Granted Patent B2

US 12,667,190 · App. 18/762,460 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Inventors: Germans Kalitvencevs (Milton Keynes, GB); Peter Ashley Griffiths (Kensworth, GB)

Assignee: B/E Aerospace (UK) Limited

A47B96/02

Abstract

Claims (50)

1 . An insertable galley unit for an aircraft galley, wherein the insertable galley unit comprises:

a shelf;

a hinge attached to the shelf;

a side wall;

wherein the shelf is rotatable about the hinge between a stowed position and a deployed position;

wherein the shelf comprises a retractable latch; and

wherein the retractable latch is arranged to engage with the side wall to selectively hold the shelf in the stowed position and the deployed position; and

a bracket, wherein the shelf is arranged to be in contact with the bracket when in the deployed position.

2 . The insertable galley unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the retractable latch is arranged to project from the shelf so to engage with the side wall.

3 . The insertable galley unit as claimed in claim 2 ,

wherein the retractable latch is arranged to project from an end of the shelf so to engage with the side wall; and

wherein the retractable latch is arranged to at least partially retract into the shelf so to release the retractable latch from being engaged with the side wall.

4 . The insertable galley unit as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a retractable latch mechanism;

wherein the retractable latch mechanism is embedded within the shelf; and

wherein the retractable latch mechanism comprises the retractable latch.

5 . The insertable galley unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the retractable latch is a bistable latch.

6 . The insertable galley unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the retractable latch is spring-loaded.

7 . The insertable galley unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the side wall comprises:

a first aperture arranged to receive the retractable latch when the shelf is in the stowed position; and

a second aperture arranged to receive the retractable latch when the shelf is in the deployed position.

8 . The insertable galley unit as claimed in claim 7 , wherein an inner perimeter of the first aperture and the second aperture is larger than an outer perimeter of the retractable latch.

9 . The insertable galley unit as claimed in claim 7 , wherein an inner perimeter of the first aperture and the second aperture is lined with a flexible material.

10 . The insertable galley unit as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a back wall and a shock absorber;

wherein the shelf is parallel to the back wall when in the stowed position;

wherein the shock absorber is attached to the back wall; and

wherein the shock absorber is arranged to be between the shelf and the back wall when the shelf is in the stowed position.

11 . The insertable galley unit as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein a surface of the bracket arranged to be in contact with the shelf is coated with a flexible material.

12 . The insertable galley unit as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the bracket is vertically adjustable.

13 . The insertable galley unit as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the retractable latch comprises a first retractable latch, and the side wall comprises a first side wall;

wherein the insertable galley unit further comprises:

a second retractable latch; and

a second side wall;

wherein the first retractable latch is at a first end of the shelf;

wherein the second retractable latch is at a second end of the shelf; and

wherein the second retractable latch is arranged to engage with the second side wall to selectively hold the shelf in the stowed position and the deployed position.

14 . The insertable galley unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the shelf comprises a honeycomb structure.

15 . The insertable galley unit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the shelf is substantially horizontal when in the deployed position.

16 . An insertable galley unit for an aircraft galley, wherein the insertable galley unit comprises:

a shelf;

a hinge attached to the shelf;

a side wall;

wherein the shelf is rotatable about the hinge between a stowed position and a deployed position;

wherein the shelf comprises a retractable latch; and

wherein the retractable latch is arranged to engage with the side wall to selectively hold the shelf in the stowed position and the deployed position; and

a back wall and a shock absorber;

wherein the shelf is parallel to the back wall when in the stowed position;

wherein the shock absorber is attached to the back wall; and

wherein the shock absorber is arranged to be between the shelf and the back wall when the shelf is in the stowed position.

Assignments (1)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (17)