Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a divider providing part of a separation between sections of a passenger cabin of a commercial aircraft, the divider comprising several components. One component may be a support arm connected to the frame of an aircraft above a passenger seat, the support arm having an outer edge facing the aisle of the passenger cabin, and an inner edge which is adjacent the face of a luggage compartment when the bucket is in an open position. Another component may be a curtain attached to a lower edge of the support arm and projecting vertically below the support arm. Yet another component may be a rigid view block adjacent the face of the compartment and configured to reposition such that the view block is adjacent the face of the compartment while the compartment is in a closed position, and repositions when the compartment is opened.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Field of the Disclosure 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates to the field of class dividers, such as those used in passenger cabins of commercial aircraft to divide passenger sections. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    Disclosed herein is a divider in several embodiments, utilized to provide part of a visual separation between sections of a passenger cabin of a commercial aircraft. The divider comprising several inter-operating components. One component may be a support arm fixedly connected to the frame of an aircraft above a passenger seat, the support arm having an outer edge facing the aisle of the passenger cabin, and an inner edge which is adjacent the face of a luggage stowage compartment when the bucket is in an open position. Another component may be a curtain attached to a lower edge of the support arm and projecting vertically below the support arm. Yet another component may be a rigid view block adjacent the face of the luggage stowage compartment and configured to move therewith such that the view block is adjacent the face of the luggage stowage compartment while the luggage stowage compartment is in a closed position, and repositions when the stowage compartment is opened. 
         [0003]    The divider as recited above may be arranged wherein the view block is attached to the face of the luggage stowage compartment to move therewith. 
         [0004]    The divider as recited as recited above may be arranged wherein the view block pivots with the face of the luggage stowage compartment to move in conjunction therewith. 
         [0005]    The divider as recited above may be arranged wherein the curtain is rigid. The divider may alternatively be arranged wherein the curtain comprises fabric or other non-rigid materials. In either case, the curtain may be positionably attached to the support arm. 
         [0006]    The divider as recited above may be arranged wherein the curtain extends from the lower edge of the support arm, downward substantially to the top of the back of a passenger seat such that the passenger seat cooperates with the divider to visually separate the sections of the aircraft passenger cabin. 
         [0007]    The divider as recited above may be arranged wherein the support arm comprises a surface or surfaces defining a gap in a lower edge thereof to allow passage of a portion of the view block therethrough. Alternatively, the view block may pass adjacent either the forward or rearward side of the support arm. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is an end view of one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a face cutaway view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with a luggage stowage compartment in a closed position. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a face cutaway view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with the luggage stowage compartment shown in an open position, and in a closed position. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a face view of a support arm component of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a face view of the embodiment of  FIG. 3  with several components removed. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a face view of a view block component of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a face cutaway view of a second embodiment of with the luggage stowage compartment in a closed position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a face cutaway view of the embodiment of  FIG. 7  with the luggage stowage compartment shown in a closed position. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a cutaway detail view of an upper attachment device as shown in area  9  of  FIG. 7 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0017]    Before beginning a detailed description of the components, an axes system  10  is shown in the Figures to facilitate explanation of the relative positioning of the components. The axes system  10  utilizes a vertical axis  12 , and a transverse axis  16  lying in a horizontal plane and generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft body. The axes system  10  also comprises a longitudinal axis  14 , in a horizontal plane and generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft body. The relative terms inboard and outboard are used to describe relative positioning of one embodiment relative to the plane containing the longitudinal axis and the vertical axis and passing down the center of the aircraft. These relative terms are used in reference to bins (buckets) attached at positions adjacent the hull of the aircraft, although other attachment positions and orientations are still within the scope of the disclosure. This axes system the relative terms, and the axes defined are not intended to limit the disclosure, but are used to aid in description only. 
         [0018]    Looking to  FIG. 2 , the divider  20  is shown attached to the frame  22  of an aircraft  25 . A plurality of windows  26  are also attached to the frame, as well as an inner sidewall  28  and ceiling  30 . While the divider  20  may be attached to any of these components, or attached to seats, flooring, or other components within the passenger cabin  32 , the embodiment shown attaches to a luggage stowage compartment  42  at one end  36 , and to the frame at a second end  38 . The divider  20  may also be attached to the inboard passenger service unit rail. 
         [0019]    Other types of visual blocks have been previously used to separate different sections of an aircraft passenger cabin, such as curtains which are often used to separate the First Class section from the Coach cabin. One such divider is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,165,626. The advent of bucket style luggage stowage compartments  42  has resulted in these dividers being less than satisfactory in use. In the newer bucket style compartments, as the luggage bucket itself repositions when opening, prior divider/curtain combinations often interfered with operation of the bucket, were difficult to operate properly, or did not function well. Prior shelf-style compartments such as shown in the &#39;626 patent did not cause such problems in divider use and operation, as the compartment door opened inward and upward, but the lower section of the compartment was generally stationary. 
         [0020]    The divider shown herein may be used in conjunction with a aisle way curtain, and generally overcomes the challenges faced by implementation of bucket style luggage compartments. 
         [0021]    The divider in several embodiments as shown in the figures comprises a support arm  40  which as previously mentioned may attach at a first end  36  to the luggage stowage compartment  42  or other components of the aircraft  25 . The second end  38  of the support arm  40  may be attached to the frame  22 , compartment  42 , or other components of the aircraft  25 . The support arm  40  has an outer edge  44  adjacent the aisleway of the aircraft passenger cabin, a lower edge  46  adjacent a curtain  50 , an inner edge  48  forming a cutout to allow the face  52  of the stowage compartment  42  to open without interference. As it may be desired to position the divider  20  at any position along the compartment  42 , this arrangement is beneficial in many aspects. It will usually be advantageous to avoid positioning the divider  20  where it may interfere with the latches  62  of the compartment faces, and/or the passenger service units (PSU)  68  which often utilize lights  70  as seen in  FIG. 2 . In one embodiment, the divider is positioned above the seat back of a passenger seat, where it is unlikely to interfere with a PSU. 
         [0022]    In one form, the curtain  50  is attached to the lower edge of the support arm  40  and is supported thereby. The curtain  50  may be comprised of a rigid material such as wood, polymers, resin impregnated fiberglass, or alternately be a non-rigid material such a woven fabric, thin sheet polymers, or equivalents of either sort. When non-rigid materials are used, the curtain may be positionably attached to the support arm, such as by rings, sliders, or equivalents so as to be repositionable. During take-off and landing for example, it may not be desired to block the view of air marshals and crew between sections of an aircraft. The curtain may extend downward a short distance, all the way to the floor of the passenger cabin, or may extend to the bottom of a passenger seat-back in such a way that the seat back in a fully upright position provides additional view separation between sections of the aircraft. 
         [0023]    To visually block the region between the support arm  40  and the face  52  of the compartment  42 , a positionable view block  54  may be utilized. The view block may be attached to the face  52  of the compartment  42 , or it may be pivotably connected to the support arm  40 , with a resilient member such as a spring to bias the view block  54  against the face  52  of the compartment  42 . 
         [0024]    While the view block  54  may be adjacent either the forward side  56  or rearward side  58  of the support arm  40 , one embodiment employs a gap  60  in the lower edge  46  of the support arm  40  for the view block  54  to extend into and possibly extend beyond as shown in  FIG. 3 . Thus, when the compartment  42  is closed, the view block  54  may extend only a short distance into the gap  60 . When the compartment  42  is opened, as shown in one example in  FIG. 3 , The view block repositions from the closed compartment position  64  shown in  FIG. 2 , to the open compartment position  66  shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 5 . 
         [0025]    The view block in one form may also reposition from an extended position when the compartment  42  is closed, to a position substantially within, and possibly not extending beyond, the support arm  40  and/or curtain  50 . 
         [0026]    A second embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 7 ,  8  and  9 . In this second embodiment, components similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted with an “a” suffix. For example, the view block of the first embodiment is labeled as  54 , while the view block of the second embodiment is similar, and is labeled as  54   a.    
         [0027]    In this second embodiment, the view block  54   a  is attached to the face  52  of the bucket  72  in a very different manner. In this embodiment a bracket  74  is attached to the face  52  of the bucket  72  by way of fasteners, adhesive, or by clamping to the upper edge of the bucket face  52 . The bracket  74  extends generally orthogonal to the face  52  of the bucket  72  and provides an attachment location  76  for the view block  54   a  to attach to, again by way of fasteners, adhesive, or the bracket  74  may be molded with the view block  54  as a unitary structure. 
         [0028]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 9 , the bracket  74  comprises a surface defining a slot  78  which receives a guide pin  80  which is allowed to reposition somewhat therein. This slot  78  is provided where the outboard attachment mechanism  82  is not aligned with the pivot  84  of the bucket  72  to allow some degree of relative motion between the view block  54   a  and the face  52  to avoid binding during operation (opening and closing) of the bucket  72 . 
         [0029]    In the embodiment shown, the view block  54   a  is cutout ( 86 ) to show an internal channel  88  which receives the transversely extending portion  90  of the bracket  74  to aid in structural support, and to prohibit small items such as fingers from getting caught (pinched) in the apparatus during operation. The guide pin  80  in this embodiment passes through this channel  88 . 
         [0030]    The outboard attachment location  82  shown in  FIG. 9  comprises an offset four bar linkage which provides for rotation and movement of the view block  54   a  in a similar arc to that transcribed by the pivot  84 . The four bar linkage comprises a plurality of link arms. The first link arm is an inboard link arm  92 , attached to the support arm  40 , frame  22 , compartment  42 , or other portions of the aircraft at an upper attachment location (pivot)  94 ; and at a lower attachment location (pivot)  96  to the view block  54   a . The second link arm is an outboard link arm  98 , attached to the support arm  40 , frame  22 , compartment  42 , or other portions of the aircraft at an upper attachment location (pivot)  100 ; and at a lower attachment location (pivot)  102  to the view block  54   a . As the distance between the axes of the upper pivots  94 / 100  is less than the distance between the lower pivots  96 / 102 , the effective pivot radius of the view block  54   a  will be similar to the pivot radius of the bucket pivot  84 . Thus there will be very little relative motion between the face  52  of the bucket  72  and the view block  54   a.    
         [0031]    Generally, the view block  54   a  engages a support arm  40  as shown in  FIG. 2  and described above. 
         [0032]    While the present invention is illustrated by description of several embodiments and while the illustrative embodiments are described in detail, it is not the intention of the applicants to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications within the scope of the appended claims will readily appear to those sufficed in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicants&#39; general concept.