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US 9,802,704 B2Granted
Folding galley unit
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsStephen M. Young, Carl Aaron Davison
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Abstract
Method and apparatus for providing a modular unit through a confined entryway. The modular unit includes portions that are foldable between a transit configuration and a deployed configuration. In the transit configuration, the modular unit can fit through the confined entryway. In the deployed configuration, the modular unit may not fit through the door, but can have larger dimensions. Once past the confined entryway, the foldable portions can be quickly moved to the deployed configuration and fixed in place with a small number of pins or other fasteners. In some instances, multiple modular units may be attached together to form a larger unit. The modular units can include foldable portions, and the modular units can be connected together with a relatively small number of fasteners.
Claims20
A modular unit, comprising:
- at least one storage volume in the modular unit, wherein the at least one storage volume includes:
- a first portion that defines a first wall of the storage volume;
- a second portion;
- a first hinge connecting the first portion and the second portion, wherein the second portion is rotatable about the first hinge relative to the first portion between a first transit configuration and a first deployed configuration, wherein the second portion extends the first wall of the storage volume when in the first deployed configuration;
- a fastener configured to engage the first portion and the second portion when the second portion is in the first deployed configuration, wherein the second portion cannot move relative to the first portion when the fastener is engaged;
- and
- a third portion and a fourth portion, wherein the fourth portion can rotate about a second hinge relative to the third portion between a second transit configuration and a second deployed configuration, wherein the third portion forms a first portion of a ceiling of the first storage volume, and wherein the fourth portion forms a second portion of the ceiling of the storage volume when in the second deployed configuration.
4 more elements
A galley modular unit for an aircraft, comprising:
- a first galley modular unit that includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein the second portion can rotate about a first hinge relative to the first portion between a first transit configuration and a first deployed configuration, wherein the first portion forms a first portion of a first wall of the first storage volume, wherein the second portion forms a second portion of the first wall of the first storage volume when in the first deployed configuration, wherein the first portion defines a first storage volume, and wherein the second portion extends the first storage volume when the second portion is in the first deployed configuration;
- a second galley modular unit that includes a third portion and a fourth portion, wherein the fourth portion can rotate about a second hinge relative to the third portion between a second transit configuration and a second deployed configuration, wherein the third portion defines a second storage volume, wherein the fourth portion extends the second storage volume when the fourth portion is in the second deployed configuration, and wherein the second galley modular unit is stackable on top of the first galley modular unit, wherein the first galley modular unit further comprises a fifth portion and a sixth portion, wherein the sixth portion can rotate about a third hinge relative to the fifth portion between a third transit configuration and a third deployed configuration, wherein the fifth portion forms a first portion of a ceiling of the first storage volume, and wherein the sixth portion forms a second portion of the ceiling of the first storage volume when in the third deployed configuration;
- and
- at least one fastener that couples the first galley modular unit and the second galley modular unit when the second galley modular unit is stacked on top of the first galley modular unit.
1 more element
A modular unit, comprising:
- a first storage volume, wherein the first storage volume includes:
- a first portion that forms a wall of the first storage volume;
- a second portion;
- a first hinge connecting the first portion and the second portion, wherein the second portion is rotatable about the first hinge relative to the first portion between a first transit configuration and a first deployed configuration, wherein the second portion extends the wall of the first storage volume when in the first deployed configuration;
- a third portion that forms a ceiling of the first storage volume;
- a fourth portion;
- and
- a second hinge, wherein the fourth portion can rotate about the second hinge relative to the third portion between a second transit configuration and a second deployed configuration, and wherein the fourth portion extends the ceiling of the first storage volume when in the second deployed configuration;
- a second storage volume, wherein the second storage volume includes:
- a fifth portion that forms a wall of the second storage volume;
- a sixth portion;
- and
- a third hinge, wherein the sixth portion can rotate about a third hinge relative to the fifth portion between a third transit configuration and a third deployed configuration, wherein the sixth portion extends the wall of the second storage volume when the sixth portion is in the third deployed configuration, and wherein the second storage volume is stackable on top of the first storage volume;
- and
- at least one fastener that attaches the first storage volume and the second storage volume when the second storage volume is stacked on top of the first storage volume.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.