Self-locating fastening assembly and method for integrating a monument within an aircraft

• US 6,932,297 B1
• Filed: 03/26/2004
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Steindl, David R., Lucky, Patrick W., Colacecchi, Jay W.
• Primary Examiner(s): BAREFOOT, GALEN L
• Application Number:
  US10/708,819
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 244/118.1, 244/120, 410/69, 410/70, 410/76, 410/77, 410/80, 410/85, 410/90, 410/91, 410/94, 410/101, 410/106, 410/112, 361/732, 361/609, 248/503, 248/501, 248/500, 248/680, 248/507, 248/148, 312/351.1, 403/361, 403/334
• US Class Current: 244/118.1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/02 Toilet fittings of general application A47K
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/04 Galleys
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 9/003 Devices for retaining pallets or freight containers securing freight containers on vehicles B60P7/00

Abstract

One advantageous embodiment of the present invention is a self-locating fastening assembly (14) for aligning and securing a monument (12) to an airframe (16) of an aircraft (10). This self-locating fastening assembly (14) includes a self-locating tie-down member (24), which is fixedly coupled to one of either the air-frame (16) or the monument (12). The self-locating fastening assembly (14) further includes a socket member (26), which is coupled to the other of the airframe (16) or the monument (12). The self-locating tie-down member (24) includes a base portion (32) and a top portion (34) extending from the base portion (32). The base portion (32) is utilized for contacting the socket member (26) so as to guide said self-locating tie-down member into said socket member and secure the monument (12) in a predetermined position along at least one direction. Moreover, the top portion (34) is utilized for further securing the self-locating tie-down member (24) to the socket member (26).

Claims

1. An aircraft comprising:

an airframe having an interior with a floor disposed therein;

a monument coupled to said airframe and being disposed on said floor within said interior of said air-frame;

a self-locating fastening assembly for securing said monument in a predetermined position along at least one direction within said interior, said self-locating fastening assembly including a self-locating tie-down member coupled to said airframe and a socket member integrated within said monument and sized for receiving said self-locating tie-down member;

wherein said self-locating tie-down member includes a base portion and a top portion extending from said base portion;

wherein said base portion is coupled to said floor and is utilized for contacting said socket member, securing said monument in a predetermined position along at least one direction, and guiding said self-locating tie-down member into said socket member;

wherein said top portion extends from said base portion and is utilized for further securing said monument in said predetermined position;

wherein said monument is at least one of a lavatory module, a galley module, a closet module, a purser work station module, a video control center module, and a crew rest module.

2. The aircraft of claim 1 wherein said monument has a bottom surface for sliding across said top surface of said floor and inserting said self-locating tie-down member into said socket member.

3. The aircraft of claim 1 wherein said socket member is disposed at an edge of said monument adjacent to said bottom surface of said monument.

4. The aircraft of claim 1 wherein said socket member is defined by said monument and is an integral part thereof.

5. The aircraft of claim 1 wherein said socket member is coupled to said monument.

6. The aircraft of claim 1 wherein said socket member defines a guiding chamber for contacting said top portion of said self-locating tie-down member and sewing said self-locating tie-down member to said socket member.

7. The aircraft of claim 1 wherein said socket member defines a base chamber for receiving and contacting said base portion of said self-locating tie-down member so as to secure said monument in said predetermined position.

8. The aircraft of claim 1 wherein said top portion comprises:

an offset tab extending generally perpendicularly from said base portion; and

a finger member extending generally perpendicularly from said offset tab and utilized for securing said self-locating tie-down member to said socket member, said finger member positioned generally parallel to said base portion.

9. The aircraft of claim 8 further comprising:

at least one fillet coupled between said base portion and said offset tab for strengthening said top portion.

10. The aircraft of claim 8 wherein said finger member has a central axis that is centered above a longitudinal axis of said base portion.

11. The aircraft of claim 1 wherein said base portion includes an inboard-extending tab sized for insertion into said socket member, guiding said self-locating tie-down member into said socket member, and securing said monument in said predetermined position.

12. The aircraft of claim 11 wherein said base portion further includes:

an outboard-extending tab for supporting said top portion in an inboard direction.

13. The aircraft of claim 12 further comprising:

a reinforcing rib coupled between said outboard-extending tab and said offset tab, said reinforcing rib for strengthening said top portion.

14. An aircraft comprising:

an airframe having an interior with a floor disposed therein;

a monument coupled to said airframe and being disposed on said floor within said interior of said air-frame;

a self-locating fastening assembly for securing said monument in a predetermined position along at least one direction within said interior, said self-locating fastening assembly including a self-locating tie-down member coupled to said airframe and a socket member integrated within said monument and sized for receiving said self-locating tie-down member;

wherein said self-locating tie-down member includes a base portion and a top portion extending from said base portion;

wherein said base portion is coupled to said monument and is utilized for contacting said socket member, guiding said self-locating tie-down member into said socket member, and securing said monument in a predetermined position along at least one direction within said interior;

wherein said top portion extends from said base portion and is utilized for further securing said self-locating tie-down member to said socket member in a direction substantially parallel to a top surface of said floor;

wherein said monument is at least one of a lavatory module, a galley module, a closet module, a purser work station module, a video control center module, and a crew rest module.

15. The aircraft of claim 14 wherein said monument has a bottom surface for sliding across said top surface of said floor and inserting said self-locating tie-down member into said socket member.

16. The aircraft of claim 14 wherein said self-locating tie-down member is disposed at an edge of said monument adjacent to said bottom surface of said monument.

17. The aircraft of claim 14 wherein said socket member defines a guiding chamber for contacting said top portion of said self-locating tie-down member and securing said self-locating tie-down member to said socket member.

18. The aircraft of claim 14 wherein said socket member defines a base chamber for receiving and contacting said base portion of said self-locating tie-down member so as to guide said self-locating tie-down member into said socket member and secure said monument in said predetermined position.

19. The aircraft of claim 14 wherein said top portion comprises:

an offset tab extending from said base portion; and

a finger member extending from said offset tab and utilized for securing said self-locating tie-down member to said socket member.

20. The aircraft of claim 14 wherein said base portion comprises:

an inboard-extending tab sized for inserting into said socket member, guiding said self-locating tie-down member into said socket member, and securing said monument in said predetermined position.

21. The aircraft of claim 20 wherein said base portion further comprises:

an outboard-extending tab for strengthening said top portion.

22. The aircraft of claim 21 further comprising:

a reinforcing rib coupled between said outboard-extending tab and said offset tab, said reinforcing rib for strengthening said top portion.

23. A self-locating fastening assembly for aligning and securing a monument to a floor within an interior of an airframe for an aircraft, comprising:

a self-locating tie-down member coupled to one of the floor and the monument; and

a socket member coupled to the other of the floor and the monument;

wherein said self-locating tie-down member includes a base portion and a top portion extending from said base portion, said base portion utilized for contacting said socket member so as to guide said self-locating tie-down member into said socket member and secure the monument in a predetermined position along at least one direction, said top portion utilized for securing the self-locating tie-down member to the socket member.

24. The self-locating fastening assembly of claim 23 wherein said socket member defines a guiding chamber for contacting said top portion of said self-locating tie-down member and securing said self-locating tie-down member to said socket member.

25. The self-locating fastening assembly of claim 23 wherein said socket member defines a base chamber for receiving and contacting said base portion of said self-locating tie-down member so as to guide said self-locating tie-down member into said socket member and secure the monument in said predetermined position.

26. The self-locating fastening assembly of claim 23 wherein said base chamber has a tapered opening for aligning a misaligned self-locating tie-down member and allowing said self-locating tie-down member to fully engage said socket member.

27. The self-locating fastening assembly of claim 23 wherein said top portion comprises:

an offset tab extending from said base portion; and

a finger member extending from said offset tab and utilized for securing said self-locating tie-down member to said socket member.

28. The self-locating fastening assembly of claim 27 wherein said finger member has a conical shape with a rounded tip.

29. The self-locating fastening assembly of claim 27 wherein said base portion comprises:

an inboard-extending tab sized for inserting into said socket member, guiding said self-locating tie-down member into said socket member, and securing the monument in said predetermined position.

30. The self-locating fastening assembly of claim 29 wherein said base portion further comprises:

an outboard-extending tab for strengthening said top portion.

31. The self-locating fastening assembly of claim 30 further comprising:

a reinforcing rib coupled between said outboard-extending tab and said offset tab, said reinforcing rib for strengthening said top portion.

32. The self-locating fastening assembly of claim 23 in which the socket member is manufactured by a process selected from the group consisting of a steelmaking process, a rolling process, a forging process, an extrusion process, a drawing process, a casting process, and a welding process.

33. The self-locating fastening assembly of claim 23 in which the self-locating tie-down member is manufactured by a process selected from the group consisting of a steelmaking process, a rolling process, a forging process, an extrusion process, a drawing process, a casting process, and a welding process.

34. A method for securing a monument to a floor of an airframe within an interior of an aircraft, comprising:

placing the monument on the floor of the air-frame;

moving the monument in an outboard direction across a top surface of the floor;

inserting a self-locating tie-down member coupled to the floor into a socket member coupled to the monument;

aligning the monument in a predetermined position; and

securing the monument to the floor in said predetermined position.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein inserting said self-locating tie-down member into said socket member comprises:

inserting a top portion of said self-locating tie-down member into a top chamber of said socket member; and

inserting a base portion of said self-locating tie-down member into a base chamber of said socket member.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein inserting said top portion into said top chamber comprises:

inserting a finger member of said top portion into said top chamber.

37. The method of claim 35 wherein inserting said base portion into said base chamber comprises:

inserting an inboard-extending tab of said base portion into said base chamber.

38. The method of claim 35 wherein moving the monument in an outboard direction across a top surface of the floor comprises:

moving the monument along at least one guide line marked on the floor.

39. The method of claim 35 further comprising:

measuring a gap between the monument and a sidewall;

determining whether the monument requires realignment; and

realigning the monument when the monument requires re-alignment.