Cockpit security door/restroom

A device for converting a regular cockpit door and its surrounding traffic area for a cockpit security door/restroom 10, to prevent intrusion into the cockpit 53 during a route, having a bulletproof case 12 installed on a hardened wall 17 isolating the cockpit 53 from the cabin 52. The case 12 basically contains in its interior: a toilet 24, a sink 91, various panoramic-one-way lenses 42 to observe the cabin 52, a security service window 30 to receive meals, drinks, etcetera from the cabin 52; it also is provided with an ambient air purifier unit 81 and a bifold door 11 or curtain to provide privacy from other crewmembers while utilizing the facilities. The case performs as a door at beginning or end of a route, as a restroom during the route, and takes almost no needed space from the aircraft 13 or other means of transportation, while functioning to provide security and comfort to cockpit crewmembers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION—FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to sanitary facilities to improve the security and comfort of the cockpit in means of transportation, especially for eliminating the hijacking risks of commercial aircraft.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION—PRIOR ART

The best mode, in which I presently prefer to disclose the present invention, illustrates its embodiments performance in an aircraft, but that is not the only transport means in which the present invention can provide a substantial increase in security as well as crew comfort. Several methods of securing a commercial flight from terrorist attacks have been proposed by the Air Transportation Authorities, which include: a bulletproof door, a hardened wall isolating the cockpit from the cabin, armed pilots, and armed marshals flying as putative passengers. However, the effectiveness of these methods is doubtful and none of them are able to effectively secure the cockpit from intrusion when a cockpit crewmember requires physiological relief; e.g. to urinate/defecate.

At present, this type of necessity would require that the cockpit crewmember open the cockpit door to enter the cabin area where the restrooms are located, thereby allowing a possible intrusion into the cockpit. Of course, this opens an excellent opportunity for a hijacker to gain possession of the cockpit controls, make hostages of cockpit crewmembers, and risks the horrors of another potential 9/11 disasters.

In presenting this invention, intrusion into the cockpit by unknown unauthorized persons, due to the normal physical needs of the cockpit crewmembers, is made practically impossible.

My invention is a cockpit security door/restroom that is basically composed of a bulletproof container which performs as a door at the beginning or end of a route, and as a restroom facility for cockpit crewmembers during the route, basically comprising a toilet and sink with a fresh water supply, a panoramic viewer to observe the cabin area, and a secure service slot to receive meals, drinks or other service. It also includes a means to provide clean ambient air and privacy from other cockpit crewmembers while utilizing the facilities.

With the implementation of my invention, there is no requirement to open the cockpit door to the cabin and its population. Any attempts to enter said cabin are frustrated by the Cockpit Security Door/Restroom.

This necessary, advantageous, advanced device is suitable and presently adaptable to most current commercial aircraft and can be easily adapted for future aircraft models and transportation means other than aircraft, which include a cabin for the public or cargo adjacent and accessible to the cockpit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION—OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

Accordingly, beside the objects and advantages of the Cockpit Security Door/Restroom described in my above patent, several objects and advantages of the present invention are evident.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to increase the security and pilot's comfort in the air transport without sacrificing needed space in the aircraft.

It is another object of this invention to provide commercial airlines with an adaptable sanitary facility in most existing aircraft models, as well as having the ability to be adapted for future models.

It is another object of this invention to provide the personnel in control of a transportation means's command equipment with a secure and comfortable door/restroom.

Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is provided for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a device to prevent intrusion into the cockpit of a means of transport, having a hardened wall isolating the cockpit from the cabin, a privacy door or curtain to interrupt the vision to a closed cockpit area surrounding a bulletproof case, which basically includes in its concave section: a toilet, a sink, a lock mechanism to provide or interrupt the access from the cabin, a device to recycle and filter ambient air, a slot with panoramic one-way lenses to observe the cabin from the concave section, and a service window from which to receive food, drink, or other articles from the cabin.

Said device is designed to convert a cockpit or a regular cockpit door to a cockpit security door/restroom, which provides closer access to sanitary facilities and can be utilized by cockpit personnel while a route is completed, while also insuring privacy when utilizing said restroom. The case also is able to perform as a security door, preferably at the beginning or end of the route.

In the description section of this patent application and its corresponding drawings, I presently prefer to illustrate all embodiments of the present invention as installed in an aircraft's cockpit. After that, a reader having an ordinary skill in this field will fully understand the construction of the embodiments and its functions in the aircraft's cockpit; it will be evident that he/she would be able to visualize the embodiments installed to protect and service other transport means in a similar mode, without the need to provide an additional description with a set of drawings explaining separately the installation and functions in each means of mass transport of people, cargo, etc.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A preferred embodiment of the Cockpit Security Door/Restroom of the present invention, illustrated inFIG. 1F(perspective view), is generally referred to as number10. The Cockpit Security Door/Restroom10, comprising a bulletproof wall17, which I presently prefer to illustrate in theFIGS. 1F and 6, as existing in an aircraft13; this wall17includes a doorframe16, various stationary leaf hinges90(FIGS. 1F and 3), also fixed perpendicular and parallel to said doorframe16, two stationary lock members18, set on said doorframe16, opposite from the leaf hinges' edge.

A rectangular bulletproof case12, having a flat edge case116substantially sized to cover the contour of the doorframe16, a stage49fixed to the low concave section of the case12, creating a top concave section112and a lower cavity section113, both sections facing to a cockpit53, and a protruding cavity55that is presently illustrated on the left side of the case12. The material utilized in the construction of the case12is opaque and strong enough to support aircraft equipment installed on its case convex section212, this equipment can be a seat69to accommodate a flight attendant as illustrates theFIG. 5(which illustrates an additional embodiment). Various movable leaf hinges89are fixed vertically on the same case wall as the protruding cavity55. The movable leaf hinges89couple, by means of pin hinges, to the stationary hinges90.

A rolling mechanism51is set under the stage49, inside of the lower cavity section113(FIGS. 2 and 5), opposite from the protruding cavity55, enabling it to help share part of the load of the case assembly with the hinges23; the rolling mechanism moves over the cabin floor152(FIG. 2). A handle62is vertically fixed on the flat edge116, inside the concave section112opposite the hinge's edge; two lock member's case63are rigidly mounted on said flat edge116of the door, close to the handle62; two stationary lock members18are mounted on the doorframe; both stationary lock members and door-mounted lock mechanisms are designed to fit and lock together when said case's flat edge surface116is in full contact with the doorframe's contour16(FIG. 1F).

A sink unit91fixed on the concave section's wall has a folding hinged sink recipient27mounted on a stationary hinged recipient92and includes a drain pipe79(FIGS. 3 and 4). The folding hinged recipient27is set in a vertical position, covering a faucet78installed on the same concave section's wall, which is presently illustrated on the right side; the folding recipient27includes a handle29and a groove28to hold the folding recipient27over a hinged bracket33.

A toilet24with its seat25and cover26are secured to a hollow gear58which performs as a base for the toilet24, the base is composed of a worm-gear-drive mechanism56attached to the center of the stage49, a roller57connected to a input shaft46(FIGS. 2 and 3), a pivoting coupling47to join the toilet drain section to a main drain line19, the pivoting coupling47vertically mounted, centered within the drive mechanism56.

A flexible flush toilet line45joins a flush mechanism44to the toilet bowl section.

A security service window30, presently illustrated on the left concave case's wall, is made of an opaque bulletproof material having a manual locking device31, which faces the concave section112and locks on a stationary lock pin32; a means of visual observation of the cabin52, composed of various panoramic one-way lenses42, are installed in the walls close to window30.

The main drain line19pass centered in a slot50, runs in the same direction as a pin hinges' center lines82, is housed under the protruding cavity55and joined by means of a “Y” coupling80to the sink drain pipe79and pivoting coupling47; the drain line includes a pivoting coupling48intersecting it in the floor's slot (FIG. 2).

A multiple-conduit-holder member86securing a flexible water line20, a flexible electric line21, and a flexible electronic line22is fixed inside of the slot50, close to the pivoting coupling48, the holder member86having been illustrated inFIG. 9, provides the same function for all of the embodiments within this application. The flexible water line20(FIG. 2) has been connected to a water distribution and control box43set in the concave section112; the box is accessible by hand and includes the toilet flush mechanism44and a handy-hose shower54. The flexible electronic line22feeds an intercom unit composed of a first handset64set inside the concave section112and a second handset68set outside of the case12, (FIGS. 3 and 5) The electronic line will also feed any electronic equipment set within the concave section112. The flexible electric line21further feeds electric-powered equipment set within the concave section112.

A restroom performance space14(FIGS. 1F and 1R) is created between two vertical panel walls15that are presently illustrated inFIG. 1F, as existing in the aircraft, mounted to each side of the doorframe16inside of cockpit53and are illustrated in dash-dot-dot-dash lines. A door11is set by the edges of the panel walls15, opposite from the doorframe16and the case concave section112. Also, a mirror76can be installed on the panel walls15.

The drawing inFIG. 2illustrates a switched lamp77installed in the concave section112, a purifier of ambient air81that includes an air return conduit39mounted behind the toilet bowl24in line with its top edge, a duct40to bring the air suctioned by a blower41to an air exhaust duct65, which is fully covered by an air filter66(FIG. 4).

The concave section also include a retractable cover67set horizontally on the upper front section, supplies, articles, and accessories such as: a trashcan61having a cover59and a disposable plastic liner60, a toilet paper holder38, a soap dish93, a towel bar94, and a supply shelf36holding supplies articles37.

I prefer to disclose the operation of the preferred embodiment10starting from an open position of the case12as illustrated inFIG. 1R. The first step is to raise the case's retractable cover67(FIG. 4) and close the case12by the handle62(FIG. 3), the case12will move on the rolling mechanism51until its flat edge116rests against the doorframe16, (FIG. 1F). Then, the crewmember should engage the lock member's case63to secure the case12against the doorframe16, blocking the access from cabin52to cockpit53.

To place the toilet24in a position for utilization, the first step is to rotate the roll57with the right foot72until the hollow gear58rotates and the front section70of the toilet24is positioned outside of the doorframe16, (FIG. 8which shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention), said roll57is connected to the worm-pinion shaft46of the worm-gear drive mechanism56installed over the stage49. To utilize the toilet24, a privacy door11should be closed and the ambient air purifier81, together with the lamp77turned on. Then, the cockpit security door/restroom10is ready to provide comfort in the restroom performance space14to a cockpit crewmember.

The toilet24is utilized in the same mode as a regular aircraft toilet; the cover26will be raised to permit a crewmember to sit on the toilet seat25or the toilet seat25can be raised for a male crewmember to utilize the toilet24for urination; To flush the toilet24, use the flush mechanism44, which connects to the flexible flush line45(FIG. 2).

To utilize the sink91, the crewmember should position the hinged bracket33perpendicularly, then pull the sink's folding recipient27by the handle29to set the groove28on the bracket33(FIGS. 3 and 4); the faucet78can be opened to provide water for the personal hygiene of each crewmember; this function can be completed by the addition of the soap dish93and the towel bar94.

The water that feeds the faucet78comes from the water control box43connected to the flexible water line20; the water utilized in the sink91will drain through the drain pipe79, which is joined to the “Y” coupling80that also connects the pivoting toilet drain coupling47and the main drain line19. The main drain line19will pivot with the case12because it is fitted inside the pivoting coupling48which, in turn, is fitted in the floor slot50, the center of the pivoting coupling48is in line82with the hinge pin that connects the movable89and stationery90hinge leafs. All the drainpipes are protected from damage by the protruding cavity55and the lower cavity section113of the case section.

To dispose of garbage, the crewmember uses the trashcan61, which has the disposable plastic liner60and the cover59, which should be kept closed when not disposing garbage.

To keep a stock of the most common articles37utilized for servicing a restroom; the supply shelf36is utilized to hold all necessary articles for replacement during a flight.

The secure service window30can be opened by the crewmembers to receive, from a flight attendant35, a tray34containing food, drink, or other of services. To open the service window30, the crewmember should first look through the one-way lenses42to the cabin52, unlock the manual locking device31, and open the window30, placing it over the foldable bracket33; also, the window can rest over the sink recipient27to permit crewmember to set the tray34over the sink (FIG. 4).

Also, the crewmember can utilize intercom64to communicate with the cabin and cabin personnel can communicate with the restroom area, utilizing intercom68(FIG. 5which shown an additional embodiment).

FIG. 6illustrates a crewmember71, by solid lines, seated on the toilet seat25. Note that the position of the toilet's front section70forces the crewmember71seated on the toilet to position the feet72outside of the door frame16, however, still inside of the restroom performance space14. Thus, when the crewmember stands up (illustrated in dash-dot-dash lines), the head trajectory74(illustrated In a heavy line) remains outside the rigid parts, preventing the crewmember's head73from contacting any of said parts. Also illustrated is the air path75in dashed lines when air is suctioned by the blower41through the filter66(FIG. 4), duct40, and distributed by the air exhaust duct65to recirculate to the ambient air.

Additional Embodiment

FIG. 5shows an additional embodiment of the present invention10in which an electronic camera83and a electronic image display84have been added as additional means of observing the case convex section212and the surrounding area from the restroom performance space14. The camera83and image display84can be optional, or can be substituted for the one-way lenses and should be utilized by the crewmembers before opening any lock mechanism, i.e., either the window service30or case12.

FIG. 7illustrates an alternative embodiment10of the present invention in which a shorter version of the case12has been used, with some of the parts, such as the toilet paper holder38and the supply shelf36(compare withFIG. 6), which are inside the case12in the preferred embodiment, being instead mounted in the paneling walls15. The door11provides privacy to the crewmember utilizing the restroom facilities. The crewmember's head is also prevented from contacting rigid parts, in the same mode as inFIG. 6.

FIG. 8shows another alternative embodiment10of the present invention in which a single lock member18has being provided to interrupt the access to cockpit, a lamp77is being switch from the case12to set in the restroom performance space14, and an air conditioning exhaust88can substituting the air ambient cleaner device illustrated in the preferred embodiment, or this air exhaust can run together with the air cleaner device.

FIG. 9illustrates another alternative embodiment10of the present invention in which the case12is not provided with a one-way lens slot; the camera83and image display84are utilized for observation of the cabin from the concave section112; a rigid toilet assembly24joins to a toilet drain rigid coupling85, which is joined to the main drain line19; the toilet assembly24is fixed to a rigid base87over the stage49, the case12having been designed as a shorter version. The water20, electricity21, and electronic22flexible lines to service the case12pass trough the same slot as illustrated in the preferred embodiment and are secured to the holder member86which provides the same function to all embodiments in this patent application. This alternative embodiment10is an economic version of the present invention, which I believe can be used successfully in military, cargo, or other air transport means.