Overhead payload module with integrated stowbins

An aircraft comprising:

• a fuselage;
• an overhead payload module comprising:
• a ceiling assembly,
• an aisle floor assembly positioned above a main cabin area of the aircraft,
• a first payload assembly attached to the ceiling assembly and the aisle floor assembly to form a first side of the overhead payload module, wherein the first payload assembly comprises:
• a first payload module comprising a first floor panel, and
• a first overhead stowbin module structurally integrated with the first payload module and having a first stowage area configured to receive stowbins and accessible via the main cabin area of the aircraft, wherein the first overhead stowbin module comprises a first pair of end walls attached to a first stowbin side wall, wherein the first pair of end walls, the first stowbin side wall, and the first floor panel define the first stowage area, and
• a second payload assembly attached to the ceiling assembly and the aisle floor assembly to form a second side of the overhead payload module, wherein the second payload assembly is positioned opposite the first payload assembly to form an aisle therebetween, wherein the second payload assembly comprises:
• a second payload module comprising a second floor panel, and
• a second overhead stowbin module structurally integrated with the second payload module and having a second stowage area configured to receive stowbins and accessible via the main cabin area of the aircraft, wherein the second overhead stowbin module comprises a second pair of end walls attached to a second stowbin side wall, wherein the second pair of end walls, the second stowbin side wall, and the second floor panel define the second stowage area, and
• a plurality of aisle support structures attached to the overhead payload module at a plurality of different locations along a length of the aisle floor assembly, wherein each aisle support structure of the plurality of aisle support structures comprises:
• a first support bracket having a first arm attached to the first payload assembly and a second arm attached to the aisle floor assembly,
• a second support bracket positioned opposite the first support bracket and having a first arm attached to the second payload assembly and a second arm attached to the aisle floor assembly, and
• a cross member having a first end portion attached between the aisle floor assembly and the first support bracket and having a second end portion attached between the aisle floor assembly and the second support bracket;
• and
• a support rail assembly positioned within the fuselage and configured to support the overhead payload module.

A method for balancing load in, and reinforcing an aisle structure of, an overhead payload module of an aircraft, the method comprising:

• attaching a first payload assembly to (i) a ceiling assembly and (ii) an aisle floor assembly to form a first side of the overhead payload module, wherein the first payload assembly comprises:
• a first payload module comprising a first floor panel, and
• a first overhead stowbin module structurally integrated with the first payload module and having a first stowage area configured to receive stowbins and accessible via a main cabin area of the aircraft, wherein the first overhead stowbin module comprises a first pair of end walls attached to a first stowbin side wall, wherein the first pair of end walls, the first stowbin side wall, and the first floor panel define the first stowage area;
• attaching a second payload assembly to (i) the ceiling assembly and (ii) the aisle floor assembly to form a second side of the overhead payload module, wherein the second payload assembly is positioned opposite the first payload assembly to form an aisle therebetween, wherein the second payload assembly comprises:
• a second payload module comprising a second floor panel, and
• a second overhead stowbin module structurally integrated with the second payload module and having a second stowage area configured to receive stowbins and accessible via the main cabin area of the aircraft, wherein the second overhead stowbin module comprises a second pair of end walls attached to a second stowbin side wall, wherein the second pair of end walls, the second stowbin side wall, and the second floor panel define the second stowage area;
• attaching a plurality of aisle support structures to the overhead payload module at a plurality of different locations along a length of the aisle floor assembly, wherein attaching the plurality of aisle support structures to the overhead payload module comprises, for each aisle support structure of the plurality of aisle support structures:
• attaching a first arm of a first support bracket to the first payload assembly and a second arm of the first support bracket to the aisle floor assembly,
• attaching a first arm of a second support bracket, positioned opposite the first support bracket, to the second payload assembly and a second arm of the second support bracket to the aisle floor assembly, and
• attaching a first end portion of a cross member between the aisle floor assembly and the first support bracket and a second end portion of the cross member between the aisle floor assembly and the second support bracket.