Powered overhead stowage bin

A powered stowage bin for storing items comprising:

• a support structure;
• a holding member movably related to the support structure for receiving and holding items relative the support structure;
• power means for providing a lifting force;
• coupling means for coupling the lifting force from the power means to the holding member so as to move the holding member relative the support structure;
• and
• a linkage member having a primary arm with first and second ends pivotally mounted to the support structure and the holding member respectively for movably supporting said holding member, said linkage member having a bell crank arm coupled to said primary arm proximate said second end, wherein
• the power means includes a motor driving a shaft coupled to a sprocket operatively driving said coupling means, and
• the coupling means includes a cable chain having one end coupled to an end of the bell crank arm of said linkage member, the other end being secured to the holding member, and a length thereof being wrapped around a partial circumference of said sprocket.

A powered stowage bin for storing items comprising:

• a support structure;
• a holding member movably related to the support structure for receiving and holding items relative the support structure;
• power means for providing a lifting force;
• and
• coupling means for coupling the lifting force from the power means to the holding member so as to move the holding member relative the support structure;
• wherein the power means includes a gear motor driving a shaft having a drive sprocket at each end, and
• said coupling means comprises a pair of cable chains, wherein each cable chain wraps around and engages the respective drive sprocket of the shaft and attaches to the holding member, and the gear motor drives the cable chain via the shaft and drive sprockets for lifting the movable holding member with left and right balanced synchronized operation.

A powered stowage bin for storing items comprising:

• a support structure;
• a holding member movably related to the support structure for receiving and holding items relative the support structure;
• power means for providing a lifting force;
• coupling means for coupling the lifting force from the power means to the holding member so as to move the holding member relative the support structure;
• and
• linkage arms effective between the support structure and the holding member for movably supporting and guiding the holding member along a predetermined path relative the support structure as the power means is selectively operated in one operating mode for lowering the holding member with respect to the support structure via the coupling means, and in a second operating mode for lifting the holding member with respect to the support structure via the coupling means;
• wherein the linkage arms include two sets of first and second linkage arms having first ends pivotally secured to the support structure and second ends pivotally secured to the holding member, said first and said second linkage arms each being disposed in substantially horizontal positions one above the other when the holding member is in its secured operating position and are disposed away from the horizontal positions with second ends lower than respective first ends when the holding member has been lowered to its open operating position;
• wherein the holding member has first and second sides with a set of said first and second linkage arms being provided proximate each side of the holding member;
• and
• wherein one of said linkage arms of each set has an extension beyond its pivotal mounting to the support structure, said powered stowage bin further comprising a torque tube coupled between distal ends of said extensions for intercoupling a rotation at respective sides of the holding member so that the holding member remains mechanically balanced with substantially no twisting.

A powered stowage bin for storing items comprising:

• a support structure;
• a holding member movably related to the support structure for receiving and holding items relative the support structure;
• power means for providing a lifting force;
• coupling means for coupling the lifting force from the power means to the holding member so as to move the holding member relative the support structure;
• and
• snubbing means for dampening downward movement of the holding member with respect to the structural support.

A powered stowage bin for storing items comprising:

• a support structure;
• a holding member movably related to the support structure for receiving and holding items relative the support structure;
• power means for providing a lifting force;
• coupling means for coupling the lifting force from the power means to the holding member so as to move the holding member relative the support structure;
• and
• spring means for providing a passive lifting force to the holding member with respect to the support structure.

A powered stowage bin for storing items comprising:

• a support structure;
• a holding member movably related to the support structure for receiving and holding items relative the support structure;
• power means for providing a lifting force;
• and
• coupling means for coupling the lifting force from the power means to the holding member so as to move the holding member relative the support structure;
• linkage arms effective between the support structure and the holding member for movably supporting and guiding the holding member along a predetermined path relative the support structure as the power means is selectively operated in one operating mode for lowering the holding member with respect to the support structure via the coupling means, and in a second operating mode for lifting the holding member with respect to the support structure via the coupling means;
• and
• spring means for providing a passive lifting force to the holding member with respect to the support structure;
• wherein the linkage arms each comprises a lever having first and second ends pivotally mounted to the support structure and holding member respectively, and said spring means comprises a spring pivotally coupled between the support structure and said lever to provide a spring force acting along a spring alignment axis, wherein an orientation of the alignment axis pivots relative the support structure as the holding member moves relative the support structure, and a direction of torque provided by the spring force of said spring acting upon said lever along the alignment axis relative the first end pivotally mounted to the support structure changes as orientation of the alignment axis pivots in and out of alignment with a pivot axis of said pivotal mounting of the lever to the support structure for providing an over-center operational effect as the holding member is moved to its closed operating position.

A powered stowage bin for storing items comprising:

• a support structure;
• a holding member movably related to the support structure for receiving and holding items relative the support structure;
• power means for providing a lifting force;
• and
• coupling means for coupling the lifting force from the power means to the holding member so as to move the holding member relative the support structure;
• and
• wherein the holding member operates between first and second positions relative the support structure, said powered stowage bin further comprising first means selectively operative for enabling the power means to move said holding member from its first position to its second position, second means operative for sensing when the holding member reaches said second position from said first position and accordingly turning off the power means, and third means disposed relative the support structure and the holding member for sensing when the holding member reaches a third position between said first and second positions and accordingly adjusting a driving force of the power means for controlling velocity of the holding member relative the support structure.

A powered stowage bin for storing items comprising:

• a support structure;
• a holding member movably related to the support structure for receiving and holding items relative the support structure;
• power means for providing a lifting force;
• coupling means for coupling the lifting force from the power means to the holding member so as to move the holding member relative the support structure;
• and
• means for determining when a load of the holding member exceeds a predetermined overload magnitude and disabling the power means accordingly, and re-enabling the power means after the load has been reduced below a predetermined overload magnitude.