STORAGE COMPARTMENT ARRANGEMENT FOR A CABIN OF A VEHICLE

Abstract

A storage compartment arrangement for a vehicle cabin having a storage compartment, housing, closable storage compartment opening, lower compartment section in the housing, and upper compartment section in the housing. The storage compartment opening extends over the structural heights of both compartment sections. Items of luggage can be placed onto a lower horizontal pivoting edge and pushed into the lower compartment section. An upper horizontal pivoting edge is provided onto which items of luggage can be placed and can be pushed into the upper compartment section. The storage compartment opening has an upper opening edge facing an upper side of the upper compartment section and is adjoined by an auxiliary surface extending over the upper compartment section, is at an angle in a range of 10° to 50° to the separating plane, and, as the distance from the upper delimitation increases, encloses an increasing distance from the separating plane.

Claims

1. A storage compartment arrangement for a cabin of a vehicle, comprising: at least one storage compartment with a housing, a closable storage compartment opening, a lower compartment section in the housing, and an upper compartment section in the housing; wherein the lower compartment section and the upper compartment section are arranged directly one above another; wherein the storage compartment opening extends at least over structural heights of both the lower compartment section and the upper compartment section; at a lower delimitation of the lower compartment section directed toward the storage compartment opening, a lower horizontal pivoting edge onto which items of luggage can be placed and can be pushed into the lower compartment section; adjacent to an imaginary horizontal separating plane between the lower compartment section and the upper compartment section, an upper horizontal pivoting edge onto which items of luggage can be placed and can be pushed into the upper compartment section; and the storage compartment opening comprising an upper opening edge which faces an upper side of the upper compartment section and is adjoined by an auxiliary surface which extends over the upper compartment section, is at an angle in a range of 10° to 50° with respect to the separating plane, and, as a distance from the upper opening edge increases, encloses an increasing distance from the separating plane.

2. The storage compartment arrangement of claim 1, wherein no partition is between the lower compartment section and the upper compartment section.

3. The storage compartment arrangement of claim 1, wherein the upper horizontal pivoting edge is formed by an elongate, rigid element which extends parallel to the upper opening edge.

4. The storage compartment arrangement of claim 1, wherein the lower compartment section and the upper compartment section are offset horizontally with respect to each other at least in a region of the storage compartment opening.

5. The storage compartment arrangement of claim 1, wherein the upper horizontal pivoting edge is spaced apart in a horizontal direction from the lower horizontal pivoting edge and the upper opening edge.

6. The storage compartment arrangement of claim 1, wherein the lower compartment section and the upper compartment section are each configured to accommodate a plurality of items of hand luggage having IATA standard maximum dimensions next to one another.

7. The storage compartment arrangement of claim 1, wherein the lower compartment section has a compartment base which is at a distance of at most 35 cm or at most 30 cm from the separating plane.

8. The storage compartment arrangement of claim 1, wherein an auxiliary plane spanned by the auxiliary surface is at a distance in a range from 20 to 45 cm or 25 to 35 cm from the upper horizontal pivoting edge.

9. The storage compartment arrangement of claim 1, wherein the storage compartment opening is closable by an upper storage compartment flap and a lower storage compartment flap; and wherein the lower storage compartment flap is assigned to the lower compartment section and the upper storage compartment flap is assigned to the upper compartment section.

10. The storage compartment arrangement of claim 1, comprising at least one passenger service unit or a service duct on a lower side of the housing.

11. The storage compartment arrangement of claim 10, wherein the passenger service unit or the service duct merges steplessly and with a continuous curvature into a form of the housing.

12. A vehicle having a cabin, a floor, passenger seats located on the floor, and at least one storage compartment arrangement of claim 1 arranged above the passenger seats.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the lower horizontal pivoting edge is at a vertical distance in a range of 150-170 cm from the floor.

14. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the upper horizontal pivoting edge is at a vertical distance in a range of 175-195 cm from the floor.

15. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the auxiliary surface encloses an angle in a range of 15° to 25° with respect to the separating plane.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Further features, advantages and possible uses of the disclosure herein emerge from the following description of the example embodiments and from the figures. Here, all of the features described and/or illustrated in the figures form the subject matter of the disclosure herein individually and in any desired combination, even independently of the combination of the features in the individual claims or the back-references thereof. Furthermore, in the figures, the same reference signs are used for identical or similar objects.

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a cabin with a storage compartment arrangement above passenger seats in a partial cross-sectional view.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a three-dimensional view of the cabin from FIG. 1 with an open storage compartment.

[0035] FIGS. 3 and 4 show modifications with a modified storage compartment arrangement in a different cabin layout.

[0036] FIG. 5 shows an aircraft.

[0037] FIGS. 6A and 6B show the process of introducing an item of luggage into the upper compartment section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a passenger cabin 2 of a commercial aircraft with a floor 4, passenger seats 6 located thereon and a storage compartment arrangement 8 positioned thereabove. The storage compartment arrangement 8 has at least one storage compartment 10 which has a housing 12. The housing could extend, for example, over a length of four former sections of the aircraft. This could correspond, for example, to three rows of seats with a relatively narrow seat spacing. The housing 12 could completely surround the storage compartment 10 or could at least be open at least rearward. The storage compartment 10 has a storage compartment opening 14 which is closable by an upper storage compartment flap 16 and a lower storage compartment flap 18. Furthermore, an upper compartment section 20 and a lower compartment section 22 are formed in the storage compartment 10. The two compartment sections 20 and 22 lie directly one above the other and are not divided by a physical element. Between them there is a separating plane 24 which is illustrated by dashed lines and is merely an imaginary plane. The plane runs in particular parallel to the floor 4, and therefore the upper delimitation of the lower compartment section 22 and the lower delimitation of the upper compartment section 20 run parallel to the floor 4. The storage compartment opening 14 extends at least over the structural heights of the two compartment sections 20 and 22 such that items of luggage can be introduced freely into the compartment sections 20 and 22.

[0039] To assist the insertion of an item of luggage into the lower compartment section 22, a lower horizontal pivoting edge 26 is provided. The latter terminates by way of example with a lower front edge of the lower compartment section 22. A user can place an item of luggage onto the lower pivoting edge 26 in order then to push the item of luggage along the lower pivoting edge 26 into the lower compartment section 22. The item of luggage is always supported by the lower pivoting edge 26 over the pushing distance.

[0040] The lower compartment section 22 has a compartment base 28 on which the item of luggage rests after being pushed in. The lower compartment section 22 is dimensioned by way of example in such a manner that an item of luggage having dimensions according to IATA recommendations can be accommodated. The item of luggage has, for example, a length of approximately 55 cm, a width of approximately 40 cm and a thickness of approximately 20-25 cm. In the example shown, the item of luggage can be pushed in flat and in the longitudinal direction, i.e. with a base of a lying item of luggage first. The depth of the lower compartment section 22, which can be seen in the plane of the drawing of FIG. 1, is therefore somewhat more than 55 cm on an upper side of the lower compartment section 22. This is measured at a height of for example 5 cm more than the thickness of the item of luggage, i.e. approximately 25-30 cm above the compartment base 28.

[0041] The upper compartment section 20 likewise has a depth of somewhat more than 55 cm at a height of 25-30 cm above the separating plane 24, and therefore an item of hand luggage with the recommended dimensions can likewise be introduced. In order to simplify the pushing in, an upper horizontal pivoting edge 30 is provided which lies in the horizontal direction between the lower horizontal pivoting edge 26 and the lower front edge 32 of the upper compartment section 20. A user can place an item of luggage onto the upper horizontal pivoting edge 30 and can push it along the upper horizontal pivoting edge 30 into the upper compartment section 20.

[0042] A particular feature resides in an auxiliary surface 34 which extends over the upper compartment section 20 from an upper opening edge 33 and encloses an angle in a range of 10° to 50° with respect to the separating plane 24. The auxiliary surface 34 furthermore, as the horizontal distance from the upper delimitation of the upper compartment section 20 into the storage compartment interior increases, encloses an increasing distance from the separating plane 24. The distance a of the auxiliary surface 34 from the upper pivoting edge 30, as measured vertically with respect to an auxiliary plane 36, could substantially correspond to the height of the lower compartment section 22. An item of luggage which is inserted by a user between the upper horizontal pivoting edge 30 and the auxiliary surface 34 into the upper compartment section 20 consequently rests on the upper pivoting edge 30, with the upper side of the item of luggage being pressed against the auxiliary surface 34 because of gravity. The arrangement consequently assists the user in using the hands to firmly hold the item of luggage, and therefore the handling is significantly simplified.

[0043] A rear wall 38 is connected rearwardly, running between the auxiliary surface 34 and a laterally outer end of the compartment base 28. Connected below the compartment base 28 is a passenger service unit 40 which is surrounded by a paneling 42 which has a continuous curvature.

[0044] By way of example, the cabin 2 is formed in an aircraft fuselage 44 which has a diameter of approximately 4 m. The floor 4 lies somewhat below a center point of the fuselage cross section. For example, the clear distance b between the PSU 40 and the floor 4 can be approximately 150 cm. The lower pivoting edge 26 could be located at a distance a of 150 to 170 cm above the floor 4 and approximately 160 cm in the example shown. The upper pivoting edge 30 could be arranged at a distance c of approximately 185 cm above the floor 4.

[0045] Owing to the significant curvature of the fuselage 44 on the rear side of the storage compartment 10, in order to provide a sufficient depth of the upper compartment section 20, a horizontal offset is provided between the front edge 32 of the upper compartment section 20 and the lower pivoting edge 26. The offset could lie in a range between 25 and 35 cm in the example shown.

[0046] It should be pointed out at this juncture that the cabin 2 has a central aisle 46 which is adjoined on both sides by respective passenger seat sections 48 which are fitted with rows of seats of up to three passenger seats 6 in each case. On both sides of the central aisle 46, storage compartments 10 arranged in a row next to one another in the longitudinal direction of the cabin can be located above the passenger seats 6. In this example, the space above the central aisle 46 remains free.

[0047] If the storage compartment 10 extends, for example, over three former sections, it can accommodate five items of luggage having the abovementioned dimensions in each compartment section, such that the storage compartment 10 has an accommodating capacity for ten such items of luggage which are arranged next to one another and transversely with respect to the extent of the aisle.

[0048] FIG. 2 furthermore shows the design from a somewhat changed perspective, with the storage compartment flaps 16 and 18 being open. It is seen here that items of luggage 50 are arranged in the compartment sections 20 and 22, wherein the items of luggage 50 lying in the upper compartment section 20 rest on the items of luggage 50 in the lower compartment section 22 and on the upper pivoting edge 30. The items of luggage 40 lie flat here in the particular compartment section 20 or 22 and their longitudinal axis extends into the compartment sections 20 and 22 transversely with respect to the center aisle 46.

[0049] The storage compartment flaps 16 and 18 can each be pivoted in the direction of the separating plane 24. They can lock to one another there, for example by a fitting, not shown specifically here. This means that the upper storage compartment flap 16 is locked to the lower storage compartment flap 18, or vice versa.

[0050] FIG. 3 shows a modification in which three passenger seat sections 52 are provided which are separated from one another by two aisles 54. Each passenger seat section 52 has rows of two passenger seats 2 each. Arranged above the laterally arranged outer passenger seat sections 52 are small storage compartments 56 which can accommodate items of hand luggage which can be introduced in the longitudinal direction of the aisles 54. The small storage compartments 56 are rigid.

[0051] Arranged above the middle passenger seat section 52 is a storage compartment arrangement 58 which is designed similarly to the storage compartment arrangement 8 from FIGS. 1 and 2. However, the compartment sections 20 and 22 arranged one above the other are not offset in the horizontal direction, and the upper pivoting edge 30 is arranged on an outer edge 60 of the upper compartment section 20. The auxiliary surface 34 furthermore extends over a greater depth over the upper compartment section 20.

[0052] In FIG. 4, the variant from FIG. 3 is modified somewhat further to the extent that the small storage compartments 56 have an upwardly pivotable base 62 which permits a greater distance from the passenger seats 6. In the filled state, the small storage compartments 56 can be compacted by slightly pivoting upward in order then to close the storage compartment flap 64. The latter could then lock the position of the small storage compartments 56.

[0053] FIG. 5 shows an aircraft 66 which has the fuselage 44 in which the cabin 2 is arranged. The latter can have a storage compartment arrangement from the preceding figures.

[0054] FIGS. 6A and 6B show the process of inserting an item of luggage 50 into the upper compartment section 20. For this purpose, the center of gravity 68 of the item of luggage 50 is illustrated. In FIG. 6A, the center of gravity 68 is located in the horizontal direction outside the upper pivoting edge 30 such that the item of luggage 50 experiences a torque about the upper pivoting edge 30 because of gravity. By this, an upper side 70 of the item of luggage 50 is pressed against the auxiliary surface 34. The item of luggage 50 is thereby held and guided between the upper pivoting edge 32 and the auxiliary surface 34. By further pushing the item of luggage 50 in the direction of the upper storage compartment 20, the center of gravity 68 passes over the upper pivoting edge 30 and further into the upper compartment section 20 such that the item of luggage 50 carries out a pivoting movement in the direction of the separating plane 24. By further pushing, the item of luggage 50 moves sliding on an item of luggage 50 lying therebeneath in the lower compartment section 22 in the direction of the rear wall 38.

[0055] It is additionally pointed out that “having” does not rule out other elements or steps, and “a” or “an” does not rule out a multiplicity. It is also pointed out that features that have been described with reference to one of the above example embodiments may also be used in combination with other features of other example embodiments described above. Reference signs in the claims are not to be regarded as limiting.

[0056] While at least one example embodiment of the invention(s) is disclosed herein, it should be understood that modifications, substitutions and alternatives may be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art and can be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. This disclosure is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the example embodiment(s). In addition, in this disclosure, the terms “comprise” or “comprising” do not exclude other elements or steps, the terms “a”, “an” or “one” do not exclude a plural number, and the term “or” means either or both. Furthermore, characteristics or steps which have been described may also be used in combination with other characteristics or steps and in any order unless the disclosure or context suggests otherwise. This disclosure hereby incorporates by reference the complete disclosure of any patent or application from which it claims benefit or priority.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0057] 2 Passenger cabin

[0058] 4 Floor

[0059] 6 Passenger seat

[0060] 8 Storage compartment arrangement

[0061] 10 Storage compartment

[0062] 12 Housing

[0063] 14 Storage compartment opening

[0064] 16 Upper storage compartment flap

[0065] 18 Lower storage compartment flap

[0066] 20 Upper compartment section

[0067] 22 Lower compartment section

[0068] 24 Separating plane

[0069] 26 Lower horizontal pivoting edge

[0070] 28 Compartment base

[0071] 30 Upper horizontal pivoting edge

[0072] 32 Lower front edge

[0073] 33 Upper opening edge

[0074] 34 Auxiliary surface

[0075] 36 Auxiliary plane

[0076] 38 Rear wall

[0077] 40 Passenger service unit

[0078] 42 Paneling

[0079] 44 Aircraft fuselage

[0080] 46 Central aisle

[0081] 48 Passenger seat section

[0082] 50 Item of luggage

[0083] 52 Passenger seat section

[0084] 54 Aisle

[0085] 56 Small storage compartment

[0086] 58 Storage compartment arrangement

[0087] 60 Outer edge

[0088] 62 Pivotable base

[0089] 64 Storage compartment flap

[0090] 66 Aircraft

[0091] 68 Center of gravity

[0092] 70 Upper side of the item of luggage

[0093] α Angle of auxiliary surface

[0094] a Distance of upper pivoting edge/auxiliary surface

[0095] b Height of passenger service unit

[0096] c Distance of upper pivoting edge/floor

[0097] d Distance of lower pivoting edge/floor