Repair and replacement mechanism for personal control units on aircraft

Abstract

An assembly for opening or accessing an electronic communication and entertainment device holder for repair or replacement of its contents, including a latch which can be released by the contraction of an attached muscle wire actuator in response to a low current pulse sent by an attached wireless receiver.

Claims

1. A mechanism for a placement, removal, repair and replacement of an electronic communication and entertainment device attached to the interior of an aircraft, the electronic communication and entertainment device having a first position whereby the electronic communication and entertainment device is operated by a wireless remote unit from a passenger, and a second position whereby the electronic communication and entertainment device is detaching from the interior of the aircraft, wherein movement of the electronic communication and entertainment device to the second position is operated by a separate handheld unit from a service technician for the placement, removal, repair and replacement of the electronic communication and entertainment device, the mechanism comprising; a) a wireless receiver for receiving an actuation signal from the wireless remote unit operated by the passenger and the separate handheld unit operated by the service technician, said wireless receiver generating a low current pulse therefrom, the low current pulse having heat associated therewith; b) a muscle wire actuator for receiving the heat from the low current pulse and contracting the muscle wire actuator in response thereto; c} latch connected to the muscle wire actuator, releasing the latch in response to the contracting of the muscle wire actuator; and d) an electron communication and entertainment device holder and the electronic communication and entertainment device are decoupling to completely detach and separate from the interior of the aircraft upon the releasing of the latch.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) FIG. 1 shows back view of a holder with the latch and muscle wire actuator features in accord with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a detail of the latch and muscle wire actuator features of in accord with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(3) Set forth below is a description of what is currently believed to be the preferred embodiment or best examples of the invention claimed. Future and present alternatives and modifications to this preferred embodiment are contemplated. Any alternatives or modifications which make insubstantial changes in function, in purpose, in structure or in result are intended to be covered by the claims in this patent.

(4) FIG. 1 shows an example of an electronic communication and entertainment device holder 10 in accord with the present invention. The holder 10 includes a window 12 for viewing the electronic communication and entertainment device therethrough, a lip 14 for extending behind any electronic communication and entertainment device contained in the holder 10 and defining a slot in the holder 10 for receiving the electronic communication and entertainment device, and a hinge 16 for pulling the holder forward to remove, replace or insert a electronic communication and entertainment device therein as needed.

(5) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the holder has attached thereto a latch 20, with is further attached to a muscle wire actuator 30. Muscle wire (also known as Nitinol Wire or ‘Memory Wire’) is a special shape memory alloy composed primarily of Nickel (Ni) and Titanium (Ti). The muscle wire actuator will shorten in length after receiving an electrical signal (through an attached wireless receiver 40 (not shown), or heated by other means. Nitinol wire returns to its original length the electrical signal is removed and/or cooled. The attached wireless receiver, in turn, can receive an actuation signal from a variety of sources, such as a nearby button 50 (not shown) which generates a Bluetooth or similarly publicly available protocol signal. Alternatively, the actuation signal could come from a separate handheld device, such as a phone or tablet. In either event the actuation signal causes the wireless receiver 40 to generate a low power signal which, in turn, heats the muscle wire actuator 30, causing it to contract and lift latch 20, thus freeing the holder 10 to be pulled down for placement or replacement of an electronic communication and entertainment device therein.

(6) The above description is not intended to limit the meaning of the words used in the following claims that define the invention. Rather, it is contemplated that future modifications in structure, function or result will exist that are not substantial changes and that all such insubstantial changes in what is claimed are intended to be covered by the claims. For instance, the specific muscle wire actuator in the examples of the preferred embodiments of present invention is for illustrative purposes with reference to the example drawings only. Also, while the present preferred embodiment deals with aircraft, the invention is equally applicable to non-aircraft and non-vehicle applications, too. Furthermore, the way in which the holder decouples from the seat back can involve any variety of displacement, not just the bottom hinge “tilt forward” mechanism disclosed above. Likewise, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes, additions, omissions, and modifications can be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such modifications and changes are intended to be covered by the following claims.