Pivoting Bottle Opener to Prevent Aircraft Galley Door Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bottle openers in aircraft galleys are rigid structures that protrude and can cause damage to adjacent equipment, such as GAIN doors, while occupying valuable space, necessitating a design that maintains functionality while minimizing damage and maximizing space efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A bottle opener with a pivotable member that can switch between a default use position and a stowed position, featuring a limiting mechanism to control pivoting and a bumper to reduce impact damage, allowing for improved space utilization and reduced contact with adjacent equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid bottle opener structure is used, then the bottle opener can effectively remove bottle caps, but it causes damage to adjacent equipment such as GAIN doors
Solution Approach 1:
The bottle opener employs a dynamic pivoting mechanism that allows the opener to rotate between a protruding position (for effective bottle cap removal) and a retracted position (parallel to the surface, preventing damage to adjacent equipment). This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by enabling the structure to adapt its position based on operational needs.
Solution Approach 2:
A limiting member is incorporated to pre-establish the maximum pivoting range of the bottle opener, preventing it from rotating too far and causing damage to adjacent equipment. This preliminary constraint ensures that the harmful effect of equipment damage is avoided while maintaining operational effectiveness.
2Ease of operation
If a rigid protruding bottle opener is used, then the bottle opener is easily accessible, but it occupies valuable space in the limited aircraft galley environment
Solution Approach 1:
The pivoting mechanism allows the bottle opener to transition from a protruding state (providing accessibility) to a retracted state parallel to the surface (minimizing space occupation). This dynamic positioning resolves the space constraint in aircraft galleys while maintaining ease of operation when needed.
3Ease of operation
If the bottle opener is mounted close to GAIN doors for convenience, then the bottle opener is easily accessible, but the GAIN door may collide with the bottle opener when opened
Solution Approach 1:
The bottle opener can pivot to a retracted position parallel to the surface, creating clearance for GAIN doors to open without collision. This dynamic adjustment allows the bottle opener to be mounted in convenient locations while avoiding interference with door movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The limiting member pre-establishes the pivoting range to ensure the bottle opener retracts sufficiently to prevent collision with GAIN doors, while still allowing adequate protrusion for effective bottle cap removal when the door is closed.
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 design reduces damage to nearby equipment by allowing wider door opening and optimizing space usage, enhancing durability and convenience in aircraft galleys.
Implementation Method 1
the bottle opener may comprise a biasing means that biases the first member into the default use position
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2a
AI summary
A bottle opener (100) comprising a first member (110) and a limiting member (120) is disclosed. The first member (110) is configured to be pivotably mounted adjacent a first end (110A) thereof relative to a surface (200). The bottle opener (100) has a default use position in which the first member (110) extends at an angle (A) to the surface (200) and a stowed position in which the first member (110) extends flush with the surface (200). The limiting member (120) is configured to limit the extent to which the first member (110) can pivot relative to the surface (200). The first member (110) comprises an edge (118) that is configured to receive an remove a bottle cap (501) from a bottle (500).