Securing emergency and safety equipment on aircraft

• US 8,496,291 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2012
• Issued: 07/30/2013
• 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:
  US13/621,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20130038473A1
• Time in Patent Office: 316 Days
• Field of Search: 441/88, 441/106, 206/571, 225/6, 225/91, 838/56, 839/56, 533/812, 414/412, 244/118.6, 244/122.R, 244/149, 383/202, 297/188.08, 297/188.11, 297/188.01, 297/188.13
• US Class Current: 297/188.08
• 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:

a housing having an opening;

a moveable door attached to the opening;

an interior wall located within the housing configured to be moved into a location towards the opening when a piece of emergency equipment located within the housing is moved in a first direction;

a locking mechanism configured to lock the interior wall in the location; and

where in the interior wall in the location blocks the opening and prevents the piece of emergency equipment from being placed back into the housing after the piece of emergency equipment has been removed from the housing.

2. The emergency equipment system of claim 1, wherein the interior wall is configured to move in a second direction if a key is applied to the housing.

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

a sensor configured to monitor movement of the moveable door, wherein the sensor generates an indication when the moveable door has been opened.

4. The emergency equipment system of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism comprises:

a channel; and

a magnetic latch configured to engage the channel to lock the interior wall in the location.

5. The emergency equipment system of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism comprises:

a ratchet on a shaft configured to be moved only in the first direction without a key, wherein the interior wall is attached to the ratchet.

6. The emergency equipment system of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism comprises:

a one way slip nut on a bolt, wherein the interior wall is attached to the one way slip nut.

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

an aircraft seat frame, wherein the housing is attached to a first side of the aircraft seat frame opposite to a second side of the aircraft seat frame designed to receive a seat cushion.

8. The emergency equipment system of claim 1, wherein the housing is comprised of a rigid material.

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

10. A method comprising:

using an emergency equipment system comprising;

a housing having an opening;

a moveable door attached to the opening;

an interior wall located within the housing configured to be moved into a location towards the opening when a piece of emergency equipment located within the housing is moved in a first direction; and

a locking mechanism configured to lock the interior wall in the location. Wherein using includes;

moving the piece of emergency equipment in the first direction;

moving the interior wall into the location towards the opening;

locking the interior wall in the location; and

the interior wall in the location blocking the opening and preventing the piece of emergency equipment form being placed back into the housing after the piece of emergency equipment has been removed from the housing.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the interior wall is configured to move in a second direction if a key is applied to the housing, and wherein the method further comprises:

moving the interior wall to the second direction using the key.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the emergency equipment system further comprises a sensor configured to monitor movement of the moveable door, wherein the sensor is configured to generate an indication when the moveable door has been opened, and wherein the method further comprises:

opening the door; and

generating the indication responsive to the moveable door being opened.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the locking mechanism comprises:

a channel and a magnetic latch configured to engage the channel to lock the interior wall in the location, and wherein locking further comprises;

engaging the channel with the magnetic lock

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a ratchet on a shaft configured to be moved only in the first direction without a key, wherein the interior wall is attached to the ratchet, and wherein locking further comprises:

locking the interior wall using the ratchet.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a one way slip nut on a bolt, wherein the interior wall is attached to the one way slip nut, and wherein locking further comprises:

locking the interior wall using the one way slip nut on the bolt.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the emergency equipment system further comprises an aircraft seat frame, wherein the housing is attached to a first side of the aircraft seat frame opposite to a second side of the aircraft seat frame designed to receive a seat cushion.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the housing is comprised of a rigid material.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the piece of emergency equipment is selected from one of a life vest, a smokehood, a fire extinguisher, a portable oxygen unit, a defibrillator, and a megaphone.