Bunk assembly and method of manufacturing thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9545998-B2
Application number	US-201414465095-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 21, 2014
Priority date	Aug 21, 2014
Publication date	Jan 17, 2017
Grant date	Jan 17, 2017

Abstract

A bunk assembly is provided. The bunk assembly includes a first plurality of bunks including a first bunk and a second bunk coupled end-to-end with the first bunk. The first and second bunks each include a cutout that substantially align forming a bunk slot between the first and second bunks when coupled end-to-end. The first plurality of bunks also includes a third bunk stacked on top of the first and second bunks when positioned in the bunk slot.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bunk assembly comprising:
a first plurality of bunks comprising:
a first bunk;
a second bunk coupled end-to-end with said first bunk, wherein said first and second bunks each comprise a cutout that substantially align forming a bunk slot on top of a portion of said first and second bunks when coupled end-to-end; and
a third bunk stacked on top of the portion of said first and second bunks when positioned in said bunk slot formed by the cutouts, wherein said third bunk comprises a height such that a top edge of said third bunk is substantially flush with a top edge of said first and second bunks.

2. The assembly in accordance with claim 1 , wherein each said cutout defines an upper section and a lower section in said first and second bunks, said lower section having a shorter height than said upper section and said third bunk.

3. The assembly in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:
a second plurality of bunks extending substantially parallel with said first plurality of bunks, said second plurality of bunks comprising:
a fourth bunk;
a fifth bunk coupled end-to-end with said fourth bunk, wherein said fourth and fifth bunks each comprise a cutout that substantially align forming a bunk slot on top of a portion of said fourth and fifth bunks when coupled end-to-end; and
a sixth bunk stacked on top of the portion of said fourth and fifth bunks when positioned in said bunk slot formed by the cutouts, wherein said sixth bunk comprises a height such that a top edge of said sixth bunk is substantially flush with a top edge of said fourth and fifth bunks; and

an aisle separating said first and second pluralities of bunks.

4. The assembly in accordance with claim 3 further comprising:
a seventh bunk coupled end-to-end with said second bunk of said first plurality of bunks;
an eighth bunk coupled end-to-end with said fifth bunk of said second plurality of bunks; and
a ninth bunk coupled to said seventh and eighth bunks and extending transversely relative to said aisle.

5. The assembly in accordance with claim 4 , wherein said seventh and eighth bunks each comprise a cutout such that said ninth bunk is stacked on top of a portion of said seventh and eighth bunks formed by the cutouts, wherein said ninth bunk comprises a height such that a top edge of said ninth bunk is substantially flush with a top edge of said seventh and eighth bunks when extending transversely relative to said aisle.

6. The assembly in accordance with claim 3 further comprising a seventh bunk coupled to a portion of said first and second pluralities of bunks, said seventh bunk extending transversely relative to said aisle.

7. An aircraft assembly comprising:
a fuselage comprising a passenger cabin; and
a bunk assembly within said passenger cabin, said bunk assembly comprising a first plurality of bunks that comprises:
a first bunk;
a second bunk coupled end-to-end with said first bunk, wherein said first and second bunks each comprise a cutout that substantially align forming a bunk slot on top of a portion of said first and second bunks; and a third bunk stacked on top of the portion of said first and second bunks when positioned in said bunk slot formed by the cutouts, wherein said third bunk comprises a height such that a top edge of said third bunk is substantially flush with a top edge of said first and second bunks.

8. The assembly in accordance with claim 7 , wherein each said cutout defines an upper section and a lower section in said first and second bunks, said lower section having a shorter height than said upper section and said third bunk.

9. The assembly in accordance with claim 7 , wherein said bunk assembly further comprises:
a second plurality of bunks extending substantially parallel with said first plurality of bunks, said second plurality of bunks comprising:
a fourth bunk;
a fifth bunk coupled end-to-end with said fourth bunk, wherein said fourth and fifth bunks each comprise a cutout that substantially align forming a bunk slot on top of a portion of said fourth and fifth bunks when coupled end-to-end; and
a sixth bunk stacked on top of the portion of said fourth and fifth bunks when positioned in said bunk slot formed by the cutouts, wherein said sixth bunk comprises a height such that a top edge of said sixth bunk is substantially flush with a top edge of said fourth and fifth bunks; and

an aisle separating said first and second pluralities of bunks.

10. The assembly in accordance with claim 9 further comprising:
a seventh bunk coupled end-to-end with said second bunk of said first plurality of bunks;
a an eighth bunk coupled end-to-end with said fifth bunk of said second plurality of bunks; and
a ninth bunk coupled to said seventh and eighth bunks and extending transversely relative to said aisle.

11. The assembly in accordance with claim 9 further comprising a seventh bunk coupled to a portion of said first and second pluralities of bunks, said seventh bunk extending transversely relative to said aisle.

12. The assembly in accordance with claim 11 , wherein a bottom edge of said seventh bunk extends a shorter distance into said passenger cabin than a bottom edge of said first and second pluralities of bunks.

13. A method of manufacturing a bunk assembly, said method comprising:
coupling a first bunk end-to-end with a second bunk, wherein the first and second bunks each include a cutout that substantially align forming a bunk slot on top of a portion of the first and second bunks; and
positioning a third bunk in the bunk slot formed by the cutouts such that the third bunk is stacked on top of the portion of the first and second bunks, wherein the third bunk comprises a height such that a top edge of the third bunk is substantially flush with a top edge of the first and second bunks.

14. The method in accordance with claim 13 further comprising defining an upper section and a lower section in the first and second bunks with the cutout, wherein the lower section has a shorter height than the upper section and the third bunk.

15. The method in accordance with claim 13 further comprising:
coupling a fourth bunk end-to-end with the second bunk, wherein the fourth bunk includes a cutout defining an upper section and a lower section in the fourth bunk and forming a bunk slot adjacent the upper section and on top of the lower section; and
coupling a fifth bunk to the fourth bunk such that the fifth bunk is stacked on top of the lower section of the fourth bunk formed by the cutout, wherein the fifth bunk comprises a height such that a top edge of said fifth bunk is substantially flush with a top edge of the fourth bunk.

16. The method in accordance with claim 15 , wherein coupling the fifth bunk comprises extending the fifth bunk transversely relative to the fourth bunk.

17. The method in accordance with claim 13 further comprising coupling a fourth bunk to the second bunk, wherein the fourth bunk extends transversely relative to the second bunk.

18. The method in accordance with claim 17 , wherein coupling the fourth bunk comprises substantially aligning a top edge of the fourth bunk with a top edge of a remainder of the bunk assembly.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Lin Christopher

Classifications

• Y02T50/46

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• B64D11/00 Primary

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

• B64D2011/0076

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

• Y02T50/40

  Weight reduction · CPC title