SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STOWAGE COMPARTMENT PIVOT ASSEMBLY

• US 20080112754A1
• Filed: 11/09/2006
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Schmitz, Chad D., Jeyarajah, Nelson J., Haynes, Michael S., Malkinson, Michael J., Pugh, Christopher S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,762,737 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 403/350
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 5/003 Luggage racks, e.g. for busses primarily intended for passengers' property smaller than suitcases B60R7/04; B60R7/08; luggage racks for rail vehicles B61D37/003
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/003 Stowage devices for passengers' personal luggage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4984 Retaining clearance for motion between assembled parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32606 Pivoted
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32893 including distinct pin retainer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32951 Transverse pin or stud
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32959 Traverses interposed facing component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32967 Attached to or integral with one member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32983 Rod in socket
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/61 Side slide: elongated co-linear members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7009 Rotary binding cam or wedge

Abstract

A pivot system for a stowage compartment system for a mobile platform (for example, commercial aircraft) is provided. The pivot system includes a first fitting that defines a raceway and an engagement feature and a second fitting. The second fitting includes a hub for engagement with the raceway and a mating engagement feature to secure the first fitting within the second fitting. The second fitting also includes a guide that directs the first fitting into the second fitting to couple the first fitting to the second fitting.

Claims

1. A pivot system comprising:

a first fitting that defines a raceway and an engagement feature; and

a second fitting that includes;

a hub defined in the second fitting for engagement with the raceway;

a mating engagement feature to secure the first fitting within the second fitting; and

a guide that directs the first fitting into the second fitting to couple the first fitting to the second fitting.

2. The pivot system of claim 1, wherein the first fitting is coupled to a first structure and the second fitting is coupled to a second structure, the first fitting and the second fitting cooperating to enable the first structure to rotate within the second structure.

3. The pivot system of claim 1, wherein the raceway of the first fitting tapers from a first end to a second end to ensure tight engagement between the raceway and the hub.

4. The pivot system of claim 1, wherein the raceway is defined on a first surface and the engagement member is defined on a second surface.

5. The pivot system of claim 4, wherein the engagement member includes at least one groove for engagement with the mating engagement member.

6. The pivot system of claim 5, wherein the mating engagement feature and hub are defined on a first surface of the second fitting and the mating engagement feature is a lip that engages the groove to enable the first fitting to rotate with respect to the second fitting.

7. The pivot system of claim 6, wherein the guide is defined on the first surface of the second fitting and the guide includes at least one angled flange to direct the first fitting into the second fitting.

8. The pivot system of claim 1, wherein the first fitting is formed of a polymeric material.

9. The pivot system of claim 1, wherein the second fitting is formed of a metal or metal alloy.

10. The pivot system of claim 4, wherein the first surface defines at least one first bearing surface that contacts at least one second bearing surface on the second fitting, the first bearing surface having a height that is about equivalent to a height of the hub.

11. The pivot system of claim 2, wherein the first fitting is sized to fit entirely within the second fitting to enable the first fitting to rotate fully within the second fitting.

12. A mobile platform comprising:

a interior overhead structure;

at least one compartment rotatably coupled to the interior overhead structure, the compartment rotatable into an opened position and a closed position; and

a pivot system coupled to the interior overhead structure and the compartment to enable the compartment to rotate into the opened position and the closed position, the pivot system including;

a first fitting that defines a raceway; and

a second fitting that defines a hub and a guide, the hub for engagement with the raceway and the guide that directs the first fitting into the second fitting to couple the first fitting to the second fitting.

13. The mobile platform of claim 12, wherein the raceway of the first fitting tapers from a first end to a second end to ensure tight engagement between the raceway and the hub.

14. The mobile platform of claim 12, wherein the first fitting further comprises at least one engagement feature and the second fitting comprises at least one mating engagement feature to couple the first fitting to the second fitting.

15. The mobile platform of claim 14, wherein the engagement feature includes at least one groove defined on a surface opposite the raceway and the mating engagement feature includes a lip to mate with the groove to rotatably couple the first fitting to the second fitting.

16. The mobile platform of claim 12, wherein the guide includes at least one angled flange to direct the first fitting into the second fitting, and the first fitting is sized to be retained within the second fitting.

17. A method for coupling a first structure to a second structure where the second structure is movable relative to the first structure comprising:

providing a first fitting defining a raceway and a second fitting defining a hub;

coupling the first fitting to the second structure;

coupling the second fitting to the first structure; and

guiding the raceway of the first fitting into engagement with the hub of the second fitting with at least one guide defined on the second fitting.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

pivoting the second structure a predefined amount after the hub is in engagement with the raceway to secure the first fitting to the second fitting;

providing at least one linkage coupled to the first structure; and

coupling the linkage to the second structure after the hub is pivoted the predefined amount.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

pivoting the second structure about the first structure to rotate the first fitting within the second fitting.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein pivoting the second structure a predefined amount further comprises:

pivoting the second structure from about 0.01 degrees to about 15 degrees.