Integrated curtain system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017009504-A1
Application number	US-201514794638-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 8, 2015
Priority date	Jul 8, 2015
Publication date	Jan 12, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A curtain system may include a track system configured to be mounted to an interior structure of a vehicle. The track system may include three or more track sections oriented in at least two different directions. Each track section may be configured to support at least one curtain suspended from and slidable along the track sections. The track system may include at least one junction fitting interconnecting three or more track sections and allowing movement of a curtain from one of the three or more track sections to either one of two or more other track sections of the three or more track sections. In this regard, the junction fitting and the track sections may define different curtain paths for the curtain.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A curtain system for a vehicle interior, comprising:
a track system configured to be mounted to an interior structure of a vehicle and including:
three or more track sections oriented in at least two different directions, at least one of the track sections configured to support at least one curtain suspended from and slidable along the track sections;
a junction fitting interconnecting the three or more track sections and allowing movement of the curtain from one of the three or more track sections to either one of two or more other track sections of the three or more track sections; and
the junction fitting and the track sections defining different curtain paths for the curtain.

2 . The curtain system of claim 1 , wherein:
at least a portion of the track system is suspended from one or more track supports extending downwardly from a cabin ceiling of the vehicle.

3 . The curtain system of claim 1 , wherein:
the junction fitting includes a plurality of fitting legs; and at least one of the fitting legs is oriented in non-perpendicular relation and in non-parallel relation to one or more other fitting legs of the junction fitting.

4 . The curtain system of claim 1 , wherein:
the junction fitting is configured to support two separate curtains in side-by-side relation to one another.

5 . The curtain system of claim 1 , wherein:
at least one of the track sections has opposing section ends; the junction fitting having a plurality of fitting legs each terminating at a leg end; and at least one of the leg ends being disposed in end-to-end relation to a section end of a track section.

6 . The curtain system of claim 1 , wherein:
at least one of the track sections is a transverse track section oriented non-parallel to a main aisle of the vehicle.

7 . The curtain system of claim 1 , further including:
a plurality of hanger elements coupling a curtain upper edge of the curtain to one or more of the track sections and the junction fitting.

8 . The curtain system of claim 7 , further including:
the hanger elements having a head portion and a body portion; the head portion being engaged to and slidable along the track sections and the junction fitting; and the body portion being coupled to the curtain upper edge.

9 . The curtain system of claim 1 , further including:
a curtain configured as one of a full-length curtain and a partial-length curtain; the full-length curtain having a curtain lower edge terminating at a location of between approximately 90-100% of a height of the track sections above a floor of the vehicle; and the partial-length curtain having a curtain lower edge terminating at a location between approximately 30-70% of a height of the track sections above the floor of the vehicle.

10 . The curtain system of claim 1 , further including:
a curtain configured as a graduated-length curtain having a partial-length portion and a full-length portion.

11 . The curtain system of claim 10 , wherein:
the graduated-length curtain is configured to span two or more track sections interconnected by the junction fitting such that the partial-length portion and the full-length portion each span one of the track sections.

12 . An aircraft, comprising:
a fuselage having an aircraft cabin including an interior structure; at least one curtain; a track system mounted to the interior structure and including:
three or more track sections oriented in at least two different directions, at least one of the track sections supporting the curtain suspended from and slidable along the track sections;
a junction fitting interconnecting the three or more track sections and allowing movement of the curtain from one of the three or more track sections to either one of two or more other track sections of the three or more track sections; and
the junction fitting and the track sections defining different curtain paths for the curtain.

13 . A method of arranging curtains in a vehicle interior, comprising:
supporting a curtain on at least one of three or more track sections of a track system interconnected by a junction fitting, the track system mounted to an interior structure of a vehicle; and moving the curtain from one of the three or more track sections and across the junction fitting to either one of two or more other track sections of the three or more track sections.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein:
at least one of the track sections has opposing section ends; the junction fitting having a plurality of fitting legs each terminating at a leg end; and at least one of the leg ends being disposed in end-to-end relation to a section end of a track section.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of moving the curtain includes:
moving the curtain along a pair of fitting legs located on opposite sides of the junction fitting, the fitting legs being oriented in non-parallel relation to one another.

16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of supporting the curtain includes:
supporting, using the junction fitting, two separate curtains in side-by-side relation to one another.

17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of moving the curtain includes:
moving one of a full-length curtain and a half-length curtain along one of a transverse track section and a longitudinal track section.

18 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the vehicle has a main aisle, the step of moving the curtain includes:
moving the curtain between a longitudinal track section oriented generally parallel to the main aisle and a transverse track section oriented non-parallel to the main aisle; and the longitudinal track section and the transverse track section being interconnected by the junction fitting.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the step of moving the curtain includes:
moving the curtain such that the curtain extends at least partially across a main aisle of the vehicle.

20 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the vehicle has a main aisle and a cross aisle oriented non-parallel to the main aisle and including a galley having a galley working face, the step of moving the curtain includes:
moving the curtain between a transverse track section extending generally parallel to the galley working face and either one of a longitudinal track section oriented generally parallel to the main aisle and a transverse track section oriented non-parallel to the main aisle; and the longitudinal track section and the transverse track sections being interconnected by the junction fitting.

21 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the vehicle includes a galley, the step of moving the curtain includes:
at least partially covering a galley working face with a partial-length curtain; and the partial-length curtain having a curtain lower edge terminating at a location approximately 30-70% of a height of the track sections above a floor of the vehicle.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Colacecchi Jay

Classifications

• E05D15/1002 Primary

  specially adapted for use in railway-cars or mass transit vehicles (E05D15/1007, E05D15/1023, E05D15/1044, E05D15/1068 take precedence) · CPC title

• B64D11/0023 Primary

  Movable or removable cabin dividers, e.g. for class separation · CPC title

• A47H2201/00

  Means for connecting curtains · CPC title

• E05D15/0652

  Tracks (E05D15/063 - E05D15/0647 and E05D15/0656 take precedence) · CPC title

• A47H1/04 Primary

  Curtain rails · CPC title