Double door security system for aircraft and the like

• US 6,696,979 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2002
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Francisco J. Avellanet, Howard Manten
• Original Assignee: Francisco J. Avellanet, Howard Manten
• Inventors: Avellanet, Francisco J, Manten, Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US10/091,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20030169184A1
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 340/945, 340/963, 340/971, 340/426, 340/5.2, 340/5.53, 340/5.32, 340/5.72, 340/5.52, 340/5.82, 340/5.83, 180/287, 180/271, 348/143, 348/156, 348/152, 348/117, 348/148, 70/91, 70/93, 244/1.R, 244/118.5, 244/129.5, 244/117.R, 244/118.6, 244/119, 244/120, 244/129.1, 701/3, 701/9, 701/14, 109/68, 109/58, 109/78, 109/67, 109/69, 109/70
• US Class Current: 340/945
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/1469 Doors between cockpit and cabin
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0026 by creating a secure space between the flight deck and cabin
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0028 doors or door arrangements specially adapted to restrict unauthorized access

Abstract

A passenger aircraft security system provides double doors at the entrance to the cockpit and rearranges the adjacent galley and restroom and creates a vestibule or passageway between them fitted with parallel inner and outer doors with special locking devices so as to provide guarded access to the cockpit from the passenger cabin. Modified embodiments are disclosed for marine vessels and railway locomotives and subway cars.

Claims

1. An aircraft cabin security system for guarding access to the aircraft flight deck from an aircraft passenger cabin comprising a transverse bulkhead extending between opposite sides of the airframe and defining a rear partition of the flight deck and forward partition of the passenger cabin, the transverse bulkhead having a doorway for passage into the cockpit, a pair of longitudinal partitions extending aft of the transverse bulkhead beginning from opposite sides of the cockpit doorway, the pair of partitions defining there-between a vestibule positioned amidships for approaching the cockpit doorway, the vestibule longitudinal partitions defining a passenger cabin doorway, the vestibule further defined by an inner door for closing the cockpit doorway and an outer door for closing the passenger cabin doorway, the inner door and the outer door having locking means for restricting access to the flight deck, a galley and restroom situated on opposite sides of the cabin immediately abaft the transverse bulkhead, the galley defined by one of said longitudinal partitions, a portion of the transverse bulkhead, and a portion of airframe, the restroom defined by the other of said longitudinal partitions, a portion of the transverse bulkhead, and a portion of airframe, and the aircraft entry door situated aft of said passenger cabin doorway.

2. An aircraft cabin security system as defined in claim 1 which further includes visual means enabling a flight deck crew member to monitor the vestibule.

3. An aircraft cabin security system as defined in claim 1 which further includes a video camera in the vestibule and a video monitor in the flight deck enabling a flight deck crew member to monitor the vestibule.

4. An aircraft cabin security system as defined in claim 1 which further includes a window through the inner door enabling a flight deck crew member to monitor the vestibule.

5. An aircraft cabin security system as defined in claim 1 which further includes a biotechnology recognition system for opening the inner door and outer door locking means.

6. An aircraft cabin security system as defined in claim 1 in which the inner door and outer door have interacting door locks so that the doors are each unlocked, opened, closed and relocked sequentially for cockpit entry and exit.

7. An aircraft cabin security system as defined in claim 1 in which the inner door and outer door have interacting door locks so that the doors are each unlocked, opened, closed and relocked sequentially for cockpit entry and exit, the door locks arranged for opening and closing only by authorized personnel, and door control means enabling the flight deck crew to override door lock operation for maintaining locked condition of the doors, and for opening the door locks for emergency exit.

8. An aircraft cabin security system as defined in claim 7 in which the door locks are opened by a key.

9. An aircraft cabin security system as defined in claim 7 in which the door locks are opened by a personnel recognition system.