Contour class divider

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024034472-A1
Application number	US-202318380327-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 16, 2023
Priority date	Apr 4, 2016
Publication date	Feb 1, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a contoured class divider for dividing an aircraft cabin arrangement between at least one forward passenger seat and at least one aft passenger seat, includes a panel positioned adjacent to and rearwardly of the at least one forward seat. The panel has a contoured shape for receiving the back of the forward passenger seat in at least one of a reclined position and an upright position. The panel extends substantially from an underside of an overhead bin to a cabin floor. In embodiments, at least a portion of the panel is configured to deform or break during a crash event due to one or more of a head impact by a passenger in the aft passenger seat with the panel and/or inertial forces of the crash event acting on the panel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A contoured class divider for dividing an aircraft cabin arrangement between at least one forward passenger seat and at least one aft passenger seat, the contoured class divider comprising:
a panel positioned adjacent to and rearwardly of the at least one forward seat, the panel having a contoured shape for receiving the back of the forward passenger seat in at least one of a reclined position and an upright position, the panel extending substantially from an underside of an overhead bin to a cabin floor, wherein at least a portion of the panel is configured to deform or break during a crash event due to one or more of a head impact by a passenger in the aft passenger seat with the panel and/or inertial forces of the crash event acting on the panel.

2 . The divider of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the panel configured to deform or break during the crash event includes at least one energy absorbing zone on an aft facing portion of the panel for absorbing energy from a passenger's head in the aft passenger seat during a crash event.

3 . The divider of claim 2 , wherein the at least one energy absorbing zone includes a portion of the panel having perforations or slots defined in a core of the panel configured to weaken the structural integrity of the panel at the at least one energy absorbing zone, wherein the panel is covered in a fabric having a predetermined surface tension sufficiently high to have a rigid surface appearance but sufficiently low to deflect into the perforations or slots of the core of the panel upon impact of a passenger's head in the aft passenger seat during the crash event.

4 . The divider of claim 2 , wherein the at least one energy absorbing zone includes a portion of the panel having perforations or slots machined into the panel to weaken the structural integrity of the panel at the at least one energy absorbing zone for absorbing energy from a passenger's head in the aft passenger seat during the crash event.

5 . The divider of claim 2 , wherein the panel is made of a first material, wherein the at least one energy absorbing zone includes a portion of the panel made of a second material, different from the first material, wherein the second material is a cushioning material configured to deform upon impact of a passenger's head in the aft passenger seat during the crash events.

6 . The divider of claim 1 , further comprising, an articulating joint disposed in the panel, wherein the panel is configured to bend or deform about the articulating joint.

7 . The divider of claim 6 , wherein the articulating joint includes a pop joint disposed in the panel separating the panel into an upper panel portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper panel portion is slidably engaged within an upper support assembly mounted to the underside of the overhead bin, and the lower panel portion is rotatably engaged to the lower support assembly, wherein the panel is configured to bend or deform about the pop joint such that the upper panel portion and the lower panel portion articulate relative to one another about the pop joint to move from an aft position to a forward position in response to inertial forces acting on the panel during the crash event.

8 . The divider of claim 6 , wherein the articulating joint includes a pop joint disposed in the panel separating the panel into an upper panel portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper panel portion is slidably engaged with an upper support assembly mounted to the underside of the overhead bin, the upper support assembly including a monitor or stowage bin, wherein the upper panel portion is configured to rotate about the pop joint from an aft position to a forward position in response to inertial forces acting on the panel during the crash event, wherein in the forward position the upper panel portion is disengaged from the upper support assembly.

9 . The divider of claim 6 , wherein the articulating joint includes a pop joint disposed on the lower support assembly above the cabin floor, wherein the panel includes an upper panel portion mounted to the underside of the overhead bin and a lower panel portion rotatably connected to the lower support assembly via the pop joint, wherein the upper portion includes a magnetic catch and wherein the lower panel portion is configured to magnetically interact with the magnetic catch in an aft position, wherein the lower panel portion is configured to rotate about the pop joint from the aft position to a forward position in response to inertial forces acting on the panel during the crash event, wherein in the forward position the lower panel portion is disengaged from the upper panel portion.

10 . The divider of claim 9 , wherein the lower support assembly further includes a shock absorbing ram, wherein the lower panel portion is configured to rotate about the pop joint from the aft position to the forward position in response to inertial forces acting on the panel during the crash event until the lower panel portion engages the shock absorbing ram.

11 . The divider of claim 6 , wherein the upper support assembly includes an upper articulating joint mounted to the underside of the overhead bin the upper articulating joint mounted to an underside of the monitor or stowage bin, wherein the articulating joint includes a pop joint disposed in the panel separating the panel into an upper panel portion rotatably connected the upper support assembly and a lower panel portion rotatably connected to the lower support assembly via a lower articulating joint, wherein the upper panel portion and the lower panel portion are configured to rotate relative to one another about the pop joint and about to the upper articulating joint and lower articulating joints respectively to move from an aft position to a forward position in response to inertial forces acting on the panel during the crash event.

12 . The divider of claim 11 , wherein the lower support assembly further includes a rotary speed limiter configured to limit a speed at which the panel moves to the forward position.

13 . The divider of claim 11 , further comprising, a magnetic catch disposed adjacent the upper support assembly and mounted to the underside of the overhead bin, wherein a portion of the upper panel portion configured to magnetically interact with the magnetic catch, wherein the upper panel portion and the lower panel portion are configured to rotate relative to one another about the pop joint and about to the upper articulating joint and lower articulating joints respectively to move from an aft position to a forward position in response to inertial forces acting on the panel during the crash event.

14 . The divider of claim 6 , wherein the upper support assembly includes a monitor or stowage bin mounted to the underside of the overhead bin and an upper articulating joint, the upper articulating joint mounted to an underside of the monitor or stowage bin, wherein the articulating joint includes a pop joint disposed in the panel separating the panel into an upper panel portion rotatably mounted the upper articulating joint and a lower panel portion slidably engaged within the lower support assembly, wherein the upper panel portion and the lower panel portion are configured to rotate relative to one another about the pop joint and the upper panel portion is configured to rotate about the upper articulating joint to move from an aft position to a forward position in response to inertial forces acting on the panel during the crash event, and further comprising, a magnetic catch mounted to an underside of the monitor or stowage bin, wherein a portion of the u

Assignees

• Be Aerospace Inc

Inventors

• Papke Robert
• Claflin Shawn
• Mckee Jefferey
• Skelly Trevor
• DILIANI Mario

Classifications

• B64D11/0606 Primary

  with privacy shells, screens, separators or the like (class dividers B64D11/0023) · CPC title

• B64D11/0627

  Seats combined with storage means · CPC title

• B64D11/003

  Stowage devices for passengers' personal luggage · CPC title

• B64D11/0023

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

• B64D11/0619

  with energy absorbing means specially adapted for mitigating impact loads for passenger seats, e.g. at a crash · CPC title