초록 ▼

One advantageous embodiment of the present invention is a self-locating fastening assembly (14) for aligning and securing a monument (12) to an airframe (16) of an aircraft (10). This self-locating fastening assembly (14) includes a self-locating tie-down member (24), which is fixedly coupled to one

One advantageous embodiment of the present invention is a self-locating fastening assembly (14) for aligning and securing a monument (12) to an airframe (16) of an aircraft (10). This self-locating fastening assembly (14) includes a self-locating tie-down member (24), which is fixedly coupled to one of either the air-frame (16) or the monument (12). The self-locating fastening assembly (14) further includes a socket member (26), which is coupled to the other of the airframe (16) or the monument (12). The self-locating tie-down member (24) includes a base portion (32) and a top portion (34) extending from the base portion (32). The base portion (32) is utilized for contacting the socket member (26) so as to guide said self-locating tie-down member into said socket member and secure the monument (12) in a predetermined position along at least one direction. Moreover, the top portion (34) is utilized for further securing the self-locating tie-down member (24) to the socket member (26).

대표청구항 ▼

1. An aircraft comprising:an airframe having an interior with a floor disposed therein;a monument coupled to said airframe and being disposed on said floor within said interior of said air-frame;a self-locating fastening assembly for securing said monument in a predetermined position along at least

1. An aircraft comprising:an airframe having an interior with a floor disposed therein;a monument coupled to said airframe and being disposed on said floor within said interior of said air-frame;a self-locating fastening assembly for securing said monument in a predetermined position along at least one direction within said interior, said self-locating fastening assembly including a self-locating tie-down member coupled to said airframe and a socket member integrated within said monument and sized for receiving said self-locating tie-down member;wherein said self-locating tie-down member includes a base portion and a top portion extending from said base portion;wherein said base portion is coupled to said floor and is utilized for contacting said socket member, securing said monument in a predetermined position along at least one direction, and guiding said self-locating tie-down member into said socket member;wherein said top portion extends from said base portion and is utilized for further securing said monument in said predetermined position;wherein said monument is at least one of a lavatory module, a galley module, a closet module, a purser work station module, a video control center module, and a crew rest module.2. The aircraft of claim 1 wherein said monument has a bottom surface for sliding across said top surface of said floor and inserting said self-locating tie-down member into said socket member.3. The aircraft of claim 1 wherein said socket member is disposed at an edge of said monument adjacent to said bottom surface of said monument.4. The aircraft of claim 1 wherein said socket member is defined by said monument and is an integral part thereof.5. The aircraft of claim 1 wherein said socket member is coupled to said monument.6. The aircraft of claim 1 wherein said socket member defines a guiding chamber for contacting said top portion of said self-locating tie-down member and sewing said self-locating tie-down member to said socket member.7. The aircraft of claim 1 wherein said socket member defines a base chamber for receiving and contacting said base portion of said self-locating tie-down member so as to secure said monument in said predetermined position.8. The aircraft of claim 1 wherein said top portion comprises:an offset tab extending generally perpendicularly from said base portion; anda finger member extending generally perpendicularly from said offset tab and utilized for securing said self-locating tie-down member to said socket member, said finger member positioned generally parallel to said base portion.9. The aircraft of claim 8 further comprising:at least one fillet coupled between said base portion and said offset tab for strengthening said top portion.10. The aircraft of claim 8 wherein said finger member has a central axis that is centered above a longitudinal axis of said base portion.11. The aircraft of claim 1 wherein said base portion includes an inboard-extending tab sized for insertion into said socket member, guiding said self-locating tie-down member into said socket member, and securing said monument in said predetermined position.12. The aircraft of claim 11 wherein said base portion further includes:an outboard-extending tab for supporting said top portion in an inboard direction.13. The aircraft of claim 12 further comprising:a reinforcing rib coupled between said outboard-extending tab and said offset tab, said reinforcing rib for strengthening said top portion.14. An aircraft comprising:an airframe having an interior with a floor disposed therein;a monument coupled to said airframe and being disposed on said floor within said interior of said air-frame;a self-locating fastening assembly for securing said monument in a predetermined position along at least one direction within said interior, said self-locating fastening assembly including a self-locating tie-down member coupled to said airframe and a socket member integrated within said monument and sized for receiving said self-locating tie-down member;wherein said self-locating tie-down member includes a base portion and a top portion extending from said base portion;wherein said base portion is coupled to said monument and is utilized for contacting said socket member, guiding said self-locating tie-down member into said socket member, and securing said monument in a predetermined position along at least one direction within said interior;wherein said top portion extends from said base portion and is utilized for further securing said self-locating tie-down member to said socket member in a direction substantially parallel to a top surface of said floor;wherein said monument is at least one of a lavatory module, a galley module, a closet module, a purser work station module, a video control center module, and a crew rest module.15. The aircraft of claim 14 wherein said monument has a bottom surface for sliding across said top surface of said floor and inserting said self-locating tie-down member into said socket member.16. The aircraft of claim 14 wherein said self-locating tie-down member is disposed at an edge of said monument adjacent to said bottom surface of said monument.17. The aircraft of claim 14 wherein said socket member defines a guiding chamber for contacting said top portion of said self-locating tie-down member and securing said self-locating tie-down member to said socket member.18. The aircraft of claim 14 wherein said socket member defines a base chamber for receiving and contacting said base portion of said self-locating tie-down member so as to guide said self-locating tie-down member into said socket member and secure said monument in said predetermined position.19. The aircraft of claim 14 wherein said top portion comprises:an offset tab extending from said base portion; anda finger member extending from said offset tab and utilized for securing said self-locating tie-down member to said socket member.20. The aircraft of claim 14 wherein said base portion comprises:an inboard-extending tab sized for inserting into said socket member, guiding said self-locating tie-down member into said socket member, and securing said monument in said predetermined position.21. The aircraft of claim 20 wherein said base portion further comprises:an outboard-extending tab for strengthening said top portion.22. The aircraft of claim 21 further comprising:a reinforcing rib coupled between said outboard-extending tab and said offset tab, said reinforcing rib for strengthening said top portion.23. A self-locating fastening assembly for aligning and securing a monument to a floor within an interior of an airframe for an aircraft, comprising:a self-locating tie-down member coupled to one of the floor and the monument; anda socket member coupled to the other of the floor and the monument;wherein said self-locating tie-down member includes a base portion and a top portion extending from said base portion, said base portion utilized for contacting said socket member so as to guide said self-locating tie-down member into said socket member and secure the monument in a predetermined position along at least one direction, said top portion utilized for securing the self-locating tie-down member to the socket member.24. The self-locating fastening assembly of claim 23 wherein said socket member defines a guiding chamber for contacting said top portion of said self-locating tie-down member and securing said self-locating tie-down member to said socket member.25. The self-locating fastening assembly of claim 23 wherein said socket member defines a base chamber for receiving and contacting said base portion of said self-locating tie-down member so as to guide said self-locating tie-down member into said socket member and secure the monument in said predetermined position.26. The self-locating fastening assembly of claim 23 wherein said base chamber has a tapered opening for aligning a misaligned self-locating tie-down member and allowing said self-locating tie-down member to fully engage said socket member.27. The self-locating fastening assembly of claim 23 wherein said top portion comprises:an offset tab extending from said base portion; anda finger member extending from said offset tab and utilized for securing said self-locating tie-down member to said socket member.28. The self-locating fastening assembly of claim 27 wherein said finger member has a conical shape with a rounded tip.29. The self-locating fastening assembly of claim 27 wherein said base portion comprises:an inboard-extending tab sized for inserting into said socket member, guiding said self-locating tie-down member into said socket member, and securing the monument in said predetermined position.30. The self-locating fastening assembly of claim 29 wherein said base portion further comprises:an outboard-extending tab for strengthening said top portion.31. The self-locating fastening assembly of claim 30 further comprising:a reinforcing rib coupled between said outboard-extending tab and said offset tab, said reinforcing rib for strengthening said top portion.32. The self-locating fastening assembly of claim 23 in which the socket member is manufactured by a process selected from the group consisting of a steelmaking process, a rolling process, a forging process, an extrusion process, a drawing process, a casting process, and a welding process.33. The self-locating fastening assembly of claim 23 in which the self-locating tie-down member is manufactured by a process selected from the group consisting of a steelmaking process, a rolling process, a forging process, an extrusion process, a drawing process, a casting process, and a welding process.34. A method for securing a monument to a floor of an airframe within an interior of an aircraft, comprising:placing the monument on the floor of the air-frame;moving the monument in an outboard direction across a top surface of the floor;inserting a self-locating tie-down member coupled to the floor into a socket member coupled to the monument;aligning the monument in a predetermined position; andsecuring the monument to the floor in said predetermined position.35. The method of claim 34 wherein inserting said self-locating tie-down member into said socket member comprises:inserting a top portion of said self-locating tie-down member into a top chamber of said socket member; andinserting a base portion of said self-locating tie-down member into a base chamber of said socket member.36. The method of claim 35 wherein inserting said top portion into said top chamber comprises:inserting a finger member of said top portion into said top chamber.37. The method of claim 35 wherein inserting said base portion into said base chamber comprises:inserting an inboard-extending tab of said base portion into said base chamber.38. The method of claim 35 wherein moving the monument in an outboard direction across a top surface of the floor comprises:moving the monument along at least one guide line marked on the floor.39. The method of claim 35 further comprising:measuring a gap between the monument and a sidewall;determining whether the monument requires realignment; andrealigning the monument when the monument requires re-alignment.