Abstract:
A children&#39;s play container in the cabin area on the level of the passenger deck, which when folded away has dimensions compatible with aircraft fixtures. In its assembled state, at least one side wall may be folded outwards along the lower horizontal edge onto the floor to form part of a play area. The inside of the children&#39;s play container incorporates playing equipment and fixtures for child care, which are accessible by opening at least one side wall.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The invention relates to a children&#39;s play container for transportation vehicles, in particular for passenger aircraft and the arrangement of a children&#39;s play container in a passenger aircraft.  
         [0002]     In passenger aircraft it is especially problematical to occupy children without disturbing the other passengers in the passenger cabin. A particular problem is posed by small children between the age of 2 to 6 years since their natural instinct to play and move about cannot be satisfied within the restricting conditions of the conventional layout of present day cabins. Children are meant to sit quietly in the passenger seats and make use of toys such as colored pencils and drawing books, puzzle books, comics or be entertained by children&#39;s videos or audio cassettes. This does not accommodate the movement impulse of small children and the aisle of the plane is misused as a play area, thereby encumbering passage for other passengers or flight personnel. The present day cabin layout of one to two narrow longitudinal aisles and seat rows arranged in close succession means that passenger capacity is maximized, but no movement possibility whatsoever is offered for children outside the confines of the seat. Airline companies are well aware of this problem and first attempts to find a solution are known. In the magazine “Zeitschrift für Gestaltung”, edition 4/1996, page 46, 47 under the heading “Das fliegende Kinderzimmer” (“The flying playroom”), a possible solution is presented in which a children&#39;s play area is shown in an airliner. The suggestion implies that such a facility may be established in the freight area below the cabin, from where access is provided, by transforming a standard freight container accordingly. The idea therein is that such a special children&#39;s play area be used by children to let off steam and to play as well as to rest. It is obvious from this solution that the children cannot be supervised by their parents, who are in the cabin above. A supervisor would probably have to be present below in the freight room. A further disadvantage of the proposed solution is that freight capacity is forfeited for pay load and that headroom is significantly limited for adults.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, by making multi-purpose use of the circulation space in the passage way area in the vicinity of the aircraft doors, unused space may be purposefully employed throughout the journey. By means of a play container, after phases of sitting quietly in their seats, children are able to satisfy their need to move about in a special children&#39;s play area, without disturbing other passengers or encumbering the passage or the work of the flight personnel in the aisles.  
         [0004]     This exemplary embodiment may provide for possibilities to occupy children in a vehicle of transportation, which allow a certain freedom of movement, without disturbing the other passengers. Furthermore, such a children&#39;s play area may be arranged in a way that it can be easily supervised as well as being economical with regard to cabin layout without necessitating a significant loss in seating capacity.  
         [0005]     It is possible to reduce the container to minimal size when not in use during take-off and landing of the aircraft, whereby all play equipment as well as all necessary components of the container may be stowed in a space-saving manner.  
         [0006]     The play container may, by simple means, flexibly form a playing area which may be assembled modularly and made to meet the spatial dimensions available.  
         [0007]     A rigid play container may be achieved which in its closed or folded state provides a case-like receptacle for the necessary components and play equipment and at the same time, when used as a play area, provides a soft cushioning for playing children.  
         [0008]     The container may be implemented in order to separate the children&#39;s play area from the remaining passage way.  
         [0009]     According to another exemplary embodiment, an arrangement of a children&#39;s play container in the passenger cabin of an aircraft according to the present invention is provided. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     Further details and advantages may be taken from the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0011]     The drawings represent an exemplary embodiment of the present invention which is described in more detail in the following with reference to FIGS.  1  to  4 . In the Figs., the same reference numerals are used to designate to the same or corresponding elements.  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  shows a top view of a section of a cabin layout in the area of the rear of the aircraft.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  shows an arrangement of a children&#39;s play container inside a passenger cabin of an aircraft.  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  shows a typical plan of a play container with the individual elements assembled.  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  shows a cross section through a side element of the container. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]      FIG. 1  shows a cabin section of a passenger cabin  2  of a wide-bodied aircraft in which parents are accommodated with their children, i.e. a so-called parent/child area  1 . The optical and acoustical division between the sections of the passenger cabin  2  is provided, for example, by a noise insulated door  3  and a dividing wall  4 , as may be found, for example, between the different passenger class sections. For example, the noise insulated doors  3  may comprise curtains, bellow doors or sliding doors.  
         [0017]     In the parent/child area  1 , the conventional seating arrangement may be found in continuance of the seating in the respective cabin class section, for the protection of each passenger, especially during take-off, landing and in gusting winds. I.e. parent seats  5  are surrounded by child seats  6  (represented by the broken line), whilst passengers without children are accommodated in another cabin section  2 . In the parent/child area  1 , standard seats may be supplemented by baby baskets or booster seats as required in accordance with the size of the child. A modularly assembled children&#39;s play container  7  may be found in the passage way  8  (for example in the rear section of the cabin) of a wide-bodied aircraft. The children&#39;s play container  7  is preferably located in the area behind the center seats. The children&#39;s play container  7  is collapsed or folded away during take-off and landing of the aircraft as well as on the ground so that the function of the passage way  8  as a circulation and escape route can be absolutely guaranteed. During take-off and landing, the flight attendant seats may be used by the flight attendants. Once cruising altitude has been reached and the fasten seatbelts sign is extinguished, the individual side elements of the container  7  may be assembled, thus forming a separate play area  18  within the passage way  8 , as may be taken from  FIG. 1 . Use of the two longitudinal aisles  9  for access to the toilets  10 , respectively to a rear stairway  11  remains unimpaired. The provision of a parent/child area  1  facilitates close parent/child contact, respectively uncomplicated supervision of children even at play or whilst moving around the play area  81 . Swift intervention is ensured without necessitating a special supervising personnel. Child supervision may thereby be further improved by means of observation cameras  13  in the play area in connection with flat screen monitors in the backrests of parents&#39; seats. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the children&#39;s play container  7  covers a spatial area of two bathroom/toilet units. The dimensions of the module are prescribed in accordance with the spatial dimensions of the passenger cabin of the aircraft  2 , the height is approx. 210 cm, depth approx. 145 cm and the width may fluctuate between approx. 145 cm and 200 cm, depending on the number of center seats. In spite of the separation measures, such as noise insulated doors  3  and dividing walls  4 , access to the toilets  10  may be guaranteed for persons in the passenger cabin  2 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  shows the children&#39;s play container  7  in a perspective view with the side elements opened out on the floor. The individual side elements are upholstered with padding on the inner side and form a play mat when opened out. A collapsible side wall  71  is opened out on the front side, allowing access to the children&#39;s play container  7 . The collapsible side wall  71  is provided with padded folding elements  72  in order to thus form the largest possible continuous play area. In addition, supplementary elements  73 , which may be stored within the container  7 , may be attached by means of velcro fasteners on the outside of the elements  71 ,  72  and thus increase the play area. Collapsible elements  72  as well as supplementary elements  73  may be aligned as required and may vary depending on the cabin layout and the requirements for the play area. Passage way  8  outside the play area  81  is at the disposal of flight personnel, passengers/parents and children as a circulation area, likewise one flight attendant seat  12  continues to be accessible and may be used by a supervisory person, respectively a parent as well as by the flight personnel. In order to secure the boundary of the play area  81  from the passage way  8 , side elements  71  and collapsible elements  72  are provided with several vertically extending side pieces  78 . This further serves to guarantee that crawling/creeping babies remain inside the play area  81 . The structural body of the shown children&#39;s play container  7  consists of four side posts  74 , the mentioned collapsible side elements  71 , a back wall  75  and covering and floor elements  76 , whereby the outer dimensions are compatible with other modular aircraft fixtures, for example toilets. The side posts  74  are affixed to the other permanent structural parts by means of stable corner connections  77 . Inside the container  7 , in addition to the supplementary elements  73  already mentioned, there is various playing equipment, such as for example the children&#39;s slide or climbing elements shown in the Fig. Furthermore, relaxation facilities such as loungers or hammocks may be provided.  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  shows a typical plan view of the play container  7  with extended side elements  71 , collapsible elements  72  and a supplementary element  73 . Furthermore, it may be taken from the Fig. that three side elements  71  of the container  7  may be assembled and only the back wall is fixed, since this borders on the seating fixture  5 ,  6 . It may also be taken from the Fig. that the dimensions of the collapsible elements  72  are specified such that in their folded state they fit into the side elements  71 . If needed, further supplementary elements  73  of any shape may be aligned along the edge of the playing area  81  in order to increase its size.  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  shows a cross-section of collapsible side element  71  with collapsible elements  72 . The outer wall  79  consists of tough, wipe resistant material (e.g. GFK). The actual play area is constructed to provide a cushioning, e.g. with an elastic foam filling  710  and a treated textile surface  711 . The collapsible/folding elements  72  are all assembled in the same manner, except for the missing outer wall  79 . In order to guarantee the collapsing function (represented by the arrows in the drawing), the individual elements are fastened together with textile tapes  712 . Such tapes or velcro fasteners may also be provided to secure the collapsible elements  72  to the collapsible side wall  71 .  
         [0021]     As may be taken from  FIGS. 1-4 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a container is provided which can be disassembled or folded for take-off, landing or any ground time. During the flight or when otherwise required, the container may be assembled or unfolded to form a children&#39;s play area. Advantageously, walls of the container which may be reached or touched by the children during play, are coated or padded with an elastic material. Preferably, the container is constituted by a plurality of wall elements which are flexibly or detachably attached to each other to allow for the folding and to allow the forming of the play area when the container is unfolded.  
         [0022]     The container may comprise facilities for the children such as a changing table, playthings, toys or suitable stow areas for toys. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of a seating arrangement for aircraft of the present invention, parents, flight attendants and or other people interested in the children or instructed to take care of the children may be seated in proximity to the location of the container.  
         [0023]     The walls, bottom and top of the container may be formed of a light-weight material such as plastic. To provide for a sufficient structural strength, suitable reinforcements may be provided. The container may be attached to the aircraft or to fixtures of the aircraft. E.g., the container may be attached by using the seat belts of neighbouring seats. The container may be stowed on an empty seat for take off and landing and may attached to the seat by using the seat belts. For this, the form of the folded container may be adapted such that it may be stored on a seat or a seat row. Also, the unfolded, assembled container may be attached by using the seat belts of adjacent seats.  
         [0024]     Advantageously, a flexible container or children&#39;s play area may be provided, which advantageously may be folded for transportation and may be unfolded for providing a ‘playground’. During transportation, the outer dimensions are relatively small. Also, by using suitable materials of the container, it may be handled by one person only.  
         [0025]     By using a plurality of wall elements for the container, e.g. 11 as in one of the above embodiments, a very flexible container may be provided which has small stowing dimensions.  
       REFERENCE NUMERALS  
       [0000]    
       
           1  Parent/child area  
           2  Passenger cabin  
           3  Noise insulating door  
           4  Dividing wall  
           5  Parent/child seat  
           6  Child seat  
           7  Children&#39;s play container  
           71  Collapsible side wall  
           72  Collapsible element  
           73  Supplementary element  
           74  Side posts  
           75  Back wall  
           76  Covering element and floor element  
           77  Corner connection  
           78  Side piece  
           79  Outer wall  
           710  Elastic material  
           711  Textile surface, treated (or suchlike)  
           712  Textile tape  
           8  Passage way  
           81  Play area  
           9  Longitudinal aisle  
           10  Toilet  
           11  Stairs  
           12  Flight attendant seat  
           13  Observation camera