Telescopic stowage bin

• US 7,922,119 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2006
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Schumacher, Markus, Muin, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh; Tien
• Assistant Examiner(s): Green; Richard R
• Application Number:
  US11/618,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20070164155A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,565 Days
• Field of Search: 244/118.5, 244/118.1, 244/129.4, 312/246, 312/247, 52/67
• US Class Current: 244/118.5
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/003 Stowage devices for passengers' personal luggage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction

Abstract

A stowage bin arrangement for fastening a stowage bin for an aircraft, includes a stowage bin unit with a first direction of extension. The stowage bin unit may be fastened to an aircraft structure and be designed such that the stowage bin unit is capable of being telescopically extended along the first direction of extension.

Claims

1. A telescopically expandable overhead stowage bin arrangement for fastening in an aircraft comprising:

an overhead stowage bin unit coupled to the aircraft above the seating area, the overhead stowage bin unit comprising an inner stowage bin element and an outer stowage bin element, the inner stowage bin element fitting telescopically within the outer stowage bin element such that the inner stowage bin element and the outer stowage bin element of the overhead stowage bin unit are slidably extendable in relation to each other, telescopically, along a longitudinal first direction of extension of the stowage bin unit and slidably retractable in an opposite direction from the first direction of extension, such that the overhead stowage bin unit has a first stowage volume in the overhead stowage bin unit for stowage of articles, when the overhead stowage bin unit is closed during flight of the aircraft in a telescopically retracted arrangement and a second stowage volume for stowage of articles in the overhead stowage bin, when the overhead stowage bin unit is closed during flight of the aircraft and in a telescopically extended arrangement, the second stowage volume being greater than the first stowage volume.

2. The overhead stowage bin arrangement of claim 1, further comprising:

a frame device;

wherein the frame device is capable of being fastened to the aircraft structure;

and the overhead stowage bin unit is capable of being fastened to the frame device.

3. The overhead stowage bin arrangement of claim 2;

wherein the frame device is telescopically extendable as the overhead stowage bin unit is telescopically extended to the telescopically extended arrangement.

4. The overhead stowage bin arrangement of claim 2;

wherein the frame device comprises a first frame element with a first end and a second end;

the first frame element extending along the first direction of extension and the first end is fastened to the aircraft structure when the overhead stowage bin arrangement is fastened.

5. The overhead stowage bin arrangement of claim 4;

wherein the frame device comprises a second frame element having a third end and a fourth end opposite of the third end;

the second frame element providing a second direction of extension for the overhead stowage bin arrangement;

the third end of the second frame element is fastened to the second end of the first frame element, when the overhead stowage bin arrangement is mounted in the aircraft;

the fourth end of the second frame element is fastened to the aircraft structure, when the overhead stowage bin arrangement is mounted in the aircraft; and

the first direction of extension differs from the second direction of extension.

6. The overhead stowage bin arrangement of claim 5;

wherein the first direction of extension and the second direction of extension are aligned so as to be substantially orthogonal in relation to each other.

7. The overhead stowage bin arrangement of claim 5;

wherein the second frame element is telescopically extendable along the second direction of extension.

8. The overhead stowage bin arrangement of claim 5;

wherein the second frame element is connected to the aircraft structure such that the second frame element is slidable along the first frame element.

9. The overhead stowage bin arrangement of claim 5;

wherein the first frame element and the second frame element are of an integral design.

10. The overhead stowage bin arrangement of claim 5;

wherein the frame device comprises a third frame element and a fourth frame element;

the third frame element extending along the first direction of extension;

the fourth frame element extending along the second direction of extension; and

the first frame element, the second frame element, the third frame element and the fourth frame element enclose the overhead stowage bin unit.

11. The overhead stowage bin arrangement of claim 10;

wherein the third frame element and the fourth frame element are telescopically extendable.

12. The overhead stowage bin arrangement of claim 10;

wherein the first frame element, the second frame element, the third frame element and the fourth frame element are of an integral design.

13. An aircraft comprising a stowage bin arrangement of claim 5;

wherein a fuselage of the aircraft has a longitudinal axis that extends along a longitudinal direction;

the first direction of extension extends substantially transversely in relation to the longitudinal direction of the aircraft, in a horizontal aircraft plane;

the second direction of extension extends substantially transversely to the first direction of extension and in relation to the longitudinal direction; and

the third direction of extension extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction.

14. The overhead stowage bin arrangement of claim 2;

wherein the frame device comprises a passenger supply unit.

15. The overhead stowage bin arrangement of claim 14, wherein the passenger supply unit of the overhead storage bin unit comprises reading lights, loudspeakers, air supply nozzles, oxygen masks, or a combination of these.

16. The overhead stowage bin arrangement of claim 15, wherein the passenger supply unit of the overhead storage bin unit comprises a combination of more than one of the group consisting of reading lights, loudspeakers, air supply nozzles and oxygen masks.

17. The overhead stowage bin arrangement of claim 16, wherein the passenger supply unit of the overhead storage bin unit comprises reading lights, loudspeakers, air supply nozzles and oxygen masks.

18. The overhead stowage bin arrangement of claim 2;

wherein the frame device comprises a rotary axis, the rotary axis of the frame device extending along a second direction, and the stowage bin unit is designed such that the overhead stowage bin unit swivels about the rotary axis, when the overhead stowage bin unit is rotated about the second direction.

19. The overhead stowage bin arrangement of claim 1:

wherein the overhead stowage bin unit comprises an interior space and an opening, the opening is designed such that the interior space is accessible in a third direction of extension.

20. An aircraft comprising an overhead stowage bin arrangement of claim 1.