Contoured class divider

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017283060-A1
Application number	US-201615153104-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 12, 2016
Priority date	Apr 4, 2016
Publication date	Oct 5, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A contoured class divider for dividing an aircraft cabin according to a predetermined class arrangement and including a divider panel having a contour closely matching a contour of a forward-positioned seatback, and adapted for being positioned in closely spaced-apart relation to the seatback for providing additional space aft of the divider panel. At least one leg is provided for supporting the panel on an aircraft cabin deck. A viewing window is formed in the panel for providing the ability of a flight attendant to observe areas of the cabin.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A contoured class divider for dividing an aircraft cabin according to a predetermined class arrangement, comprising:
(a) a panel having an aft-facing convex contour closely matching an aft-facing contour of a seatback of a seat positioned directly forward of the panel and adapted for being positioned in closely, spaced-apart relation to the seatback for providing additional space forward of a seat positioned aft of the panel; (b) at least one leg having an upper end attached to a lower end of the panel for supporting the panel on an aircraft cabin deck, the leg having a convex, rear-facing shape and a base for attaching the leg to the cabin deck; and (c) at least one connector positioned proximate a top end of the panel for attachment to an overhead structural element of the aircraft cabin for positioning the top end of the panel in a predetermined fixed location.

2 . A contoured class divider according to claim 1 , wherein the class divider is shaped to be positioned adjacent a curved fuselage wall of the cabin.

3 . A contoured class divider according to claim 1 , wherein the class divider includes a viewing window positioned in the panel for providing a flight attendant with the ability to observe areas of the cabin through the viewing window.

4 . A contoured class divider according to claim 3 , wherein the viewing window is asymmetrically positioned within the perimeter of the panel on a side edge of the panel adapted to be positioned inboard of an opposing outboard side edge of the panel.

5 . A contoured class divider according to claim 1 , wherein the panel includes a planar section positioned below the convex contour for supporting at least one pocket thereon.

6 . A contoured class divider according to claim 1 , wherein the panel on an aircraft cabin deck and including a plurality of laterally-spaced legs for supporting the panel on the aircraft cabin deck.

7 . A contoured class divider according to claim 1 , wherein the divider panel has a width from an outboard side edge to an inboard side edge sufficient to divide a plurality of laterally-adjacent seats in a cabin forward of the divider cabin from a plurality of laterally-adjacent seats in a cabin aft of the divider.

8 . A contoured class divider system for dividing an aircraft cabin according to a predetermined class arrangement, comprising:
(a) a first divider, comprising:
(i) a first panel having an aft-facing convex contour closely matching an aft-facing contour of a seatback of a seat positioned directly forward of the first panel, and adapted for being positioned in closely spaced-apart relation to the seatback for providing additional space forward of a seat positioned aft of the first panel;
(ii) at least one leg having an upper end attached to a lower end of the first panel for supporting the first panel on an aircraft cabin deck, the leg having a convex, rear-facing shape and a base for attaching the leg to the aircraft cabin deck;
(iii) at least one connector positioned proximate a top end of the first panel for attachment to an overhead structural element of the aircraft cabin for positioning the top end of the panel in a predetermined fixed location; and
(iv) wherein the first divider is shaped to be positioned adjacent a curved left fuselage wall of the cabin;
(b) a second divider, comprising:
(i) a second panel having an aft-facing convex contour closely matching an aft-facing contour of a seatback of a seat positioned directly forward of the second panel, and adapted for being positioned in closely spaced-apart relation to the seatback for providing additional space forward of a seat positioned aft of the second panel;
(ii) at least one leg having an upper end attached to a lower end of the second panel for supporting the second panel on the aircraft cabin deck, the leg having a convex, rear-facing shape and a base for attaching the leg to the aircraft cabin deck;
(iii) at least one connector positioned proximate a top end of the second panel for attachment to an overhead structural element of the aircraft cabin for positioning the top end of the second panel in a predetermined fixed location; and
(iv) wherein the second divider is shaped to be positioned adjacent a curved right fuselage wall of the cabin; and
(c) a third divider, comprising:
(i) a third panel having an aft-facing convex contour closely matching an aft-facing contour of a seatback of a seat positioned directly forward of the third panel, and adapted for being positioned in closely spaced-apart relation to the seatback for providing additional space forward of a seat positioned aft of the third panel;
(ii) at least one leg having an upper end attached to a lower end of the third panel for supporting the third panel on an aircraft cabin deck, the leg having a convex, rear-facing shape and a base for attaching the leg to the cabin deck;
(iii) at least one connector positioned proximate a top end of the third panel for attachment to an overhead structural element of the aircraft cabin for positioning the top end of the third panel in a predetermined fixed location; and
(iv) wherein the third divider is adapted to be positioned between the first and second dividers and laterally separated from the first and second dividers by respective left and right cabin aisles.

9 . A contoured class divider system according to claim 8 , wherein the first and second dividers are shaped to be positioned adjacent curved respective left and right fuselage walls of the cabin.

10 . A contoured class divider system according to claim 8 , wherein the first, second and third class dividers each include a viewing window positioned in respective first, second and third panels for providing a flight attendant with the ability to observe areas of the cabin through the viewing windows.

11 . A contoured class divider system according to claim 8 , wherein the viewing windows of the first and second class dividers are asymmetrically positioned within the perimeter of respective first and second panels on a side edge of the panels and adapted to be positioned inboard of an opposing outboard side edge of the first and second panels.

12 . A contoured class divider system according to claim 8 , wherein the third panel is symmetrical between a left side edge and a right side edge.

13 . A contoured class divider system according to claim 18 , wherein the first, second and third panels include respective planar sections positioned below the convex contour for supporting at least one pocket thereon.

14 . A contoured class divider system according to claim 8 , wherein the first, second and third panels each include a plurality of laterally-spaced legs for supporting the first, second and third panels on the aircraft cabin deck.

15 . A contoured class divider system according to claim 8 , wherein the first, second and third dividers each have a width sufficient to divide a plurality of laterally-adjacent seats in a cabin forward of the first, second and third dividers from a plurality of laterally-adjacent seats in a cabin aft of the first, second and third dividers.

16 . A contoured class divider system according to claim 8 , wherein the viewing window of the third divider is centrally positioned in the third panel.

17 . A contoured class divider system according to claim 8 , wherein the viewing window of the third divider is centrally positioned in the third panel and is rectangular.

Assignees

• Be Aerospace Inc

Inventors

• Papke Robert
• Caflin Shawn
• Mckee Jefferey
• Skelly Trevor

Classifications

• B64D11/0023 Primary

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