Abstract:
An overhead luggage compartment for a passenger aircraft is provided. The overhead luggage compartment has a receptacle which has a base and two side walls extending from the base. The receptacle can be moved from a closed position into an open position. A device for adjusting a maximum opening width of the receptacle is provided on at least one of the side walls.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The invention relates to an overhead luggage compartment for a passenger aircraft. 
     An overhead luggage compartment of this type is disclosed by way of example in WO 2010/004039 A2. In the case of the known overhead luggage compartment, a receptacle is provided to receive the luggage. When adjacent receptacles of the overhead luggage compartments in a passenger aircraft are open, it is possible that the loading edges of said receptacles are not perfectly flush with each other owing to manufacturing tolerances. 
     SUMMARY 
     The object of the invention is to eliminate the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, an overhead luggage compartment is to be provided where a maximum opening width of the receptacle or a height of the loading edge of said receptacle can be brought into alignment with the height of another loading edge of an adjacent overhead luggage compartment. 
     The invention provides that a device for adjusting a maximum opening width of the receptacle is provided on at least one of the side walls. 
     The provision of the device on at least one of the side walls renders it possible to pre-assemble the receptacle as one assembly unit. The receptacle can be assembled together with the at least partially pre-assembled device in one assembly step. In addition, attaching the device to one of the side walls has the advantage that said device is easily accessible for adjustment purposes. 
     In one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the device comprises a pin which is substantially linearly adjustable in the opening direction. The pin extends laterally from the side wall in the direction of a housing which receives the receptacle. A counter-stop which corresponds to the pin is expediently provided on the housing and the pin contacts said counter-stop when the maximum opening width of the receptacle has been achieved. Due to the adjustability of the pin, it is now possible to tolerate greater manufacturing tolerances with regard to the arrangement of the counter-stop. It is also possible to attach the counter-stop of two adjacent receptacles at a different height. Any such height difference can be compensated for due to the adjustability of the pin. This provides freedom during the design process and renders it possible to create a compact construction of overhead luggage compartments. As the pin is linearly adjustable, the counter-stop can be kept relatively small, thus saving weight. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment, the pin extends in an eccentric arrangement from a first adjusting disc which is provided on its outer periphery with a first outer toothing. A first recess for engaging a tool can be provided on a rear side, remote from the pin, of the adjusting disc. The first recess can be implemented such that it is suitable e.g. for engaging a hexagonal tool. 
     In addition, a second adjusting disc can be provided which comprises a second recess in an eccentric arrangement, which second recess comprises on its inner periphery a first inner toothing which corresponds to the first outer toothing, wherein a second outer toothing is provided on a second outer periphery of the second adjusting disc. A first through-going hole for receiving the first adjusting disc in a positive locking manner is expediently located within the second recess. In the inserted state, the first outer toothing engages with the first inner toothing. As a result, the first adjusting disc is held in a non-rotational manner with respect to the second adjusting disc. 
     In a further embodiment of the invention, an attachment element is provided which has a third recess, on whose inner periphery is provided a second inner toothing which corresponds to the second outer toothing. A second through-going hole for receiving the second adjusting disc in a positive locking manner is expediently provided within the third recess. In the inserted state, the second outer toothing engages with the second inner toothing. The second adjusting disc is thereby held in a non-rotational manner in the attachment element. 
     By arranging the first and the second adjusting discs with respect to the attachment element, it is possible to adjust the arrangement of the pin with respect to the attachment element. The proposed device for adjusting the maximum opening width can be manufactured in a simple manner. It is extremely compact and light in weight. Furthermore, the proposed construction prevents an adjusted position of the pin from changing over the course of time. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment, the attachment element is implemented in two parts, wherein a first part comprises an attachment plate which is provided with a third through-going hole and which has flange sections extending therefrom, and a second part comprises an adaptor plate having the third recess and the second through-going hole provided therein. The adaptor plate is therefore implemented such that the second adjusting disc can be inserted therein in a positive locking manner. The first part can be attached to the side wall of the receptacle, for example by means of an adhesive connection. The said first part can receive by means of insertion the second part, which second part can receive the second adjusting disc, which second adjusting disc can receive the first adjusting disc. By suitably arranging the first and second adjusting disc, it is possible to adjust the position of the pin rapidly and simply. Markings may be provided for this purpose on the adjusting discs and on the holding flange. 
     In a further embodiment of the invention, the attachment element comprises a fourth recess, which surrounds the third recess, for receiving a cover in a positive locking manner. Once the adjusting discs have been inserted, they can be prevented from falling out by fitting the cover. For this purpose, the cover can be screwed to the attachment element. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to the drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic lateral view of an overhead luggage compartment, 
         FIG. 2  shows a detailed view in accordance with  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of a front side of a device for adjusting a maximum opening width of the receptacle, 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the rear side of the device in accordance with  FIG. 3 , 
         FIG. 5   a  shows a perspective view of a front side of a first adjusting disc, 
         FIG. 5   b  shows a perspective view of a rear side of the first adjusting disc in accordance with  FIG. 5   a,    
         FIG. 6   a  shows a perspective view of a front side of a second adjusting disc, 
         FIG. 6   b  shows a perspective view of a rear side of the second adjusting disc in accordance with  FIG. 6   a,    
         FIG. 7   a  shows a perspective view of a front side of an adaptor ring, 
         FIG. 7   b  shows a perspective view of a rear side of the adaptor ring in accordance with  FIG. 7   a,    
         FIG. 8   a  shows a perspective view of a front side of an attachment plate, 
         FIG. 8   b  shows a perspective view of a rear side of the attachment plate in accordance with  FIG. 8   a,    
         FIG. 9   a  shows a perspective view of a front side of a cover and 
         FIG. 9   b  shows a perspective view of a rear side of the cover in accordance with  FIG. 9   a.    
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show an overhead luggage compartment for a passenger aircraft. The overhead luggage compartment comprises a housing  1  which is fixedly connected to a cabin (not illustrated here); a receptacle  2  is held on said housing in such a manner as to be able to pivot about a pivot axis S. The receptacle  2  comprises a base B and opposite side walls W. 
     The receptacle  2  is shown in  FIG. 1  in its maximum opening width O. The maximum opening width O is defined by an adjusting device  3  which enables the maximum opening width O of the receptacle  2  to be adjusted. 
       FIG. 2  shows a detailed view in accordance with  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 2  a maximum opening width or a position of a loading edge  4  of the receptacle  2  in the z-direction is designated with the reference letter O. The maximum opening width O can be set within the range indicated by the arrows using the adjusting device  3 . 
       FIGS. 3 to 9   b  show in detail the adjusting device  3  and the essential individual components thereof. A first adjusting disc  5  comprises on its front side a pin  6  and on its first outer periphery a first outer toothing  7 . A first recess  8  for engaging a tool is provided on a rear side, remote from the pin  6 , of the first adjusting disc  5 . The recess can be hexagonal in shape. The reference numeral  9  designates a second adjusting disc, which comprises a second recess  10  having a first inner toothing  11  which corresponds to the first outer toothing  7 . A first through-going hole  12  is provided within the eccentrically disposed second recess  10 . The first through-gong hole  12  is implemented such that a first cylindrical section Z 1  of the first adjusting disc  5  can be inserted therein in a positive locking manner. A second outer toothing  13  is provided on the outer periphery of the second adjusting disc  9 . 
     The reference numeral  14  designates an adaptor ring which comprises a third recess  16 ; a second inner toothing  15  which corresponds to the second outer toothing  13  is provided on the inner periphery of the said recess. A second through-going hole  17  is provided within the third recess  16  and enables a second cylindrical section Z 2  of the second adjusting disc  9  to be inserted in a positive locking manner. The reference numeral  18  designates two first flange sections which extend from the adaptor ring  14 . The third recess  16  is surrounded in sections by a fourth recess  26 . 
       FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b  show an attachment plate  19  with a third through-going hole  20  provided therein. The third through-going hole  20  is implemented such that a third cylindrical section Z 3  of the adaptor ring  14  can be inserted therein in a positive locking manner. The reference numeral  21  designates second flange sections which extend from the attachment plate  19 . 
       FIGS. 9   a  and  9   b  show a cover  22  which comprises a third flange section  23  which corresponds to one of the second flange sections  21 . A hook-like protrusion  24  formed on the cover  22  corresponds to a cover recess  25  provided in the adaptor ring  14 . 
     The device  3  is assembled and functions as follows: 
     The attachment plate  19  is attached to a side wall W of the receptacle  2 , for example by means of an adhesive. A through-going hole is provided for this purpose in the side wall (not illustrated here) of the receptacle and the inner diameter of said through-going hole corresponds to the outer diameter of a fourth cylindrical section Z 4  of the attachment plate  19 . In the assembled state, the front side, illustrated in  FIG. 8   a , of the attachment plate  19  faces the interior space of the receptacle  2 . The adaptor ring  14  is inserted into the attachment plate  19  such that the first flange sections  18  cover the two opposite-lying second flange sections  21 . The first flange sections  18  are attached to the second flange sections  21 , for example by means of screws. Subsequently, the second adjusting disc  9  is inserted in the appropriate orientation into the adaptor ring  14 , so that the second outer toothing  13  engages with the second inner toothing  15 . The first adjusting disc  5  is then inserted into the second adjusting disc  9 , so that its first outer toothing  7  engages with the first inner toothing  11 . Subsequently, the first  5  and the second adjusting disc  9  are secured by fitting the cover  22  in the fourth recess  26 . The third flange section  23  is fixedly connected to the remaining second flange section  21 , for example by means of a screw. 
     As is particularly evident from  FIG. 3 , the position of the pin  6  can be adjusted by suitably arranging the first  5  and the second adjusting disc  9 . The pin  6  cooperates with a counter-stop (not illustrated in detail here), which is fixedly attached to the housing  1  in a suitable position. A maximum opening width O or a position of the loading edge  4  in the z-direction can be changed by changing the position of the first  5  and the second adjusting disc  9 . 
     LIST OF DESIGNATIONS 
     
         
           1  Housing 
           2  Receptacle 
           3  Adjusting device 
           4  Loading edge 
           5  First adjusting disc 
           6  Pin 
           7  First outer toothing 
           8  First recess 
           9  Second adjusting disc 
           10  Second recess 
           11  First inner toothing 
           12  First through-going hole 
           13  Second outer toothing 
           14  Adaptor ring 
           15  Second inner toothing 
           16  Third recess 
           17  Second through-going hole 
           18  First flange section 
           19  Attachment plate 
           20  Third through-going hole 
           21  Second flange section 
           22  Cover 
           23  Third flange section 
           24  Hook-like protrusion 
           25  Cover recess 
           26  Fourth recess 
         B Base 
         O Maximum opening width 
         S Pivot axis 
         W Side wall 
         Z 1  First cylindrical section 
         Z 2  Second cylindrical section 
         Z 3  Third cylindrical section 
         Z 4  Fourth cylindrical section