Aircraft interior sidewall paneling systems provide enhanced cabin lighting and ventilation

• US 7,766,521 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: LeBlanc, Thomas L., Lau, Charles K., Wentland, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar; Stephen F
• Application Number:
  US11/864,550
• Publication Number:
  US 20080266887A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• Field of Search: 362470-473, 244/129.3
• US Class Current: 362/471
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/066 Interior liners
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/1484 Windows B64C1/1492 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2011/0038 Illumination systems for cabins as a whole
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/02 Arrangements or adaptations of signal or lighting devices

Abstract

An interior sidewall panel assembly for a passenger aircraft includes a generally planar sidewall structural panel having a D-shaped window opening with an apex that is directed rearward and tilted slightly upward relative to the horizontal, a window assembly disposed in the window opening, an indirect lighting module disposed at a forward edge of the D-shaped window assembly and arranged to direct light forwardly such that the light washes onto a rear margin of a structural panel of a next adjacent panel assembly located immediately forward of the light module, and a kick panel disposed at a lower margin of the structural panel that incorporates cabin ventilation or decompression ducts and vents and an accent light adapted to direct light onto a cabin floor of the aircraft.

Claims

1. An aircraft interior cabin sidewall panel assembly, comprising:

a generally planar sidewall structural panel having a D-shaped window opening with an apex that is directed rearward and tilted slightly upward relative to the horizontal;

a window assembly disposed in the window opening;

a lighting module disposed at a front edge of the window assembly and arranged to direct light forwardly such that the light washes onto a rear margin, of a structural panel of a next adjacent panel assembly located immediately forward of the light module, the lighting module including means for preventing the light from radiating directly into the eyes of passengers; and

,

a kick panel disposed at a lower margin of the structural panel.

2. The panel assembly of claim 1, wherein the structural panel comprises a polycarbonate, polyurethane, or a fiber reinforced matrix.

3. The panel assembly of claim 2, wherein the structural panel includes an ornamental pattern disposed on an inboard surface thereof.

4. The panel assembly of claim 1, wherein the window assembly comprises:

a transparent window lens having an opaque window reveal extending around an outer periphery thereof;

a seal forming a pressure-tight seal of the lens to the sidewall structural panel; and

,

an opaque, passenger-adjustable window shade slidably moveable across the window opening so as to block the passage of light therethrough.

5. The panel assembly of claim 1, wherein the lighting module comprises:

one or more light sources;

a bezel disposed on an inboard side of the lighting module; and

,

a transparent light module lens.

6. The panel assembly of claim 5, wherein the light sources comprise incandescent lamps, fluorescent lamps, or light emitting diodes (LEDs).

7. The panel assembly of claim 5, wherein the intensity, the color or both the intensity and the color of the light output by the light sources can be varied remotely.

8. The panel assembly of claim 1, wherein the kick panel is formed integrally with the structural panel.

9. The panel assembly of claim 1, wherein the kick panel incorporates ducts and vents for cabin ventilation, decompression, or for both cabin ventilation and decompression.

10. The panel assembly of claim 1, wherein the kick panel includes an accent light adapted to direct light onto a cabin floor of the aircraft.

11. An aircraft having a plurality of the internal sidewall panel assemblies of claim 1 installed on an interior cabin sidewall thereof.

12. An aircraft, comprising:

a plurality of sidewall panel assemblies having laterally overlapping side edges attached to an interior sidewall of a cabin of the aircraft, each panel assembly comprising;

a generally planar sidewall structural panel having a D-shaped window opening with an apex that is directed rearward and tilted slightly upward relative to the horizontal;

a window assembly disposed in the window opening;

a lighting module arranged to direct light onto an interior surface of the aircraft cabin, the lighting module including means for preventing the light from radiating directly into the eyes of passengers; and

,

a kick panel disposed at a lower margin of the structural panel, the kick panel including an accent light adapted to direct light onto a cabin floor of the aircraft.

13. The aircraft of claim 12, wherein the lighting module is disposed at a forward edge of the window assembly and arranged to direct light forwardly such that the light washes onto a rear margin of a structural panel of a next adjacent panel assembly located immediately forward of the light module.

14. The aircraft of claim 12, wherein the kick panel is formed integrally with the structural panel.

15. The aircraft of claim 12, wherein the kick panel incorporates ducts and vents for cabin ventilation, cabin decompression, or both cabin ventilation and decompression.

16. A passenger window and interior cabin wash light assembly for a passenger aircraft, comprising:

a transparent, D-shaped window lens having an apex that is directed rearward and tilted slightly upward relative to the horizontal;

an opaque window reveal extending around an outer periphery of the lens;

a seal forming a pressure-tight seal of the outer periphery of the lens to a sidewall structural panel of the aircraft;

an opaque, passenger-adjustable window shade slidably moveable across the window opening so as to block the passage of light therethrough; and

,

a lighting module disposed at a forward edge of the D-shaped window assembly and arranged to direct light forwardly such that the light washes onto a rear margin of a structural panel of a next adjacent aircraft sidewall structural panel assembly located immediately forward of the light module, the lighting module including means for preventing the light from radiating directly into the eyes of passengers.

17. The window and wash light assembly of claim 16, wherein the lighting module comprises:

one or more light sources;

a bezel disposed on an outer side of the lighting module; and

,

a transparent light module lens.

18. The window and wash light assembly of claim 17, wherein the light sources comprise incandescent lamps, fluorescent lamps, or light emitting diodes (LEDs).

19. The window and wash light assembly of claim 17, wherein the intensity, the color or both the intensity and the color of the light output by the light sources can be varied remotely.