Detachable mounting device for an insulating curtain to create a quiet space in an aircraft cabin

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a removable support device for an insulation curtain to create a rest area inside an aircraft cabin, in particular an airplane cabin.

[0002] We know of devices that allow us to create a rest area around an airplane seat, particularly a "Business" class seat, to allow crew members to rest within the airplane cabin among the passengers.

[0003] Current solutions involve draping curtains around business class seats. These curtains provide privacy from other passengers while they sleep. They also block out light and reduce close contact with other passengers, offering greater comfort and privacy to the crew.

[0004] These curtains, however, present aesthetic problems as well as integration challenges within the aircraft cabin. Indeed, the curtains require the installation of bulky and unsightly modules, such as exposed tracks, which detract from the perceived quality of the cabin for passengers. The addition of external tracks can also pose safety problems in the event of a crash.

[0005] Furthermore, the purpose of these curtains is not clearly explained to passengers. This can lead passengers to wonder about their function in the cabin. For example, passengers might wonder if these curtains are used to conceal a broken seat or to create a medical tent. The curiosity of some passengers, who may be tempted to look behind the curtains, could disturb the crew's rest. This can result in awkward situations for both passengers and crew.

[0006] Therefore, existing curtain systems do not allow crew members to sleep comfortably and in isolation from other passengers in the cabin. These systems also fail to meet the quality standards in terms of finish and aesthetics for a Business Class cabin.

[0007] Document EP3643615 describes an aircraft seating unit consisting of a seating area and a partition curtain that can be adjusted between an open and a closed state. The partition curtain is designed to separate the seating area from the rest of the cabin, particularly from the aisle. The partition curtain is deployed vertically from a storage compartment located in the upper part of the aircraft cabin.

[0008] US patent 9027880 describes a device for creating an individually delimited area within a passenger cabin in a means of transport for at least one passenger seat. The device comprises a modular cabin element attached to fixed passenger seat guide rails by means of quick-release fasteners. An extendable privacy screen, forming a flexible partition, is associated with this cabin element.

[0009] The invention aims to effectively remedy the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing an assembly for an aircraft cabin, according to claim 1.

[0010] The invention allows the isolation curtain to be seamlessly integrated into an aircraft cabin without compromising the aesthetic appeal or perceived quality of a business class cabin. Indeed, the invention eliminates the need for bulky and visually unsightly modules in the cabin, such as exposed rails. Furthermore, when not in use, the isolation curtain can be discreetly stored in the overhead compartment without disturbing passengers. The invention also improves the separation between the crew rest area and the rest of the cabin, thus enhancing the crew's rest conditions. The invention is also economical, as it is simple to manufacture and requires virtually no modifications to the cabin.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, at least one secondary removable retaining device for the insulation curtain is intended to position and fix a portion of the insulation curtain below the luggage compartment.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the removable secondary retaining device includes magnets intended to cooperate with metallic or magnetic elements integrated into the insulation curtain.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, the removable secondary retaining device includes self-gripping fasteners intended to cooperate with correspondingly shaped self-gripping fasteners provided in the insulation curtain.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the removable secondary support device comprises a cabin divider equipped with at least one means of attachment to at least one side flap of the insulation curtain.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cabin separator may be equipped with a light display system, in particular with light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cabin separator has an internal face facing into the enclosed space and equipped with a switch for activating the illuminated display system.

[0017] The invention also relates to an aircraft cabin comprising the assembly as defined above.

[0018] The present invention will be better understood and other features and advantages will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description, which includes embodiments given by way of illustration with reference to the accompanying figures, presented by way of non-limiting examples, which may serve to complete the understanding of the present invention and the explanation of its implementation and, where appropriate, contribute to its definition, on which: [ Fig. 1 ] There figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of an aircraft cabin in which an insulating curtain added according to the present invention is intended to be deployed to create an enclosed rest area; [ Fig. 2a ] ] Fig. 2b ] THE figures 2a And 2billustrate the installation of an isolation curtain according to the invention, equipped with a weighted bar intended to be placed inside an internal volume of a luggage compartment to create an enclosed resting space; [ Fig. 3a ] ] Fig. 3b ] THE figures 3a And 3b illustrate the deployment of movable hooks located inside the luggage compartment for the installation of an insulation curtain according to the invention; [ Fig. 4 ] There figure 4 illustrates the installation of an insulation curtain according to the invention on a fixed hook device located inside a luggage compartment; [ Fig. 5a ] There figure 5a shows an extension added according to the invention equipped with a removable secondary device for holding the insulation curtain; [ Fig. 5b ] There figure 5b illustrates the installation of an insulation curtain on the added extension of the figure 5a ; Fig. 6 ] There figure 6 illustrates the installation of an insulation curtain according to the invention on a removable secondary support device provided on a wall of the aircraft cabin; [ Fig. 7 ] There figure 7 is a perspective view of an enclosed resting space created following the installation of an insulating curtain according to the present invention; [ Fig. 8 ] There figure 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment in which the isolation curtain is held on one side at the level of the baggage compartment and on the other side below at the level of a cabin divider; [ Fig. 9 ] There figure 9 is a perspective view of a cabin divider equipped with a means of attachment to an insulating curtain; [ Fig. 10 ] There figure 10 is a perspective view illustrating a crew member attaching an insulation curtain to a cabin divider; [ Fig. 11 ] There figure 11 is a view illustrating, on one side, the activation of a switch by a crew member and, on the other side, the illuminated display of the cabin divider generated by this activation of the switch; Fig. 12 ] There figure 12 illustrates the different stages of folding and storing an insulation curtain according to the present invention.

[0019] It should be noted that, in the figures, structural and / or functional elements common to the different embodiments may have the same reference numbers. Thus, unless otherwise stated, such elements have identical structural, dimensional, and material properties.

[0020] There figure 1 Figure 10 shows an aircraft cabin comprising a plurality of seat units 11, for example, of the business class type. Typically, an aircraft cabin has several rows of seat units 11 arranged one behind the other. However, only one seat unit 11 is shown in the figure to facilitate understanding of the invention. A seat unit 11 comprises a seat 12 and a privacy shell 13 extending at least partially around the seat 12 to isolate the passenger from the external environment.

[0021] Seat 12 can offer a passenger various comfort positions, from a "seated" position to a "bed" position, in which seat 12 creates a nearly horizontal sleeping surface for the passenger to lie down. Intermediate comfort positions are also available, such as the "relax" position, in which the seat 12 backrest is deeply reclined. These intermediate positions are generally achieved by tilting the backrest, which pivots around a horizontal axis perpendicular to the seat 12's extension axis. The passenger can remain seated during transitions between the different positions.

[0022] The seat unit 11 may also include a side cabinet 15 having a top surface on which the passenger can place objects. The side cabinet 15 may be equipped with a leg recess 16 also visible in figure 7 intended to accommodate the feet of a passenger in a corresponding rear seat, particularly when the rear seat is in the "bed" position. Thus, the opening of the footwell 16 is directed towards the seat 12 located immediately behind the furniture of the seat unit 11.

[0023] Furthermore, a baggage compartment 18 is located in the upper part of the aircraft cabin 10. The baggage compartment 18 has a movable drawer 19 between an open position allowing the passenger to access the internal volume of the compartment 18 to place objects and a closed position in which the drawer 19 closes the internal volume of the compartment 18 to prevent any object from falling during the flight.

[0024] In order to create an enclosed space 22 around the seat unit, a removable retaining device 20 is used for an insulation curtain 21. The insulation curtain 21 is attached relative to the luggage compartment 18.

[0025] The removable retaining device 20 is configured to hold the insulating curtain 21 in a suspended state within the compartment so as to delimit at least partially an enclosed resting space 22 around the seat unit 11, as shown in the figure 7 . In the suspended state, the insulation curtain 21 preferably extends vertically from compartment 18.

[0026] The removable retaining device 20 is also configured to allow manual detachment of the insulation curtain 21 from the compartment 18 without the aid of tools when a crew member 24 wishes to stow the insulation curtain 21. Once detached, the insulation curtain 21 can be stowed inside a dedicated space, in particular inside the internal space of the baggage compartment 18.

[0027] In the method of implementation of figures 2a And 2bThe removable support device 20 for the insulation curtain 21 includes a weighted bar 23 extending at least partly along an upper edge of the insulation curtain 21. The weighted bar 23 may, for example, be made of a metallic or rigid plastic material.

[0028] The weighted bar 23 can be placed by a crew member 24 inside an internal volume of compartment 18, delimited at least partially by the drawer 19 in the open position (see arrow F1). The crew member 24 can then close the drawer 19 by moving it towards compartment 18 as indicated by arrow F2.

[0029] Once the drawer 19 is in the closed position, the insulation curtain 21 is then pinched between the drawer 19 and a fixed part of the luggage compartment 18 so as to be held suspended from the compartment 18. Such a holding device has the advantage of not requiring the use of specific dedicated fixing means which would have had to be installed beforehand in the luggage compartment 18.

[0030] In the method of implementation of figures 3a And 3b , the removable retaining device 20 of the insulation curtain 21 includes at least one movable hook 25 between a stored position in which the hook 25 is entirely disposed within an internal volume of the compartment 18 so as not to disturb a visual aspect of the aircraft cabin 10 and a deployed position in which the hook 25 protrudes at least partially from the compartment 18 to allow the insulation curtain 21 to be hung on said hook 25.

[0031] For this purpose, the hook 25 can be attached to one end of a strap 26, the other end of which is fixed inside the luggage compartment 18. When the hook 25 is in the stowed position, both the hook 25 and the strap 26 are positioned inside the luggage compartment 18. When the hook 25 is in the extended position, the strap 26 can extend between the closed drawer 19 and a fixed portion of the compartment 18. To move a hook 25 from the stowed position to the extended position, a crew member 24 can pull it towards them along the arrow F3. A retractor can be used in combination with the strap 26 to automatically return the hook 25 to the stowed position when the insulating curtain 21 is removed.

[0032] In the example shown, two hooks 25 extending from the luggage compartment 18 are provided to cooperate with attachment points 27 of the insulation curtain 21. On the figure 3b Crew member 24 coordinates the attachment points 27 with the hooks 25 by moving the curtain 21 according to arrows F4. The attachment points 27 may consist of through-holes allowing the passage of a corresponding hook 25. A hook 25 may, for example, be L-shaped, U-shaped, or any other shape suitable for the application, enabling the suspension of the insulation curtain 21. Alternatively, the hook 25 may be a carabiner, i.e., a ring equipped with a quick-release manual mechanism. Of course, any number of hooks 25 can be used to secure the insulation curtain 21.

[0033] The hooks 25 may have colors corresponding to the corresponding hanging zone colors 27 of the insulation curtain 21. This makes the installation of the insulation curtain 21 easier and more intuitive.

[0034] In the implementation of the figure 4 The removable retaining device 20 includes a hook device 30 permanently located inside the luggage compartment 18. The device 30 may have fixed hooks located inside the luggage compartment 18. A crew member 24 can thus engage the attachment points 27 of the insulation curtain 21 with the end hooks of the device 30 by folding the insulation curtain 21 in the direction of arrows F5. This hook device 30 can be accessed when the drawer 19 of the luggage compartment 18 is in the open position.

[0035] As before, the hooks of the device 30 may have different colors to facilitate their matching with the attachment areas 27 of the insulation curtain 21.

[0036] Furthermore, as illustrated by the figures 5a, 5b , And 6, preferably at least one secondary removable retaining device 31 for the insulation curtain 21 is provided. This secondary removable retaining device 31 is intended to position and fix a portion of the insulation curtain 21 below the compartment 18, in particular at the level of the seat unit 11 and / or a wall of the aircraft cabin 10 and / or a cabin divider 41 (cf. figure 8 ). Thus, to optimize its retention, the insulation curtain 21 is attached on one side to the level of the baggage compartment 18 and on the other side in an area located below the baggage compartment 18 at the level of the seat unit 11 and / or the fuselage and / or the cabin divider 41.

[0037] The removable secondary retaining device 31 may include magnets 32 intended to cooperate with metallic or magnetic elements integrated into the insulation curtain 21 (cf. figure 5a ). Alternatively, the removable secondary retaining device 31 may include hook and loop fasteners 33 intended to cooperate with correspondingly shaped hook and loop fasteners provided in the insulation curtain 21 (cf. figure 6 ). Self-gripping fasteners 33 are made, for example, of fabric strips with a plurality of loops or hooks of complementary shapes. The strips used may, for example, be Velcro-type strips (Registered Trademark).

[0038] In the method of implementation of figures 5a et 5b , the removable secondary retaining device 31 is provided on an added extension 34 intended to cooperate with the privacy shell 13 of the seat unit 11, in particular an upper edge of the privacy shell 13.

[0039] For this purpose, the added extension 34 may include a groove 35 which a crew member 24 may make cooperate with a portion of an upper edge 36 of the hull 13. For this purpose, as can be seen on the figure 5a , the added extension 34 can be put in place on the seat 12 by a simple vertical movement following the arrow F6 so that the upper edge 36 of the privacy shell 13 engages inside the groove 35 made in the lower part of the added extension 34.

[0040] Once the extension 34 is in place, a crew member 24 can attach a portion of the insulation curtain 21 to the face of the added extension 34 which includes the insulation curtain 21 retaining device, as shown in the figure 5b The face of the added extension 34 bearing the device 21 extends above the privacy shell 13. The added extension 34 may include magnets 32 or hook and loop fasteners 33.

[0041] In the implementation of the figure 6 The removable secondary support device 31 is provided on a wall 38 of the aircraft cabin 10. The crew member 24 can thus temporarily fix the isolation curtain 21 by pressing it along the arrow F7 against the wall 38 of the aircraft cabin 10. Such a solution however has the disadvantage of presenting a visual impact always present in the aircraft cabin 10 when the isolation curtain 21 is not deployed.

[0042] The insulating curtain 21 is preferably made of a flexible material, such as a textile. Ideally, the curtain 21 is made of a blackout material. The textile material may be uniformly pleated to minimize unsightly creases in the curtain 21 caused by storage. If necessary, the curtain 21 may be made of a padded material. This configuration provides better sound and light insulation, thus improving crew comfort. Alternatively, the curtain 21 may be made of leather or imitation leather.

[0043] As illustrated by the figure 7 The curtain 21 may bear a marking 40 in the form of text and / or a symbol indicating that the curtain 21 delimits an enclosed rest area 22 reserved for crew members. This clarifies its purpose for passengers.

[0044] Curtain 21 is also customizable in the airline's colors.

[0045] To install the insulation curtain 21, it is first attached to the baggage compartment 18. For this purpose, the crew member 24 can place the weighted bar 23 inside the baggage compartment 18 before closing the drawer 19 to hold it in position. In another embodiment, they can use the fixed or movable hooks 25 of the baggage compartment 18 designed to engage with the attachment points 27 of the insulation curtain 21.

[0046] Next, crew member 24 secures the sides and / or lower part of the insulation curtain 21 to the added extension 34 and / or to the wall 38 of the aircraft cabin 10 via the secondary retaining device 31.

[0047] To remove the insulation curtain 21, the crew member 24 can pull on the insulation curtain 21 to detach it from the secondary retaining device 31. He can then remove the insulation curtain 21 from the baggage compartment 18 by unhooking the attachment areas 27 from the fixed or movable hooks 25, or by removing the weighted bar 23 from the baggage compartment 18 after opening the drawer 19. The insulation curtain 21 can then be folded for storage.

[0048] When the curtain 21 is in the stored state, it and the secondary retaining device 31 are preferably completely inside the internal volume of the compartment 18. There is then no visible modification within the aircraft cabin 10, so that the invention does not affect the general aesthetic appearance of the aircraft cabin 10. In addition, no external element, such as a rail, is likely to generate safety problems during a crash.

[0049] In the implementation of the figure 8 The removable secondary support device 31 includes a cabin separator 41. As can be seen on the figures 9 And 10The cabin divider 41 is provided with at least one attachment means 42 for attaching to at least one side flap 43 of the isolation curtain 21. The cabin divider 41 is fixed under the baggage compartment 18. The cabin divider 41 may be attached to the baggage compartment 18 by means of attachment arms 45. The cabin divider 42 extends transversely between the crew area and an adjacent seat unit 11. The attachment means 42 may have a projecting portion designed to fit inside an opening 44 in the flap 43 of the isolation curtain 21, as shown in the figure 10 Alternatively, the attachment means 42 includes self-gripping fasteners or a magnetic system.

[0050] Thus, from inside the enclosed space 22 created by the isolation curtain 21, the crew member 24 can attach, along arrow F8, the side flap(s) 43 to the cabin divider 41. The flaps 43 are stronger and wider than the rest of the isolation curtain 21 to ensure a secure fit on the cabin divider 41. The side flaps 43 extend perpendicularly to the plane in which the majority of the isolation curtain 21 extends when the latter is in place. Additions of padded textiles along the edges can help limit light and noise infiltration by filling the gaps between the isolation curtain 21, the seat, and the aircraft cabin walls 10.

[0051] As can be seen on the figure 11 , in order to clarify the usefulness of such a structure within a business class cabin, the cabin divider 41 may be equipped with a light display system 46, in particular with light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

[0052] Once the isolation curtain 21 is installed, a crew member 24 can press a switch 47 from inside the enclosed space 22 delimited by the isolation curtain 21 to activate the illuminated display. A message such as "Crew at rest" could be displayed to indicate the structure's usefulness to passengers. Thus, the cabin divider 41 has an inner face facing the interior of the enclosed space 22, equipped with the switch 47 for activating the illuminated display system 46 and the attachment means 42; and an outer face facing the exterior of the enclosed space 22, equipped with the light-emitting diodes.

[0053] As illustrated by the figure 12To ensure neat storage and prevent creases in the curtain 21, heat-sealed seams 49, which act as folding guides, are incorporated into the padded fabric of the curtain. A crew member 24 can intuitively fold the insulation curtain 21 following these folding guides 49, as indicated by the folding arrows F9. The folded insulation curtain 21 can then be stored inside a dedicated storage space 50.

[0054] For reasons of discretion and privacy, this curtain system is preferably placed at the end of the row at the rear of the aircraft cabin 10.

[0055] Of course, the different features, variants and / or embodiments of the present invention can be combined with each other in various ways as long as they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive.

[0056] Furthermore, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and provided solely by way of example. It encompasses various modifications, alternative forms, and other variations that a person skilled in the art might consider within the scope of the present invention, and in particular all combinations of the different modes of operation described above, whether taken separately or in combination, insofar as they fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An assembly for an aircraft cabin (10) comprising: - at least one seat unit (11) comprising a seat (12) and a privacy shell (13) extending at least partially around the seat (12), - a luggage compartment (18), and - at least one insulation curtain (21), - the insulation curtain (21) being a separated insulation curtain relative to the luggage compartment (18), - a removable holding device (20) for the insulation curtain (21) being configured to hold the insulation curtain (21) in a suspended state from the luggage compartment (18) so as to delimit at least partially an enclosed resting space (22) around the seat unit (11) and to allow manual detachment of the insulation curtain (21) from the luggage compartment (18) without any tools, characterized in that - the removable holding device (20) for the insulation curtain (21) comprises a weighted bar (23) extending at least partly along an upper edge (36) of the insulation curtain (21), said weighted bar (23) being provided so as to be positioned inside an internal volume of the luggage compartment (18) delimited by a drawer (19), so that when the drawer (19) is in the closed position, the insulation curtain (21) is pinched between the drawer (19) and a fixed part of the luggage compartment (18) so as to be hold in a suspended state from the luggage compartment (18).

2. The assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one secondary removable holding device (31) for the insulation curtain (21) is provided for positioning and fixing a portion of the insulation curtain (21) below the luggage compartment (18).

3. The assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the secondary removable holding device (31) comprises magnets (32) for cooperating with metallic or magnetic elements integrated in the insulation curtain (21).

4. The assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the secondary removable holding device (31) comprises self-gripping fasteners (33) for cooperating with correspondingly shaped self-gripping fasteners in the insulation curtain (21).

5. The assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the secondary removable holding device (31) comprises a cabin separator (41) provided with at least one hooking means (42) for at least one side flap (43) of the insulation curtain (21).

6. The assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that the cabin separator (41) is equipped with a light display system (46), in particular with light-emitting diodes (LEDs).