Lavatory unit for vehicle

A lavatory unit for a vehicle is provided for washing feet. A toilet seat is put in the use position, a lid is put in the open position, the lid and a water drainage plate coupled by an engage/disengage mechanism are disengaged, and the water drainage plate is rotated to the placed position. With pressure on the water drainage plate, water is discharged from a faucet for a predetermined time by a water control unit, and the foot is washed on the water drainage plate. The water is drained to the inside of a toilet body through a discharge port. Once the foot is washed, the water on the upper surface of the water drainage plate is wiped, the water drainage plate is rotated from the placed position to the open position of the lid, or the lid is rotated to the closed position.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present technology relates to lavatory unit for a vehicle.

BACKGROUND ART

A lavatory unit for a vehicle, such as an aircraft, a watercraft, a road vehicle, and a railway vehicle include a toilet and a wash basin in the lavatory unit (see International Patent Publication No. WO 2014/141693).

There is an Islamic ritual that involves a purifying procedure of washing parts of the body, such as the hands, mouth, nose, face, arms, hair, ears, and feet before prayer (wudu).

Such a procedure of washing the hands, mouth, nose, face, arms, hair, and ears can be performed using the wash basin in a lavatory unit of a vehicle. However, because the wash basin is typically positioned at waist-height, it is difficult to wash the feet.

An unorthodox body position must be taken to wash feet in the wash basin, making it a difficult task. Also, water may be splashed around the wash basin, wetting the floor. This results in inconvenient clean-up work.

Installing a wash basin exclusively for wudu in a lavatory unit is an option. However, installing a wash basin exclusively for wudu in a lavatory unit means that the lavatory unit needs to be greatly expanded.

SUMMARY

The present technology provides a lavatory unit for a vehicle in which sections of the body including feet can be easily washed without requiring clean-up work and without expanding the lavatory unit.

A lavatory unit for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present technology including a toilet body, a toilet seat provided rotatably between a use position and a non-use position, at the use position the toilet seat being placed on the toilet body and at the non-use position the toilet seat positioned standing from a back end of the toilet body, and a lid provided rotatably between a cover position and an open position, at the cover position the lid being placed on the toilet seat positioned in the use position and covering the toilet seat, and at the open position the lid positioned standing from the back end of the toilet body and opening the toilet seat, the lavatory unit for a vehicle including,

a water drainage plate rotatable together with the lid between the cover position and the open position in a state where the water drainage plate being stored within an inner surface of the lid, and separated from the lid in the open position of the lid, being put in a placed position where the water drainage plate being placed on the toilet seat in the use position,

a faucet provided movably within the lavatory, a water control unit configured to start and stop discharge of water from the faucet, and a faucet holding portion that holds the faucet and causes water discharged from the faucet to head to inside the toilet body with the lid in the open position. The water drainage plate includes a placement portion that is placed on the toilet seat positioned in the use position and covers the toilet seat, and a drainage portion that allows a foot being placed on the drainage portion and guides water discharged from the faucet to inside the toilet body.

According to the present embodiment, to wash feet for example, the toilet seat is covered with the placement portion so that the feet to be washed can be placed at knee-height on the drainage portion of the water drainage plate. This allows feet to be easily washed without wetting the toilet seat and the toilet body as well as the floor of the lavatory unit.

Note that the hands, mouth, nose, face, arms, hair, and ears may be washed with the wash basin. However, the hands, mouth, nose, face, arms, hair, and ears can be easily washed in a similar manner above the water drainage plate without wetting the toilet seat and the toilet body as well as the floor of the lavatory unit.

In this way, the feet, hands, mouth, nose, face, arms, hair, and ears can be washed in the lavatory unit without wetting the floor. Thus, other toilet users can use the lavatory without being inconvenienced.

With the lavatory unit, sections of the body including the feet can be easily washed, removing the need to provide a wash basin exclusively for wudu, the need for clean-up work, and/or upsizing the lavatory unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

First Embodiment

In the following embodiment of the present technology described with reference to the drawings, the lavatory unit for a vehicle is an aircraft lavatory unit.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, a lavatory unit10includes a structural frame12installed on the floor of an aircraft. A lavatory1002is formed inside the structural frame12.

The structural frame12includes a front wall1202, a rear wall1204facing the front wall1202, left and right side walls1206and1208, a ceiling (ceiling wall)1210, and a floor (bottom wall)1212.

The front wall1202is provided with an entrance1214that opens and closes by a door14.

In the present embodiment, the lavatory unit10is disposed to the side of a longitudinal aisle extending in the front-rear direction of the fuselage. As the front wall1202faces the longitudinal aisle, the rear wall1204is disposed close to the body of the fuselage. The rear wall1204is formed with a curved surface that changes in position in relation to the front wall1202as it extends to the upper portion, conforming to the body shape of the fuselage.

In the lavatory1002, a sink16and a counter18are disposed against one side wall1206.

The sink16is provided on the top surface of a base20installed on the bottom wall1212of the lavatory1002inward from the side wall1206.

The sink16includes a wash basin1602, a wash faucet1604, and a mirror1606.

A trash can device (not illustrated) is provided inside the base20, and reference sign2002denotes a trash insert opening.

A toilet22is provided against the rear wall1204on the front side of the rear wall1204(the direction the rear wall1204faces the front wall1202).

As illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, the toilet22includes a toilet body24, a toilet seat26, and a lid28.

The toilet body24is installed on the floor1212(bottom wall).

As illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4, the toilet seat26is disposed on the toilet body24and is rotatable between a use position and a non-use position. At the use position, the toilet seat26is placed on the upper portion of the toilet body24(FIG. 3), and at the non-use position, the toilet seat26is standing from the back end of the toilet body24(end portion on the rear wall1204side) (FIG. 4).

Note that when a person sits on the toilet seat26in the use position, the person faces the front wall1202. The direction to the front of the toilet bowl22corresponds to the front wall1202direction and the direction to the rear of the toilet bowl22corresponds to the rear wall1204direction.

As illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3, the lid28is rotatable between a cover position and an open position. At the cover position, the lid28covers the toilet seat26in the use position (FIG. 2), and at the open position, the lid28is standing from the back end of the toilet body24, opening the toilet seat26(FIG. 3).

As illustrated inFIG. 10, the lid28includes an inner surface2802that faces the toilet body24in the cover position and a side wall2804that stands from the periphery of the inner surface2802except at the back edge.

In the present embodiment, the center of rotation of the toilet seat26and the lid28is a support shaft30in common.

Also, as illustrated inFIGS. 2 to 7, to enable sections of the body including the feet to the easily washed in the lavatory1002without dirtying the lavatory1002, the lavatory1002includes a water drainage plate32, a faucet34, a faucet holding portion36, an engage/disengage mechanism38(FIG. 9), a faucet storage device40, a faucet fixing device42, and a water control unit44(FIG. 17).

The water drainage plate32is made of a synthetic resin. As illustrated inFIGS. 2, 3, and 10, the water drainage plate32, in a state of stored within the inner surface2802of the lid28at inner side of the side wall2804, is rotatable between a cover position and an open position with the lid28about the support shaft30. Also, as illustrated inFIGS. 5 to 7, the water drainage plate32is placed in a placed position on the toilet seat26in a use position, after being separated from the lid28in an open position.

As illustrated inFIG. 9, the engage/disengage mechanism38detachably couples the lid28and the water drainage plate32, maintain a state where the water drainage plate32stored within the inner surface2802of the lid28in a state of the lid28and the water drainage plate32being coupled, and enables the water drainage plate32to be separated from the lid28and rotate in a state where coupling of the water drainage plate32and the lid28is released.

In the present embodiment, as illustrated inFIGS. 8 and 9, the engage/disengage mechanism38includes a rigid ball3802biased in the direction of normally projecting to the front portion of the water drainage plate32and a recess portion3804formed in the side wall2804of the lid28to which the rigid ball3802can detachably couple.

When the rigid ball3802is engaged with the recess portion3804of the side wall2804of the lid28, the water drainage plate32is in a state of being stored within the inner surface2802of the lid28. When the water drainage plate32is in this stored state, the water drainage plate32rotates with the lid28.

When the water drainage plate32is pulled out from the lid28, the rigid ball3802separates from the recess portion3804, thus the water drainage plate32is separated from the lid28and can rotate independently of the lid28. As illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 5, the water drainage plate32can rotate between a placed position and an open position. At the placed position, the water drainage plate32is placed on the toilet seat26in the use position (FIG. 5), and at the open position, the water drainage plate32is stored within the inner surface2802of the lid28in the open position (FIG. 3).

Note that when the water drainage plate32stands from the placed position, the rigid ball3802is pressed by the inner surface of the side wall2804of the lid28and recedes. When the recess portion3804is located above the rigid ball3802, the rigid ball3802protrudes and engages with the recess portion3804, putting the water drainage plate32in a state of being stored within the inner surface2802of the lid28.

The configuration of the engage/disengage mechanism38is not limited to the structure of this embodiment, and various known structures can be employed.

As illustrated inFIGS. 8, 10, and 11, the water drainage plate32includes a placement portion46that is placed above and covers the toilet seat26placed in a use position, and a drainage portion48that, in a state of the placement portion46being placed on the toilet seat26, allows feet to be placed upon the drainage portion48and guides water discharged from the faucet34to inside the toilet body24.

The placement portion46and the drainage portion48are integrally formed with the peripheral portion of the drainage portion48being supported by the placement portion46.

The placement portion46includes a placement portion body4602that is placed on the toilet seat26and covers the toilet seat26, and a raised wall4604that stands up completely around a periphery of the placement portion body4602.

The drainage portion48includes an inclined surface4802that, in a state of the placement portion46being placed on the toilet seat26, gets lower going inward from the placement portion46, and a drain hole4804formed in the inclined surface4802at the position corresponding to the center of the placement portion46.

Note that, as illustrated inFIGS. 14 to 16, the drainage portion48may include a net-like member49disposed inward of the placement portion46on which a foot can be placed in a state where the placement portion46is placed on the toilet seat26, and the net-like member46guides water discharged from the faucet34to the inside of the toilet body24. However, the configuration of the water drainage plate32is not limited to the configuration of this embodiment. Various other configurations can be employed, however the configurations illustrated inFIGS. 8 and 14are advantageous in that a simple configuration of the water drainage plate32can be achieved.

The faucet34is provided movably within the lavatory1002.

In the present embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 7, the faucet34is disposed on an end portion of a flexible hose50that supplies water and internally includes an open/close valve52(FIG. 17).

As illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 7, the faucet storage device40is provided in a lower portion of the rear wall1204on a side of the toilet22, stores the hose50in a manner allowing it to pulled out, and detachably holds the faucet34in a state of the hose50being stored.

Note that the wash faucet1604may be used as the faucet34. In this case, the hose50may be connected to the wash faucet1604and the wash faucet1604may be pulled out from the sink16to wash sections of the body including the feet with the wash faucet1604.

As illustrated inFIG. 7, the faucet holding portion36detachably holds the faucet34so that the water discharged from the faucet34is directed inside the toilet body24when the lid28in is in the open position.

In the present embodiment, the faucet holding portion36includes the lid28, and the faucet fixing device42that is provided on the inner surface2802of the lid28and detachably holds the faucet34.

The faucet fixing device42is provided on the inner surface2802of the lid28at an end portion of the lid28that is a section opposite from the support shaft30.

As illustrated inFIGS. 5, 6, 7, 13A and 13B, the faucet fixing device42is provided rotatably between a storage position and a use position. At the storage position, the faucet fixing device42overlap with the inner surface2802of the lid28(FIGS. 5 and 13A), and at the use position, the faucet fixing device42stands from the inner surface2802of the lid28(FIGS. 6, 7, and 13B).

Specifically, as illustrated inFIGS. 12A and 12B, the faucet fixing device42includes a fixing device body4204with a bifurcated fixing portion4202. As illustrated inFIGS. 13A and 13B, a bearing hole4205of a base portion of the fixing device body4204is rotatably coupled to a support shaft4302of a hinge43at the inner surface2802of the lid28, and a rigid ball (not illustrated), which is built in the hinge43and biased in a protruding direction by a spring (not illustrated), engages with a recess portion4206of the base portion (FIG. 12B). In this manner, the faucet fixing device42is positioned in a stored position and a use position, and thus the faucet fixing device42is rotatably provided between a stored position and a use position.

As illustrated inFIG. 7, faucet fixing device42detachably holds the faucet34in the use position so that the water from the faucet34is discharged directed inside the toilet body24.

Note that the faucet fixing device42is located inward from the placement portion46of the water drainage plate32at a section facing the drainage portion48in a state of the water drainage plate32being stored within the inner surface2802of the lid28.

The water control unit44is configured to start and stop the discharge of water from the faucet34.

As illustrated inFIG. 17, the water control unit44may include an infrared sensor54that is provided on the faucet34and detects whether a foot is on the water drainage plate32, an actuator56that opens and closes the open/close valve52being built-in in the faucet34, and a control unit58configured to control the actuator56on the basis of a detection signal from the infrared sensor54and open the open/close valve52during a predetermined time.

Also, the water control unit44may include a switch provided on the wall surface of the lavatory1002, and the control unit58configured to control the actuator56on the basis of an operation signal from the switch and open the open/close valve52during a predetermined time.

Also, the water control unit44may include a push switch provided on the faucet34, and the control unit58configured to control the actuator56on the basis of an operation signal from the push switch and open the open/close valve52during a predetermined time. Any such known configurations may be employed.

Note that in an example in which the wash faucet1604is used as a faucet for washing sections of the body including the feet, a configuration in which the water control unit44includes a knob provided on the wash faucet1604that is operated to start and stop the discharge of water is employed.

Next, an example of how feet can be washed in the lavatory unit10for a vehicle will be described.

As illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 11, the toilet seat26is put in the use position, the lid28is put in the open position, disengage the lid28and the water drainage plate32in a coupled state by the engage/disengage mechanism38, the lid28is put to stay in the open position, and the water drainage plate32is rotated to the placed position.

Next, the faucet fixing device42is rotated from the stored position illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 13Ato the use position illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 13B.

Then, as illustrated inFIG. 7, the faucet34is held by the faucet fixing device42.

Here, after the foot is placed on the water drainage plate32, water is discharged from the faucet34during a predetermined time by the water control unit44and the foot is washed on the water drainage plate32. The water is drains to the inside of the toilet body24through the drain hole4804.

Once the foot is washed, the water on the upper surface of the placement portion body4602and the water drainage plate32is wiped. And as illustrated inFIG. 3, the water drainage plate32is rotated from the placed position to the open position of the lid28, or as illustrated inFIG. 2, the lid28is rotated to the closed position.

The water drainage plate32and the lid28are joined by the engage/disengage mechanism38after rotation.

After use in this manner, when the next user who does not wash their feet uses the toilet, the water drainage plate32rotates together with the lid28when the lid28is opened or closed. Thus, the water drainage plate32is not left on the toilet seat26becoming an inconvenience, and the lavatory unit10can be used in the same manner as a typical lavatory unit.

According to the present embodiment, in washing feet, the toilet seat26is covered by the placement portion body4602, the raised wall4604stands completely around the periphery of the placement portion body4602, and the feet to be washed can be placed at knee-height on the drainage portion48of the water drainage plate32. This allows feet to be easily washed without wetting the toilet seat26and the toilet body24as well as the floor1212of the lavatory unit10.

Note that the hands, mouth, nose, face, arms, hair, and ears may be washed with the wash basin1602. However, the hands, mouth, nose, face, arms, hair, and ears can be easily washed in a similar manner above the water drainage plate32without wetting the toilet seat26and the toilet body24as well as the floor1212of the lavatory unit10.

In this way, the toilet22can be used to easily wash sections of the body including the feet and the sections of the body including the feet can be washed in the lavatory unit10without wetting the floor1212. This removes the need for clean-up work and allows other toilet users to use the lavatory1002without being inconvenienced.

With the lavatory unit10, sections of the body including the feet can be washed, removing the need to provide a wash basin exclusively for wudu and/or upsizing the lavatory unit.

Also, the water drainage plate32being stored within the inner surface2802of the lid28is advantageous in that operation in use of the water drainage plate32is made easy, and is advantageous in that, since the space of the lavatory unit10tend to be limited from the perspective of increasing seats, the water drainage plate32can be provided in a manner that doesn't require the space of the lavatory unit10to be reduced.

Also, the faucet fixing device42is provided within the inner surface2802of the lid28and the faucet34is held by using the lid28when using the faucet34. This allows the faucet34to be used without taking up space. For example, a hanger may be provided that holds the faucet34at an end portion of the hanger, and the hanger is pivotable in the horizontal plane or rotatable in the vertical plane between a stored state overlapping the wall surface of the lavatory1002and a use position located above the toilet bowl22. However, the embodiment described is advantageous because the lid28of the toilet22can be used to hold the faucet34, allowing the faucet34to be held without providing another member to hold the faucet34. This allows the faucet34to be held in the use position in a manner that doesn't require reducing space in the lavatory1002.

Furthermore, the faucet34is provided being able to be pulled out from a lower portion of the rear wall1204, allowing the faucet34to be located at a lower portion of the rear wall1204when not in use. This is advantageous in that the faucet34does not become an inconvenience and the next toilet user can use the lavatory1002without being inconvenienced.

Also, in the present embodiment, the engage/disengage mechanism38is provided. This allows toilet users that do not wash sections of their body including the feet to open and close the lid28in a similar manner to a typical toilet22. The water drainage plate32not being present on the toilet seat26is advantageous in that the lavatory1002can be used without causing inconvenience.

Second Embodiment

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to theFIGS. 18 to 20.

The second embodiment makes feet washing particularly easy and includes, in addition to that of the first embodiment, a sitting plate60.

In other words, as illustrated inFIGS. 18 to 20, the sitting plate60is able to rotate between a use position and a storage position. At the use position, the sitting plate60extends in the horizontal direction toward the front of the toilet22and allows a user to sit facing the toilet22(FIGS. 19 and 20), and at the storage position, the sitting plate60overlaps the wall portion of the lavatory1002(FIG. 18).

Specifically, the sitting plate60includes a sitting plate body62and a leg portion64.

The sitting plate body62has an elongated shape and one end of the sitting plate body62in the longitudinal direction is rotatably fixed to the side wall1208on the opposite side to the wash basin1602by a hinge63. The sitting plate body62includes a top surface6202and a back surface6204opposite the top surface6202. The top surface6202face upward when the sitting plate body62is positioned to extend in the horizontal direction.

The leg portion64is provided being able to rotate by a support shaft6206provided on the back surface6204at the other end in the longitudinal direction of the sitting plate body62.

As illustrated inFIG. 18, when the sitting plate60is not in use, the leg portion64is stored within a recess portion6210of the back surface6204of the sitting plate body62. As illustrated inFIGS. 19 and 20, when the sitting plate60is in use, in a state of the sitting plate body62extending in the horizontal direction, the leg portion64extends down from the other end in the longitudinal direction of the sitting plate body62and comes in contact with the floor1212of the lavatory1002such that the sitting plate body62is supported in a horizontal state.

According to the second embodiment, the feet can be washed while sitting on the sitting plate60. This is advantageous in that the same effects as that of the first embodiment can be achieved and the feet can be washed in a more comfortable position.

Note that a folding chair or the like may be provided in the lavatory1002. However, providing a sitting plate such as the sitting plate60of the embodiment described above removes the need to provide a folding chair in the lavatory1002and is advantageous in that the space in the lavatory1002is not reduced.

Note that in the embodiments described above, the faucet34is provided at a lower portion of the rear wall1204to the side of the toilet22by the faucet storage device40. However, the position of the faucet34when not in use is not limited to at a lower portion of the rear wall1204to the side of the toilet22, and various positions such as at the left and right side walls1206and1208and on the floor (bottom wall)1212may be employed.

The faucet34may have a known type of structure, and the control of starting and stopping the discharge of water from the faucet34by the water control unit44may be control by a known method.

Also, in the present embodiment described above, the lavatory unit for a vehicle is an aircraft lavatory unit. However, the lavatory unit for a vehicle of the present technology has broad application to various lavatory units for a vehicle other than an aircraft such as a watercraft, bus, camping car or other automobile and a railway vehicle such as a bullet train.