Aircraft galley carts and associated methods of manufacture
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorBen P. Hu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Aircraft galley carts and methods for their manufacture are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a galley cart for use on an aircraft includes a body configured to be moved along a passenger aisle of the aircraft. The body can include a one-piece plastic shell forming a first side portion and at least one of a second side portion, a top portion, and a bottom portion of the body. In one aspect of this embodiment, at least a portion of the one-piece plastic shell can include an inner skin offset from an outer skin in a double-wall configuration.
Claims18
A galley cart for use on an aircraft, the galley cart comprising:
- a body configured to be moved along a passenger aisle of the aircraft, the body including a one-piece plastic shell, wherein the one-piece plastic shell includes an inner skin, an outer skin offset from the inner skin in a double-wall configuration, and a foam core positioned between the inner and outer skins, wherein the inner skin, the outer skin and the foam core are formed from the same material, and wherein the one-piece plastic shell forms:
- a first side portion of the body;
- a second side portion of the body;
- a top portion of the body;
- a bottom portion of the body, wherein the first side portion is spaced apart from the second side portion, wherein the top portion extends between the first and second side portions, and wherein the bottom portion is spaced apart from the top portion and extends between the first and second side portions;
- and
- at least one horizontal shelf extending from the first side portion to the second side portion between the top and bottom portions;
- at least one threaded insert molded into the one-piece plastic shell;
- a door;
- a hinge attached to the door;
- and
- at least one threaded fastener engaging the threaded insert and attaching the hinge to the one-piece plastic shell to pivotally attach the door to the body.
A galley cart for use on an aircraft, the galley cart comprising:
- a body configured to be moved along a passenger aisle of the aircraft, the body including a one-piece plastic shell having an inner skin offset from an outer skin in a double-wall configuration, the one-piece plastic shell forming:
- a first side portion of the body;
- a second side portion of the body;
- a top portion of the body;
- a bottom portion of the body, wherein the first side portion is spaced apart from the second side portion, wherein the top portion extends between the first and second side portions, and wherein the bottom portion is spaced apart from the top portion and extends between the first and second side portions;
- and
- a plurality of horizontal shelves extending from the first side portion to the second side portion between the top and bottom portions;
- a plurality of threaded inserts molded into the one-piece plastic shell;
- a door;
- a plurality of hinges attached to the door;
- a first plurality of threaded fasteners engaging a first portion of the threaded inserts and attaching the plurality of hinges to the one-piece plastic shell to pivotally attach the door to the body;
- a plurality of rollers;
- and
- a second plurality of threaded fasteners engaging a second portion of the threaded inserts and attaching the plurality of rollers to a lower portion of the one-piece plastic shell for moving the body along a passenger aisle of an aircraft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.