System and method for integrated magnetic slider assembly for hanging partition

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9856695-B2
Application number	US-201514825168-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 12, 2015
Priority date	Oct 26, 2014
Publication date	Jan 2, 2018
Grant date	Jan 2, 2018

Abstract

There is provided a system for an integrated magnetic slider assembly. The system has the integrated magnetic slider assembly with a slider portion, a hanger portion coupled to or integrated with the slider portion, and one or more magnets coupled to the hanger portion. The system further has a longitudinal hanging device configured for coupling to and suspending the slider portion of the integrated magnetic slider assembly. The system further has at least one hanging partition configured for coupling to the hanger portion of the integrated magnetic slider assembly, the at least one hanging partition having a plurality of pleats. All the magnets in a plurality of integrated magnetic slider assemblies are vertically aligned with respect to each other to cause a magnetic attraction between adjacent magnets in order to hold the plurality of pleats together, when the at least one hanging partition is in a retracted position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for an integrated magnetic slider assembly, the system comprising:
the integrated magnetic slider assembly comprising:
a slider portion;
a hanger portion coupled to or integrated with the slider portion, the hanger portion having a head portion, a neck portion, first and second shoulder portions coupled to the neck portion, first and second lateral end portions coupled to the respective first and second shoulder portions, and a body portion with an opening through the body portion; and
one or more magnets inserted into the opening of the hanger portion;

a longitudinal hanging device configured for coupling to and suspending the slider portion of the integrated magnetic slider assembly; and
at least one hanging partition configured for coupling to the hanger portion of the integrated magnetic slider assembly, the at least one hanging partition having a plurality of pleats;
wherein all the magnets in a plurality of integrated magnetic slider assemblies are vertically aligned with respect to each other to cause a magnetic attraction between adjacent magnets in order to hold the plurality of pleats together, when the at least one hanging partition is in a retracted position.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of pleats has a hemmed portion with an opening at an upper portion of the at least one hanging partition, and further wherein the hanger portion of the integrated magnetic slider assembly is positioned within each of two or more hemmed portions.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein all of the magnets are laterally stacked within and across an upper portion of the at least one hanging partition, when the at least one hanging partition is in the retracted position.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the slider portion and the hanger portion comprise either a monolithic configuration or a two-piece configuration.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one hanging partition partitions at least two cabin areas in a cabin of an aircraft.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein when the at least one hanging partition is in the retracted position, the at least one hanging partition does not obstruct an emergency exit locator sign in proximity to the at least one hanging partition in an aircraft.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein two magnets are inserted into the opening through the body portion of the hanger portion.

8. An aircraft comprising:
a fuselage having a cabin with a cabin ceiling;
at least one wing coupled to the fuselage; and
a system for an integrated magnetic slider assembly, the system comprising:
the integrated magnetic slider assembly comprising:
a slider portion;
a hanger portion coupled to or integrated with the slider portion, the hanger portion having a head portion, a neck portion, first and second shoulder portions coupled to the neck portion, first and second lateral end portions coupled to the respective first and second shoulder portions, and a body portion with an opening through the body portion; and
one or more magnets inserted into the opening of the hanger portion;

a longitudinal hanging device coupled to the cabin ceiling and configured for coupling to and suspending the slider portion of the integrated magnetic slider assembly; and
at least one hanging partition configured for coupling to the hanger portion of the integrated magnetic slider assembly, the at least one hanging partition having a plurality of pleats;
wherein all the magnets in a plurality of integrated magnetic slider assemblies are vertically aligned with respect to each other to cause a magnetic attraction between adjacent magnets in order to hold the plurality of pleats together, when the at least one hanging partition is in a retracted position.

9. The aircraft of claim 8 wherein each of the plurality of pleats of the at least one hanging partition has a hemmed portion with an opening at an upper portion of the at least one hanging partition, each opening being in close proximity to the cabin ceiling of the cabin, and further wherein the hanger portion of the integrated magnetic slider assembly is positioned within each of two or more hemmed portions.

10. The aircraft of claim 8 wherein the at least one hanging partition partitions at least two cabin areas in the cabin of the aircraft.

11. The aircraft of claim 8 wherein when the at least one hanging partition is in the retracted position, the at least one hanging partition does not obstruct an emergency exit locator sign in proximity to the at least one hanging partition in the aircraft.

12. The aircraft of claim 8 wherein the slider portion and the hanger portion comprise either a monolithic configuration or a two-piece configuration.

13. A method of assembling a system for an integrated magnetic slider assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
assembling a slider portion, a hanger portion coupled to or integrated with the slider portion, and one or more magnets coupled to the hanger portion, to form the integrated magnetic slider assembly, wherein the hanger portion has a head portion, a neck portion, first and second shoulder portions coupled to the neck portion, first and second lateral end portions coupled to the respective first and second shoulder portions, and a body portion with an opening through the body portion, and further wherein the one or more magnets is inserted into the opening of the hanger portion;
coupling and suspending the slider portion of the integrated magnetic slider assembly to a longitudinal hanging device;
coupling the hanger portion of the integrated magnetic slider assembly to at least one hanging partition having a plurality of pleats; and
vertically aligning all the magnets in each integrated magnetic slider assembly with respect to each other to cause a magnetic attraction between adjacent magnets in order to hold the plurality of pleats together, when the at least one hanging partition is in a retracted position.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the assembling step comprises coupling an attachment element comprising a snap fastener to the opening through the body portion of the hanger portion.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the assembling step comprises coupling two magnets into the opening through the body portion of the hanger portion.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of coupling the hanger portion of the integrated magnetic slider assembly to the at least one hanging partition comprises forming in each of the plurality of pleats a hemmed portion with an opening at an upper portion of the at least one hanging partition, and positioning the hanger portion of the integrated magnetic slider assembly within each of two or more hemmed portions.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of vertically aligning all the magnets in the integrated magnetic slider assembly further comprises laterally stacking the magnets within and across an upper portion of the at least one hanging partition, when the at least one hanging partition is in the retracted position.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of coupling the hanger portion of the integrated magnetic slider assembly to the at least one hanging partition comprises partitioning with the at least one hanging partition at least two cabin areas in a cabin of an aircraft.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of coupling the hanger portion of the integrated magnetic slider assembly to the at least one hanging partition comprises when the at least one hanging partition is in the retracted position, the at l

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Leadens Ii Todd J
• Zhang Jing (Kelly)
• Mbata Ada
• Roach Will J

Classifications

• E06B9/362 Primary

  Travellers; Lamellae suspension stems · CPC title

• B64D11/0023 Primary

  Movable or removable cabin dividers, e.g. for class separation · CPC title