IP Library Granted Patent US 12,240,607
Granted Patent B2
US 12,240,607 · App. 18/102,561 · Granted Mar 4, 2025

Retracting T divider

Inventor: Scott Marley (Edmonds, WA)
Assignee: B/E AEROSPACE, INC.
B64D11/04
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 12,240,607
App. No.
18/102,561
Granted
Mar 4, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A T-divider includes a housing defining a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one cavity extending therebetween. The housing extends along a longitudinal axis. The T-divider includes a moveable portion disposed in the housing and extending between the proximal end and the distal end. The movable portion is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis from a stowed orientation to a removal orientation.

Claims (20)

1. A T-divider comprising:

a housing defining a proximal end, a distal end, a first cavity extending between the proximal end and the distal end, and a second cavity extending between the proximal end and the distal end, the housing extending along a longitudinal axis;

a moveable portion disposed in the housing and extending between the proximal end and the distal end, the movable portion configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis from a stowed orientation to a removal orientation; and

a plurality of restraining lugs disposed within the first cavity and the second cavity such that the plurality of restraining lugs is disposed on either side of the moveable portion, wherein the plurality of restraining lugs is fixed within the housing such that the restraining lugs are configured to restrain the moveable portion in the stowed orientation.

2. The T-divider of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of recesses disposed along the moveable portion.

3. The T-divider of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of recesses is configured to correspond with the plurality of restraining lugs such that the plurality of recesses allows the moveable portion to rotate about the longitudinal axis when the plurality of recesses aligns with the plurality of restraining lugs.

4. The T-divider of claim 1 , further comprising a central shaft coupled to the moveable portion, the central shaft configured to rotate the moveable portion.

5. The T-divider of claim 4 , further comprising a locking mechanism configured to secure the moveable portion in the stowed orientation.

6. The T-divider of claim 5 , wherein the moveable portion comprises a first portion and a second portion extending perpendicularly from the first portion.

7. An aircraft galley comprising:

at least one cart;

a cart bay configured to store the at least one cart;

a T-divider configured to restrict lateral movement of the at least one cart within the cart bay when the T-divider is in a stowed orientation and allows the at least one cart to be removed from the cart bay around an obstruction when in a removal orientation, the T-divider comprising:

a housing defining a proximal end, a distal end, a first cavity extending between the proximal end and the distal end, and a second cavity extending between the proximal end and the distal end, the housing extending along a longitudinal axis;

a moveable portion disposed in the housing and extending between the proximal end and the distal end, the movable portion configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis from a stowed orientation to a removal orientation; and

a plurality of restraining lugs disposed within the first cavity and the second cavity such that the plurality of restraining lugs is disposed on either side of the moveable portion, wherein the plurality of restraining lugs is fixed within the housing such that the restraining lugs are configured to restrain the moveable portion in the stowed orientation.

8. The aircraft galley of claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of recesses disposed along the moveable portion.

9. The aircraft galley of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of recesses is configured to correspond with the plurality of restraining lugs such that the plurality of recesses allows the moveable portion to rotate about the longitudinal axis when the plurality of recesses aligns with the plurality of restraining lugs.

10. The aircraft galley of claim 7 , further comprising a central shaft coupled to the moveable portion, the central shaft configured to rotate the moveable portion.

11. The aircraft galley of claim 10 , further comprising a locking mechanism configured to secure the moveable portion in the stowed orientation.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 27, 2023
From: MARLEY, SCOTT
To: B/E AEROSPACE, INC.
Reel/Frame 062517/0738 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240253785A1 · Aug 1, 2024
References Cited (21)
US 6010094A · Csik · 2000 [cited by examiner]
US 10974901B1 · Vlaming · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 11242149B2 · Brownlie et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11390383B2 · Bajorat et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11420748B2 · Tracey et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11529987B2 · Dowty · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 20170166310A1 · Wallbott · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 20180079506A1 · Hausner · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20190023400A1 · Bitter · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20190031348A1 · Bajorat · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20200339262A1 · Claflin · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20210047042A1 · Tracey · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 20210078708A1 · Brownlie · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 20210122471A1 · Vlaming · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 20220127001A1 · Chylinski · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 20220153329A1 · Lange · 2022 [cited by examiner]
CN 104507803 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
EP 3978365A1 · 2022 [cited by examiner]
EP 3738879 · 2022 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2021037836A1 · 2021 [cited by examiner]
European Patent Office, European Search Report dated May 13, 2024 in Application No. 23213339.7. [cited by applicant]