Aircraft cabin egress

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9340294-B1
Application number	US-201213425191-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Mar 20, 2012
Priority date	Mar 20, 2012
Publication date	May 17, 2016
Grant date	May 17, 2016

Abstract

A system and method for exiting a crew rest area located in an overhead area in an aircraft. An opening in the crew rest area is located in an overhead area in the aircraft. An egress apparatus is configured to move between a closed state and an open state. The egress apparatus is configured to direct a person moving on the egress apparatus from the opening to a passenger cabin in the aircraft when the egress apparatus is in the open state.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
an opening in a crew rest area located in an overhead area in an aircraft; and
an egress apparatus configured to move between a closed state and an open state;
wherein the egress apparatus is configured to direct a person moving on the egress apparatus from the opening to a passenger cabin in the aircraft when the egress apparatus is in the open state;
wherein the egress apparatus comprises a number of linkages;
wherein the number of linkages is configured to move a lower panel downward and outward from the opening;
wherein an upper panel rotates downward about a hinge structure;
wherein an upper surface of the upper panel and an upper surface of the lower panel form a ramp surface extending from the opening when the apparatus is in the open state;
wherein the upper panel is configured to be flush with and form part of a floor of the overhead area when the apparatus is in the closed state; and
wherein the number of linkages are one or more of elongated bars and elongated rods that are able to support the apparatus in the open state as a person moves over the ramp surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the opening is located over a passenger suite, wherein the passenger suite is separated by walls and a door from the passenger cabin.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the egress apparatus is configured to direct the person moving on the egress apparatus from the opening to an aisle in the passenger cabin when the egress apparatus is in the open state.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the egress apparatus is placed within the aircraft such that a person that utilizes the egress apparatus exits the egress apparatus proximate an aircraft exit door for exiting the aircraft located in the passenger cabin.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the egress apparatus is configured to close the opening when the egress apparatus is in the closed state.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the opening is located in a floor of the crew rest area.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the egress apparatus comprises the ramp extending from the opening to the passenger cabin.

8. A method for exiting a crew rest area located in an overhead area in an aircraft comprising:
opening a hatch that closes an opening in the crew rest area;
moving an egress apparatus from a closed state to an open state, wherein the egress apparatus is configured to direct a person moving on the egress apparatus from the opening to a passenger cabin in the aircraft when the egress apparatus is in the open state; and
moving through the opening and onto the egress apparatus in the open state to the passenger cabin without entering a passenger suite separated from the passenger cabin by one or more walls and doors;
wherein the egress apparatus comprises a number of linkages;
wherein the number of linkages is configured to move a lower panel downward and outward from the opening;
wherein an upper panel rotates downward about a hinge structure;
wherein an upper surface of the upper panel and an upper surface of the lower panel form a ramp surface extending from the opening when the apparatus is in the open state;
wherein the upper panel is configured to be flush with and form part of a floor of the overhead area when the apparatus is in the closed state; and
wherein the number of linkages are one or more of elongated bars and elongated rods that are able to support the apparatus in the open state as a person moves over the ramp surface.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein opening the hatch comprises opening the hatch that is located over the passenger suite.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein moving through the opening and onto the egress apparatus comprises directing the person moving on the egress apparatus from the opening to an aisle in the passenger cabin when the egress apparatus is in the open state.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein moving through the opening and onto the egress apparatus comprises directing the person moving on the egress apparatus from the opening to a location in the passenger cabin proximate an aircraft exit door for exiting the aircraft.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the egress apparatus is configured to close the opening when the egress apparatus is in the closed state and wherein opening the hatch comprises moving the egress apparatus from the closed state to the open state.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein opening the hatch comprises opening the hatch that is located in a floor of the crew rest area.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein moving the egress apparatus from the closed state to the open state comprises extending a ramp from the opening to the passenger cabin.

15. An apparatus comprising:
an upper panel comprising a first end of the upper panel, a second end of the upper panel, an upper surface of the upper panel, and a lower surface of the upper panel, wherein the first end of the upper panel is connected by a hinge structure at an edge of an opening in an overhead area in an aircraft;
a lower panel comprising a first end of the lower panel, a second end of the lower panel, an upper surface of the lower panel, and a lower surface of the lower panel, wherein the second end of the upper panel rests on the upper surface of the lower panel; and
a number of linkages, wherein the number of linkages is configured to move the lower panel downward and outward from the opening as the apparatus moves from a closed state to an open state, wherein the upper panel rotates downward about the hinge structure as the lower panel moves downward and outward, wherein the upper surface of the upper panel and the upper surface of the lower panel form a ramp surface extending from the opening when the apparatus is in the open state, and wherein the upper panel is configured to be flush with and form part of a floor of the overhead area when the apparatus is in the closed state;
wherein the number of linkages are one or more of elongated bars and elongated rods that are able to support the apparatus in the open state as a person moves over the ramp surface.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the opening is located over an undesired area in a cabin in the aircraft and wherein the ramp surface extends from the opening to a desired area in the cabin thereby avoiding the undesired area.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the undesired area is a passenger suite separated by walls and a door from a passenger cabin in the aircraft and the desired area is the passenger cabin.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the desire area is proximate an aircraft exit door for exiting the aircraft located in the passenger cabin.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the apparatus is configured to close the opening when the apparatus is in the closed state.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the opening is located in a floor of the overhead area.

21. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the lower surface of the lower panel is configured to look like a closed door for an overhead storage bin in an aircraft cabin when the apparatus is in the closed state.

22. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the number of linkages are configured to move the second end of the lower panel downward with respect to the first end of the lower panel as the apparatus moves from the closed state to the open state.

23. The apparatus of claim 15 ,
wherein the number of linkages comprises first linkages, second linkages

Assignees

• Keleher Andrew P
• Gillette Edward W
• Davis Kenneth G
• Szerlag Andrew Francis
• Ursescu Marius I
• Davison Carl Aaron
• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Keleher Andrew P
• Gillette Edward W
• Davis Kenneth G
• Szerlag Andrew Francis
• Ursescu Marius I
• Davison Carl Aaron

Classifications

• B64D11/00

  Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B64D25/00 Primary

  Emergency apparatus or devices, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B64D2011/0084

  Bed units for passengers attached to the ceiling of the fuselage · CPC title

• B64C1/1407

  Doors; surrounding frames · CPC title

• B64D2011/0076

  for crew members, e.g. for sleeping during flight · CPC title