Method of attaching electrically powered seat track cover to through hole seat track design

• US 20070018045A1
• Filed: 06/10/2005
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Laib, Trevor, Callahan, Kevin, Mitchell, Bradley, Ebner, James
• Granted Patent: US 8,033,501 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/118.600
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/20 specially adapted for freight
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/62933 Comprising exclusively pivoting lever
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/00 Arrangements of electric cables or lines between relatively-movable parts
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/00 Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles installations of bus-bars H02G5/00; overhead installations H02G7/00; installations in or on the ground H02G9/00

Abstract

A system for communicating electrical signals between two spaced apart seat assemblies on a mobile platform, for example an aircraft. The seat assemblies are secured to seat tracks mounted on a floor of the aircraft cabin. The seat tracks have a plurality of spaced apart holes that enable seat assembly mounting. A seat track cover is snap-fit onto one or more seat track mount devices. Each of the seat track mount devices includes one or more cleats or knobs that can be snap fit into the openings in the seat track to quickly and easily secure the seat track cover to the seat track. The seat track cover and mount devices enable a simple, planar seat track having spaced apart holes to be employed, rather than a C-shaped seat mounting track.

Claims

1. A system for communicating at least one of power and data between two spaced apart seat assemblies comprising:

a seat track cover including a first engagement detail;

a seat track mount including;

a second engagement detail; and

a third engagement detail; and

a seat track including a receptacle;

wherein said first engagement detail engages said second engagement detail to secure said cover to said mount; and

wherein said third engagement detail engages said seat track receptacle to secure said mount to said seat track.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first engagement detail includes a protruding rib that extends along a base portion of said seat track cover.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said second engagement detail includes a pair of parallel, ribbed side walls having a shape and size that permits secure cooperation between said first engagement detail and said second engagement detail.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said third engagement detail includes a mounting cleat having a plurality of flexible fingers operable to move between an expanded position and a contracted position;

wherein said flexible fingers can be moved to said contracted position to permit passage of said cleat through said receptacle and moved to said expanded position to secure said cleat within said receptacle.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a locking pin operable to be inserted between said fingers to retain said fingers in said expanded position to prevent removal of said engagement detail out of engagement with said receptacle.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a conductive cable housed within said seat track cover and extending across a length of said cover to communicate at least one of the data and power across said seat track cover.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said seat track further includes a planar portion comprising said receptacle.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said receptacle includes a substantially circular hole in said planar portion.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said seat track mount includes a mounting peg.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said mounting peg includes a first deformable knob operable to engage said seat track cover and a second deformable knob operable to engage said seat track.

11. A system for communicating at least one of power and data between two spaced apart seat assemblies comprising:

a seat track having an opening;

a seat track cover; and

a seat track mount including;

a base;

a pair of spaced apart parallel sidewalls extending in a first direction from said base that form a “

U”

shaped receptacle with said base; and

an engagement pin extending from said base in a second direction that is opposite to said first direction;

wherein said mount is operable to fixedly receive said seat track cover between said side walls; and

wherein said engagement pin cooperates with said seat track opening to fixedly secure said mount to said seat track.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said seat track cover further includes an engagement rib, said engagement rib cooperating with said sidewalls of said mount to secure said cover to said mount.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein each of said sidewalls include engagement details in the form of elongated ribs.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said engagement pin includes a mounting cleat having a plurality of flexible fingers operable to move between an expanded position and a contracted position;

wherein said flexible fingers can be moved to said contracted position to permit passage of said cleat through said opening and moved to said expanded position to secure said cleat within said opening.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a locking pin operable to be inserted between said fingers to retain said fingers in said expanded position to prevent removal of said engagement detail from engagement with said receptacle.

16. The system of claim 11, further comprising a conductive cable housed within said seat track cover and extending across a length of said cover to communicate at least one of the data and power across said seat track cover.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein said seat track further includes a planar portion comprising said opening and comprising mounting locations operable to receive a fastener for securing an aircraft passenger cabin floor to said seat track.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said opening includes a substantially circular hole in said planar portion.

23. The method of claim 17, further comprising securing a first deformable knob of said seat track mount to said seat track cover and securing a second deformable knob of said seat track mount to said seat track.

19. A method of mounting a seat track cover to a seat track between a first seat leg assembly and a second seat leg assembly comprising:

sizing a seat track cover to a length that approximates a distance between the first and second seat leg assemblies;

securing a seat track mount to the seat track through cooperation between a first engagement detail of a first side of the mount and a receptacle of the seat track;

securing the seat track cover to a first seat leg assembly;

securing the seat track cover to the seat track mount through cooperation between a second engagement detail of the seat track cover and a third engagement detail of a second side of the seat track mount that is opposite the first side of the mount; and

securing the seat track cover to the second seat leg assembly to provide a connection between the first and second seat leg assemblies.

20. The method of claim 20, wherein said housing is a flexible housing and said method further comprises bending the seat track cover to position the cover between the first and second seat leg assemblies.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising contracting flexible fingers of the first engagement detail to permit passage of said first engagement detail through the receptacle of the seat track and expanding the flexible fingers after the first engagement detail has passed through the receptacle to secure the engagement detail within the receptacle.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising inserting a locking pin between the flexible fingers after the first engagement detail is inserted through the receptacle to retain the fingers in the expanded position and prevent the engagement detail from being removed from the receptacle.

24. A system for communicating at least one of power and data between two spaced apart seat assemblies comprising:

a seat track having an opening;

a seat track cover; and

a seat track mount including;

a base portion;

a first knob extending from a first side of said base portion; and

a second knob extending from a second side of said base portion opposite said first side;

wherein said first knob cooperates with said seat track cover to secure said mount to said seat track cover; and

wherein said second knob cooperates with said seat track to secure said mount to said seat track.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said first knob and said second knob are deformable.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein each of said first knob and said second knob comprise at least one of an elastomer and a polymer.

27. The system of claim 24, further comprising a conductive cable housed within said seat track cover and extending across a length of said cover to communicate at least one of the data and power across said seat track cover.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein said seat track further includes a planar portion comprising said opening and comprising mounting locations operable to receive a fastener for securing an aircraft passenger cabin floor to said seat track.

29. The system of claim 24, wherein said opening includes a substantially circular hole in said planar portion.