Abstract:
The present invention provides a life vest container for containing a life vest at an aircraft seat. The life vest container includes a housing that defines a storage volume that is dimensioned to receive the life vest. An opening is formed in the housing that is dimensioned to provide access to the storage volume. A cover is dimensioned to generally block the opening and is movable from a first position wherein the storage volume is not accessible through the opening. A tamper-evident sealing material is positioned between the cover and the housing for sealing the cover to the housing when the cover is in the first position. The sealing material is configured to be irreversibly changed in a distinct manner when the cover is moved from the first position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    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. 
         [0002]    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. 
         [0003]    Accordingly, there is a need for a storage container for a life vest which protects the life vest until use that is configured to indicate whether tampering has occurred and to provided for periodic inspection of the life vest. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    This need is met by the present invention, which provides a life vest container, including a hollow housing defining a storage volume adapted to receive a flotation device, and a cover attached to the container and moveable between a closed position in which the storage volume is inaccessible, and an open position in which the storage volume is accessible. 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. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention provides a life vest container for containing a life vest at an aircraft seat. The life vest container includes a housing that defines a storage volume that is dimensioned to receive the life vest. An opening is formed in the housing that is dimensioned to provide access to the storage volume. A cover is dimensioned to generally block the opening and is movable from a first position wherein the storage volume is not accessible through the opening. A tamper-evident sealing material is positioned between the cover and the housing for sealing the cover to the housing when the cover is in the first position. The sealing material is configured to be irreversibly changed in a distinct manner when the cover is moved from the first position. 
         [0006]    According to another aspect of the present invention, the cover is movable from the first position to a second position, and the storage volume is accessible through the opening when the cover is in the second position. 
         [0007]    According to another aspect of the present invention, at least a portion of the cover is formed of a non-opaque material such that the storage volume is viewable from outside of the housing. 
         [0008]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a life vest positioned within the storage volume can be seen from outside of the housing. 
         [0009]    According to another aspect of the present invention, the tamper evident sealing material is configured to undergo a physical change when the cover is moved from the first position. 
         [0010]    According to another aspect of the present invention, the tamper evident sealing material is configured to undergo a chemical change when the cover is moved from the first position. 
         [0011]    According to another aspect of the present invention, the container includes a flexible strap having a fixed first end and a movable second end, wherein the strap is positioned such that when the movable first end is pulled, the cover moves from the first position and the tamper evident sealing material is irreversibly changed. 
         [0012]    According to another aspect of the present invention, the container includes a flexible strap having a fixed first end and a movable second end, wherein the strap is positioned such that when the movable second end is moved, a life vest positioned within the storage volume moves and causes the cover to move from the first position. 
         [0013]    According to another aspect of the present invention, the housing is attached to an aircraft seat. 
         [0014]    According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of retaining a life vest in tamper evident condition at an aircraft seat. A housing is provided that defines a storage volume dimensioned to receive the life vest, wherein the housing has an opening defined therein for providing access to the storage volume, a cover dimensioned to block the opening, and a flexible strap. A life vest is placed within the storage volume such that the strap is threaded underneath the life vest, around an end of the life vest positioned away from the opening, and through the opening. The cover is positioned such that at least a portion of the cover extends beyond the opening and over the housing. A sealing material is positioned between the cover and the housing. The housing and the cover are contacted with the sealing material such that the cover is attached to the housing in a first position and the opening is blocked. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0015]    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: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a life vest container constructed according to the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the life vest container of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the life vest container of  FIG. 1  mounted to a seat frame, with a life vest stowed therein; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the life vest container of  FIG. 1  mounted to a seat frame, showing a first step in deploying a life vest therefrom; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the life vest container of  FIG. 1  mounted to a seat frame, with a life vest being withdrawn therefrom; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the life vest container of  FIG. 1  mounted to a seat frame; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the life vest container of  FIG. 1  mounted to a seat frame; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a side cross-sectional view of the life vest container of  FIG. 1  mounted to a seat frame; 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the life vest container of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an exemplary tamper-evident sealing material; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the life vest container of  FIG. 1  attached to an aircraft seat. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0027]    Referring to the drawings wherein identical reference numerals denote the same elements throughout the various views, an exemplary life vest container  10  constructed in accordance with the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The life vest container  10  includes a hollow housing  12  defining a storage volume and having an opening  14 . The housing  12  may be formed from any lightweight, impermeable material such as plastic. One known suitable material is fire-retardant polycarbonate. The housing  12  has a top wall  16 , a bottom wall  18 , opposed sidewalls  20  and  22 , respectively, and a back wall  24 . In the illustrated example, the housing  12  comprises a lower shell  26  which defines the bottom wall  18 , sidewalls  20  and  22 , and back wall  24 , and a complementary upper shell  28  which defines the top wall  16 . The upper and lower shells  26  and  28  are vacuum-molded as separate components and secured together using a suitable method such as adhesives, snap-fit, thermal bonding, or mechanical fasteners. A flange  29  is disposed adjacent the opening  14 . If desired, the housing  12  may be formed as a unitary component, for example by injection molding in a known manner. 
         [0028]    The top wall  16  extends aft beyond the back wall  24  and forms a curved rear mounting bracket  30  which has rear mounting holes  32  therein. Stiffeners  34  extend between the top wall  16  and the rear mounting bracket  30 . A raised front mounting boss  36  with front mounting holes  38  extends upwards from the top wall  16 . The front mounting boss  36  has a transverse, concave depression  40  formed at its upper end. Spaced-apart hinge members  42  are disposed on the side walls  20  and  22  adjacent the opening  14 . 
         [0029]    In the illustrated example, the housing  12  is opaque, but if desired, all or part of the housing  12  made be made translucent or transparent. 
         [0030]    A known type of life vest  44  is disposed inside the housing  12 . Typically, such life vests  44  are packaged in protective overwrapping which seals and protects the life vest  44  until use. In the illustrated example, the life vest  44  is in the form of a rectangular solid with rounded corners, but other shapes are known, and the shape of the housing  12  may be chosen to fit the particular type of life vest  44  used. 
         [0031]    A flexible deployment strap  46  with first and second ends  48  and  50  is disposed inside the housing  12 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , the second end  50  is secured to the housing  12  in a suitable fashion, for example by using a rivet  52  driven through the sidewall of a well  53  formed in the bottom wall  18 . The deployment strap  46  is then threaded aftwards underneath the life vest  44 , up and over the back end of the life vest  44 , forwards over the top of the life vest  44 , and finally downwards over the front of the life vest  44 , with its first end  48  hanging free. 
         [0032]    A rigid cover  54  is attached to the housing  12  so that it can swing between an open position and a closed position. The cover  54  is a generally planar, substantially rigid member constructed of plastic or similar material and has an outer face  56  and an inner face  58 . An upstanding inner ridge  60  extends around at least a portion of the perimeter of the inner face  58  and serves to help locate the cover  54  in the closed position. Hinge members  62  complementary to hinge members  42  of the housing  12  are disposed at the opposed top corners of the cover  54 . In the illustrated example, all or part of the cover  54  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  12 . The cover  54  is attached to the housing  12  by aligning their respective hinge members  62  and  42  and then inserting one or more hinge pins  64  (see  FIG. 1 ) through the hinge members  62  and  42 . 
         [0033]    In the closed position, shown in  FIG. 1 , the lower portion of the cover  54  is secured to the flange  29  on the housing  12  using a sealing material  66  positioned between the cover  54  and the housing  12 . The deployment strap  46  passes downwards between the cover  54  and the flange  29 , with a portion thereof hanging free. 
         [0034]      FIG. 10  shows an exemplary tamper-evident sealing material  66 . The exemplary sealing material  66  includes a first layer  68  and a second layer  70 . Each of the first and second layers  68  and  70  has an internal surface  72  and an external surface  74 . When the sealing material  66  is ready for use, the internal surfaces  72  are adhered together as part of an integral structure. In the illustrated example, each of the external surfaces  74  is coated with a suitable adhesive (not shown). The properties of the sealing material  66  are chosen such that, when two objects are sealed together with the sealing material  66 , and an attempt is made to separate the two objects, the first and second layers  68  and  70  will remain attached to their respective objects and will pull apart from each other. When the first layer  68  is pulled away from the second layer  70 , the internal surfaces  72  are irreversibly changed in a distinct manner, thus giving evidence of tampering. In the illustrated example, a pattern of indicia  76  such as the word “void” is visible in one or both of the first and second layers  68  and  70 . Any sealing material  66  which is capable of indicating tampering may be used with the life vest container  10 . Many sealing materials of this type are commercially available, which operate in various ways. For example, a physical or a chemical change or both may occur in the sealing material to evidence tampering. The exact principle of operation is not important for the present invention, so long as tampering is disclosed. If any tampering does occur, the changed condition of the sealing material  66  will be visible through the cover  54 . 
         [0035]    The sealing material  66  and the cover  54  could be attached to the flange  29  in a number of different ways. For example, the sealing material  66  could be provided with adhesive already applied to both sides, in which case the sealing material  66  could be simply pressed onto the flange  29  and the interior of the cover  64 . Alternatively, a separate adhesive (not shown), for example a brush-on or sprayable adhesive, could be applied to the cover  54 , sealing material  66 , and life vest container  10  before assembly. 
         [0036]      FIGS. 6-8 , and  11  illustrate how the life vest container  10  may be mounted to an aircraft passenger seat frame  78 , which supports one or more seats of conventional construction (not shown). In the particular embodiment shown, the seat frame  78  includes leg modules  80  and  82 , which are connected by forward and aft laterally-extending transverse beams  84  and  86 . 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 bracket  30  is placed against the aft beam  86 . Rear mounting straps  88  are then passed through the rear mounting holes  32 , around the aft beam  86 , and pulled tight. The rear mounting straps  88  may be similar to plastic cable ties of a known type. The front mounting boss  36  is placed against the front beam  84 . Front mounting straps  90  of the same type as the rear mounting straps  88  are then passed through the front mounting holes  38 , around the front beam  84 , and pulled tight. Using this mounting method, the packing and sealing of the life vest container  10  is completely independent from its mounting to the seat frame  78 . It is therefore possible to pre-package life vest containers  10  with life vests, and to seal and inspect them, and then mount them in the aircraft with minimal labor and cost. 
         [0037]    The use of the life vest container  10  is shown in  FIGS. 3-5 . The closed cover  54  ( FIG. 3 ) is opened by pulling forwards on the deployment strap  46  to separate the cover  54  from the sealing material and swing it upwards, which also causes the sealing material  66  to change as described above. (see  FIG. 4 ). Continued forward tension on the deployment strap  46  causes it to partially pull the life vest  44  from the life vest container  10  so that it can be easily grasped by a passenger (see  FIG. 5 ). 
         [0038]    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.