Storage container and bed provided with a storage container
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage containers in vehicles, such as aircraft, face challenges with securing large objects due to strong forces during flight, which can cause the mattress to shift and inadvertently open or close the storage container, and there is a need for reliable visual and tactile cues to indicate the container is safely locked.
Innovation Solution
A storage container design with a latching assembly and locking mechanism that includes a latching actuator and lock actuator, biased toward the released position, providing secure locking and visual/tactile feedback, capable of withstanding forces up to 9G, and allowing the top to be selectively movable between closed and opened positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If a storage container is provided in the base of a bed to maximize storage space, then storage capacity is improved, but the mattress must be lifted to access the storage container which complicates operation
Solution Approach 1:
The storage container is segmented into a base and a top that can be independently moved. The top can be lifted separately from the base, allowing access to storage compartments without requiring the entire mattress to be lifted. This segmentation enables selective access to different storage areas while maintaining the integrated bed structure.
2Volume of stationary object
If a storage container is provided in an aircraft bed, then storage capacity is improved, but strong forces during flight can push down the mattress and inadvertently close the storage container
Solution Approach 1:
The latching assembly is designed with a latch that automatically engages when the top is in the closed position, preventing inadvertent closing. The lock actuator can be positioned in an actuated state that maintains the top in a selectively movable position, ready for quick access while preventing accidental closure during flight forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism uses a lock actuator with two positions (actuated and released) that changes the mechanical state of the latching assembly. When actuated, it allows selective movement; when released, it prevents movement entirely. This parameter change enables the system to adapt to different operational requirements during flight.
3Reliability
If a locking assembly is added to prevent inadvertent opening or closing, then reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The latching assembly and locking assembly are merged into an integrated system where the latch and lock actuator work together. The lock actuator controls the state of the latch, combining two functions (latching and locking) into a coordinated mechanism that reduces overall complexity compared to separate independent systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The latching assembly is designed to automatically engage and disengage based on the position of the top and the state of the lock actuator. The biasing member provides automatic return to the latched position, reducing the need for manual intervention and simplifying operation while maintaining reliability.
4Ease of operation
If visual and tactile cues are provided to indicate locked state, then ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses visual indicators such as color changes or position indicators on the lock actuator or latch to show the locked state. These indicators provide immediate visual feedback to passengers about the storage container status without requiring complex electronic displays or additional mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The locked state indication is provided through the natural position and feel of the lock actuator and latch mechanism itself. The tactile feedback from the mechanism's position and the visual cues from component alignment provide intuitive indication of the locked state without requiring separate feedback systems.
Data Source
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AI summary
A storage container (100) has a base (102) defining at least one storage compartment (202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212), a top (104) movable between closed and opened positions, latching and locking assemblies. The latching assembly (500) has a latching actuator (110) movable between first and second positions. The latching assembly (500) locks the top (104) to the base (102) when the top (104) is in the closed position and the latching actuator (110) is in the first position and releases the top (104) from the base (102) when the latching actuator (110) is in the second position. The locking assembly has a lock actuator (801) having actuated and released positions. The top (104) is movable when the lock actuator (801) is in the actuated position. The locking assembly locking the top (104) in the open, closed, or an intermediate position when the lock actuator (801) is in the released position. The latching actuator (110) and the lock actuator (801) are operatively connected to the top (104) and move with the top (104) between the closed and the opened position.