Securing emergency and safety equipment on aircraft

• US 8,292,223 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2008
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Lamoree, Bret L., Wentland, Mark E., Schalla, James P., Bobzien, Phillip J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bonzell, Philip J
• Application Number:
  US12/059,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20090242695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,667 Days
• Field of Search: 244/118.6, 244/122.R, 244/149, 441/88, 441/106, 206/571, 225/6, 225/91, 838/56, 839/56, 533/812, 414/412, 297/188.08, 297/188.11
• US Class Current: 244/118.6
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0629 the storage means being specially adapted for emergency equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0631 for life vests
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0632 for breathing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/00 Emergency apparatus or devices, not otherwise provided for parachutes B64D17/00, B64D19/00; jettisoning of fuel tanks or fuel per se B64D37/00; specially adapted for protection against criminal attack, e.g. anti-hijacking systems B64D45/0015 ; safety belts or body harnesses in general A62B35/00; safety belts or body harnesses for land vehicles B60R22/00; jettisonable parts of fuselage facilitating emergency escape B64C
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/18 Flotation gear aircraft alighting gear B64C
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/9493 Stationary cutter

Abstract

An emergency equipment system comprising an elongate member, an emergency equipment package, and a cutter. The elongate member may have a first end and an angled end. The emergency equipment package may have a sleeve on one side capable of receiving the elongate member from the angled end. The cutter may be attached to a side of the elongate member and may be capable of cutting the sleeve.

Claims

1. An emergency equipment system comprising:

an elongate member having a first end, an angled end, and a cutter attached to the elongate member such that the cutter is disposed at least partially within a space between a first portion of the elongate member extending from the angled end and a second portion of the elongate member extending from the angled end; and

an emergency equipment package having a sleeve on one side, wherein the sleeve receives the elongate member from the angled end, and wherein the angled end is configured to retain the sleeve on the elongate member in a position such that removal of the emergency equipment package from the elongate member causes the cutter to cut the sleeve.

2. The emergency equipment system of claim 1, wherein the cutter is located on the elongate member such that moving the emergency equipment package secured on the elongate member a selected distance towards the angled end causes the cutter to cut the sleeve.

3. The emergency equipment system of claim 1, wherein the sleeve has an opening and is further configured such that if the opening in the sleeve is moved around a first edge of the second portion of the elongate member, the cutter will not cut the sleeve.

4. The emergency equipment system of claim 1 further comprising:

an aircraft seat frame, wherein the elongate member has a second end opposite the angled end and the second end is connected to the aircraft seat frame.

5. The emergency equipment system of claim 1, wherein the emergency equipment package is selected from one of a life vest, a smokehood, a fire extinguisher, a portable oxygen unit, a defibrillator, and a megaphone.

6. The emergency equipment system of claim 1, wherein the emergency equipment package is air evacuated and sealed.

7. The emergency equipment system of claim 6, wherein the sleeve is further configured such that when the cutter cuts the sleeve on the one side of the emergency equipment package, an air tight seal is breached.

8. The emergency equipment system of claim 1 further comprising:

a pull chord attached to the emergency equipment package.

9. The emergency equipment system of claim 1, wherein the elongate member is a ripper bar.

10. The emergency equipment system of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is a non-conductive sleeve and the elongate member is conductive and further comprising:

a conductive sensor attached to the first end of the elongate member wherein the conductive sensor is configured to be in an open state while the sleeve is secured to the elongate member, thereby preventing the conductive sensor from contacting the elongate member, and wherein the conductive sensor is configured to be in a closed state when the conductive sensor contacts the elongate member when at least a portion of the sleeve is unsecured from the elongate member, and wherein the conductive sensor is further configured to generate an indication when the conductive sensor is in the closed state.