Aircraft latch apparatus having floating strike assembly
AssigneeHarper Engineering Co.
InventorDiego Valdes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An aircraft door latch apparatus includes a stowage bin assembly having a door that is rotatably moveable between open and closed positions, and a frame structure. The aircraft apparatus includes a latch apparatus that is configured to couple and uncouple the door to the frame structure, the latch apparatus includes a floating strike assembly that pivotably adjusts to a deflection of the stowage bin assembly. Related methods are also provided.
Claims20
An aircraft apparatus, comprising:
- a stowage bin assembly including:
- a door that is rotatably moveable between open and closed positions;
- and
- a frame structure;
- and
- a latch apparatus configured to couple and uncouple the door to the frame structure, the latch apparatus including a floating strike assembly that pivotably adjusts to a deflection of the stowage bin assembly.
A latch apparatus for coupling and uncoupling a stowage bin door to a frame structure, the latch apparatus comprising:
- a latch component assembly having a latch member;
- and
- a floating strike assembly having:
- an inner strike member;
- an outer strike member;
- and
- a strike member that defines a first pivot axis about which the inner strike member pivotably rotates relative to the outer strike member to self-align the strike member to the latch member.
A method of aligning a stowage bin, comprising:
- deflecting a shelf of the stowage bin downwardly by positioning payload on the shelf to misalign a latch apparatus;
- pivotably moving a door of the stowage bin from an open position to a closed position;
- and
- self-aligning the latch apparatus by pivotably moving a floating strike assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.