US 7,503,522 B2
Continuous power bus for seat power
James T Henley, Seattle, Wash. (US); Robert T Johnson, Everett, Wash. (US); Darrel E Santala, Marysville, Wash. (US); Samuel J Feist, Bellevue, Wash. (US); Trevor M Laib, Woodinville, Wash. (US); Bradley J Mitchell, Snohomish, Wash. (US); and Kevin S Callahan, Shoreline, Wash. (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Chicago, Ill. (US)
Filed on Feb. 22, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/709,548.
Application 11/709548 is a division of application No. 10/810324, filed on Mar. 27, 2004, granted, now 7,188,805.
Prior Publication US 2007/0164156 A1, Jul. 19, 2007
Int. Cl. B64D 11/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 244—118.5 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of providing power and/or data to a seat in a seating area, the method comprising:
(a) attaching an elongated bus strip having an elongated continuous receptacle in a desired location relative to the seating area, said receptacle having a conductive member therein, and said receptacle having a locking detail which includes a narrowing passageway that allows access to said conductive member;
(b) attaching a connector to said bus strip at a position near the seat to which power and/or data is to be provided, said connector having a plug that engages with said conductive member when attached to said bus strip, said plug including a stem with an enlarged head that passes through said narrowing passageway when attaching said connector to said bus strip thereby securing said connector to said bus strip, and said connector operable to electrically interconnect said conductive member to the seat;
(c) removably securing said connector to said bus strip with an engagement member on said connector that selectively engages with a complementary slot in said bus strip, said slot being separate and distinct from said passageway and said engagement member being spaced apart from and distinct and separate from said plug; and
(d) connecting said bus strip to a power and/or data source in the fixed structure.