Hatch assembly for use in a vehicle and method of assembling the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016009359-A1
Application number	US-201414182015-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 17, 2014
Priority date	Feb 17, 2014
Publication date	Jan 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A hatch assembly for use in a vehicle is provided. The hatch assembly includes a hatch structure including an upper portion and a lower portion, an armrest support rail coupled to the hatch structure and defining a shade slot between the hatch structure and the armrest support rail, and a shade sized for insertion through the shade slot. The shade is configured to selectively translate between the upper portion and the lower portion of the hatch structure through the shade slot.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A hatch assembly for use in a vehicle, said hatch assembly comprising:
a hatch structure comprising an upper portion and a lower portion; an armrest support rail coupled to said hatch structure and defining a shade slot between said hatch structure and said armrest support rail; and a shade sized for insertion through said shade slot, wherein said shade is configured to selectively translate between said upper portion and said lower portion of said hatch structure through said shade slot.

2 . The assembly in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a shade sheath coupled to said hatch structure, wherein said shade is slidably coupled to said shade sheath.

3 . The assembly in accordance with claim 2 further comprising a sheath cover positioned about said shade sheath, wherein a first clearance configured to receive said shade therein is defined between said sheath cover and said shade sheath.

4 . The assembly in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said shade is configured to selectively translate between a retracted position and an extended position covering at least a portion of a window in said hatch structure.

5 . The assembly in accordance with claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of said shade is in said upper portion of said hatch structure when in the extended position, and said shade is fully inserted in said lower portion of said hatch structure when in the retracted position.

6 . The assembly in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said armrest support rail comprises:
a body portion extending from a first end to a second end; and at least one connection point extending from each of said first end and said second end for coupling to an outer peripheral portion of said hatch structure.

7 . The assembly in accordance with claim 6 , wherein said body portion extends across said hatch structure such that a second clearance that allows said shade to selectively translate therethrough is defined between said body portion and an inner surface of said hatch structure.

8 . An aircraft assembly comprising:
a fuselage; and an over-wing hatch assembly coupled to said fuselage, wherein said over-wing hatch assembly comprises:
a hatch structure comprising an upper portion and a lower portion;
an armrest support rail coupled to said hatch structure and defining a shade slot between said hatch structure and said armrest support rail; and
a shade sized for insertion through said shade slot, wherein said shade is configured to selectively translate between said upper portion and said lower portion of said hatch structure through said shade slot.

9 . The assembly in accordance with claim 8 further comprising a shade sheath coupled to said hatch structure, wherein said shade is slidably coupled to said shade sheath.

10 . The assembly in accordance with claim 9 further comprising a sheath cover positioned about said shade sheath, wherein a first clearance configured to receive said shade therein is defined between said sheath cover and said shade sheath.

11 . The assembly in accordance with claim 8 , wherein said shade is configured to selectively translate between a retracted position and an extended position covering at least a portion of a window in said hatch structure.

12 . The assembly in accordance with claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of said shade is in said upper portion of said hatch structure when in the extended position, and said shade is fully inserted in said lower portion of said hatch structure when in the retracted position.

13 . The assembly in accordance with claim 8 , wherein said armrest support rail comprises:
a body portion extending from a first end to a second end; and at least one connection point extending from each of said first end and said second end for coupling to an outer peripheral portion of said hatch structure.

14 . The assembly in accordance with claim 13 , wherein said body portion extends across said hatch structure such that a second clearance that allows said shade to selectively translate therethrough is defined between said body portion and an inner surface of said hatch structure.

15 . A method of assembling an over-wing hatch assembly for use in an aircraft, said method comprising:
coupling a hatch structure to the aircraft, wherein the hatch structure includes an upper portion and a lower portion; coupling an armrest support rail to the hatch structure, wherein a shade slot is defined between the hatch structure and the armrest support rail; and sizing a shade for insertion through the shade slot, wherein the shade is configured to selectively translate between the upper portion and the lower portion of the hatch structure through the shade slot.

16 . The method in accordance with claim 15 further comprising:
coupling a shade sheath to the hatch structure; and
slidably coupling the shade with the shade sheath.

17 . The method in accordance with claim 16 further comprising positioning a sheath cover about the shade sheath, wherein a first clearance configured to receive the shade therein is defined between the sheath cover and the shade sheath.

18 . The method in accordance with claim 15 , wherein coupling an armrest support rail to the hatch structure comprises coupling the armrest support rail to an outer peripheral portion of the hatch structure.

19 . The method in accordance with claim 18 , wherein coupling the armrest support rail to the hatch structure comprises extending the armrest support rail across the hatch structure such that a second clearance that allows said shade to selectively translate therethrough is defined between said body portion and an inner surface of said hatch structure.

20 . The method in accordance with claim 15 further comprising coupling a lanyard assembly to the armrest support rail.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Perkins Thomas
• Hinderer David J
• Ho Kalai Ben
• Tatum Jeremy Ryan Glaze

Classifications

• B64C1/1423 Primary

  Passenger doors · CPC title

• B64C1/1484

  Windows (B64C1/1492 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B64C1/1461 Primary

  Structures of doors or surrounding frames · CPC title

• B64D11/0646

  Seats characterised by special features of stationary arms, foot or head rests · CPC title