Moveable T-divider for meal cart stowage
A T-divider secures meal carts against lateral movement, and is at least partially deflectable to allow the meal carts to be removed from a restricted environment. The T-divider is secured in linear orientation via a latch with one or more indicators; one indicator indicates if the latch is locked; another indicator indicates if the T-divider is secured. The movement of the T-divider is defined by a track. One or more stops on the track define a linear, secured orientation and a fully deflected orientation.
1. A moveable T-divider comprising:
a fixed portion disposed on an upper, interior surface of a double cart bay;
a moveable portion disposed on the upper, interior surface of the double cart bay, the moveable portion deflectable from a stowed orientation to a removal orientation; and
a pivot element pivotably connecting the moveable portion to the upper, interior surface at a point proximal to the fixed portion,
wherein the moveable T-divider:
restricts lateral movement of one or more carts in the double cart bay when the moveable portion is in a stowed orientation; and
allows the one or more carts to be removed from the double cart bay around an obstruction when in a removal orientation.
2. The moveable T-divider of claim 1 , further comprising a track disposed on the upper, interior surface of the double cart bay, the track defining a path of deflection of the moveable portion.
3. The moveable T-divider of claim 1 , wherein the track further comprises a stowed track stop that stops the moveable portion when in the stowed orientation and a removal track stop that stops the moveable portion when in the removal orientation.
4. The moveable T-divider of claim 1 , further comprising a latch mechanism that retains the moveable portion in the stowed orientation.
5. The moveable T-divider of claim 4 , wherein the latch mechanism includes a first indicator having a latched state indicating the moveable T-divider is latched and an unlatched state indicating the moveable T-divider is unlatched.
6. The moveable T-divider of claim 5 , wherein the latch mechanism includes a second indicator having a secured state indicating the latch mechanism is secured and an unsecured state indicating the latch mechanism is unsecured.
7. The moveable T-divider of claim 6 , wherein the latch mechanism requires a first hand to operate the latch mechanism and a second hand to deflect the movable T-divider.
8. The moveable T-divider of claim 7 , wherein the latch mechanism latches automatically when the movable T-divider is in a stowed orientation.
9. An aircraft galley comprising:
a double cart bay having a top-mounted moveable T-divider comprising:
a fixed portion disposed on an upper, interior surface of the double cart bay;
a moveable portion disposed on the upper, interior surface of the double cart bay, the moveable portion deflectable from a stowed orientation to a removal orientation; and
a pivot element pivotably connecting the moveable portion to the upper, interior surface at a point proximal to the fixed portion,
wherein the moveable T-divider:
restricts lateral movement of one or more carts in the double cart bay when the moveable portion is in a stowed orientation; and
allows the one or more carts to be removed from the double cart bay around an obstruction when in a removal orientation.
10. The aircraft galley of claim 9 , further comprising a track disposed on the upper, interior surface of the double cart bay, the track defining a path of deflection of the moveable portion.
11. The aircraft galley of claim 9 , wherein the track further comprises a stowed track stop that stops the moveable portion when in the stowed orientation and a removal track stop that stops the moveable portion when in the removal orientation.
12. The aircraft galley of claim 9 , wherein:
the latch mechanism requires a first hand to operate the latch mechanism and a second hand to deflect the movable T-divider; and
the latch mechanism latches automatically when the movable T-divider is in a stowed orientation.
13. The aircraft galley of claim 9 , further comprising a latch mechanism that retains the moveable portion in the stowed orientation.
14. The aircraft galley of claim 13 , wherein the latch mechanism includes a first indicator having a latched state indicating the aircraft is latched and an unlatched state indicating the aircraft is unlatched.
15. The aircraft galley of claim 14 , wherein the latch mechanism includes a second indicator having a secured state indicating the latch mechanism is secured and an unsecured state indicating the latch mechanism is unsecured.