Aircraft Cabin Trolley Securing Device with Pivotable Bar

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing securing devices for movable transport carriages in aircraft cabins are either complex, bulky, or difficult to operate, and lack a simple and cost-effective solution for securely fixing trolleys in desired positions during take-off, landing, and turbulence.

Innovation Solution

A pivotable securing device with a bar mechanism that can be easily locked and unlocked, comprising a first connection element fixed to the cabin or the trolley and a second connection element with a pivotable bar that can be moved between unlocking and locking positions, allowing for secure engagement with a bar receiving member, while being lightweight and compact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing securing devices are used to secure trolleys in aircraft cabins, then the trolleys can be fixed in position, but the securing devices are complex, bulky, and difficult to operate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecuring effectivenessVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The securing device is divided into two separate connection elements: a first connection element fixed to the cabin structure and a second connection element attached to the trolley. This segmentation allows each element to be simple and lightweight while collectively providing reliable securing functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the essential securing function from complex existing systems, retaining only the critical bar and bar receiving member components needed for engagement, thereby simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining securing effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If existing securing devices are used to secure trolleys in aircraft cabins, then the trolleys can be fixed in position, but the securing devices are difficult to operate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecuring effectivenessVSAvoidoperational simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The bar of the second connection element is designed to be movable between a stowed position and an extended engagement position, allowing easy manual operation. The dynamic design enables the bar to be quickly positioned to engage with or disengage from the bar receiving member, simplifying the securing and releasing operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If traditional securing systems are installed in aircraft cabins, then trolleys can be secured, but retrofitting existing systems is complex and costly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecuring effectivenessVSAvoidretrofitting simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the securing system into separate cabin-mounted and trolley-mounted connection elements, the invention enables independent installation and retrofitting. The first connection element can be installed on the cabin structure while the second connection element is attached to the trolley, allowing flexible retrofitting without requiring complete system replacement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Volume of moving object

If a pivotable bar mechanism is used, then the securing device can be compact and space-saving, but the mechanism requires precise positioning for engagement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice volumeVSAvoidengagement precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The bar receiving member is designed with features that automatically guide and align the bar during the engagement process. When the bar is moved toward the bar receiving member, the geometry of both components works together to self-align them, reducing the precision requirements for manual positioning while ensuring reliable engagement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2707283B1Aircraft cabin trolley securing device
Publication Date: 2015.04.08 AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
  • EP2707283B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2707283B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2707283B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A device (10) for securing a mobile device (60) in an aircraft cabin comprises a first connection element (12) having a bar receiving member (18). The device (10) further has a second connection element (14) which comprises a bar (26) which is suitable for co-operating with the bar receiving member (18) of the first connection element (12), the bar (26) being moveable between an unlocking position and a locking position, in which the bar (26) of the second connection element (14) is able to be brought into engagement with the bar receiving member (18) of the first connection element.