CN101495371B - Luggage compartment, in particular for an aircraft, and associated door - Google Patents

Abstract

The luggage rack comprises a compartment comprising an open face for loading and unloading luggage, a lower surface (8), and a bottom (10) opposite the open face. The compartment is pivotally mounted about a fixed pivot axis (4) between an open position in which the open face of the compartment is accessible and a closed position in which the open face of the compartment is retracted. The luggage rack further comprises a door (18) pivotally mounted so that when the compartment is in the closed position the door (18) blocks access to the open face and when the compartment is in the open position the door allows free access to the open face. A connecting member (22) connects the door (18) and the compartment of the luggage rack so that pivoting movement of the compartment drives the door (18) to pivot.

Description

Trunks and associated doors, especially for use in aircraft

technical field

The invention relates to luggage compartments and related doors, in particular for aircraft.

The field of the invention is the transport of passengers in aircraft. During travel, the traveler's luggage is carried in the hold of the aircraft, while lighter luggage can be carried with the traveler in the cabin of the aircraft. In this cabin, a storage section is provided for light luggage also called carry-on luggage. These compartments are usually located in the upper part of the aircraft cabin, below the roof of the cabin and above the seats for receiving passengers.

Background technique

There are two broad categories of baggage storage in aircraft. Fixed luggage compartments are known on the one hand and pivoting luggage racks are known on the other hand. A stowage is referred to herein as a luggage compartment having compartments fixed relative to the aircraft cabin and doors, the doors generally pivoting, allowing opening and closing access to the luggage compartment. As for the luggage rack, it also includes compartments with access to allow the insertion and removal of luggage. Here the compartment is a compartment movable between a first extended position and a retracted position received inside the roof of the aircraft cabin, in the first extended position the access to the compartment is open, and in the retracted position position, the access to the compartment is closed.

In these two types of storage portions, there are great limitations in terms of aesthetic appearance. In fact, on the one hand the compartment is fixed and imposes its shape on the aircraft cabin. On the other hand, the shape of the top plate is limited in order to be able to act as a closure for the movable compartment when it should be closed.

Contents of the invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a luggage compartment in the passenger cabin of an aircraft which allows free play in determining the shape the designer wishes to give to the interior space of the aircraft.

To this end, the invention proposes a luggage rack, in particular for the cabin of an aircraft, comprising a compartment comprising: an open face allowing access to said compartment for placing luggage or similar items in the compartment inside or taken out from a compartment; a lower surface for receiving luggage; and a bottom opposite the open face of said compartment, the compartment being pivotally mounted about a fixed pivot axis between an open position and a closed position, in In the open position, the open face of the compartment is accessible to a user, and in the closed position, the open face of the compartment is stowed.

According to the invention, such a luggage rack additionally comprises a door pivotally mounted so that it prevents access to the open face of the compartment when the compartment is in the closed position, and when the compartment is in the open position When the door allows free access to the open surface; and, the connecting member connects the door and the compartment of the luggage rack so that the pivoting movement of the compartment drives the pivoting of the door, and/or the pivoting of the door The movement drives the compartment to pivot.

Thus, both parts, the compartment and the pivot door, are active in the luggage rack. This allows greater freedom in the shape design of the luggage rack and the space in which the luggage rack is located. In practice, the shape of the door in the closed position of the luggage rack conforms to the desired shape of the passenger cabin (or other) arrangement. Since the door is movable, it can then be in a stowed position allowing access to the compartment of the luggage rack.

In an advantageous embodiment, in the open position of the compartment, the lower surface is inclined at an angle of, for example, 0° to 10° on one side of the open surface relative to the horizontal direction, to facilitate the removal of luggage, while in the closed position of the compartment, the lower surface The surface is sloped on one side of the compartment bottom with respect to the horizontal. Thus, in the closed position, the luggage received in the compartment tends naturally towards the bottom of the compartment by gravity, so that the bottom of the compartment acts as a stop.

To facilitate movement of the luggage rack compartment, the pivot axis of the compartment is substantially centered with respect to the bottom and open face of the compartment.

A preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the lower surface of the compartment comprises an outer shell and that the pivoting door is in the extension of this outer shell in the closed position of the compartment. The outer shell can thus adapt the shape of the luggage rack to the shape of the external space. In this embodiment, the pivot axis of the door is advantageously parallel to the pivot axis of the compartment, and the pivot axis of the door is preferably on the side of the door opposite the outer casing of the lower surface of the compartment. This configuration allows simple relative movement of the two moving parts. It is also contemplated that the pivoting door is in the extension of the upper surface of the compartment in the compartment open position.

An embodiment provides that the connecting part comprises a lever connecting the door and the compartment and transmitting movement. The advantage of this embodiment is that it is simple, reliable and low-cost to implement. In this embodiment, the lever can have a first arm fixed to the door in the vicinity of the pivot axis of the door; Opposite ends of the doors and on the other hand are mounted between the compartments by pivotal connections. Reversing mechanisms with other types of linkages or mechanisms with more than two arms are also contemplated. All of this depends on the desired movement. The purpose of the invention is to give a great freedom in the shape of the pivoting door but also in the shape of the luggage compartment, especially in order to adapt to these different shapes, many variants of the connection mechanism between these two parts can be considered.

In order to have a simpler mechanism, it is preferable to realize the connection mechanism between the compartment and the door in such a way that the compartment and the door pivot in the same direction during movement.

The invention also relates to an aircraft cabin comprising a roof, characterized in that it comprises at least one luggage rack as described above, and in that the pivotally mounted door is integrated in the cabin roof.

The invention finally also relates to an aircraft, characterized in that it comprises at least one luggage rack and/or passenger cabin as described above.

Description of drawings

The details and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description with reference to the schematic drawings, which are as follows:

Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a luggage rack according to the invention of an aircraft cabin and also a partial cross-sectional schematic view of an aircraft cabin, the luggage rack being in a closed position;

Figure 2 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 but showing the luggage rack in an intermediate position; and

Figure 3 shows in a similar view the luggage rack in the closed position.

Detailed ways

The figure shows a luggage rack 2 pivotally mounted about a pivot axis 4 . This is a luggage rack 2 installed in the passenger cabin of an aircraft. The luggage rack is installed in the upper part of the cabin above the seat for receiving the passengers. The pivot axis 4 is an axis longitudinal to the aircraft cabin. As can be clearly seen in the figure, the axis is fixed relative to the cabin. The roof 6 of the cabin can be seen in the figure.

The luggage rack includes compartments for receiving luggage. The compartment has an outer lower surface 8 , a bottom 10 , an upper surface 12 and side walls 14 . The shape of the compartment is substantially parallelepiped. The lower surface 8 is externally covered by a casing 16 which is slightly rounded to form a convex outer surface. The face opposite to the bottom 10 is a completely open face.

In FIG. 1 the luggage rack is shown in its closed position. This moment luggage rack is received in the top plate 6 of aircraft cabin. The casing 16 forms an integral part of this roof shape. The door 18 in the extension of the casing 16 is thus also visible and is also connected to the roof 6 . As indicated in the different figures, the door 18 is pivotable. In the embodiment shown, the pivot axis 20 of the door extends parallel to the pivot axis 4 of the compartment of the luggage rack 2 . It is also noted in the preferred embodiment shown that this pivot axis 20 is at the junction of the pivoting door 18 and the top panel 6 , ie on the door side opposite the luggage rack compartment and the luggage rack housing 16 .

The pivot axis 4 of the luggage rack compartment is perpendicular to the side walls 14 of the compartment and is substantially centered on the front open face, bottom 10 , lower face 8 and upper face 12 . Thus in this preferred embodiment the pivot axis is substantially equidistant from the open face and the bottom 10 , likewise the pivot axis is substantially equidistant from the lower surface 8 and the upper surface 12 .

Note here that in the closed position of the compartment, the lower surface 8 of the compartment is inclined towards the bottom 10 . Luggage located in the compartment and resting on the lower surface 8 therefore tends to catch against the bottom 10 of the compartment due to gravity. Thus, luggage tends to remain in the compartment and not fall out of the compartment through the open face of the compartment.

The compartment and pivoting door 18 are connected by a rod 22 . The lever has a first arm 24 and a second arm 26 .

The first arm 24 is secured to the pivoting door 18 . In a preferred embodiment, the first arm extends perpendicularly to and in the same plane as the pivot axis 20 of the pivot door 18 . Additionally, also for this preferred embodiment, the first arm 24 is substantially perpendicular to the pivoting door 18 .

The second arm 26 of the bar 22 connects the compartment of the luggage rack 2 with the first arm 24 . The second arm is connected to the side wall 14 of the compartment by a pivot connection 28 . Other ways of connecting the rod 22 to the compartment are contemplated. For example, pivot connection 28 includes a shaft and bearings. The shaft can be connected to the second arm 26 and the bearing can be connected to the side wall 14, or vice versa. The connection between the second arm 26 and the first arm 24 is also by means of a pivot connection, for example in the form of a hinge 30 . A pivot connection 28 is on the side wall 14 near the intersection of the bottom 10 and the upper wall 12 .

The description made above describes only the single rod 22 . It is of course possible to associate such a bar with each side wall 14 . As already indicated, the rod connecting the pivot door to the luggage rack compartment can be hooked to the compartment and pivot door at different points. The connection between the compartment and the pivoting door may be secured by means other than levers, such as a gear train. Although the above method is conceivable, its cost is relatively high. Other connection arrangements are also contemplated.

1-3 show three relative positions of the compartments of the luggage rack 2 and the pivoting door 18 . As already described, Figure 1 shows the luggage rack in its closed position. To open the luggage rack 2 , the passenger grasps a handle (not shown) concealed in the casing 16 of the lower surface 8 , for example near the pivoting door 18 . The passenger then brings the compartment of the luggage rack 2 so that it pivots about its fixed pivot axis 4 with a simple rotational movement. This rotational movement is transmitted to the pivoting door 18 via the lever 22 . The pivot door 18 is thus pivoted in the same direction as the compartment of the luggage rack 2 . In the embodiment shown and in the situation shown in the figures, when the luggage rack 2 is opened, the compartment and the pivot door 18 rotate in a clockwise direction. The lever 22 transmits the movement of the compartment to the pivoting door 18 in one pivoting direction, as well as in the other pivoting direction.

FIG. 2 shows by way of example an intermediate position when the luggage rack 2 is opened. In FIG. 3 the luggage rack 2 is in its open position. In this open position, the open face of the compartment of the luggage rack 2 is fully accessible from the interior of the aircraft cabin. The pivoting door 18 is received inside the roof 6 of the passenger cabin and no longer forms an obstacle to access to the compartment of the luggage rack 2 . In this open position, the free end of the pivoting door 18 reaches the upper edge of the compartment opening. The pivoting door 18 is now substantially in the extension of the upper surface 12 . The lower surface 8 of the compartment is now inclined towards the open face. The inclination is, for example, approximately 8°. This inclination allows easy removal of the luggage out of the compartment when the luggage rack is opened without the luggage falling entirely. It also allows passengers to have a better view of the interior of the compartment in the open position of the luggage rack 2 .

The advantage of having a pivoting compartment in combination with a pivoting door is that there is a great deal of freedom as to the shape to be given to the roof 6 of the aircraft cabin. The shapes given as examples in the figures are completely unusual shapes in known aircraft. Of course other shapes are also conceivable. For example there may be a pivoting door substantially parallel to the bottom of the compartment in the closed position of the luggage rack. Designers may also consider many other shapes.

The invention also has the advantage (in particular due to the use of a fixed pivot axis) that it does not entail additional costs compared to conventional methods used in luggage storage. The cost of a roof rack according to the invention is similar to that of prior art roof racks.

The invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described above as non-limiting examples. The invention also relates to variants of implementation by a person skilled in the art within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (12)

1. Luggage rack (2) for an aircraft passenger compartment, the luggage rack comprising a compartment comprising: an open face allowing access to said compartment for placing luggage in and out of the compartment a lower surface (8) for receiving luggage; and a bottom (10) opposite the open face of said compartment, which pivots about a fixed pivot axis (4) between an open position and a closed position mounted, in the open position, a user can access the open face of the compartment, and in the closed position, the open face of the compartment is retracted, It is characterized in that the luggage rack additionally comprises a door (18) pivotally mounted such that the door (18) prevents access to the open face of the compartment when the compartment is in the closed position, whereas in the The door (18) allows free access to the open surface when the compartment is in the open position; and, a connecting member connects the door (18) to the compartment of the luggage rack such that pivotal movement of the compartment drives the The door (18) pivots, and/or the pivoting movement of the door drives the compartment to pivot. 2. The luggage rack according to claim 1, characterized in that, in the open position of the compartment, the lower surface (8) is inclined on one side of the open surface relative to the horizontal direction, so as to facilitate taking out luggage, Whereas in the closed position of the compartment, the lower surface (8) is inclined relative to the horizontal on the side of the bottom (10) of the compartment. 3. A luggage rack according to claim 2, characterized in that, in the open position, said lower surface (8) is inclined relative to the horizontal by an angle between 0° and 10°. 4. A luggage rack according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the pivot axis (4) of the compartment is substantially centered with respect to the bottom (10) and the open face of the compartment. 5. A luggage rack according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the lower surface (8) of the compartment comprises an outer casing (16); and, in the closed position of the compartment, Said pivoting door (18) is in the extension of the outer casing (16). 6. The luggage rack according to claim 5, characterized in that the pivot axis (20) of the door (18) is parallel to the pivot axis (4) of the compartment; and the pivot axis of the door (20) On the side of the door (18) opposite the outer casing (16) of the lower surface (8) of said compartment. 7. A luggage rack according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, in the open position of the compartment, the pivoted door (18) is substantially on the upper surface of the compartment In the extension of (12). 8. Luggage rack according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the connecting part comprises a rod (22) connecting the door (18) and the compartment and Pass movement. 9. A luggage rack according to claim 8, characterized in that said bar (22) has a first arm (24) fixed on said door (18) near the pivot axis (20) on the door (18); and a second arm (26) connecting the compartment of the luggage rack (2) to the first arm (24), and the second arm is pivoted A shaft connection (28) is connected to the side wall (14) of the compartment. 10. The luggage rack according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the connecting part realizing the connection between the compartment and the door (18) is such that the The compartment and the door (18) pivot in the same direction. 11. Aircraft cabin, it comprises roof, it is characterized in that, described aircraft cabin comprises at least one luggage rack (2) as any one of claims 1 to 9; In the roof (6) of the cabin. 12. Aircraft, characterized in that it comprises at least one luggage rack (2) according to any one of claims 1-9.

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