Larder systems having interlocking larder cases

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9637236-B2
Application number	US-201514637025-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 3, 2015
Priority date	Mar 3, 2015
Publication date	May 2, 2017
Grant date	May 2, 2017

Abstract

Provided are larders systems, aircraft equipped with such systems, and methods of operating such systems. A larder system includes at least two larder cases removably disposed in the same compartment of a larder enclosure. The two cases are detachably interlocked with each other such that removal of the outer case from the enclosure advances the inner case closer to the opening. After the removal of the outer case, the inner case may be retained at the opening. The two cases may be interlocked when pushed against each other, such as when the outer case is inserted into the compartment containing the inner case. In some embodiments, a larder case may be interlocked with the larder enclosure or one of its components, such as a door. This enclosure interlocking allows for the larder case to retain its interlocked position when, for example, the enclosure is only partially filed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A larder system for an aircraft, the larder system comprising:
a larder enclosure comprising a first bottom support, a back wall, and a front wall;
a first larder case disposed within the larder enclosure and slidably supported on the first bottom support of the larder enclosure,
wherein the first larder case has a first side and a second side,
wherein the first side of the first larder case faces the back wall of the larder enclosure,
wherein the first larder case comprises a first latch positioned at the first side of the first larder case and a second latch positioned at the second side of the first larder case; and

a second larder case disposed within the larder enclosure and slidably supported on the first bottom support of the larder enclosure between the first larder case and the back wall,
wherein the second larder case has a first side and a second side,
wherein the first side of the second larder case faces the back wall of the larder enclosure,
wherein the second side of the second larder case faces the first side of the first larder case,

wherein the second larder case comprises a first latch positioned at the first side and a second latch positioned at the second side, and
wherein the first latch of the first larder case is detachably interlocked with the second latch of the second larder case such that sliding the first larder case on the first bottom support in a direction away from the back wall causes sliding of the second larder case on the first bottom support in the direction away from the back wall.

2. The larder system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first latch of the first larder case or the second latch of the second larder case is movable between an interlocked position and an unlocked position,
wherein, while in the interlocked position, the first latch of the first larder case is detachably interlocked with the second latch of the second larder case, and
wherein, while in the unlocked position, the first latch of the first larder case is not interlocked with the second latch such that sliding the first larder case on the first bottom support in a direction away from the back wall does not cause sliding of the second larder case on the first bottom support in the direction away from the back wall.

3. The larder system of claim 2 , wherein the second latch of the second larder case is movable, while the first latch of the first larder case is stationary.

4. The larder system of claim 3 , wherein the second latch of the second larder case is substantially same as the second latch of the first larder case.

5. The larder system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one of the first latch of the first larder case or the second latch of the second larder case is pivotable between the interlocked position and the unlocked position.

6. The larder system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first latch of the first larder case or the second latch of the second larder case comprises a spring for maintaining the first latch of the first larder case detachably interlocked with the second latch of the second larder case.

7. The larder system of claim 1 , wherein the larder enclosure comprises an enclosure latch detachably interlocked with the second latch of the first larder case thereby preventing the first larder case from sliding on the first bottom support.

8. The larder system of claim 7 , wherein the enclosure latch prevents the first larder case to slide on the first bottom support toward the back wall of the larder enclosure.

9. The larder system of claim 7 , wherein the enclosure latch is disposed at the front wall of the larder enclosure.

10. The larder system of claim 1 , wherein the first larder case comprises a bumper pad disposed on the first side of the first larder case and contacting the second side of the second larder case when the first latch of the first larder case is detachably interlocked with the second latch of the second larder case.

11. The larder system of claim 10 , wherein the bumper pad of the first larder case is compressible.

12. The larder system of claim 10 , wherein the second larder case comprises a bumper pad disposed on the first side of the second larder case and contacting the back wall of the larder enclosure.

13. The larder system of claim 1 , wherein the first latch of the first larder case is formed by a top edge of the first side of the first larder case.

14. The larder system of claim 1 , wherein the larder enclosure comprises a door pivotably attached to the front wall of the larder enclosure, wherein the second latch of the first larder case contacts the door when the first larder case is positioned within the larder enclosure and when the door is closed such that the door prevents the first larder case from sliding on the first bottom support in the direction away from the back wall of the larder enclosure.

15. The larder system of claim 14 , wherein the door comprises an enclosure latch detachably interlocked with the second latch of the first larder case when the door is closed such that the enclosure latch prevents the first larder case from sliding on the first bottom support in the direction away toward the back wall of the larder enclosure.

16. The larder system of claim 1 , wherein the first larder case comprises a first pad for sliding on the first bottom support, and wherein the second larder case comprises a second pad for sliding on the first bottom support.

17. The larder system of claim 1 , wherein the first bottom support comprises a linear bearing for sliding the first larder case and the second larder case on the first bottom support.

18. The larder system of claim 1 , further comprising a third larder case disposed within the larder enclosure and slidably supported on a second bottom support of the larder enclosure, wherein the first bottom support is disposed between the first larder case and the third larder case.

19. An aircraft comprising:
a fuselage; and
a larder system disposed within the fuselage,
the larder system comprising:
a larder enclosure comprising a first bottom support, a back wall, and a front wall;
a first larder case disposed within the larder enclosure and slidably supported on the first bottom support of the larder enclosure,
wherein the first larder case has a first side and a second side,
wherein the first side of the first larder case faces the back wall of the larder enclosure,
wherein the first larder case comprises a first latch positioned at the first side of the first larder case and a second latch positioned at the second side of the first larder case; and

a second larder case disposed within the larder enclosure and slidably supported on the first bottom support of the larder enclosure between the first larder case and the back wall,
wherein the second larder case has a first side and a second side,
wherein the first side of the second larder case faces the back wall of the larder enclosure,
wherein the second side of the second larder case faces the first side of the first larder case,

wherein the second larder case comprises a first latch positioned at the first side and a second latch positioned at the second side, and
wherein the first latch of the first larder case is detachably interlocked with the second latch of the second larder case such that sliding the first larder case on the first bottom support in a direction away from the back wall causes sliding of the second larder case on the first bottom support in the direction away from the back wall.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Vandewall Cynthia A
• Tan Ming Kwan Esmond
• Cheah Kai Shen Elston
• BARY Hisham Tarek

Classifications

• A47B69/00

  Cocktail cabinets (cabinets or racks for bottles only A47B73/00) · CPC title

• A47B46/00

  Cabinets, racks or shelf units, having one or more surfaces adapted to be brought into position for use by extending or pivoting (A47B63/04, A47B77/10 take precedence; writing tables with extensible leaves A47B17/03; with extensible garment holders A47B61/02) · CPC title

• A47B87/02

  stackable {; stackable and linkable (by means of separate corner elements being in common with both the vertical and horizontal parts, e.g. corner bars for panels, nodes for rods A47B47/0016, A47B47/0025)} · CPC title

• A47B47/0091

  Modular arrangements of similar assemblies of elements (for elements or assemblies mainly made of wood or plastic A47B47/047, sectional furniture A47B87/00, stackable furniture A47B87/02) · CPC title

• B64D11/04 Primary

  Galleys · CPC title