Beverage container holder for use during taxi, takeoff, and landing of an aircraft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12344152-B2
Application number	US-202318372507-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 25, 2023
Priority date	Sep 25, 2023
Publication date	Jul 1, 2025
Grant date	Jul 1, 2025

Abstract

A storage cubby for an aircraft including a housing having a front opening and an interior space accessible through the front opening, a fixed retention bar extending across the front opening, and a beverage container holder positioned in the interior space. In embodiments, the beverage container holder includes a bearing block having a bearing surface, a positioning magnet mounted to the bearing block, a catch mounted to the bearing block, and a strap having a first end mounted to the housing and a second end carrying a magnetic latch. During a first use condition of the strap, the magnetic latch is retained by the positioning magnet disengaged from the catch. During a second use condition of the strap, the magnetic latch is engaged with the catch. In embodiments, the first and second use conditions correspond to routine and high g-force events of the aircraft, respectively.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A storage cubby for an aircraft, comprising:
a housing having a front opening and an interior space accessible through the front opening;
a fixed retention bar extending across the front opening; and
a beverage container holder positioned in the interior space, the beverage container holder comprising:
a bearing block having a bearing surface, wherein the bearing surface and a portion of the housing together delimit a space for receiving a beverage container positioned upright;
a positioning magnet mounted to the bearing block;
a catch mounted to the bearing block, the catch positioned to one side of the positioning magnet; and
a strap having a first end mounted to the housing and a second end detached from the housing, the second end carrying a magnetic latch;
wherein, during a first use condition of the strap, the magnetic latch is retained by the positioning magnet, and the magnetic latch is disengaged from the catch; and
wherein, during a second use condition the strap, the magnetic latch is engaged with the catch.

2. The storage cubby according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first use condition of the strap occurs when a beverage container held in the space delimited in part by the bearing surface is stationary; and
the second use condition of the strap occurs when a beverage container held in the space delimited in part by the bearing surface moves in a direction away from the bearing surface.

3. The storage cubby according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first use condition of the strap occurs during less than 16 g-force events of the aircraft; and
the second use condition of the strap occurs during 16 g-force or greater events of the aircraft.

4. The storage cubby according to claim 1 , wherein:
during the first use condition of the strap, the positioning magnet and the magnetic latch are axially aligned; and
during the second use condition of the strap, the positioning magnet and the magnetic latch are axially misaligned.

5. The storage cubby according to claim 1 , wherein:
the catch comprises a raised retaining element;
the magnetic latch comprises an annular element; and
during the second use condition of the strap, the annular element of the magnetic latch is retained by the raised retaining element such that a load transmitted to the strap, from movement of a held beverage container, is transmitted from the annular element to the raised retaining element.

6. The storage cubby according to claim 1 , wherein the housing has a closed top, a closed bottom, a closed back, and closed sides.

7. The storage cubby according to claim 1 , wherein:
the fixed retention bar extends substantially horizontally across the front opening; and
the fixed retention bar is positioned nearer to a bottom of the interior space as compared to the strap.

8. The storage cubby according to claim 1 , wherein the space for receiving a beverage container positioned upright is delimited by the bearing surface and a closed back of the housing.

9. The storage cubby according to claim 1 , wherein:
the bearing surface is angled relative to an axis of the positioning magnet; and
the bearing surface is angled relative to a vertical plane aligned with the front opening.

10. The storage cubby according to claim 1 , wherein the strap is flexible.

11. The storage cubby according to claim 1 , wherein:
the strap is rigid, and
the first end of the strap is hingedly mounted to a closed back of the housing.

12. The storage cubby according to claim 1 , further comprising a closeable latch positioned in the interior space configured to hold over-ear headphones.

13. A beverage container holder, comprising:
a bearing block mountable to a wall, the bearing block having a bearing surface, and the bearing surface delimiting part of a space for receiving a beverage container positioned upright;
a positioning magnet mounted to the bearing block;
a catch mounted to the bearing block, the catch positioned alongside the positioning magnet in a direction of the bearing surface; and
a strap having a first end mountable to a wall and a second end carrying a magnetic latch;
wherein, during a first use condition of the strap, the magnetic latch is retained by the positioning magnet, and the magnetic latch is disengaged from the catch; and
wherein, during a second use condition the strap, the magnetic latch is engaged with the catch.

14. The beverage container holder according to claim 13 , wherein:
the first use condition of the strap occurs when a beverage container held in the space delimited in part by the bearing surface is stationary; and
the second use condition of the strap occurs when a beverage container held in the space delimited in part by the bearing surface moves in a direction away from the bearing surface.

15. The beverage container holder according to claim 13 , wherein:
during the first use condition of the strap, the positioning magnet and the magnetic latch are axially aligned; and
during the second use condition of the strap, the positioning magnet and the magnetic latch are axially misaligned.

16. The beverage container holder according to claim 13 , wherein:
the catch comprises a raised retaining element;
the magnetic latch comprises an annular element; and
during the second use condition of the strap, the annular element of the magnetic latch is retained by the raised retaining element such that a load transmitted to the strap, from movement of a held beverage container, is transmitted from the annular element to the raised retaining element.

17. The beverage container holder according to claim 13 , wherein:
the bearing surface is angled relative to an axis of the positioning magnet; and
the bearing surface is angled relative to a vertical plane aligned with the front opening.

18. The beverage container holder according to claim 13 , wherein the strap is flexible.

19. The beverage container holder according to claim 13 , wherein the strap is rigid and the first end of the strap is connectable to a hinge.

20. The beverage container holder according to claim 1 , mountable in an interior space formed in a housing, wherein the space for receiving a beverage container positioned upright is further limited in part by a wall defining the interior space.

Assignees

• Be Aerospace Inc

Inventors

• Ruiz Lara Oscar

Classifications

• B64D11/003

  Stowage devices for passengers' personal luggage · CPC title

• A47G23/02

  Glass or bottle holders {(serving trays with openings for carrying glasses or bottles A47G23/0641; bottle racks A47B73/00; for feeding-bottles A61J9/06; in vehicles B60N3/10)} · CPC title

• B64D11/0638

  with foldable tables, trays or cup holders · CPC title

• B60N3/108 Primary

  with resilient holding elements · CPC title

• B64D11/0627 Primary

  Seats combined with storage means · CPC title