Patent Description:
Overhead bins in aircraft cabins typically have door hinges which are received within the storage space of the bins, for example attached to an inner surface of the bin walls. The hinges accordingly reduce the available storage space within the bin, and accordingly the amount of luggage which can be stored within the bin. Published patent documents <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> disclose known hinge assemblies relevant as background to the present invention.

<CIT> discloses an overhead storage bin with upwardly pivoting hinge/door where the entire hinge assembly is located outside the lateral walls of the storage bin.

<CIT> discloses an overhead storage bin with upwardly pivoting hinge/door where the entire hinge assembly is located inside the lateral walls of the storage bin.

<CIT> discloses an overhead storage bin for vehicles with upwardly pivoting hinge/door where the hinges of the door are located inside the lateral walls of the storage bin.

According to the invention there is provided an overhead storage bin comprising the features of claim <NUM>.

In embodiments, the storage bin can include any one or any combination of the following:.

In a particular embodiment, the wall is a first wall, the bin body including a second wall opposite the first wall, the second wall having an inner surface within the storage space and an opposed outer surface outside of the storage space, an edge of the second wall including two additional spaced apart wall panels, the bin further comprising an additional pivot located between the additional wall panels, and an additional hinge arm having a portion located between the additional wall panels and engaged to the additional pivot, the additional hinge arm extending away from the additional wall panels and engaged to the door, the additional hinge arm pivotable about the pivot to be movable within an additional plane aligned with the additional wall.

For a better understanding of the present invention, as well as other aspects and further features thereof, reference is made to the following description which is to be used in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, where:.

In the drawings, embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood that the description and drawings are only for purposes of illustration and as an aid to understanding.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to <FIG>, an aircraft is shown at <NUM>, and is generally described to illustrate some components for reference purposes in the present disclosure. The aircraft <NUM> has a fuselage <NUM> having a fore end at which a cockpit is located, and an aft end supporting a tail assembly, with the cabin <NUM> generally located between the cockpit and the tail assembly. The tail assembly comprises a vertical stabilizer <NUM> with a rudder, and horizontal stabilizers <NUM> with elevators. The tail assembly has a fuselage-mounted tail, but other configurations may also be used for the aircraft <NUM>, such as cruciform, T-tail, etc. Wings <NUM> project laterally from the fuselage. The aircraft <NUM> has engines <NUM> supported by the wings <NUM>, although the engines <NUM> could also be mounted to the fuselage <NUM>. The aircraft <NUM> is shown as a jet-engine aircraft, but may also be a propeller aircraft.

Referring to <FIG>, the aircraft cabin <NUM> includes storage bins <NUM>, which are configured as overhead storage bins located over passenger seats <NUM> in the example shown. Each storage bin <NUM> includes a bin body <NUM> defining a storage space <NUM> (for e.g. luggage) and an opening <NUM> for accessing the storage space <NUM>. The storage bin <NUM> includes a door <NUM> pivotable between a closed position C where the door <NUM> closes the opening <NUM> and an open position O where the door <NUM> is away from the opening <NUM> and the opening <NUM> is accessible. It is understood that the particular configuration shown for the bin <NUM> is exemplary only and that any other suitable configuration may alternately be used, within the limits defined by the claims.

Referring to <FIG>, the storage bin <NUM> includes a plurality of walls <NUM> which have an inner surface 22i (<FIG>) located within the storage space <NUM> and an opposed outer surface (<FIG> and <FIG>) located outside of the storage space <NUM>. The dimensions of the storage space <NUM> are thus defined between the inner surface 22i of the walls <NUM>. For example, a width W (<FIG>) of the storage space <NUM> is defined between the inner surfaces 22i of the opposed side walls <NUM>.

Still referring to <FIG>, a hinge assembly <NUM> in accordance with a particular embodiment of the overhead storage bin is shown. The hinge assembly <NUM> is configured for receiving the door <NUM> to allow movement of the door <NUM> between the open and closed positions.

One wall <NUM> of the bin body <NUM>, which in the embodiment shown is a side wall, has an edge including two spaced apart wall panels: an inner wall panel <NUM> (omitted from <FIG>) extending from the inner surface 22i of the wall <NUM>, and an outer panel <NUM> (omitted from <FIG>) extending from the outer surface 22o of the wall <NUM>. The wall panels <NUM>, <NUM> define part of the perimeter of the opening <NUM> of the storage bin <NUM>.

The wall <NUM> includes a wall body <NUM> defining the inner and outer surfaces 22i, 22o. In the embodiment shown, a cut-out <NUM> (<FIG>) is defined along the edge of the wall body <NUM>. The inner wall panel <NUM> is detachably connected to the inner surface 22i of the wall body <NUM> along the edge of the cut-out <NUM>, and the outer wall panel <NUM> is detachably connected to the outer surface 22o of the wall body <NUM> along the edge of the cut-out <NUM>. Seals <NUM> may optionally be provided between the wall panels <NUM>, <NUM> and the respective surface 22i, 22o of the wall body <NUM> along their connection. As can be best seen in <FIG>, the wall panels <NUM>, <NUM> are connected to the wall body <NUM> by a plurality of fasteners <NUM> extending through the wall body <NUM> and the wall panels <NUM>, <NUM>. Other suitable types of connections may alternately be used, including detachable connections (i.e. connections which are detachable without causing damage to the wall body <NUM> and the wall panels <NUM>, <NUM>), and permanent connections (i.e. connections which are not detachable without causing damage to one or both of the wall body <NUM> and the wall panels <NUM>, <NUM>). In the embodiment shown, the two wall panels <NUM>, <NUM> are also detachably connected to each other, for example through complementary clips or suitable fasteners <NUM> (<FIG>).

The wall panels <NUM>, <NUM> thus extend from the edge of the cut-out <NUM> to complete the perimeter of the opening <NUM> of the storage bin <NUM>. Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a receiving space <NUM> is accordingly defined between the wall panels <NUM>, <NUM>, bordered by the cut-out edge of the wall body <NUM>.

In a particular embodiment, the wall body <NUM> and wall panels <NUM>, <NUM> include different materials. Referring back to <FIG>, in a particular embodiment, the wall body <NUM> includes inner and outer panels <NUM>, made for example of fiberglass composite material, interconnected by a honeycomb core <NUM>, and the wall panels <NUM>, <NUM> include a plastic material suitable for injection molding. Other configurations and materials are of course possible. Alternately, the wall panels <NUM>, <NUM> may be defined by an integral part of the wall body <NUM>, for example by a portion of the inner and outer panels <NUM> extending beyond the core <NUM>.

As can be seen in <FIG>, the assembly <NUM> includes a pivot <NUM> located in the receiving space <NUM> defined between the wall panels <NUM>, <NUM>. The pivot <NUM> defines a pivot axis <NUM> intersecting the wall panels <NUM>, <NUM>; the pivot axis <NUM> extends perpendicularly to the inner and outer wall surfaces 22i, 22o. In the embodiment shown, the pivot <NUM> is connected to both wall panels <NUM>, <NUM>.

The hinge assembly <NUM> further includes a hinge arm <NUM> having a portion located in the receiving space <NUM> between the wall panels <NUM>, <NUM> and engaged to the pivot <NUM>. The hinge arm <NUM> has a rigid structure, and is pivotable about the pivot axis <NUM> to move between the open and closed positions of the door <NUM>. The hinge arm <NUM> extends away from the wall panels <NUM>, <NUM> for connection to the door <NUM>. Throughout its pivoting motion, the hinge arm <NUM> remains within a space defined between a plane of the inner surface 22i of the wall <NUM> and a plane of the outer surface 22o of the wall <NUM>. In other words, the hinge arm <NUM> pivots in plane P (<FIG>) which is aligned with the wall <NUM>, i.e. a plane P extending between the inner and outer surfaces 22i, 22o of the wall <NUM> at least in proximity of the opening <NUM>, and in a particular embodiment for the entirety of the wall <NUM>. The plane P of movement of the hinge arm <NUM> is vertical, and the door <NUM> moves upwardly from the closed position to the open position.

The hinge arm <NUM> is connected to the door <NUM> using any suitable type of connection. For example, in a particular embodiment the hinge arm <NUM> includes a connection portion extending parallel to the door <NUM>, having a U-shaped cross-section which defines a recess sized to receive an edge of the door <NUM>, and the edge of the door <NUM> is slidingly engaged in this complementary recess (not shown).

In the embodiment shown and referring to <FIG>, the outer wall panel <NUM> defines a stop <NUM> for abutting the hinge arm <NUM> when the door <NUM> is in the open position. The cut-out edge of the wall body <NUM> defines another stop <NUM> for abutting the hinge arm <NUM> when the door <NUM> is in the closed position. Alternately, one or both of the stops <NUM>, <NUM> may be defined by the inner wall panel <NUM>, or both stops <NUM>, <NUM> may be defined by the outer wall panel <NUM>.

As can be seen in <FIG>, a damper <NUM> is pivotally connected to the hinge arm <NUM> and to one or both of the wall panels <NUM>, <NUM>, and is located in the receiving space <NUM> between the wall panels <NUM>, <NUM>. The hinge arm <NUM> is configured so that its connection with the damper <NUM> and its connection with the pivot <NUM> are appropriately spaced apart to allow the damper <NUM> to act on the motion of the hinge arm <NUM> about the pivot <NUM>. In the embodiment shown, the damper <NUM> biases the door <NUM> in the open position, i.e. provides sufficient resistance so as to counteract the weight of the door <NUM> and allow the door <NUM> to remain in the open position unless a sufficient force toward the closed position is applied to it. The damper <NUM> may have any suitable configuration, including, but not limited to, any suitable type of rate control damper which can control motion through tension and compression. Suitable rate control dampers may be fully mechanical, gas-charged or hydraulic, among other possibilities.

In a particular embodiment, a similar hinge assembly <NUM> is provided in the opposite side wall of the bin <NUM>, so that the door <NUM> is retained by two hinge arms <NUM>, i.e. on hinge arm <NUM> on each side of the door <NUM>. The additional hinge assembly includes wall panels <NUM>, <NUM>, a pivot <NUM> and a hinge arm <NUM> similar to that previously described and shown. The additional hinge assembly may also include a damper <NUM>; alternately, a single damper may be used to retain the door in the open position.

Referring to <FIG>, a hinge assembly <NUM> in accordance with another particular embodiment of the overhead storage bin is shown. Elements similar to that of the embodiment of <FIG> are identified by a same reference numeral and will not be further described herein.

In this embodiment, the cut-out <NUM> defined along the edge of the wall body <NUM> is larger, so that the hinge arm <NUM> does not come into contact with the wall body <NUM> at the closed position. One or both of the wall panels <NUM>, <NUM> (only one being visible in <FIG>) accordingly define the stop <NUM> abutting the hinge arm <NUM> at the closed position. The stop <NUM> abutting the hinge arm <NUM> at the open position is defined by one or both of the wall panels <NUM>, <NUM>, in proximity of the edge of the cutout <NUM> in the wall body <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the wall panels <NUM>, <NUM> are integrally connected to each other, forming part of a monolithic structure. The edge of the wall body <NUM> is accordingly inserted between the two wall panels <NUM>, <NUM> before connecting the wall panels <NUM>, <NUM> to the wall body <NUM>, for example using <NUM> fasteners as shown in <FIG>.

A similar hinge assembly <NUM> may also be provided in the opposite side wall of the bin <NUM>, as described above.

In a particular embodiment and in use, the door <NUM> is accordingly connected to the wall <NUM> in accordance with the following. The receiving space <NUM> is defined along the edge of the wall forming part of the perimeter of the opening <NUM> to be closed by the door <NUM>. The hinge arm <NUM>, <NUM> is pivotally connected to the pivot <NUM> extending within the receiving space <NUM> so that the hinge arm <NUM>, <NUM> is pivotable within a plane aligned with the wall <NUM>. The door <NUM> is connected to the hinge arm <NUM>, <NUM>.

In a particular embodiment, the receiving space <NUM> is defined by attaching the wall panels <NUM>, <NUM> to the wall body <NUM>. In an alternate embodiment, the wall panels <NUM>, <NUM> may be an integral part of the wall body <NUM>, and the receiving space <NUM> may be defined for example by removing part of a core extending between the wall panels <NUM>, <NUM>.

In a particular embodiment, an additional receiving space <NUM> is defined along the edge of an opposite wall <NUM>, and another hinge arm <NUM>, <NUM> is pivotally connected to a pivot <NUM> extending within the additional receiving space <NUM> so that the other hinge arm <NUM>, <NUM> is pivotable within a plane aligned with this wall <NUM>. The door <NUM> is connected to both hinge arms <NUM>, <NUM>.

In a particular embodiment, the hinge assembly <NUM>, <NUM> advantageously allows for support of the door <NUM> without causing an obstruction in the storage space <NUM>, since the hinge arm <NUM>, <NUM> remains outward of the inner wall surface 22i of the corresponding wall <NUM>, and the structure supporting the hinge arm <NUM>, <NUM> is also provided outward of the inner wall surface 22i. The only protrusion of the hinge assembly <NUM>, <NUM> within the storage space <NUM> corresponds to the thickness of the inner wall panel <NUM> where it is attached to the inner surface 22i of the wall body <NUM>. However, the panel thickness is a negligible dimension when compared to the width W of the storage space <NUM>. Accordingly, substantially the entire width W of the storage space <NUM> remains available for storage.

Alternately, an indentation may be defined in the wall body <NUM> at the connection with the inner wall panel <NUM>, so that the inner surface of the inner wall panel <NUM> is aligned with the inner surface 22i of the wall body <NUM>. In that case, the entire width W of the storage space <NUM> remains available for storage.

Claim 1:
An overhead storage bin (<NUM>) comprising:
a bin body (<NUM>) defining a storage space (<NUM>) and an opening (<NUM>) for accessing the storage space (<NUM>), the bin body (<NUM>) including a wall (<NUM>) having an inner surface (22i) within the storage space (<NUM>) and an opposed outer surface (22o) outside of the storage space (<NUM>); and
a hinge assembly (<NUM>;<NUM>) comprising:
two spaced apart wall panels (<NUM>,<NUM>) including an inner wall panel (<NUM>) and an outer wall panel (<NUM>);
a pivot (<NUM>) located between the wall panels (<NUM>,<NUM>), the pivot (<NUM>) defining a pivot axis (<NUM>) intersecting the wall panels (<NUM>,<NUM>); and
a hinge arm (<NUM>;<NUM>) having a portion received in a receiving space (<NUM>) defined between the wall panels (<NUM>,<NUM>) and engaged to the pivot (<NUM>), the hinge arm (<NUM>;<NUM>) extending away from the wall panels (<NUM>,<NUM>) and configured for attachment to a door (<NUM>), the overhead storage bin ) comprising said door (<NUM>); the hinge arm (<NUM>; <NUM>) pivotable about the pivot axis (<NUM>) to be movable between open and closed positions (C,D) of the door (<NUM>) within a vertical plane (P) extending between the opposed inner and outer surfaces (22i, 22o);
wherein an edge of the wall (<NUM>) includes the two spaced apart wall panels (<NUM>,<NUM>) of the hinge assembly (<NUM>;<NUM>) including the inner wall panel (<NUM>) extending from the inner surface (22i) of the wall (<NUM>) and the outer wall panel (<NUM>) extending from the outer surface (22o) of the wall (<NUM>) and defining part of a perimeter of the opening (<NUM>);
wherein the hinge arm (<NUM>;<NUM>) is pivotable about the pivot axis (<NUM>) to be movable within the vertical plane (P) aligned with the wall (<NUM>); and
wherein the door (<NUM>) is engaged to the hinge arm (<NUM>;<NUM>), wherein pivoting of the hinge arm (<NUM>;<NUM>) moves the door (<NUM>) between the closed position (C) where the door (<NUM>) closes the opening (<NUM>) and the open position (O) where the door (<NUM>) is away from the opening (<NUM>) and the opening (<NUM>) is accessible, such that the door (<NUM>) in use of the overhead storage bin (<NUM>) moves upwardly from the closed position (C) to the open position (D).