Multifunctional support rail

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aircraft cabins face challenges in providing effective and safe support for passengers during sudden movements, particularly for passengers with reduced mobility, due to the need for additional support elements that require extra effort and material, and visibility in emergency situations.

Innovation Solution

A multifunctional support rail system with rail segments at different heights, connected by vertical handles, providing secure support and improved visibility through color and illumination contrast, and integrated communication and operation interfaces, adaptable to various user needs and positions within the cabin.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple separate support elements are provided throughout the aircraft cabin, then sufficient support portions are available for passengers, but additional mounting steps and material are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport effectivenessVSAvoidmounting complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate support elements (handrails, support grips, holds) into a single integrated multifunctional support rail system. This rail system provides various support functions at different locations and heights along its length, eliminating the need for multiple separate mounting operations and reducing overall material requirements while maintaining sufficient support effectiveness for passengers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The multifunctional support rail is designed to perform multiple support functions simultaneously - providing handrails at different heights, support grips, and holding positions all along its length. This multi-functional design allows a single element to replace several separate support elements, reducing mounting complexity while maintaining comprehensive passenger support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If different support elements are provided throughout the aircraft cabin, then sufficient support portions are available for passengers, but additional material is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport effectivenessVSAvoidmaterial consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If support elements are provided in the aircraft cabin, then passenger support is available, but visibility in emergency situations is challenging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport availabilityVSAvoidvisibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The support rail is provided with color and/or brightness contrast to the surrounding wall surfaces, making it more visible to passengers during normal operation and particularly during emergency situations. This visual differentiation ensures that passengers can quickly locate and grasp the support elements when needed most.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

4Adaptability or versatility

If first segments and second segments are provided in different heights, then support portions are available for different passenger positions, but structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupport adaptabilityVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support rail is divided into multiple segments (first segments, second segments, third segments) that can be independently positioned at different heights and locations. These segments are connected to form a continuous rail arrangement, allowing the system to provide support at various heights for different passenger positions while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through modular construction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extends the support rail system into the vertical dimension by providing segments at different heights (waist region, shoulder region, head region). This multi-level arrangement allows passengers of different heights and positions to find appropriate support points without requiring a complex three-dimensional framework, as the segments follow a coordinated spatial arrangement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS10589864B2Multifunctional support rail

Publication Date: 2020.03.17 AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH

AI summary

An aircraft cabin is provided that comprises an cabin interior space, a plurality of cabin enclosing surfaces, and a multifunctional support rail. The multifunctional support rail comprises a plurality of rail segments connected to each other forming a continuous rail arrangement. Further a number of first segments are provided as handrail in a first height, and a number of second segments is provided as a support handrail in a second height. The first height is in a waist region of a standing passenger, and the second height is in a shoulder or head region of a standing passenger. Still further, the first segments are connected with the second segments by a number of third segments provided as support handle running in a vertical direction.