IP Library Granted Patent US 11,242,148
Granted Patent B2
US 11,242,148 · App. 15/616,707 · Granted Feb 8, 2022

Repair and replacement mechanism for personal control units on aircraft

Inventors: Mark Schwartz (Wauconda, IL); David Carhart (Cary, IL)
Assignee: Astronics Connectivity Systems & Certification Co
B64D11/00152B60R11/02H05K7/12B60R2011/0015B60R2011/0071
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,242,148
App. No.
15/616,707
Granted
Feb 8, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

An assembly for opening or accessing an electronic communication and entertainment device holder for repair or replacement of its contents, including a latch which can be released by the contraction of an attached muscle wire actuator in response to a low current pulse sent by an attached wireless receiver.

Claims (5)

1. A mechanism for a placement, removal, repair and replacement of an electronic communication and entertainment device attached to the interior of an aircraft, the electronic communication and entertainment device having a first position whereby the electronic communication and entertainment device is operated by a wireless remote unit from a passenger, and a second position whereby the electronic communication and entertainment device is detaching from the interior of the aircraft, wherein movement of the electronic communication and entertainment device to the second position is operated by a separate handheld unit from a service technician for the placement, removal, repair and replacement of the electronic communication and entertainment device, the mechanism comprising;

a) a wireless receiver for receiving an actuation signal from the wireless remote unit operated by the passenger and the separate handheld unit operated by the service technician, said wireless receiver generating a low current pulse therefrom, the low current pulse having heat associated therewith;

b) a muscle wire actuator for receiving the heat from the low current pulse and contracting the muscle wire actuator in response thereto;

c} latch connected to the muscle wire actuator, releasing the latch in response to the contracting of the muscle wire actuator; and

d) an electron communication and entertainment device holder and the electronic communication and entertainment device are decoupling to completely detach and separate from the interior of the aircraft upon the releasing of the latch.

Assignments (11)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 13, 2025
From: ASTRONICS CORPORATION; ASTRONICS ADVANCED ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS CORP.; ASTRONICS TEST SYSTEMS INC.; ASTRONICS AEROSAT CORPORATION; ASTRONICS CONNECTIVITY SYSTEMS & CERTIFICATION CORP.; PECO, INC.; DIAGNOSYS INC.
To: HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 073580/0550 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 23, 2025
From: HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
To: ASTRONICS CONNECTIVITY SYSTEMS & CERTIFICATION CORP.; ASTRONICS AEROSAT CORPORATION; ASTRONICS CORPORATION; PECO, INC.; ASTRONICS ADVANCED ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS CORP.; ASTRONICS TEST SYSTEMS INC.; DIAGNOSYS INC.; LUMINESCENT SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 073227/0325 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 10, 2025
From: SCHWARTZ, MARK; CARHART, DAVID
To: ASTRONICS CONNECTIVITY SYSTEMS & CERTIFICATION CORP.
Reel/Frame 072534/0724 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 4, 2024
From: HSBC BANK USA, N.A., AS AGENT
To: ASTRONICS CORPORATION; ASTRONICS ADVANCED ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS CORP.; ASTRONICS AEROSAT CORPORATION; ASTRONICS TEST SYSTEMS INC.; LUMINESCENT SYSTEMS, INC.; ASTRONICS CONNECTIVITY SYSTEMS & CERTIFICATION CORP.; PECO, INC.; DIAGNOSYS INC.
Reel/Frame 069491/0184 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 12, 2024
From: GREAT ROCK CAPITAL PARTNERS MANAGEMENT, LLC
To: PECO, INC.; ASTRONICS AEROSAT CORPORATION; ASTRONICS CONNECTIVITY SYSTEMS & CERTIFICATION CORP.; ASTRONICS ADVANCED ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS CORP.; ASTRONICS CORPORATION; ASTRONICS TEST SYSTEMS INC.; DIAGNOSYS INC.; LUMINESCENT SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 068311/0747 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 11, 2024
From: ASTRONICS CORPORATION; ASTRONICS ADVANCED ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS CORP.; ASTRONICS AEROSAT CORPORATION; ASTRONIC TEST SYSTEMS INC.; LUMINESCENT SYTEMS, INC.; ASTRONICS CONNECTIVITY SYSTEMS & CERTIFICATION CORP.; PECO, INC.; DIAGNOSYS INC.
To: HSBC BANK USA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 068283/0900 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 20, 2023
From: ASTRONICS AEROSTAT CORPORATION; ASTRONICS CONNECTIVITY SYSTEMS & CERTIFICATION CORP.; ASTRONICS CORPORATION; PECO, INC.; ASTRONICS ADVANCED ELECTRONICS SYSTEMS CORP.; ASTRONICS TEST SYSTEMS INC.; DIAGNOSYS INC.; LUMINESCENT SYSTEMS, INC.
To: HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 062445/0342 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 20, 2023
From: ASTRONICS CUSTOM CONTROL CONCEPTS INC.; ASTRONICS DME LLC; ASTRONICS CORPORATION; LUMINESCENT SYSTEMS, INC.; ASTRONICS TEST SYSTEMS INC.; ASTRONICS ADVANCED ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS CORP.; ASTRONICS CONNECTIVITY SYSTEMS & CERTIFICATION CORP.; ASTRONICS AEROSAT CORPORATION; PECO, INC.; DIAGNOSYS INC.
To: GREAT ROCK CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
Reel/Frame 062444/0836 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 17, 2018
From: TALON ACQUISITION CORP.
To: ASTRONICS CONNECTIVITY SYSTEMS & CERTIFICATION CORP.
Reel/Frame 045085/0374 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 16, 2018
From: TELEFONIX, INCORPORATED
To: TALON ACQUISITION CORP.
Reel/Frame 044627/0010 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 15, 2017
From: SCHWARTZ, MARK; CARHART, DAVID
To: TELEFONIX INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 042724/0087 →