# US 2014/0197721 A1 · Pivot bin assembly

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- Number: US 2014/0197721 A1
- Document ID: US20140197721A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/179,494
- Filed: 2014-02-12
- Published: 2014-07-17
- Earliest claimed: 2012-02-14
- Assignees: C&D Zodiac, Inc.
- Applicants: C&D Zodiac, Inc.
- Inventors: Scott Savian; Stephen Kearsey; Corey Williams
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197721A1

## CPC

- B64D 11/003: {Stowage devices for passengers' personal luggage}
- B60Q 3/43: General lighting
- B64D 11/0015: {Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television}
- B64D 2011/0038: {Illumination systems for cabins as a whole}
- Y02T 50/40: Weight reduction
- B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
- B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

A pivot bin assembly configured to receive luggage and be positioned in the interior of an aircraft. The pivot bin assembly includes an upper housing that includes a strongback and first and second side panels, a bucket that cooperates with the upper housing to define a bin interior, a first pivot mechanism operatively associated with the first side panel and the bucket, and a second pivot mechanism operatively associated with the second side panel and the bucket. The first and second pivot mechanisms are axially aligned along a pivot axis such that the bucket pivots about the pivot axis with respect to the upper housing between an open position and a closed position.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A pivot bin assembly configured to receive luggage and be positioned in the interior of an aircraft, the pivot bin assembly comprising:
an upper housing that includes a strongback and first and second side panels,
a bucket that cooperates with the upper housing to define a bin interior,
a first pivot mechanism operatively associated with the first side panel and the bucket, and
a second pivot mechanism operatively associated with the second side panel and the bucket, wherein the first and second pivot mechanisms are axially aligned along a pivot axis, and wherein the bucket pivots about the pivot axis with respect to the upper housing between an open position and a closed position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The pivot bin assembly of claim 1 wherein the bucket includes a bottom and first and second opposing sides, wherein when the pivot bin assembly receives luggage in the bin interior, the luggage is positioned on the bottom of the bucket, whereby the bucket is load bearing.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The pivot bin assembly of claim 2 wherein the first and second side panels include a bottom edge and the first and second sides of the bucket include a top edge, and wherein, in the closed position, at least a portion of the top edge of the first side of the bucket abuts the bottom edge of the first side panel, and at least a portion of the top edge of the second side of the bucket abuts the bottom edge of the second side panel.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The pivot bin assembly of claim 3 wherein the bottom of the bucket includes a top edge that abuts a front bottom edge of the strongback when the bucket is in the closed position, and wherein the top edge of the bottom and sides of the bucket forms a generally continuous abutment edge that abuts the front bottom edge of the strongback and at least a portion of the bottom edge of the first and second side panels.

### Claim 5

(canceled)

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The pivot bin assembly of claim 1 wherein the pivot bin assembly further comprises a first clevis assembly that includes a first inner plate and a first outer plate, wherein the pivot bin assembly further comprises a second clevis assembly that includes a second inner plate and a second outer plate, wherein the first clevis assembly is secured to and extends downwardly from the first side panel and the second clevis assembly is secured to and extends downwardly from the second side panel, and wherein the first pivot mechanism extends through the first side of the bucket and between the first inner and outer plates and the second pivot mechanism extends through the second side of the bucket and between the second inner and outer plates.

### Claim 7

(canceled)

### Claim 8 (depends on 3)

The pivot bin assembly of claim 3 further comprising first and second latch assemblies, wherein the first latch assembly is associated with the first side panel and the first side of the bucket, and wherein the second latch assembly is associated with the second side panel and the second side of the bucket.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The pivot bin assembly of claim 8 wherein the first latch assembly includes a first hook portion and a first striker portion, wherein one of the first hook portion and the first striker portion is associated with the first side panel and the other of the first hook portion and the first striker portion is associated with the first side of the bucket, wherein the second latch assembly includes a second hook portion and a second striker portion, wherein one of the second hook portion and the second striker portion is associated with the second side panel and the other of the second hook portion and the second striker portion is associated with the second side of the bucket.

### Claim 10

(canceled)

### Claim 11

(canceled)

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The pivot bin assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second pivot mechanisms include first and second rotary dampers associated therewith, wherein the first and second rotary dampers damp the bucket when the bucket pivots to the open position.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The pivot bin assembly of claim 1 wherein the first pivot mechanism includes a first assist spring associated therewith, wherein the first assist spring is preloaded when the bucket is pivoted to the open position.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The pivot bin assembly of claim 13 wherein the first assist spring is a coil spring that is co-axial with the first pivot mechanism.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The pivot bin assembly of claim 1 wherein the upper housing includes a PSU channel integral therewith that is positioned adjacent the bucket, and wherein the PSU channel includes at least a first PSU pod extending downwardly therefrom.

### Claim 16

(canceled)

### Claim 17

(canceled)

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The pivot bin assembly of claim 1 further comprising a first connecting unit having a first end pivotally connected to the first side of the bucket and a second end pivotally connected to the first side panel, and a second connecting unit having a first end pivotally connected to the second side of the bucket and a second end pivotally connected to the second side panel, wherein the first and second connecting units provide one or both of damping when the bucket pivots to the open position and assistance when the bucket pivots to the closed position.

### Claim 19

(canceled)

### Claim 20 (depends on 6)

The pivot bin assembly of claim 6 further comprising a first connecting unit having a first end pivotally connected to the first side of the bucket and a second end pivotally connected to the first side panel, and a second connecting unit having a first end pivotally connected to the second side of the bucket and a second end pivotally connected to the second side panel, wherein the first and second connecting units provide one or both of damping when the bucket pivots to the open position and assistance when the bucket pivots to the closed position, and wherein the first connecting unit is positioned between the first inner plate and the first outer plate and the second connecting unit is positioned between the second inner plate and the second outer plate.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The pivot bin assembly of claim 1 wherein in the closed position the first and second side panels do not overlap the first and second sides of the bucket.

### Claim 22

(canceled)

### Claim 23 (depends on 1)

The pivot bin assembly of claim 1 wherein the bottom of the bucket includes a closing channel defined in an outer surface thereof, and wherein the closing channel includes a closing surface.

### Claim 24

(canceled)

### Claim 25

A pivot bin assembly configured to receive luggage and be positioned in the interior of an aircraft, the pivot bin assembly comprising:
an upper housing that includes a strongback and first and second side panels,
a bucket that cooperates with the upper housing to define a bin interior, wherein the bucket is pivotally connected to the upper housing and pivots about a pivot axis with respect to the upper housing between an open position and a closed position, wherein the bucket includes a bottom and first and second sides, and
first and second latch assemblies, wherein the first latch assembly is associated with the first side panel and the first side of the bucket, and wherein the second latch assembly is associated with the second side panel and the second side of the bucket.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The pivot bin assembly of claim 25 wherein the first latch assembly includes a first hook portion and a first striker portion, wherein one of the first hook portion and the first striker portion is associated with the first side panel and the other of the first hook portion and the first striker portion is associated with the first side of the bucket, wherein the second latch assembly includes a second hook portion and a second striker portion, wherein one of the second hook portion and the second striker portion is associated with the second side panel and the other of the second hook portion and the second striker portion is associated with the second side of the bucket.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The pivot bin assembly of claim 26 wherein the first hook portion extends downwardly from the bottom edge of the first side panel and the first striker portion is positioned in a first recess defined in the top edge of the first side of the bucket, and wherein the second hook portion extends downwardly from the bottom edge of the second side panel and the second striker portion is positioned in a second recess defined in the top edge of the second side of the bucket.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The pivot bin assembly of claim 27 wherein the first and second side panels include a bottom edge and the first and second sides of the bucket include a top edge, wherein, in the closed position, at least a portion of the top edge of the first side of the bucket abuts the bottom edge of the first side panel, and at least a portion of the top edge of the second side of the bucket abuts the bottom edge of the second side panel.

### Claim 29

A pivot bin assembly configured to receive luggage and be positioned in the interior of an aircraft, the pivot bin assembly comprising:
an upper housing that includes a strongback and first and second side panels,
a bucket that includes a bottom and first and second sides, wherein the bucket cooperates with the upper housing to define a bin interior, wherein the bucket is operably associated with the upper housing and is movable with respect to the upper housing between a first position where the bucket is closed, a second position where the bucket is partially open and a third position where the bucket is fully open, and
at least one latch assembly for latching the bucket to the upper housing in the closed position,
wherein the bucket is damped when it moves from the first position to the second position, and wherein at least a first assist spring is preloaded when the bucket moves from the second position to the third position.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The pivot bin assembly of claim 29 wherein when the bucket is unlatched from the upper housing the bucket moves from the first position to the second position by gravity, wherein the first assist spring maintains the bucket in the second position when the bucket is empty, wherein when a force greater than gravity is placed on the bucket, the bucket moves from the second position to the third position, and wherein when the bucket is not empty the first assist spring reduces the force required by a user to move the bucket from the third position to the second position.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The pivot bin assembly of claim 30 wherein the bucket is pivotally connected to the upper housing and pivots about a pivot axis with respect to the upper housing between the first, second and third positions, and wherein the pivotal connection between the bucket and the upper housing includes first and second pivot axles.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The pivot bin assembly of claim 31 wherein the first assist spring is a coil spring that is co-axial with one of the first or second pivot axles.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The pivot bin assembly of claim 32 wherein at least one of the first and second pivot axles includes a rotary damper co-axial therewith that damps the bucket when the bucket moves from the first to the second position.

### Claim 34 (depends on 31)

The pivot bin assembly of claim 31 further comprising a first connecting unit having a first end pivotally connected to the first side of the bucket and a second end pivotally connected to the first side panel, and a second connecting unit having a first end pivotally connected to the second side of the bucket and a second end pivotally connected to the second side panel, wherein the first assist spring is associated with the first connecting unit.

### Claim 35

(canceled)

### Claim 36

A pivot bin assembly configured to receive luggage and be positioned in the interior of an aircraft, the pivot bin assembly comprising:
an upper housing that includes a strongback and first and second side panels,
a first clevis assembly that includes a at least one of a first inner plate and a first outer plate and that is secured to and extends downwardly from the first side panel,
a second clevis assembly that includes at least one of a second inner plate and a second outer plate and that is secured to and extends downwardly from the second side panel,
a bucket that includes a bottom and first and second sides, wherein the bucket cooperates with the upper housing to define a bin interior,
a first pivot axle operatively associated with the bucket and the first clevis assembly, and
a second pivot axle operatively associated with the bucket and the second clevis assembly, wherein the first and second pivot axles are axially aligned along a pivot axis, and wherein the bucket pivots about the pivot axis with respect to the upper housing between an open position and a closed position.

### Claim 37 (depends on 36)

The pivot bin assembly of claim 36 further comprising a first connecting unit having a first end pivotally connected to the first side of the bucket and a second end pivotally connected to the first side panel, and a second connecting unit having a first end pivotally connected to the second side of the bucket and a second end pivotally connected to the second side panel, wherein the first and second connecting units provide one or both of damping when the bucket pivots to the open position and assistance when the bucket pivots to the closed position.

### Claim 38 (depends on 37)

The pivot bin assembly of claim 37 wherein the first clevis assembly includes both the first inner plate and the first outer plate, wherein the first pivot axle extends between the first inner plate and the first outer plate, wherein the second clevis assembly includes both the second inner plate and the second outer plate, wherein the second pivot axle extends between the second inner plate and the second outer plate, and wherein the first connecting unit is positioned between the first inner plate and the first outer plate and the second connecting unit is positioned between the second inner plate and the second outer plate.

### Claim 39 (depends on 36)

The pivot bin assembly of claim 36 wherein at least one of the first or second pivot axles includes an assist spring associated therewith, and wherein the assist spring is preloaded when the bucket is pivoted to the open position.

### Claim 40 (depends on 39)

The pivot bin assembly of claim 39 wherein the assist spring is a coil spring that is co-axial with the first or second pivot mechanism.