Lateral linear moving curtain rail

Abstract

A vehicle cabin curtain rail attachment comprising a guiding rail configured to be mounted fixedly within a cabin and a movable curtain rail section to receive or guide a curtain, wherein the movable curtain rail section is configured to slide along the guiding rail to a desired position.

Claims

1. A vehicle cabin curtain rail attachment comprising: a guiding rail configured to be mounted fixedly within a cabin of the vehicle, and a movable curtain rail section for at least one of receiving or guiding a curtain, the movable curtain rail section being configured to slide along the guiding rail to a desired position.

2. The vehicle cabin curtain rail attachment according to claim 1, wherein the movable curtain rail section is retained in the desired position along the guiding rail by at least one movable end stop button being configured to slide along the guiding rail and being configured to engage with the guiding rail in order to fix the movable end stop button to the guiding rail in a locking position.

3. The vehicle cabin curtain rail attachment according to claim 2, wherein the movable curtain rail section is movable along the at least one guiding rail between two fixed end stop buttons being mounted at end pieces of the guiding rail and being configured to prevent the movable curtain rail section from being detached from the guiding rail.

4. The vehicle cabin curtain rail attachment according to claim 2, wherein the movable end stop buttons are switchable between an unlocked state in which they are movable along the guiding section to the locking position and a locked state in which they are detachably fixed in the locking position for retaining the movable curtain rail section in the desired position.

5. The vehicle cabin curtain rail attachment according to claim 2, wherein the end stop button comprises a pin configured for achieving a locked state and an unlocked state.

6. The vehicle cabin curtain rail attachment according to claim 5, wherein the pin comprises an index pin.

7. The vehicle cabin curtain rail attachment according to claim 5, wherein the pin comprises a knob for achieving the unlocked state by using the knob, and a spring for achieving automatically the locked state by spring load.

8. The vehicle cabin curtain rail attachment according to claim 7, wherein the knob is configured to be pushed or pulled to achieve the unlocked state.

9. The vehicle cabin curtain rail attachment according to claim 1, wherein a pair of guiding rails is configured to be mounted fixedly within the cabin, wherein the movable curtain rail section is attached between the two guiding rails of said pair.

10. The vehicle cabin curtain rail attachment according to claim 1, wherein a plurality guiding rails is provided, each thereof with two fixed end stop buttons for preventing the movable curtain rail section from being detached from the guiding rail, wherein the fixed end stop buttons are positioned fixedly at each end piece of the guiding rail, and wherein at least one of the guiding rails comprises two movable end stop buttons configured to retain the movable curtain rail section at the desired position along the guiding rail.

11. The vehicle cabin curtain rail attachment according to claim 1, wherein each end piece of the movable curtain rail section is attached to one guiding rail by a guiding-rail-coupling configured to guide the movable curtain rail section along the guiding rail.

12. The vehicle cabin curtain rail attachment according to claim 1, wherein a slotted hole is provided on at least one end region of at least one guiding rail in order to compensate in-motion deformations of the vehicle.

13. The vehicle cabin curtain rail attachment according to claim 1, wherein a pin attachment configured to adjust an angle between the guiding rail and the movable curtain rail section is provided on at least one end region of one guiding rail in order to compensate in-motion deformations of the vehicle.

14. The vehicle cabin curtain rail attachment according to claim 13, wherein the pin attachment is configured to adjust an angle deviating from a 90 degree angle between an axis of the guiding rail and an axis of the movable curtain rail section being essentially perpendicular to each other when not deformed.

15. The vehicle cabin curtain rail attachment according to claim 1, wherein an L-shaped or a U-shaped movable curtain rail section is provided for connecting to at least one guiding rail.

16. The vehicle cabin curtain rail attachment according to claim 15, wherein the movable curtain rail section is provided for connecting to a pair guiding rails.

17. The vehicle cabin curtain rail attachment according to claim 15, wherein the L-shaped or U-shaped movable curtain rail section comprises at least two movable curtain rail portions, that are coupled by curtain-rail-section-coupling means configured to support the shifting of the curtain from one movable curtain rail section to the adjacent movable curtain rail section.

18. The vehicle cabin curtain rail attachment according to claim 17, wherein the movable curtain rail portions are linear and the movable curtain rail section and the adjacent movable curtain rail sections are linear.

19. The vehicle cabin curtain rail attachment according to claim 17, wherein the curtain-rail-section-couplings means are adjustable into a locked state in which the movable curtain rail sections are detachably fixed with respect to each other and into an unlocked state in which the movable curtain rail sections are freely movable with respect to each other.

20. The vehicle cabin curtain rail attachment according to claim 17, wherein the curtain-rail-section-couplings comprises a knob for achieving the unlocked state and a spring for achieving the locked position automatically by spring load.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Preferred embodiments of the vehicle cabin curtain rail attachment, in particular for an aircraft, are described in greater detail with reference to the attached schematic drawings in the following, wherein

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a top view of the vehicle cabin curtail rail arrangement according to the present invention in the normal position, for example during a flight,

[0024] FIG. 2 shows a top view of the vehicle cabin curtail rail arrangement according to the present invention in the access position, for example during maintenance work,

[0025] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the vehicle cabin curtail rail arrangement according to the present invention,

[0026] FIGS. 4a, b show two possible positions of the movable curtain rail section,

[0027] FIGS. 5a, b show two possible further positions of the movable curtain rail section,

[0028] FIG. 6 shows an index pin in perspective side views,

[0029] FIGS. 7a, b show a side view of the index pin mounted in the vehicle cabin curtail rail arrangement in the locked state (FIG. 7a) and the unlocked state (FIG. 7b), and

[0030] FIGS. 8a, b show means of length compensation (FIG. 8a) and means of angle compensation (FIG. 8b).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0031] The following detailed description of the schematic drawings focuses on the illustrated implementation variants of a vehicle cabin curtain rail attachment, in particular for an aircraft. The present disclosure is not limited to the above and below described and illustrated vehicle cabin curtain rail attachment, but includes combinations of the described variants and implementation details of these vehicle cabin curtain rail attachments.

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a top view of the cabin curtain rail attachment 1 according to the present invention. A movable curtain rail section 7 is mounted between two guiding rails 8. Each guiding rail 8 is provided with a fixed end stop button 9 at the end pieces 10 of the guiding rails 8 preventing the movable curtain rail section from being detached. The movable curtain rail section 7 is in its normal position as shown in FIG. 3 just located below the circuit breaker panel 6 and/or the plexiglass cover 5 respectively. A movable end stop button 11 is used to position the movable curtain rail section in a desired position. The movable end stop button 11 can be brought into a locked and an unlocked state. In the locked state the movable end stop button 11 prevents the movable curtain rail section 7 from sliding along the guiding rail 8, while in the unlocked state a sliding of the movable curtain rail section 7 is possible. The guiding rails 8 are mounted on monuments 3 of the aircraft 4. Monuments 3 are for example partitions or the galleys, in which the trolleys are usually stored when the catering work is done. The movable curtain rail section 7 is coupled to the guiding rail 8 by guiding-rail-coupling means 12 that comprises sliding means 12a. The sliding means 12a of the guiding-rail-coupling means 12 are provided with the guiding rail 8 while the rest of the guiding-rail-coupling means 12 are provided with at least on end region of the movable curtain rail section 7. The guiding-rail-coupling means 12, in particular the sliding means 12a, are configured for guiding the movable curtain rail section 7 along the guiding rail 8, i.e. for transmitting the sliding movement of the movable curtain rail section 7 along the guiding rail 8.

[0033] FIG. 2 shows in top view the cabin curtain rail attachment 1 of FIG. 1, but in an access position in which maintenance work can be done easily. In the access position shown in FIG. 2 the movable curtain rail section 7 is moved along the guiding rails 8 away from the circuit breaker panel 6 and the plexiglass cover 5. For doing so, the movable end stop button(s) 11 is/are released from its locked state and is/are moved in its unlocked state along the guiding rail(s) 8. As a result the plexiglass cover 5 of the circuit breaker panel 6 is openable fully such that maintenance work can be done easily.

[0034] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the cabin curtain rail attachment 1 according to the cabin curtain rail attachment 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In the side view of FIG. 3 it becomes clear that in the normal position, the plexiglass cover 5 of the circuit board panel 6 is only openable along a distance d, until the plexiglass cover reaches the movable curtain rail section 7. According to the present invention however, the plexiglass cover 5 can be opened completely, since in the access position as shown in FIG. 2 the movable curtain rail section 7 is moved out of the way.

[0035] FIGS. 4a, b and 5a, b show how the curtain 2 could be provided with the proposed cabin curtain rail attachment 1 within a cabin. By using a lateral linear movable curtain rail section 7, the crew of the aircraft 4 is able to re-dedicate certain areas in the cabin based on the current flight phase. By using the proposed tool-less locking/unlocking principles the variations of providing the curtain 2 within the cabin shown in FIGS. 4a, b and 5a, b are possible without support of a maintenance crew.

[0036] For example, during boarding or during catering activities inside the galley area 13 comprising monuments 3, the curtain 2 provided on the movable curtain rail section 7 will separate the galley 13 from the rest of the cabin (see FIG. 4a). During flight and after catering activities a crew resting area 14 can be separated from the rest of the cabin while the lavatories 15 are still accessible, e.g., on long-haul flights (see FIG. 4b). The cabin curtain rail attachment 1 is, for example, attached to a, or a plurality, of monuments 3.

[0037] If a U-shaped movable curtain rail section 7 as shown in FIG. 5a is used, the crew is able to create a larger and more aesthetical reception area 16 during boarding, as the working areas of the galley area 13 would be hidden by the curtain 2 (see FIG. 5a). During catering activities the galley area 13 can be separated from the rest of the cabin. The over length of the curtain can be pulled towards an area where the curtain 2 does not disturb the crew activities (see FIG. 5b). It is possible to provide the movable curtain rail section 7 in L-shape. For providing the transition between a U-shaped (or L-shaped) movable curtail rail section 7 of FIG. 5a to a linear movable curtain rail section 7 of FIG. 5b, curtain-rail-coupling means 17 need to be unlocked. The curtain-rail-coupling means 17 can be in a locked state in which they may provide a U-shape or L-shape or a linear shape to the movable curtain rail section 7. When the curtain-rail-coupling means 17 are unlocked, the movable curtain rail sections 7 can be brought into position and locked afterwards. For example, the curtain-rail-coupling means 17 can comprise tool-less pins with which an unlocking and a locking can be performed easily.

[0038] FIG. 6 shows in a perspective view an index pin 18. The index pin 18 is provided with a knob 19 and a hollow cylindrical body 20 in which a spring (not visible) is housed. The index pin 18 can be operated tool-less. By pushing or pulling the knob 19, the index pin 18 will reach the unlocked state presented in FIG. 7a. Due to the spring, the index pin 18 will reach automatically the locked state presented in FIG. 7b due to the spring loading, preferably when the knob is released. Due to the spring loading of the spring that is retained within the hollow cylindrical body 20, the spring is automatically pressed against a surface or a recess provided with a surface with which the cylindrical body 20 that is housing the spring can abut. The abutting of the cylindrical body 20 on a surface generates an abutting force that is acting in a direction opposed to the direction of a spring loading force. The automatically reaching of the locked state is due to the equilibrium of the spring loading force and the abutting force. FIGS. 7a, b show the index pin 18 when it is mounted within the cabin curtain rail attachment 1. Such pins, preferably index pins, can be used for the guiding-rail-coupling means 12 coupling an end region of the movable curtain rail section 7 to the guiding rail 8, as well as for the curtain-rail-coupling means 17 inter-connecting at least two movable curtain rail sections 7. The shape of the index pin 18 can vary from the index pin shown in FIG. 6.

[0039] FIGS. 7a, b show the index pin 18 when it is mounted within the cabin curtain rail attachment 1. For example, according to FIGS. 7a, b, the movable curtain rail section 7 is provided with at least one hole through which the cylindrical body 20 of the index pin 18 is inserted. Furthermore, the guiding rail 8 is provided with at least one recess or a hole, in which the cylindrical body 20 of the index pin 18 is engaging in the locked state (FIG. 7a) and from which it is released in the unlocked state. FIGS. 10a, b show means of length compensation 22 (FIG. 8 a) and means of angle compensation 23 (FIG. 8 b). The means of length compensation 22 and/or the means of angle compensation 23 are comprised in the guiding-rail-couplings means 12 (shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3). The means of length compensation 22 are provided with a slotted hole 24. The length of the slotted hole 24 provides a compensation length L along a direction that is essentially parallel to the movable curtain rail section 7. The means of angle compensation 23 are provided with a rotating pin axis 26 that allows the rotation of the movable curtain rail section 7 by an angle of between 0 and 180 degrees between the movable curtain rail section 7 and the guiding rail 8. For example, in FIG. 8b an angle of approximately 60, 90 and 120 degrees between the movable curtain rail section 7 and the guiding rail 8 is demonstrated schematically. The means of length compensation 22 are provided on at least one side of the at least one guiding rail 8 in order to compensate in-motion deformations of the vehicle, preferably in-flight deformations of the aircraft fuselage structure. The slotted hole 24 is provided with a length L along which the length compensation can be performed. The means of angle compensation 23 are provided on at least one side of one guiding rail 8 in order to compensate in-motion deformations of the vehicle, preferably in-flight deformations of the aircraft fuselage structure, wherein the means of angle compensation 23 comprises the pin attachment 26 configured to adjust the angle between the guiding rail 8 and the movable curtain rail section 7.

[0040] The cabin curtain rail attachment according to the embodiments presented above can be installed on the pelmet or behind the pelmet of a monument 3. The description above is made with respect to an aircraft however this shall not limit the scope of the present invention to aircraft. Instead, the vehicle cabin curtain rail attachment can be provided to any vehicle, for example such as a train, a bus, etc.

[0041] The above described aspects, variants and implementations of a vehicle cabin curtain rail arrangement do not limit the present disclosure. Any details described with respect to one of the illustrated embodiments may also be implemented or applied to another one of the described embodiments.

[0042] While at least one exemplary embodiment of the present 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 exemplary embodiment(s). In addition, in this disclosure, the terms comprise or comprising do not exclude other elements or steps, the terms a 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 LIST

[0043] 1 cabin curtain rail attachment [0044] 2 curtain [0045] 3 monument [0046] 4 aircraft [0047] 5 plexiglass cover [0048] 6 circuit breaker panel [0049] 7 movable curtain rail section [0050] 8 guiding rail [0051] 9 fixed end stop button [0052] 10 end piece (of the guiding rail) [0053] 11 movable end stop button [0054] 12 guiding-rail-coupling means [0055] 12a sliding means [0056] 13 galley area [0057] 14 crew area [0058] 15 lavatory [0059] 16 aesthetical reception area [0060] 17 curtain-rail-coupling means [0061] 18 index pin [0062] 19 knob [0063] 20 cylindrical body [0064] 21 end side (of the movable curtain rail section) [0065] 22 length compensation means [0066] 23 angle compensation means [0067] 24 slotted hole [0068] 25 length [0069] 26 pin attachment having a rotation pin axis [0070] d distance [0071] L compensation length [0072] angle