Independent divan door and drawer assembly

Abstract

An improved door and drawer assembly for use with a seat on a passenger vehicle. The door and drawer assembly are installed in the passenger vehicle independent of the seat and thus not physically connected to the seat frame. Any load that is applied to the seat frame during movement of the vehicle or caused by passenger movement or support is not imposed on the door and drawer assembly. Accordingly, the operation of the door and drawer assembly is not adversely affected by the loads imposed on the seat frame. Alternatively, the drawer assembly can be excluded so that the door assembly can provide access to an area under the seat in which emergency equipment, such as a life raft bag assembly and life vests, can be stored.

1 . A storage assembly, adapted for use with a seat on a passenger vehicle, the storage assembly comprising: 
 an assembly mounting portion, adapted for installation in the passenger vehicle independent of the seat; and    a door assembly, pivotably coupled to the assembly mounting portion independent of the seat, and adapted for movement between a closed position to prevent access to a storage location and an open position to permit access to the storage location;    the assembly mounting portion and door assembly being substantially isolated from and unaffected by a load imposed on the seat.    
     
     
         2 . A storage assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a drawer assembly, movably coupled to the assembly mounting portion independent of the seat, and being adapted to move between a position inside the storage location and a position outside the storage location.    
     
     
         3 . A storage assembly as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 at least one rail assembly, adapted to slidably couple the drawer assembly to the assembly mounting portion.    
     
     
         4 . A storage assembly as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of said rail assemblies, each coupled on opposite sides of the drawer assembly.    
     
     
         5 . A storage assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one door lock assembly, coupled to the assembly mounting portion and adapted to releasably lock the door assembly in the closed position.    
     
     
         6 . A storage assembly as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein: 
 the at least one door lock assembly further comprises a spring, adapted to allow articulation of the door assembly when the door assembly is releasably locked in the closed position.    
     
     
         7 . A storage assembly as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein: 
 the at least one door lock assembly further comprises a hasp, adapted to releasably couple to a latch mechanism on the door assembly when the door assembly is in the closed position.    
     
     
         8 . A storage assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of side panels, coupled to the assembly mounting portion to define the storage location.    
     
     
         9 . A storage assembly as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of storage containers, each coupled to a respective one of the side panels.    
     
     
         10 . A storage assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one mounting assembly, adapted to couple the assembly mounting portion to the floor of the passenger vehicle independent of the seat.    
     
     
         11 . A storage assembly as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein: 
 the passenger vehicle is an airplane and the at least one mounting assembly is adapted to couple the assembly mounting portion to the floor of the airplane.    
     
     
         12 . A storage assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one hinge, adapted to pivotably couple the door assembly to the assembly mounting portion independent of the seat.    
     
     
         13 . A combination seat and under-seat storage apparatus for a passenger vehicle having a passenger area with a floor, the combination comprising: 
 a seat frame including a base portion coupled to a first portion of the floor and a generally horizontal seating surface having a seating width and a seating depth;    a panel configured under the seating surface, the panel being coupled to a second portion of the floor;    a door coupled to a forward portion of the panel for movement between a generally vertical closed position and a generally horizontal open position; and    a drawer moveably coupled with the panel and having a width substantially similar to the seating width and a depth substantially similar to the seating depth, the drawer being forwardly and rearwardly slidable relative to the panel along substantially the entire seating depth when the door is in the generally horizontal open position.    
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 13  wherein the drawer moves between a first position completely under the seating surface and a second position projecting forward from the forward portion of the panel.  
     
     
         15 . The combination of  claim 13  further comprising at least one slider rail assembly that couples a side of the drawer to a top of the panel.  
     
     
         16 . The combination of  claim 15  wherein the at least one slider rail assembly comprises two slider rail assemblies coupled on opposite sides of the drawer.  
     
     
         17 . The combination of  claim 13  further comprising a door lock assembly configured to releasably lock the door in the generally vertical closed position.  
     
     
         18 . The combination of  claim 17  wherein the door lock assembly comprises: 
 a hasp mechanism coupled to the panel, the hasp mechanism including a top portion having a hasp; and    a latch mechanism configured on an inside surface of the door for engagement with the hasp.    
     
     
         19 . The combination of  claim 18  further comprising: 
 a mounting bracket connected to the panel proximate a bottom portion of the hasp mechanism; and    a spring extending between the mounting bracket and the top portion of the hasp mechanism.    
     
     
         20 . The combination of  claim 18  wherein the latch mechanism further comprises a handle configured on an outer surface of the door for disengaging the hasp and the latch mechanism.  
     
     
         21 . A combination divan and under-seat storage apparatus for an aircraft cabin having a floor, the combination comprising: 
 a divan frame including a base portion coupled to a first portion of the floor and a generally horizontal seating surface having a seating width and a seating depth;    a panel configured under the seating surface, the panel being coupled to a second portion of the floor proximate to the first portion;    a door pivotally coupled to a forward portion of the panel for movement between a generally vertical closed position and a generally horizontal open position; and    a drawer moveably coupled with the panel and having a width substantially similar to the seating width and a depth substantially similar to the seating depth, the drawer being forwardly and rearwardly slidable relative to the panel along substantially the entire seating depth when the door is in the generally horizontal open position.    
     
     
         22 . The combination of  claim 21  wherein the drawer moves between a first position completely under the seating surface and a second position projecting forward from the forward portion of the panel.  
     
     
         23 . The combination of  claim 21  further comprising at least one slider rail assembly that couples a side of the drawer to a top of the panel.  
     
     
         24 . The combination of  claim 21  further comprising a door lock assembly configured to releasably lock the door in the generally vertical closed position.  
     
     
         25 . The combination of  claim 24  wherein the door lock assembly comprises: 
 a hasp mechanism coupled to the panel, the hasp mechanism including a top portion having a hasp; and    a latch mechanism coupled with the door, the latch mechanism including an inner portion that engages the hasp and a handle configured on an outer surface of the door for disengaging the hasp and the latch mechanism.    
     
     
         26 . The combination of  claim 25  further comprising: 
 a mounting bracket connected to the panel proximate a bottom portion of the hasp mechanism; and    a spring extending between the mounting bracket and the top portion of the hasp mechanism.