Panel for mounting a passenger supply unit and a passenger supply unit

Abstract

A panel for covering a supply channel in a passenger cabin of a vehicle including a mounting surface facing the passenger cabin while the panel covers the supply channel. The panel is elongated in a longitudinal direction and adapted for mounting passenger supply units. The mounting surface includes spaced openings arranged along a longitudinal direction of the panel, wherein each opening includes a connector assembly for a passenger supply unit. The panel includes a mount securing passenger supply units. The mounting surface comprises extended areas for providing support in opposing lateral directions to passenger supply units mounted to the panel.

The invention is: 
     
         1 . A panel configured to cover a supply channel in a passenger cabin of a vehicle, wherein the panel comprises:
 a mounting surface facing the passenger cabin while the panel is mounted to the passenger cabin and covers the supply channel;   the panel is elongated in a longitudinal direction and adapted to mount passenger supply units,   the mounting surface further comprises a plurality of spaced openings arranged along the longitudinal direction of the panel, and each opening is aligned with a respective connector assembly for the passenger supply units,   the panel further comprises a mount configured to secure the passenger supply units mounted to the panel against movement in a mounting direction, and the mounting direction extends perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and   the mounting surface further comprises extended areas configured to provide support in opposing lateral directions for the passenger supply units mounted to the panel, wherein the lateral directions extend perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the mounting direction.   
     
     
         2 . The panel according to  claim 1 , further comprising a supply element configured to connect to the connector assemblies. 
     
     
         3 . The panel according to  claim 2 , wherein the supply element comprises at least one data transmission line and each connector assembly comprises a data contact connected to the data transmission line, wherein the data contact is adapted for connecting a passenger supply unit to the data transmission line. 
     
     
         4 . The panel according to  claim 2 , wherein the supply element comprises an air channel and each connector assembly comprises an air outlet connected to the air channel, wherein the air outlet is adapted to connect an air shower assembly of a passenger supply unit to the air channel. 
     
     
         5 . The panel according to  claim 2 , wherein the supply element comprises an oxygen supply line and each of the connector assemblies comprises an oxygen supply contact connected to the oxygen supply line, and the oxygen supply contact is configured to connect an oxygen supply unit of a passenger supply unit to the oxygen supply line. 
     
     
         6 . The panel according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the connector assemblies includes a mount configured to mount a passenger supply unit to the panel. 
     
     
         7 . The panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the mounting surface of the panel is laterally delimited by two lateral edges extending parallel to the longitudinal direction and that a cross-sectional shape of the mounting surface in a plane extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is formed such that the mounting surface does not extend beyond a straight line extending between the lateral edges, and wherein the straight line extends in the plane extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         8 . The panel according to  claim 7 , wherein the mounting surface has a concave cross-sectional shape in a plane extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         9 . The panel according to  claim 7 , wherein the openings are each arranged at least partly in a location on the mounting surface having a largest perpendicular distance from the straight line extending between the lateral edges. 
     
     
         10 . The panel according to  claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional shape of the mounting surface in a plane extending perpendicular to the first longitudinal direction is constant along the longitudinal direction, and a shape of the mounting surface in the plane extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is symmetrical with respect to a plane extending parallel to the longitudinal direction and the mounting direction. 
     
     
         11 . A passenger supply unit configured to be mounted in a passenger cabin of a vehicle having a top surface and comprising holding means and connecting means, wherein the passenger supply unit extends in a first direction,
 wherein the holding means are adapted for securing the passenger supply unit against movement in a second direction when the passenger supply unit is mounted to a panel for covering a supply channel, wherein the second direction extends perpendicular to the first direction,   wherein the top surface is adapted for engagement with an extended area of a mounting surface of a panel for covering a supply channel such that by an engagement of the top surface with a mounting surface the passenger supply unit can be supported in opposing third directions, wherein the third directions extend perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, and   wherein the connecting means extends through the top surface and is adapted for connecting the passenger supply unit to a connector assembly of a panel for covering a supply channel when the passenger supply unit is mounted to the panel.   
     
     
         12 . The passenger supply unit according to  claim 11 , wherein the top surface is delimited by a closed edge, and a cross-sectional shape of the top surface in a plane extending perpendicular to the first direction is formed such that a straight line extending between opposing sides of the closed edge in the plane extending perpendicular to the first direction does not intersect the top surface. 
     
     
         13 . The passenger supply unit according to  claim 11 , wherein the cross-sectional shape of the top surface is convex in a plane extending perpendicular to the first direction and wherein the cross-sectional shape of the top surface is symmetrical with respect to a plane extending parallel to the first direction and the second direction. 
     
     
         14 . The passenger supply unit according to  claim 11 , wherein the passenger supply unit comprises an oxygen supply unit and the connecting means of the passenger supply unit comprises contact means for connecting the oxygen supply unit to an oxygen supply contact provided at a connector assembly of a panel for covering a supply channel when the passenger supply unit is mounted to the panel. 
     
     
         15 . The passenger supply unit according to  claim 11  wherein the passenger supply unit comprises supply means in form of a reading light assembly, and wherein the connecting means of the passenger supply unit comprises a contact means for connecting the supply means to a data contact means provided at a connector assembly of a panel for covering a supply channel when the passenger supply unit is mounted to the panel. 
     
     
         16 . The passenger supply unit according to  claim 11  wherein the passenger supply unit comprises an air shower assembly and the connecting means of the passenger supply unit comprises an air inlet for connecting the air shower assembly to an air outlet provided at a connector assembly of a panel for covering a supply channel when the passenger supply unit is mounted to the panel.