Abstract:
A luggage compartment for aircraft comprises a tilting floor, a flap and a suspension device. The tilting floor is designed for holding carry-on baggage and the like, and may be locked in an initial position and may be tilted to another position for easier loading or unloading. The loading edge height may be substantially lower than the initial height of the closed luggage compartment. For example, an interlocking mechanism may couple the opening and closing of a flap and the tilting of the floor from an initial position to the tilted position, such as a three-position handle that prevents release of the tilting floor until the flap is unlatched.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This field relates to luggage compartments for aircraft. In particular, this field relates to a luggage compartment for an aircraft, an aircraft comprising such a luggage compartment, the use of a luggage compartment in an aircraft, and a method for loading baggage in a luggage compartment. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Luggage compartments in aircraft are used for stowing and keeping carry-on baggage, clothing and the like. The luggage compartments are located to the left and right of the aisle at or slightly above passenger head level. Since the luggage compartments may not be suspended so high and thus prevent shorter individuals from storing baggage in the luggage compartment, taller individuals often find it impossible to stand up straight under many conventionally used compartments. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object to provide for improved baggage stowage in aircraft. 
     According to an embodiment, a luggage compartment for aircraft comprises a tilting floor, a flap and a pivoted suspension device, wherein the flap has an open and closed position, and the tilting floor is capable of rotating around the suspension device from an initial position into a loading position with the flap in the open position. 
     This configuration of the luggage compartment may ensure that the luggage compartment may be suspended high enough that even tall individuals may stand up straight underneath it on the one hand, while also providing for a lower stowing edge height on the other hand, so that shorter individuals may load the luggage compartment without exertion. This is enabled by a tilting mechanism that enables the luggage compartment to be fixed high enough horizontally in its initial position, and tilt in its loading position, such that the front edge of the tilting floor is tilted down, also enabling shorter people to conveniently store items away. In one example, the tilting floor and suspension device may only be turned if the flap is in the open position. This means that the tilting floor may not tilt with the flap closed. As a result, the tilting floor is fixed securely in its initial position during normal flight operation, and may only be tilted down accordingly after the flap has been opened. 
     According to another embodiment, the luggage compartment comprises a first locking device, wherein the first locking device may be used to prevent the tilting floor from turning around the suspension device, and the first locking device may be released to allow the tilting floor to turn around the suspension device. This may ensure that a tilting motion of the floor only takes place once the user has actuated the first locking device. 
     In another embodiment, the first locking device may be locked into the initial position automatically by turning the tilting floor. This may ensure that, once the tilting floor has been turned into its initial position, it is automatically locked there, so that it can no longer be moved unless the user manually releases it. As a result, undesired tilting of the tilting floor can be prevented. 
     In another embodiment, the luggage compartment has a second locking device, wherein the flap may be held in the closed position by the second locking device, and the second locking device may be released, making it possible to open the flap. In one example, this advantage makes it impossible to unintentionally open the flap. 
     In another embodiment, the luggage compartment also comprises a coupling device for coupling the first locking device with the second locking device, wherein the coupling device is adapted in such a way that the first locking device may only be released once the second locking device has been released, and the coupling device is further designed in such a way that the second locking device may only be closed once the first locking device has been closed. 
     This may ensure that the tilting floor may only be tilted for loading or unloading the luggage compartment after the flap has been opened. The tilting floor may not be tilted before the flap is opened, thereby preventing the tilting floor from tilting and the flap then opening, for example, which may cause the carry-on baggage to accidentally fall out of the luggage compartment. In addition, the coupling means may allow one to lock the flap only once the tilting floor has been flipped back into its initial position. In one example, this ensures that users always first flip back the tilting floor before closing the flap. This may also help avoid the risk of an accident owing to falling carry-on baggage. 
     In another embodiment, the coupling device comprises a handle, wherein the handle has a first position, a second position and a third position, which may be assumed one after the other. The first position here corresponds to the handle in the resting position. The second position involves releasing the second locking device of the flap, so that the flap may be opened, and the third position involves releasing the first locking device, so that the luggage compartment may be turned around the suspension device. 
     Therefore, the first and second locking devices may be released one after the other using the same handle in the correct sequence. The user pulls on the handle, and as soon as the handle is in the second position, the flap is unlocked. As soon as the handle has then moved from the second position into the third position, the tilting floor is released, and may turn around its suspension axis. 
     In another embodiment, the suspension device is situated near a line that runs vertically through the center of gravity of the luggage compaitment in the initial position, so that only a slight torque is required for turning the tilting floor. 
     This represents a very significant advantage, in that only slight forces must be exerted in order to turn the tilting floor (with any carry-on baggage therein). Force enhancing means or elevated exertion by the user are not required. 
     In another embodiment, the suspension device encompasses a rotational axis, wherein the tilting floor has a first lateral wall and a second lateral wall, and wherein the rotational axis rigidly joins the first and second lateral wall, such that the forward and reverse forces, e.g., those produced by aircraft accelerations, may be absorbed by the combination of first lateral wall, second lateral wall and rotational axis. 
     Coupling both lateral walls via the rotational axis may provide for a stable combination, which may also absorb strong acceleration forces, e.g., of the kind that may arise during a crash. 
     In another embodiment, the luggage compartment also has a spring arrangement, wherein a minimum threshold force, which is necessary for turning the tilting floor, may be set via the spring arrangement. 
     The spring arrangement may make it possible to set a force that the user must exert to move the tilting floor out of its initial position, for example. In this case, the spring arrangement may dampen or provide support. 
     Another embodiment provides for a simple and reliable method with which the luggage compartment may be actuated on board an aircraft. The method here comprises the release of a second locking device for opening a flap of the luggage compartment, the release of a first locking device for turning a tilting floor of the luggage compartment from an initial position into a loading position, the loading of baggage into the luggage compartment, the application of a threshold force to turn the tilting floor back into the initial position, the closing of the first locking device for locking the tilting floor, the closing of the flap, and the closing of the second locking device for locking the flap. 
     Therefore, the method may make it possible to load or even unload the luggage compartment while the floor still remains horizontally locked upon actuation of the second locking device for opening the flap. Only when a second locking device is additionally actuated, the tilting floor may be turned into the desired loading/unloading position. The corresponding loading/unloading position of the front edge of the tilting floor is here located under the initial position owing to the rotation. This simplifies the loading process. The tilting floor may then be turned back, whereupon the flap may only be closed and locked after the initial position has been reached. 
     Preferred embodiments of this invention will be described below, drawing reference to the figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  shows a diagrammatic view of a luggage compartment for an aircraft according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  shows a diagrammatic cross sectional view of a luggage compartment arrangement. 
         FIG. 3  shows a diagrammatic cross sectional view of a luggage compartment arrangement in an aircraft fuselage. 
         FIG. 4   a - 4   b  show diagrammatic cross sectional views of a luggage compartment according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  shows a diagrammatic partial view of a luggage compartment with a recess on a side panel. 
         FIG. 6  shows a diagrammatic view of the actuation principle for the first and second locking devices with coupling means. 
         FIG. 7  shows a schematic representation of a luggage compartment according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  shows the embodiment of  FIG. 7  in another state of use. 
     
    
    
     The same reference numbers for identical or similar elements are used in the following figure description. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The examples described and drawings rendered are illustrative and are not to be read as limiting the scope of the invention as it is defined by the appended claims.  FIG. 1  shows a first perspective, diagrammatic view of a luggage compartment according to one embodiment. As evident from  FIG. 1 , the luggage compartment  100  has a tilting floor  1  with a first lateral wall  4  and a second lateral wall  5 . The two lateral walls  4 ,  5  are rigidly joined by way of a rotational axis (not shown on  FIG. 1 ), which may be located on the tilting floor  1 , for example. The rotational axis is part of a suspension device  8 , which is designed for turning the tilting floor  1 , and consequently pivoted (e.g., in corresponding side panels). The rotational axis rigidly joins the first and second lateral walls, thereby yielding a stable structure that is able to withstand strong forward and reverse accelerations of the kind that might arise when an aircraft crashes, for example. Given a strong braking effect, for example, corresponding forces conveyed by the carry-on baggage  6  to the second lateral wall  5  may here be partially deflected to the first lateral wall  4  via the rotational axis. This results in an elevated stability for the luggage compartment. 
     Furthermore, the luggage compartment encompasses a flap  2 , which, as shown on  FIG. 1 , may assume an open position. The flap  2  may also assume a closed position, in which it may be locked. The tilting floor  1  may be turned from an initial position after opening the flap  2  into a loading/unloading position (as shown on  FIG. 1 ). In this loading position, carry-on baggage may be comfortably loaded and unloaded, since a loading edge (front side) of the tilting floor is lowered. 
     The tilting floor  1  also comprises a rear wall  3 , which limits the luggage compartment from below. 
       FIG. 2  shows a diagrammatic cross sectional view of a luggage compartment arrangement. Reference number  200  here denotes a conventional luggage compartment, while reference number  100  denotes an example of a luggage compartment described in the specification. 
     A luggage rack in a wide-bodied aircraft may be determined by three criteria, specifically, a defined stowage volume, an installation height (headroom/standing height) and a loading edge height. 
     As may be seen from  FIG. 2 , the standing height or headroom  10  in the luggage compartment  100  with the tilting floor according to the invention is increased relative to the headroom  9  for the known luggage compartment  200 . The increased headroom measures 6 to 10 cm, for example, but can also be higher (e.g., depending on the maximum tilting angle α). This also allows taller people to stand under the luggage compartment without hunching over. This increases passenger comfort significantly. 
     In addition, a loading edge height  12  of the tilting floor luggage compartment arrangement  10  is reduced in the aircraft luggage compartment relative to the loading edge height  11  of the conventional luggage compartment  200 . The reduction may here measure several centimeters depending on the position of the bearing arrangement  8 , the installation height of the luggage compartment  100 , and the maximum tilting angle α. 
     According to an embodiment, the loading edge height  12  does not wander upward regardless of the elevated suspension of the luggage compartment, but rather (as compared with the conventional compartment  200 ) even migrates downward, as denoted by reference number  13 . This further enables a comfortable loading. 
     Actuating a lock  7  initially opens the flap  2 , while the floor still remains horizontally locked. Only when the lock  7  is again actuated and given a downward pulling motion, does the floor tilt into the desired loading/unloading position. 
     After loading is complete, the floor is manually pressed up over a dead center (threshold force). This threshold force may be generated, for example, by having a portion of the loading weight lie behind the fulcrum, but may also be provided by means of a dampening spring. For example, a spring arrangement (not shown on  FIG. 2 ) may be provided for heavy carry-on baggage to support a rotating motion of the tilting floor. Further, the spring arrangement may be used to set a minimum required threshold force for turning the tilting floor (dead center). 
     The flap may only be closed once the tilting floor has returned to the automatically locked initial position. This may simultaneously serve as a safety check, since a closed flap tells the flight personnel that the tilting floor is correctly locked. 
     Provided as an example is a coupling means that couples a first locking device for locking the tilting floor with a second locking device for locking the flap. The coupling means may involve a toothed belt linkage between the two locking mechanisms, so that the first locking device may only be released once the second locking device has been released. In addition, the coupling means may be designed in such a way that the second locking device may only be closed once the first locking device has been closed. 
     It should be noted, that the locking device for locking the floor and the locking device for locking the flap may not be coupled. For example, the locking device for locking the flap may be adapted as a normal locking mechanism for the flap. When the locking mechanism has been released and the flap is opened, the other locking device (for the tilting floor) may be laid open, since the flap has moved away from the other locking device. Then, the other locking device (for the tilting floor) may be released in order to allow the tilting floor to turn around the suspension device. 
     In an embodiment, the first locking device may be locked automatically by turning the tilting floor into the initial position. For example, this may be done using a snapping mechanism or the like, which automatically snaps into a corresponding counterpart once the initial position has been reached, thereby locking the tilting floor. If the tilting floor is then locked, the coupling means release the second locking device (for the flap  2 ). 
     The coupling means here encompass a handle or tongue  7 , for example, which may assume three different sequential positions. The first position is here the resting position. Actuating the handle allows one to bring the handle into a second position, which releases the second locking device of the flap  2 . Further moving the handle  7  then brings the handle into a third position, which releases the first locking device of the tilting floor, so that the tilting floor may now be turned into its loading position. 
     The turning motion of the tilting floor may be supported or dampened via corresponding pneumatic springs, for example. Naturally, however, other spring mechanisms may be used, such as rubber springs or spiral springs. Also possible are friction mechanisms, which dampen the turning motion. The pneumatic springs (or another corresponding spring or dampening means) may be used to support the rotational process of the tilting element, but also for dampening it. Further, the spring means may be adjustable, so that the threshold force may be set correspondingly, and hence is independent of the loaded status of the luggage compartment, for example. 
     As evident from  FIG. 2 , suspending the luggage compartment as described creates a free space  14  that may be used, for example, for a passenger service unit channel (PSU channel). 
       FIG. 3  shows a diagrammatic cross sectional view of a luggage compartment arrangement in an aircraft fuselage. As evident from  FIG. 3 , the swivel-mounted tilting floor arrangement may be comfortably flipped down for loading or unloading carry-on baggage. This increases passenger comfort, for example, by increasing the headroom under the flipped-up luggage compartments. 
       FIG. 4   a - 4   b  show diagrammatic cross sectional views of a luggage compartment arrangement according to an embodiment. As evident from  FIG. 4   a , the luggage compartment  100  with tilting floor has a rotating suspension device  8 , which defines a rotational axis of the luggage compartment  100 . The center of gravity of the luggage compartment  100  symbolized in its initial position by the continuous lines on  FIG. 4   a  is marked with reference number  41 . As evident from  FIG. 4   a , the center of gravity  41  is laterally shifted to the left relative to the line  43  via the fulcrum  8 . As a result, the tilting floor is in a stable position, since the lateral shift in the center of gravity  41  away from the horizontal line  43  causes a torque to act counterclockwise on the tilting floor or luggage compartment  100 , which presses the luggage compartment  100  against a fixed stop  46 . 
     As may be seen from  FIG. 4   b , the center of gravity  41  of the luggage compartment  100  in the loading position (shown after having opened the flap  2  and turning the tilting floor or luggage compartment  100  from the initial position on  FIG. 4   a ) is situated in the end position (see  FIG. 4   b ) shifted laterally to the right relative to the horizontal axis  43  via the fulcrum  8 . As a result, the tilting floor is in a stable position even in this position, since the torque acts on it clockwise, thereby pressing the tilting floor against the fixed stop  45 . Given the relative proximity of the center of gravity to the horizontal axis  43 , only a relatively low force is ever necessary for the rotational motion. Mechanically complex and heavy dampening means or force enhancing means may hence be largely omitted. 
     In an exemplary embodiment according to this invention, the first locking device can be locked automatically by turning the tilting floor into the initial position. For example, this can be done using a snapping mechanism or the like, which automatically snaps into a corresponding counterpart once the initial position has been reached, thereby locking the tilting floor. If the tilting floor is then locked, the coupling means release the second locking device (for the flap  2 ). 
     In order to load or unload the luggage compartment, a locking device is first released to disengage the flap  2  of the luggage compartment. This makes it possible to open the flap  2 . After the flap has been opened, a second locking device is released, allowing the tilting floor  1  of the luggage compartment to be tilted from an initial position into a loading position. The first and second locking device are here joined with a handle  7  via a coupling means, wherein the coupling means is designed in such a way that the first locking device may only be released once the second locking device has been released, and that the second locking device may only be locked once the first locking device has been closed. After the tilting floor has arrived at the loading or unloading position, the baggage may be pushed into or taken out of the luggage compartment. A threshold force must then be exerted to turn the tilting floor back to the initial position. When the initial position has been assumed, the first locking device automatically latches to lock the tilting floor, and the flap may be closed. After the flap  2  is closed, the flap  2  is automatically locked by a second locking mechanism. 
     According to an embodiment, there are two stable states in which no restoring force acts. The first state is shown on  FIG. 4   a , in which the acting force actually works counterclockwise, which would cause the tilting element to turn up further if no stop element  46  were provided. The second stable position is shown on  FIG. 4   b , in which the force acts on the tilting element clockwise, so that a tilting motion would continue if a second stop element  45  were not to halt this tilting motion. Therefore, a stable state is also shown on  FIG. 4   b.    
     Torsion dampeners may also be used as the spring arrangement. 
     Gaps between the inner lateral walls may be covered by a profile. A gap on the rear side of the luggage compartment may be covered by a movable panel (e.g., see  15  on  FIG. 1 ). The luggage compartment may be unlocked by means of a handle or slide-out tongue, wherein the door is unlocked by about 30% after the tongue is withdrawn, for example, and the tilting floor is unlocked by another 30% while continuing to withdraw the tongue. For example, the handle may be designed as a handrail, which the user may use to pull down the tilting floor after withdrawn 60%. This handrail may take up the entire width of the luggage compartment, for example. The handrail may advantageously encompass a seat or seat row number, which is legible from the both with the tilting floor flipped up or down. In one example, typical forces needed to open or tilt the tilting floor may measure 200 Newtons, for example. 
       FIG. 6  shows a diagrammatic view of the actuating principle for the first and second locking devices with coupling means. As discernible from  FIG. 6   a , both the first locking device  62  located on the lateral walls of the luggage compartment and the second locking device  61  located on the flap  2  of the luggage compartment are closed in the initial state. The two locking devices  61 ,  62  are coupled together via a coupling means  63  comprising the handle  7 . The door  2  is unlocked by actuating the handle  7  (shifting from the first position shown on  FIG. 6   a  into the second position shown on  FIG. 6   b ).  FIG. 6   c  shows how the handle, and hence the coupling means, is moved into the third position via the two locking devices  61 ,  62 , in which the first locking device  62  opens on both sides of the luggage compartment, so that the tilting floor  1  may now be tilted. This is depicted on  FIG. 6   d , in which the handle and the coupling means have been moved further down into a fourth position, as a result of which the tilting floor  1  is turned around the suspension device  8  and tilted downward. 
       FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  show an other embodiment. The luggage compartment further comprises a frame member  701  or holder which is rotatably attached to the tilting floor and adapted for preventing a piece of luggage to slip out of the compartment when the floor is tilted. For that reason, the frame  701  follows the tilting movement of the floor after the flap is opened, thereby holding back the luggage, as depicted in  FIG. 7 . As may be seen from  FIG. 8 , the frame member  701  may be rotated upwards in order to access the luggage or to load/unload the compartment. It should be noted the other mechanisms for fixing and/or moving the frame may be used, such as, for example, a sliding mechanism which allows the frame member  701  to be moved upwards when the luggage as to be accessed. 
     Alternative combinations and variations of the examples provided will become apparent based on the disclosure. It is not possible to provide specific examples for all of the many possible combinations and variations of the embodiments described, but such combinations and variations may be claims that eventually issue. 
     In addition, it must be noted that “comprising” does not exclude any other elements or steps, and “one” or “a” do not exclude a plurality. Further, let it be noted that features or steps that have been described with reference to one of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above. Reference numbers in the claims are not to be regarded as limiting.