System for securing an aircraft door

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9611042-B1
Application number	US-201514945755-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Nov 19, 2015
Priority date	Nov 19, 2015
Publication date	Apr 4, 2017
Grant date	Apr 4, 2017

Abstract

Systems and methods for securing an emergency exit door on an armrest of a seat are provided. A system includes a latch connected to an armrest of a seat of a vehicle. The latch is moveable relative to the armrest between a stowed position and a deployed position. The latch is structured and arranged to engage an edge of a door that is associated with an exit of the vehicle to hold the door on the armrest.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a latch connected to an armrest of a seat of a vehicle, wherein the latch is moveable relative to the armrest between a stowed position and a deployed position, and wherein the latch is structured and arranged to engage an edge of a door that is associated with an exit of the vehicle to hold the door on the armrest;
a sensor that detects an action at the door; and
an actuation system that automatically moves the latch from the stowed position to the deployed position based on the sensor detecting the action at the door.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
in the stowed position, the latch does not extend higher than an upper surface of the armrest; and
in the deployed position, the latch extends upward from the upper surface of the armrest.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the detected action at the door comprises one of:
movement of a handle of the door beyond a threshold position; and
movement of the door out of the exit.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein, based on the sensor detecting the action at the door, the actuation system automatically moves a distal end of the armrest downward.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein, based on the sensor detecting the action at the door, the actuation system automatically moves the seat in an aft direction along a floor of the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein, based on the sensor detecting the action at the door, the actuation system automatically moves another seat in a forward direction along the floor of the vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the latch is locked in the deployed position.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the vehicle comprises an aircraft;
the exit comprises an overwing exit of the aircraft; and
the seat is in an exit row associated with the overwing exit.

9. A system, comprising:
a door associated with an exit of a vehicle;
a latch connected to an armrest of a seat of the vehicle, wherein the latch is moveable relative to the armrest between a stowed position and a deployed position, and wherein the latch is structured and arranged to engage an edge of the door to hold the door on the armrest;
a sensor that detects an action at the door; and
an actuation system that automatically moves the latch from the stowed position to the deployed position based on the sensor detecting the action at the door.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein:
in the stowed position, the latch does not extend higher than an upper surface of the armrest; and
in the deployed position, the latch extends upward from the upper surface of the armrest.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the detected action at the door comprises one of:
movement of a handle of the door beyond a threshold position; and
movement of the door out of the exit.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein, based on the sensor detecting the action at the door, the actuation system automatically moves a distal end of the armrest downward.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein, based on the sensor detecting the action at the door, the actuation system automatically moves the seat in an aft direction along a floor of the vehicle.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein, based on the sensor detecting the action at the door, the actuation system automatically moves another seat in a forward direction along the floor of the vehicle.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein the latch is locked in the deployed position.

16. The system of claim 9 , wherein:
the vehicle comprises an aircraft;
the exit comprises an overwing exit of the aircraft; and
the seat is in an exit row associated with the overwing exit.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Childress Rhonda L
• Eckert Kim A
• Kuang Jente B
• Kumhyr David B
• Mcnair Ryan D

Classifications

• B64C1/143

  of the plug type · CPC title

• B64D11/064

  Adjustable inclination or position of seats · CPC title

• E06B7/28

  Other arrangements on doors or windows, e.g. door-plates, windows adapted to carry plants, hooks for window cleaners {(edge protecting devices for door leaves E06B3/88; special glazing; emergency glazing; double glazing E06B3/66)} · CPC title

• B64C1/1423 Primary

  Passenger doors · CPC title

• E05C19/02

  Automatic catches, i.e. released by pull or pressure on the wing (E05C19/06 takes precedence {; with locking means E05B63/22}) · CPC title