Abstract:
A modular, dropout passenger oxygen mask container ( 10 ) is provided which allows the container ( 10 ) to be used in a variety of different aircraft mask deployment areas presenting respective openings ( 20 ) without container modification. The container ( 10 ) includes a box ( 14 ) having an openable lid ( 16 ) and a universal series of component mounts ( 36-54 ) in the walls thereof which allow attachment of physically separate oxygen inlet, lid latch and mask oxygen valve components ( 72,74,76 ) at multiple locations within the box ( 14 ). The components ( 72,74,76 ). A separate cover ( 18 ) is attached to the lid ( 16 ) and is designed to mate with a specific opening ( 20 ); preferably, the cover ( 18 ) is affixed to lid ( 16 ) by means of Velcro ( 68,70 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is broadly concerned with modular oxygen mask deployment containers designed to be mounted within aircraft oxygen mask deployment openings. More particularly, the invention pertains to such modular units having an openable box with physically separate oxygen inlet, oxygen valve and latching components therein which can be attached to the box at various locations affording a considerable degree of design flexibility and eliminating the need to custom design a container for individual aircraft. Also, the preferred containers of the invention are smaller than many standard aircraft openings so that they can be used in a variety of aircraft; in order to close the openings in an aesthetically pleasing manner, the containers have closure covers attached to the lids thereof. In this fashion, the aircraft openings are fully closed while nevertheless permitting use of the small, readily modifiable containers of the invention. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Commercial passenger aircraft are provided with an emergency oxygen mask for each passenger, to be used in the event of a cabin depressurization. Typically, the masks are stored within a deployment opening adjacent the passenger seating, for ready access during emergency situations. In many aircraft the masks are stored in specialized containers situated in deployment openings directly above the passenger seats. In operation, the container lid is opened through a selectively actuatable latch mechanism allowing the stored masks to drop under the influence of gravity for passenger access. In some smaller aircraft the deployment openings may be provided astride passenger seats. In any case, the masks are operatively connected to a source of oxygen, e.g., a central oxygen supply or to respective oxygen-generating candles located adjacent each mask container. 
     Normally, the oxygen mask containers used in the past have been specifically designed for each individual type of commercial aircraft. Thus, the containers used in a Boeing 757 aircraft may not be readily used in an Airbus. As a consequence of this design strategy, many containers include unique parts which cannot realistically be used in other containers. To give but one example, it is very common to combine the oxygen inlet, lid latch and oxygen valve components in a single device. While this tends to reduce the weight of the container, it renders the part virtually unuseable in other designs. Moreover, a failure in such a combined part complicates trouble shooting and replacement. These combined parts are also relatively large and take up a considerable volume of space within the container which often creates unnecessary “dead spaces.” 
     Another consequence of a uniquely designed oxygen mask container is that it is normally sized to essentially fill an associated aircraft deployment opening, and includes a single lid which is sized to mate with the deployment opening. Accordingly, such a container cannot be used in aircraft having a differently configured mask deployment opening, because either the container will not fit within the opening and/or the single lid will not properly mate with the opening. 
     There is accordingly a real and unsatisfied need in the art for an improved oxygen mask deployment container of the modular type which can be used in a variety of different aircraft without the need for complete redesign thereof. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention overcomes the problems outlined above and provides a modular aircraft oxygen mask deployment container including a box sized to fit within any one of a plurality of differently sized aircraft oxygen deployment openings presenting respective, different openings, together with a selectively openable lid normally closing the box. At least one oxygen mask is located within the box and is deployable therefrom when the lid is open. An operating assembly is coupled with the box and the mask(s) therein for supplying oxygen to the latter upon mask deployment. 
     In preferred forms, an outer cover separate from the lid and configured to mate with and close a particular deployment opening is provided, where the outer cover is releasably connected with the lid of the container box for opening movement therewith. Thus, a relatively small box may be used in a wide variety of different aircraft, and the designer need only ensure that an outer cover for a particular deployment opening is used. In practice, the outer cover is advantageously secured to the box lid by means of VELCRO (multiple hook and loop material), thereby allowing easy cover adjustment during installation. 
     The functionality of the containers of the invention is enhanced to the use of a box having a plurality of individual, spaced apart component mounts formed in the walls thereof. These mounts can be in the form of knockouts, slots, holds or other openings allowing attachment of components within the box at a variety of locations. Furthermore, contrary to present practice, it has been found that it is desirable to provide physically separate oxygen inlet, oxygen valve and lid latch components making up the operating assembly. These physically separate components are attachable to the housing at any one of a number of the component mount locations, thereby giving the designer a high degree of flexibility to accommodate specific situations and weight requirements. Broadly speaking, at least two of the oxygen inlet, oxygen valve and lid latch components should be physically separate and connected to the box at separate components mounts; as indicated though, in preferred forms all three of these components are physically separate. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a modular box forming a part of an oxygen mask deployment container; 
     FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view in partial vertical section illustrating a complete modular oxygen mask deployment container mounted within an aircraft oxygen deployment opening; 
     FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the unit illustrated in FIG. 2, but showing the outer cover in separated relation to the remainder of the unit; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the unit shown in FIGS. 2-3, but with the unit lid and outer cover separated to permit deployment of oxygen masks; 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the unit illustrated in FIG. 4 with the lid and outer cover removed; 
     FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 4, but illustrating another embodiment in accordance with the invention making use of a single lid latch component; and 
     FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the unit depicted in FIG. 6, with the lid and outer cover removed. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Turning now to the drawings, an emergency modular oxygen mask deployment container  10  is illustrated. The container  10  is mounted within an oxygen deployment area  12  of an aircraft (see FIG.  2 ), and broadly includes an elongated, rectangular box  14 , an openable lid  16  normally closing the box  14  and an outermost cover  18  operatively coupled with the lid  16  and designed to mate with the opening  20  presented by the area  12 . The box includes in its interior a pair of stowed oxygen masks  22 , as well as an operating assembly broadly referred to by the numeral  24  which is coupled with the masks  22  in order to supply oxygen thereto when the lid  16  and cover  18  are opened and the masks are deployed for use. 
     In more detail, it will be seen that the box  14  includes top wall  26 , side walls  28  and  30  and end walls  32 ,  34 . As shown, each of the box walls  26 - 34  is provided with a multiplicity of component mounts. Thus, the top wall  26  has a pair of spaced apart circular knockouts  36 , while side wall  28  has a circular knockout  38  and two pairs of transverse slots  40 ,  42 . The sidewall  30  is provided with two spaced vertical slots  44 ,  46 . Finally, the end walls  32 ,  34  each have a central knockout  48  and a pair of spaced vertical slots  50 ,  52 . In addition to these component mounts, each of the walls includes a number of small circular openings  54 . These openings  54  allow the installation of internal box components at desired locations. 
     The lid  16  is in the form of a flat metal plate  56  which is sized to close the open bottom of box  14 . The plate  56  carries one or more latch pins  58  which are strategically located relative to the latching components within box  14  as will be explained. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, the lid  16  is connected to the box  14  by means of a pair of flexible lanyards  60  which are secured to the box wall  28  and lid  16  by clips  62 ,  64  respectively. 
     The cover  18  is provided primarily for aesthetic purposes and has an exterior surface designed to conform with that of the wall structure  66  of the aircraft cabin surrounding the opening  20 . As indicated above, the cover  18  is sized to mate with and close the opening  20 . To this end, mating VELCRO (multiple hook and loop material) strips  68 ,  70  are provided on the lower surface of plate  56  and the upper surface of cover  18  so that the cover is secured to the plate  56  in proper relation to close opening  20 . 
     The masks  22  are themselves entirely conventional and are received within the confines of box  14  until they are deployed. For example, when the container  10  is located in an overhead position above passenger seats (as depicted in the drawings), the masks will fall under the influence of gravity to a convenient use position when the lid  16  and cover  18  are opened. 
     The operating assembly  24  broadly includes a generally L-shaped nipple-type swivel oxygen inlet  72 , one or more lid latching components  74 , and a number of oxygen valve components  76  corresponding to the number of masks  22  within the box. In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1-4, the inlet  72  is mounted on sidewall  28  at the mount location defined by knockout  38 . The three latching components  74  are located in a generally triangular array, with two of the components  74  mounted adjacent the ends of sidewall  28 , and the third mounted centrally on the wall  30 . The components  74  are secured in place by the use of appropriate fasteners through adjacent wall openings  54 . The two valves  76  are corner-mounted adjacent the ends of sidewall  30 , and are secured within the box  14  by threaded fasteners passing through openings  54  in box top wall  26 . 
     The inlet  72  is conventional and includes a threaded inlet port  78  exterior of the box  14  and which is designed to accept an oxygen line. As though skilled in the art will appreciate, oxygen may be supplied to inlet  72  from a central source or from an oxygen generating candle mounted adjacent the container  10 . The unit  72  also includes a generally T-shaped outlet  80  on the interior of the box  14  which presents a pair of outlet arms  82 . 
     The latching components  74  mate with the latch pins  58  secured to lid  16 . As shown, these latches are pneumatically operated and are specifically described in application for U.S. Letters Patent entitled “Latch Mechanism”, Ser. No. 09/330,683, filed Jun. 11, 1999; this application is incorporated by reference herein. The components  74  are designed to release the pins  58  when pressurized oxygen is delivered thereto. Thus, the components  74  are within the pneumatic circuit of the container  10 . 
     Specifically, it will be observed that a pair of oxygen lines  84 ,  86  are respectively coupled to the outlet arms  82  and extend to the corner-mounted pneumatic latch components  74 . Oxygen lines  88 ,  90  extend from the outlets of the components  74  to the valve components  76 . Oxygen lines  91  extend from each valve  76  to the center-mounted latching component  74 . Finally, elongated coiled oxygen lines  92 ,  94  extend from the outlet of the valve components to the masks  22 . The various oxygen lines forming a part of the pneumatic circuit are preferably formed of semi-rigid nylon and are of the “push-on” variety, allowing ready interconnection and assembly of the container; this also facilitates trouble shooting and part replacement. 
     In use, when a cabin depressurization or other emergency situation is encountered, oxygen is delivered to inlet  72  whereupon the pressurized oxygen flows to the latching components  74  via lines  84 ,  86 ,  88 ,  90  and  91  so as to simultaneously operate the latching components to release the pins  58 . This allows the lid  16  and attached cover  18  to drop downwardly under the influence of gravity, with the lid/cover combination retained by the lanyards  60 . In this orientation, the masks  22  will drop out of the box  14  to a convenient position for use. Of course, the oxygen delivered to the inlet  72  is also fed via lines  84 ,  86 ,  88 ,  90  and  92 ,  94  to the masks  22 . 
     The box  14  with its multiple component mounts allows ready modification of the container  10  to accommodate various designs. For example, FIGS. 6-7 illustrate a design making use of only a single lid latching component  74  mounted at the central region of the box  14  adjacent sidewall  30 . In this design, a pair of oxygen lines  96 ,  98  extend from the inlet arms  82  to the corner-mounted valve components  76 . Latch-operating oxygen lines  100 ,  102  extend from the valve components  76  to the central pneumatically operated latch component  74 . Coiled oxygen lines  104 ,  106  also extend from the valve components  76  to the masks  22 . Only a single latch pin  58  is employed which is affixed to plate  56  in location for receipt by the central component  74 . In order to support the opposed margin of the plate  56 , the latter has a pair of spaced, arcuate hinge slips  108 ,  110  which are configured to be received within the horizontal slots  42  provided in box sidewall  28 . 
     Of course, use of the embodiment of FIGS. 6-7 proceeds in an essentially identical manner as that described previously. Oxygen delivered to the inlet  72  passes to and through the valve components  76  in order to actuate latch component  74 , allowing lid  16  and cover  18  to drop downwardly; at the same time, oxygen is delivered to the now-deployed masks  22  via the lines  102 ,  104 . 
     It will be appreciated that the use of physically separate oxygen inlet, oxygen valve and lid latching components permits a degree of design flexibility in the containers  10  which cannot be duplicated in prior oxygen deployment systems. Thus, these components may be individually located at a number of different sites within the box  14  by making use of the many component mounts provided. To give but one example, the inlet  72  may be affixed as shown to the sidewall  28 , but could also be connected to the top wall  26  or either of the end walls. Likewise, the remaining components of the operating assembly  24  may be mounted at various locations at the discretion of the designer. 
     It will also be appreciated that the containers of the invention may all be connected to a single oxygen source and may be configured in parallel or in series, and in any order. Indeed, the containers could even be attached directly to each other.