injection molded mechanisms
Designed, prototyped, tested, and delivered various cabin interior latching designs for a variety of end customers. The high production volume environment of commercial aviation required designing injection molded mechanisms, as cost-effective substitutes to machined metal parts.
777X latch
conceptual show off
Developed and programmed an electronic stow bin latch prototype, and its corresponding user interface using a programmable AVR microcontroller. The prototype was demonstrated at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg with a positive reception from both airlines and OEMs.
Remote status reporting and operation
Visual feedback of improper latching
quick iteration
A number of concepts were explored for possible electronic interfaces. A capacitive interface was designed and tested, but was ultimately replaced for a button. Tests showed that haptic feedback was preferable among users. Furthermore, the capacitive button was prone to inadvertent operation. Other concepts explored but not pictured here included a “slide to unlock” function, as well as a mechanical latch upgraded with an internal microswitch.
Prototyped of the first version using an Arduino board.
Early version used a capacitive interface
Updated design with a haptic button, housed within a concave dish, to avoid inadvertent operation.
Improved packaging
Designed a better electronics package for the prototype, by CNC milling a copper clad composite sheet as a quick substitute for a PCB. Mounting the logic and power distribution boards on the backside left more room for light diffusion
patented solutions
listening to our customers’ needs - really listening, and understanding the nature of their problems can lead to true breakthroughs in design. One such example lead to the development of the striker with a floating element, which is used to compensate for misalignment and bin deflection under loading, while providing reliable latching. This resulted in significant weight savings for our customer, since they no longer had to design stiffer (and heavier) bins to mitigate the deflection.
US Patent 20200370330A1 (pending)
787 interior showcasing the center bin latches, designed at Harper Engineering