Adjustable pocket for aircraft sidewall
A repositionable pocket for an aircraft having a rigid pocket wall pivotally attached to the aircraft sidewall and at least one strap assembly connecting the pocket to the sidewall. The strap assembly has a first end fixable to the sidewall and a second end repositionably fastened to the pocket. The strap is preferably made to be elastic and urges the attached pocket into a closed orientation thereby securing any stowed items between the pocket and the aircraft sidewall. Strap adjustability accommodates different sized objects for stowage.
1 . An adjustable pocket for mounting on an interior panel of an aircraft comprising:
a pocket comprising a rigid shell having upper edges and lower edges, opposing sides, a floor, and a front wall disposed therebetween, wherein the opposing sides are aligned with flanges extending outwards from an interior panel;
a hinge pivotally connecting the lower edge of the pocket to the interior panel; and
a strap assembly comprising a first strap having a first end fixed to the interior panel and a second end repositionably attached to the pocket and a second strap having a first end fixed to the interior panel and a second end repositionably attached to the pocket wherein the strap assembly is configured to impart tension and cause the hinge to pivot and the front wall of the rigid shell to be angled relative to the interior panel to bias the pocket into a closed position;
the second end being repositionable such that tension imparted to the pocket is adjustable.
2 . The pocket of claim 1 further comprising a reinforced portion fixed to the first end of the strap assembly.
3 . The pocket of claim 2 wherein the reinforced portion comprises a thermoplastic acrylic-polyvinyl chloride structure.
4 . The pocket of claim 1 wherein the strap assembly comprises stretchable material.
5 . The pocket of claim 4 wherein the stretchable material is elastic.
6 . The pocket of claim 1 wherein the strap passes through a guide slot formed in the interior panel and the first end is fixed to the interior panel and the second end attaches to the pocket.
7 . The pocket of claim 1 wherein the repositioning of the second ends inward towards the center of the front wall shortens the strap assembly and causes the hinge to pivot the floor upwards and bias an upper edge of the front wall towards the interior panel.
8 . The pocket of claim 1 further comprising a fastening arrangement to repositionably fasten the second end of the first and second straps to the pocket.
9 . The pocket of claim 8 wherein the fastening arrangement comprises a hook and loop fastener.
10 . The pocket of claim 8 wherein the fastening arrangement allows the strap assembly to be detachable from the pocket such that the pocket can be expanded or removed from the interior panel.
11 . The pocket of claim 1 wherein the pocket comprises corner retainers aligned with guide slots and configured into upper corners of the pocket, the corner retainers comprising:
an upper sidewall and a lower sidewall extending away from the front wall and forming a channel therebetween, wherein the channel is configured to receive either of the first strap or the second strap such that the respective strap passes through the channel between the corner retainer and the front wall and into a respective guide slot.
12 . The pocket of claim 1 wherein the strap assembly is concealed within the pocket and attaches to an inner surface of the pocket.
13 . An adjustable pocket for mounting on an interior panel of an aircraft comprising:
a pocket shell comprising a rigid front wall and a rigid floor connected to rigid opposing sides, wherein the rigid opposing sides are aligned with flanges extending outward from an interior panel;
a strap having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is fixed to the interior panel and the second end is repositionably attached to the pocket shell;
the strap being configured to impart tension onto the pocket shell and pivot the rigid floor upwards causing an upper edge of the rigid front wall to pivot towards the interior panel thereby biasing the pocket shell into a closed position, wherein the tension imparted is adjustable when the second end is repositioned.
14 . The pocket of claim 13 wherein a first fastening fabric is disposed on the pocket shell and a second fastening fabric is disposed on the strap, and, when joined, the first fastening fabric and second fastening fabric make the strap repositionably secure with the pocket.
15 . The pocket of claim 13 wherein the strap passes through a corner retainer and the corner retainer alters the direction of pull when the pocket is biased into an open position.
16 . A pocket for an aircraft interior surface, the pocket comprising:
a shell wherein the shell is rigid and includes opposing side walls aligned with flanges extending outward from an aircraft interior surface, a front wall, and a floor, wherein on one side, the flanges are contoured to match up against curvature of the aircraft interior surface and on another side are configured to butt up against the opposed side walls from an upper edge to a lower edge;
a hinge on the aircraft interior surface;
a lower portion of the shell being mounted on the hinge, allowing for rotation of the shell upwardly and inwardly and outwardly and downwardly relative to the interior surface;
an elastic length-adjustable strap system, the length-adjustable strap system being anchored at first opposing ends to different locations into the aircraft interior surface, the length-adjustable strap system being wrapped around an internal containment system included on an inside of the shell, the internal containment system being concealed by the shell, the internal containment system receiving the strap such that the shell is compelled towards the aircraft interior surface.
17 . The pocket of claim 16 wherein second opposing ends of the elastic length-adjustable strap system have elasticity and the second opposing ends are connected together by a locking band that spans between the second opposing ends.
18 . The pocket of claim 17 wherein the second opposing ends are connected to the locking band and are repositionable on the locking band and the repositioning of the second opposing ends inward towards the center of the locking band shortens the length of the length-adjustable strap system and causes the hinge to pivot the floor upwards and the front wall towards the aircraft interior surface.
19 . The pocket of claim 16 wherein the hinge mounts to a floor of the shell and the aircraft interior surface.