Abstract:
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.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS:  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/512,983 filed 2003 Nov. 23 by the present inventor. 
     
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH  
       [0002]     Not Applicable  
       SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM  
       [0003]     Not Applicable  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION—FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     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  
       [0005]     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.  
         [0006]     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.  
         [0007]     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.  
         [0008]     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.  
         [0009]     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.  
         [0010]     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.  
         [0011]     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  
       [0012]     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.  
         [0013]     It is one of the objects of the present invention to increase the security and pilot&#39;s comfort in the air transport without sacrificing needed space in the aircraft.  
         [0014]     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.  
         [0015]     It is another object of this invention to provide the personnel in control of a transportation means&#39;s command equipment with a secure and comfortable door/restroom.  
         [0016]     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  
       [0017]     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.  
         [0018]     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.  
         [0019]     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&#39;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&#39;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. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]     With the above and other related objects in view, the invention, consisting of the details of construction and combination of parts, will be more fully understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:  
         [0021]      FIG. 1F  illustrates a front perspective view of the preferred embodiment installed in an aircraft, which does not show command equipment, military, passenger, or cargo facilities; the entry wall paneling of cabin and doorframe are shown in thin dash-dot-dot-dash lines to indicate their existence in the aircraft.  
         [0022]      FIG. 1R  illustrates a rear perspective view of the preferred embodiment installed in an aircraft. The case body is set in an open position; the wall, doorframe and entry paneling of the cabin are shown in solid lines to indicate that their are part of the invention; cabin&#39;s facilities and equipment are not shown.  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  shows a front elevation view of the preferred embodiment&#39;s case, in which illustrated multiple sectional views coming from  FIG. 1 . Thin dash-dot-dot-dash lines represent the objects that are not parts of the invention; dash-dot-dash lines represent the centerlines.  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  illustrates a front perspective view of the preferred embodiment&#39;s case.  
         [0025]      FIG. 4  illustrates a front elevation view of the preferred embodiment&#39;s case with various broken out section views, the dash-dot-dot-dash lines shown objects in an alternative position.  
         [0026]      FIG. 5  shows a rear perspective view of an additional embodiment; the dash-dot-dot-dash lines represented parts that exist in the aircraft; the dashed lines represent hidden parts.  
         [0027]      FIG. 6  represents a cutting section taken from the right elevation of the preferred embodiment, in which is not showing all the parts of the case body; two different types of lines have been applied to indicate two different positions for a person, solid for a seated position and broken for a standing position. A heavy line is used to indicate the trajectory of a head, and dashed lines are used to indicate the air path.  
         [0028]      FIG. 7  illustrates a cutting section of an alternative embodiment; also have the proposed to be compared with  FIG. 6  indicate different locations and sizes of some parts.  
         [0029]      FIG. 8  illustrates a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment; the dash-dot-dash line represents objects that are not parts of the invention.  
         [0030]      FIG. 9  shows multiple cutting sections, view taken from a front elevation of an alternative embodiment; the communication line is shown in dashed lines. 
     
    
     DRAWINGS—REFERENCE NUMERALS  
       [0000]    
       
           10  preferred embodiment  
           11  privacy door  
           12  bulletproof case  
           13  aircraft  
           14  restroom space  
           15  cockpit entry panel walls  
           16  doorframe  
           17  wall to isolate cockpit  
           18  stat. lock member&#39;s case  
           19  main drain line  
           20  flexible water line  
           21  flexible electrical line  
           22  flexible electronic line  
           23  hinges  
           24  toilet assembly  
           25  toilet seat  
           26  toilet cover  27  hinged sink recipient  
           28  recipient groove  
           29  sink handle  
           30  service window  
           31  manual locking device  
           32  window stat. lock pin  
           33  hinged bracket  
           34  tray with meals  
           35  flight attendant  
           36  supply shelf  37  supply articles  
           38  toilet paper holder  
           39  air return conduit  
           40  air duct  
           41  air blower  
           42  panoramic one-way lenses  
           43  water control box  
           44  flush mechanism  
           45  flush line  
           46  worm-gear input shaft  
           47  pivoting toilet coupling  
           48  pivoting drain line coupling  
           49  stage  
           50  slot on floor  
           51  rolling mechanism  
           52  cabin  
           53  cockpit  
           54  handy shower  
           55  case door protuberance  
           56  worm-gear drive mechanism  
           57  worm pinion driver roll  
           58  hollow gear  
           59  garbage can cover  
           60  disposable plastic liner  
           61  trashcan  
           62  case door handle  
           63  lock member&#39;s case  
           64  cockpit intercom handset  
           65  air exhaust duct  
           66  air ambient filter  
           67  retractable cover  
           68  cabin handset intercom  
           69  attendant seat  
           70  toilet front section  
           71  pilot (crewmember)  
           72  pilot&#39;s feet  
           73  pilot&#39;s head  
           74  trajectory  75  air path  
           76  mirror  
           77  lamp fixture  
           78  faucet  
           79  sink drain pipe  
           80  “Y” drain coupling  
           81  air purifier unit  
           82  center lines  
           83  electronic camera  
           84  electronic image display  
           85  rigid toilet coupling  
           86  multiple-conduit-holder  
           87  rigid toilet base  
           88  air conditioner  
           89  movable hinge leaf (case)  
           90  leaf hinge (doorframe)  
           91  sink unit  
           92  stationary sink recipient  
           93  soap dish  
           94  towel bar  
           112  case, concave section  
           113  lower cavity section  
           116  flat edge case  
           152  cabin floor  
           212  case, convex section  
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0000]      FIGS. 1F, 1R ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 , and  6  Preferred embodiment.  
         [0118]     A preferred embodiment of the Cockpit Security Door/Restroom of the present invention, illustrated in  FIG. 1F  (perspective view), is generally referred to as number  10 . The Cockpit Security Door/Restroom  10 , comprising a bulletproof wall  17 , which I presently prefer to illustrate in the  FIGS. 1F and 6 , as existing in an aircraft  13 ; this wall  17  includes a doorframe  16 , various stationary leaf hinges  90  ( FIGS. 1F and 3 ), also fixed perpendicular and parallel to said doorframe  16 , two stationary lock members  18 , set on said doorframe  16 , opposite from the leaf hinges&#39; edge.  
         [0119]     A rectangular bulletproof case  12 , having a flat edge case  116  substantially sized to cover the contour of the doorframe  16 , a stage  49  fixed to the low concave section of the case  12 , creating a top concave section  112  and a lower cavity section  113 , both sections facing to a cockpit  53 , and a protruding cavity  55  that is presently illustrated on the left side of the case  12 . The material utilized in the construction of the case  12  is opaque and strong enough to support aircraft equipment installed on its case convex section  212 , this equipment can be a seat  69  to accommodate a flight attendant as illustrates the  FIG. 5  (which illustrates an additional embodiment). Various movable leaf hinges  89  are fixed vertically on the same case wall as the protruding cavity  55 . The movable leaf hinges  89  couple, by means of pin hinges, to the stationary hinges  90 .  
         [0120]     A rolling mechanism  51  is set under the stage  49 , inside of the lower cavity section  113  ( FIGS. 2 and 5 ), opposite from the protruding cavity  55 , enabling it to help share part of the load of the case assembly with the hinges  23 ; the rolling mechanism moves over the cabin floor  152  (Fig;  2 ). A handle  62  is vertically fixed on the flat edge  116 , inside the concave section  112  opposite the hinge&#39;s edge; two lock member&#39;s case  63  are rigidly mounted on said flat edge  116  of the door, close to the handle  62 ; two stationary lock members  18  are mounted on the doorframe; both stationary lock members and door-mounted lock mechanisms are designed to fit and lock together when said case&#39;s flat edge surface  116  is in full contact with the doorframe&#39;s contour  16  ( FIG. 1F ).  
         [0121]     A sink unit  91  fixed on the concave section&#39;s wall has a folding hinged sink recipient  27  mounted on a stationary hinged recipient  92  and includes a drain pipe  79  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ). The folding hinged recipient  27  is set in a vertical position, covering a faucet  78  installed on the same concave section&#39;s wall, which is presently illustrated on the right side; the folding recipient  27  includes a handle  29  and a groove  28  to hold the folding recipient  27  over a hinged bracket  33 .  
         [0122]     A toilet  24  with its seat  25  and cover  26  are secured to a hollow gear  58  which performs as a base for the toilet  24 , the base is composed of a worm-gear-drive mechanism  56  attached to the center of the stage  49 , a roller  57  connected to a input shaft  46  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ), a pivoting coupling  47  to join the toilet drain section to a main drain line  19 , the pivoting coupling  47  vertically mounted, centered within the drive mechanism  56 .  
         [0123]     A flexible flush toilet line  45  joins a flush mechanism  44  to the toilet bowl section.  
         [0124]     A security service window  30 , presently illustrated on the left concave case&#39;s wall, is made of an opaque bulletproof material having a manual locking device  31 , which faces the concave section  112  and locks on a stationary lock pin  32 ; a means of visual observation of the cabin  52 , composed of various panoramic one-way lenses  42 , are installed in the walls close to window  30 .  
         [0125]     The main drain line  19  pass centered in a slot  50 , runs in the same direction as a pin hinges&#39; center lines  82 , is housed under the protruding cavity  55  and joined by means of a “Y” coupling  80  to the sink drain pipe  79  and pivoting coupling  47 ; the drain line includes a pivoting coupling  48  intersecting it in the floor&#39;s slot ( FIG. 2 ).  
         [0126]     A multiple-conduit-holder member  86  securing a flexible water line  20 , a flexible electric line  21 , and a flexible electronic line  22  is fixed inside of the slot  50 , close to the pivoting coupling  48 , the holder member  86  having been illustrated in  FIG. 9 , provides the same function for all of the embodiments within this application. The flexible water line  20  ( FIG. 2 ) has been connected to a water distribution and control box  43  set in the concave section  112 ; the box is accessible by hand and includes the toilet flush mechanism  44  and a handy-hose shower  54 . The flexible electronic line  22  feeds an intercom unit composed of a first handset  64  set inside the concave section  112  and a second handset  68  set outside of the case  12 , ( FIGS. 3 and 5 ) The electronic line will also feed any electronic equipment set within the concave section  112 . The flexible electric line  21  further feeds electric-powered equipment set within the concave section  112 .  
         [0127]     A restroom performance space  14  ( FIGS. 1F and 1R ) is created between two vertical panel walls  15  that are presently illustrated in  FIG. 1F , as existing in the aircraft, mounted to each side of the doorframe  16  inside of cockpit  53  and are illustrated in dash-dot-dot-dash lines. A door  11  is set by the edges of the panel walls  15 , opposite from the doorframe  16  and the case concave section  112 . Also, a mirror  76  can be installed on the panel walls  15 .  
         [0128]     The drawing in  FIG. 2  illustrates a switched lamp  77  installed in the concave section  112 , a purifier of ambient air  81  that includes an air return conduit  39  mounted behind the toilet bowl  24  in line with its top edge, a duct  40  to bring the air suctioned by a blower  41  to an air exhaust duct  65 , which is fully covered by an air filter  66  ( FIG. 4 ).  
         [0129]     The concave section also include a retractable cover  67  set horizontally on the upper front section, supplies, articles, and accessories such as: a trashcan  61  having a cover  59  and a disposable plastic liner  60 , a toilet paper holder  38 , a soap dish  93 , a towel bar  94 , and a supply shelf  36  holding supplies articles  37 .  
       Operation—Figs, IF,  1 R,  2 ,  3 ,  4  and  6 .  
       [0130]     I prefer to disclose the operation of the preferred embodiment  10  starting from an open position of the case  12  as illustrated in  FIG. 1R . The first step is to raise the case&#39;s retractable cover  67  ( FIG. 4 ) and close the case  12  by the handle  62  ( FIG. 3 ), the case  12  will move on the rolling mechanism  51  until its flat edge  116  rests against the doorframe  16 , (Fig,  1 F). Then, the crewmember should engage the lock member&#39;s case  63  to secure the case  12  against the doorframe  16 , blocking the access from cabin  52  to cockpit  53 .  
         [0131]     To place the toilet  24  in a position for utilization, the first step is to rotate the roll  57  with the right foot  72  until the hollow gear  58  rotates and the front section  70  of the toilet  24  is positioned outside of the doorframe  16 , ( FIG. 8  which shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention), said roll  57  is connected to the worm-pinion shaft  46  of the worm-gear drive mechanism  56  installed over the stage  49 . To utilize the toilet  24 , a privacy door  11  should be closed and the ambient air purifier  81 , together with the lamp  77  turned on. Then, the cockpit security door/restroom  10  is ready to provide comfort in the restroom performance space  14  to a cockpit crewmember.  
         [0132]     The toilet  24  is utilized in the same mode as a regular aircraft toilet; the cover  26  will be raised to permit a crewmember to sit on the toilet seat  25  or the toilet seat  25  can be raised for a male crewmember to utilize the toilet  24  for urination; To flush the toilet  24 , use the flush mechanism  44 , which connects to the flexible flush line  45  ( FIG. 2 ).  
         [0133]     To utilize the sink  91 , the crewmember should position the hinged bracket  33  perpendicularly, then pull the sink&#39;s folding recipient  27  by the handle  29  to set the groove  28  on the bracket  33  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ); the faucet  78  can be opened to provide water for the personal hygiene of each crewmember; this function can be completed by the addition of the soap dish  93  and the towel bar  94 .  
         [0134]     The water that feeds the faucet  78  comes from the water control box  43  connected to the flexible water line  20 ; the water utilized in the sink  91  will drain through the drain pipe  79 , which is joined to the “Y” coupling  80  that also connects the pivoting toilet drain coupling  47  and the main drain line  19 . The main drain line  19  will pivot with the case  12  because it is fitted inside the pivoting coupling  48  which, in turn, is fitted in the floor slot  50 , the center of the pivoting coupling  48  is in line  82  with the hinge pin that connects the movable  89  and stationery  90  hinge leafs. All the drainpipes are protected from damage by the protruding cavity  55  and the lower cavity section  113  of the case section.  
         [0135]     To dispose of garbage, the crewmember uses the trashcan  61 , which has the disposable plastic liner  60  and the cover  59 , which should be kept closed when not disposing garbage.  
         [0136]     To keep a stock of the most common articles  37  utilized for servicing a restroom; the supply shelf  36  is utilized to hold all necessary articles for replacement during a flight.  
         [0137]     The secure service window  30  can be opened by the crewmembers to receive, from a flight attendant  35 , a tray  34  containing food, drink, or other of services. To open the service window  30 , the crewmember should first look through the one-way lenses  42  to the cabin  52 , unlock the manual locking device  31 , and open the window  30 , placing it over the foldable bracket  33 ; also, the window can rest over the sink recipient  27  to permit crewmember to set the tray  34  over the sink ( FIG. 4 ).  
         [0138]     Also, the crewmember can utilize intercom  64  to communicate with the cabin and cabin personnel can communicate with the restroom area, utilizing intercom  68  ( FIG. 5  which shown an additional embodiment).  
         [0139]      FIG. 6  illustrates a crewmember  71 , by solid lines, seated on the toilet seat  25 . Note that the position of the toilet&#39;s front section  70  forces the crewmember  71  seated on the toilet to position the feet  72  outside of the door frame  16 , however, still inside of the restroom performance space  14 . Thus, when the crewmember stands up (illustrated in dash-dot-dash lines), the head trajectory  74  (illustrated In a heavy line) remains outside the rigid parts, preventing the crewmember&#39;s head  73  from contacting any of said parts. Also illustrated is the air path  75  in dashed lines when air is suctioned by the blower  41  through the filter  66  ( FIG. 4 ), duct  40 , and distributed by the air exhaust duct  65  to recirculate to the ambient air.  
         [0000]     Additional Embodiment  
         [0140]      FIG. 5  shows an additional embodiment of the present invention  10  in which an electronic camera  83  and a electronic image display  84  have been added as additional means of observing the case convex section  212  and the surrounding area from the restroom performance space  14 . The camera  83  and image display  84  can 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 service  30  or case  12 .  
         [0141]      FIG. 7  illustrates an alternative embodiment  10  of the present invention in which a shorter version of the case  12  has been used, with some of the parts, such as the toilet paper holder  38  and the supply shelf  36  (compare with  FIG. 6 ), which are inside the case  12  in the preferred embodiment, being instead mounted in the paneling walls  15 . The door  11  provides privacy to the crewmember utilizing the restroom facilities. The crewmember&#39;s head is also prevented from contacting rigid parts, in the same mode as in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0142]      FIG. 8  shows another alternative embodiment  10  of the present invention in which a single lock member  18  has being provided to interrupt the access to cockpit, a lamp  77  is being switch from the case  12  to set in the restroom performance space  14 , and an air conditioning exhaust  88  can substituting the air ambient cleaner device illustrated in the preferred embodiment, or this air exhaust can run together with the air cleaner device.  
         [0143]      FIG. 9  illustrates another alternative embodiment  10  of the present invention in which the case  12  is not provided with a one-way lens slot; the camera  83  and image display  84  are utilized for observation of the cabin from the concave section  112 ; a rigid toilet assembly  24  joins to a toilet drain rigid coupling  85 , which is joined to the main drain line  19 ; the toilet assembly  24  is fixed to a rigid base  87  over the stage  49 , the case  12  having been designed as a shorter version. The water  20 , electricity  21 , and electronic  22  flexible lines to service the case  12  pass trough the same slot as illustrated in the preferred embodiment and are secured to the holder member  86  which provides the same function to all embodiments in this patent application. This alternative embodiment  10  is an economic version of the present invention, which I believe can be used successfully in military, cargo, or other air transport means.