Overhead stowage bins for aircraft comprise a lower panel and one or more rollers. The lower panel is configured to support luggage and has a forward lip region. The one or more rollers are operatively coupled to the lower panel within the forward lip region and are positioned to facilitate insertion of luggage into the overhead stowage bin. Aircraft include a fuselage and a plurality of overhead stowage bins installed within the passenger compartment of the fuselage. Methods of stowing luggage in an overhead stowage bin comprise lifting a carry-on luggage unit, engaging the carry-on luggage unit with one or more rollers positioned at a forward lip region of the overhead stowage bin, and pushing the carry-on luggage unit into an internal volume of the overhead stowage bin.

A method for manufacturing an overhead storage compartment for an aircraft cabin, including providing a shell part extending between a first end and a second end, wherein the shell part has a first edge at the first end and a second edge at the second end. A first end wall and a second end wall are provided. The shell part and the first and second end walls are assembled, wherein the first edge is attached to the first end wall and the second edge is attached to the second end wall, such that the shell part, the first end wall and the second end wall together surround an interior space. An object, to provide a simple and fast method for manufacturing an overhead storage compartment, wherein possibly little handwork is required, is achieved in that the first end wall and/or the second end wall include an undirected long fiber reinforced plastic material.

An aircraft sanitization device is disclosed. The aircraft sanitization device includes a curved enclosure operatively coupled to a first surface of an enclosed area. At a first position the curved enclosure at least partially encloses a handle affixed to the first surface. A set of Ultraviolet (UV) Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) configured to sanitize the handle are affixed to an inner surface of the curved enclosure. At least one switch therein is activated in a closed state and deactivated in an open state of the enclosed area. At least one locking mechanism is configured to engage with the first surface in the closed state and disengage with the first surface in the open state. A controller is configured to activate the set of UV LEDs, when each of the at least one switch is activated and the locking mechanism engages the first surface in the closed state.

An aircraft door mechanism includes an aircraft structure (14) delimiting an opening (24); an aircraft door (26) movable between a position closing off the opening (24) and a released position of the opening (24); and a guide system (28) for moving the door (26) between the closed off and released positions. The guide system (28) includes a main rail (46) that is fixed relative to the structure and a main carriage (48) mechanically connected to the door (26) and able to slide on the main rail (46) during the movement between said closed off and released positions. The main rail (46) is positioned between the door (26) and the structure during at least part of the movement of the door (26) between said closed off and released positions.

A method and apparatus for managing lighting during a flight. Light is emitted from a lighting system comprised of light devices positioned within an interior of the aircraft. Operation of the lighting system is controlled to create a first light scene, a second light scene, and a third light scene. The first light scene has a first spectral distribution that includes first light having a first wavelength of between about 436 nanometers and about 486 nanometers. The second light scene has a second spectral distribution that includes second light having a second wavelength between about 606 nanometers to about 656 nanometers. The third light scene has a third spectral distribution that includes third light having a third wavelength between about 530 nanometers and about 580 nanometers. Creating different light scenes during different periods of flight improves an overall well-being and flight experience of persons onboard the aircraft during the flight.

A method of allocating objects within a plurality of storage bins including monitoring motion within the plurality of storage bins, wherein each storage bin of the plurality of storage bins includes a profile sensor coupled therein, and activating the profile sensor coupled within a first storage bin. The profile sensor activated based on detection of motion within the first storage bin. The method also includes determining, with the profile sensor, an available capacity within the first storage bin, and transmitting an indication of the available capacity within the first storage bin.

An overhead compartment of an airplane includes a storage bin and a latch assembly. A latch mechanism of the latch assembly is selectively, controllably engageable and disengageable with a keeper to hold the overhead compartment in a stowed position, or an open position, respectively.

Latch assemblies are provided with a paddle lever having an outwardly extending actuator flange and a rotary actuator plate which includes a fixed actuator pin extending outwardly from the actuator plate and adapted to being operatively engaged with the actuator flange of the paddle lever when manually moved into the unlatched condition thereof. At least one pair of arcuate spirally patterned and circumferentially separated cam slots are defined in the rotary actuator plate such that a latch pin associated with a latch bolt is operatively received within a selected one of the cam slots. Movement of the paddle lever from the latched condition into the unlatched condition thereof responsively engages the actuator flange with the actuator pin thereby causing rotation of the actuator plate about a rotary axis thereof and movement of the latch pin within the selected one of the cam slots whereby the latch pin is retracted to unlatch a moveable component from a fixed component.

The invention relates to a hinge (10) comprising a swivellable hinge part (12), a stationary hinge part (14) and a tensionable spring element (34), wherein the stationary hinge part (14) is designed with a first bearing (16) as well as a second bearing (18), wherein the bearings (16, 18) have swivel axes (S1, S2) that are offset to one another. According to the invention, the swivellable hinge part (12) is mounted on the stationary hinge part (14) via the first bearing (16) such that it can swivel about a swivel axis (S1), and the tensionable spring element (34) is arranged on the stationary hinge part (14) via the second bearing (18).

A panel system includes a tab panel having at least one tab extending therefrom. The tab panel has a core and a facesheet adjacent the core. The panel system includes a slot panel having at least one slot receiving the corresponding tab of the tab panel therein. The slot panel has a core and a facesheet adjacent the core. The slot is formed in the facesheet and at least a portion of the core. The panel system includes a clip positioned between the tab panel and the slot panel. The clip is at least partially received in the slot. The clip has a tab panel securing member being secured to the tab panel and the clip has a slot panel securing member being secured to the slot panel. The clip securely joins the tab panel to the slot panel.