Storage System Having Two Pouches

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the secure stowing of objects, such as, for example, electronic devices, in aircraft. In particular, the present invention relates to a storage system having two pouches for storing such objects.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In aircraft, in particular in transport and passenger aircraft, objects, such as electronic devices, have to be safely stowed. This is firstly required in order to protect such objects against environmental influences, but secondly also to protect the environment against possibly occurring malfunctions of such objects. For example, battery-operated electronic devices may generate heat and in rare cases even catch fire, and therefore, under some circumstances, products of combustion, for example soot particles, are released.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to increase the operational safety when storing objects.

This object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claim. Exemplary embodiments emerge from the dependent claims and the description below.

According to one aspect of the invention, a storage system having a first pouch and a second pouch is specified. The first pouch is designed for receiving an object, such as, for example, an electronic device or a transmission module. The second pouch is designed for receiving the first pouch. The first pouch can therefore also be referred to as the inner pouch and the second pouch as the outer pouch. So that the first pouch can be received by the second pouch, the dimensions of the second pouch are larger than those of the first pouch. The first pouch is therefore at least partially surrounded by the second pouch when the first pouch is received in the second pouch, that is to say the first pouch is inserted into the second pouch. The first pouch has a first fabric layer and an insulating layer which is adjacent to the first fabric layer and is designed to absorb material arising in the event of combustion. The second pouch is closable in such a manner that, in the closed state of the second pouch, an opening for dissipating heat energy remains.

With such a configuration of a storage system having two pouches, it is possible, in the event of a possibly occurring defect of the electronic device arranged in the first pouch, to conduct the mechanical and thermal effects occurring in this case in a specific way into the structure of the two pouches such that a danger in the environment due to such mechanical or thermal effects can be avoided or controlled. By means of the design of the pouches and the material properties, for example, escaping combustion gases can be at least partially absorbed by the pouch material and, in addition, the two-pouch solution means that flames putatively occurring are kept in the interior of the pouch and cannot pass to the outside.

The main function of the first (inner) pouch is therefore insulating the generation of heat occurring in the event of a malfunction of the electronic component from the environment. The main function of the second (outer) pouch is to catch possible fragments such that they cannot pass into the environment. Furthermore, the main function of the second pouch consists in dissipating putatively occurring gases in a controlled manner into the environment, and therefore an escape of hot gases from the second pouch can be substantially avoided or controlled. This can take place via a certain positioning of the opening, provided in the second pouch, for dissipating heat energy. It is noted that, in particular in the event of combustion or deflagration, a large volume of gas may occur which can be dissipated in a targeted manner from the inner pouch and, via the specially provided opening, in the second pouch. Nevertheless, it can be provided that at least some of the volume of gas arising within a short time may also escape through the side walls of the pouches.

The first pouch can have the form of a bag, a sack or the like. The first pouch can have, for example, four closed side walls, a closed bottom and an access region in the form of a larger opening which is formed by the four side walls. The side walls and the bottom of the first pouch do not necessarily have edges lying in between, but rather may merge continuously into one another. This can be seen even better in the description of the figures.

The electronic device can be inserted into the first pouch via the access region of the first pouch. In the present example, a battery-operated transmission module is inserted into the first pouch. The transmission module is, for example, what is referred to as an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) and is operated by means of non-rechargeable lithium batteries. During the operation of the transmission module, heat may be generated, with the hottest point customarily occurring approximately 10 cm above the bottom of the first pouch when the transmission module is inserted into the first pouch. This heat energy can be absorbed and/or conducted away in a specific way by means of the adapted design of the pouches and the selection of the materials that will be explained more precisely below.

After the electronic device is inserted into the first pouch, the first pouch can be inserted into the second pouch. It is possible for the second pouch to have the same or at least similar structural properties as the first pouch. The second pouch can therefore likewise have the form of a bag, a sack or the like. The second pouch can for example also have four closed side walls, a closed bottom and an access region in the form of a larger opening which is formed by the four side walls. The side walls and the bottom of the second pouch do not necessarily have edges lying in between, but rather can merge continuously into one another. This can likewise be seen even better in the description of the figures.

In order to contain the generation of heat by the electronic device located in the interior of the first pouch, the insulating layer has a certain thickness, for example approximately 10 mm Said insulating layer can extend continuously through the bottom and all of the walls of the first pouch in order to shield the heat generated in the first pouch from the environment. Furthermore, the structure of the insulating layer is designed to catch or to absorb particles, for example soot particles, arising during combustion or deflagration. In other words, the insulating layer has, for example, a fibre fabric in which such particles may be caught.

The first fabric layer is adjacent to the insulating layer and has a thermally stable material since it is in contact virtually directly with the electronic device when the latter is inserted into the first pouch.

The storage system can preferably be used in air travel, for example for storing electronic devices in passenger aircraft and/or transport aircraft. However, other fields of use, for example in watercraft or other vehicles, are not ruled out.

According to one embodiment, the first pouch has a second fabric layer which, together with the first fabric layer, surrounds the insulating layer.

In a cross section through the first pouch, the insulating layer can be arranged between the first and the second fabric layer. By means of the provision of a further fabric layer, improved structural properties can be provided in order possibly to catch fragments having high kinetic energy in the event of destruction of the electronic device or to keep said fragments in the interior of the first pouch. The two fabric layers can merge continuously into each other, and therefore the first and second fabric layer completely surround the insulating layer in the overall construction of the first pouch.

According to a further embodiment, the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer have a silicate fabric, and/or the insulating layer has a glass fibre layer.

The silicate fabric provides heat-resistant properties and ensures that the first pouch is mechanically stable, in particular in the event that fragments having high kinetic energy have to be caught. The escape of flying fragments from the first pouch can therefore be avoided. In particular, the silicate fabric of the first fabric layer can be in direct contact with the possibly heated electronic device without the mechanical stability of the first fabric layer being impaired.

The insulating layer has glass fibres, for example a glass fibre fabric or the like, in order therefore to ensure favourable insulating properties so that heat energy arising in the interior of the first pouch can be shielded from the environment. Furthermore, the glass fibre layer affords the advantage that combustion products, for example soot particles, arising in the event of combustion can be bound or caught in the glass fibre layer. It is therefore prevented that such combustion products pass into the environment.

According to a further embodiment, the first pouch has an access region for inserting the electronic device into the first pouch, wherein the access region of the first pouch is provided with a closure mechanism which is designed to hold the electronic device in the first pouch.

This closure mechanism can have a touch and close fastener, for example what is referred to as VelcroTape®. This permits simple stowing of the electronic device inside the first pouch such that said electronic device cannot fall out of the pouch. It is possible for the access region of the first pouch to largely remain open since the touch and close fastener only conceals a small portion of the area of the access region. Gases can be output here in a specific way, i.e. via the access region of the first pouch, from the interior of the first pouch into the interior of the second pouch.

According to a further embodiment, the second pouch likewise has a first fabric layer and an insulating layer, wherein the insulating layer of the second pouch is adjacent to the first fabric layer of the second pouch and is designed to bind material arising in the event of combustion.

According to a further embodiment, the second pouch also has a second fabric layer which, together with the first fabric layer of the second pouch, surrounds the insulating layer of the second pouch.

The basic construction of the second pouch in respect of the form and/or the arrangement of the insulating layer as regards the two fabric layers of the second pouch corresponds to that of the first pouch. The corresponding features are therefore not repeated here.

According to a further embodiment, the first fabric layer of the second pouch and the second fabric layer of the second pouch have a silicate fabric. Alternatively or additionally, the insulating layer of the second pouch has a glass fibre layer.

Here too, the silicate fabric provides heat-resistant properties and ensures that the second pouch is mechanically stable, for example in the unlikely event that fabrics pass out of the first pouch and then have to be caught in the second pouch. The escape of flying fragments from the second pouch can therefore be avoided.

The insulating layer of the second pouch has in turn glass fibres, for example a glass fibre fabric or the like, in order to ensure favourable insulating properties. A type of double insulation can therefore be provided, firstly by means of the insulating layer of the first pouch and secondly by means of the insulating layer of the second pouch. The heat energy which is output into the environment and originates from the electronic device or from a malfunction or destruction of the electronic device, can be further reduced by this construction of the storage system. Here too, soot particles and the like can be bound or caught in the glass fibre layer of the second pouch.

According to a further embodiment, the second pouch has an access region, wherein, in the access region of the second pouch, the second pouch has a closure mechanism for closing the second pouch. The closure mechanism is designed in such a manner that the opening for dissipating the heat energy always remains, that is to say in every state, in order to prevent complete closing of the second pouch.

The access region of the second pouch is designed, for example, in the form of a relatively large opening via which the first pouch including the electronic device located therein can be inserted into the second pouch. The closure mechanism of the second pouch is furthermore designed such that, although the access region of the second pouch can be substantially or mostly closed, a small opening always remains which permits the targeted letting out of gases through said opening. Said opening therefore in particular does not mean any pores in the fabric or material of the pouch, but rather an opening which is predetermined in a defined manner by the closure mechanism and is adjustable in its size.

According to a further embodiment, the closure mechanism of the second pouch extends between a first end of the access region of the second pouch and a second end of the access region of the second pouch, wherein the remaining opening for dissipating the heat energy is arranged at the first end of the access region of the second pouch.

The closure mechanism of the second pouch extends, for example, along three side walls of the second pouch or is formed in an encircling manner along three side walls of the pouch. When the closure mechanism of the second pouch is closed, two opposite side walls of the pouch are moved toward each other such that, in the closed state of the second pouch, said side walls are connected to each other via the closure mechanism. This can be seen even more clearly in the following description of the figures.

According to a further embodiment, the closure mechanism is a zip fastener which has a single continuous row of teeth which is arranged in an at least partially encircling manner on the access region of the second pouch.

When the second pouch is closed, the zip fastener is therefore moved in the direction of the first end of the access region of the second pouch, wherein the row of teeth of the zip fastener is formed in an encircling manner in the region of the first end of the access region such that the zip fastener of the second pouch cannot be completely closed at this point. Furthermore, a further closure mechanism, for example in the form of a touch and close fastener, can be provided on the second pouch. What is referred to as VelcroTape® can also be provided here. Said touch and close fastener can further compact the second pouch, wherein, when the touch and close fastener of the second pouch is closed, the touch and close fastener extends along the zip fastener.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first pouch according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a second pouch according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the first pouch with an electronic device inserted into the first pouch according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the second pouch, which is designed for receiving the first pouch shown in FIG. 3, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the first pouch and of the second pouch according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a storage system having a first and second pouch according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the second pouch in a closed state according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8 shows a detailed view of a remaining opening of the closure mechanism of the second pouch in the closed state according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the compacted storage system according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 10 shows a schematic view of a cross section through the first pouch and/or through the second pouch according to an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The illustrations in the figures are schematic and are not to scale.

If the same reference signs are used in different figures in the description below of the figures, said reference signs refer to identical or similar elements. However, identical or similar elements may also be referred to by different reference signs.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first (inner) pouch 10 for receiving an electronic device, not illustrated. FIG. 2 shows a second pouch 20 for receiving the first pouch 10 illustrated in FIG. 1. The first pouch 10 is at least partially surrounded by the second pouch 20 when the first pouch 10 is received in the second pouch 20, or when the first pouch 10 is inserted into the second pouch 20, as illustrated in FIG. 6. The two pouches 10, 20 together form a storage system for storing objects, preferably electronic devices, such as transmission modules or the like.

The first pouch 10 has a first fabric layer 11 which lines the insides of the first pouch 10, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Furthermore, a cloth layer 40a which forms the outsides of the first pouch 10 can be seen in FIG. 1. The cloth layer 40a can have a blue colouring, in particular a gentian blue colouring.

The first pouch 10 can have four side walls 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d and a closed bottom 15e, wherein edges are not necessarily provided between the walls 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d, but rather the walls 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d merge continuously or in a rounded manner into one another and into the closed bottom 15e. The side walls 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d define an access region 14 via which the electronic device, not illustrated, can be inserted into the first pouch 10. Furthermore, the first pouch 10 has a closure mechanism 16 in the form of a touch and close fastener, wherein the touch and close fastener has a touch and close fastener band attached to the side wall 15b and a touch and close fastener band which is attached to the opposite wall 15d and which can be put over the access region 14.

The second pouch 20, which is illustrated in FIG. 2, can have a similar design to the first pouch 10. It can have four side walls, a closed bottom and an access region 24 via which the first pouch 10 can be inserted into the second pouch 20. The second pouch 20 likewise has a closure mechanism 26 which is designed in the form of a zip fastener which extends between a first end 24a and a second end 24b of the access region 24. A single zip fastener row of teeth 26a runs here along at least three mutually adjacent side walls of the second pouch 10 in an encircling manner around the access region 24 such that, when the zip fastener is closed starting from the second end 24b to the first end 24a, an opening 25 always remains, as is illustrated in FIG. 8. Gas and therefore also heat energy from the interior of the first pouch 10 and also the second pouch 20 can be dissipated through said opening 25. As a result of the fact that the opening 25, as is apparent from a combination of FIGS. 2 and 8, is located at the first end 24a of the closure mechanism 26 of the second pouch 20, the outflowing gas has already covered a certain distance inside the second pouch 20, as a result of which the gas flowing out through the opening 25 has been cooled to a defined temperature which is acceptable for the requirements regarding the environment of the storage system.

The second pouch 20 likewise has a first fabric layer 21 which lines the side walls and the bottom in the interior of the second pouch 20. The second pouch 20 also has an insulating layer, not illustrated in FIG. 2, which is adjacent to the first fabric layer 21 of the second pouch 20 and is designed to bind or collect material arising in the event of combustion. Furthermore, a cloth layer 40b which forms the outsides of the second pouch 20 can be seen in FIG. 2. The cloth layer 40b like the first pouch 10 can have a blue colouring, in particular a gentian blue colouring.

The second pouch 20 furthermore has a second closure mechanism 27 in the form of a touch and close fastener with which the second pouch 20, as illustrated in FIG. 9, can be compacted when the first pouch 10 including the electronic device is inserted into the second pouch 20.

FIG. 3 shows the first pouch 10 with the electronic device 30 which is received therein and which, in the example illustrated, is a transmission module 30 (what is referred to as an ELT (emergency locator transmitter)). The dimensions of the first pouch 10 are coordinated with the dimensions of the transmission module 30 such that, in the inserted state, the transmission module 30 can be in contact with the heat-resistant first fabric layer 11 of the first pouch 10. The access region 14, likewise illustrated in FIG. 3, permits the insertion of the transmission module 30 into the first pouch 10. The closure mechanism 16, that is to say the touch and close fastener of the first pouch 10, is put over the access region 14 after the transmission module 30 is inserted into the first pouch 10, and therefore the transmission module 30 can be held or fixed inside the first pouch 10.

FIG. 4 shows the second pouch 20 into which the first pouch 10, illustrated in FIG. 3, together with the transmission module 30 is inserted. The first pouch 10 together with the transmission module 30 is inserted here into the second pouch 20 via the access region 24, and therefore the second pouch 20 can be subsequently closed by means of the closure mechanism 26, that is to say by pulling the zip fastener from the second end 24b to the first end 24a of the access region 24. Subsequently, in turn, the touch and close fastener 27 can be put over in order to compact the second pouch 20 and therefore the storage system.

FIG. 5 shows the first pouch 10 on the right-hand side and the second pouch 20 on the left-hand side, wherein the transmission module 30 has already been inserted into the first pouch 10. The arrow illustrated in FIG. 5 shows that the first pouch 10 including the transmission module 30 which is located therein is inserted into the second pouch 20 via the access region 24 of the second pouch 20.

The two pouches 10, 20 together form the storage system 1, as illustrated in FIG. 6. The state can be seen there in which the transmission module 30 is inserted into the first pouch 10 and the first pouch 10 is inserted into the second pouch 20. A holding band 21 of the transmission module 30 remains exposed here in such a manner that it protrudes out of the access region 14 of the first pouch 10 and out of the access region 24 of the second pouch 20.

FIG. 7 shows the storage system 1 after the second pouch 20 is closed by means of the closure mechanism 26. The second pouch 20 has, for example, a height h of greater than 200 mm, a width b of greater than 150 mm, and a thickness t of greater than 100 mm. In one example, the second pouch has a height h of approx. 210 mm, a width b of approx. 165 mm, and a thickness t of approx. 120 mm.

FIG. 8 shows a detailed view of the closure mechanism 26 of the second pouch 20 in the virtually closed state, wherein the closure mechanism 26 is designed in such a manner that complete closing of the second pouch 20 remains undone, that is to say an opening 25 remains. This is achieved, as is apparent in FIG. 8, by the fact that an encircling zip fastener row of teeth is formed at the first end 24a of the access region 24 in such a manner that the zip fastener itself cannot be completely closed. Gases, for example combustion gases, can then flow out of the interior of the second pouch 20 via said opening 25. Nevertheless, it can be provided that the side walls and the bottoms of the first and second pouches 10, 20 are likewise at least partially designed to be gas-permeable, and therefore, when a large gas volume is formed within a short period, sufficient dissipation of gas from the interior of the two pouches 10, 20 is ensured.

FIG. 9 shows the storage system 1 in compacted form, in which the second closure mechanism 27 has been put over along the concealed zip fastener of the second pouch 20. A form of the storage system 1 that is suitable for handling can therefore be provided.

FIG. 10 shows a cross section through a side wall or a bottom of the first pouch 10 and/or through a side wall or a bottom of the second pouch 20.

The walls of the first pouch 10 have a first fabric layer 11 which is produced from a silicate fabric. Such a silicate fabric is heat-resistant and can therefore withstand heat energy emanating from the adjacently arranged transmission module, not illustrated. Similarly, good mechanical stability is provided by the first fabric layer 11, this in particular retaining fragments of a possibly destroyed transmission module. The walls of the first pouch 10 likewise have an insulating layer 13 which is produced from a glass fibre material, in particular a glass fibre fabric. This insulating layer 13 provides good heat insulation of heat arising in the interior of the first pouch 10 in relation to the environment. Similarly, combustion products, such as soot particles or the like, arising in the interior of the first pouch 10 in the event of combustion, are caught in the glass fibre fabric, and therefore they escape only in very small quantities, if at all, into the environment. Furthermore, the walls of the first pouch 10 also comprise a second fabric layer 12 which, together with the first fabric layer 11, surrounds the insulating layer 13. Said second fabric layer 12 is likewise produced from silicate fabric and has the same or at least similar properties as the first fabric layer 11. The walls of the first pouch 10 likewise have a cloth layer 40a.

The walls of the second pouch 20 have a first fabric layer 21 which is produced from a silicate fabric. Such a silicate fabric is heat-resistant and can therefore withstand heat energy originating from the adjacently arranged transmission module, not illustrated. Similarly, good mechanical stability is provided by the first fabric layer 21, this in particular retaining fragments of a possibly destroyed transmission module. The walls of the second pouch 20 likewise have an insulating layer 23 which is produced from a glass fibre material, in particular a glass fibre fabric. This insulating layer 23 provides good heat insulation of heat arising in the interior of the second pouch 20 in relation to the environment. Similarly, combustion products, such as soot particles and the like, arising in the interior of the second pouch 20 in the event of combustion are caught in the glass fibre fabric, and therefore they escape only in very small quantities, if at all, into the environment. Furthermore, the walls of the second pouch 20 also comprise a second fabric layer 22 which, together with the first fabric layer 21, surrounds the insulating layer 23. This second fabric layer 22 is likewise produced from silicate fabric and has the same or at least similar properties as the first fabric layer 21. Similarly, the walls of the second pouch 20 have a cloth layer 40b.

The first fabric layers 11, 21 of the two pouches 10, 20 have a thickness of approx. 1 mm. The second fabric layers 12, 22 of the two pouches 10, 20 have a thickness of approx. 1.5 mm. The insulating layers 13, 23 of the two pouches 10, 20 have a thickness of approx. 10 mm. The cloth layers 40a, 40b of the two pouches 10, 20 have a thickness of approx. 1 mm.

It is additionally pointed out that “comprising” does not rule out other elements or steps, and “a” or “an” does not rule out a multiplicity. It is also pointed out that features or steps that have been described with reference to one of the above exemplary embodiments may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other exemplary embodiments described above. Reference signs in the claims are not to be regarded as limiting.

Storage System Having Two Pouches

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