Abstract:
A stowage bin cover assembly coupleable to a stowage bin is provided. The stowage bin cover assembly includes a stowage bin cover coupleable to the stowage bin, the stowage bin cover including a first groove; and an anti-slip strip coupleably received in the first groove. The anti-slip strip can be positioned and oriented to project above an uppermost outer surface of the first groove such that the anti-slip strip will frictionally engage a payload received in the stowage bin, the frictional engagement resisting movement of the payload. Related methods are also provided.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure is generally directed to overhead storage compartments and, more particularly, to overhead stowage bin cover assemblies. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Transportation vehicles, such as airplanes, for example, typically include overhead storage compartments to allow passengers to store luggage, equipment, and other types of payload. The overhead storage compartments comprise overhead stowage bin assemblies. The overhead stowage bin assemblies are typically arranged to be above the passenger seats located in an aircraft&#39;s cabin. Thus, overhead stowage bin assemblies are often positioned at outboard ends of the left and right sides of the fuselage above the outboard cabin seats, and at the center of the fuselage, above the center cabin seats. 
         [0005]    The stowage bin assemblies generally include bin buckets that are pivotably coupled to stowage bin frames, the stowage bin frames being mounted to the aircraft fuselage. The bin buckets are configured to pivot between open and closed positions. The bin buckets pivotably rotate relative to respective pivot axes that are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fuselage, i.e., an axis that runs parallel to the forward-aft direction of the fuselage. The pivotable movement of the bin buckets is facilitated through various latch mechanisms, which are located within the interior space of the bin buckets and, often, on the inside surfaces of the bin buckets. 
         [0006]    To protect the latch mechanisms from contact and/or interference with the luggage or other types of payload being stored in the stowage bin assemblies, a cover assembly is typically secured to the bin buckets. The cover assembly overlies the latch mechanisms. However, the cover assembly is unable to provide sufficient resistance to downward movement of the luggage or payload when the bin buckets are moved to the open position. The gravitational force along with migration of the luggage during flight can lead to the luggage falling on users opening the stowage bin assemblies. Solutions to mitigate migrating luggage have often involved using cover assemblies with a raised edge stop that may operate as an obstacle to, at least, partially resist downward movement of the luggage. Such solutions, however, have been unsuccessful because the luggage is often made with smooth materials, such that the luggage follows along the contour of the edge stop and thus overcomes the obstruction. Other solutions have involved raising the height of the edge stop to enlarge the obstruction. However, raising the height of the edge stop adds to manufacturing costs, unnecessary weight, and reduces the opening within the bucket bins through which passengers may load the luggage. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0007]    Embodiments described herein advantageously provide stowage bin cover assemblies and methods to prevent and/or resist unintentional migration of payload received in stowage bins with robust and efficient form factors. Various embodiments described herein also advantageously provide weight and cost savings. 
         [0008]    In some embodiments, a stowage bin cover assembly coupleable to a stowage bin may be summarized as including a stowage bin cover coupleable to the stowage bin, the stowage bin cover including a first groove; and an anti-slip strip coupleably received in the first groove. The anti-slip strip may be positioned and oriented to project above an uppermost outer surface of the first groove such that the anti-slip strip will frictionally engage a payload received in the stowage bin, where the frictional engagement may resist movement of the payload. 
         [0009]    In some embodiments, a stowage bin cover assembly coupleable to an aircraft stowage bin moveable between a closed position and an open position, where the aircraft stowage bin includes a latch mechanism operable to pivotably rotate the aircraft stowage bin from the closed position to the open position to expose a payload received therein to an exterior of the aircraft stowage bin, may be summarized as including a stowage bin cover coupled to the aircraft stowage bin and arranged to overlie the latch mechanism; and a pair of anti-slip strips. The stowage bin cover may include a pair of grooves. The pair of anti-slip strips may be coupleably received in the respective grooves, where the anti-slip strips may be configured to frictionally engage a contact surface of the payload, the frictional engagement resisting movement of the payload when the payload moves towards the exterior when the aircraft stowage bin is in the open position. 
         [0010]    In some embodiments, a method to resist downward movement of luggage received in an aircraft overhead stowage bin may be summarized as including coupling a stowage bin cover to the aircraft overhead stowage bin; and coupling an anti-slip strip to the stowage bin cover, where the anti-slip strip frictionally engages the luggage to resist movement of the luggage. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a stowage bin cover assembly, according to one embodiment. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the stowage bin cover assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the stowage bin cover assembly of  FIG. 1 , taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 , illustrating the stowage bin cover assembly coupled to a stowage bin assembly. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of a portion of the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of a portion of the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    In the following description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various disclosed embodiments. However, one skilled in the relevant art will recognize that embodiments may be practiced without one or more of these specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures associated with stowage bin assemblies have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring descriptions of the embodiments. 
         [0017]    Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification and claims which follow, the word “comprise” and variations thereof, such as, “comprises” and “comprising” are to be construed in an open, inclusive sense, that is, as “including, but not limited to.” 
         [0018]    Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. 
         [0019]    As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. It should also be noted that the term “or” is generally employed in its sense including “and/or” unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. 
         [0020]      FIGS. 1 through 5  illustrate a stowage bin cover assembly  10 , according to one embodiment. The stowage bin cover assembly  10  comprises a stowage bin cover  12 , a pair of anti-slip strips  14 , and optionally a plurality of clip nuts  16 . The stowage bin cover  12  is configured to couple to an overhead stowage bin of an aircraft, for example. The stowage bin cover  12  includes an end portion  18 , a center portion  20 , and an edge portion  22 . The end and edge portions  18 ,  22  are configured to couple to the overhead stowage bin, in particular, to a bin bucket  17  ( FIG. 3 ) of the overhead stowage bin. 
         [0021]    The end portion  18  has a substantially S-shaped cross-section, having lower and upper flanges  24 ,  26  extending in opposite directions from a central web  28 . The lower flange  24  extends angularly with respect to the central web  28 . The angular displacement is selected such that the lower flange  24  substantially matches a contour of the bin bucket  17 . In this manner, the lower flange  24  is configured such that an outer surface of the lower flange  24  makes substantial contact with a corresponding contact surface of the bin bucket  17 . In the longitudinal direction, e.g., the forward-aft direction of the fuselage, the lower flange  24  includes a plurality of spaced apart apertures  30 . The plurality of apertures  30  are sized and shaped for receiving fasteners to couple the stowage bin cover  12  to the bin bucket  17 . Alternatively, the lower flange  24 , in some embodiments, may be adhesively coupled to the bin bucket  17 . 
         [0022]    The central web  28  of the end portion  18  extends upwardly with respect to the lower flange  24 , and smoothly transitions in this manner from one end of the central web  28 . The upper flange  26  extends in the opposite direction to the lower flange  24 . Again, the upper flange  26  smoothly transitions in this manner from the other end of the central web  28  to the central portion  20  to at least, in part, define an internal cavity  32  of the stowage bin cover assembly  10 . At a location where the upper flange  26  transitions to the central portion  20 , a first groove member  34  is formed therebetween. The first groove member  34  forms a substantially sinusoidal cross-section with a pair of ridges  35  and a trough  37  therebetween to define a first groove  39 . Although the first groove member  34  forms a substantially sinusoidal cross-section, in some embodiments, the first groove member  34  may have other cross-sectional shapes, such as a V-shaped cross-section, a U-shaped cross-section, or the like, to define corresponding grooves. 
         [0023]    The central portion  20  generally follows a curvilinear or arcuate path  41  towards the edge portion  22 . More particularly, the curvilinear path  41  assists in defining the internal cavity  32 , such that the internal cavity  32  may be sized and shaped to overlie a wide variety of latch mechanisms and components thereof. For example, the internal cavity  32  may be sized and shaped to overlie a torque tube, and/or other components of various latch mechanisms, such that the stowage bin cover  12  protects the underlying latch mechanisms from contact and/or other interference. The curvilinear path  41  of the central portion  20  extends to a lower flange  36 , where the lower flange  36  is angularly positioned with respect to the curvilinear path  41 . In this manner, the lower flange  36  is configured to match the contour of the bin bucket  17 , such that an outer surface of the lower flange  36  makes substantial contact with a corresponding contact surface of the bin bucket  17 . In the longitudinal direction, the lower flange  36  includes a plurality of spaced apart apertures  33 . The plurality of apertures  33  are sized and shaped for receiving fasteners to couple the stowage bin cover  12  to the bin bucket  17 . Alternatively, the lower flange  36 , in some embodiments, may be adhesively coupled to the bin bucket  17 . 
         [0024]    The central portion  20  further includes a plurality of spaced apart ribs  43 . The plurality of ribs  43  are located substantially centrally with respect to the central portion  20 . In the illustrated embodiment, the plurality of ribs  43  generally include a substantially hat-shaped cross-section. However, in other embodiments, the ribs  43  may comprise any other cross-section, such as U-shaped, Z-shaped, or the like. The plurality of ribs  43  advantageously provide stiffness to the stowage bin cover  12 . In this manner, the stowage bin cover  12  can withstand forces generated by a wide variety of luggage or other payload. Providing the ribs  43  also provides additional weight savings by substantially reducing the gauge of the stowage bin cover  12 , providing optimal cross-sectional profiles, and/or permitting use of materials with lower densities. 
         [0025]    The edge portion  22  extends from a terminal edge of the lower flange  36  of the central portion  20  and forms a substantially M-shaped cross-section. More particularly, the edge portion  22  includes a pair of angular flanges  40 ,  42  that are angularly spaced apart from each other with respect to a vertical axis  44 . The first angular flange  40  smoothly transitions from the central portion  20  and extends upwardly, where the height of the first angular flange  40  is selectively dimensioned to appropriately obstruct movement of the luggage, such as a suitcase or carry-on bag  49 . 
         [0026]    The first and second angular flanges  40 ,  42  are angularly spaced apart from each other to define an internal cavity  46 . The internal cavity  46  is sized and shaped to facilitate coupling of the second angular flange  42  with the optional clip nuts  16 . More particularly, the second angular flange  42  is configured to be selectively angularly spaced apart from the first angular flange  40 , such that an external surface thereof substantially abuts and/or makes contact with a corresponding surface of an edge member or any other mating member of the bin bucket  17 . Thus, in the longitudinal direction, the second angular flange  42  includes a plurality of spaced apart apertures  48 . The plurality of apertures  48  are sized and shaped for receiving fasteners to couple to the edge member or any other mating member of the bin bucket  17 . By way of example, in the illustrated embodiment, the legs of the optional clip nuts  16  are positioned to overlie the second angular flange  42  and the edge member of the stowage bin, such as an L-shaped bracket, for example, and, accordingly, couple the stowage bin cover  12  to the stowage bin in a known manner. 
         [0027]    The edge portion  22  includes a second groove member  52  between the first and second angular flanges  40 ,  42 . The second groove member  52  forms a substantially sinusoidal cross-section with a pair of ridges  54  and a trough  56  therebetween to define a second groove  58 . Although the second groove member  52  forms a substantially sinusoidal cross-section, in some embodiments, the second groove member  52  may have other cross-sectional shapes, such as a V-shaped cross-section, a U-shaped cross-section, or the like, to define corresponding grooves. 
         [0028]    With continued reference to  FIGS. 1 through 5 , both the first and second groove members  34 ,  52  are sized and shaped to coupleably receive the respective anti-slip strip  14 . As best seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the anti-slip strips  14  include side edges  62 , which substantially follow a curvilinear or arcuate path, the curvilinear path corresponding to the respective first and second grooves  39 ,  58 . The anti-slip strips  14  further optionally include a recess  66 . The recess  66  can advantageously reduce the stiffness of the anti-slip strip  14  to facilitate installation of the anti-slip strip  14  and/or provide weight savings. 
         [0029]    In some embodiments, the anti-slip strips  14  may be adhesively coupled to the first and second groove members  34 ,  52 . In other embodiments, the anti-slip strips  14  may be sized and shaped to be dimensionally larger than the corresponding size and shape of the first and second groove members  34 ,  52  to form a transition or interference fit. In yet other embodiments, the anti-slip strips  14  may be mechanically fastened to the first and second groove members  34 ,  52 , or other portions of the stowage bin cover  12 . Further, although the first and second groove members  34 ,  52  define grooves  39 ,  58  that have substantially similar profiles to coupleably receive the anti-slip strips  14 , in other embodiments, the first and second grooves  39 ,  58  may each have different profiles and dimensions. Still further, although the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 5  comprises two groove members  34 ,  52 , in other embodiments, the stowage bin cover  12  may include any number of groove members to receive corresponding anti-slip strips  14 . 
         [0030]    The stowage bin cover  12  can be fabricated from any number of suitable materials, such as composites, plastics, metals, etc. By way of example, the stowage bin cover  12  can comprise glass fiber reinforced plastics, including the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , or other carbon fiber reinforced plastics. Alternatively, the stowage bin cover  12  can comprise various metallic alloys, such as aluminum or titanium alloys, for example. The stowage bin cover  12  can be fabricated by thermoforming to facilitate the stowage bin cover  12  conforming to a desired shape. The stowage bin cover  12 , in particular metal alloys, can be formed via machining, casting, forging, or molding processes. The stowage bin cover  12  can comprise any other suitable material and can be fabricated using various methods known in the art. 
         [0031]    With continued reference to  FIGS. 1 through 5  and, as best illustrated in  FIGS. 3 through 5 , the stowage bin cover assembly  10  advantageously prevents or, at least, resists migration of the luggage or payload, such as the suitcase or carry-on bag  49 . As the stowage bin is pivotably rotated to the open position exposing the contents therein to an exterior of the stowage bin, the gravitational forces tend to move the suitcase or carry-on bag  49  in the direction indicated by arrow  70 . However, as the suitcase or carry-on bag  49  begins to move, an outer surface of the suitcase or carry-on bag  49  makes contact with an outer surface of the anti-slip strip  14 . In order to prevent or, at least partially, resist further movement of the suitcase or carry-on bag  49 , the anti-slip strips  14  comprise resilient materials with high surface coefficients of friction. By way of example, the anti-slip strip  14  may comprise silicone, including the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5 , urethane, polyurethane, rubber foams, or various rubber-like materials, or the like. Alternatively, the anti-slip strips  14  may be made of any material and may be externally coated with anti-slip agents. Thus, as the suitcase or carry-on bag  49  is moved in direction  70 , the anti-slip strips  14  coupled to the first and second groove members  34 ,  52  apply frictional forces that, at least, partially counter or resist movement of the suitcase or carry-on bag  49 . In this manner, unintended movement of the suitcase or carry-on bag  49  can advantageously be avoided. Further, having the first and second groove members  34 ,  52  spaced apart, as illustrated in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 through 5 , provides constant frictional forces until the suitcase or carry-on bag  49  is completely removed from the stowage bin. By way of example, the second groove member  52  is advantageously located at the edge portion  22 , which allows the anti-slip strip  14  coupled to the second groove member  52  to be in constant contact with the suitcase or carry-on bag  49  and, consequently provide resisting frictional forces until a rear end of the suitcase or carry-on bag  49  is completely removed from the stowage bin. 
         [0032]    The embodiments illustrated can advantageously be configured to be positioned along various sides, orientations, etc., of an aircraft fuselage. For instance, in some embodiments, the stowage bin cover assemblies may be selectively sized and shaped to match profiles of stowage bin assemblies positioned at outboard sides of an aircraft fuselage. In some embodiments, the stowage bin cover assemblies may be selectively sized and shaped to match profiles of stowage bin assemblies positioned at a center of an aircraft fuselage. 
         [0033]    Moreover, these and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure.