Patent ID: 8882044

Claim:
A gap covering device for covering a gap formed between two mutually adjacent first aircraft interior panels lining an interior of an aircraft, the first aircraft interior panels including first edges facing one another to define the gap and second edges that adjoin to the corresponding first edges and extend transversely away from the corresponding first edges and one another, the first and second edges being visible from the interior of the aircraft, and the device comprising: a visible portion facing towards the interior of the aircraft after installation, a retaining portion connected to the visible portion and extending opposite the visible portion, the retaining portion sized to abut and latch into engagement with the first aircraft interior panels adjacent to the corresponding second edges to thereby maintain the gap covering device in a position covering the gap between the corresponding first edges after installation, a receiving structure, which is fastened to at least one of an inner surface of the visible portion and an inner surface of the retaining portion, and has a receiving contour adapted to a contour of the second edges of the first aircraft interior panels such that the receiving structure receives the second edges of the first aircraft interior panels after installation, and a fastening device adapted to fasten the gap covering device detachably to the mutually adjacent first aircraft interior panels during installation, wherein the fastening device comprises a first detent portion, which is attached to the retaining portion of the gap covering device and is adapted so as to latch into engagement with complementary second detent portions attached to the second edges of the mutually adjacent first aircraft interior panels, and wherein the first detent portion comprises a resiliently yielding detent arm, the resiliently yielding detent arm including at least one detent lug and the second detent portions including detent teeth shaped with complementary shapes such that the at least one detent lug latches into adjustable engagement with the detent teeth to bring the retaining portion into engagement with the first aircraft interior panels, wherein the gap covering device is independent and distinct from the first aircraft interior panels and is separately installed at the first aircraft interior panels.