Patent ID: 12234004

The drawing figures do not limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description references the accompanying drawings that illustrate specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

In this description, references to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or “embodiments” mean that the feature or features being referred to are included in at least one embodiment of the technology. Separate references to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or “embodiments” in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and are also not mutually exclusive unless so stated and/or except as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. For example, a feature, structure, act, etc. described in one embodiment may also be included in other embodiments but is not necessarily included. Thus, the technology can include a variety of combinations and/or integrations of the embodiments described herein.

Embodiments disclosed herein include a system and a method for providing a handle and an illumination element for an aircraft door entryway, in combination with an overall lighting arrangement. Current aircraft doors, when opened, may not include a handle presented for a user to grasp for stability when entering or exiting an aircraft. Additionally, current aircraft door arrangements may lack inefficient or insufficient lighting systems. A system on an aircraft door is needed which includes a handle and a lighting arrangement to increase passenger safety.

In embodiments, an aircraft door handle and lighting system are disclosed. The disclosed embodiments include a door handle and a first light source (which in embodiments is an LED light source) which are both recessed thus avoiding interference with ingress or egress through the doorway opening. In embodiments, the handle and the first light source are installed onto an aircraft interior structure on one side of the entry way (e.g., installed into a cabinet or divider). In still more specific embodiments, both the handle and the first light source are included within independent recessed areas. In embodiments, the aircraft interior structure in which the handle and first light are installed is on the front side of the entry way. In terms of the first light source, it may be, in embodiments, recessed in such a way that the surrounding structures do not block light directed towards the one or more steps. In further embodiments, these recessed areas are established in a face plate mounted to the interior aircraft surface, the face plate being inserted into an aperture formed through the skin of a cabinet or divider.

In embodiments, the system also includes a second light source which is incorporated into a doorway-facing surface on an interior panel or a door trim on the aft side of the entryway. The second light source (an LED source in embodiments) may also be recessed, and also oriented within surrounding structures in a way which aims the light the desired direction. The second light source can additionally be incorporated such that emissions are not blocked before reaching the desired one or more steps to which the second light source is directed.

The illumination pattern generated by each of the first and second light sources may be configured to illuminate two distinct areas on the staircase when the aircraft door is in an open position. The door handle may be positioned and configured within a recessed area such that when the aircraft door is opened a user may grasp the handle for stabilization while entering or exiting the aircraft. Because the door handle and first light source are both recessed into the internal entryway structures (e.g., inFIG.2the forward side divider), they do not protrude into the entryway. Similarly, on the other side of the entry way, the recessed nature of the second aft light source also keeps it from protruding outward in a way that would interfere with entering or exiting passengers. Features that do protrude into the entryway may be hazardous to a user entering or exiting, and depending on design constraints, may interfere with opening and closing of the door, and the embodiments above avoid this.

FIG.1Ashows a perspective view taken from a righthand side of an aircraft entryway100including outer aircraft structures102which define a doorway. The aircraft entryway opening100is sized such that a human may enter or exit the aircraft. The outside of entryway100is defined by outer aircraft structures102(Aluminum in embodiments). The entryway is generally rectangular shaped with four rounded corners. Aircraft entryway100is created from the opening created by the aircraft outer aircraft structures102and also includes a door frame103. The forward side of entryway100includes an interior aircraft structure, e.g., an interior cabinet or divider104. The forward side of entryway100includes interior structures (a divider is shown inFIG.1A)104having a substantially flat entryway-facing surface102. A face plate152is installed into surface104. The face plate152is a mounted plate which is received into an aperture (not shown) existing in the divider104, the aperture being made through the divider surface104and being sized to accommodate the inwardly extending nature required to establish a handle recessed area106and a first light handle recessed area recessed area116(see alsoFIG.2). Recessed areas106and116are depressed into the surface of the face plate152. The handle recessed area106on the face plate152includes a handle108configured within the handle recessed area106. The first light source recessed area116in the face plate152may be formed as a bezel housing wherein a first light source110is embedded. The first light source recessed area116is located just beneath the bottom edge of the handle recessed area106on the face plate152. The handle recessed area106is located at a strategic position on the interior divider skin104such that the handle108is presented to a user upon entry into or exit out of the aircraft entryway100. The position of the handle also allows a user to grasp handle108for stabilization or support while entering or exiting the aircraft.

In embodiments, the handle recessed area106and thus handle108are positioned near the vertical center of the entryway100, but in other embodiments the handle recessed area106may be configured in numerous other different positions around the entryway100. The first light source110—which is aimed outwardly, downwardly, and aft relative to the aircraft—is housed within the first light source recessed area116and angled to provide illumination in a first illumination pattern140which in embodiments, is directed towards a top step107of the staircase120. In more specific embodiments, the first illumination pattern140is centered at the middle of and substantially illuminates the upper surfaces of the top step107.

FIG.1Bshows a perspective view taken from the aft side of aircraft entryway100. The view shown inFIG.1Breveals entryway100from the left. Here, again, frame103can be seen to be located on the inside of the aircraft outer structures102, and is also inside of interior structures101(see alsoFIG.4). A front face117of the interior structures101includes a second light source114which is directed downwardly, outwardly, and forwardly. The second light source114is included within a second light source recessed area118. The light source emits light through an opening formed at the back of a bezel. This allows the second light source114to be embedded into the second light source recessed area118of internal aft surface117of the interior structures101of the aircraft entryway100, in embodiments. The second light source114is configured within the second light source recessed area118to provide illumination in a second illumination pattern142, which in embodiments, is out, down, and aft. More specifically, the second illumination pattern142in embodiments is created onto one or more of the second step119, third step121, or both the second step119and the third step121on the staircase120. In embodiments, the pattern is created to substantially provide illumination to the surfaces of both steps119and120to a user.

InFIGS.1A and1Bthe illumination of the first and second illumination patterns140and142produced from the first and second light sources, light source110and light source114are configured to substantially avoid occlusion from the struts124and126attached on either side of the staircase120. Both the first light source and second light sources110and light source114may also be configured to emit a particular desired level of light or be configured to be adjustable and produce varying amounts of illumination. The first and second light sources light source110and light source114may also include one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) to provide the illumination.

FIG.2shows a closeup perspective view of face plate152depicted inFIG.1A. As discussed, face plate152includes handle recessed area106. Handle recessed area106is configured into the face plate152and intrudes into the interior divider skin of interior structure (divider)104of the aircraft entryway100forming a recessed area on the face plate152. The handle recessed area106is shaped and elongated such that the also elongated handle108fits within the space intruded handle recessed area106. Handle108is sized to not protrude out from the recessed area of the handle recessed area106and thus, also does not extend outwards into the aircraft entryway100. The handle108includes an outwardly angled portion111, a plateau portion used for gripping,112, and an inwardly-angled portion113. Handle108is configured such that the outwardly angled portion111is structurally attached to the recessed area floor109and oriented to extend at an angle away from the recessed area floor109and connect to the grip portion112. The recessed area floor109is a substantially flat surface at the bottom of the handle recessed area106but could have other shapes so long is it does not interfere with a user gripping the handle108. After the grip portion112, the handle angles downward to reconnect with the area floor109at inwardly-angled portion113of the handle recessed area106.

In terms of the configuration, the handle recessed area106, includes a first upwardly angled face144and a second upwardly angled face150which are positioned on opposing sides of the handle recessed area106and each rise at an angle from the recessed area floor109to reach the surface of the face plate152. First and second upwardly angled faces144and150also extend longitudinally relative to the handle length, and form the biggest sides of the handle recessed area106.

On a first end of the first upwardly angled face144and the second upwardly angled face150, a curved end149arcs from each end of the side faces144and150and arcs around the inwardly angled portion113of the handle108which forms a first end of the handle recessed area106. The curved end149is angled and rises upwards from the recessed area floor109to the outwardmost substantially planar surface123of the face plate152. On a second end of the sides144and150, and opposite curved end149, a third upwardly angled face146and a fourth upwardly angled face148each rise upwards from the recessed area floor109to the outermost substantially planar surface123of the face plate152. The third upwardly angled face146is joined to the second end of the first upwardly angled face144and the fourth upwardly angled face148is joined to the second end of the second upwardly angled face150. The third and fourth upwardly angled faces146and148are connected to form a second end to enclose the handle recessed area106opposite of the curved end149and are configured to curve or arc around the outwardly angled portion111of the handle108. The face plate152forms an edge (which is a part of the outermost substantially planar surface123) along the upper edges of the upwardly angled faces of the handle recessed area106which is separate from the interior divider skin104. In embodiments, the upwardly angled faces of the handle recessed area106form an elongated irregular shape in which the first upwardly angled face144and the second upwardly angled face150form the long sides with the curved end149creating a first curved pointed end and the third upwardly angled face146and fourth upwardly angled face148forming a second curved pointed end. The handle recessed area106is shaped substantially around handle108and with length and curvature to allow the handle108to fit within the handle recessed area106. In embodiments, the handle recessed area106and the handle108are two separate pieces which are mounted together onto the interior structures. More specifically, handle108is mounted into supporting structures behind the face plate152, and the face plate152is mounted into receiving areas defined into the divider104.

The first light source light source110is configured on the face plate152just below the curved end149of the handle recessed area106. In embodiments, the first light source110is housed within a first light recess area116which may be formed as a bezel which is embedded into the interior divider skin104. The first light source110is configured to direct illumination towards the entry step107(FIG.1A), which is the step positioned to lead up to the aircraft outer aircraft structures102. The first light source110may be configured with a light emitting diode or a plurality of light emitting diodes to provide illumination in embodiments. In other embodiments, the first light source110may include numerous other elements or devices configured to produce illumination. In embodiments, the handle recessed area106may be fabricated from a leather material and the handle108may be formed from a suitable material such as a plastic or a metal. In embodiments, face plate152may be fabricated from a plastic or other suitable material.

FIG.3shows a closeup perspective view of the first light source110housed within a first light source recessed area116on the face plate152. The first light source recessed area116is configured just beyond the edge of the curved end149of the handle recessed area106and is embedded into the face plate152on the interior divider skin104. The bezel forming the first light source recessed area116includes an upper edge trim158and includes a lower upwardly angled face154, lateral outwardly angled faces160and154, and an upper fourth, outwardly angled face162. Bezel faces154,160,156, and162form the sides of the first light source recessed area116and are configured along their upper edges to level up to the upper edge trim158to form a generally square shape. Bezel faces154and160are opposed to each other and the faces156and162are opposed to each other. Of special note, lower bezel face156is longer and angled relative to vertical at a lesser extent than is upper face162. This accommodates the downward orientation/aiming of first light source110by not blocking the light emitted. Similarly, lateral faces154and160are angled in a way to avoid blocking of the first light source to accommodate the ed The faces154,160,156, and162angle downwards from their upper edge such that each face gives clearance to the first light source110positioned at the bottom of the first light source recessed area116.

Functionally, bezel faces154,160,156, and162are configured to allow the first light source110to be angled within the first light source recessed area116to create the first illumination direction/pattern140(FIG.1A) without blocking the illumination pattern projected out from the first light source110. Bezel faces154,160,156, and162are configured to flare outwards away from the first light source110allowing the system to direct illumination from the first light source110in the first illumination pattern140. In embodiments, the first light pattern140is angled to direct illumination towards and illuminate towards the center of the top step107outwards to the edges of that step.

FIG.4shows a close-up perspective view of the second light source114housed within the second light source recessed area118. The second light source recessed area118is configured on an interior, aft surface of the interior aircraft structures101of the aircraft entryway100. The aft side of the interior aircraft structures101includes a raised portion170which extends outwards and raises away to be outcropped from the surface117of the interior aircraft structures101(i.e., which is slightly directionally forward in the aircraft with respect toFIG.1B), but does not interfere with the aircraft entryway100. At the upper edge of the raised portion170a downwardly sloped portion166slopes downwards from the outcropped upper edge of the raised portion170towards the surface of the outer aircraft structures102. The slope of the downwardly sloped portion166creates a downward facing surface. Along the inner edge of the raised portion170and the downwardly sloped portion166is a curved portion169with a profile which follows and mirrors the slope upwards of the raised portion170and the downward slope of the downwardly sloped portion166and curves towards the exterior of the aircraft. The curved portion169allows for the downward directed surface of the downwardly sloped portion166to, while being directed downward, be also angled and directed outwardly through the entry way towards the exterior of the aircraft and towards the staircase120(FIG.1B). The second light source recessed area118is configured onto the downwardly and outwardly directed surface of the downwardly sloped portion166. The second light source recessed area118includes a first internal face168which opposes a second internal face174. A third internal face164is configured to be perpendicular on each end of the faces168and174and is positioned to the ends of the first internal face168and the second internal face174, thus forming an end to the substantially rectangular shaped second light source recessed area118. A floor171begins from the bottom edge of the third internal face164and is angled upwards to flow to the upper edge of the second light source recessed area118. The angle of the second light source recessed area floor171faces downwardly and outwardly relative to the entryway, which aids in directing illumination from the second light source114down onto the steps and out the door. The second light source114is embedded into the second light source recessed area floor171consistent with an illumination the second light pattern142which in embodiments, is directed specifically towards the mid and lower steps119and121. The first, second, and third internal faces168,174, and164are configured to not intersect the illumination or light cone emitted from the second light source114and are angled to direct illumination into the second pattern142substantially towards the center of the steps119and121as can be seen inFIG.1B.

Users typically pass through the entry way when the aircraft is grounded and the staircase120is deployed. While passing through, the user may grasp the handle108within the handle recessed area106on the interior divider skin104of the aircraft entryway100. Handle108is located to provide a user with stabilization while walking into or out of an aircraft cabin through aircraft entryway100. The first light source110and the second light source114together provide patterns140and142which substantially illuminate all three steps (steps107,119and121) for the benefit of a passenger using staircase120. Each of the first light source110and second light sources114may include one or more light emitting diodes to provide directed illumination in the first illumination direction140and the second illumination direction142. Alternatively, other light sources, e.g., incandescent, etc., could be used and still fall within the broad objectives of the disclosed embodiments.

FIG.5provides an exemplary embodiment for an electrical system500which could be used to support the powering, activation and deactivation of the first light source110and second light source114. Referring to the figure, it may be seen that a power source502is wired to connect to a door activation system504. The door activation system may be a button or switch allowing a user to open the aircraft door which may provide power to the first light source110and second light source114connected in series. Alternately, the door activation system504may not be configured with the aircraft door and may only allow a user to provide power and turn on the first light source110and second light source114.

Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of what is claimed herein. Embodiments have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not depart from what is disclosed. A skilled artisan may develop alternative means of implementing the aforementioned improvements without departing from what is claimed.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims. Not all steps listed in the various figures need be carried out in the specific order described.