first step in the plurality includes a first traction-enhancing surface and a lower second step in the plurality includes a second traction-enhancing surface;
a first lighting module positioned underneath the first traction-enhancing surface of the first step, the first lighting module configured to illuminate a first laterally-extending lens; and
a second lighting module located underneath the first traction-enhancing surface of the first step, the second lighting module configured to direct illumination downward onto the second step.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the second lighting module directs light downward through a second laterally-extending lens to illuminate at least a portion of the second step.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the first and second traction-enhancing surfaces include grooves.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the first laterally-extending lens located on the first step is located in front of a group of grooves located on the first traction-enhancing surface, the first laterally-extending lens configured to, when illuminated, indicate proximity to a first step edge.

17. The system of claim 13 comprising:
a reflective surface on a riser between the first and second steps, the reflective surface configured to reflect light received from the second lighting module onto an upper surface on the second step.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the reflective surface on the riser includes a face that is downwardly and slightly outwardly angled.

19. The system of claim 14 wherein the second lens is constructed of substantially transparent polycarbonate, the first and second traction-enhancing surfaces are constructed of a thermoplastic polyurethane, and the first and second steps are consolidated into an injection-molded fiberglass base.

20. A deployable aircraft stairway for aircraft, the stairway comprising:
an upper step;
a lower step;
a reflective surface established on a wall rising up from a rear position of the lower step to a forward position underneath the upper step, the wall supporting the upper step;
a first light source embedded in structures in the upper step and configured to illuminate a lens located at the front of the upper step;
a second light source directing light onto the reflective surface established on the wall, the reflective surface configured to substantially illuminate the lower step.

Assignees

• Textron Aviation Inc
• Textron Innovations Inc

Inventors

• Funke Edward Francis
• Groninga Rebecca Rae
• Schrag Allan Dale

Classifications

• B60Q2800/30

  Mass transport vehicles · CPC title

• B60Q3/41

  for mass transit vehicles, e.g. buses · CPC title

• B60Q3/217

  Doors, e.g. door sills; Steps · CPC title

• B64D9/00 Primary

  Equipment for handling freight; Equipment for facilitating passenger embarkation or the like · CPC title

• B64D2203/00

  Aircraft or airfield lights using LEDs · CPC title