Patent Abstract:
Embodiments of the present invention provide a system that provides a cohesive, harmonized look to aircraft galleys and other aircraft areas. The system allows airlines to easily change the decorative front fascia of galley (and other) airline components, even while the components are installed on the aircraft. The replacement is accomplished without the use of tools or extensive manual effort by providing replaceable and interchangeable panels for use on aircraft or other passenger transport vehicles or vessels.

Full Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/278,745, filed Oct. 9, 2009 titled “Easily-Changed Panels for Galley Inserts in Aircraft or Other Vessels,” the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to panel inserts for aircraft that can be easily changed, as well as components on the aircraft that are specifically designed to receive and cooperate with such panel inserts. Particular embodiments are designed for use in aircraft galleys and other locations on an aircraft or other passenger transport vehicle or vessel. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A number of food service and other components/hardware items are located in an aircraft galley. For example, an aircraft galley typically includes at least a water boiler, a beverage/food chiller, an oven, and a trash compactor. It may also include a coffee maker, storage cabinets or closets, trolleys/food service carts, and a number of other service and storage items/areas. 
     Traditionally, galley equipment has a single paint color or decorative laminate affixed to the front surface that faces that galley work area. The surface is intended to be generally neutral or to match the color of other decorative materials in the area. Once such equipment is installed, changing the colors or laminate materials is expensive and usually requires re-certifying the entire component with appropriate authorities or airframe manufacturers. 
     As airlines are moving more toward an integrated design approach in their galleys (as well as other areas on the aircraft), it is desirable that the galley components present a unified and harmonized look and feel. For example, if the door panels of all of the components have a similar color or finish, similar design, a unified graphic design, or an otherwise clean and uncluttered look, then the galley is much more visually appealing to travelers and airline attendants than if the door panels are a hodge-podge of colors and designs. Additionally, components that are located in an aircraft galley may initially all be purchased from one supplier so that they have a cohesive look and feel, although it is more often the case that varying components are purchased from a number of separate suppliers. This may result in the galley having a disjointed look and feel, which prevents the airline from projecting a unified and cohesive look in the galley area. 
     Moreover, even if the component door panels initially present a unified look (e.g., a similar color scheme or décor) when installed, over time, they may become scratched, dented, gummed with stickers or sticky notes (used to identify the food items located inside the component), marred, or otherwise damaged. This results in a galley that appears messy and unkempt. Travelers often pass by and through the galley areas. Thus, presenting a unified, uncluttered, and elegant look to the galley helps the airline project a professional and calming atmosphere. Damage to component door panels can interfere with this goal. 
     The present inventors have also identified a separate need, wherein airlines may wish to replace component doors that are not necessarily damaged, but to provide artwork, a billboard effect, decorative items, graphics, promotional, “white board” (easily erasable, marking board), or other functional or ornamental indicia across the galley area. These options are described in more detail below. 
     In the past, replacement of component panel doors has entailed removing the entire component (the oven, the chiller, or so forth) and installing a completely new component or unit. This can be expensive, wasteful, and time-consuming. Alternatively, just the door of the particular component may be removed and replaced, which is also expensive and time-consuming. A further option has been to non-removeably adhere (glue, bolt, or otherwise permanently secure) a separate, new panel to the component door. All of these options are expensive and time-consuming, requiring tools, downtime of the aircraft, and skilled maintenance personnel in order to effect the replacement or change. In short, these options are not optimal ways to achieve the desired results. 
     Another challenge that arises when components on an aircraft are replaced is that each and every time a part is changed or installed on the aircraft, it must receive a new part number and be independently Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified. This is in part to ensure that the parts meet non-flammability, smoke, and other FAA requirements. This additional certification can be expensive and time-consuming. There is thus a need for an improved system for replacing component door panels on aircraft and other passenger transport vehicles or vessels. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     Airlines may wish to refresh the look of their galleys or other cabin areas from time to time. With the current approach to decorative finishes and laminates on galley components, the entire unit (or at least the door of the unit) would need to be upgraded or replaced. This typically requires wholly new certification of the entire galley component equipment. Accordingly, the present inventors have developed a system that provides a cohesive, harmonized look to aircraft galleys and other aircraft areas. The system allows airlines to easily change the decorative front fascia of galley (and other) airline components, even while the components are installed on the aircraft. The replacement is accomplished without the use of tools or extensive manual effort by providing replaceable and interchangeable panels for use on aircraft. The panel system also helps enhance the aesthetic value of the aircraft cabin and galley environment. Just the decorative or aesthetic quality finish may be replaced from unit to unit (or from door to door or from panel to panel), and the airline may select from a family of panel insert designs. 
     For example, embodiments described allow the airline to quickly and easily change panel inserts so that they match collectively across an entire galley or other area. Alternative embodiments allow the airline to display significantly larger advertising, logos, or other large surface area designs across an entire galley in order to achieve a billboard effect, rather than be restricted to designs on a single component. If a galley component is broken and needs to be removed from the aircraft, the panel insert may be quickly and easily transferred from the broken component to the replacement component, without having an unmatching component in the interim. Alternatively, the airline may simply wish to refurbish all component doors with a different color or design, and do so without extreme expense, down-time or regulatory considerations. At least one embodiment of the system described herein thus provides the option of a single certification step, wherein the system or family of panel inserts is initially certified, such that once installed, the entire component does not need to be re-qualified or certified. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a front plan view of an aircraft galley featuring one family of billboard panel inserts. 
         FIG. 2  shows a front plan view of an aircraft galley featuring an alternate family of billboard panel inserts. 
         FIG. 3  shows a front plan view of an aircraft galley featuring a cohesive family of billboard panel inserts positioned on upper and lower components, and illustrates an example of how they may be interchanged. 
         FIG. 4  shows a plurality of side perspective views of aircraft galley equipment components featuring single, replaceable, alternate colored panel inserts. 
         FIG. 5  shows a side perspective view of an aircraft galley equipment component door without having a panel insert positioned thereon. 
         FIG. 6  shows a side perspective view of the aircraft galley equipment component door of  FIG. 5  having a panel insert positioned thereon. 
         FIG. 7  shows one embodiment of a securing system for securing an insert panel. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention provide a system of airline component door panel inserts that provide a cohesive, harmonized look to aircraft galleys and other aircraft areas. It may often be the case that damaged component doors need to be replaced, but airlines may also wish to use various embodiments described herein in order to provide a fresh new look to a galley area or other area on-board the aircraft. There is provided a system of easily-changeable panel inserts that may be removed, replaced, and interchanged relatively easily without specific tools or skilled maintenance personnel on the aircraft. The panel system helps enhance the aesthetic value of the aircraft cabin and galley environment. The system also provides the option of a single certification step, wherein the system of panel inserts is initially certified, and then, once installed, the component does not need to be re-certified. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , various embodiments of the panel inserts  10  described herein may feature imprinted graphics, promotional indicia, decorative items, airline logos, advertisement material, artwork, visual indicia (including, for example, exit directional information), or any other design elements. In one embodiment, a family  12  of multiple panels  10  may each have a different design element or visual indicia or printed material (such as part of a photo, a letter, a logo, or any other feature) that collectively forms a billboard effect or a mural when positioned and viewed together. These panel inserts may be referred to as billboard panels  13 , and this term is intended to refer to and include one or more panel insert(s) having any type of pattern, picture, text, printing, logo, photo, design, symbol, or any other visual indicia adhered to, printed on, or otherwise displayed by the panel insert. 
     For example, the family  12  of panels together may create a visually appealing scene, such as a photograph or picture of one of the destinations to which the airline travels, as shown in  FIG. 1 . Each panel may have a portion of the scene thereon, such that when installed or properly positioned, the panels collectively form a continuous visual effect, much like a mural. In another example shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , each panel has a portion of an airline name, airline logo, or other promotional item or service, such that when installed or properly positioned, the panels collectively form a desired, continuous visual effect. 
     Other embodiments provide panel inserts that do not present a collective design, but that match a related color scheme or provide a generally muted design or pattern (rather than a series of graphics on two or more panels intended to be viewed as a billboard). These embodiments may be referred to as single panels  14 . As such, single panels  14  do not need to be installed as part of a family of panels in order to be visually appealing, but can instead be installed individually and in no particular order. Examples of such features are shown in  FIG. 4 . Non-limiting examples include a stainless steel finish, a glossy or matte color finish, a fabric-type material, a wood-like or wood finish, laminate, vinyl, leather (real or faux), metals (e.g., aluminum), ceramics, plastics (e.g., polycarbonate), glass, bendable glass, whiteboard material, chalkboard finish, or any other appropriate material that would enhance the décor of an aircraft interior or provide a functional advantage or look over the currently-installed door panels. The panels may feature a single solid color, one or more colors, or an individual repeating pattern (e.g., stripes, dots, chevrons, triangles, or any other design). One example could be a leather-like or wood-like finish that may have a grain or a textured appearance, but does not necessarily feature graphics or textual indicia. Another example could be a repeating shape design. In short, the installation of such single panels  14  does not require any order or sequence in order to present a unified look. 
     Any and all of the above visual options for either a billboard panel  13  or a single panel  14  will collectively be referred to as an “aesthetic quality.” In order to lower inventory and provide enhanced options, it is possible that each of the front and back surfaces of the panel insert may feature an aesthetic quality. In one example, a front surface of the panel features a solid color and the back surface features a portion of scenery or a logo. Airline personnel may desire to interchange one option for another quickly and easily. 
     Panel inserts  10  may be attached or otherwise secured to any appropriate cabin surface. Although installation and use is described throughout with a particular emphasis for use in an aircraft galley and on galley component doors, it should be understood that the panel inserts may be installed on any appropriate cabin surface. For example, the panel inserts may be secured to component door(s) anywhere on the aircraft (such as oven door, chiller door, trash compactor door, boiler door, or so forth), storage cabinet door(s), lavatory door(s), overhead compartment door(s), galley cart/trolley or other food service cart, coat closet door(s), cockpit door(s), divider panel(s), tray table(s), seat back(s), exit row panels(s), or any other appropriate aircraft surface. In short, instead of only replacing damaged panels, an airline may also desire to periodically change the doors of its galley components, its lavatory doors, its closet doors, or any other space in the cabin interior in order to provide a different look and feel of the galley or other airline areas. Any and all of these options will be collectively referred to as a “receiving surface.” For example, the airline may wish to provide artwork, a billboard scenery effect, the airline name, logo, or other promotional indicia in the galley or anywhere on the aircraft. The airline may instead wish to a club-like feel and provide a leather or wood panel look, or it may wish to provide a contemporary modern feel and use a stainless finish in the galley or other airline areas. 
     Generally, the panel inserts are configured and designed to be removeably and releaseably secured or fixed to a receiving surface  16 . Removal and replacement of the panel insert does not require any special tools. In a specific embodiment, the receiving surface  16  has a first securing mechanism  18  that is intended to cooperate with a second, corresponding securing mechanism  20  on the panel insert  10 . The panel inserts  10  may be secured to the receiving surface  16  by cooperation between the first and second securing mechanisms, collectively referred to as a “securing system”  22 . The panel inserts  10  are not adhesively bonded or otherwise permanently secured to the receiving surface  16 , but instead, securing system  22  provides an easily-releasable and easily-changeable system for the panel inserts  10 . 
     In one embodiment, the securing system is a channel (or groove or slot) and edge cooperation. The panel insert  10  has one or more edges  24  that may slide into a slot, channel, pocket, or groove  26  on receiving surface. For example, as shown in  FIG. 5 , a galley component door  28  is shown as having a channel  26  along its top portion  30  and along one side edge  32 . Channel may also be positioned along the bottom portion. Channel  26  may be formed as an overhang portion at the top of the receiving surface  16  (here, shown as a door  28 ), integral with the receiving surface, or it may be formed as a separate channel that is installed separately on receiving surface. Although not shown, channel  26  may alternatively be positioned along both sides and along the bottom of the receiving surface. Channel  26  may be continuously formed or it may simply be provided as a portion (e.g., a portion of a channel or of the door) positioned along receiving surface. 
     In use, edge  24  of panel insert  10  is slid into the channel  26 . If channel  26  is positioned along the top, bottom, and one side edge of surface  16  as shown, then the panel insert edge  24  may be inserted from the opposite side edge (the side edge without the channel). If channel is positioned along both side edges and along the bottom of surface, then the panel insert edge  24  may be inserted from the top. Other insertion options, directions, and channel positions are also possible and considered within the scope of this invention. 
     One optional feature (particularly if the channel is provided as a separate channel portion) is a similarly-shaped trim edge  34 . Trim edge may be provided as a strip that is similar in geometry or the same geometry as the other three edges, so that when it is installed, trim edge provides a “picture frame” look. Examples of trim edges  34  are shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . In one embodiment, trim edge is an approximately 0.06×0.3×18″ plastic strip attached to panel insert  10 . Once installed, it may provide a continuous “picture frame” look around all four sides of the panel. It should be understood, however, that trim edge may be made of any appropriate material. One visually appealing effect is provided if the trim piece is of a similar material as the panel insert. 
     Upon insertion of the panel insert  10 , the trim edge  34  may be removeably secured along the open edge where the panel was inserted in order to complete the look, as well as prevent inadvertent sliding of the panel insert. Trim edge  34  may snap onto the panel, be secured around the non-received panel edge (i.e., the edge that does not cooperate with the channel  26 ), it may be received in channel, or may be secured in any other appropriate manner. 
     The dimensions of channel may be any appropriate size, as long as it is slightly larger than the edge of panel, such that panel may slide into and be received in channel. In a specific embodiment, the width of the channel is about 0.030 inches and the thickness of the decorative panel is about 0.020 inches. These are provided as examples only and are not intended to limit this disclosure in any way. In another specific embodiment, the size of the panel insert is about 24 inches to about 24 inches, more particularly about 20 inches to about 20 inches, even more particularly about 17 to about 11 inches, and even more particularly about 17.6 inches to about 11.1 inches. It should be understood that the panel insert may be any appropriate dimension, however. For example, if used to cover a lavatory or cockpit door, it should accordingly be appropriately sized. Other dimensions and sizes can be understood and determined based on the intended use for panel insert. 
     In an alternate embodiment, the securing system is a bump (or raised protrusion) and recess cooperation. One of the panel insert  10  or the receiving surface  16  has a bump  36  and the other of the panel insert or the receiving surface has a recess  38 . In use, the bump  36  mates with the recess  38 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 7 , if the bump  36  is located on the receiving surface  16 , it mates with a recess on the back of panel insert. If the bump is located on the pack of panel insert, it mates with a recess on receiving surface. This allows panel insert to easily snap onto and off of receiving surface without the use of specific tools. 
     Any other connection or securing systems may be used in conjunction with the embodiments described herein. Any system that will removeably or interchangeably secure the panel inserts to a aircraft receiving surface is considered within the scope of this invention. For example, the securing system may be a ball and detent system, a dove-tail connection, a J-lock system, a magnetic system, a snap system, a hinged system (wherein a panel insert can have one or more pegs that are inserted into holes resembling hinge elements on the receiving surface and swung closed) a clip system, hook and loop (e.g., Velcro™) or any other appropriate system. 
     Another feature provided is the ability to obtain a single certification for the panel inserts, such that once certified by the FAA, the panel inserts can be removed and replaced without additional re-certification for each part. In one proposed approach, the panel inserts are designated as trim to the component to which they are intended to be releaseably secured. The process includes certifying and qualifying a first a panel insert having one color or design, but then allowing that panel insert to be interchangeable with any number of second panel inserts from the family  12  without a new certification process. Thus, after an airline installs qualified and certified unit, component or piece of equipment, it is free to replace the panel inserts with any other panel insert in the family (e.g., a billboard panel  13  or a single panel  14  or any other option) having a different color or design without having to create a new unit part number and subsequently re-qualify or certify the unit, component or piece of equipment. In short, this option allows the fit, form, and function of the panel inserts to be pre-qualified with the FAA for the entire family of interchangeable panel inserts, without obtaining new parts numbers for each panel. Additionally, qualified and certified equipment may be shipped with a panel insert (showing a different design or color than the panel insert that went through the original certification) without having to obtain new part numbers. Materials, colors, dimensions, construction parameters, and any other parameter that must be qualified of certified for safety and other FAA reasons will all be certified initially and then panel inserts from the family will be easily replaceable without further regulatory efforts. 
     Changes and modifications, additions and deletions may be made to the structures and methods recited above and shown in the drawings without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention and the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8