Abstract:
A control assembly for a pocket-style screen or door. Top and bottom guide rollers carried by the screen travel along adjustable guide rails mounted in the pocket. A magnet assembly includes a stationary magnet mounted in the pocket wall arranged to attract a moveable magnet carried on a cable to facilitate final opening and closing the screen. A damper cooperates with the magnet assembly to decrease the velocity of the screen as it moves into stowed and deployed positions.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Application No. 62/241,409 filed Oct. 14, 2015, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a control apparatus for a privacy screen, for example, of the type utilized in an aircraft passenger suite, and more particularly, to a control apparatus including adjustable guides, a magnet arrangement and a cable arrangement for controlling adjustments, tensioning, dampening, and movement of a privacy screen or like structure. 
         [0003]    Premium class passenger cabins are frequently equipped with private suites that include facilities for sitting, reclining, sleeping in a lay flat position, dining and working. These suites are sometimes equipped with a privacy screen or door that permits the ingress/egress screen to be open or closed as required. Because of limited space, a “pocket” type sliding screen may be desirable. With these screens, it is important to provide a mechanism that is robust, reliable, easily maintained and adjusted, and that operates in a smooth manner in keeping with its presence in a premium class area of the aircraft. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a sliding privacy screen configured for use in an aircraft passenger suite. 
         [0005]    It is another object of the invention to provide a sliding privacy screen that floats within a roller and guide system that allows for rotational and translational adjustment. 
         [0006]    It is another object of the invention to provide a cable and pulley system for tensioning the screen. 
         [0007]    It is another object of the invention to provide a damper assembly utilizing magnets and cables to provide soft open and close features for the screen. 
         [0008]    It is another object of the invention to provide a double latch system to allow crew to lock the privacy screen in the stowed position, including an embodiment that features a magnet coupling system. 
         [0009]    It is another object of the invention to provide a privacy screen system that is easy to adjust and compact. 
         [0010]    It is another object of the invention to provide a screen system that is applicable and beneficial to pocket style screens and doors. 
         [0011]    It is another object of the invention to provide a screen system that can also be adapted to overhung style screens and doors. 
         [0012]    It is another object of the invention to provide a magnetic soft open and close feature applicable to any sliding door, screen, drawer, tray, etc. 
         [0013]    To achieve the foregoing and other objects and advantages, in one embodiment the present invention provides a screen control apparatus including a screen movable between a stowed position within a pocket and a deployed position outside of the pocket, at least one guide roller carried on the screen arranged to travel along at least one guide rail mounted in the pocket, a cable routed around a plurality of pulleys rotatably mounted within the pocket, the cable secured to the screen, a magnet assembly including a stationary magnet mounted within the pocket and a moveable magnet carried on the cable, the moveable magnet movable into and out of magnetic attraction with the stationary magnet as the screen moves between the stowed and deployed positions, and a damper assembly mounted within the pocket operable for controlling cable velocity. 
         [0014]    In a further embodiment, the pocket can be located within a wall of an aircraft passenger suite, the pocket having a vertical opening facing across an entrance to the passenger suite. 
         [0015]    In a further embodiment, the at least one guide roller can include a top roller rotatably mounted proximate a top of the screen and a bottom roller rotatably mounted proximate a bottom of the screen, the top roller arranged to travel along a top guide mounted within the pocket above the screen, and the bottom roller arranged to travel along a bottom guide mounted within the pocket below the screen. 
         [0016]    In a further embodiment, the at least one guide roller can include a middle roller rotatably mounted proximate a face of the screen, the middle roller arranged to travel along a middle guide mounted within the pocket between the top and bottom guides. 
         [0017]    In a further embodiment, the at least one guide rail can be an elongate linear member adjustable at one or both ends to adjust at least one of screen position and trajectory. 
         [0018]    In a further embodiment, the apparatus can include a top cable block securing the cable to the screen proximate a top of the screen, and a bottom cable block securing the cable to the screen proximate a bottom of the screen, the top and bottom cable blocks moveable with the screen. 
         [0019]    In a further embodiment, the apparatus can include a glide sheet arranged between the stationary magnet and the moveable magnet, the glide sheet having a wear surface controlling a distance between the moveable magnet and the stationary magnet. 
         [0020]    In a further embodiment, the cable can include an in-line turnbuckle for adjusting cable tension. 
         [0021]    In a further embodiment, the damper assembly can include a plurality of pulleys around which the cable is routed along a non-linear pathway. 
         [0022]    In a further embodiment, the stationary magnet can be a female conical-shaped magnet and the moveable magnet can be a male conical-shaped magnet mounted on the cable, and wherein the stationary magnet is mounted in a tubular guide through which the cable passes. 
         [0023]    In a further embodiment, the screen can be a door, shade, window, or any other rigid or flexible structure adapted to slide between stowed and deployed positions. 
         [0024]    According to another embodiment, the present invention provides an aircraft passenger suite including a plurality of walls, an entrance located between spaced ones of the plurality of walls, a pocket located within one of the plurality of walls, the pocket having a vertical opening facing across the entrance, a screen movable between a stowed position within the pocket and a deployed position outside of the pocket, at least one guide roller carried on the screen arranged to travel along at least one guide rail mounted in the pocket, a cable routed around a plurality of pulleys rotatably mounted within the pocket, the cable secured to the screen, a magnet assembly including a stationary magnet mounted within the pocket and a moveable magnet carried on the cable, the moveable magnet movable into and out of magnetic attraction with the stationary magnet as the screen moves between the stowed and deployed positions, and a damper assembly mounted within the pocket operable for controlling cable velocity. 
         [0025]    Embodiments of the invention can include one or more or any combination of the above features and configurations. 
         [0026]    Additional features, aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the invention as described herein. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description present various embodiments of the invention, and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the invention as it is claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0027]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention are better understood when the following detailed description of the invention is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0028]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a passenger suite equipped with a sliding pocket screen according to an embodiment of the invention, shown with the screen stowed; 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the passenger suite shown with the screen deployed; 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation with parts broken away, shown with the screen deployed; 
           [0031]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged, fragmentary side elevation from the reverse side shown in  FIG. 3 , shown with the screen deployed; 
           [0032]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged, fragmentary side elevation of the bottom portion of the screen shown deployed; 
           [0033]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the cable magnet carriage; 
           [0034]      FIG. 7  is a section view through the cable magnet carriage; 
           [0035]      FIG. 8  is a fragmentary vertical end elevation showing guide and rollers that determine the screen&#39;s left/right and up/down angle, position and trajectory; 
           [0036]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged, fragmentary view with parts broken away of the crew latch for locking screen position, shown with the latch locked; 
           [0037]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged, fragmentary view with parts broken away of the latch showing the latch unlocked; 
           [0038]      FIG. 11  is a fragmentary view of the top guide positioning and trajectory adjustment; 
           [0039]      FIG. 12  is a fragmentary view of the bottom guide positioning and trajectory adjustment; 
           [0040]      FIG. 13  is a fragmentary view of the middle guide positioning and trajectory adjustment; 
           [0041]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of cable tensioning and damper assemblies; 
           [0042]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the cable tensioner and magnet adjustment block; 
           [0043]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the magnet adjustment block showing adjustment thereof; and 
           [0044]      FIG. 17  shows sequential views of conical magnet arrangement. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0045]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an exemplary passenger suite  10  suitable for use in a seating arrangement in an airliner or other conveyance is shown generally at reference numeral  10 . The suite  10  generally includes a screen  22  that, when deployed, closes off access between the interior of the suite  10  and other areas of the cabin, such as the aisles. The screen  22  can also be a door, shade, window, or any other rigid or flexible structure capable of moving, for example sliding, between stowed and deployed positions. The screen  22  can serve to provide one or more of privacy, shade, ventilation, etc. 
         [0046]    The passenger suite  10  further includes walls  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  17 , and  18 , within which is located, variously, an adjustable seat, ottoman, table, entertainment equipment, controls, storage area, etc. These specific items are not, per se, part of the invention and thus are not described further. Examples of such passenger suites are disclosed in applicant&#39;s U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,578,471 and 8,662,447. The inventive screen control apparatus and method described herein has application for uses other than in transportation modes. 
         [0047]    The suite  10  includes an access opening  20  or entrance between the walls  12  and  18  for passenger and crew ingress and egress. The access opening  20  is opened and closed as desired by movement of the screen  22 , which slides into the wall  18  to open the access opening  20 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , and out of the wall  18  to close the access opening  20  and thus close off access to the suite  10 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . Thus,  FIG. 1  shows the screen  22  in a “stowed” or “open” position, and  FIG. 2  shows the screen  22  in a “deployed” or “closed” position. A latch  44 , as described in detail below, operates to hold the screen  22  in the stowed position. 
         [0048]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , wall  18  includes an interior “pocket” accessed through a vertically-extending opening. The screen  22  is mounted for sliding movement into and out of the pocket through the opening. The movement of the screen  22  is guided and controlled by way of a top guide rail  26  and a bottom guide rail  28  on which the respective top and bottom surfaces of the screen  22  ride. A middle guide rail  30  positioned between the top guide rail  26  and bottom guide rail  28 , for example nearer the bottom rail  28 , provides stability and improved motion control to the screen  22 . Each of the top, bottom and middle guide rails  26 ,  28 ,  30  can have a U-shaped cross-section wherein the top guide rail  26  opens downward, the bottom guide rail  28  opens upward, and the middle guide rail  30  opens in a direction of the screen  22 . 
         [0049]    A damper assembly  32  operates to controls the velocity of a cable  34 . As show, the damper assembly  32  includes a plurality of pulleys around which the cable  34  is routed along a non-linear path. Adjustable cable tensioners  38  and  40  provide tension to the cable  34 . A magnet system  42 , as described in detail below, urges the screen  22  to remain in either the stowed or deployed position. The crew latch  44  located near the bottom of wall  18  permits a crew member to latch the screen in the stowed position, for example, for taxi, take-off and landing (TTOL). 
         [0050]      FIG. 4  shows a first or “upper” cable block  46  secured near a top of the screen  22 . When a passenger deploys the screen  22 , such as by pulling on the screen, the screen  22  pulls the cable block  46  along therewith, thereby pulling the cable  34 . Cable velocity is controlled by the damper assembly  32  and the routed cable. The cable  34  also moves the attached magnet system  42 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the cable  34  also moves a second cable block  50  attached to the screen  22 , which moves the bottom of the screen  22 . The cable  34  can be continuous and is generally routed along the top, bottom, and inner sides of the pocket, around a series of vertically oriented pulleys and through the damper assembly  32 . 
         [0051]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , the cable  34  moves an attached cable magnet carriage  52  on which is mounted a cable magnet  54 . This assembly glides over a glide sheet  56  that provides a wear surface and controls the distance between the cable magnet  54  and a stationary magnet  58  mounted as part of the magnet system  42 . The cable magnet  54  can be wedge-shaped to provide linear attraction as the cable magnet  54  approaches the stationary magnet  58 . Further details of the magnet system  42  are shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0052]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , a horizontally-oriented top guide roller  60  mounted on the top of the screen  22  rolls within/along the top guide rail  26 , a vertically-oriented middle guide roller  62  mounted on a side of the screen  22  rolls within/along the middle guide rail  30 , and a horizontally-oriented bottom guide roller  64  rolls within/along the bottom guide rail  28 , as shown. The roller and guide channel arrangement facilitates and guides smooth horizontal translation of the screen  22 . 
         [0053]      FIGS. 9 and 10  show the respective “locked” and “unlocked” configurations of the crew latch  44 . The crew latch  44  can be mounted in the lower corner of the wall  18  away from the vertical opening to the pocket, as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . The latch  44  includes a handle  72  rotatably mounted in a latch housing  70 . A pair of bolts  74 ,  76  contain respective bolt magnets  78 ,  80 . The handle  72  contains handle magnets  82 ,  84 . The handle magnets  82 ,  84  are placed with opposing magnetic poles at 90 degrees to each other. When the handle  72  is rotated, the handle magnets  82 ,  84  repel or attract the magnets  78 ,  80 , depending on the rotation direction of the handle  72 . For example, clockwise rotation may repel the magnets  78 ,  80 , while counterclockwise rotation may attract the magnets  78 ,  80 . Attraction between the handle magnets  82 ,  84  and bolt magnets  74 ,  76  pulls the bolts  74 ,  76  out of a slot  86  formed in the screen  22 , thus unlocking the screen  22  and allowing deployment as shown in  FIG. 10 . When rotated further, or in the opposite direction, the handle magnets  82 ,  84  repel the bolt magnets  74 ,  76 , thereby pushing the bolts into the slot  86 , thus locking the screen  22  in the fully stowed position shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0054]    Referring to  FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 , screen adjustment and trajectory is controlled by adjusting the position and angle of the top guide rail  26 , bottom guide rail  28 , and middle guide rail  30 . The top guide rail  26  is adjusted, as shown in  FIG. 11 , by way of an adjuster screw  90  positioned near one end of the top guide rail  26 , which can be turned by, for example, a hex key or other tool. The screw  90  turns to move one end of the guide rail  26  in or out depending on the direction turned. Another adjuster screw, not shown, at the other end of the top guide rail  26  performs a similar function. Adjusting only one of the adjuster screws yaws the tope guide rail  26 , while adjusting both adjuster screws translates the top guide rail  26 . Once the adjustment is made by the screw  90 , a low profile shoulder bolt  92  can be tightened to lock the adjusted position in place. 
         [0055]    Adjustment of the bottom guide rail  28  is shown in  FIG. 12 . In a manner similar to adjustment of the top guide rail  26 , an adjuster screw  94  turns to move one end of the bottom guide rail  28  into a desired position. Another adjuster screw, not shown, located at the other end of the bottom guide rail  28  performs a similar function. Again, adjusting only one of the adjuster screws yaws the bottom guide rail  28 , while adjusting both adjuster screws translates the bottom guide rail  28 . Once the adjustment is made by the screw  94 , a low profile shoulder bolt  96  can be tightened to lock the adjusted position in place. 
         [0056]    Adjustment of the middle guide rail  30  is shown in  FIG. 13 . In a manner similar to adjustment of the top and bottom guide rails  26  and  28 , an adjuster screw  98  is turned to move one end of the middle guide rail  30  into a desired position. Another adjuster screw, not shown, located at the other end of the middle guide rail  30  performs a similar function. Adjusting only one of the adjuster screws yaws the middle guide rail  30 , while adjusting both adjuster screws translates the middle guide rail  30 . Once the adjustment is made by the screw  98 , a low profile shoulder bolt  100  is tightened to lock the adjusted position in place. 
         [0057]    The guide rails  26 ,  28 ,  30  can be adjusted individually or together to change the deployment angle, yaw, etc. of the screen  22  to fine-tune horizontal translation and ensure deployment at the correct angle. 
         [0058]    Referring to  FIGS. 14 and 15 , cable tension is adjusted by turning turnbuckles  102  and  104  mounted on the cable  34  to increase or decrease tension on the cable  34 .  FIG. 14  also shows the damper assembly and pulley arrangement thereof including three vertically-oriented pulleys wherein the cable  34  is routed over a first end pulley, under a middle pulley, and over a second end pulley. Details of the magnet system  42  and adjustment of the screen  22  in the stowed and deployed positions are shown in  FIG. 16 . 
         [0059]      FIG. 17  illustrates an alternative magnet system  110  utilizing a stationary, female conical magnet  112  and a movable, male conical magnet  114  mounted on a cable  116 . The stationary magnet  112  is mounted in a tubular guide  118  through which the cable  116  passes. As shown in the sequential views of  FIG. 17 , the magnet  114  in its unguided, partially guided and fully guided positions, views (1), (2) and (3), not engaging the stationary magnet  112 , is not influenced by the stationary magnet  112 . As the magnet  114  moves into the stationary magnet  112 , it is increasingly attracted to the stationary magnet  114 , view (4), until it is fully engaged with the stationary magnet  114 , view (5). 
         [0060]    While the damper system  32  is always limiting the speed of the screen  22 , as the screen  22  nears the stowed position, the magnets begin to attract each other, thereby creating a force that moves the screen  22  into the fully stowed position. The combination of the force and the damper create an automatic soft close feature. 
         [0061]    An aircraft passenger suite privacy screen control apparatus and method is described above. Various details of the invention may be changed without departing from its scope. Furthermore, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and the best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation, the invention being defined by the claims.