Abstract:
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for using aircraft lavatories as storage when the aircraft is on the ground and during taxi, take-off, and landing, but to also allow the lavatories to be open for use during other aircraft flight times. This is accomplished by providing a slidable unit that is contained within the interior space of the aircraft lavatory in a storage position and that is extended out of the aircraft lavatory space in a lavatory use position.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/692,394, filed Aug. 23, 2012, titled “Galley Space Saving Solutions,” the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to solutions for storing items in aircraft lavatories when the aircraft is on the ground. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    There has been an increased goal of identifying and capitalizing on unused space in aircraft. Airliners are most profitable when aircraft space is fully utilized. Thus, finding ways to save space and perhaps fit additional seats in the aircraft is of utmost importance to companies that design aircraft components. 
         [0004]    The present inventors have determined that one underutilized space is the aircraft lavatory when the aircraft is on the ground. Not many people use the lavatory during the boarding process, as they typically use the restrooms at the gate prior to boarding. Thus, although the lavatories are generally open for use at this time, they are underused. Moreover, when the aircraft pushes back, all passengers are required to remain seated, and the lavatories are completely closed for use. However, once the aircraft reaches cruising altitude, the lavatories need to be available, and are often at capacity during certain times of the flight (such as after meal service times). The present inventors have nonetheless created new ways to use the aircraft lavatories for storage. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Embodiments of the invention described herein thus provide systems and methods for using aircraft lavatories as storage when the aircraft is on the ground and during taxi, take-off, and landing, but to also allow the lavatories to be open for use during other aircraft flight times. This is accomplished by providing a slidable unit that is contained within the interior space of the aircraft lavatory in a storage position and that is extended out of the aircraft lavatory space in a lavatory use position. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  shows a side perspective view of a slidable unit in a storage position. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  shows a side perspective view of a slidable unit in a lavatory use position. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  shows a cross sectional view of a lavatory with a slidable unit in the lavatory use position. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  shows a cross sectional view of a lavatory with a slidable unit in the storage position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    Embodiments of the present invention provide an aircraft lavatory storage system  10  that allows the lavatory to be used for storage during times when the lavatory is not in use. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the lavatory  12  has an access door  14  that is used for entering and exiting the lavatory. It also has a side wall  16 , which is a wall that may either be near the entryway into the aircraft, a wall by which passengers and crew may pass, or otherwise a wall that creates a hallway. In any event, there is enough space alongside wall  16  for a person to walk through and by the lavatory  12 .  FIGS. 1 and 2  show a slidable unit  18  that is designed to slide in and out of sidewall  16 .  FIG. 1  shows the slidable unit in a closed position, or storage position, such that it extends into the interior space  20  of the lavatory  12  (as shown in the cross sectional view of  FIG. 4 ).  FIG. 2  shows the slidable unit  18  in an extended position, or a “lavatory use position,” such that it does not extend into the interior space  20  of the lavatory  12  and the lavatory can be used (as shown in the cross sectional view of  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0011]    Slidable unit  18  may be formed of or contain one or more storage units  22 . The figures show a unit  18  with four storage units  22  in place, but it should be understood that more or fewer storage units  22  may be provided. In one embodiment, the storage units  22  are standardized galley container units that are used for storing items in aircraft galleys and elsewhere on board the aircraft. The units  22  may be installed into a scaffold-like shaped “t” that has storage areas for each unit and such that each storage unit  22  is individually slidable with respect to the unit  18  and/or is removable from the slidable unit  18 . Alternatively, the slidable unit  18  itself may be formed from the container units, such that they pull out together, as shown in  FIG. 2 . Alternatively, the slidable unit  18  may provide a drawer-like base that pulls out collectively, but that allows each storage unit  22  to be accessed individually. The storage units  22  may rotate out and away from the unit  18 ; they may open from a hinge at the base such that they tilt open/out from the unit  18 ; they may slide out of the unit from individual housings; they may be drawers that are pulled out from the unit  18  further. The storage units  22  may have separate lids or they may be open boxes. The storage units  22  provide the storage function, or the slidable unit  18  may be one large unit that functions like a large drawer (and may optionally have internal dividers for organization purposes.) A number of options are available and considered within the scope of this invention. 
         [0012]    The front of the slidable unit  18  is made up of one or more storage units  22 . The rear wall of the slidable unit  18  may actually form the mirror  24  that is positioned over the lavatory sink  26 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . When the slidable unit  18  is in the extended/lavatory use position as shown in  FIG. 2 , a passenger inside the lavatory generally has the same amount of space as usual, and may not even notice a difference from inside the lavatory. The mirror  24 /back of the slidable unit  18  may be flush with the lavatory inner wall  28  or it may protrude slightly. The dotted lines in  FIG. 3  are intended to illustrate this general variation. There may even be a trim piece around the mirror  24 /back of the slidable unit  18  so that the inside of the lavatory has a polished appearance when the slidable unit is extended in the lavatory use position. 
         [0013]    In this position, the airline attendants have easy and full access to the storage unit(s)  22  during flight. (However, the storage units  22  may also be accessed when the slidable unit is in the storage position as well, just not from the side, but they may be pulled out as desired.) The storage units  22  may store blankets, extra galley supplies, or any other number of items that may need to be stored and accessed. In the lavatory use positioned, the unit  18  protrudes outwardly. The space it takes up in the extended position is generally an aircraft entrance/exit area, so the blockage is not objectionable during flight when the lavatory  12  is generally in use, because no one needs to enter or exit the aircraft during flight. (That is, unless aircraft evacuation circumstances exist, and in that case, the lavatories would not be in use and the slidable unit  18  would be locked in the storage position so that the entrance/exit passageway is cleared.) 
         [0014]    Although not shown, it is possible to design the slidable unit  18  so that once it is extended out, it may rotate on a hinge or other structure that allows side movement of the unit  18  as well. In an alternate embodiment, the unit may be completely removed from the side wall  16  and stored elsewhere if need be, and a wall cover (e.g., with a back mirror) may be positioned in its place. 
         [0015]    Once the entrance/exit area needs to be used such as for boarding or the de-planeing process, the slidable unit  18  can be retracted back into the lavatory, in the storage position. A cross-sectional view of the lavatory with the slidable unit  18  in the storage position is shown in  FIG. 4 . As shown, the unit  18  takes up a large amount of space in the lavatory, such that the lavatory is inoperable. In this position, the lavatory door  14  can be locked externally to indicate to passengers that this lavatory is not in use. There may be an external lock  36  at the top of the door  14  or the regular door lock  38  may be overridden to lock from the outside rather than from the inside. This can cause an “occupied” light to turn on or sign to show, so that no passengers attempt to enter the lavatory. 
         [0016]      FIG. 4  also illustrates that there may also be unused space  30  between the toilet  32  and the sink cabinet  34 . If the slidable unit  18  is in the storage position and the lavatory is out of service anyway, this space  30  may be used to store an extra trolley, a small foldable wheelchair, other storage units, or any other items that may need to be temporarily stored when the aircraft is not in flight. 
         [0017]    For safety and practical reasons, the slidable unit  18  must reliably lockable in whichever position it is in. Typical aircraft regulations require structures that could become projectiles (coffee maker baskets, trash compactor doors, etc.) to have dual/redundant locks, and it is expected that such regulations would apply to the slidable unit  18 . Accordingly, there should generally be two different types of locks provided that maintain the slidable unit  18  in the storage position, as well as two different types of locks provided that maintain the slidable unit  18  in the lavatory use position. These locks may be quarter turn locks, magnetic locks, push push locks, spring locks, key locks, or any other appropriate lock combination that keeps the slidable unit  18  in place. 
         [0018]    Changes and modifications, additions and deletions may be made to the structures and methods recited above and shown in the drawings without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention and the following claims.