AIRCRAFT PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION UNIT

Abstract

The invention provides an aircraft passenger accommodation unit (1000) comprising a seat (100), a shell (110) defining an opening (120), and a door (130). The door (130) is translatable along a first path across the opening (120) between a closed position in which passenger egress through the opening (120) is at least partially blocked, and an open position which allows passenger access between a seat (100) and an aisle (300). The door (130) is translatable in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction, between a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, the door (130) is translatable across the opening (120) along the first path, and when the door (130) is in the second configuration, the door (130) is translatable across the opening (120) along a second path. The invention also provides a door arrangement and a method of using a door.

Claims

1. An aircraft passenger accommodation unit for location in an aircraft cabin adjacent to an aisle, the unit comprising: (i) a seat; (ii) a shell, at least partially surrounding the seat, wherein the shell defines an opening that allows a passenger to egress between the aisle and the seat; and (iii) a door for providing variable access through the opening between the aisle and the seat, wherein the door is translatable along a first path in a first direction across the opening between a closed position in which passenger access through the opening is at least partially blocked, and an open position which allows passenger access between the seat and the aisle through the opening, wherein the door is translatable in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction, between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein, when the door is in the first configuration, the door is translatable across the opening along the first path, and, wherein, when the door is in the second configuration, the door is translatable across the opening along a second path.

2. The aircraft passenger accommodation unit of claim 1, wherein the first path is substantially parallel to the second path.

3. The aircraft passenger accommodation unit of claim 1, further comprising a first support mechanism, wherein the first support mechanism is arranged to support the door in the first configuration.

4. The aircraft passenger accommodation unit of claim 3, wherein the first support mechanism comprises a first guide mechanism arranged to guide translation of the door as the door is translated along the first path.

5. The aircraft passenger accommodation unit of claim 4, wherein the first guide mechanism comprises a first guide track arranged to guide the translation of the door as the door is translated along the first path.

6. The aircraft passenger accommodation unit of claim 5, wherein the first guide track is provided on the shell.

7. The aircraft passenger accommodation unit of claim 3, wherein the first support mechanism comprises a release mechanism, moveable between a retaining position, in which the door is retainable in the first configuration, and a released position, in which the door is released from the first configuration.

8. The aircraft passenger accommodation unit of claim 7, wherein, when the release mechanism is in the released position, the door is translatable from the first configuration to the second configuration.

9. The aircraft passenger accommodation unit of claim 7, comprising a release handle, wherein actuation of the release handle is operable to cause the release mechanism to move from the retaining position to the released position.

10. The aircraft passenger accommodation unit of claim 9, wherein the release handle is connected to the release mechanism by a release cable.

11. The aircraft passenger accommodation unit of claim 3, wherein the shell comprises a second support mechanism, wherein the second support mechanism is arranged to support the door in the second configuration.

12. The aircraft passenger accommodation unit of claim 11, wherein the second support mechanism comprises a second guide mechanism arranged to guide translation of the door as the door is translated along the second path.

13. The aircraft passenger accommodation unit of claim 12, wherein the second guide mechanism comprises a second guide track arranged to guide translation of the door as the door is translated along the second path.

14. The aircraft passenger accommodation unit of claim 13, wherein the second guide track is provided on the shell.

15. A door arrangement for an aircraft passenger accommodation unit, the door arrangement being for providing variable access through an opening of the aircraft passenger accommodation unit, wherein the door arrangement comprises: a panel; a door translatable with respect to the panel along a first path in a first direction across the opening between a closed position in which passenger egress between an aisle and a seat is partially blocked, and an open position which allows passenger access between the aisle and the seat through the opening, wherein the door is translatable in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction, between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein, when the door is in the first configuration, the door is translatable across the opening along the first path, and, wherein, when the door is in the second configuration, the door is translatable across the opening along a second path.

16. A method of using a door arrangement of an aircraft passenger accommodation unit, the door arrangement comprising: a panel; a door translatable with respect to the panel along a first path in a first direction across the opening between a closed position in which passenger egress between an aisle and a seat is partially blocked, and an open position which allows passenger access between the aisle and the seat through the opening, wherein the door is translatable in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction, between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein, when the door is in the first configuration, the door is translatable across the opening along the first path, and, wherein, when the door is in the second configuration, the door is translatable across the opening along a second path, the method comprising the step of using the aircraft passenger accommodation unit or door arrangement.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of: (i) translating the door along a first path in a first direction across the opening; ii) translating the door in a second direction transverse to the first direction, from a first configuration to a second configuration; and iii) translating the door in the second configuration, across the opening, along a second path, to provide variable access through an opening between an aisle and a seat.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of: iv) translating the door transverse to the first direction from the second configuration to the first configuration.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising, prior to step (iv) performing the step of: v) moving a release mechanism from the retaining position to the released position.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings of which:

[0031] FIG. 1(a) is a perspective view of a door and a portion of a shell of an aircraft passenger accommodation unit situated adjacent to an aisle of an aircraft, according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0032] FIG. 1(b) is a plan view of a portion of the aircraft passenger accommodation unit of FIG. 1(a);

[0033] FIG. 2(a) is a front view of the door and a portion of the shell of the aircraft passenger accommodation unit of FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) showing the door in the open position and in the first configuration;

[0034] FIG. 2(b) is a front view of the door and a portion of the shell of FIGS. 1(a) to 2(b) showing the door in the closed position and in the first configuration;

[0035] FIG. 2(c) is a front view of the door and a portion of the shell of FIGS. 1(a) to 2(b), showing the door in the closed position and in the second configuration;

[0036] FIG. 2(d) is a front view of the door and a portion of the shell of FIGS. 1(a) to 2(c), showing the door in the open position and in the second configuration;

[0037] FIG. 3(a) is a perspective view of a portion of the shell and the door of FIGS. 1(a) to 2(d) showing a release handle and showing the door in the open position;

[0038] FIG. 3(b) is a perspective view of a portion of the shell and the door of FIGS. 1(a) to 3(a) showing a release handle and showing the door in a closed position;

[0039] FIG. 4(a) is a perspective view of a portion of the door and the shell of FIGS. 1(a) to 3(b), showing the door in an open position and showing a drop bolt in a retaining position; and

[0040] FIG. 4(b) is a perspective view of a portion of the door and the shell of FIGS. 1(a) to 4(a), showing the door in a closed position and showing a drop bolt in a released position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) show a perspective view of part of an aircraft passenger accommodation unit 1000 according to a first embodiment of the invention. The aircraft passenger accommodation unit 1000 is situated adjacent to an aisle 300 of an aircraft. The aircraft passenger accommodation unit 1000 comprises a shell 110 that partially surrounds a seat and a console 100 (console shown in FIG. 1(b)). The shell 110 comprises a first wall 113 adjacent to the aisle 300 that lies alongside the console 100. A second wall 115 (not shown) also lies adjacent to the aisle 300. The first wall 113 and second wall 115 define an opening 120 (indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 1(a)).

[0042] The aircraft passenger accommodation unit 1000 comprises a door 130. In FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) the door 130 extends across the opening 120 in a partially extended position, in which passenger access through the opening 120 is partially blocked. When the door 130 is in a fully retracted position, the whole door 130 lies adjacent the outer surface 117 of the first wall 113 of the shell 110. When the door 130 is in the retracted position, a passenger can move freely between the aisle 300 and the inside of the unit 1000.

[0043] The door 130 is translatable along a first path in a first direction across the opening 120, and the door 130 is translatable between a raised configuration and a dropped configuration, as described in FIGS. 2(a) to 2(d).

[0044] In FIG. 2(a), the door 130 is in a retracted position. The door 130 lies against the outer surface 117 of the first wall 113 of the shell 110. The door 130 is in the raised configuration. The top edge 131 of the door 130 is slightly below the top edge 129 of the first wall 113 of the shell 110, and runs parallel to the top edge 129 of the first wall 113. A drop bolt 132 is provided on the outer surface 117 of the first wall 113 of the shell 110. The drop bolt 132 supports a bolt guide 134. The drop bolt guide 134 is provided on the top edge 131 of the door 130. When the drop bolt 132 is in the retaining position (as shown in FIG. 2(a)), the drop bolt guide 134 and the door 130 are held in the raised configuration by the drop bolt 132. The drop bolt 132 is biased towards the retaining position by a spring 149.

[0045] In FIG. 2(b), the door 130 has been translated along a first path (indicated by arrow 133) in the raised configuration, from a retracted position to an extended position. The translation of the door 130 is guided by an upper guide track 135 which runs parallel to the first path. The upper guide track 135 is provided on the outer surface 117 of the first wall 113 of the shell 110, and is arranged to guide the door 130 as the door 130 translates along the first path 133. As the door 130 translates along the first path (indicated by arrow 133 in FIG. 2(b)) in the raised configuration, the drop bolt 132, which is connected to the upper guide track 135, supports the drop bolt guide 134, and translates with the drop bolt guide 134, supported by the upper guide track 135.

[0046] When the door 130 is in normal use, a passenger may translate the door 130 between the retracted configuration of FIG. 2(a) and the extended configuration of FIG. 2(b). This provides variable access between the aisle 300 and the inside of the aircraft passenger accommodation unit 1000, and gives a passenger privacy, whist allowing access when required. As the door 130 is translated between the retracted position and the extended position in the raised configuration, the drop bolt 132 runs along the drop bolt guide 134.

[0047] In FIG. 2(c) the door 130 is in a partially extended configuration, such that passenger access between the aisle 300 and the inside of the passenger aircraft accommodation unit 1000 is partially blocked. In FIG. 2(c), an emergency release has been activated, and the drop bolt 132 has been moved from the retaining position to a released position. The drop bolt guide 134, which is provided on the upper edge 131 of the door 130 has dropped vertically, and the door 130 has dropped in a second direction (indicated by the arrow 137 in FIG. 2(c), into the dropped configuration. In the second configuration, the bottom edge 139 of the door 130 is supported by a lower guide track 141 which is positioned towards the bottom of the door 130.

[0048] In the dropped configuration, the door 130 is translatable along a second path, which runs parallel to the lower guide track 141. The lower guide track 141 runs parallel to the upper guide track 135, and enables the door 130 to be translated across the opening 120 between an extended position and a retracted position. During translation in the second configuration, the bottom edge 139 of the door 130 is guided by the lower guide track 141. The lower guide track 141 therefore provides an alternative mechanism for the door 130 to be translated between extended and retracted positions. In the event that translation along the first path, with the door 130 in the raised configuration fails, for example, if the first guide track 135 becomes blocked or damaged, a passenger can activate the emergency release, which moves the drop bolt 132 from the retaining position to the released position. The door 130 then drops vertically onto the lower guide track 141, and can be translated along a second path using the lower guide track 141. The door can therefore be opened using an alternative mechanism in the event that the primary opening mechanism becomes damaged.

[0049] In FIG. 2(d), the door 130 is in the dropped configuration, and has been translated along the second path (indicated by arrow 143), guided by the lower guide track 141 (not visible in FIG. 2(d)), from an extended position to the retracted position. The door 130 is therefore fully open, allowing passenger access between the aisle 300 and the inside of the aircraft passenger accommodation unit 1000.

[0050] The drop bolt 132 shown in FIGS. 2(a) to 2(d) is moved from the retaining position to the released position using a release handle 145, provided on the door 130 as shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b). As shown in FIG. 3(b) the release handle 145 protrudes from the door 130 and can be accessed by the user. In FIG. 3(a), the door is in a fully retracted position, and the release handle 145 protrudes from the door 130 so that it can be accessed by a passenger occupying a seat 100 inside the aircraft passenger accommodation unit 1000.

[0051] The release handle 145 is connected to the drop bolt 132 by a cable 147, as shown in FIG. 4(a). Hence, when the release handle 145 is actuated, it pulls on the cable which then moves the drop bolt 132 from the retaining position to the released position. The drop bolt 132 is released from the drop bolt guide 134, and the door 130 drops from the raised configuration to the lower configuration under gravity.

[0052] The release handle 145 can be actuated by a user when the door 130 is in the raised configuration, and when the door 130 is at any position along the first path. FIG. 3(a) shows the door in the fully retracted position, whereas in FIG. 3(b) the door 130 is in an extended position.

[0053] FIG. 4(a) shows the drop bolt 132 in the retaining position, as it would be when the door 130 is in the raised configuration (i.e. the configurations shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b)). If the release handle is actuated 145, the release cable 147 pulls the drop bolt 142 against the spring bias 149, and the drop bolt 132 is released from the drop bolt guide 134. The door 130 and the drop bolt guide 134 drop under gravity into the dropped configuration, as shown in FIG. 4(b). In the dropped configuration, the lower edge 139 of the door 130 is supported by the lower guide track 141 (as shown in FIGS. 2c and 2d), and the door 130 can translate along a second path (indicated by arrow 143 in FIG. 2(d)) between the extended and retracted positions across the opening 120, guided by the lower guide track 141.

[0054] Actuating the release handle 145 therefore drops the door 130 from the raised configuration to the dropped configuration. The door 130 moves from a raised position in which it is supported by the upper guide track 135 and translates along a first path, to a dropped position in which it is supported by the lower guide track 141 and translates along the second path. The door 130 can be moved between retracted and extended positions along either the first and the second path. Actuating the release mechanism therefore enables an alternative opening mechanism to be used to open the door 130.

[0055] In use, if the upper guide track becomes damaged, gets blocked, the door 130 may no longer be translatable along the first path. Using the release handle 145, a user can actuate the drop bolt 132 to drop the door 130 onto the lower guide track 141, such that the door 130 can be translated along the second path.

[0056] In order to reset the door 130 into the first configuration, the door 130 can be manually lifted from the dropped configuration to the raised configuration. The release handle 145 is actuated as the door 130 is lifted, moving the drop bolt 132 into the released position, such that the door can be raised into the first configuration. Once the door 130 is in the raised position, the release handle 145 can be released and the spring 149 will cause the drop bolt 132 to move back into the retaining position, thereby supporting the drop bolt guide 134.

[0057] Whilst the present invention has been described and illustrated with reference to particular embodiments, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention lends itself to many different variations not specifically illustrated herein. By way of example only, certain possible variations will now be described.

[0058] In some embodiments, a latch, rather than a drop bolt, is actuated to move the door from the raised position to the dropped position. The latch may comprise a pair of jaws, which may biased towards a closed position. When the jaws are in the closed position, the jaws may grip an upper edge of the door.

[0059] In some embodiments, the door can lifted from the dropped configuration into the raised configuration (for example, to reset the door after emergency release). As the door is lifted into the first configuration, the door may move against the bias spring of the release mechanism.

[0060] In some embodiments, the second path may be different to the first path. When the aircraft passenger accommodation unit is in its normal orientation, the second path may be angled with respect to the horizontal, for example at angle of 5 degrees with respect to the horizontal.

[0061] In the embodiments, the shell is generally rectangular, however in other embodiments the shell may be square, oval or any other suitable shape.

[0062] Similarly, in the embodiments described above, the door is generally rectangular. In other embodiments the door can be any suitable shape that can span an opening defined by the shell.

[0063] Where in the foregoing description, integers or elements are mentioned which have known, obvious or foreseeable equivalents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. Reference should be made to the claims for determining the true scope of the present invention, which should be construed so as to encompass any such equivalents. It will also be appreciated by the reader that integers or features of the invention that are described as preferable, advantageous, convenient or the like are optional and do not limit the scope of the independent claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that such optional integers or features, whilst of possible benefit in some embodiments of the invention, may not be desirable, and may therefore be absent, in other embodiments.