Rotatable Lock Fitting for Groove-Free Cabin Seat Rails

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mounting cabin equipment to corrosion-resistant seat rail designs without a longitudinal groove is challenging.

Innovation Solution

A fastening device comprising a bearing body with a through hole and a pin member, allowing for rotational movement of abutment portions to secure the equipment to seat rail supports, and a fastening system with multiple devices and a common support plate for enhanced stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a longitudinal groove is provided in seat rails for mounting cabin equipment, then mounting is simplified, but corrosion resistance is reduced due to structural complexity and potential moisture accumulation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting simplicityVSAvoidcorrosion resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the mounting function from the seat rail structure itself by using a separate fastening device with a pin member and abutment portions. This eliminates the need for a longitudinal groove in the seat rail, maintaining corrosion resistance while providing simplified mounting through the removable fastening device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The fastening device acts as an intermediary between the seat rail and cabin equipment. The bearing body with through hole and pin member provides a intermediate mounting mechanism that simplifies equipment attachment without modifying the seat rail structure, thus preserving corrosion resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a complex fastening structure is used to ensure reliability, then mounting reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting reliabilityVSAvoidfastening device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening device is segmented into distinct functional components: a bearing body with through hole, a rotatable pin member, and abutment portions. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function simply, achieving reliable mounting through the coordinated action of simple parts rather than a complex integrated structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pin member is designed to be rotatable within the bearing body, transitioning between an aligned position for insertion and an extended position for locking. This dynamic element provides reliable locking through motion rather than complex static structures, simplifying the overall device while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Stability of the object's composition

If multiple fastening devices are used with a common support plate, then stability against bending moments and loads is improved, but assembly complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting stabilityVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple fastening devices are merged with a common support plate to form an integrated fastening assembly. This combination provides enhanced stability against bending moments and forward loads by distributing forces across multiple devices, while the standardized design of individual devices keeps the overall assembly manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The common support plate serves multiple functions: it connects multiple fastening devices, distributes mechanical loads, and provides a unified mounting interface for cabin equipment. This multi-functionality achieves improved stability without proportionally increasing assembly complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4613646A1Rotatable lock fitting for cabin equipment
Publication Date: 2025.09.10 AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
  • EP4613646A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4613646A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4613646A1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The present invention relates to a fastening device for temporarily mounting equipment to a seat rail support. In order to provide a simpler and more reliable way of mounting cabin equipment to seat rail supports, the fastening device comprises a bearing body (12), having a through hole (14) in a longitudinal direction (16). The bearing body has a body contour (18) in a cross-section transverse to the longitudinal direction and a pin member (20), having a longitudinal rod portion (22) and a first abutment portion (24) at a first end (26) of the longitudinal rod portion and a second abutment portion (28) at a second end (30) of the longitudinal rod portion. The longitudinal rod portion is rotatably hold in the through hole of the bearing body. The second abutment portion is provided as an insert-stopping portion (32) extending at least over an outer edge of the through hole. The first abutment portion has an outer shape (34) in a cross-section transverse to the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal rod portion, which-cross section is inscribed in the body contour. The first abutment portion is rotatable by the pin member from an aligned position (36), in which the outer shape is aligned with the body contour, to an extended position (38), in which the first abutment portion laterally extends over the body contour.