# US 10,864,849 B2 · Illuminated stowage bin assemblies within vehicles > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,864,849 B2 - Document ID: US10864849B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/623,611 - Filed: 2017-06-15 - Published: 2018-09-13 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-10 - Assignees: The Boeing Company - Applicants: The Boeing Company - Inventors: Richard K. Simms; Stephen G. Dame; Mark L. Cloud; Todd D. Smith - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864849B2 ## CPC - B60Q 3/30: for compartments other than passenger or driving compartments, e.g. luggage or engine compartments - B61D 29/00: Lighting - B64D 11/003: {Stowage devices for passengers' personal luggage} - B60Q 3/41: for mass transit vehicles, e.g. buses - Y02T 30/00: Transportation of goods or passengers via railways, e.g. energy recovery or reducing air resistance - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL - B61D: BODY DETAILS OR KINDS OF RAILWAY VEHICLES (vehicles in general B60; adaptation of vehicles to special systems B61B; underframes B61F) - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A stowage bin assembly of a vehicle includes one or more interior light-emitting elements that are configured to illuminate a baggage retaining chamber of the stowage bin assembly. The stowage bin assembly is within an interior cabin of the vehicle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A stowage bin assembly within an interior cabin of a vehicle, the stowage bin assembly comprising: a strongback; a bucket moveably coupled to the strongback, wherein a baggage retaining chamber is defined, at least in part, by the bucket, and wherein the baggage retaining chamber is sized and configured to receive and retain carry-on luggage; and one or more interior light-emitting elements configured to illuminate the baggage retaining chamber of the stowage bin assembly, wherein the one or more interior light-emitting elements are configured to illuminate the baggage retaining chamber when the stowage bin assembly is in an open position, and wherein each of the one or more interior light-emitting elements are deactivated when the stowage bin assembly is in a closed position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The stowage bin assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more interior light-emitting elements are disposed within the baggage retaining chamber of the stowage bin assembly. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The stowage bin assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more interior light-emitting elements emit light that gradually intensifies as the stowage bin assembly is opened, and wherein the one or more interior light-emitting elements emit light that gradually fades as the stowage bin assembly is closed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The stowage bin assembly of claim 1, wherein the bucket includes a front panel connected to a forward end panel and an aft end panel, and wherein the baggage retaining chamber is defined, at least in part, between the front panel, the forward end panel, and the aft panel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The stowage bin assembly of claim 4, wherein the front panel comprises an arcuate panel having a curved outer surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The stowage bin assembly of claim 1, further comprising one or more exterior light-emitting elements. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The stowage bin assembly of claim 6, wherein the one or more exterior light-emitting elements are configured to emit light to indicate a current status of the stowage bin assembly. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The stowage bin assembly of claim 1, further comprising a stowage bin control unit in communication with the one or more interior light-emitting elements, wherein the stowage bin control unit is configured to operate the one or more interior light-emitting elements. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The stowage bin assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more interior light-emitting elements are within a closed area of the stowage bin assembly. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The stowage bin assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more interior light-emitting elements are secured to the strongback. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The stowage bin assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a sensor configured to determine a rotational position of the bucket. ### Claim 12 A method of operating a stowage bin assembly within an interior cabin of a vehicle, the method comprising: illuminating a baggage retaining chamber of the stowage bin assembly with one or more interior light-emitting elements, wherein the stowage bin assembly includes a strongback, and a bucket moveably coupled to the strongback, wherein the baggage retaining chamber is defined, at least in part, by the bucket, and wherein the baggage retaining chamber is sized and configured to receive and retain carry-on luggage, wherein the illuminating comprises: illuminating the baggage retaining chamber by one or more interior light-emitting elements when the stowage bin assembly is in an open position; and deactivating each of the one or more interior light-emitting elements when the stowage bin assembly is in a closed position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more light-emitting elements are disposed within the baggage retaining chamber of the stowage bin assembly. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the illuminating comprises: emitting light that gradually intensifies as the stowage bin assembly is opened, and emitting light that gradually fades as the stowage bin assembly is closed. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising emitting light from one or more exterior light-emitting elements secured to the stowage bin assembly. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the emitting light from the one or more exterior light-emitting elements comprises emitting light to indicate a current status of the stowage bin assembly. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further using a stowage bin control unit to operate the one or more interior light-emitting elements. ### Claim 18 A vehicle comprising: an interior cabin; and a plurality of stowage bin assemblies within the interior cabin, wherein at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies comprises: a strongback; a bucket moveably coupled to the strongback, wherein a baggage retaining chamber is defined, at least in part, by the bucket, and wherein the baggage retaining chamber is sized and configured to receive and retain carry-on luggage; and one or more interior light-emitting elements configured to illuminate the baggage retaining chamber of at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies, wherein the one or more interior light-emitting elements are configured to illuminate the baggage retaining chamber when the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies is in an open position, and wherein each of the one or more interior light-emitting elements are deactivated when the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies is in a closed position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the one or more interior light-emitting elements are disposed within the baggage retaining chamber of the stowage bin assembly. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the one or more interior light-emitting elements emit light that gradually intensifies as the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies is opened, and wherein the one or more interior light-emitting elements emit light that gradually fades as the at least one of the plurality of stowage bin assemblies is closed.