Aircraft Passenger Privacy Door with Dual-Path Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing privacy doors in aircraft passenger accommodation units can obstruct the aisle if their mechanisms fail, blocking passenger access and violating safety regulations.

Innovation Solution

A door mechanism that translates horizontally and vertically across an opening, providing variable access and includes a backup mechanism to ensure aisle access even if the primary mechanism fails, using guide tracks and a release mechanism for alternative operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a pivoting or sliding mechanism is used for the privacy door, then passenger privacy is improved, but the aisle may be obstructed if the mechanism fails

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepassenger privacyVSAvoidaisle obstruction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The door mechanism is divided into two independent paths: a primary path for normal operation and a secondary path for emergency use. This segmentation ensures that failure of one path does not compromise the other, resolving the contradiction between privacy protection and safety reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A backup door mechanism is pre-installed and ready to activate if the primary mechanism fails. This beforehand cushioning ensures that aisle obstruction is prevented even in case of mechanism failure, while maintaining privacy during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Reliability

If the door pivots outwardly into the aisle, then passenger privacy is improved, but available cabin space is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepassenger privacyVSAvoidcabin space

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The door operation is extended from a single pivoting motion into a multi-dimensional trajectory that includes both horizontal and vertical components. This allows the door to clear the aisle area while maintaining privacy, effectively utilizing three-dimensional space rather than just horizontal space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Device complexity

If a single door mechanism is used, then device complexity is reduced, but safety reliability is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor mechanismVSAvoidaisle access

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The door mechanism is designed to perform multiple functions through a single integrated system: it provides normal privacy protection, emergency access, and backup operation capabilities. This multi-functionality achieves high reliability without requiring completely separate independent mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12420930B2Aircraft passenger accommodation unit

Publication Date: 2025.09.23 SAFRAN SEATS GB LTD

AI summary

The invention provides an aircraft passenger accommodation unit comprising a seat, a shell defining an opening, and a door. The door is translatable along a first path across the opening between a closed position in which passenger egress through the opening is at least partially blocked, and an open position which allows passenger access between a seat and an aisle. The door 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 is translatable across the opening along the first path, and when the door is in the second configuration, the door is translatable across the opening along a second path. The invention also provides a door arrangement and a method of using a door.