Greenpoint gains a Boeing 787 patent

Greenpoint 787 patent

Greenpoint Technologies has received a patent for a Boeing 787-floor structure system design. The patent’s scope is for a 787-flooring system which consists of a floor panel, two seat tracks and an intercostal that spans between and attaches to the seat tracks.

The intercostal has an interface fitting which protrudes through the floor panel, providing customisable attach locations for aircraft fittings and furnishings. The patented floor system design is utilised on all Greenpoint’s 787 interior completions.

“The 787-floor system patent represents Greenpoint’s engineering ingenuity in coming up with a solution to improve the installation process by standardizing modifications to the 787’s unique floor structure, minimizing parts and reducing installation time. The robust flooring system supports custom interior configurations required by VIP Clients.”

Bret Neely, executive vice president of Greenpoint said: “The 787-floor system patent represents Greenpoint’s engineering ingenuity in coming up with a solution to improve the installation process by standardizing modifications to the 787’s unique floor structure, minimizing parts and reducing installation time. The robust flooring system supports custom interior configurations required by VIP Clients.”

VIP furnishings installed in aircraft must be securely restrained during take-off, flight, landing and mishaps.

These items are attached to the floor and if tall, will also be attached to the ceiling or sidewall. Most to the weight from furnishings goes to the floor which is made of floor beams spanning side to side and seat tracks spanning forward and aft. Intercostals are short beams installed between seat tracks and placed in custom locations underneath furnishing to support the weight of each item.

This creates a structural system where foot fittings of cabinets, seats and walls are attached to intercostals which are located exactly where needed to pick up load and dissipate that load into the floor structural grid which is made of seat tracks and floor beams. The floor structural grid dissipates load into the fuselage structure.