# US 2014/0197278 A1 · Airplane sidewall attachment device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0197278 A1 - Document ID: US20140197278A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/740,778 - Filed: 2013-01-14 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-14 - Assignees: The Boeing Company - Inventors: W. Kwun-Wing Cheung; Christopher L. Schwitters - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197278A1 ## CPC - B64C 1/00: Fuselages; Constructional features common to fuselages, wings, stabilising surfaces or the like - B64C 1/066: {Interior liners} - B64F 5/10: Manufacturing or assembling aircraft, e.g. jigs therefor - Y10T 29/49622: Vehicular structural member making - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS - B64F: GROUND OR AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-DECK INSTALLATIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT; DESIGNING, MANUFACTURING, ASSEMBLING, CLEANING, MAINTAINING OR REPAIRING AIRCRAFT, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; HANDLING, TRANSPORTING, TESTING OR INSPECTING AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A system for attaching an aircraft wall panel to an airframe member includes a top support bracket having a mating member, a lower support bracket having a mating pin, and an aircraft wall panel having a first stabilizing attachment and a first securing attachment. The first stabilizing and securing attachments are arranged on a rear surface of the aircraft wall panel. The first stabilizing attachment is configured to connect to the mating member of the top support bracket and retain the aircraft wall panel in proximity to the airframe member. The first securing attachment is configured to connect to the mating pin of the lower support bracket to (a) engage the lower support bracket and facilitate horizontal and vertical adjustments of the aircraft wall panel in relation to the airframe member, and (b) lock a position of the first securing attachment relative to the lower support bracket. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for attaching an aircraft wall panel to an airframe member, the system comprising: a top support bracket coupled to a first location on the airframe member and comprising a mating member; a lower support bracket coupled to a second location on the airframe member and comprising a mating pin; an aircraft wall panel comprising a first stabilizing attachment and a first securing attachment, the first stabilizing and securing attachments arranged on a rear surface of the aircraft wall panel, wherein the first stabilizing attachment is configured to connect to the mating member of the top support bracket and retain the aircraft wall panel in proximity to the airframe member, and wherein the first securing attachment is configured to connect to the mating pin of the lower support bracket to (a) engage the lower support bracket and facilitate horizontal and vertical adjustments of the aircraft wall panel in relation to the airframe member, and (b) lock a position of the first securing attachment relative to the lower support bracket. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the top support bracket comprises an isolator, at least one horizontal pad, and at least one curved fastener configured to curve around a portion of the airframe member, and further wherein the top support bracket is attached to the airframe member via a single screw that passes through the isolator. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the lower support bracket comprises at least one isolator, and at least one horizontal pad, and further wherein the lower support bracket is attached to the airframe member via one screw that passes through the at least one isolator. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2 wherein the top support bracket comprises polyetherimide (PEI) or polyether ether ketone (PEEK) and is configured to retain insulation around the airframe member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the first securing attachment comprises: a base bonded to the aircraft wall panel; a slider arranged within a channel on the base and configured to slide in a predetermined direction relative to the base; a plunger arranged within the slider and in proximity to a gripping surface of the base; a spring arranged between the plunger and the slider; a snap attachment connected to the plunger and configured receive the mating pin and facilitate a connection between the mating pin and the plunger; and a release lever integrated into the snap attachment and configured to retain and release the mating pin. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the first stabilizing attachment comprises a spring clip. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6 wherein the spring clip comprises an upward opening and further wherein the spring clip comprises steel or a steel alloy. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the aircraft wall panel also comprises a first spline running vertically down a first lateral side of the aircraft wall panel and a second spline running vertically down a second lateral side of the aircraft wall panel, and further wherein the first and second splines are configured such that adjacent aircraft wall panels overlap the first and second splines. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the mating member of the top support bracket is configured to attach to a stabilizing attachment of a second aircraft wall panel, and wherein the lower support bracket comprises a second mating pin. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the aircraft wall panel comprises a second securing attachment and wherein the first securing attachment is configured to facilitate alignment of the aircraft wall panel in a first direction and the second securing attachment is configured to facilitate alignment of the aircraft wall panel in a second direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10 wherein each of the first and second securing attachments comprises a mating recess configured to receive a mating pin, and further wherein the mating recess of the second securing attachment is substantially oblong. ### Claim 12 A method of attaching an aircraft wall panel to an airframe and wherein the aircraft wall panel comprises a first stabilizing attachment, a first securing attachment, and a second securing attachment, the method comprising: attaching the first stabilizing attachment of the aircraft wall panel to a top support bracket, wherein the top support bracket comprises a mating member to which the first stabilizing attachment is slidably attached; attaching the first securing attachment to a first lower support bracket, wherein the first lower support bracket comprises a mating pin to which the first securing attachment is engaged; attaching the second securing attachment to a second lower support bracket, wherein the second lower support bracket comprises a mating pin to which the second securing attachment is engaged; adjusting a horizontal positioning of the first securing attachment in relation to the first lower support bracket; locking the first securing attachment to fully secure the first securing attachment in relation to the first lower support bracket; adjusting a vertical positioning of the second securing attachment in relation to the second lower support bracket; and locking the second securing attachment to fully secure the second securing attachment in relation to the second lower support bracket. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 further wherein the first lower support bracket is attached to a first airframe member and the second lower support bracket is attached to a second airframe member; and wherein adjusting the horizontal positioning of the first securing attachment comprises adjusting an alignment of the aircraft wall panel in relation to the first airframe member; and wherein adjusting the vertical positioning of the second securing attachment comprises adjusting an alignment of the aircraft wall panel in relation to the second airframe member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 wherein locking the first and second securing attachments comprises applying a force to the aircraft wall panel in proximity to each of the first and second securing attachments to force each respective mating pin into a fully locked position within the first and second securing attachments. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 further comprising releasing at least one of the first and second securing attachments with a release lever arranged on each of the first and second securing attachments. ### Claim 16 A system for attaching a wall panel to a frame member, the system comprising: a top support bracket coupled to a first location on the frame member; a lower support bracket coupled to a second location on the frame member; a first wall panel comprising at least one stabilizing attachment and at least one securing attachment, wherein the at least one stabilizing attachment is configured to connect to the top support bracket and retain the first wall panel in proximity to the frame member, and wherein the at least one securing attachment is configured to connect to the lower support bracket to (a) engage the lower support bracket and facilitate horizontal and vertical adjustments of the wall panel in relation to the frame member, and (b) lock a position of the at least one securing attachment relative to the lower support bracket. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16 further comprising: a second and a third wall panel, and wherein the first wall panel comprises a first spline running vertically along a first lateral side of the first wall panel and a second spline running vertically along a second lateral side of the first wall panel; and wherein the second and third wall panels each comprise splineless lateral sides and are configured to overlap the first and second splines of the first wall panel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17 wherein the first and second splines and the first wall panel are integrated in a unitary structure. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16 wherein the at least one securing attachment comprises a mating recess configured to receive a mating pin of the lower support bracket. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16 wherein the at least one stabilizing attachment comprises a spring clip configured to attach to a mating member of the top support bracket.