Patent Application
20130206907
The present invention relates generally to aircraft lavatories and more particularly to an aircraft lavatory with a movable or pivotal wall.
Commercial aircraft, such as the Airbus A320 or Boeing 737 are typically constructed from modular components, the size, weight and construction of which are dictated by many considerations, including fuselage dimensions, aesthetic and safety considerations. Many of these requirements are imposed by law or regulation. Aircraft components, such as overhead stowage compartments, seats, lavatories, galleys, lighting systems, etc. are all required to function within strictly confined spaces.
Manufacturers of aircraft are constantly refining interior aircraft designs to achieve more comfort and utility for passengers and crew within carrier-imposed restraints on cost, weight, maintenance down-time, and safety. Commercial passenger aircraft generally include lavatories for use by passengers and crew.
Prior art aircraft lavatories are typically fixed structures with a rectangular footprint. There is usually a sink, toilet, mirror, and waste container in the lavatory. It is typically surrounded by composite panel walls that can be contoured to fit the aircraft curvature. The door is normally 20″ wide and can be a swinging door or a bi-fold one. The ceiling and mirror normally have integrated lighting. The entire monument is secured by floor fittings and ceiling tie rods. It is designed to conform to FAA loading standards. Multiple lavatories can be installed in the aircraft. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,079,669 to Hanay, et al., the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a lavatory monument assembly configured to be positioned in the interior of an aircraft that includes first, second, third and fourth walls that cooperate to define a lavatory interior, a door positioned on one of the first, second, third and fourth walls that allows access to the lavatory interior, and a toilet positioned within the lavatory interior. The toilet defines a first vertical plane that bifurcates the toilet and is positioned such that the first vertical plane is not parallel to the first wall. At least the first wall is pivotal between a stowed position and an expanded position. When the first wall is in the stowed position, the first, second, third and fourth walls define a first lavatory footprint and when it is in the expanded position, the first, second, third and fourth walls define a second lavatory footprint. The second lavatory footprint has a greater area than the first lavatory footprint. In a preferred embodiment, the first wall includes a first wall portion and a second wall portion, and the first wall includes at least first, second and third movable portions, such that the first wall portion and the second wall portion are movable relative to one another. Preferably, the door is positioned on the first or the second wall portion. However, the door can be positioned on any of the first, second or third walls, in a preferred embodiment, a sink is positioned therein on one or both of the second or third walls. In a preferred embodiment, the first wall includes an angled wall segment that extends inwardly therefrom that is in slidable communication with the second wall, such that when the first wall portion is pivoted from the stowed position to the expanded position, the angled wall segment translates and slides relative to the second wall.
In a preferred embodiment, when the first wall is in the stowed position a first passenger footprint is defined within the lavatory interior and when the first wall is in the expanded position a second passenger footprint is defined within the lavatory interior. The second passenger footprint is larger than the first passenger footprint. Preferably, the toilet is accessible to a passenger both when the first wall is in the expanded position and when the first wall is in the stowed position.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided an aircraft that includes a cabin having a side wall that includes at least one exit door that includes an exit corridor adjacent thereto. The exit corridor includes an exit corridor footprint. The aircraft also includes a lavatory monument assembly positioned within the cabin and that includes first, second, third and fourth walls that cooperate to define a lavatory interior, a door positioned on one of the first, second, third and fourth walls that allows access to the lavatory interior, and a toilet positioned within the lavatory interior. The toilet defines a first vertical plane that bifurcates the toilet and is positioned such that the first vertical plane is not parallel to the first wall. At least the first wall is pivotal between a stowed position and an expanded position. When the first wall is in the stowed position, the first, second, third and fourth walls define a first lavatory footprint and when the first wall is in the expanded position, the first, second, third and fourth walls define a second lavatory footprint. The second lavatory footprint has a greater area than the first lavatory footprint. In a preferred embodiment, the lavatory monument assembly is positioned adjacent to the exit door, and the first wall defines a portion of the exit corridor. When the first wall is in the expanded position, the second lavatory footprint overlaps with the exit corridor footprint.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method that is performed in the cabin of an aircraft that includes a lavatory monument assembly positioned therein. The cabin further includes a side wall with at least one exit door that includes an exit corridor adjacent thereto that defines an exit corridor footprint. The method includes pivoting a first wall of the lavatory monument assembly between a stowed position and an expanded position. When the first wall is in the stowed position, the lavatory monument assembly defines a first lavatory footprint and when the first wall is in the expanded position, the lavatory monument assembly defines a second lavatory footprint. The second lavatory footprint has a greater area than the first lavatory footprint. The lavatory monument assembly includes a toilet positioned therein that defines a first vertical plane that bifurcates the toilet and that is not parallel to the first wall when it is in the stowed position. Preferably, the first wall is in the stowed position during taxi, takeoff and landing and in the expanded position during the remainder of the flight and the toilet is accessible by a passenger when the first wall is in the stowed position and when the first wall is in an expanded position.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a lavatory monument assembly that is configured to be positioned in the interior of an aircraft. The lavatory monument assembly includes first, second, third and fourth walls that cooperate to define a lavatory interior and a fifth wall that spans between and is affixed to the second and fourth walls and that divides the lavatory interior into a first lavatory and a second lavatory. The lavatory monument assembly also includes a first door positioned on one of the first, second, third and fourth walls that allows access to the first lavatory, and a second door positioned on one of the first, second, third and fourth walls that allows access to the second lavatory. The first wall is pivotal between a stowed position and an expanded position. When the first wall is in the stowed position, the first, second, third and fourth walls define a first lavatory footprint and when the first wall is in the expanded position, the first, second, third and fourth walls define a second lavatory footprint. The second lavatory footprint has a greater area than the first lavatory footprint. In a preferred embodiment, the portion of the fifth wall that is affixed to the second wall is not parallel to the first wall when it is in the stowed position. Preferably, a first portion of the fifth wall is not parallel to the first wall and a second portion of the fifth wall is parallel to the fifth wall. In a preferred embodiment, the first lavatory includes a first sink positioned therein and the second lavatory includes a second sink positioned therein, and the first and second sinks are affixed to the fifth wall and include shared plumbing. Preferably, the lavatory monument assembly includes a first toilet positioned in the first lavatory and a second toilet positioned in the second lavatory. The second toilet defines a vertical plane that bifurcates the toilet and is positioned such that the vertical plane is not parallel to the first wall when it is in the stowed position.
The following description and drawings are illustrative and are not to be construed as limiting. Numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosure. However, in certain instances, well-known or conventional details are not described in order to avoid obscuring the description. References to one or an embodiment in the present disclosure can be, but not necessarily are references to the same embodiment; and, such references mean at least one of the embodiments.
Reference in this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the-disclosure. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, various features are described which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others. Similarly, various requirements are described which may be requirements for some embodiments but not other embodiments.
The terms used in this specification generally have their ordinary meanings in the art, within the context of the disclosure, and in the specific context where each term is used. Certain terms that are used to describe the disclosure are discussed below, or elsewhere in the specification, to provide additional guidance to the practitioner regarding the description of the disclosure. For convenience, certain terms may be highlighted, for example using italics and/or quotation marks: The use of highlighting has no influence on the scope and meaning of a term; the scope and meaning of a term is the same, in the same context, whether or not it is highlighted.
It will be appreciated that the same thing can be said in more than one way. Consequently, alternative language and synonyms may be used for any one or more of the terms discussed herein. No special significance is to be placed upon whether or not a term is elaborated or discussed herein. Synonyms for certain terms are provided. A recital of one or more synonyms does not exclude the use of other synonyms. The use of examples anywhere in this specification including examples of any terms discussed herein is illustrative only, and is not intended to further limit the scope and meaning of the disclosure or of any exemplified term. Likewise, the disclosure is not limited to various embodiments given in this specification.
Without intent to further limit the scope of the disclosure, examples of instruments, apparatus, methods and their related results according to the embodiments of the present disclosure are given below. Note that titles or subtitles may be used in the examples for convenience of a reader, which in no way should limit the scope of the disclosure. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. In the case of conflict, the present document, including definitions, will control.
It will be appreciated that terms such as “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” “side,” “short,” “long,” “up,” “down,” “aft,” “forward,” “inboard,” “outboard” and “below” used herein are merely for ease of description and refer to the orientation of the components as shown in the figures. It should be understood that any orientation of the components described herein is within the scope of the present invention.
Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating the present invention and not for purposes of limiting the same,
In a preferred embodiment, the lavatory monument assembly 10 is configured to be located in the aft section of the cabin 102 of the aircraft 100, forward of the exit door 104 (as shown in
In a preferred embodiment, the lavatory monument assembly 10 comprises a single lavatory monument that includes a lavatory 12. As shown in the figures, the lavatory monument assembly 10 includes a first wall 16 that expands the usable volume of the lavatory 12. The rotating wall or first wall 16 can be locked or secured in either a stowed (see
In a preferred embodiment, the lavatory monument assembly 10 includes first, second, third and fourth walls 16, 18, 20 and 22 that cooperate to define a lavatory interior 24, and a door 26 positioned on one of the first, second, third and fourth walls 16, 18, 20 and 22 that allows access to the lavatory interior 24. As discussed above, at least the first wall 16 is pivotal between a stowed position and an expanded position. In a preferred embodiment, the first wall 16 pivots in order to increase the volume and footprint of the lavatory 12. With reference to
In a preferred embodiment, the first wall 16 can include hinges, latches, sliders and the like (referred to herein generally as movable portions 14) that allow the first wall 16 to move, pivot, slide, translate, etc. relative to the other walls. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 6,079,669 to Hanay (the “'669 patent”), the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. In one embodiment, the movable first wall 16 can include multiple panels or wall portions (e.g., first wall portion 16a and second wall portion 16b) that pivot and/or slide relative to one another (similar to the way a bi-fold door in a standard aircraft lavatory does) between expanded and stowed positions. The first wall 16 can also include a third wall portion 16c that does not move. The door 26 can be part of one of the first, second of third wall portions 16a, 16b or 16c.
The door 26 that allow access to the lavatory interior 24 can be located on any of the first, second, third or fourth walls 16, 18, 20 and 22.
As is shown in
The angled toilet orientation together with the movable first wall 16 also provides for increased area for passengers when using the toilet (referred to herein as “passenger footprint”). For example, as shown in
As shown in
With reference to
In an exemplary use, the first wall 16 is in the stowed position during taxi, takeoff and landing. In this position, the lavatory 12 is usable, but space inside is limited. After the aircraft has taken off and reached the desired height (typically 10,000 ft), a flight attendant or other person deploys the first wall 16, moves it from the stowed position (the first lavatory footprint) to the expanded position (the second lavatory footprint) and secures it in place. More space is now available in the lavatory 12. When the aircraft is preparing for landing, a flight attendant or other person can once again move the first wall 16 to the stowed position.
As shown in
Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate when the first wall 16 is in the stowed position, the footprint defined by the lavatory monument assembly 10 can be smaller than the footprint of a typical lavatory. When the lavatory monument assembly 10 is positioned in the aft of the cabin 102, as shown in
Within the cabin 102, use of the lavatory monument assembly 10 can result in the addition of rows. In a standard commercial aircraft, there is a finite amount of longitudinal space between the wings and the rear of the aircraft. By moving the lavatory monument assembly 10 aft compared to a typical lavatory, a row or more can be added. In the stowed position, the first wall 16 provides enough exit corridor footprint 106 space to meet FAA regulations. In flight, the first wall 16 protrudes into exit space that is typically wasted.
It will appreciated that the lavatory monument assembly 10 does not have to be positioned near an exit door and that as used herein the term exit corridor footprint can be any corridor adjacent the movable first wall of the lavatory monument assembly.
As shown in
In a preferred embodiment, the lavatory monument assembly 40 is essentially a single lavatory monument that is mountable as a single unit in the interior of the cabin 102 and that includes both the first and second lavatories 42 and 44. As shown in
In a preferred embodiment, the lavatory monument assembly 40 is split by a non-horizontal panel or fifth wall 46 that is shared between the first and second lavatories 42 and 44. As shown in
In an exemplary use of lavatory monument assembly 40, the first wall 16 is in the stowed position during taxi, takeoff and landing. In this position, the first and second lavatories 42 and 44 are usable, but space inside the second lavatory 44 is limited. After the aircraft has taken off and reached the desired height (typically 10,000 ft), a flight attendant or other person deploys the first wall 16, moves it from the stowed position (the first lavatory footprint) to the expanded position (the second lavatory footprint) and secures it in place. More space is now available in the second lavatory 44. When the aircraft is preparing for landing, a flight attendant or other person can once again move the first wall 16 to the stowed position.
As shown in
Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate when the first wall 16 is in the stowed position, the footprint defined by the lavatory monument assembly 40 can be smaller than the footprint of two typical lavatories. When the lavatory monument assembly 40 is positioned in the aft of the cabin 102, as shown in
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense, as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to.” As used herein, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” or any variant thereof, means any connection or coupling, either direct or indirect, between two or more elements; the coupling of connection between the elements can be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below,” and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. Where the context permits, words in the above Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments using the singular or plural number may also include the plural or singular number respectively. The word “or” in reference to a list of two or more items, covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list, and any combination of the items in the list.
The above-detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the teachings to the precise form disclosed above. While specific embodiments of and examples for the disclosure are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the disclosure, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. Further, any specific numbers noted herein are only examples: alternative implementations may employ differing values, measurements or ranges.
The teachings of the disclosure provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the system described above. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. Any measurements described or used herein are merely exemplary and not a limitation on the present invention. Other measurements can be used.
Any patents and applications and other references noted above, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Aspects of the disclosure can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further embodiments of the disclosure.
These and other changes can be made to the disclosure in light of the above Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments. While the above description describes certain embodiments of the disclosure, and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the teachings can be practiced in many ways. Details of the system may vary considerably in its implementation details, while still being encompassed by the subject matter disclosed herein. As noted above, particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the disclosure should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features or aspects of the disclosure with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the disclosures to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification unless the above Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the disclosure encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the disclosure under the claims.
While certain aspects of the disclosure are presented below in certain claim forms, the inventors contemplate the various aspects of the disclosure in any number of claim forms. For example, while only one aspect of the disclosure is recited as a means-plus-function claim under 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶6, other aspects may likewise be embodied as a means-plus-function claim, or in other forms, such as being embodied in a computer-readable medium. (Any claims intended to be treated under 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶6 will include the words “means for”). Accordingly, the applicant reserves the right to add additional claims after filing the application to pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of the disclosure.
Accordingly, although exemplary embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that all the terms used herein are descriptive rather than limiting, and that many changes, modifications, and substitutions may be made by one having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 61/598,738 and 61/598,805, both filed Feb. 14, 2012, which are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61598738 | Feb 2012 | US | |
| 61598805 | Feb 2012 | US |
