Entry step lighting system for aircraft
AssigneeTextron Innovations Inc.
InventorsEdward Francis Funke, Rebecca Rae Groninga, Allan Dale Schrag
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An entry step lighting system for a deployable aircraft stairway. The system includes steps that having integrated light sources that direct and provide illumination to the steps. Some light sources illuminate strip lenses which indicate proximity to the step edges. Light emitted by a second group of light sources is directed into an angled face established on a riser wall between each step. The light bounces off of each angled face to illuminate the step below.
Claims20
A stairway lighting system for an aircraft entryway, comprising:
- a deployable aircraft staircase including a plurality of steps including a first step and
- a second step below and in front of the first step;
- one or more first light sources located underneath a first traction-enhancing surface on the first step, the one or more first light sources configured to direct illumination up through one or more strip lenses incorporated into the first traction-enhancing surface and create a step edge indication;
- one or more second light sources located underneath a front edge of the first traction-enhancing surface on the first step, the one or more second light sources being configured to direct illumination down onto a reflective face established into a riser existing below the first step, the reflective face being configured to reflect light received from the one or more second light sources and direct the light to illuminate a top surface of the second step.
A stairway lighting system for an aircraft entryway, the system comprising:
- a stairway, the stairway including a plurality of steps wherein a first step in the plurality includes a first traction-enhancing surface and a lower second step in the plurality includes a second traction-enhancing surface;
- a first lighting module positioned underneath the first traction-enhancing surface of the first step, the first lighting module configured to illuminate a first laterally-extending lens;
- and
- a second lighting module located underneath the first traction-enhancing surface of the first step, the second lighting module configured to direct illumination downward onto the second step.
A deployable aircraft stairway for aircraft, the stairway comprising:
- an upper step;
- a lower step;
- a reflective surface established on a wall rising up from a rear position of the lower step to a forward position underneath the upper step, the wall supporting the upper step;
- a first light source embedded in structures in the upper step and configured to illuminate a lens located at the front of the upper step;
- a second light source directing light onto the reflective surface established on the wall, the reflective surface configured to substantially illuminate the lower step.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.