Airline door retractable wave fence with steps for evacuation

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus for permitting evacuation of an aircraft following a water landing are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the disclosed method involves deploying, an evacuation unit, from inside a storage housing located proximate a door of the aircraft. In one or more embodiments, the evacuation unit comprises at least one step and a wave fence. In at least one embodiment, when the evacuation unit is fully deployed, at least a portion of the wave fence is in water-tight contact with at least a portion of a frame of the door such that water flow into the aircraft is prevented and/or inhibited.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for permitting evacuation of an aircraft following a water landing, the method comprising:
 deploying, an evacuation unit, from inside a storage housing located proximate a door of the aircraft,   wherein the evacuation unit comprises at least one step and a wave fence, and   wherein when the evacuation unit is fully deployed, at least a portion of the wave fence is in water-tight contact with at least a portion of a frame of the door such that water flow into the aircraft is substantially inhibited.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the evacuation unit is constructed from an inflatable structure. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the deploying of the evacuation unit comprises inflating the inflatable structure by compressed gas, a manual pump, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the evacuation unit further comprises a rigid infrastructure that is foldable and housed within the inflatable structure. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the inflatable structure comprises at least three inflatable sleeves. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the inflatable structure further comprises a girt bar that is attached to one of the frame of the door of the aircraft or an inflatable slide. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein when the evacuation unit is deployed, a first sleeve of the at least three inflatable sleeves lies within a cabin of the aircraft, a second sleeve of the at least three inflatable sleeves lies within the frame of the door of the aircraft, and a third sleeve of the at least three inflatable sleeves lies exterior to the aircraft, thereby creating the wave fence. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the inflatable structure comprises an accordion structure,
 wherein when the evacuation unit is deployed, the accordion structure fits within the frame of the door of the aircraft, thereby creating the wave fence.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the inflatable structure comprises at least one inflatable step and at least two inflatable sleeves. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein when the evacuation unit is deployed, the at least one inflatable step lies within a cabin of the aircraft, one of the inflatable sleeves lies within the frame of the door of the aircraft, and another one of the inflatable sleeves lies exterior to the aircraft, thereby creating the wave fence. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for permitting evacuation of an aircraft following a water landing, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one step; and   a wave fence,   wherein the apparatus is to be deployed from inside a storage housing located proximate a door of the aircraft, and   wherein when the apparatus is fully deployed, at least a portion of the wave fence is in water-tight contact with at least a portion of a frame of the door such that water flow into the aircraft is substantially inhibited.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is constructed from an inflatable structure. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a rigid infrastructure that is foldable and housed within the inflatable structure. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the inflatable structure comprises at least three inflatable sleeves. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the inflatable structure further comprises a girt bar that is attached to one of the frame of the door of the aircraft or an inflatable slide. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein when the apparatus is deployed, a first sleeve of the at least three inflatable sleeves lies within a cabin of the aircraft, a second sleeve of the at least three inflatable sleeves lies within the frame of the door of the aircraft, and a third sleeve of the at least three inflatable sleeves lies exterior to the aircraft, thereby creating the wave fence. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the inflatable structure comprises an accordion structure,
 wherein when the apparatus is deployed, the accordion structure fits within the frame of the door of the aircraft, thereby creating the wave fence.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the apparatus is configured to be deployed by inflation of the inflatable structure, and
 wherein the inflatable structure is configured to be inflated by compressed gas, a manual pump, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the inflatable structure comprises at least one inflatable step and at least two inflatable sleeves. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein when the apparatus is deployed, the at least one inflatable step lies within a cabin of the aircraft, one of the inflatable sleeves lies within the frame of the door of the aircraft, and another one of the inflatable sleeves lies exterior to the aircraft, thereby creating the wave fence.