Retractable Cabin Partition for Private Prayer Space

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Solution Overview

Problem

Commercial aircraft lack private and tranquil spaces for passengers to pray or meditate during long-haul flights, and existing solutions often reduce revenue-generating seating capacity.

Innovation Solution

A room partition assembly that can be selectively moved between retracted and extended positions to convert an area in the aircraft from standard use for ingress and egress to non-standard use for private prayer or meditation, featuring a pattern of openings for aesthetically pleasing lighting effects and a direction finder for indicating prayer directions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If seats are removed from the cabin to create a dedicated prayer space, then privacy and tranquility for prayer are improved, but revenue-generating seating capacity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelack of privacy for prayerVSAvoidrevenue-generating seating capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The partition assembly is designed to be movable between retracted and extended positions, allowing the space to dynamically change function between standard cabin use and private prayer space, thereby maintaining seating capacity while providing prayer privacy when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The partition panel changes its physical state between retracted and extended positions, altering the configuration of the space to provide privacy when needed while maintaining the original seating arrangement for revenue generation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a partition assembly is extended to create a private space, then privacy and tranquility are improved, but the area for ingress and egress is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelack of tranquilityVSAvoidarea for ingress and egress

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The partition assembly transitions between retracted and extended states, dynamically adjusting the boundary between public and private spaces to provide tranquility when needed while preserving access pathways during standard operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the panel is moved between retracted and extended positions, then versatility of space use is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconvertibility between standard use and non-standard useVSAvoidcomplexity of room partition assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The partition assembly is divided into separate components (mounting frame, panel, sliders, tracks) that can independently function, allowing the system to achieve versatility through modular configuration rather than complex integrated mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3521165B1Room partion assemblies, systems, and methods

Publication Date: 2023.12.13 THE BOEING CO

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AI summary

A room partition assembly (100) is configured to selectively convert an area within an internal cabin of a vehicle between a standard use and a non-standard use. The room partition assembly includes a mounting frame (102) that is configured to be secured to a monument within the internal cabin, and a panel (104) that is moveably coupled to the mounting frame. The panel is selectively moved between a retracted position and an extended position with respect to the mounting frame. The area is configured for the standard use when the panel is in the retracted position. The area is configured for the non-standard use when the panel is in the extended position.