# US 8,783,613 B2 · Observation port and a helicopter cabin > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,783,613 B2 - Document ID: US8783613B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/405,838 - Filed: 2012-02-27 - Published: 2012-08-30 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2011-02-28 - Assignees: Marenco Swisshelicopter Design AG - Applicants: Martin Stucki - Inventors: Martin Stucki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783613B2 ## CPC - B64C 1/1476: {Canopies; Windscreens or similar transparent elements} - B64C 1/14: Windows; Doors; Hatch covers or access panels; Surrounding frame structures; Canopies; Windscreens {accessories therefor, e.g. pressure sensors, water deflectors, hinges, seals, handles, latches, windscreen wipers}(fairings movable in conjunction with undercarriage elements B64C25/16; bomb doors B64D1/06) - B64C 27/04: Helicopters - B64D 7/00: Arrangement of military equipment, e.g. armaments, armament accessories or military shielding, in aircraft; Adaptations of armament mountings for aircraft (dropping bombs or the like B64D1/00) - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT ## Abstract An observation port (4) in a primary structure (13) of a helicopter cabin (0) is disclosed, which is arranged between a pilot's seat (2) and a co-pilot's seat (3). The observation port (4) is delimited from the interior by an inner screen (15), and from the atmosphere by an outer screen (16), wherein the pilot can observe the space underneath the helicopter cabin (0) through the observation port (4). As a result of the configuration of the observation port (4) the pilot can assume an ergonomic and relaxed seating position at any time, even when he is executing flights with suspended loads. By means of the observation port (4) and the windows (15, 16), which extend laterally between the two pilots' seats (2, 3), a novel unrestricted vertical visual frame of reference onto the suspended load is achieved, wherein the length of the load cable has practically no influence. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A helicopter comprising: an interior observation port in an interior surface of a helicopter cabin, which is positioned between a pilot's seat and a co-pilot's seat, extending completely through the interior surface from a cabin floor to an outer skin of the helicopter cabin; an opening of the interior observation port to the interior surface of the helicopter cabin, covered with an inner transparent panel; an exterior observation port in an exterior surface of the helicopter cabin, disposed on the outer skin of the helicopter cabin and aligned with the interior observation port; and an opening of the exterior observation port to the exterior surface of the helicopter cabin, covered with an outer transparent panel and connected in a releasable or a non-releasable manner. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The helicopter in accordance with claim 1, wherein the inner transparent panel is arranged flush with the plane of the cabin floor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The helicopter in accordance with claim 1, wherein the opening of the interior observation port extends along the longitudinal axis, and the inner transparent panel extends at least approximately from an instrument panel to the backrest of the pilot's seat. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The helicopter in accordance with claim 1, wherein the walls of the interior observation port form parts of the interior surface of the helicopter cabin. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The helicopter in accordance with claim 1, wherein the interior observation port is delimited from the interior surface of the helicopter cabin 13 by a front transverse wall and a rear transverse wall running at least approximately at right angles to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The helicopter in accordance with claim 5, wherein at least one part of the front transverse wall and/or the rear transverse wall has an opening angle of at least approximately 10° between the interior observation port longitudinal axis and the at least one part of the respective transverse wall. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The helicopter in accordance with claim 1, wherein the inner transparent panel is protected by a covering, for example, by a roller shutter. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The helicopter in accordance with claim 1, wherein the inner transparent panel is replaceable with a floor insert. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The helicopter in accordance with claim 1, wherein the outer transparent panel is arranged flush with the plane of the outer skin of the exterior surface of the helicopter cabin, as a result of which the aerodynamic properties of the outer skin remain almost unaltered. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The helicopter cabin in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of the inner and outer transparent panels are sized and configured to maintain the structural integrity of at least one of the interior surface and the exterior surface of the helicopter cabin. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The helicopter cabin in accordance with claim 10, wherein the observation port forms a part of the interior surface, and is connected with the interior surface in a non-releasable manner. ### Claim 12 A helicopter fuselage having a forward facing windscreen comprising: an exterior surface forming a lower portion of the fuselage including a first aperture formed aft of the windscreen; a first transparent panel disposed within the first aperture; an interior surface forming a floor within the fuselage including a second aperture, the second aperture aligned in overlapping relation to the first aperture; and a second transparent panel disposed within the second aperture. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The helicopter fuselage of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second transparent panels are sized and configured to maintain the structural integrity of at least one of the exterior surface and the interior surface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The helicopter fuselage of claim 1, wherein the second aperture is positioned between a pilot seat and a co-pilot seat. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The helicopter fuselage of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second transparent panels forms at least one of a concave and convex shape. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The helicopter fuselage of claim 1, wherein a protective cover is removably attached to at least one of the first transparent panel and second transparent panel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The helicopter fuselage of claim 16, wherein the protective cover is a roller shutter. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The helicopter fuselage of claim 1, wherein the second transparent panel may be covered by a floor insert. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The helicopter fuselage of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first transparent panel and the second transparent panel are connected in a releasable manner. ### Claim 20 A helicopter fuselage having a forward facing windscreen comprising: an exterior surface forming a lower portion of the fuselage including a first aperture formed aft of the windscreen; a first transparent panel disposed within the first aperture and sized and configured to maintain the structural integrity of the exterior surface; an interior surface forming a floor within the fuselage including a second aperture, the second aperture aligned in overlapping relation to the first aperture and positioned between a pilot seat and a co-pilot seat; and a second transparent panel disposed within the second aperture and sized and configured to maintain the structural integrity of the interior surface.