Patent Publication Number: US-8979048-B2

Title: Rotating electronic display adapter

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The subject invention relates to improvements in mounts for portable electronic displays, and more particularly, to a rotating adapter for mounting a portable electronic flight bag (EFB) on a supporting surface within the cockpit of an aircraft. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     An EFB is an electronic display device that a pilot may use for preflight check lists and similar activities. EFB&#39;s are generally handheld, portable devices that a pilot can take from flight to flight. Information about a pilot&#39;s flight may be preloaded onto the EFB so that the pilot can access it prior to, during and after the flight. 
     In the past, a pilot may have simply placed an EFB loosely within the cockpit of an airplane, e.g., on the floor or on a console, which could lead to problems during the flight. For example, the EFB could become lost among other items in the cockpit, or the position of the EFB might shift during the flight. Further, if there is turbulence, the EFB could become damaged if it is not secured to a fixed surface within the cockpit. 
     Partially in response to these concerns, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has published guidelines designating three separate classes of EFB hardware approved for use under progressively more demanding conditions. Specifically, Class 1 devices are standard commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) equipment such as laptops or handheld electronic devices. These devices are used as loose equipment and are typically stowed during critical phases of flight. A Class 1 EFB is considered a Portable Electronic Device (PED). These may connect to aircraft power and interface to other systems via certified (STC) docking station and/or power source. This would allow the Class 1 device to interface with other systems through the certified interface and other devices through an expansion port interface. 
     Class 2 devices are also Portable Electronic Devices, and range from modified COTS equipment to purpose-built devices. They are typically mounted in the aircraft with the display being viewable to the pilot during all phases of flight. Mounts can include certified structural mounting devices or kneeboard devices. These devices may connect to aircraft power and data sources, e.g. through an ARINC 429 interface. A Class 2 EFB can be used for bi-directional data communication with other aircraft systems. In this class, a single line replaceable unit (LRU) would be an optimal solution based on the ease of installation and replacement. 
     Class 3 devices are considered “installed equipment” and are subject to airworthiness requirements defined by the FAA. Unlike PEDs, these devices must be under design control. The hardware is subject to a limited number of RTCA DO-160E requirements (for non-essential equipment—typical crash safety and Conducted and Radiated Emissions (EMC) testing). There may also be certain requirements for software. Class 3 EFBs are typically installed under STC or other airworthiness approval. 
     Mounting brackets used for Class 2 and Class 3 hardware typically do not permit easy removal of the electronic equipment. The orientation and/or position of the electronic equipment also cannot be easily changed to accommodate user preference. Those mounting brackets that do permit adjustment, require considerable manipulation with both hands, which can be distracting and inconvenient for the pilot or other operator. 
     It would be beneficial to provide a mounting assembly that allows for easy temporary installation of a Class 2 EFB on a supporting console within the cockpit of an aircraft without the use of any tools, fasteners or complicated moving parts. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The subject invention is directed to a new and useful assembly for mounting an electronic display device to a supporting structure, such as a console, within the cockpit of an aircraft. The assembly incudes an adapter portion configured for attachment to a rear surface of the electronic display device and a base portion configured to be mounted to a fixed structure, such as a console, in the cockpit of the aircraft. 
     The adapter portion of the mounting assembly has a mounting plate for securement to the rear surface of the display device with a plurality of fasteners, and a cylindrical barrel portion that extends away from the rear surface of the display device. The barrel portion has three circumferentially disposed radially outwardly extending keys. The barrel portion further includes a first radially inwardly extending recess corresponding to a landscape position of the display device and a second radially inwardly extending recess corresponding to a portrait position of the display device. 
     The base portion of the mounting assembly includes an upper surface or wall with a circular reception port formed therein for receiving the barrel of the adapter portion. The reception port has three radially outwardly extending circumferentially disposed keyways formed therein for receiving the three corresponding keys formed on the barrel of the adapter portion. 
     In addition, the mounting assembly includes a manually operated plunger operatively associated with the base portion for selectively engaging the first and second recesses in the barrel of the adapter portion to prevent relative rotation of the adapter portion and the base portion. A locking nut is also provided for selectively securing the plunger in an engagement position relative to the base portion. 
     Preferably, the three keys and keyways are positioned so that an initial engagement position of the barrel within the reception port corresponds to the display device having an orientation that is 30° clockwise from the landscape position of the display device and 120° clockwise from the portrait position of the display device. 
     The barrel preferably includes a circumferential slot that is located axially above the three keys for engaging an annular retaining lip that surrounds the reception port in the upper surface of the base portion. The adapter portion also includes a plurality of spring loaded plungers retained in the barrel and mounted to bear against a bottom plate of the base portion to provide pressure against the retaining lip to add resistance against the rotation of the barrel within the reception port. 
     These and other features of the mounting assembly of the subject invention and the manner in which it is employed within the cockpit of an aircraft will become more readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art from the following enabling description of the preferred embodiments of the subject invention taken in conjunction with the several drawings described below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       So that those skilled in the art to which the subject invention appertains will readily understand how to make and use the mount assembly of the subject invention without undue experimentation, preferred embodiments thereof will be described in detail herein below with reference to certain figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows an electronic display device, in the form of an electronic flight bag, mounted on the console in the cockpit of an aircraft; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the mounting assembly of the subject invention, with parts separated for ease of illustration, including an adapter portion configured for attachment to a rear surface of the electronic display device and a base portion configured to be mounted to the console in the cockpit of the aircraft; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the mounting assembly of the subject invention, with parts separated for ease of illustration, and inverted from the view shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the mounting assembly of the subject invention, with the adapter portion disposed in an initial engaged position with respect to the base portion, so that the keys are aligned with the keyways and the display device is oriented 30° from its landscape position; 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the mounting assembly of the subject invention, with the adapter portion rotated 30° in a clockwise direction relative to the base portion, so that the keys are out of alignment with the keyways, and the display device is oriented in its landscape position; and 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the mounting assembly of the subject invention, with the adapter portion rotated 90° from the position shown in  FIG. 5 , in a clockwise direction relative to the base portion, so that the keys remain out of alignment with the keyways, and the display device is oriented in its portrait position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural features or aspects of the subject invention, there is illustrated in  FIG. 1  an electronic display device  10  that a pilot may use for preflight check lists and similar activities within the cockpit of an aircraft. 
     The electronic display device  10  is removably mounted to a supporting structure or console  12  in the cockpit of an aircraft using the mounting assembly of the subject invention, which is described in greater detail herein below. The mounting assembly of the subject invention enables a pilot to easily and quickly mount the electronic display device  10  to a supporting surface or console  12  in the cockpit of an aircraft without any tools, fasteners or latches. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , there is shown the mounting assembly of the subject invention, which is designated generally by reference numeral  100 . Mounting assembly  100  includes two main components. These components include an adapter portion  110  configured for attachment to a rear surface of the electronic display device  10  and a base portion  210  configured to be mounted to the console  12  or other fixed structure in the cockpit of an aircraft. 
     The adapter portion  110  of mounting assembly  100  has a mounting plate or flange  112  having a plurality of apertures  114  formed therein. The apertures  114  accommodate threaded fasteners (not shown) that are used to secure the adapter portion  110  to the rear surface of the display device  10 . A cylindrical barrel portion  116  depends from the undersurface of the mounting plate  112  of adapter portion  110 . The barrel portion  116  includes an upper barrel section  116   a  having a first diameter and a lower barrel section  116   b  having a second diameter that is less than that of the upper barrel section  116   a.    
     The lower section  116   b  of the barrel portion  116  has three circumferentially disposed radially outwardly extending keys designated by reference numerals  120 ,  122  and  124 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the three keys are essentially similar in dimension and shape. It is envisioned however, that one or more of the keys can differ in size and/or shape from the other keys on the barrel portion  116 . However, it should be appreciated that at least one of the keys should be larger than the other keys and/or the keys should be unequally spaced apart from one another so that the keys do not drop into the keyways when the barrel portion  116  is rotated within the reception port  216   
     It is also envisioned that different key arrangements can be provided by a manufacturer so that the mounting assembly  100  may be customized for a particular aircraft or display device, or a skeleton key approach could be employed so that there is a single generic version of the mounting assembly. 
     The lower section  116   b  of barrel portion  116  further includes two radially inwardly extending recesses  130  and  132 . These two recesses are separated by a 90° arc. The first radially inwardly extending recess  130  corresponds to a landscape mounting position of the display device  10 , as described in more detail below with respect to  FIG. 5 . The second radially inwardly extending recess  132  corresponds to a portrait mounting position of the display device  10 , as described in more detail below with reference to  FIG. 6 . It is envisioned that the arc between the two recesses  130 ,  132  does not have to be a 90° arc. Indeed, the extent of the arc between the recesses may depend upon the configuration of the cockpit or the structure of the console. For example, there may be cases where a 45° or 50° degree rotation is adequate to change the perception of portrait versus landscape and vice versa. 
     The base portion  210  of mounting assembly  100  includes an inclined upper surface or top wall  212 . A circular reception port  216  is formed within the inclined upper surface  212  for receiving the barrel portion  116  of the adapter  110 . The reception port  216  of base portion  210  has three radially outwardly extending circumferentially disposed keyways  220 ,  222  and  224  formed therein. These three keyways are dimensioned and configured to cooperatively receive the three corresponding keys  120 ,  122  and  124  formed on the lower barrel section  116   b  of the adapter portion  110 , to rotatably and releasably mount the display device  10  to the cockpit console  12 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . Base portion  210  also includes a plurality mounting apertures  225  for accommodating fasteners (not shown) that secure the base portion to the cockpit console  12 . 
     With continuing reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , mounting assembly  100  further includes a manually operated plunger  250  for selectively engaging the adapter portion  110  to prevent relative rotation of the adapter position  110  and the base portion  210  when the display device  10  is in its landscape or portrait position. More particularly, the plunger  250  includes an engagement shaft  252  dimensioned and configured to selectively engage the radially inwardly extending recesses  130  and  132  in the lower barrel section  116   b  of barrel portion  116 . 
     Plunger  250  further includes a threaded body portion  254  for cooperating with a threaded bore  230  in the front wall  232  of base portion  210 . In addition, plunger  250  includes a handle portion  256  for manually controlling the movement of the shaft  252  within the body portion  210  relative to the base portion  210 . A locking nut  260  cooperates with the threaded body portion  254  of plunger  250  for securing the plunger  250  relative to the base portion  210 . 
     As best seen in  FIG. 3 , the peripheral wall that surrounds reception port  216  defines a retaining lip  240 . This retaining lip  240  rides within a gap that is formed between the upper surfaces of keys  120 ,  122  and  124  and the bottom surface of the upper barrel section  116   a  of barrel portion  116 . Three spring loaded pistons  150   a - 150   c  are retained in bores  152   a - 152   c  in the barrel portion  116  to bear against a circular plate  270  secured to an interior surface of the top wall  212  of base portion  210  by threaded fasteners  272  through plate apertures  275 . The pistons are dimensioned an configured  150   a - 150   c  urge the upper surfaces of the keys  120 ,  122  and  124  against the retaining lip  240  when the keys are rotated out of alignment with the keyways  220 ,  222  and  224  to add frictional resistance against the rotation of the barrel  116  within the reception port  216 . Additionally, the spring loaded pistons  150   a - 150   c  serve to take up any inherent and necessary clearance within the assembly to minimize or otherwise eliminate rattle during vibratory loading while in use. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the keys ( 120 ,  122  and  124 ) of the barrel portion  116  of adapter  110  and the keyways ( 220 ,  222  and  224 ) in the reception port  216  of base portion  210  are positioned so that in an initial aligned engagement position of the barrel portion  116  within the reception port  216  corresponds to the display device  10  having an orientation that is offset 30° clockwise from the landscape position display device. This is the only position in which the keys and keyways are aligned. In this position, the engagement shaft  254  of the plunger  250  is refracted so that the barrel portion  116  can rotate freely within the reception port  216  of the base portion  210 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , there is illustrated a view of the mounting assembly  100  when the display device  10  has been rotated into a landscape position. This position is advanced 30° in a clockwise direction from the orientation shown in  FIG. 4 . In this position, the keys ( 120 ,  122  and  124 ) on the lower barrel section  116   b  of adapter portion  110  and the keyways ( 220 ,  222  and  224 ) in the reception port  216  of base portion  210  are rotated out of alignment. Furthermore, the engagement shaft  254  of the plunger  250  is advanced forward using the handle portion  256  so as to engage the radially inwardly extending recess  130  in the lower barrel section  116   b , and thereby fix the position of the adapter portion  110  relative to the base portion  210 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 6 , there is illustrated a view of the mounting assembly  100  when the display device  10  has been rotated into a portrait position. This position is advanced 90° in a clockwise direction from the orientation shown in  FIG. 5 , and 120° in a clockwise direction from the orientation shown in  FIG. 5 . In this position, the keys ( 120 ,  122  and  124 ) on the lower barrel section  116   b  of adapter portion  110  and the keyways ( 220 ,  222  and  224 ) in the reception port  216  of base portion  210  are still out of alignment. In addition, the engagement shaft  254  of the plunger  250  is engaged in the radially inwardly extending recess  132  in the lower barrel section  116   b , so as to fix the position of the adapter portion  110  relative to the base portion  210 . 
     While the subject invention has been shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various changes and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject invention as defined by the appended claims.