FIELD OF THE INVENTION 0001 This invention relates to a storage compartment, and more particularly to a storage compartment that universally mounts to the internal support structure of an aircraft cargo bay allowing placement of the storage compartment at any location within an aircraft cargo bay regardless of the differing support structures in an aircraft.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 0002 Storage compartments are used in various applications to enclose, store, mount or support devices, objects, or things to be mounted or placed in a variety of vehicle storage locations. In applications where the storage compartment must be secured against movement, previous storage compartments suffer from the increased tooling time and labor costs required to secure the compartment against movement while the vehicle is in motion. Because support structures vary from vehicle to vehicle, model to model, or even in the same vehicle, the need to retool a particular storage compartment or create fittings to secure a particular storage compartment increases installation time and expense. 0003 The lack of uniformity in mounting storage compartments results in a storage compartment having increased parts in order to mount the storage compartment to any location on the support structure of a vehicle without additional parts at the point of install. The differing support structures in vehicles require that storage compartments come with a vast assortment of mounting brackets and fittings, of which many will not be used, to ensure that the storage compartment will successfully mount to the vehicle support structure. Further, many applications require a record of the installation process so that it may be referenced in some point in the future. Recordation of the process, when the installation process could very with the use of many parts, becomes a lengthy and expensive endeavor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 0004 The above and other objects are provided by a storage compartment in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention. The storage compartment of the present invention universally mounts to a wide range of support structures of a commercial aircraft. As such, further design work, re-tooling, and additional parts are not required to mount the storage compartment to the support structure of an aircraft. Reduction of the aircraft vehicle design work and per aircraft parts reduces overall cost by reducing complexity and overall number of parts in tandem with a reduction in paper due to harmonization of the installation process over multiple aircraft. 0005 The storage compartment of the present invention makes use of brackets designed to attach to the support structure of an aircraft on one end and attach to the mounting members of storage compartment on the other. Locations, where the brackets and mounting members are a secured to each other, are infinitely variable allowing the storage compartment to accommodate drastic changes in support structure shape and layout. Further, the mounting members can be secured to the storage compartment in many different ways to facilitate attaching the brackets to mounting members and aircraft support structures. 0006 In the preferred embodiments, fans and cooling airflow openings are located at many locations on the walls of the storage compartment to facilitate cooling. Further, and interior shelf with vibration absorbing material is secured in the interior space of the storage compartment. Modules of various shape and function can be installed on the interior shelf of the storage compartment. When cooling demands of the modules necessitate more cooling, a cooling duct can attached to the airflow openings and connected to a cooling unit in the aircraft. 0007 In the preferred embodiments, the brackets are attached to the bottom flange of an aircraft support structure, where the support structure generally takes the shape of an I-Beam. The brackets attach to the mounting members and the bottom flange using threaded fasteners, nut plates, and radius blocks. By drilling holes in the support structure of an aircraft in anticipation of assembly, the brackets and mounting members can be assembled at the point of install in any arrangement to facilitate differing or even non-constant support structure configurations. The ability to assemble the brackets to the mounting members in many different arrangements enables the storage compartment to be mounted in many locations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 0008 The various advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art by reading the following specification and claims and by referencing the following drawings in which: 0009 FIG. 1 is an environmental front view of the storage container in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with the storage compartment of the present invention secured to an aircraft support structure; 0010 FIG. 2 is a perspective view of two storage containers in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, with the storage compartments disposed side by side with modules and electrical connections installed; 0011 FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of the storage container in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with the storage compartment of the present invention secured to a vehicle support structure; and 0012 FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of the bracket of the storage container in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with the bracket of the storage compartment shown installed to the bottom of a support structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 0013 Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a storage compartment 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The storage compartment 10 includes a housing 12 and mounting assembly 14 for housing a module 16. The housing 12 includes walls 18 that define an interior space 20. The housing 12 is attached to a floor support structure 22 (i.e., an I-beam) of an airplane cargo bay 24 via the mounting assembly 14. 0014 In a preferred embodiment of the invention the storage compartment 10 is installed in the cargo bay area of an aircraft. The ceiling of the cargo bay 24 is lined with a cargo bay liner (not shown). Beneath the liner and between the cargo bay 24 and the passenger compartment 26 are structural components of the airplane that serve as the support structure 22 to which the storage compartment 10 is mounted. In most instances these structural components take the form of modified I-Beams. The I-Beam structures run the length of the aircraft. The spacing, however, is quite different from aircraft to aircraft and even within the same aircraft depending on the location of the storage compartment. Further, some aircraft have discontinues I-beam structures. In a preferred embodiment the storage compartment 10 is attached to the support structure in the aft of the cargo hold abutting the aft bulkhead. One skilled in the art will realize the storage compartment 10 can be mounted to many locations in the aircraft and is not limited to the aft cargo hold area abutting the aft bulkhead. 0015 Referring to FIG. 2, a pair of storage compartments 10 in accordance with an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention are shown. Each storage compartment 10 includes at least one module 16. From each module 16, electrical connections 28 exit the housing 12 through a wiring opening 30. In addition, air duct 32, preferably attached to a cooling unit 34 of the vehicle (not shown), provides a cooling air flow to interior space 20 through airflow opening 36. Cooling fans 38, secured in an airflow opening 36, provide additional cooling to the interior space 20 of the storage compartment 10. One skilled in the art will realize cooling fan placement and quantity will be generally dictated by cooling concerns; as such the invention is not limited to two cooling fans 36 per storage compartment 10. 0016 Further referring to FIG. 2, storage compartment 10 includes an access opening 40 in walls 18 where an access panel 42 is removably secured. One skilled in the art will readily ascertain the access panel 42 need not be secured to allow operation of module 16 in storage compartment 10; therefore, the present invention is not limited to the panel 42 secured to the access opening 40 of storage compartment 10. 0017 Further referring to FIG. 2, module 16 in a preferred embodiment of the present invention are computers adapted to provide wireless Ethernet communication within the aircraft. Storage compartments 10 mounted beneath the passenger compartment 26 provide wireless Ethernet services to the passengers while traveling to their destination. One skilled in the art will appreciate that many configurations are possible beyond the one shown in FIG. 2, such that a single computer or multiple computer with multiple storage compartments could be used. 0018 Referring to FIG. 3, the mounting assembly 14 connected to support structure 22 and storage compartment 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The mounting assembly 14 includes mounting members 44 and brackets 46, shown and described later in FIG. 4. Where the walls 18 of housing 12 attach to the mounting member 44, the mounting member 44 attaches to bracket 46, and the bracket 46 is supported by the support structure 22. 0019 Further referring to FIG. 3, the storage compartment 10 further includes a fan 38 placed in an air flow opening 36 through the housing 12. Also, the storage compartment 10 includes an interior shelf 48, supported by the housing 12 via shelf supports 50, upon which the module 12 is supported. Interdisposed between housing 12 and interior shelf 48 is a vibration absorbing member 52. Preferably, the vibration absorbing member is positioned between module 16 and the interior shelf 48. 0020 Further referring to FIG. 3, an ARINC tray 54 adapted to support and supply power and data to module 12 is shown in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. An ARINC tray 54, or the like, provides for a secure harness for the module 12, while further providing quick connections for data and power. A suitable structure for use with the present invention is commonly available for AT&T/Claircom. One skilled in the art would readily ascertain storage compartment 10 is not limited to use of an ARINC tray 54, but storage compartment 10 can be used with many trays that provide support to computer and other electronics; therefore, the present invention is not limited to the use of an ARINC tray. 0021 In an alternative preferred embodiment of the invention the storage compartment 10 can be mounted to the support structure of the mobile platform using only one mounting member. When only one mounting member is used the opposite side of the storage compartment can be affixed to other locations in the aircraft such as bulkheads cargo area structural members and other adequate structural locations. 0022 Referring to FIG. 4, the bracket 46 of the mounting assembly 14 is attached to a bottom flange 62 of the support structure 22. The bracket 46 includes a pair of bolts 56, as well as complementary nut plates 58 and radius blocks 60. In securing the bracket 46 to the bottom flange 62 of the support structure 14, the mounting member 44 is secured to the bottom flange portion 62 of the support structure 14 by threading bolts 56 through aligned apertures 64 of the mounting member 44, in the ceiling of the cargo hold 24, the bottom flange 62, the radius blocks 60 and the nut plates 58. Then tightening nut plates 42 on respective bolts 40 with mounting member 44, bottom flange 62, and radius blocks 60 secured therebetween. To accommodate the differing placements of the modified I-Beam structures in aircraft cargo bays the mounting members can be drilled at the point of install, thereby allowing the compartment to be installed at any point in the aircraft without the need for additional parts or tools. 0023 Those skilled in the art can now appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad teachings of the present invention can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this invention has been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the invention should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification and following claims.