Abstract:
A pull-down stowage bin assembly ( 10 ) for a vehicle is disclosed. The pull-down stowage bin assembly includes a frame ( 14 ), a bin ( 12 ) coupled to the frame for reciprocative movement between an open position and a stowed position, and a restraint assembly ( 20 ) disposed within the bin to selectively restrain objects located within the bin when objects are located in the bin and the bin is in the open position.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention relates generally to pull down stowage bins and, more particularly, to an apparatus for restraining items in a stowage bin.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Pull-down bucket stowage bins are commonly used to stow luggage in vehicles having a passenger compartment, such as buses and commercial aircraft. Typically, such stowage bins are reciprocally mounted to or near the ceiling of the passenger compartment, such that they are located above rows of passenger seats within the vehicle. As mounted, the bins may be reciprocated between an open position, wherein items may be placed within the bin, and a closed position to stow items located within the bin. Although overhead stowage bins are effective at stowing items, such as luggage, they are not without problems.  
           [0003]    As an example, luggage stowed within an overhead luggage bin of an aircraft may shift to an unstable position during takeoff or landing of the aircraft or if the aircraft encounters turbulence during flight. As a result, when the luggage bin is opened, the luggage may unexpectedly fall out into the passenger compartment, thereby potentially injuring persons located within the passenger compartment. Thus, such a bin poses a potential hazard.  
           [0004]    Therefore, there exists a need for a restraint apparatus for an overhead stowage bin, where the restraint apparatus minimizes the risk of luggage stowed within the bin from falling from the bin when it is opened. Furthermore, there exists a need for such a restraint apparatus that is easily accessible to facilitate the quick removal of stowed luggage.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a pull-down stowage bin assembly for a vehicle is provided. The pull-down stowage bin assembly includes a frame, a bin coupled to the frame for reciprocating movement between an open position and a stowed position, and a restraint assembly disposed within the bin to selectively restrain objects located within the bin when objects are located in the bin and the bin is in the open position. In accordance with certain other embodiments of the present invention, the restraint assembly includes a door member attached to the bin for selective reciprocating movement between an open position and a closed position.  
           [0006]    In another embodiment of the present invention, the pull-down stowage bin assembly includes a limit assembly disposed on the frame and positioned relative to the door member to cause the door member to move into the closed position when the door member is in the open position and the bin is moved from the open position to the stowed position.  
           [0007]    In still yet other embodiments of the pull-down stowage bin assembly, the bin assembly includes a retaining mechanism attached to the door member and adapted for locking engagement with a portion of the bin to selectively maintain the door member in the closed position.  
           [0008]    In another embodiment of the invention, the surface of the door member is perforated or formed from an open-weave net. This embodiment allows a person unloading the stowage bin to see if there is risk of an article falling from the stowage bin. As a result, a person may take remedial action and reposition the article prior to opening the bin.  
           [0009]    In still yet another embodiment of the invention, the retaining mechanism is a wheel mounted on a bracket. The wheel aids in monitoring the amount of articles loaded into the stowage bin. In that regard, the wheel is positioned such that the stowage bin will not close if the stowage bin is overloaded; thus, restricting the door from gliding along the wheel and closing. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is an environmental view of a restraint apparatus for an overhead pull-down bucket stowage bin formed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is an end view of a restraint apparatus for an overhead pull-down bucket stowage bin formed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention and showing both the restraint apparatus and stowage bin in a closed position; and  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is an end view of a restraint apparatus for an overhead pull-down bucket stowage bin formed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention and showing the stowage bin in an opened position and the restraint apparatus in both an open and closed position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0014]    FIGS.  1 - 3  illustrate a pull-down stowage bin assembly  10  (hereinafter “bin assembly  10 ”) constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The bin assembly  10  is suitably fastened within a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, such as a bus or an aircraft. Such bin assemblies  10  may be fastened to the ceiling or adjoining structure of the passenger compartment, such that they are positioned above passenger seats located within the passenger compartment. Preferably, such bin assemblies  10  are hingedly attached within the passenger compartment for reciprocating movement between a stowed position  2  and an open position  4 . Also, although the bin assemblies are illustrated and described herein as luggage bin assemblies, other types of cargo carrying bin assemblies are also within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0015]    The bin assembly  10  includes a stowage bin bucket assembly  12  (hereinafter “bin  12 ”) and a restraint assembly  20 . The bin  12  is a well known luggage bin having first and second side walls  6   a  and  6   b  disposed at opposite sides of a floor  8 . As configured and attached, the side walls  6   a  and  6   b  and floor  8  form an opening  9  facing the interior of the passenger compartment when the bin assembly  10  is in the open position.  
         [0016]    The restraint assembly  20  includes a door  50  attached to the bin assembly  10  by a pair of pivot hinges  22 . Preferably, a pivot hinge  22  is located on each side of the door  50  and extends between the door  50  and one of the sidewalls  6   a  and  6   b  of the bin assembly  10 . In some applications, the use of one pivot hinge  22  may be sufficient to secure the door  50  to the bin assembly  10 . It is also preferred that the pivot hinges  22  are designed to automatically open the door  50  when the door  50  is released from the retaining mechanism  30 . This may be accomplished through the use of a pivot hinge  22  with coil springs, gas springs, or other, similar devices that would cause the door  50  to pivot to an open position when released from the retaining mechanism  30 . Further, although it is preferred that the door  50  of the restraint assembly  20  is hingedly attached to the sidewalls  6   a  and  6   b , other types of attachments, such as slidably attaching the restraint assembly  20  within the bin assembly  10 , are also within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0017]    The door  50  is sized and configured such that it substantially covers the opening  9  and it does not encroach upon the capacity of the bin assembly  10 . The door  50  may be made from any of a variety of various materials strong enough to retain stowed items located within the bin assembly  10 . Examples of such materials include perforated materials, mesh materials, opaque materials with a clear window suitable for permitting the user to view into the bin assembly  10 , or any other material that allows the user to view inside the bin assembly  10  when the bin assembly  10  is in the open position and the door  50  is in the closed position. Alternatively, the door  50  may be constructed from a lightweight, solid material.  
         [0018]    The bin assembly  10  also includes a retaining mechanism  30  and a travel limit assembly  40  mounted to a bin shroud  14  located within the bin assembly  10 . The retaining mechanism  30  is suitably positioned in the bin assembly  10 , such that a portion of the retaining mechanism  30  is located on the forward lip of the floor  8  and another portion is located on the lower edge surface of the door  50  of the restraint assembly  20 . While the type of retaining mechanism  30  is not important to the current embodiment of the present invention, it is important that the retaining mechanism be selectively actuable between a locked and unlocked position.  
         [0019]    As a nonlimiting example, the retaining mechanism  30  may be a latch-type device. In this example, the retaining mechanism  30  includes a hook  32  located on the lower end of the door  50  and a catch (not shown). The hook  32  is positioned to be received within the catch located on the lower lip of the floor  8 . Optionally, the catch may be located in one or both of the sidewalls  6   a  and  6   b  or in the shroud  14 . The retaining mechanism  30  should be easy to release and in certain embodiments, allow the door  50  to automatically open when released.  
         [0020]    As seen best by referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the limit assembly  40  includes a polyurethane wheel  42  journaled to a bracket  44  on an axle  46 . The limit assembly  40  is positioned within the bin assembly  10 , such that when both the bin assembly  10  and the door  50  are in the open position, the wheel  42  of the limit assembly  40  limits the upward travel of the restraint assembly  20 . Further, the limit assembly  40  may automatically displace the restraint assembly  20  into the closed position when the restraint assembly  20  is in the open position and the bin assembly  10  is moved from the open position to the stowed position.  
         [0021]    The foregoing aspects of the restraint assembly  20  may be best understood by first referring to FIG. 3, wherein both the door  50  of the restraint assembly  20  and the bin  12  are in the open position. As noted above, the limit assembly  40  is seated against the restraint assembly  20  to limit the upward travel of the restraint assembly  20 . As the bin  12  is swung upwardly into the stowed position, the restraint assembly  20  impinges against the roller  42 , thereby swinging the restraint assembly  20  downwardly into the closed position, as seen in FIG. 2. Although a wheel  42  is preferred for the limit assembly  40 , other mechanisms suitable for permitting the restraint assembly  20  to rest against it and limit travel while also allowing the restraint assembly  20  to slide against it when the bin assembly  10  is displaced into the stowed position, are also within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0022]    In operation, when the bin assembly  10  is in the stowed position, the restraint assembly  20  rests against the limit assembly  40 , and is secured in the retaining mechanism  30 . As the bin  12  is moved from the stowed to the open position, the restraint assembly  20  moves together with the bin  12 . When a user wishes to obtain entrance into the bin assembly  10 , the retaining mechanism  30  is opened, thereby allowing the door  50  to open until it rests against the limit assembly  40  and restricts the restraint assembly  20  from hitting the shroud  14 . When the user wishes to close the bin  12 , the restraint assembly  20  will either close automatically upon moving the bin  12  from the open to the stowed position, as described above, or may be manually pulled closed. The restraint assembly  20  is guided back to the closed position and is locked in the retaining mechanism  30 .  
         [0023]    Although only a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modification are possible without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims. In the claims, any means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function, in that only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures.  
         [0024]    While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.