Aircraft overhead passenger service unit

Abstract

An overhead aircraft passenger service unit, which is configured to be placed above the passenger seats within an aircraft cabin, comprises at least one cavity for housing at least one oxygen mask and at least one removable cover, which at least partially covers an opening of the cavity. The removable cover houses and/or supports at least one functional component.

Claims

1. An overhead aircraft passenger service unit, which is configured to be placed above passenger seats within an aircraft cabin and which comprises: a stationary portion comprising at least one cavity for housing at least one oxygen mask; and at least one moveable cover, which, in an emergency situation including a pressure loss within the aircraft cabin, is movable with respect to the stationary portion from a closed position into at least one open position by rotating around an axle, wherein the at least one movable cover, when arranged in the closed position, at least partially covers an opening of the at least one cavity, and wherein the at least one movable cover, when arranged in the at least one open position, allows the at least one oxygen mask to drop out of the at least one cavity; wherein the at least one moveable cover houses and/or supports at least one first functional component, and the at least one first functional component includes at least one of: a reading lamp, a gasper, and a loudspeaker; and wherein the stationary portion houses and/or supports at least one second functional component, including at least one of a visual sign, the reading lamp, the gasper, and the loudspeaker, positioned outside the at least one movable cover.

2. The overhead aircraft passenger service unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one first functional component further includes the visual sign.

3. The overhead aircraft passenger service unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one first functional component includes the reading lamp.

4. The overhead aircraft passenger service unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one moveable cover houses and/or supports a plurality of reading lamps.

5. The overhead aircraft passenger service unit of claim 1, wherein the axle extends in a horizontal plane.

6. The overhead aircraft passenger service unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one cavity comprises a plurality of cavities, each of the plurality of cavities being configured for housing a single oxygen mask.

7. The overhead aircraft passenger service unit of claim 6, comprising a single moveable cover which is configured for covering the plurality of cavities.

8. The overhead aircraft passenger service unit of claim 6, wherein the at least one moveable cover comprises a plurality of moveable covers, each of the plurality of moveable covers being configured for covering a single one of the plurality of cavities.

9. The overhead aircraft passenger service unit of claim 1 comprising a single cavity, which is configured for housing a plurality of the at least one oxygen mask.

10. The overhead aircraft passenger service unit of claim 9, comprising a single moveable cover that is configured for completely covering the cavity, or wherein the at least one moveble cover comprises a plurality of moveable covers, each of the plurality of movable covers being configured for covering a portion of the single cavity.

11. The overhead aircraft passenger service unit of claim 9, wherein the at least one moveable cover comprises a plurality of moveable covers, each of the plurality of moveable covers being configured for covering a portion of the single cavity, wherein the plurality of moveable covers, in combination, cover the whole opening of the single cavity.

12. The overhead aircraft passenger service unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one moveable cover, when arranged in the closed position, extends in a first plane (P.sub.1) and the overhead aircraft passenger service unit further comprises at least one loudspeaker extending in a second plane (P.sub.2), wherein the second plane (P.sub.2) is inclined with respect to the first plane (P.sub.1).

13. The overhead aircraft passenger service unit of claim 11, wherein at least one visual sign is positioned on a side of the at least one loudspeaker facing at least one passenger when the overhead aircraft passenger service unit is installed in its normal operational position.

14. The overhead aircraft passenger service unit of claim 13, wherein the at least one movable cover, when arranged in the closed position, extends in a first plane (P.sub.1) and the at least one loudspeaker extends in a second plane (P.sub.2), wherein the second plane (P.sub.2) is inclined with respect to the first plane (P.sub.1), and wherein the visual sign comprises a display panel extending in a third plane (P.sub.3), which is inclined with respect to the first plane (P.sub.1) and/or the second plane (P.sub.2).

15. The overhead aircraft passenger service unit of claim 4, wherein the at least one movable cover houses and/or supports of the two or three reading lamps.

16. The overhead aircraft passenger service unit of claim 12, wherein the second plane (P.sub.2) is oriented with respect to the first plane (P.sub.1) at an angle () between 45 and 90.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in greater detail below with reference to the enclosed figures.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a conventional overhead passenger service unit as it is seen from the passengers.

(3) FIG. 1A depicts a schematic view of an alternative overhead passenger service unit as it is seen from the side of passengers sitting below the overhead passenger service unit.

(4) FIG. 2 shows a schematic sectional view through a conventional overhead passenger service unit.

(5) FIG. 3 depicts a schematic sectional view through an overhead passenger service unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

(6) FIG. 4 depicts a schematic sectional view through an overhead passenger service unit according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) FIG. 1 depicts a schematic view of a conventional overhead passenger service unit 2 as it is seen from the side of passengers sitting below the overhead passenger service unit 2.

(8) On the side, which is shown to the left in FIG. 1, the overhead passenger service unit 2 comprises a row of three adjustable reading lights 4 arranged next to each other in a lateral direction.

(9) Six electrical switches 6 are provided to the right side of the reading lights 4, a pair of two switches 6 next to each of the reading lights 4, respectively. One of the switches 6 of each pair may be configured for switching the adjacent reading light 4, while the second switch of each pair may be configured for triggering a signal for calling cabin service personnel.

(10) A row of three adjacent gaspers 8 arranged in the lateral direction is provided next to the switches 6. The gaspers 8 are individually pivotable, allowing the passengers to adjust the air stream provided by the gaspers 8 according to the passengers' individual needs.

(11) Next to the gaspers 8, there is a removable cover 10, which covers a cavity housing at least three oxygen masks (not shown). In the event of pressure loss within the cabin, the removable cover 10 will open, the oxygen masks will drop out of the cavity and each of the passengers sitting below the overhead passenger service unit 2 may grasp one of the oxygen masks. The oxygen masks will be supplied with oxygen allowing the passengers to continue to breathe normally.

(12) On the side opposite to the gaspers 8, a grid 12 is formed within overhead passenger service unit 2. A loudspeaker (not shown), which may be used for delivering acoustic announcements to the passengers, is arranged behind said grid 12.

(13) Next to the grid 12, there is a display panel 15 comprising a plurality of visual signs (not shown), such as non smoking or fasten you seat belt, which may be illuminated from behind in order to deliver visual information to the passengers sitting below the overhead passenger service unit 2.

(14) FIG. 1A depicts a schematic view of an alternative overhead passenger service unit 2 as it is seen from the side of passengers sitting below the overhead passenger service unit 2. The overhead aircraft passenger service unit 2 comprises a plurality 29 of cavities 9, each of the cavities 9 being configured for housing a single oxygen masks (not shown) and covered by removable cover 10 from a plurality 30 of removable covers 10. In FIG. 1A, the peripheries of the cavities 9 are drawn as dashed lines as the cavities 9 are covered by the removable covers 10.

(15) FIG. 2 shows a schematic sectional view of a conventional overhead passenger service unit 2. The order in which the functional components 4, 6, 8, 12, 14 are arranged is slightly different from the order depicted in FIG. 1, but their functionality is respectively the same. In particular, in the configuration shown in FIG. 2, the cavity 9 housing the oxygen mask 15 is arranged not in between the gaspers 8 and the loudspeaker 11, but the gaspers 8, the switches 6 and the reading lights 4 are arranged between the loudspeaker 11 and the cavity 9 housing the oxygen mask 15.

(16) FIG. 2 further depicts an oxygen reservoir 20, e.g. an oxygen candle fluidly connected to the oxygen mask 16 by means of a flexible hose 18 for delivering oxygen to the oxygen mask 16 in case of a loss of air pressure within the cabin.

(17) An electric (printed) circuit board (PCB) 22 is arranged next to the switches 6. The electric circuit board 22 is electrically connected to the electrical components of the overhead passenger service unit 2, i.e. the loudspeaker 11, the reading lights 4, the switches 6 and a light source 13 of the visual sign 14, which is supported by a support structure 19, by means of a plurality of electric wires 17.

(18) An axle 26 is provided at a first side of the removable cover 10. The axle 26 extends in the horizontal direction, perpendicular to the plane of view of FIG. 2. The removable cover 10 is configured to pivot around said axle 26 for opening the bottom of the cavity 9. This will allow the oxygen mask(s), which are stored within the cavity 9, to fall out of the cavity 9.

(19) A switchable locking mechanism 24 preventing the removable cover 10 to pivot around the axle 26 in its normal, locked state is provided at a second side of the removable cover 10, which is opposite to the axle 26. In the event of pressure loss within the cabin, the locking mechanism 24 will open allowing the removable cover 10 to pivot around the axle 26, providing access to the cavity 9 and releasing the oxygen mask(s) 16 stored within the cavity 9.

(20) Arranging the different functional components 4, 6, 8, 12, 14 of the overhead passenger service unit 2 side by side next to each other, as it is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, results in a relatively large width L0 of the overhead passenger service unit 2, which prevents a dense arrangement of the passengers' seats within the cabin.

(21) FIG. 3 depicts a schematic sectional view through an overhead passenger service unit 2 according to an embodiment of the invention.

(22) The individual functional components 4, 6, 8, 12, 14 are basically identical to the functional components 4, 6, 8, 12, 14 shown in FIG. 2 and the features, which remain unchanged, are not described in detail again.

(23) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the reading light 4, however, is not mounted next to the cavity 9 housing the oxygen mask 16, but within the removable cover 10. The reading light 4 in particular is provided on the outside of the removable cover 10 facing the passenger's seats (not shown), i.e. at the bottom of the removable cover 10 when the overhead passenger service unit 2 is mounted in its normal operational position above the passengers' seats.

(24) Although in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 only a reading light 4 is supported by the removable cover 10, the skilled person easily understands that additionally or alternatively other functional components 6, 8, 12, 14, i.e. visual signs 14, a loudspeaker 11, gaspers 8 and/or switches 6 may be supported by or integrated with the removable cover 10, as well. Moreover, as FIG. 3 only shows a cross-sectional view, the skilled person also understands that one or more additional reading lights may be supported by the removable cover 10, in front of and/or behind the drawing plane of FIG. 3.

(25) Arranging at least one of the functional components 4, 6, 8, 12, 14 within the removable cover 10 reduces the width L1 of the overhead passenger service unit 2 considerably. As a result, the seats (not shown) provided below the overhead passenger service unit 2 may be arranged in a denser configuration which allows more passengers to be seated within the aircraft cabin.

(26) FIG. 4 depicts a schematic sectional view through an overhead passenger service unit 3 according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention.

(27) The functional components 4, 6, 8, 12, 14, which are identical to the functional components 4, 6, 8, 12, 14 shown in FIG. 3, will not be described in detail again.

(28) The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 differs from the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 in that the front plane P2 of the loudspeaker 11 (second plane) is not oriented parallel to the plane P1 of the overhead passenger service unit 2 (first plane), which is horizontal in the arrangement shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Instead, the front plane P2 of the loudspeaker 11 is oriented at an angle with respect to the plane P1 of the overhead passenger service unit 2. Said angle in particular may be between 45 and 90.

(29) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the loudspeaker 11 is arranged in close combination with the visual sign 14. The loudspeaker 11 in particular is arranged above the display panel 15 of the visual sign 14, forming a hollow space 21 defined by the loudspeaker 11, the display panel 15, the grid 12 and the support structure 19 of the light source 13. The display panel 15 extends in a third plane P3, which is inclined with respect to the (first) plane P1 of the overhead passenger service unit 2 and/or the (second) plane P2 of the loudspeaker 11.

(30) Such a structure results in a very compact overhead passenger service unit 2, allowing to reduce the width L2 of the overhead passenger service unit 2 even further (L2<L1).

(31) As a result, an overhead passenger service unit 2 according to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4 has a very short width L2 which allows a very dense arrangement of the passengers' seats below the overhead passenger service unit 2.

(32) Due to its reduced dimensions, the overhead passenger service unit 2 is easy to handle. This facilitates the installation and replacement of the overhead passenger service unit 2 allowing a more flexible use of the aircraft by shifting and/or replacing the overhead passenger service units 2 installed within the cabin.

(33) While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition many modifications may be made to adopt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention include all embodiments falling within the scope of the following claims.