HOLDING APPARATUS

• US 20200130554A1
• Filed: 10/29/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bombardier Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bombardier Incorporated
• Inventors: Bang, Seung Joon, Fagan, Tim
• Granted Patent: US 11,370,342 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/102 storable or foldable in a non-use position
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/105 for receptables of different size or shape
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0045 with visible part, e.g. flush mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0082 collapsible, e.g. for storing after use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/04 in driver or passenger space , e.g. using racks B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/003 Stowage devices for passengers' personal luggage
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0627 Seats combined with storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0638 with foldable tables, trays or cup holders

Abstract

An apparatus for a vehicle having a carriage and a rotatable insert configured to be moved between a stowed position and an open position in the carriage. The carriage is configured to be mounted within a side-ledge and includes a first carriage panel having a first slot and a second slot. The first slot has an arcuate curve thereto and the second slot is linear. The rotatable insert includes a first insert panel and a compartment. The first insert panel includes first and second protrusions extending therefrom that are configured to respectively engage the first and second slots such that, as the rotatable insert is moved to the open position, the first and second protrusions travel respectively up the first and second slots. The compartment that is hidden when in the stowed position and can carry at least one item when in the open position.

Claims

1. An apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a carriage and a rotatable insert configured to be moved between a stowed position and an open position in the carriage, the carriage is configured to be mounted within a side-ledge of the vehicle, the carriage comprises;

a first carriage panel having a first slot and a second slot therein, wherein the first slot has an arcuate curve thereto and the second slot is linear;

and wherein the rotatable insert comprises;

a first insert panel having a first and second protrusion extending therefrom, the first protrusion is configured to engage with the first slot and the second protrusion is configured to engage with the second slot such that, as the rotatable insert is moved to the open position, the first and second protrusions travel respectively up the first and second slots; and

a compartment that is hidden when the rotatable insert is in the stowed position and is configured to carry at least one item when the rotatable insert is moved to the open position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein, when the carriage is mounted within the side-ledge, an outwardly facing top-perimeter of the carriage is substantially parallel with a horizontal surface of the side-ledge and an outwardly facing side-perimeter of the carriage is substantially parallel with a vertical surface of the side-ledge, and wherein the first slot extends closer to the outwardly facing top-perimeter of the carriage than the second slot.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, the first slot having a bottom portion that is parallel to the second slot.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, the carriage further comprising a second carriage panel having a third slot and a fourth slot therein, the third slot is congruent in shape to the first slot and the fourth slot is congruent in shape to the second slot, wherein the second carriage panel is opposite the first carriage panel.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, the rotatable insert further comprising:

a second insert panel having a third and fourth protrusion extending therefrom, the third protrusion is configured to engage with the third slot and the fourth protrusion is configured to engage with the fourth slot such that, as the rotatable insert is moved to the open position, the third and fourth protrusions travel respectively up the third and fourth slots; and

a rear insert panel having a curved transition extending between the first insert panel and the second insert panel, the curved transition prevents binding between the carriage and the rotatable insert as the rotatable insert is placed in the open position.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a lifting mechanism coupled to the carriage, the lifting mechanism is configured to vertically lift the rotatable insert from the stowed position to an intermediate position between the open position and the stowed portion.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, the rotatable insert is configured such that, (i) when the rotatable insert is in the stowed position, the second protrusion is closer to the outwardly facing top-perimeter of the carriage than the first protrusion and (ii) when the rotatable insert is in the open position, the first protrusion is closer to the outwardly facing top-perimeter of the carriage than the second protrusion.

8. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first and second slots are configured such that, as the rotatable insert travels from the stowed position to the open position, the first and second protrusions first travel towards the outwardly facing top-perimeter of the carriage before rotating.

9. An apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a carriage configured to be mounted to a side-ledge of a vehicle, the carriage comprises;

a first carriage panel having a having a first slot and a second slot therein, the first slot is vertically longer than the second slot, wherein the second slot is substantially linear and the first slot has a concave portion facing the second slot; and

a rotatable insert configured to be rotatable from a stowed position to an open position in the carriage, the rotatable insert comprises;

a first inert panel having a first protrusion configured to enter the first slot and a second protrusion configured to enter the second slot such that the first and second protrusions travel up the respective first and second slots as the rotatable insert moves from the stowed position to the open position; and

a compartment that is hidden from view when the rotatable insert is in the stowed position and is configured to carry at least one item when the rotatable insert is rotated to the open position.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein, when the carriage is mounted to the side-ledge, an outwardly facing top-perimeter of the carriage is substantially parallel with a horizontal surface of the side-ledge and an outwardly facing side-perimeter of the carriage is substantially parallel with a vertical surface of the side-ledge.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, the first slot having a bottom portion that is substantially linear and substantially parallel to the second slot, and wherein the first slot extends closer to the outwardly facing top-perimeter of the carriage than the second slot.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the carriage further comprising a second carriage panel opposite the first carriage panel, the second carriage panel having a third slot and a fourth slot therein, the third slot is congruent in shape to the first slot and the fourth slot is congruent in shape to the second slot;

and

wherein the rotatable insert further comprises;

a second insert panel having a third protrusion and a fourth protrusion, the third protrusion configured to enter the third slot and the fourth protrusion configured to enter the fourth slot such that the third and fourth protrusions travel up the respective third and fourth slots as the rotatable insert moves from the stowed position to the open position; and

a rear insert panel having a curved transition extending between the first insert panel and the second insert panel, the curved transition prevents binding between the carriage and the rotatable insert as the rotatable insert is placed in the open position.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, the rotatable insert is configured such that, (i) when the rotatable insert is in the stowed position, the second protrusion is closer to the outwardly facing top-perimeter of the carriage than the first protrusion and (ii) when the rotatable insert is in the open position, the first protrusion is closer to the outwardly facing top-perimeter of the carriage than the second protrusion.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the first and second slots are configured such that, as the rotatable insert travels from the stowed position to the open position, the rotatable insert first travels vertically before rotating.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a lifting mechanism coupled to the carriage, the lifting mechanism configured to vertically lift the rotatable insert to an intermediate position between the stowed position and the open position.

16. A method of installing a holding apparatus in a side-ledge of a passenger cabin comprising:

affixing a carriage to the side-ledge of the passenger cabin such that an outwardly facing top-perimeter of the carriage is substantially parallel with a horizontal surface of the side-ledge and an outwardly facing side-perimeter of the carriage is substantially parallel with a vertical surface of the side-ledge;

engaging a first protrusion of a rotatable insert with a first slot of the carriage, wherein the rotatable insert is configured to move from a stowed position in the carriage to an open position in the carriage to reveal a holding compartment; and

engaging a second protrusion of the rotatable insert with a second slot of the carriage, wherein the first slot has a concave portion thereto and the second slot is linear.

17. The method of claim 16, the first slot having a bottom portion that is substantially linear, the bottom portion of the first slot is substantially parallel to the second slot while the concave portion of the first slot faces the second slot, and wherein the first slot extends closer to the outwardly facing top-perimeter of the carriage than the second slot.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

engaging a third protrusion of a rotatable insert with a third slot of the carriage, the third slot is congruent in shape to the first slot; and

engaging a fourth protrusion of the rotatable insert with a fourth slot of the carriage, the fourth slot is congruent in shape with the second slot, wherein the first and second slots are on a first carriage panel and the third and fourth slots are on a second carriage panel that is opposite the first carriage panel.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising coupling a lifting mechanism to the carriage, wherein the lifting mechanism is configured to move the rotatable insert vertically to an intermediate position causing the first, second, third, and fourth protrusions to travel vertically in the respective first, second, third, and fourth slots.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the rotatable insert is configured such that, (i) when the rotatable insert is in the stowed position, the second protrusion is closer to the outwardly facing top-perimeter of the carriage than the first protrusion and (ii) when the rotatable insert is in the open position, the first protrusion is closer to the outwardly facing top-perimeter of the carriage than the second protrusion.