Oxygen cylinder support for use in aircraft

• US 8,813,343 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2011
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sydney Noel Smith
• Original Assignee: Sydney Noel Smith
• Inventors: Smith, Sydney Noel
• Primary Examiner(s): Bryant, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Koehler, Christopher M
• Application Number:
  US13/037,517
• Publication Number:
  US 20110214276A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,274 Days
• Field of Search: 295/250.1, 295/250.3, 295/250.4, 294/28, 244/118.1, 244/118.2, 244/118.5, 244/118.6, 244/129.1, 244/129.2, 244/131, 244/137.1, 244/122.R, 206/446, 206/570, 206/225, 206/226, 206/231, 139/387.R, 139/389, 190/100, 190/102, 190/119, 190/103, 190/104, 190/105, 150/154, 224/572, 224/400, 224/401, 224/407, 224/446, 224/485, 224/501, 224/159, 224/158, 224/160, 5600-629
• US Class Current: 29/525.03
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 25/00 Devices for storing or holding or carrying respiratory or breathing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 25/005 for high altitude
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 17/04 characterised by the nature of the material involved or the kind of product independently of its shape
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2231/025 Oxygen masks; Mask storages; Features related to mask deployment
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0115 Dismountable protective hulls
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4995 Nonthreaded

Abstract

An oxygen storage cylinder is stored in an interior cabin of an aircraft by providing a generally cylindrical envelope of flexible material receiving the cylinder therein and securing the envelope to a fixed seat frame. Circumferential straps are secured to a cylindrical wall portion of the envelope at spaced apart positions along the length thereof for securing the envelope and cylinder therein to an elongate frame member of the seat frame. End straps secured to intersecting frame members prevent longitudinal sliding of the envelope and cylinder therein relative to the elongate frame member of the fixed seat frame. The envelope protects the cylinder from direct contact with the frame to prevent friction or vibration damage to the cylinder while fixing the position of the cylinder in the interior cabin for the safety of surrounding passengers in the event of turbulence.

Claims

1. A method of supporting an oxygen storage cylinder in an interior cabin of an aircraft, the method comprising:

providing an envelope of flexible material comprising a generally cylindrical wall portion extending in a longitudinal direction between opposing first and second ends and an end wall spanning the first end of the cylindrical wall portion, the second end of the cylindrical wall portion including an opening therein;

inserting the oxygen storage cylinder into the envelope of flexible material through the opening in the second end of the cylindrical wall portion such that the cylindrical wall portion surrounds the oxygen storage cylinder;

providing a plurality of circumferential straps secured to the cylindrical wall portion at spaced apart positions in the longitudinal direction of the envelope;

providing a first end strap coupled to the first end of the envelope;

positioning the envelope adjacent a frame assembly in the interior cabin of the aircraft which is fixed in relation to the aircraft and which includes a first frame member and a second frame member oriented transversely to the first frame member such that the envelope extends in the longitudinal direction alongside the first frame member and is abutted at the first end against the second frame member; and

securing each circumferential strap to extend fully about a circumference of the cylinder in the envelope and about the first frame member of the of the frame assembly adjacent to the envelope; and

securing the first end strap about the second frame member abutted at the first end of the envelope.

2. The method according to claim 1 including providing a fixed end of the first end strap being anchored to the first end of the envelope and securing the first end strap about the first frame member of the frame assembly by securing an opposing free end of the first end strap to the cylindrical wall portion adjacent the first end of the envelope.

3. The method according to claim 1 including anchoring a fixed end of the first end strap to the first end of the envelope, securing an opposing free end of the first end strap to the cylindrical wall portion using hook and loop fasteners, and overlapping the free end of the first end strap which is secured to the cylindrical wall portion using hook and loop fasteners with one of the circumferential straps.

4. The method according to claim 1 including providing a second end strap coupled to the second end of the envelope and securing the second end strap to extend diametrically across the opening in the second end of the envelope so as to retain the cylinder in the envelope.

5. The method according to claim 4 including supporting the oxygen storage cylinder in the envelope such that a regulator valve supported on cylinder projects through the opening, and securing the second end strap across the opening such that the second end strap is wrapped at least partway about the regulator valve so as to retain the cylinder in the envelope.

6. The method according to claim 1 including providing two second end straps coupled to the second end of the envelope and securing each second end strap to extend diametrically across the opening transversely to one another so as to retain the cylinder in the envelope.

7. The method according to claim 1 including positioning the flexible material of the envelope between the cylinder and the frame assembly such that the cylinder and frame assembly do not contact one another.

8. The method according to claim 1 including locating two of the circumferential straps adjacent respective ones of the opposing ends of the envelope and locating an intermediate one of the circumferential straps about the envelope at a central location in the longitudinal direction.

9. The method according to claim 1 including receiving a cylinder in the envelope which is shorter than the envelope, positioning a regulator valve of the cylinder to project through the opening of the envelope, and securing the cylindrical wall portion to span a bottom end of the cylinder opposite the regulator valve at an intermediate location in the longitudinal direction of the envelope.

10. The method according to claim 9 including joining diametrically opposed portions of the cylindrical wall portion to one another across the bottom end of the cylinder.

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein the oxygen storage cylinder comprises a first cylinder and wherein the method further comprises:

providing a second cylinder which is shorter than the first cylinder;

receiving the first cylinder in the envelope such that the end wall spans a bottom end of the cylinder when a regulator valve of the first cylinder projects through the opening; and

alternately receiving the second cylinder in the envelope in place of the first cylinder by positioning a regulator valve of the second cylinder to project through the opening of the envelope and securing the cylindrical wall portion to span a bottom end of the second cylinder opposite the regulator valve at an intermediate location in the longitudinal direction of the envelope.

12. The method according to claim 1 wherein the frame assembly of the aircraft comprises a seat frame supporting at least one passenger seat thereon, and wherein the method further comprises securing the circumferential straps about respective frame members of the seat frame.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein the seat frame comprises a pair of spaced apart upright leg members and a crossbar extending between the upright leg members, the method including securing the circumferential straps about the crossbar of the seat frame.

14. The method according to claim 1 wherein the frame assembly of the aircraft comprises a seat frame supporting at least one passenger seat thereon, and wherein the method further comprises:

securing the circumferential straps about a generally horizontal frame member of the seat frame;

and

securing the first end strap about an upright frame member of the seat frame which is oriented transversely to the generally horizontal frame member.

15. The method according to claim 1 including supporting a pocket formed of transparent material on an exterior of the cylindrical wall portion and supporting technical data relating to the cylinder in the pocket.

16. A method of supporting an oxygen storage cylinder having a regulator valve in an interior cabin of an aircraft, the method comprising:

providing an envelope of flexible material comprising a generally cylindrical wall portion extending in a longitudinal direction between opposing first and second ends and an end wall spanning the first end of the cylindrical wall portion, the second end of the cylindrical wall portion including an opening therein;

providing a plurality of circumferential straps secured to the cylindrical wall portion at spaced apart positions in the longitudinal direction of the envelope;

providing two second end straps, each second end strap extending between a fixed end coupled to the envelope in proximity to the second end of the envelope and an opposing free end;

inserting the oxygen storage cylinder into the envelope of flexible material through the opening in the second end of the cylindrical wall portion such that the cylindrical wall portion surrounds the oxygen storage cylinder and such that the regulator valve supported on cylinder projects through the opening;

securing the free ends of the second end straps to the envelope such that the second end straps extend across the opening, the second end straps are wrapped partway about opposing sides of the regulator valve and the second end straps intersect one another so as to retain the cylinder in the envelope;

positioning the envelope adjacent a frame assembly in the interior cabin of the aircraft which is fixed in relation to the aircraft; and

securing each circumferential strap to extend fully about a circumference of the cylinder in the envelope and about respective frame members of the frame assembly adjacent to the envelope.

17. The method according to claim 16 including securing the free ends of the second end straps to the cylindrical wall portion in proximity to the second end of the envelope using hook and loop fasteners and overlapping the free ends of the second end straps by one of the circumferential straps so as to retain the cylinder in the envelope.

18. A method of supporting an oxygen storage cylinder in an interior cabin of an aircraft, the method comprising:

providing an envelope of flexible material comprising a generally cylindrical wall portion extending in a longitudinal direction between opposing first and second ends and an end wall spanning the first end of the cylindrical wall portion, the second end of the cylindrical wall portion including an opening therein;

providing a plurality of circumferential straps secured to the cylindrical wall portion at spaced apart positions in the longitudinal direction of the envelope;

providing a first end strap having a fixed end of the first end strap being anchored to the first end of the envelope;

providing two second end straps, each second end strap extending between a fixed end coupled to the envelope in proximity to the second end of the envelope and an opposing free end;

inserting the oxygen storage cylinder into the envelope of flexible material through the opening in the second end of the cylindrical wall portion such that the cylindrical wall portion surrounds the oxygen storage cylinder and such that the regulator valve supported on cylinder projects through the opening;

securing the free ends of the second end straps to the cylindrical wall portion of the envelope using hook and loop fasteners such that;

the second end straps extend across the opening;

the second end straps are wrapped partway about opposing sides of the regulator valve; and

the second end straps intersect one another so as to retain the cylinder in the envelope;

positioning the envelope adjacent a frame assembly in the interior cabin of the aircraft which is fixed in relation to the aircraft and which includes a first frame member and a second frame member oriented transversely to the first frame member such that the envelope extends in the longitudinal direction alongside the first frame member and is abutted at the first end against the second frame member;

securing a free end of the first end strap opposite from the fixed end of the first end strap to the cylindrical wall portion using hook and loop fasteners such that the first end strap extends about the second frame member abutted at the first end of the envelope

securing each circumferential strap to extend fully about a circumference of the cylinder in the envelope and about the first frame member of the of the frame assembly adjacent to the envelope such that;

one of the circumferential straps overlaps the free end of the first end strap which is secured to the cylindrical wall portion using hook and loop fasteners; and

one of the circumferential straps overlaps the free ends of the second end straps by one of the circumferential straps so as to retain the cylinder in the envelope.