Abstract:
An apparatus for holding a cabin attendant seat in a cabin of a vehicle includes a base body attachable to a wall surface in the cabin, at least one holding mechanism for holding a cabin attendant seat, at least one linear movement mechanism, and at least one arresting mechanism. The at least one linear movement mechanism is attached to the base body and supports the at least one holding mechanism. The at least one linear movement mechanism is configured for laterally moving the at least one holding mechanism between at least two laterally distanced discrete positions. The at least one arresting mechanism is coupled with the at least one linear movement mechanism and is configured for arresting the at least one linear movement mechanism in the at least two discrete positions. By this apparatus a very space effective provision of a cabin attendant seat especially on a monument is given.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to an apparatus for holding a cabin attendant seat in a cabin of a vehicle, to a cabin arrangement in a vehicle as well as a vehicle having a cabin and a cabin arrangement installed therein. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the layout of a passenger cabin of a vehicle, an important objective frequently is the maximization of the available number of passenger seats that is limited by the number of mandatory seats for crew members, as well as mandatory safety devices, arbitrary service equipment and toilets. The proportion of the number of passenger seats to the remaining equipment in passenger cabins is a factor that influences the determination of the operating efficiency of an aircraft in scheduled air traffic. In addition to official regulations for the type certification and the operating permit of vehicles, the operators of the vehicles also need to take into account customer&#39;s needs such as, for example, customized special installations in the selection of seat sizes, seat spacings, service equipment and toilets. Depending on the design of fixtures in the passenger cabin and their space requirement, intelligent construction and configuration solutions can optimize the number of passenger seats. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An aspect of the invention may provide an improved holder for a cabin attendant seat, which obstructs cabin installations less than known holders, and which allows to increase the available and usable space especially of a cabin monument. 
     In an embodiment, an apparatus for holding a cabin attendant seat in a cabin of a vehicle, comprises a base body attachable to a wall surface in the cabin, at least one holding means for holding a cabin attendant seat, at least one linear movement means and at least one arresting means. The at least one linear movement means is attached to the base body and supports the at least one holding means. The at least one linear movement means is configured for laterally moving the at least one holding means between at least two laterally distanced discrete positions. Further, the at least one arresting means is coupled with the at least one linear movement means and is configured for arresting the at least one linear movement means in the at least two discrete positions. 
     The base body is a component, which is attachable to a wall surface of any installation in the cabin, e.g. a monument, a partition wall or any other means providing a wall surface. The shape of the base body is not relevant for the function of the apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention, but it may be worthwhile to provide a base body as compact as possible. For example, the base body may comprise an elongate shape, which is to be installed in a vertical manner so as to provide support means sufficient for the vertical extension of the cabin attendant seat to be held. In this regard, the base body may extend from a floor in the cabin to a top vertical position required for holding the cabin attendant seat, however, this is not required. This means, that the base body may also extend from a lower support position to a top support position, wherein the lower support position may have a certain vertical distance to the floor, in the range of the seat surface +/−20 cm. 
     The at least one holding means for holding a cabin attendant seat may be of any suitable shape that allows to hold the cabin attendant seat. Further below, a plurality of different holding means are mentioned. 
     As explained previously, the apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention is configured for holding a cabin attendant seat. This is conducted by providing at least one holding means, which is couplable with the actual cabin attendant seat. Some features of the apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention are rendered more clear by referring to the cabin attendant seat, which is to be attached to the at least one holding means. This may, for example, relate to the cabin attendant seat&#39;s extension or its rough measures. In the following, it may also be referred to the cabin attendant seat without the cabin attendant seat being a part of the apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. As the apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention is designed to hold a cabin attendant seat, this reference does not affect the scope of protection. 
     The at least one linear movement means may include a rail with or without a ball bearing, telescopic movement means or any other means for providing a linear movement. In this regard, the linear movement means allows a lateral movement of the at least one holding means between at least two laterally distanced discrete positions. “Lateral” stands for a direction parallel to a floor and vertical to the main extension direction of the cabin attendant seat. This is a sideways direction from a position sitting on the cabin attendant seat. 
     As the cabin attendant seat comprises a distinct vertical extension, it may be worthwhile to consider a plurality of linear movement means, wherein at least two linear movement means suggest itself. For example, there may be provided a lower linear movement means arranged at a lower end of a cabin attendant seat and a top linear movement means, arranged at a top end of the cabin attendant seat. 
     The at least one arresting means is an apparatus that is configured for a mechanical fixation of the at least one movement means in predetermined relative positions to the base body, which leads to maintaining relative positions between the cabin attendant seat and the wall surface, to which the base body is attached to. 
     In this regard, it is further stressed that the at least one arresting means is not necessarily directly mechanically connected to the at least one linear movement means. However, the at least one arresting means is capable of influencing the at least one linear movement means for being arrested. 
     The actual number of the arresting means may depend on the number of linear movement means. It may be worthwhile to provide as many arresting means as linear movement means, but this is not required, as long as the relative position between the cabin attendant seat and the base body may reliably fixed. Furthermore, the actual working principle of the at least one arresting means may be based on a plurality of different devices, which may include releasable positive or non-positive connections. 
     The apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention provides a reliable, lightweight and space-saving means for holding a cabin attendant seat inside a vehicle cabin, which does not permanently obstruct installation positions for cabin components, leading to a clearly improved capability of providing storage space inside the cabin while not increasing the installation space required. 
     The at least one holding means for holding a cabin attendant seat comprises an adapter for mechanically connecting the at least one linear movement means with the cabin attendant seat, wherein the adapter is adapted to a desired specific model of the cabin attendant seat. The holding means may be realized in form of an adapting component, i.e. an adapter, or may comprise a separately manufactured adapter attached to the holding means, which adapter is capable to be attached to the linear movement means and, at the same time, to the cabin attendant seat to be held. However, the attachment means may simply be realized as bore holes, recesses, cut-outs and other openings for holding screws or any other components capable of providing a mechanical connection to a cabin attendant seat. The adapter may comprise a flat, surface-like shape. 
     The at least one linear movement means may comprise a rail and a guide for guiding the rail. The rail and the guide are engageable with each other, which means that the guide comprises a recess and the rail comprises a cross-sectional profile that corresponds with the contour of the guide, which may have one or more undercuts for providing a certain supporting force in a plane perpendicular to the main movement direction. 
     Further, the at least one arresting means may comprise a locking body engageable with at least one recess arranged in a geometrically fixed relationship with the rail. The recess shall therefore move together with the rail. The recess is responsible for the lockable positions of the movement means by allowing a part of an arresting means to engage with the recess in a positive connection, which is releasable. It is not necessary that the recess is arranged directly inside the rail, but it may also be present in a component attached to the rail, for example the above-mentioned adapter. 
     The apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention may comprise a plurality of arresting means and a locking mechanism extending in the base body, comprising an operating element and coupled with each of the arresting means. The locking mechanism is therefore considered a mechanism that couples all arresting means to a single operating element, which is to be operated by a crew member. 
     Advantageously, the locking mechanism is adapted to automatically revert to a locking position when the operating element is not held by an operator. This improves the reliability and safety of operation. 
     Preferably, the operating element extends through a delimiting face of the base body. The operating element may thereby be easily accessible, while the locking means is completely encapsulated by the base body. 
     Still further, the apparatus may comprise a curtain, wherein the curtain is at least partially attachable to the base body and configured for extending to a position vertical to a main extension plane of the cabin attendant seat. This allows to provide a distinct privacy protection in operating phases of the vehicle that does not require using the galley or any activities of the crew at all. 
     The invention also relates to a modular monument for a cabin of a vehicle, comprising at least one monument module having a sidewall, a cabin attendant seat and an apparatus for holding the cabin attendant seat on the sidewall as mentioned above. 
     The modular monument may comprise a first lateral monument module and a second lateral monument module, wherein the first lateral monument module is a galley module and wherein the second lateral monument module is a toilet module. 
     The toilet module may comprise a first toilet compartment and an adjacent second toilet compartment. 
     Still further, in the modular monument the first toilet compartment and the second toilet compartment enclose a removable or retractable separating wall and wherein the first toilet compartment and the second toilet compartment are combinable to a single toilet compartment by removing or retracting the separating wall. 
     Advantageously, the galley module comprises trolley parking positions for receiving trolleys. 
     The cabin attendant seat is preferably fixable in at least two of a group of positions, the group comprising: 
     a trolley-free position with the cabin attendant seat mainly extending in front of the toilet module, 
     a TTL position with the cabin attendant seat extending in front of the toilet module and the galley module in substantially equal parts, and 
     a crew rest position with the cabin attendant seat mainly extending in front of the galley module. 
     Still further, the invention relates to a vehicle having a cabin and a monument as explained above. The vehicle may preferably be an aircraft having a passenger cabin, which may be pressurized and comprise a pressure bulkhead, in front of which the above mentioned monument having at least one such apparatus for holding a cabin attendant seat is placed. Of course, it may also be possible to provide a monument having a second holder. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other characteristics, advantages and potential applications of the present invention result from the following description of the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the figures. In this respect, all described and/or graphically illustrated characteristics also form the object of the invention individually and in arbitrary combination regardless of their composition in the individual claims or their references to other claims. Furthermore, identical or similar objects are identified by the same reference symbols in the figures. 
         FIG. 1  shows a monument having two toilet compartments and a galley module with an apparatus for holding a cabin attendant seat in a three-dimensional view. 
         FIG. 2  shows details of the apparatus according to the invention in a three-dimensional view. 
         FIG. 3  shows an arresting apparatus in a two-dimensional front view. 
         FIG. 4  shows a cabin attendant seat in a middle position (TTL position) and a locking mechanism in a three-dimensional view. 
         FIG. 5  shows the cabin attendant seat according to  FIG. 4  from another perspective in a three-dimensional view. 
         FIG. 6  shows the cabin attendant seat in a middle position (TTL position) in a two-dimensional top view. 
         FIG. 7  shows the cabin attendant seat in a trolley-free position from a perspective behind the cabin attendant seat in a three-dimensional view. 
         FIG. 8  shows the cabin attendant seat in a trolley-free position in a two-dimensional front view. 
         FIG. 9  shows the cabin attendant seat in a trolley-free position in a two-dimensional top view. 
         FIG. 10  shows the cabin attendant seat in a crew-rest position with an extended curtain in a two-dimensional top view. 
         FIG. 11  shows the cabin attendant seat in a crew-rest position without extended curtain in a three-dimensional view. 
         FIG. 12  shows a detail of the arresting means in a three-dimensional drawing. 
         FIG. 13  shows a detail of the cabin attendant seat and a handset in a three-dimensional view. 
         FIGS. 14 a  and 14 b    show details of an arresting means and a locking mechanism in two-dimensional lateral views. 
       Finally,  FIG. 15  shows two arresting means in a lateral view. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a modular cabin monument  2 , which is to be installed at a rear end of an aircraft cabin, delimited by a pressure bulkhead. In the exemplary embodiment, the cabin monument  2  comprises a first lateral segment module  4  and a second lateral segment module  6 , which in each case comprise lateral delimiting surfaces  8  and  10 , shaped so as to snugly fit with the corresponding aircraft fuselage walls. The two lateral segment modules  4  and  6  are attached to each other in a central region  12  or simply face each other to form an integral monument extending along the whole available width. 
     Exemplarily, the first lateral segment module  4  is a galley module, while the second lateral segment module  6  is a toilet module having a first toilet compartment  14  with a rather wide bi-fold door and a second toilet compartment  16  having a single, swivellable door. 
     The first lateral module segment  4  comprises a plurality of trolley parking spaces  18 , which are designed for receiving trolleys  20  with different lengths, such as so-called half-size trolleys and full-size trolleys. It is further conceivable that a plurality of trolleys may be arranged one behind the other in a single parking space  18 , especially near the center region  12  as there is an enlarged extension due to the pressure bulkhead. 
     In a position at the center region  12 , a sidewall  22  is present, which extends along the longitudinal axis of the cabin, to which sidewall  22  a cabin attendant seat  24  is mounted. In the installed state, the cabin attendant seat  24  is movable in a lateral direction, i.e. along an y-axis and substantially parallel to a front face of the monument  2 . How this is achieved will be explained with reference to further figures further below. 
       FIG. 2  shows a parking space  18 , in which a trolley  20  is introduced and arrested by locking bolts  26  for preventing the trolley  20  from leaving the parking space  18  caused by the motion of the vehicle. Adjacent to the parking space  18  and facing the second lateral segment module  6 , a base body  28  is attached to the sidewall  22 . It is apparent, that the sidewall  22  extends in an x-direction from a front face  30  of the second lateral module segment  6 , leading to a step  32 . 
     The basic body  28  has an elongate shape and exemplarily a pentagonal cross-sectional surface, wherein the actual cross-section is designed so as to flushly fill the step  32  in that a front face  34  of the basic body  28  is flush with the adjacent front face  36  of the sidewall  22 . 
     Attached to the front face  34  of the base body  28  are three linear movement means  38 ,  40  and  42 , each having a laterally movable rail  44 , a guide  46  for guiding and supporting the respective rail and a flange  48  for attaching the linear movement means  38 ,  40  and  42  to the front face  34 . As clearly visible in  FIG. 2 , the linear movement means  38  and  40  comprise an integrated arresting means  50  each, which is configured for holding the respective rail  44  in a predetermined discrete position. 
     According to the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , three different positions are defined by providing recesses  52 ,  54  and  56  in fixed positions relative to the rails  44 , into which a correspondingly shaped member of the respective arresting means  50  may be introduced in order to provide for a positive, interlocking connection. The positions of the recesses  52 ,  54  and  56  are responsible for the desired end positions, in which the rails  44  are to be arrested. More details about possible positions will be made hereinafter. 
     The base body  28  does not need to be a rigid body. It may be sensible to design the base body  28  as a completely hollow component, which may carry a locking mechanism for engaging and disengaging the arresting means  50  in the respective recesses  52 ,  54  and  56 . For this purpose, an upper end face  58  of base body  28  comprises a slit  60 , through which a knob  62  extends, which may be moved along the slit  60 . Appropriate connecting means, such as levers and rods, lead to engaging and disengaging the arresting means  50 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a frontal view on the linear movement means  38  in greater detail. The arresting means  50  comprises a tapered locking body  64  having a protrusion  66  at an end facing the associated rail  44 . By means of a push rod  68 , which is swivably ???? held at an end of the locking body  64  facing away from the rail  44 , the locking body  64  may at least be moved in a vertical direction, i.e. towards or away from the rail  44 , which equals the z-direction in an aircraft-fixed coordinate system. By this motion, the protrusion  66  may enter the recess  52 ,  54  or  56  or may be moved out of it. If the locking body  64  is in a lower position, in which the protrusion  66  does not engage any recess  52 ,  54  and  56 , the rail  44  may be moved along the guide  46  in a lateral, i.e. y-direction. 
     For the sake of completeness, it is indicated that the flange  48  comprises a set of boreholes  70 , which are configured for fastening the linear movement means  38  to the front face  34  of the base body  28  by means of bolts or other fastening elements. 
       FIG. 4  shows a cabin attendant seat  24  attached to the rails  44  of the linear movement means  38 ,  40  and  42  as well as the base body  28  in a partially translucent view, in which the locking mechanism  72  is visible. The base body  28  vertically extends substantially to the floor  74  of the cabin, wherein the knob  62  and the slit  60  in the upper face  58  of the base body  28  are situated in a region behind a headrest  76  so as to comprise a suitable vertical position for ergonomic operation. 
       FIG. 5  shows the cabin attendant seat  24  as attached to the rails  44  from another perspective. It is clearly apparent that the cabin attendant seat  24  may be moved into a region in front of at least one trolley parking position  18 , into a region in front of the first toilet compartment  14  or into a region overlapping the trolley parking position  18  or the first toilet compartment  14 . This is further shown in  FIG. 6 , which is a top view onto the cabin attendant seat  24  attached to the rails  44  and arrested in a middle position. 
     In the position of the cabin attendant seat  24  shown in  FIG. 6 , a bi-fold lavatory door to the first toilet compartment  14  may be opened and closed, as it is not completely blocked by the cabin attendant seat  24 . This middle-position may be used in TTL situations (TTL=Taxiing, Takeoff and Landing). In this position, a symmetric load introduction into the structure is accomplished. Furthermore, the latching state of the trolley directly adjacent the cabin attendant seat  24  can be visually checked easily. Other positions are shown further below. 
     An alternative position of the cabin attendant seat  24  is shown in  FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 . Here, a “trolley-free” position is shown, in which the cabin attendant seat  24  is at its leftmost position from the perspective of a person sitting on the cabin attendant seat  24 . Consequently, the cabin attendant seat  24  only extends into a region in front of the first toilet compartment  14  and thus completely blocks the access to it. However, each of the parking positions  18  remains unblocked, which allows the parking positions  18  to be accessible in order to exchange trolleys and other containers in the first segment module  4 , for example before or after the passengers are in the cabin. 
     In  FIGS. 10 and 11 , a still further position for the cabin attendant seat is shown, which is considered a “crew rest position”, in which a cabin crew member may rest on the cabin attendant seat  24 . In this position it is possible to attach a curtain between a receiving section  80  on the base body  28  and a partition wall  82  in a distance to the cabin attendant seat  24  in x-direction, i.e. vertical to the main extension plane of the cabin attendant seat  24 . For this purpose, the curtain  78  may be rolled out of a container integrated into the base body  28  or out of a container integrated into the partition wall  82 . For the ease of fixation, the base body does not comprise a completely rectangular cross-section but a triangular cut-out  84  to receive the curtain  78 . 
     By pulling the cabin attendant seat  24  to this side, i.e. directly into a region in front of the centremost trolley parking position  18 , the first toilet module  14  is completely unblocked, while at the same time the crew enjoys a sufficient privacy protection. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , which depict details of the cabin attendant seat  24  in an installed position, a headset  86  may be installed adjacent to the headrest  76  for allowing a crew member sitting on the cabin attendant seat to communicate with other crew members or for making announcements to the cabin. In this regard, it is necessary to provide electrical connections from an positionally fixed aircraft system to the cabin attendant seat  24 , which may accomplished by at least one cable integrated into a so-called energy chain  88  that allows the compensation of the three different predetermined positions of the cabin attendant seat  24 . 
     In  FIG. 12 , it is furthermore clearly visible that a rail  44  may be connected with an adapter  90 , which allows for a connection with a standard cabin attendant seat, i.e. a wall mountable cabin attendant seat. As these may have different borehole positions, depending on the model or make, individual adapters  90  may be used for connection to the rail  44  without requiring to use different rails  44  for considering the vehicle operator&#39;s requirements for seats to be used. 
     Still further, the guide  46  is clarified as a dovetail guide that allows for a rigid and stable mechanical connection between the rail and the guide  46 . 
     As presented in  FIGS. 14 a  and 14 b   , the mechanism  72  comprises a set of levers arranged for moving the locking body  64  upward and downward. The knob  62  is connected to a main lever  92 , which extends to a first pivoting point  94 , about which the main lever  92  is pivotally coupled. This means that by pulling the knob  62  in the drawing plane of  FIG. 14A  to the right it rotates with an end opposite to the knob  62  around the first pivoting point  94 . The first pivoting point  94  is created through a holder  96 , which extends from an inner walling surface  98  of the base body  28  into its interior. It is also conceivable that the holder  96  is a part of the flange  48 , which extends from the outside into the base body  28 . 
     Three interconnected levers  100 ,  102  and  104  constitute a lever chain extending from a second pivoting point  106 , which is situated on the main lever  92 , to the respective locking body  64 . The center lever  102  is pivotally supported on a third pivoting point  108 , which is located on the flange  48 . 
     The locking body  64  further is pivotally supported on a fourth pivoting point  110 , which is located on or in the guide  46  or flange  48  with an end opposite to the protrusion  66  of the locking body. In  FIG. 14 a   , the protrusion  66  engages the recess  54  in the adapter  90  mounted to rail  44  while it is disengaged in  FIG. 14   b.    
     In  FIG. 14 a   , the knob  62  is in a position facing the cabin attendant seat  24 . By moving the knob  62  to a position in a greater distance to the cabin attendant seat  24 , the main lever  92  rotates about the first pivoting point  94  and thereby pulls the chain of levers  100 ,  102  and  104 . Consequently, the middle lever  102  rotates about the third pivoting point  108  and thereby pulls the third lever  104  downwardly. Due to coupling the third lever  104  and the locking body  64 , the protrusion  66  is pulled out of recess  54 . Thereby, the positive connection between the locking body  64  and the recess  54  in the adapter  90 , are disengaged. 
     It is conceivable to integrate springs (not shown) in order to urge the main lever  92  always to a side facing the cabin attendant seat  24  and/or a pressure spring or a spiral spring to always urge the protrusion  66  upwardly, such that it snaps into an aligning recess on the adapter  90 . Therefore, the positive connection between the locking body  64  and the linear movement means may be disengaged by moving the knob  62  into a position at a greater distance to the cabin attendant seat, moving the cabin attendant seat  24  in a lateral direction through the moving means, releasing the knob  62  and align the cabin attendant seat into one of the predetermined positions, in which the locking body snaps into the respective recess and automatically locks the cabin attendant seat in this position. 
     In  FIG. 15  it is shown that a connecting lever  110  may be extending between two middle levers of two arresting means  50 , wherein the connecting lever connects to a pivoting point between levers  100  and  102 . Hence, by moving the knob  62 , both arresting means  50  are operated. 
     As a supplement, it should be noted that “comprising” does not exclude any other elements or steps, and that “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. It should furthermore be noted that characteristics described with reference to one of the above exemplary embodiments can also be used in combination with other characteristics of other above-described exemplary embodiments. Reference symbols in the claims should not be interpreted in a restrictive sense. 
     While at least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention(s) is disclosed herein, it should be understood that modifications, substitutions and alternatives may be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art and can be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. This disclosure is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the exemplary embodiment(s). In addition, in this disclosure, the terms “comprise” or “comprising” do not exclude other elements or steps, the terms “a” or “one” do not exclude a plural number, and the term “or” means either or both. Furthermore, characteristics or steps which have been described may also be used in combination with other characteristics or steps and in any order unless the disclosure or context suggests otherwise. This disclosure hereby incorporates by reference the complete disclosure of any patent or application from which it claims benefit or priority.