Abstract:
A life vest container includes a hollow housing defining a storage volume adapted to receive a flotation device, the housing having an opening communicating with the storage volume. A cover is attached to the container and is moveable between a closed position in which it encloses the opening, and an open position in which the opening is accessible. Structure is provided for attaching the housing to a passenger seat, and for securing the cover in the closed position. At least a portion of the housing or the cover is sufficiently light-transmissive to allow observation of the condition of a flotation device disposed within the storage volume.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to aircraft and more particularly to a life vest container assembly for an aircraft seat unit. Commercial passenger aircraft include safety devices for use by passengers in case of a crash or ditching, for example flotation devices. Some flotation devices are simple members of buoyant material. Inflatable life vests, packed in a folded condition, are also used. Such life vests must be stored in a manner and location so that they will not be damaged during normal operations but can be easily and quickly put into use during an emergency. Accordingly, many modern aircraft seating units include a pouch or container underneath the seat cushion where the life vest is readily accessible to the passenger. 
     Unfortunately, life vests stored in such an easily accessible location are subject to tampering and theft. Furthermore, it is possible for terrorists to insert weapons or other illegal items into the container. Recent government regulations also require airlines to visibly inspect each life vest pouch prior to operation of the aircraft. Using prior art life vest pouch designs, this regulation requires each pouch to be opened, inspected, closed and then resealed. This requires a significant amount of man-hours to inspect each aircraft before every flight, which is an enormous financial drain for the airlines. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a storage container for a life vest which protects the life vest until use. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a storage container for a life vest which permits observation and inspection of the stored life vest and its identifying information. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a storage container for a life vest which discourages tampering and theft. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     These and other objects are met by the present invention, which according to one embodiment provides a life vest container, including a hollow housing defining a storage volume adapted to receive a flotation device, the container having an opening communicating with the storage volume; and a cover attached to the container and moveable between a closed position in which it enclosing the opening, and an open position in which the opening is accessible; means for attaching the housing to a passenger seat; and means for securing the cover in the closed position. At least a portion of the housing or the cover is sufficiently light-transmissive to allow observation of the condition of a flotation device disposed within the storage volume. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, the housing is a molded plastic one-piece assembly having a top wall, a bottom wall, spaced-apart side walls, and a rear wall. The top wall extends past the rear wall to define at least one rear mounting tab having an opening therethrough. At least one front mounting boss having a hole therethrough extends upwards from the top wall. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, the cover includes a rearwardly-extending tongue which overlies the top wall in the closed position. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, one of the housing and the tongue includes a locking slot formed therethrough; and the other of the housing and the tongue includes a protruding locking boss formed therein. The locking boss is adapted to engage the locking slot to retain the cover in a closed position. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, the life vest container further includes a security boss having a hole therethrough carried by the housing; and a security tab having a hole therethrough carried by the cover, wherein the second hole aligns with the first hole so as to receive a security seal therethrough. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, the housing and the cover comprise transparent polycarbonate material. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, the container is adapted to be mounted to a passenger seat when the cover is in the closed position. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, the life vest container further includes a flotation device disposed inside of the container, the flotation device having an elongated deployment strap attached thereto; wherein the deployment strap is routed through the housing and over the tongue so as to apply an upwards and outwards force to the cover tongue when the deployment strap is pulled. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, a passenger seat frame assembly includes t least two spaced-apart leg modules; paced-apart forward and aft transverse beams extending laterally between the leg modules, the beam having an external surface; and life vest container attached to the seat frame. The life vest container includes a hollow housing defining a storage volume, the container having an opening communicating with the storage volume; and cover attached to the container and moveable between a closed position in which it enclosing the opening, and an open position in which the opening is accessible. Means are provided for securing the cover in the closed position. At least a portion of the housing or the cover is sufficiently light-transmissive to allow observation of the contents of the storage volume. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The subject matter that is regarded as the invention may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a seat set including a life vest container constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of a life vest container constructed according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of the life vest container of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of a cover for the life vest container; 
         FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of the cover of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the rear portion of a life vest container mounted to a seat frame; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the front portion of a life vest container mounted to a seat frame; 
         FIG. 8  is a side cross-sectional view of the life vest container mounted to the seat frame; and 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a seat set including a life vest container assembly with its cover in an open position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings wherein identical reference numerals denote the same elements throughout the various views, an aircraft passenger seat set is illustrated in  FIG. 1  and shown generally at reference numeral  10 . In the particular embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the seat set  10  is composed of two adjacent seats,  12  and  14 . The seat set  10  is supported on a pair of leg modules  16  and  18 , and includes a baggage guard rail  17 . The leg modules are connected by forward and aft laterally-extending transverse beams  20  and  22  (see  FIGS. 6 and 7 ). The seats  12  and  14  are provided with arm rests  24 ,  26  and  28 . The seats  12  and  14  include seat bottoms  30  and  32 , respectively, and seat backs  34  and  36 , respectively. A secure life vest container  38  is disposed under each seat  12  and  14 . Each life vest container  38  encloses a life vest  40  or other type of flotation device stored in a packed condition. 
       FIGS. 2 through 5  illustrate an exemplary life vest container  38  constructed in accordance with the present invention in more detail. The life vest container  38  includes a hollow housing  42  defining a storage volume and having an opening  44 . The housing  42  may be formed from any lightweight, impermeable material such as plastic. One known suitable material is fire-retardant polycarbonate. Preferably, the housing  42  is transparent. The housing  42  may be formed as a unitary component, for example by vacuum molding or injection molding in a known manner. The housing  42  has a top wall  46 , a bottom wall  48 , opposed sidewalls  50  and  52 , respectively, and a back wall  54 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the top wall  46  extends aft beyond the back wall  54  and forms a pair of spaced-apart rear mounting tabs  56  and  58  which have rear mounting holes  60  therein. Stiffeners  62  extend between the back wall  54  and the extended portion of the top wall  46 . Raised front mounting bosses  64  with front mounting holes  65  extend upwards from the top wall  46 . A security bracket  66  having a hole  68  therein is disposed on each side of the opening  44 , and one or more locking bosses  69  are disposed on the top wall  46  adjacent the opening  44 . A slot  70  is formed in the front edge of the top wall  46  between the locking bosses  69 . Spaced-apart hinge members  72  are disposed on the bottom wall  48  adjacent the opening  44 . In the illustrated example, all or part of the housing  42  is translucent or transparent, that is, non-opaque, to a sufficient degree to allow viewing of the life vest  40  inside, and also to discourage theft of the life vest  40 , since it would be immediately obvious if it were missing from the housing  42 . However, if desired, all or part of the housing  42  may be made opaque. 
     A rigid cover  74  is attached to the housing  42  so that it can swing between an open position and a closed position. The cover  74  is a generally planar, substantially rigid member constructed of plastic or similar material and has an outer face  76  and an inner face  78 . An upstanding outer ridge  80  extends around the perimeter of the outer face  76  and serves to stiffen the cover  74 , while an upstanding inner ridge  82  extends around the perimeter of the inner face  78  and serves to help locate the cover  74  in the closed position. Hinge members  84  complementary to the hinge members  72  of the housing  42  are disposed along the bottom edge of the cover  74 . A tongue  86  having some degree of flexibility extends rearward from the top edge of the cover  74 . Locking slots  88  are formed through the tongue  86  and positioned to align with the locking bosses  69 . A security tab  90  is disposed on each side of the opening  44 . A hole  92  is formed through each of the security tabs  90  and positioned to align with the hole  68  in the corresponding security bracket  66 . The cover  74  may be partially or fully transparent as described above with respect to the housing  42 . 
     The cover  74  is attached to the housing  42  by aligning their respective hinge members  84  and  72  and then passing one or more hinge pins  94  through the hinge members  84  and  72 . The hinge pins  94  are then fixed in place, for example by sonic welding them to the hinge members  72  of the housing  42 . In the closed position, shown in  FIG. 1 , the tongue  86  snaps over the top wall  46  of the housing  42  and the locking slots  88  engage the locking bosses  66 . The inner ridge  82  protrudes into the opening  44  to align the cover  74  with the housing  42  and to discourage tampering. Seals  96 , such as frangible plastic straps, may be placed through the mating holes  68  and  92  of the security brackets  66  and security tabs  90 , respectively. 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate how the life vest container  38  may be mounted to the aircraft seat set  10 . It is noted that the exact location and the particular mounting method is not critical to the operation of the present invention and may be altered as desired to suit a particular application. The rear mounting tabs  56  and  58  are placed against the aft beam  22 . Rear mounting straps  98  are then passed through the rear mounting holes  60 , around the aft beam  22 , and pulled tight. The rear mounting straps  98  may be similar to plastic cable ties of a known type. The front mounting bosses  64  are placed against the front beam  20 . Front mounting straps  100  of the same type as the rear mounting straps  98  are then passed through the front mounting holes  65 , around the front beam  20 , and pulled tight. Using this mounting method, the packing and sealing of the life vest container  38  is completely independent from its mounting to the seat set  10 . It is therefore possible to pre-package containers  38  with life vests, and to seal and inspect them, and then mount them in the aircraft with minimal labor and cost. 
     In use, the cover  74  is opened by pulling upwards on the tongue  86  to disengage the locking bosses  69 , and then outwards (forwards relative to the seat  12 ) to break the seals  96 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , a deployment strap  102 , attached to the life vest  40 , may be routed through the slot  70 , over the tongue  86 , and then forward. When the deployment strap  102  is pulled, it will apply a force which both deflects the tongue  86  upwards to disengage the locking bosses  69  and pulls the cover  74  outwards. In either case, the cover  74  will freely pivot downwards through 180 degrees, as shown in  FIG. 9 . In this position, there is free access to the life vest  40  stored in the housing  42 , and the cover  74  does not impede egress from the seat  12 . 
     The foregoing has described a secure life vest container assembly including a hollow container, and a cover attached to the container with a tamper-evident sealing material. While specific embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications thereto can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and the best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation—the invention being defined by the appended claims.