Cargo barrier

• US 7,140,823 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2002
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Amsafe Bridport Limited (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Amsafe Bridport Limited (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ackerman, David, Carden, Stephen Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): GUTMAN, HILARY L
• Application Number:
  US10/490,179
• Publication Number:
  US 20040240959A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,545 Days
• Field of Search: 410/96, 410/97, 410/117, 410/118, 410/129, 410/140, 296/24.3, 296/24.4, 296/24.43, 242/65.CD, 224/118.1, 224/137.1, 244/42.33, 244/42.34
• US Class Current: 410/118
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 9/00 Equipment for handling freight; Equipment for facilitating passenger embarkation or the like emergency equipment B64D17/00, B64D19/00, B64D25/00; structures integral with fuselage to facilitate loading, fuselage floors specially adapted for freight, steps mounted on and retractable within aircraft B64C; ground installations B64F

Abstract

A cargo barrier (9) in or for installation in an aircraft (2), the barrier (9) comprising a peripheral frame structure (10) of rigid material and a cargo restraining net (11), the frame structure (10) being, in the aircraft (2), attached to attachment points on the interior structure of the aircraft and the net being attached to attachment points (12) on the frame structure (10). The frame structure (10) and net (11), in use, form a barrier across an interior space of the aircraft (2) in order to restrain longitudinal movement of cargo within the aircraft (2).

Claims

1. A cargo barrier in a fuselage of an aircraft, the fuselage having an inner contour, there being a floor in the fuselage, and the barrier comprising a peripheral frame structure of rigid material and a cargo restraining net, the peripheral frame structure being attached at a plurality of attachment points spaced around its perimeter to frame attachment points on the floor and along the inner contour of the fuselage of the aircraft and the net being attached to net attachment points on the frame structure, the frame structure and net extending across an interior space of the aircraft in order to restrain longitudinal movement of cargo within the aircraft, wherein the frame structure comprises separate sections which interconnect to form the frame structure.

2. A cargo barrier according to claim 1, wherein the interior space is that formed between an upper surface of the fuselage and a deck of the aircraft.

3. A cargo barrier according to claim 2, wherein the frame structure is shaped to form a close fit with the upper surface of the fuselage and the deck.

4. A cargo barrier according to claim 3, wherein the frame structure is sealed to the fuselage and deck leaving no gaps between them and the frame.

5. A cargo barrier according to claim 2, wherein the frame structure is shaped to form a close fit with the upper surface of the fuselage and extends below the deck.

6. A cargo barrier according to claim 1, wherein the net incorporates metallic cables or plastics fibre cables.

7. A cargo barrier according to claim 1, wherein drag strips are provided for fixation between the frame structure and the frame attachment points to allow longitudinal displacement of the barrier from the location of the frame attachment points.

8. A cargo barrier according to claim 1, wherein the frame structure is made of hollow section members.

9. A cargo barrier according to claim 1, wherein the net is attached to the frame by quick-release fixings.

10. A cargo barrier in an aircraft of the type having a deck mounted in a tubular fuselage to provide a cargo area within the fuselage above the deck, the barrier comprising a peripheral frame structure of rigid material and a cargo restraining net, the frame structure having a plurality of attachment points spaced apart along its top attached to frame attachment points on the interior structure of the fuselage and a plurality of attachment points spaced apart along its bottom attached to frame attachment points on the deck of the aircraft and the net attached to net attachment points on the frame structure, the frame structure and net extending across an interior space of the aircraft in order to restrain longitudinal movement of cargo within the aircraft.

11. The cargo barrier of claim 10 wherein the peripheral frame structure includes an arcuate edge substantially identical to an arcuate portion of the interior of the aircraft.

12. The cargo baffler according to claim 10 wherein the cargo restraining net extends in a substantially planar configuration between all of the frame attachment points on the frame structure.

13. The cargo barrier according to claim 10 wherein the net incorporates metallic cables.

14. The cargo barrier according to claim 10 wherein the net incorporates plastic fibre cables.

15. A cargo barrier in an aircraft having a tube-shaped fuselage and a deck in the fuselage forming a cargo area above the deck, the barrier comprising a peripheral frame structure of rigid material and a cargo restraining net the frame structure having a contoured top portion substantially mating with an inside of the tube-shaped fuselage, a fuselage attachment point on the contoured top portion attaching the top portion of the frame structure to the fuselage to distribute a portion of a load applied to the structure to the aircraft fuselage and a bottom portion substantially mating with the deck having a deck attachment point attaching the bottom portion of the frame structure to the deck, the net attached to net attachment points on the frame structure, the frame structure and net for restraining longitudinal movement of cargo within the aircraft.

16. The cargo barrier according to claim 15, wherein the top portion is connected to a substantially linear bottom.

17. A cargo barrier according to claim 15, wherein drag strips are provided for fixation between the frame structure and the aircraft to allow longitudinal displacement of the barrier.

18. The cargo baffler according to claim 15 wherein the net incorporates metallic or plastic fibre cables.