A system for use in determining a capacity of a storage bin. The system includes a plurality of sensors positioned within the storage bin. Each sensor is configured to determine a used capacity within a portion of the storage bin, and generate a voltage output based on the determined used capacity, wherein the plurality of sensors is configured to generate an aggregate voltage output based on the voltage output of each sensor. A controller is in communication with the plurality of sensors. The controller is configured to receive the aggregate voltage output from the plurality of sensors, determine a minimum voltage output and a maximum voltage output of the plurality of sensors, and determine a total used capacity of the storage bin as a function of the aggregate voltage output, the minimum voltage output, and the maximum voltage output.

Presentation of an improved method of applying an ultraviolet light for disinfecting of aircraft interiors between flights. This novel system involves applying said UV light from the UV LEDs permanently embedded in the passenger seats, and/or in the IFE monitors, and/or in the overhead bins and/or in the ceiling, all connected to a remote on-off switch, to provide electric power to disinfect the entire cabin at once.

This invention allows for a significantly increased amount of time as well as target optimization of the UV light focused onto cabin surfaces compared to a push-card system with UV lights, which slowly and unevenly disinfects the aircraft interior, only one row of seats at a time.

The subject invention results in more effective disinfection, safer interior for the next load of passengers, cost-savings by eliminating push-cart operators, and shortening aircraft on ground down time, due to total cabin being disinfected at once, increasing the number of possible daily flight cycles, resulting in increased overall revenue for aircraft operators.

Systems and methods are described for managing overhead bin space in an aircraft or other vehicle. An available space or the used space with an overhead bin can be measured using a set of sensors. Using information from the set of sensors, a dongle can determine a shape and volume of the used or unused space within the overhead bin. With this information, the available space can then be reported including the number of roller bags that would fit in the overhead bin or whether there are objects that are not roller bags within the overhead bin.

A system comprises an overhead bin including a door configured to open and close an opening of the overhead bin for access to and securing of an interior space of the overhead bin. A latch mechanism is operatively connecting the opening of the overhead bin to the door of the overhead bin to secure the door to the opening in a closed position, and to release the door from the opening for access to the interior space. A controller is operatively connected to the latch mechanism, the controller having a wireless receiver and machine readable instructions configured to cause the controller to release the latch mechanism for releasing the door from the opening upon receipt of a wireless command to open the overhead bin.

A system comprises an overhead bin including a door configured to open and close an opening of the overhead bin for access to and securing of an interior space of the overhead bin. A latch mechanism operatively connects the opening of the overhead bin to the door of the overhead bin to secure the door to the opening in a closed position, and to release the door from the opening for access to the interior space. A touchless input sensor can be operatively connected to the latch mechanism and a controller can be operatively connected to the latch mechanism and the touchless input sensor.

An overhead stowage compartment of a passenger aircraft includes a carrier and a pivoting part being pivotable about a pivot axis and rotatable in a pivoting range at least between an open position and a closing position. A resetting device brings about a closing force in the direction of the closing position at a gripping point of the pivoting part. The closing force is greater than and opposed to the gravitational force, which is effective at the gripping point, by using the unloaded pivoting part. The stowage compartment has a holding device through the use of which the pivoting part can be held at the open position.

A stowage bin assembly includes a bin bucket assembly having a bin bucket which includes at least one sidewall, the at least one sidewall including a notch and the at least one sidewall having an interior surface. The stowage bin assembly also includes at least one hinge assembly. The at least one hinge assembly includes a housing which is received in the notch, the housing having an interior surface, wherein the interior surface of the housing is substantially flush with the interior surface of the at least one sidewall when the housing of the at least one hinge assembly is received in the notch. The stowage bin assembly also includes a stowage bin door pivotably coupled to the bin bucket assembly via the at least one hinge assembly, the stowage bin door moveable between an open position and a closed position. Related components, assemblies, and devices are also provided.

The present application relates to providing an aircraft storage container including a lower portion having a horizontal bottom and a plurality of vertical sides configured to form a storage volume, an upper portion rotationally coupled to one of the plurality of vertical sides, a gas piston having a locking mechanism wherein the gas piston is coupled between the lower portion and the upper portion, the gas piston being configured to support the upper portion when the locking mechanism is engaged, a rotational member operative to disengage the locking mechanism when rotated and to engage the locking mechanism when released, and a latch mechanism having a rotational lever, wherein the latch mechanism is operative to rotate the rotational member in response to a pressure on the rotational lever.

A system comprises a plurality of RFID readers distributed throughout an aircraft cabin. The RFID readers are configured to read RFID tags attached to luggage items. The system also includes a controller operatively connected to the plurality of RFID readers. The controller includes machine readable instructions configured to cause the controller to receive RFID readings from the plurality of RFID readers and track locations of the luggage items within the aircraft cabin. A method comprises tracking RFID tags affixed to luggage items within an aircraft cabin to monitor distribution and/or movement of the luggage items within the aircraft cabin. Tracking RFID tags includes detecting the RFID tags using a plurality of RFID readers located in overhead bins of the aircraft cabin.

Devices, systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for delivering disinfecting electromagnetic radiation to various areas, items, and components of a cabin of an aircraft are provided herein. For example, the disclosed disinfecting system may be configured to emit electromagnetic radiation to disinfect a stowable item, such as a personal item of a passenger or a component of the aircraft cabin. Generally, the devices, systems, methods, and articles of manufacture disclosed and described herein facilitate disinfection treatments, especially to items and/or components that would not be subjected to conventional aircraft cleaning treatments.