Patent Abstract:
An overhead compartment of an airplane includes a storage bin and a latch assembly. A latch mechanism of the latch assembly is selectively, controllably engageable and disengageable with a keeper to hold the overhead compartment in a stowed position, or an open position, respectively.

Full Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/335,661, filed May 12, 2016, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates generally to a latch assembly, and more specifically to an adjustable latch assembly for an aircraft overhead storage bin. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    According to the present disclosure, an overhead compartment of an airplane includes a storage bin and a latch assembly. The latch assembly includes a latch mechanism that engages with a keeper to hold the overhead compartment in a stowed position. 
         [0004]    In illustrative embodiments, the latch mechanism includes a lock pin, a keeper sensor, and a lock collar. The lock pin, keeper sensor, and lock collar are coupled to a spindle for relative movement therewith. The lock pin engages with the keeper to hold the keeper in the latch. The lock collar engages with the lock pin to hold the lock pin in engagement with the keeper. A push rod extends into the spindle to engage with the lock collar to move the lock collar relative to the spindle and allow disengagement of the lock pin from the keeper. 
         [0005]    In illustrative embodiments, the spindle is coupled to a mount plate for attachment to the storage bin. The spindle is configured to pivot relative to the mount plate to angularly align with the keeper and allow engagement of the keeper with the lock pin. The mount plate is formed to include elongated apertures configured to receive fasteners for attachment of the mount plate to the storage bin and allow positional adjustment relative to the storage bin. 
         [0006]    Other aims, objects, advantages and features of the disclosure will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of specific embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The present disclosure will be described hereafter with reference to the attached drawings which are given as a non-limiting example only, in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an overhead compartment showing that the overhead compartment includes a storage bin and a bin motion controller in accordance with the present disclosure and suggesting that the bin motion controller blocks or allows movement of the overhead compartment at the selection of a user; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a latch assembly of the bin motion controller of  FIG. 1  showing that a keeper is received in a latch mechanism and suggesting that a lock pin of the latch mechanism engages with the keeper to block removal of the keeper; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of the latch mechanism of  FIG. 1  showing a spindle of the latch mechanism coupled to a mount plate and suggesting that the spindle is pivotable relative to the mount plate to allow for variable entry angles of the keeper; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the latch assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of the latch assembly of  FIG. 1  showing the keeper spaced apart from the latch mechanism; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 6  showing the keeper received in the latch mechanism; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a rear perspective view of the latch of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a sectional view taken along line  9 - 9  in  FIG. 6  showing the lock pin engaged with a keeper sensor when the keeper is spaced apart from the latch; 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a view similar to  FIG. 9  showing the keeper received in the latch mechanism and suggesting that the keeper sensor is displaced by the keeper to allow the lock pin to engage with a catch of the keeper; 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is a view similar to  FIG. 10  showing the lock pin received in the catch of the keeper and suggesting that a lock collar blocks movement of the lock pin relative to the keeper; 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  is a front elevation view of the latch mechanism of  FIG. 6  showing the keeper and spindle aligned in a first angular position (a) relative to the mount plate; 
           [0020]      FIG. 13  is a view similar to  FIG. 12  showing the keeper received in the latch mechanism; 
           [0021]      FIG. 14  is a view similar to  FIG. 12  showing the keeper and spindle aligned in a second angular position (( 3 ) relative to the mount plate and suggesting that a slide pin moves in a slot of the spindle to hold the spindle on the mount plate and allow pivoting movement of the spindle; 
           [0022]      FIG. 15  is a rear perspective view of the latch of  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 16  is a rear elevation view of a handle of a latch actuator of  FIG. 1  showing the handle is pivotable about an axis and includes a pair of cam ramps and suggesting that the cam ramps engage with the push rods to drive the push rods away from one another as the handle pivots; 
           [0024]      FIG. 17  is a partial side elevation view of the latch mechanism of  FIG. 11  showing the push rod engaged with the lock collar and suggesting that movement of the actuator handle drives the push rod toward the lock collar to move the lock collar; 
           [0025]      FIG. 18  is a view similar to  FIG. 17  showing the push rod and lock collar positioned after movement of the handle; 
           [0026]      FIG. 19  is a rear elevation view of another embodiment of a handle of a latch actuator in accordance with the present disclosure showing that the handle is pivotable about an axis and includes a pair of cam ramps and suggesting that the cam ramps engage with cam followers coupled to pull rods to drive the pull rods toward one another as the handle pivots; 
           [0027]      FIG. 20  is a partial side elevation view of an opposing end of one of the pull rods of  FIG. 19  showing the pull rod engaged with another embodiment of a lock collar and suggesting that movement of the actuator handle drives the pull rod away from the lock collar to move the lock collar; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 21  is a view similar to  FIG. 20  showing the pull rod and lock collar positioned after movement of the handle. 
       
    
    
       [0029]    The exemplification set out herein illustrates embodiments of the disclosure that are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure in any manner. Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0030]    While the present disclosure may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and herein will be described in detail, embodiments with the understanding that the present description is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the disclosure. The disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of structure, function, construction, or the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of various phrases and terms is meant to encompass the items or functions identified and equivalents thereof as well as additional items or functions. Unless limited otherwise, various phrases, terms, and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass all variations of such phrases and terms. Furthermore, and as described in subsequent paragraphs, the specific configurations illustrated in the drawings are intended to exemplify embodiments of the disclosure. However, other alternative structures, functions, and configurations are possible which are considered to be within the teachings of the present disclosure. Furthermore, unless otherwise indicated, the term “or” is to be considered inclusive. 
         [0031]    The foregoing terms as well as other terms should be broadly interpreted throughout this application to include all known as well as all hereafter discovered versions, equivalents, variations and other forms of the abovementioned terms as well as other terms. The present disclosure is intended to be broadly interpreted and not limited. 
         [0032]    An airplane includes an airframe and one or more utility consoles integrated with the airframe. The utility consoles include a plurality of overhead compartments and a support frame adapted to movably secure the overhead compartments to an upper portion of the airframe. One illustrative embodiment of an overhead compartment  10  in accordance with the present disclosure is shown in  FIG. 1 . Overhead compartment  10  includes a storage bin  12  and a bin motion controller  14 . Each overhead compartment  10  is mounted to the support frame for movement about a pivot axis  11  between a stowed position where an opening  13  of storage bin  12  is covered by the support frame such that contents of storage bin  12  are blocked from passing out of storage bin  12 , and a use position where opening  13  of storage bin  12  is exposed so that a user can store or retrieve items from storage bin  12 . 
         [0033]    Bin motion controller  14  is configured to block or allow movement of overhead compartment  10  about pivot axis  11  at the selection of a user as suggested in  FIG. 1 . Bin motion controller  14  includes one or more latch assemblies  15  coupled to storage bin  12 , one or more push rods  16 , and a latch actuator  19 . Keepers  22  coupled to the support frame engage with latch assemblies  15  to hold overhead compartment  10  in the stowed position at the selection of a user. Latch actuator  19  is configured to drive push rods  16  into engagement with latch mechanisms  17  of latches assemblies  15  to release keepers  22  and allow overhead compartment  10  to pivot. 
         [0034]    Latch mechanisms  17  each include a lock pin  21 , a keeper sensor  23 , and a lock collar  25  as suggested in  FIG. 2 . Lock pin  21 , keeper sensor  23 , and lock collar  25  are coupled to a spindle  27  for relative movement therewith. Lock pin  21  engages with keeper  22  to hold keeper  22  in latch mechanism  17 . Lock collar  25  engages with lock pin  21  to hold lock pin  21  in engagement with keeper  22 . Push rod  16  extends into spindle  27  to engage with lock collar  25  to move lock collar  25  relative to spindle  27  and allow disengagement of lock pin  21  from keeper  22 . 
         [0035]    Spindle  27  of latch mechanism  17  is coupled to a mount plate  32  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Spindle  27  is pivotable relative to mount plate  32  to allow latch mechanism  17  to accommodate various entry angles of keeper  22 . For example, an angular misalignment of keeper  22  relative to latch mechanism  17  during installation of overhead compartment  10 , mount plate  32 , or keeper  22 , or through use and wear of overhead compartment  10 , can be compensated for by rotation of spindle  27  relative to mount plate  32 . In the illustrative embodiment, spindle  27  is configured to rotate relative to mount plate  32  through engagement with keeper  22  and may not require manual adjustment by a technician. 
         [0036]    In the illustrative embodiment, a right-side latch mechanism  17  is coupled to a right-side wall  31  of storage bin  12  and a left-side latch mechanism  17  is coupled to a left-side wall  33  of storage bin  12  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Latch actuator  19  is coupled to a front wall  39  of storage bin  12  and includes a housing  53  and a handle  54  coupled to housing  53 . Push rods  16  extend in opposite directions from latch actuator  19  to latch mechanisms  17 . 
         [0037]    Rod-length adjusters  35  of push rods  16  allow a length of push rods  16  to be adjusted to compensate for variations in a distance between right-side and left-side walls  31 ,  33  of storage bin  12  as suggested in  FIG. 1 . In some embodiments, rod-length adjusters  35  each include a coupling and a spring to allow automatic adjustments in length of push rods  16  during operation of bin motion controller  14 . In some embodiments, rod-length adjusters  35  each include a coupling and one or more set screws to allow a technician to adjust the lengths of push rods  16  manually. 
         [0038]    Mount plates  32  each include a plurality of elongated apertures  36  and a spindle receiver  38 . Apertures  36  are configured to receive fasteners for attachment of mount plates  32  on storage bin  12  and allow a degree of positional adjustment. Spindle  27  extends into spindle receiver  38  of mount plate  32  and is held to mount plate  32  by one or more slide pins  42 . Slide pins  42  extend through spindle receiver  38  and engage with slots  44  formed in spindle  27 . In some embodiments, slide pins  42  are partially threaded set screws. Optional alignment springs  41 , shown in phantom in  FIG. 5 , are positioned within slots  44  and engage with spindle  27  and slide pins  42  to bias spindle  27  toward a first angular position (a), such as that shown in  FIG. 12 . In come embodiments, a snap ring is used in combination with or in place of slide pins  42  to hold spindle  27  onto mount plate  32 . 
         [0039]    Spindle  27  of latch mechanism  17  is formed to include a sensor cavity  43  and a collar cavity  45  as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Keeper sensor  23  and sensor springs  46  extend into sensor cavity  43 , and a guide pin  48  engages with spindle  27  and keeper sensor  23  to hold keeper sensor  23  in sensor cavity  43 . Lock collar  25  and collar springs  47  extend into collar cavity  45 . Lock collar  25  engages with spindle  27  and spindle receiver  38  to hold lock collar  25  in collar cavity  45 . Spindle  27  is further formed to include a window  49  configured to allow lock pin  21  to pass into spindle  27  as suggested in  FIG. 5 . Spindle  27  and mount plate  32  cooperate to capture lock pin  21  within spindle  27  when spindle  27  is coupled to mount plate  32 . 
         [0040]    Spindle  27  is coupled to mount plate  32  as suggested in  FIGS. 6-8 . Keeper  22  extends into sensor cavity  43  to engage with keeper sensor  23  as suggested in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . Keeper sensor  23  engages with lock pin  21  to block lock pin  21  from entering sensor cavity  43  when keeper  22  is spaced apart from latch mechanism  17  as suggested in  FIG. 9 . Keeper  22  displaces keeper sensor  23  as keeper  22  is received in sensor cavity  43  as suggested in  FIG. 10 . Collar springs (not shown in  FIG. 11 ) bias lock collar  25  towards lock pin  21  to drive lock pin  21  into a catch  52  of keeper  22  as suggested in  FIG. 11 . Lock collar  25  holds lock pin  21  in catch  52  to block removal of keeper  22  from latch mechanism  17 . A user engages latch actuator  19  to drive push rod  16  toward latch mechanism  17  and disengage lock collar  25  from lock pin  21  to allow removal of keeper  22  from latch mechanism  17 . 
         [0041]    Keepers  22  and mount plates  32  are installed with overhead compartment  10  to align keepers  22  with latch mechanisms  17  along a first angular orientation (a) as suggested in  FIG. 12 . In the first angular orientation (a), keeper  22  passes into sensor cavity  43  of latch mechanism  17  with minimal movement of spindle  27  relative to mount plate  32  as suggested in  FIG. 13 . Through use of overhead compartment  10 , for example, keeper  22  may shift to a second angular orientation (( 3 ) different from the first angular orientation (a) as suggested in  FIG. 14 . Latch mechanism  17  configured to allow spindle  27  to rotate about a spindle axis  28  relative to mount plate  32  to accommodate for the angular misalignment as suggested in  FIG. 15 . Keeper  22  engages with spindle  27  to rotate spindle and allow keeper  22  to enter sensor cavity  43  and engage with lock pin  21 . Slide pin  42  and slot  44  allow spindle  27  to rotate relative to mount plate  32  while holding spindle  27  on mount plate  32 . In some embodiments, slots  44  are wider than slide pins  42  such that spindle  27  is free to move axially relative to mount plate  32  and compensate for a degree of axial misalignment with keeper  22 . 
         [0042]    Handle  54  of latch actuator  19  is configured to pivot about a handle axis  51  and includes a pair of cam ramps  56  as suggested in  FIG. 16 . Cam ramps  56  engage with push rods  16  to drive push rods  16  away from one another as handle  54  pivots about axis  51 . In some embodiments, handle  54  includes additional cam ramps  58  positioned to trap a pin or roller  59  coupled to each push rod  16  relative to cam ramps  56 . Cam ramps  56  drive push rods  16  toward lock collars  25  to move lock collars  25  as suggested in  FIGS. 17 and 18 . In some embodiments, lock collar  25  includes an angled slot, as suggested by phantom line  62 , configured to trap a pin or roller  64  coupled to push rod  16  for moving lock collar  25 . 
         [0043]    Another embodiment of a handle  154  is configured to pivot about a handle axis  151  and includes a pair of cam ramps  156  as suggested in  FIG. 19 . Cam ramps  156  engage with cam followers  157  coupled to a pair of pull rods  116  to drive pull rods  116  toward one another as handle  154  pivots about axis  151 . In some embodiments, handle  154  includes additional cam ramps  158  positioned to trap cam followers  157  relative to cam ramps  156 . Cam ramps  156  drive push rods  116  away from lock collars  125  to move lock collars  125  as suggested in  FIGS. 20 and 21 . In some embodiments, lock collar  125  includes an angled slot, as suggested by phantom line  162 , configured to trap a pin or roller  164  coupled to push rod  116  for moving lock collar  125 . 
         [0044]    The sizing and materials used to form the various components described herein can be selected based on desired characteristics, such as strength, durability, weatherability, etc. For example, metal and/or plastic materials may be used. In another example, lock pin  21  may be made longer to increase a load capacity of latch assembly  15 . In some embodiments, lock pin  21  is replaced by one or more ball bearings. 
         [0045]    While the present disclosure describes various exemplary embodiments, the disclosure is not so limited. To the contrary, the disclosure is intended to cover various modifications, uses, adaptations, and equivalent arrangements based on the principles disclosed. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within at least the known or customary practice within the art to which it pertains. It is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications and equivalent structures and functions without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as recited in the following claims. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4