Aircraft Overhead Stowage Bin Rollers for Luggage Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Passengers and crew of small stature, elderly, or with physical challenges face difficulties in inserting and removing luggage from overhead stowage bins due to design limitations in existing aircraft storage solutions.
Innovation Solution
The overhead stowage bins feature a lower panel with rollers positioned at the forward lip region, allowing for facilitated insertion and removal of luggage units, with configurations including single or multiple rollers, rotational direction control, and reduced friction surfaces to enhance accessibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional overhead stowage bins without rollers are used, then the structural simplicity is maintained, but the ease of operation deteriorates for passengers of small stature, elderly, or with physical challenges
Solution Approach 1:
Rollers are introduced as intermediary elements between the luggage and the stowage bin structure. These rollers facilitate the insertion and removal of luggage by providing a mechanical advantage that reduces the force required, particularly benefiting passengers with limited physical capability. The rollers act as a mediator that transforms the direct lifting and sliding action into a rolling motion that requires less effort.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the interaction interface between luggage and stowage bin. By introducing rollers with specific rotational characteristics and friction properties, the parameter of friction is modified to enable easier luggage manipulation. The rollers can be designed with controlled friction to prevent unwanted movement while facilitating controlled insertion and removal.
2Ease of operation
If rollers are added to facilitate luggage insertion, then the ease of operation improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Rollers are introduced as intermediary elements between the luggage and the stowage bin structure. These rollers facilitate the insertion and removal of luggage by providing a mechanical advantage that reduces the force required, particularly benefiting passengers with limited physical capability. The rollers act as a mediator that transforms the direct lifting and sliding action into a rolling motion that requires less effort.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the interaction interface between luggage and stowage bin. By introducing rollers with specific rotational characteristics and friction properties, the parameter of friction is modified to enable easier luggage manipulation. The rollers can be designed with controlled friction to prevent unwanted movement while facilitating controlled insertion and removal.
3Ease of operation
If the stowage bin entrance is positioned at standard height, then the structural simplicity is maintained, but the accessibility deteriorates for passengers of small stature
Solution Approach 1:
The rollers serve as mechanical intermediaries that extend the effective reach and capability of passengers. By providing a rolling mechanism, the system allows passengers to manipulate luggage with less upward force and over a longer time period, effectively compensating for limited arm strength and reach without requiring structural modification to the bin's height or position.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution improves the ease of luggage handling for all passengers by enabling controlled and efficient insertion and removal, accommodating various luggage sizes and types, and reducing the physical strain on users.
Implementation Method 1
The one or more rollers are positioned to facilitate insertion of the one or more luggage units into the overhead stowage bin
Implementation Method 2
The one or more rollers are operatively coupled to the lower panel within the forward lip region, and the one or more rollers are positioned to facilitate insertion of the one or more luggage units into the overhead stowage bin
Data Source
AI summary
Overhead stowage bins for aircraft comprise a lower panel and one or more rollers. The lower panel is configured to support luggage and has a forward lip region. The one or more rollers are operatively coupled to the lower panel within the forward lip region and are positioned to facilitate insertion of luggage into the overhead stowage bin. Aircraft include a fuselage and a plurality of overhead stowage bins installed within the passenger compartment of the fuselage. Methods of stowing luggage in an overhead stowage bin comprise lifting a carry-on luggage unit, engaging the carry-on luggage unit with one or more rollers positioned at a forward lip region of the overhead stowage bin, and pushing the carry-on luggage unit into an internal volume of the overhead stowage bin.