System and method for stowage compartment pivot assembly

• US 8,146,227 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2010
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Schmitz, Chad D., Haynes, Michael S., Jeyarajah, Nelson J., Malkinson, Michael J., Pugh, Christopher S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bryant, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Salone, Bayan
• Application Number:
  US12/777,174
• Publication Number:
  US 20100213800A1
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 403/119, 403131-163, 403/165, 403/263, 403/350, 403/331, 312/245, 312/246, 312/248, 312/327, 312/328, 224/483, 244/118.1, 296/37.7, 296/37.8, 294/34
• US Class Current: 29/434
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 5/003 Luggage racks, e.g. for busses primarily intended for passengers' property smaller than suitcases B60R7/04; B60R7/08; luggage racks for rail vehicles B61D37/003
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/003 Stowage devices for passengers' personal luggage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4984 Retaining clearance for motion between assembled parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32606 Pivoted
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32893 including distinct pin retainer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32951 Transverse pin or stud
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32959 Traverses interposed facing component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32967 Attached to or integral with one member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32983 Rod in socket
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/61 Side slide: elongated co-linear members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7009 Rotary binding cam or wedge

Abstract

A mobile platform is provided. The mobile platform includes a interior overhead structure and at least one compartment rotatably coupled to the interior overhead structure. The compartment is rotatable into an opened position and a closed position. The mobile platform further includes a pivot system coupled to the interior overhead structure and the compartment to enable the compartment to rotate into the opened position and the closed position. The pivot system comprises a first fitting that defines a raceway and a second fitting that defines a hub and a guide. The hub of the second fitting is for engagement with the raceway and the guide directs the first fitting into the second fitting to couple the first fitting to the second fitting.

Claims

1. A method for coupling a first structure to a second structure where the second structure is movable relative to the first structure comprising:

providing a first fitting connected to the first structure, the first fitting defining a raceway, a first bearing surface, and a first engagement feature, the raceway defined by walls, and a second fitting connected to the second structure, the second fitting defining a cylindrical hub, a second bearing surface, and a second engagement feature, the first engagement feature comprising a surface, and the second engagement feature comprising a wall and a lip such that engaging the first engagement feature with the second engagement feature holds the wall against the lip, and the first bearing surface and the second bearing surface comprising curved surfaces in contact;

guiding the raceway of the first fitting into engagement with the hub of the second fitting with at least one guide defined on the second fitting so as to bring the hub into contact with a stop of the raceway;

contacting the cylindrical hub with the walls of the raceway,

engaging the first engagement feature of the first fitting with the second engagement feature of the second fitting thereby coupling the first fitting with the second fitting; and

pivoting the second structure about the first structure to rotate the first fitting within the second fitting.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

pivoting the second structure a predefined amount after the hub is in engagement with the raceway to secure the first fitting to the second fitting;

providing at least one linkage coupled to the first structure; and

coupling the linkage to the second structure after the hub is pivoted the predefined amount.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein pivoting the second structure about the first structure to rotate the first fitting within the second fitting comprises pivoting such that the entire first fitting rotates within the second fitting.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein pivoting the second structure a predefined amount further comprises:

pivoting the second structure from about 0.01 degrees to about 15 degrees.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the raceway includes a draft angle and a channel, and wherein the hub slides through the draft angle into the channel.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the channel is substantially u-shaped.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first fitting includes angled flanges that define an opening characterized by an angle, the opening configured to receive the second fitting when the second fitting is coupled with the first fitting.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the first fitting further comprises a ramp proximate the opening.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the raceway includes a stop for contacting the cylindrical hub and the stop is substantially circular.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of contacting a first bearing surface of the first fitting with a reciprocal second bearing surface of the second fitting.

11. A method for coupling a first storage structure with a second storage structure into a coupled configuration so as to allow the first storage structure and the second storage structure in the coupled configuration to mutually rotate between an open position and a closed position, the method comprising the steps of:

sliding a first fitting connected to the first storage structure relative to a second fitting connected to the second storage structure such that a raceway positioned in the first fitting, the raceway comprising walls, receives a cylindrical hub positioned on the second fitting;

sliding the first fitting relative to the second fitting until the first fitting and the second fitting are in a coupled position;

contacting the cylindrical hub with the walls of the raceway,

pivoting the second storage structure about the cylindrical hub relative to the first storage structure such that a first engagement feature positioned on the first fitting engages with a second engagement feature positioned on the second fitting, the first engagement feature comprising a surface, and the second engagement feature comprising a wall and a lip such that engaging the first engagement feature with the second engagement feature holds the wall against the lip; and

contacting a first bearing surface on the first fitting with a second bearing surface on the second fitting, the first bearing surface and the second bearing surface comprising curved surfaces.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of sliding the first fitting relative to the second fitting until the first fitting and the second fitting are in a coupled position further comprises sliding until the cylindrical hub contacts a stop of the raceway.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the stop is substantially circular.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the first fitting includes angled flanges that define an opening characterized by an angle, the opening configured to receive the second fitting when the second fitting is coupled with the first fitting.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the first fitting further comprises a ramp proximate the opening.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the raceway includes a draft angle and a channel, and wherein the cylindrical hub slides through the draft angle into the channel.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of pivoting the second storage structure relative to the first storage structure between an open position and a closed position.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein pivoting the second structure about the first structure comprises pivoting such that the entire first fitting rotates within the second fitting.