Passenger service unit pod assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9365291-B2
Application number	US-201514612044-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 2, 2015
Priority date	Feb 14, 2012
Publication date	Jun 14, 2016
Grant date	Jun 14, 2016

Abstract

A personal service unit pod assembly configured to be positioned in the interior of an aircraft. The personal service unit pod assembly includes a personal service unit pod and a panel positioned directly above and affixed to the personal service unit pod. The pod includes a housing with a lens assembly and a pod interior, a first reading light positioned within the pod interior and configured to shine light below the bottom of the housing, and cabin lighting positioned in the housing and configured to shine light through the lens assembly and above the housing. The panel includes connectors that are configured to secure the personal service unit pod assembly to a component within the aircraft.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A personal service unit pod assembly configured to be positioned in the interior of an aircraft, the personal service unit pod assembly comprising:
a personal service unit pod that includes
a housing that includes a lens assembly and defines a pod interior,
at least a first reading light positioned within the pod interior and configured to shine light below the bottom of the housing, and
cabin lighting positioned in the housing and configured to shine light through the lens assembly and above the housing,

a panel positioned directly above and affixed to the personal service unit pod, wherein the panel includes connectors that are configured to secure the personal service unit pod assembly to a component within the aircraft.

2. The personal service unit pod assembly of claim 1 further comprising a light halo secured within the pod interior, wherein the cabin lighting is seated on the light halo.

3. The personal service unit pod assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing includes a gasper recess, and wherein at least one gasper is positioned in the gasper recess.

4. The personal service unit pod assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing includes a reading light opening defined in the bottom thereof, and wherein the first reading light is aligned with and configured to shine light through the reading light opening.

5. The personal service unit pod assembly of claim 4 wherein a bezel is associated with the reading light opening, and wherein a switch that operates the first reading light is positioned in the bezel.

6. The personal service unit pod assembly of claim 1 wherein the panel includes a central opening defined therethrough, wherein at least one wire extends from the first reading light through the opening and above the panel.

7. The personal service unit pod assembly of claim 6 wherein a downward facing channel extends at least partially around the central opening, and wherein the lens assembly includes a flange extending upwardly therefrom that is received in and secured in the channel.

8. The personal service unit pod assembly of claim 2 wherein the cabin lighting is an LED strip that extends generally around the reading light.

9. An aircraft comprising:
a cabin that has at least one personal service unit channel positioned therein, wherein the personal service unit channel includes personal service unit rails extending therealong, and
a personal service unit pod assembly that includes a panel and a housing generally positioned below the panel, wherein the panel includes connectors that are connected to the personal service unit rails such that the panel is positioned beneath the personal service unit channel, wherein the housing includes a lens assembly and defines a housing interior, at least a first reading light positioned within the pod interior and configured to shine light below the bottom of the housing, and cabin lighting positioned in the housing and configured to shine light through the lens assembly and above the housing.

10. The aircraft of claim 9 wherein the panel includes a central opening therein and wherein the housing includes an upper opening therein, and wherein at least one wire extends from the first reading light through the upper opening and the central opening and into the personal service unit channel.

11. The aircraft of claim 9 wherein the housing includes at least one vent opening defined therein, wherein the vent opening is in air flow communication with a duct positioned in the personal service unit channel.

12. The personal service unit pod assembly of claim 11 wherein the housing includes a gasper recess, and wherein at least one gasper is positioned in the gasper recess.

13. The aircraft of claim 9 wherein the housing further comprising a light halo secured within the housing interior, wherein the cabin lighting is seated on the light halo.

14. A personal service unit pod assembly configured to be positioned in the interior of an aircraft, the personal service unit pod assembly comprising:
a panel that includes a central opening defined therethrough,
a housing that includes a lower housing portion and an upper housing portion that cooperate to define a housing interior, wherein the upper housing portion includes a central opening defined therein and is configured to allow light to shine therethrough,
at least a first reading light positioned within the housing interior and configured to shine light below the bottom of the housing, wherein at least one wire from the first reading light extends through the central openings in the housing and the panel, and
cabin lighting positioned in the housing and configured to direct light generally upwardly and through the upper housing portion.

15. The personal service unit pod assembly of claim 14 wherein the panel includes connectors on top thereof that are configured to secure the personal service unit pod assembly to a component within the aircraft.

16. The personal service unit pod assembly of claim 14 further comprising a light halo secured within the pod interior, wherein the cabin lighting is seated on the light halo.

17. The personal service unit pod assembly of claim 16 wherein the light halo and upper housing portion cooperate to define a light tunnel within the housing interior, wherein the cabin lighting is positioned in the light tunnel.

18. The personal service unit pod assembly of claim 14 wherein the housing includes a gasper recess, and wherein at least one gasper is positioned in the gasper recess.

Assignees

• C&D Zodiac Inc

Inventors

• Savian Scott

Classifications

• B64D11/003

  Stowage devices for passengers' personal luggage · CPC title

• B60Q2500/20

  associated with air conditioning arrangements · CPC title

• B60Q3/025

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B60Q3/0253

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B64D2011/0053

  Cabin passenger reading lights · CPC title