Patent Publication Number: US-11383796-B2

Title: Modular ship cabins with improved interior configurations

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Technological Field 
     The present application relates to ship cabins, and more particularly to efficient interior configurations for modular cabin systems. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Cruise ships are often described as floating cities. These ships are designed to provide every convenience and necessity to hundreds and in many cases thousands of passengers during a sailing that can range from 2 days to as many as 4 weeks. Cruise ships typically include sleeping accommodations for all passengers and crew, in some cases in the form of prefabricated modular staterooms or cabins which must be designed so as to fit within the predetermined dimensions of a portion of a deck of the ship. It is desirable to provide accommodations for crew members that efficiently use the minimal space available within a modular cabin configuration while providing a comfortable living space for extended time periods. 
     SUMMARY 
     The systems, methods, and devices of this disclosure each have several innovative aspects, no single one of which is solely responsible for its desirable attributes disclosed herein. Without limiting the scope of this disclosure, its more prominent features will now be discussed briefly. After considering this discussion, and particularly after reading the section entitled “Detailed Description” one will understand how the features of this disclosure provide advantages over other personalized recommendation solutions. 
     In a first aspect, a modular crew cabin system comprises a first space within a deck of a ship defined by a first length, a first width, and a first height; a second space within the deck defined by the first length, the first width, and the first height; and a plurality of modular crew cabins interchangeably installable in either the first space or the second space. Each modular crew cabin comprises four walls forming sides of the modular crew cabin; a floor coupled to a portion of at least one of the four walls to form a bottom of the modular crew cabin; a lower bunk adjacent to a first wall of the four walls, the lower bunk having a major axis parallel to the first wall; an upper bunk adjacent to a second wall of the four walls, the upper bunk being partially disposed above the lower bunk and having a major axis perpendicular to the major axis of the lower bunk such that the lower bunk and the upper bunk are in an L-shaped configuration; and a ceiling coupled to a portion of at least one of the four walls to form a top of the modular crew cabin. The ceiling comprises a pop-up portion disposed above at least a portion of the second bunk at a first ceiling height relative to the floor; and a lower portion adjacent to the pop-up portion and covering a remainder of the crew cabin at a second ceiling height less than the first ceiling height relative to the floor. 
     In some embodiments, the first ceiling height is between 85 millimeters and 115 millimeters greater than the second ceiling height. In some embodiments, the second ceiling height is about 2.1 meters. In some embodiments, the first ceiling height is between about 2.185 meters and about 2.215 meters. In some embodiments, each modular crew cabin further comprises a storage volume disposed below a portion of the upper bunk and adjacent to a portion of the lower bunk. In some embodiments, the storage volume has an interior volume of at least 1 cubic meter. In some embodiments, each modular crew cabin further comprises a staircase for accessing the upper bunk, the staircase disposed adjacent to a third wall of the four walls opposite the first wall. In some embodiments, each modular crew cabin further comprises at least one storage volume disposed within the staircase. In some embodiments, each modular crew cabin further comprises connections for bathroom facilities and a desk, the first length is less than or equal to 4 meters, the first width is less than or equal to 2.1 meters, the first height is less than or equal to 2.3 meters, and each modular crew cabin includes at least partially enclosed storage volumes having a combined volume of greater than 1 cubic meter. In some embodiments, at least a portion of each of the lower bunk and the upper bunk has an interior height of greater than 1 meter. In some embodiments, the modular crew cabin system further comprises one or more utility conduits disposed within a space having a lower boundary defined by the lower portion of the ceiling and an upper boundary defined by the first ceiling height relative to the floor. 
     In a second aspect, a crew cabin module installable within a deck of a ship comprises four walls forming sides of the crew cabin module; a floor coupled to a portion of at least one of the four walls to form a bottom of the crew cabin module; a lower bunk adjacent to a first wall of the four walls, the lower bunk having a major axis parallel to the first wall; an upper bunk adjacent to a second wall of the four walls, the upper bunk being partially disposed above the lower bunk and having a major axis perpendicular to the major axis of the lower bunk such that the lower bunk and the upper bunk are in an L-shaped configuration; and a ceiling coupled to a portion of at least one of the four walls to form a top of the crew cabin module. The ceiling comprises a pop-up portion disposed above at least a portion of the second bunk at a pop-up ceiling height of greater than about 2.1 meters relative to the floor; and a lower portion adjacent to the pop-up portion and covering a remainder of the crew cabin at a lower ceiling height of about 2.1 meters relative to the floor. 
     In some embodiments, the pop-up ceiling height is at least about 2.185 meters. In some embodiments, the pop-up ceiling height is between about 2.185 meters and about 2.215 meters. In some embodiments, the crew cabin module further comprises a storage volume disposed below a portion of the upper bunk and adjacent to a portion of the lower bunk. In some embodiments, the storage volume comprises a clothing rack slidable between a first position within the storage volume and a second position substantially outside of the storage volume. In some embodiments, the crew cabin module further comprises a staircase for accessing the upper bunk, the staircase disposed adjacent to a third wall of the four walls opposite the first wall. In some embodiments, the crew cabin module further comprises at least one storage volume disposed within the staircase. In some embodiments, at least a portion of each of the lower bunk and the upper bunk has an interior height of greater than 1 meter. In some embodiments, the crew cabin module further comprises a bathroom and a desk; the crew cabin module fits within a space having a length less than or equal to 4 meters, a width less than or equal to 2.1 meters, and a height less than or equal to 2.3 meters; and the crew cabin module includes at least partially enclosed storage volumes having a combined volume of greater than 1 cubic meter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosed aspects will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings and appendices, provided to illustrate and not to limit the disclosed aspects, wherein like designations denote like elements. 
         FIG. 1A  is an interior cross-sectional side view schematically illustrating an example modular crew cabin system in accordance with the present technology. 
         FIG. 1B  is a top view schematically illustrating the example modular crew cabin system of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view schematically illustrating an L-shaped bunk configuration in accordance with the present technology. 
         FIG. 3  is an upper left side perspective cutaway view of an example crew cabin module in accordance with the present technology. 
         FIG. 4  is an upper right side perspective cutaway view of the example crew cabin module of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is an interior perspective view taken from a lower bunk of the example crew cabin module of  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is an interior perspective view of the lower bunk of the example crew cabin module of  FIGS. 3-5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the example crew cabin module of  FIGS. 3-6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a partial top plan view illustrating interior storage volumes of the example crew cabin module of  FIGS. 3-7 . 
         FIGS. 9-11  are cross-sectional elevation views of the interior storage volumes illustrated in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 12  is a top plan view of the example crew cabin module of  FIGS. 3-11  illustrating example utility conduit locations. 
         FIGS. 13-15  are cross-sectional elevation views of the example crew cabin module of  FIGS. 3-12 . 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of upper portions of the example crew cabin module of  FIGS. 3-15 . 
         FIG. 17  is a top plan view of the upper portions of  FIG. 16 . 
         FIGS. 18 and 19  are cross-sectional elevation views of the upper portions of  FIGS. 16 and 17 . 
         FIG. 20  is a side view schematically illustrating an implementation of an extended ceiling section in accordance with the present technology. 
         FIG. 21  is an upper left perspective cutaway view of an example crew cabin module in accordance with the present technology. 
         FIGS. 22 and 23  are cutaway perspective views of the example crew cabin module of  FIGS. 3-20 . 
         FIGS. 24 and 25  are top plan views illustrating interior and exterior dimensions of example crew cabin modules in accordance with the present technology. 
         FIGS. 26A and 26B  are top plan views illustrating two example arrangements of a plurality of first crew cabin modules and a plurality of second, different crew cabin modules on a deck of a ship in accordance with the present technology. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Cruise ships include private or shared sleeping accommodations in the form of staterooms and/or cabins for all passengers and crew. Some vessels may be equipped to carry hundreds or thousands of passengers at a time. The number of crew members may be as high as 30%, 40%, or 50% of the number of passengers, or more. Thus, in addition to a large number of staterooms for passengers, cruise ships typically include numerous crew cabins to provide sleeping accommodations for hundreds or thousands of crew members. Crew cabins are usually multiple-occupancy cabins which may be located in interior areas and/or on lower decks of a ship, and are generally smaller and less luxurious relative to passenger staterooms. However, it is still desirable to provide crew members with comfortable sleeping accommodations in order to promote the health, happiness, and morale of the crew members. 
     Various cabins, including crew cabins and some staterooms, can be prefabricated, modular cabins that can be manufactured on land as self-contained cabin modules and subsequently installed within a deck of a cruise ship during initial construction, renovation, or retrofit. Certain standard sizes are commonly utilized within the industry for manufacturing efficiency. For example, crew cabin modules are typically built to fit within maximum dimensions of 4 meters in length×2.07 meters in width×2.2 meters in height. In another example, crew cabin modules can be constrained by a maximum internal volume (such as an industry-standard maximum volume of 17.388 cubic meters), rather than being constrained by maximum length, width, and height dimensions. Such modules can then be installed within spaces sized and shaped to accommodate this standard module size. This typically leaves about 100-150 millimeters of free space above each cabin module (along a height dimension) for the routing of utility conduits, such as electrical wiring, air ducts, water pipes, and the like. 
     Given the constraints associated with these industry-standard dimensions and/or volumes for a crew cabin, it is challenging to provide comfortable accommodations for two crew members. For example, a crew cabin typically must include individual bunks for each crew member, bathroom facilities (for example, a head, a sink, and/or a shower) or a portion of a shared bathroom, and sufficient storage space for each crew member&#39;s belongings (e.g., clothing, shoes, luggage, recreational items, etc.). Although crew members may spend much of their private time in common areas provided for crew recreation or sleeping, crew members may also wish to spend some private or semi-private time in their cabins. Thus, it may also be desirable or required to provide further amenities such as a desk, a chair or other sitting area, storage for personal food or beverage items, televisions, etc. Providing all of these features can be difficult within the confines of the industry-standard crew cabin volume. Existing crew cabins address these space constraints by providing very little storage space and/or by providing small stacked bunks whose interior vertical dimensions are insufficient for activities other than sleeping. 
     Accordingly, embodiments of the present technology provide novel crew cabin configurations that optimize efficient use of the space within an industry-standard crew cabin volume. For example, it has conventionally been impossible to have both upper and lower bunks in a two-person crew cabin configured such that both crew members can maintain an upright sitting position in their respective bunks, while still conforming to the industry-standard 2.1 meter height limit. In some embodiments, the crew cabins disclosed herein can include two bunks in an L-shaped configuration that provides enough vertical clearance in each bunk for a person up to 6 feet tall to comfortably sit up in the bunk. Embodiments of the present technology thus allow both crew members to sit upright in their bunks during commonly-desired recreation activities, such as watching television, using mobile devices, and reading, activities that could previously only be performed while lying down in the bunk. The L-shaped configuration allows at least a portion of a lower bunk to not be located beneath an upper bunk. A pop-up section of the ceiling located above the upper bunk (e.g., a section having a height as little as 85-115 millimeters higher than the remainder of the ceiling) has been found to advantageously accommodate a person in an upright sitting position in the bunk, while still leaving enough room for the routing of the necessary utility conduits above the remainder of the ceiling. Moreover, the improved cabin configurations disclosed herein can provide each of the amenities described above while also providing a relatively large volume of enclosed or semi-enclosed storage space. For example, some embodiments include over one cubic meter of storage space that is at least partially enclosed such that items stored therein do not clutter the remaining interior space of the cabin. 
     Although embodiments of the modular cabins and modular cabin systems described herein are described in the context of crew cabins for cruise ships, it will be understood that the present technology is not limited to this class of accommodations, this type of service provider, or the particular cruise context. Embodiments of the present technology can be implemented, as non-limiting examples, in cargo, merchant marine, and military vessels. As will be described in detail below, features of the present technology can be employed in many other contexts, such as but not limited to entertainment, hotel, and other hospitality services. The present technology can be implemented in any system where it is desirable to provide sleeping accommodations that make efficient use of a limited amount of available space. 
     Referring now to the drawings,  FIGS. 1A and 1B  schematically illustrate a portion of an interior of a ship configured with an example modular crew cabin system  10  according to the present technology.  FIG. 1A  is an interior side view showing portions of two decks  15  of the ship.  FIG. 1B  is a top plan view showing a single deck  15  of  FIG. 1A . One or more decks  15  may be spaced vertically within a ship, such as a cruise ship or the like. Each deck  15  supports one or more rows  20  of spaces  30  in which interchangeable modules  50 , such as crew cabin modules or other modules, may be installed. A structural space  25  between each deck  15  and the spaces  30  of the deck  15  below may be provided, such as to accommodate deck support structures and/or utility conduits such as wires, pipes, or the like. Within an individual deck  15 , as shown in  FIG. 1B , each row  20  of spaces  30  may be located adjacent to a passageway  40  to permit crew or passengers to access cabin modules installed within the spaces  30 , and may be bounded by a bulkhead  45 . Other configurations are possible. 
     Each space  30  is generally defined by a length l, a width w, and a height h. A ship may include a plurality of spaces  30  of a particular length l, width w, and height h, such that multiple interchangeable cabin modules  50 , such as crew cabin modules, can be installed within the spaces  30 . An upper portion of each space  30  may be reserved as a utility space  35  to allow space for utilities to be routed to the cabin module  50  installed therein, leaving a smaller height h′ which may be occupied by the cabin module  50 . The width w of spaces  30  may be defined at least in part by physical structures located at the boundaries between adjacent spaces  30 , or may not correspond to any physical boundaries. 
     In some implementations of the present technology, one or more industry standards and/or cost considerations may dictate one or more dimensions of the spaces  30 . For example, in some embodiments the spaces  30  may constrain each cabin module  50  to a maximum width w of 2.2 meters and a maximum length l of 4 meters, and a maximum cabin module height h′ of 2.1 meters. The spaces  30  may have a larger full height h of, for example, 2.3 meters or more, with a predetermined space (e.g., a difference D between h and h′) reserved for routing of utility conduits. In some implementations, one or more industry standards and/or cost considerations may dictate a maximum total volume for a space  30 . For example, the maximum total volume of a space  30  may be approximately 17.64 cubic meters, corresponding to a length l, width w, and cabin module height h′ of 4 meters, 2.2 meters, and 2.1 meters, respectively. Other example maximum dimensions may include, for example, a length l of 4.126 meters×a width w of 2.12 meters, a length l of 3.676 meters×a width w of 2.4 meters, or any other industry-defined or industry-standard dimensions. 
     Within such industry-standard sizes, it has traditionally been difficult to design a cabin module such as a crew cabin that provides comfortable living and sleeping quarters for two or more crew members. Consequently, crew cabins that conform to these industry standards typically include cramped bunk space, insufficient storage space, and little living space such that existing crew cabins are typically ill-suited for activities other than sleeping. For example, due to conventional height requirements, bunks are typically stacked such that there is not enough space for each crew member to sit up within their bunk (e.g., for activities such as reading, watching media, or the like). 
     In some embodiments, one or more of these drawbacks may be mitigated by the use of an L-shaped bunk configuration within a cabin module.  FIG. 2  schematically depicts an L-shaped bunk configuration  60  in accordance with the present technology. The L-shaped bunk configuration  60  includes a lower bunk  70  and an upper bunk  80 . 
     The lower bunk  70  is generally defined by a major axis  72  (e.g., the “length” of the lower bunk  70 , or the axis along which an occupant generally aligns his/her body while lying prone or supine within the bunk) and a minor axis  74  perpendicular to the major axis  72 . The minor axis  74  corresponds to the “width” of the lower bunk  70 . The lower bunk  70  includes a non-overlapping section  76 , which is not disposed beneath any portion of the upper bunk  80 , and an overlapping section  78 , which is disposed beneath a portion of the upper bunk  80 . 
     The upper bunk  80  similarly is generally defined by a major axis  82  (e.g., the “length” of the upper bunk  80 , or the axis along which an occupant generally aligns his/her body while lying prone or supine within the bunk) and a minor axis  84  perpendicular to the major axis  82 . The minor axis  82  corresponds to the “width” of the upper bunk  80 . The upper bunk  80  includes a non-overlapping section  86 , which is not disposed above any portion of the lower bunk  70 , and an overlapping section  88 , which is disposed above the overlapping portion  78  of the lower bunk  70 . 
     As will be described in greater detail below, when the L-shaped bunk configuration  60  is incorporated within a cabin module, it may optionally be implemented such that the lower bunk  70  is directly adjacent to a first wall of the cabin module (e.g., with its major axis  72  disposed parallel to the first wall) and the upper bunk  80  is directly adjacent to a second wall of the cabin module that meets the first wall at an angle (e.g., with its major axis  82  disposed parallel to the second wall). In such example implementations, the overlapping section  78  of the lower bunk  70  and the overlapping section  88  of the upper bunk  80  each lie adjacent to both the first wall and the second wall. Example cabin module configurations in accordance with the L-shaped configuration  60  will now be described in greater detail. 
       FIGS. 3-6  depict perspective views of a crew cabin module  100  in accordance with the present technology, which overcomes many of the shortcomings of conventional crew cabins while still being installable within the industry-standard crew cabin spaces in a modular crew cabin system.  FIG. 3  is an upper left side perspective cutaway view of the crew cabin module  100 .  FIG. 4  is an upper right side perspective cutaway view of the crew cabin module  100 . In  FIGS. 3 and 4 , portions of the ceiling are cut away to show the interior components of the crew cabin module  100 .  FIGS. 5 and 6  are interior perspective views of the crew cabin module  100 . 
     With reference jointly to  FIGS. 3-6 , the crew cabin module  100  includes four walls  102  spaced to form sides of the crew cabin module  100 . The crew cabin module  100  includes a floor  104 , which can be connected to a bottom edge of at least one of the four walls  102 . The crew cabin module  100  also includes a ceiling  106 , which can be connected to a top edge of at least one of the four walls  102 . As will be described in greater detail, a portion of the ceiling  106  may include an extended ceiling section  130 . A door  103  provides access between the interior of the crew cabin module  100  and a passageway or other space outside the crew cabin module  100 . A portion of the interior of the crew cabin module  100  may be divided as a bathroom  108  including a bathroom door  109  for access between the bathroom  108  and the remainder of the interior of the crew cabin module  100 . 
     The example crew cabin module  100  is a double-occupancy module including a lower bunk  110  and an upper bunk  120 . In contrast to conventional multiple-occupancy configurations, the lower bunk  110  and the upper bunk  120  are disposed perpendicularly in an L-shaped configuration. As will be described in greater detail, the L-shaped configuration allows for substantially improved comfort and storage space relative to existing cabin designs. 
     The lower bunk  110  is sized and shaped to accommodate a mattress  112  which provides a sleeping surface for one of the occupants of the crew cabin module  100 . Additional optional features of the lower bunk  110  include an audio/visual (A/V) display  114 , a curtain  116 , and a bed cushion  118 . The A/V display  114  is positioned and/or tilted such that an occupant can comfortably view the A/V display  114  from a supine, semi-supine, or sitting position on the mattress  112 . In the sitting position, the bed cushion  118  can be used as a back rest. The curtain  116  may be slidably mounted on a track allowing the curtain  116  to be closed around a perimeter of the lower bunk  110  to provide privacy and/or darkness for an occupant within the lower bunk  110 . 
     Similarly, the upper bunk  120  is sized and shaped to accommodate a mattress  122  which provides a sleeping surface for an occupant of the crew cabin module  100 . Additional optional features of the upper bunk  120  include an A/V display  124  and a curtain  126 . The A/V display  124  is positioned and/or tilted such that an occupant can comfortably view the A/V display  124  from a supine, semi-supine, or sitting position on the mattress  122 . Because the upper bunk  120  occupies substantially the full width of the example crew cabin module  100 , one of the walls  102  may be used as a back rest in a sitting position. In some embodiments, a bed cushion similar to the bed cushion  118  may be provided within the upper bunk  120  (e.g., adjacent to the wall  102  opposite the A/V display  124 ) to serve as a back rest. The curtain  125  may be slidably mounted on a track allowing the curtain  126  to be closed across the opening of the upper bunk  120  to provide privacy and/or darkness for an occupant within the upper bunk  120 . 
     In some embodiments, the crew cabin module  100  is designed such that both the lower bunk  110  and the upper bunk  120  can accommodate an occupant having a height of 6 feet or more sitting upright within the bunk  110 ,  120  (e.g., entirely within the volume of the bunk  110 ,  120 , without leaning outside of the bunk). Further, the lower bunk  110  and the upper bunk  120  can both allow a 6-foot-tall occupant to both lie down and sit up comfortably within either bunk  110 ,  120 . It has been observed that human sitting height ratios typically vary between approximately 0.45 and 0.6 (e.g., a human&#39;s sitting height is typically between approximately 45% and 60% of standing height), such that a 6-foot-tall person can typically sit up comfortably within a space having a height of approximately 3.6 feet or about 1100 mm. 
     For the lower bunk  110 , such comfort is accomplished by the L-shaped configuration, in which the major axes of the two bunks  110 ,  120  are perpendicular or substantially perpendicular. In the L-shaped configuration, approximately one half, slightly more than one half, or less than one half of the lower bunk  110  is an overlapping portion disposed below the upper bunk  120  by a distance suitable for accommodating the legs and/or lower torso of an occupant while in a recumbent, supine, prone, or side-facing lying position. The remainder of the lower bunk  110  is a non-overlapping portion which is not disposed below any portion of the upper bunk  120  due to the L-shaped configuration, and is reserved as available sitting space such that the occupant of the lower bunk  110  may sit up comfortably within this relatively taller non-overlapping space which has a greater interior height than that of the overlapping space. 
     In order to provide similar vertical accommodation for the upper bunk  120 , in some embodiments an extended ceiling section  130  may be used. The extended ceiling section  130  includes a portion of the ceiling of the crew cabin module  100  and has a greater height relative to the remainder of the ceiling  106 . The extended ceiling section  130  may be manufactured as a single component separate from the other portions of the crew cabin module  100  and may be attached to the crew cabin module  100  after manufacturing is substantially complete, for example, before or after the crew cabin module  100  is installed within a space  30  of a modular crew cabin system  10  ( FIGS. 1-2 ) of a ship. Embodiments of the extended ceiling section  130  are described in further detail below with reference to  FIGS. 16-20 . 
     The extended ceiling section  130  (partially cut away in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) is supported by a lower flange  132  and sidewalls  134 . The sidewalls  134  can be coupled to the extended ceiling section  130  and the lower flange  132 . In other examples, the sidewalls  134  are integrally formed with the extended ceiling section  130 . The lower flange  132  can be coupled to at least a portion of the upper edges of walls  102  and the remaining portion of the ceiling  106  of the crew cabin module  100  (not shown in this figure but shown in  FIGS. 12, 14, 15, and 20 ). When coupled to the remainder of the crew cabin module  100 , the extended ceiling section  130  provides a ceiling section that is relatively higher than the remainder of the ceiling  106  of the crew cabin module  100 , such that the upper bunk  120  provides a space having a height similar to the height of the non-overlapping portion of the lower bunk  110  (e.g., a height of at least approximately 3.6 feet or about 1100 mm). Accordingly, both the lower bunk  110  and the upper bunk  120  of the example crew cabin module  100  can accommodate occupants having heights of up to 6 feet or more while allowing the occupants to sit comfortably within their bunks. These combined vertical dimensions have not been attainable in conventional crew cabin configurations within the industry-standard cabin dimensions, and are unexpectedly realizable using the novel cabin configurations of the present technology. 
     Embodiments of the crew cabin module  100  provide additional advantages over existing modular crew cabins. For example, an air conditioning unit  140  can be disposed, for example, above the lower bunk  110  to provide cooling and/or heating for the crew cabin module  100 . In some embodiments, open space  142  may be used to provide a second air conditioning path directly into the upper bunk  120 , for example, as it may otherwise be difficult to effectively cool or heat the interior portion of the upper bunk  120 . Upper storage compartments  144  may be provided in the vicinity of the air conditioning unit  140 . A wardrobe  146  may further be included within a space below the air conditioning unit  140  and between the lower bunk  110  and the bathroom  108 . 
     The efficient layout of the crew cabin module  100  further provides space for a multi-use area  150 , which may generally include open space and functional features such as a desk  152 , shelves  154 , and wall storage such as shoe baskets  156  and/or storage space for a chair  158  or other items such as coats or the like. 
     The L-shaped configuration of the lower bunk  110  and the upper bunk  120  provides further efficiency by allowing space for a relatively large primary storage area  160  disposed at least partially below the non-overlapping portion of the upper bunk  120 , which does not overlie the lower bunk  110 . The primary storage area  160  is enclosed by a wardrobe door  162  disposed between the lower bunk  110  and a staircase  170  provided for accessing the upper bunk  120 . Further partially enclosed storage may be included as shelves  164  between the lower bunk  110  and the wardrobe door  162 . 
     The staircase  170  may be a multifunctional staircase providing both access to the upper bunk  120  and further enclosed storage space in addition to the storage space below the upper bunk  120 . For example, top-opening stair top compartments  172  may be provided within some of the stairs of the staircase  170 . A side-opening staircase compartment  174  provides further enclosed storage space and in some embodiments may be sized to accommodate a small refrigerator within the staircase  170 . A stair riser compartment  176  may be located below the top bunk  120  and in some embodiments may be sized to accommodate one or more safes. For example, two safes may be located within the stair riser compartment  176  to provide a private safe for each occupant. 
       FIGS. 7-19  illustrate various example dimensions of a crew cabin module such as the crew cabin module  100  of  FIGS. 3-6 . Each of the dimensions provided in  FIGS. 7-19  is in millimeters unless labeled otherwise. Similar components to those illustrated in  FIGS. 3-6  are labeled with similar reference numerals throughout  FIGS. 7-19 . Throughout the drawings, it will be understood that the illustrated dimensions of the various components of the crew cabin module  100  are provided as examples only, and various embodiments of cabin modules may have differing dimensions without departing from the spirit or scope of the present technology. 
       FIG. 7  is a top plan view illustrating example dimensions of the example crew cabin module  100 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the features described above with reference to  FIGS. 3-6  can fit within a crew cabin module having a width of 2070 mm and a length of 4000 mm, thus being installable within an industry-standard modular cabin space having a width w of 2.2 meters and a length l of 4 meters, as described above with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In addition, within these dimensions, the crew cabin module  100  accommodates a lower bunk  110  and an upper bunk  120  each having a length of at least 2000 mm (about 6.5 feet) and a width of at least 900 mm (about 3 feet) so as to accommodate occupants of up to 6 feet or more in height sitting in the bunk. 
       FIGS. 8-11  further illustrate interior dimensions of the primary storage area  160  and the storage volumes disposed within the staircase  170 .  FIG. 8  is a partial top plan view showing the primary storage area  160  and the staircase  170 .  FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the primary storage area  160  taken about the line B-B in  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the primary storage area taken about the line A-A in  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the primary storage area taken about the line C-C in  FIG. 8 . 
     Referring jointly to  FIGS. 8-11 , the primary storage area  160  includes an outer portion  166  disposed adjacent to the wardrobe door  162  and an inner portion  168  disposed relatively further inward from the wardrobe door  162 . In some embodiments, it may be relatively easier to access the outer portion  166  than to access the inner portion  168 . The inner portion  168  may be sized and shaped to accommodate a plurality of suitcases. The relatively large amount of storage space within the crew cabin module enables the occupants to store their suitcases on a long-term basis within the inner portion  168  of the primary storage area  160  while storing their clothing and other belongings in the other (more readily accessible) portions of the primary storage area  160  and/or the other storage volumes of the crew cabin module  100 . Accordingly, the efficient configuration of the crew cabin module  100  prevents the occupants from having to access or move their suitcases out of the way on a day-to-day basis, as may be required with other cabin configurations that have a smaller storage volume. 
     The outer portion  166  of the primary storage area  160  may include a slidable wardrobe rack  167  that provides hanging storage for clothing within the outer portion  166 . While the wardrobe door  162  is open, the wardrobe rack  167  can slide out of the primary storage area  160  to provide convenient access to the hanging clothes stored on the wardrobe rack  167 . As shown by the various dimensions illustrated in  FIGS. 8-11 , in some embodiments the primary storage area  160  has a volume of at least 1 cubic meter, alone or in combination with the shelves  164  and/or the storage volumes located within the staircase  170  (e.g., top-opening stair compartments  172 , side-opening staircase compartment  174 , and stair riser compartment  176  which may include safes  178  therein). 
       FIG. 12  is a top plan view of the example crew cabin module  100  illustrating example utility conduit locations. As shown in  FIG. 12 , the extended ceiling section  130  occupies a portion of the top of the crew cabin module  100  (e.g., the portion overlying the upper bunk  120 ), while the remainder  136  of the ceiling of the crew cabin module  100  is at a lower height relative to the top of the extended ceiling portion  130  (e.g., at the conventional cabin module ceiling height of 2.1 meters). As shown in the top plan view of  FIG. 12 , the remainder  136  of the ceiling of the crew cabin module  100  is still large enough to accommodate various utility conduits. For example, an air supply conduit (not shown) may be routed over the remainder  136  of the ceiling to connect to a cabin air intake  137 , an air exhaust conduit (not shown) may be routed over the remainder  136  of the ceiling to connect to a cabin air exhaust  138 , and various electrical conduits  139  may be routed over the remainder  136  of the ceiling to provide power to electrical components within the crew cabin module  100 , such as lighting, air conditioning, wall outlets, and the like. Thus, the configuration of  FIG. 12  illustrates that interchangeable cabin modules can be built with the optimized dimensions and features of the present technology without having to redesign portions of the ship that receive the modules. The present technology accordingly allows for all of the crew cabins in a ship to have such optimization without necessitating any changes to the deck dimensions or components that provide services to the modules. 
       FIGS. 13-15  are cross-sectional elevation views of the example crew cabin module  100 , each taken from approximately the center of the crew cabin module  100 . The elevation view of  FIG. 13  is taken along the length l of the crew cabin module  100  toward the upper bunk  120  and the primary storage area  160 . The elevation view of  FIG. 14  is taken along the width w of the crew cabin module  100  toward the lower bunk  110 . The elevation view of  FIG. 15  is taken opposite the view of  FIG. 14 , along the width w of the crew cabin module  100  toward the multi-use area  150  and the staircase  170 . 
     As indicated by the example dimensions in the elevation views of  FIGS. 13-15 , the extended ceiling portion  130  permits the upper bunk  120  to have an interior height of up to approximately 1025 mm (e.g., the height of 910 mm to the standard ceiling height, plus an additional height of up to 115 mm provided by the extended ceiling portion  130  of the present technology. In some embodiments, the extended ceiling portion  130  may be lower than the extended ceiling portion  130  depicted in  FIGS. 13-15 , for example, having a height of approximately 85 mm for a total upper bunk  120  height of approximately 995 mm. However, even a height of 995 mm, or approximately 3 feet 3 inches, still provides sufficient space for a 6-foot-tall occupant to sit up comfortably within the upper bunk  120 . In some embodiments, the extended ceiling portion  130  may have a height with a range of about 85 mm to about 115 mm, or any height within this range. Additionally, the extended ceiling portion  130  allows such comfort for the occupant of the upper bunk  120  while still providing sufficient height below the upper bunk  120  within the primary storage area  160  to mount the wardrobe rack  167  at a suitable height for hanging clothes (e.g., approximately 40 inches above the floor  104 ). Moreover, the interior height  147  of the non-overlapping portion  76  of the lower bunk  110  in this non-limiting example is 1350 mm, such that the interior height of the lower bunk  110  is greater than or equal to the interior height of the upper bunk  120  in some implementations. Thus, embodiments of the present technology that include the combination of the L-shaped bunk configuration and extended ceiling portion  130  allow for a highly efficient use of the space within the crew cabin module  100  providing more comfortable bunk spaces and a greater combined storage volume than previously attainable with conventional cabin module interior configurations. 
     Moreover, the configuration illustrated in  FIGS. 13-15  advantageously provide suitable dimensions for both the lower bunk  110  and the upper bunk  120 . For example, height  148  below the lower bunk  110  advantageously accommodates a standard extra large hard-sided luggage piece which may be brought aboard by a crew member and stored beneath the lower bunk  110 . For example, the height  148  may be about 369 mm in conjunction with a height  147  of about 1350 mm and an overall height  149  of about 1875 mm. As a result, a first crew member using the lower bunk  110  can store hard-sided luggage having a width dimension as high as 360 mm (14.2 inches) in a storage space under the lower bunk. This means that many pieces of hard-sided pieces of luggage in the industry-standard 28″-30″ category can be stored in this space under the lower bunk (e.g., the Samsonite® Freeform 28″ Spinner is an example extra large hard-sided luggage piece that is commonly in use among crew members and can be accommodated in a storage space under the lower bunk). Exterior dimensions of the Freeform 28″ Spinner are 790 mm (31.1 inches) height×532 mm (20.95 inches) length×350 mm (13.78 inches) width. Moreover, the height  151  (1090 mm in the one non-limiting example embodiment) of the storage space in the interior of the primary storage area  160  behind the wardrobe rack  167  allows a second piece of extra large hard-sided luggage to be stored in the crew cabin. A second crew member using the upper bunk  120  can store hard-sided luggage having a height dimension as high as 900 mm (35.4 inches) in a storage space under the upper bunk. Thus, the crew cabin configurations of the present technology advantageously allow both crew members to bring aboard and store a standard extra large hard-sided luggage piece, which may be especially desirable when crew members are aboard for several months at a time. In contrast, the typical storage under lower bunks of existing crew cabin modules is approximately 320 mm, which is insufficient to accommodate a hard-sided luggage piece in the 28″-30″ category. 
       FIGS. 16-19  provide additional detail and example dimensions of upper portions of the example crew cabin module  100 , including the extended ceiling portion  130 , an air conditioning unit platform  145 , and upper storage compartments  144 . The air conditioning unit platform  145  provides a base for the air condition unit  140  illustrated in  FIGS. 3-6  and for the upper storage compartments  144 , and may further serve as a ceiling for the non-overlapping portion of the lower bunk  110 . As shown in  FIGS. 16-19 , an example extended ceiling portion  130  may have a height of approximately 115 mm, but may be taller or shorter in various embodiments. The lower flange  132  may extend outward around the perimeter of the extended ceiling portion  130  by a relatively small width, such as about 25 mm, to facilitate attachment of the extended ceiling portion  130  to the upper edges of the walls  102  and to the remainder  136  of the ceiling of the crew cabin module  100 . Other configurations can be implemented in embodiments of the present technology. 
       FIG. 20  is a simplified side view of a crew cabin module  100  further illustrating a utility space  199 . It will be understood that embodiments of the present disclosure do not require an extended ceiling section  130 . However, some embodiments of the present technology may optionally include the extended ceiling section  130 . In such non-limiting embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 20 , the extended ceiling section  130  occupies only a portion of the top of the crew cabin module  100 . A utility space  199  is provided for the routing of one or more utility conduits, such as electrical conduits, water supply conduits, air supply conduits, and the like. The utility space  199  has a lower boundary defined by the remainder  136  of the ceiling (e.g., a lower portion of the ceiling at height h′ above the bottom of the crew cabin module  100 ) and an upper boundary defined by the ceiling height h of the extended ceiling section  130 . 
     Various modifications to the interior arrangements of the cabin modules disclosed herein are possible within the present technology. For example,  FIG. 21  illustrates a crew cabin module  200  having a further example configuration including a different arrangement relative to the multi-use area  150  of  FIGS. 3-6 . In the example configuration of the crew cabin module  200 , an additional enclosed storage volume  159  can be included within a space between a wall  102  and a door swing area of the door  103 , with storage for a chair  158  located higher on the wall  102  to accommodate the additional enclosed storage volume  159 . In some embodiments, the crew cabin module  200  has a larger width relative to the crew cabin module  100  of  FIGS. 3-6 . 
       FIGS. 22 and 23  are cutaway perspective views of an example crew cabin module. The example crew cabin module illustrated in  FIGS. 22 and 23  corresponds to the crew cabin module  100  depicted and described herein with reference to  FIGS. 3-20 . 
       FIGS. 24 and 25  are top plan views illustrating interior and exterior dimensions of example crew cabin modules in accordance with the present technology. The example crew cabin module illustrated in  FIG. 24  corresponds to the crew cabin module  100  depicted and described herein with reference to  FIGS. 3-20 . The example crew cabin module illustrated in FIG.  25  corresponds to the crew cabin module  200  depicted and described herein with reference to  FIG. 21 . The exemplary and non-limiting dimensions given in  FIGS. 24 and 25  illustrate how the interior and exterior dimensions of the crew cabin modules disclosed herein may be selected to fit within given maximum dimensions, such as the maximum cabin module lengths and widths given in  FIGS. 24 and 25 , each of which may correspond to an industry standard crew cabin module space size (e.g., a size of the spaces  30  as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B ). 
     Advantages of Embodiments of the Present Technology 
     As illustrated by the drawings and the foregoing description, the modular crew cabin systems and crew cabin modules of the present technology provide a number of advantages over existing modular cabin systems. Providing two bunks disposed adjacent to two different walls in an L-shaped bunk configuration allows for two occupants of a crew cabin module to each have a comfortable bunk in which a person up to about 6 feet tall can comfortably sit upright. The inventors have advantageously discovered that a person up to 6 feet, 2 inches tall can comfortably sit upright in embodiments of the crew cabin modules described herein. Although not required, an extended ceiling section  130  may also be implemented to increase the vertical dimensions of the interior volumes of the bunks. Moreover, the present technology allows for a crew cabin module to provide such comfort in addition to over one cubic meter of storage, a bathroom, and a multi-use area, while being interchangeably installable within an industry-standard crew cabin space. Thus, the crew cabin modules of the present technology may readily be installed within the crew cabin spaces of existing ships without requiring any modification or redesign of the existing ships. 
     Advantageously, as described above, embodiments of the crew cabin modules described herein provide storage for at least two extra large (28″-30″ category), hard-sided luggage articles that are commonly used by crew members working on a ship for extended periods. The extra large, hard-sided luggage articles in common use typically have a width dimension in the range of 13 to 14 inches (330-355 mm). Typical crew cabins do not accommodate a single piece of extra large piece of hard-sided luggage, much less two pieces as in embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     Additionally, embodiments of the crew cabin modules described herein can include a lower bunk that is sized and shaped to accommodate a crew member as tall as 6 feet, 2 inches tall. As explained above, embodiments of the crew cabin modules of the present technology do not sacrifice the dimensions of either the non-overlapping portion or the overlapping portion of the lower bunk at the expense of upper bunk dimensions. In non-limiting examples of the present technology, the height of the portion of the lower bunk that does not overlap with the upper bunk can be as large as 1350 mm. Advantageously, this dimension has been found to comfortably accommodate the upper body of an individual that is 6 feet, 2 inches tall sitting in the lower bunk. In addition, in these non-limiting examples of the present technology, the height of the portion of the lower bunk that overlaps with the upper bunk can also be as large as 540 mm. Advantageously, this dimension has been found to comfortably accommodate the lower body (in particular the feet and/or knees) of an individual that is 6 feet, 2 inches tall laying down in the lower bunk. Lower bunks having these advantageous dimensions ensure that both crew members in a 2-person crew cabin experience similar accommodations in their respective bunks, enhancing all crew members&#39; experiences and improving morale. 
     In particularly advantageous embodiments of the crew cabin modules described herein, the crew cabin module includes a lower bunk that is sized and shaped to accommodate a crew member as tall as 6 feet, 2 inches sitting upright, an upper bunk that is sized and shaped to accommodate a crew member up to about 6 feet tall sitting upright, a wardrobe having a suitable height for hanging clothes (e.g., approximately 40 inches above the floor), and locations to store two extra large (28″-30″ category), hard-sided luggage pieces. Embodiments of the crew cabin modules having this unique combination of bunk and storage features are particularly advantageous to enhance crew member experience and morale. 
     Importantly, a pop-up section that expands the height of a crew cabin module in a limited section as described herein only uses a very minimal amount of utility space, while enabling at least the following advantageous features to be provided to crew members:
         a two-bunk configuration in which both crew members can sit upright in their respective bunks;   a lower bunk having a portion that accommodates the lower body portion of a person as tall as 6 feet, 2 inches;   storage for two extra large (28″-30″ category), hard-sided luggage pieces;   two separate and distinct wardrobes each having a suitable height for hanging clothes;   a lower bunk having a portion of sufficient height from the floor that a person as tall as 6 feet, 2 inches tall can easily enter and exit the lower bunk; and   a two-bunk configuration in which display screens are optimally positioned for viewing while lying down in each bunk,
 
or any combination of the above advantageous features. Accordingly, the use of a very minimal amount of utility space as described herein makes it possible to implement a substantial number of features that enhance quality of life for crew members.
       

     Additionally, embodiments of present technology include a plurality of identical crew cabin modules that are uniquely sized and shaped to be received in a plurality of decks having varying heights and hull constraints. This allows a maximum number of crew cabin modules having advantageous features described herein to be installed in ships having deck sizes with industry-standard heights that vary from deck to deck. For example, embodiments of the modular crew cabins can be installed in decks varying in height from 2.7 m to 3.2 m high, without having to change or reconfigure any aspect of the modular crew cabins. Further, embodiments of the present technology can include two modular crew cabin configurations: a first modular crew cabin configuration having a first width, a first length, and a first height (and additionally a pop-up section having a greater height as described herein), and a second modular crew cabin configuration having a second width greater than the first width, a second length less than the first length, and the first height (and additionally the pop-up section as described herein). In one non-limiting example, the first modular crew cabin configuration has a length of about 4126 mm and a width of about 2120 mm, and the second modular crew cabin configuration has a length of about 3676 mm and a width of about 2350 mm. 
     In one non-limiting example illustrated in  FIG. 26A , a combination of the first modular crew cabin configuration (indicated as modules EE3.2A) and the second modular crew cabin configuration (indicated as modules EE3.2B) may be implemented to efficiently install an optimal number of crew cabin modules within an irregular space.  FIG. 24  illustrates an example implementation of a first modular crew cabin configuration indicated as EE3.2A in  FIG. 26A , and  FIG. 25  illustrates an example implementation of a second modular crew cabin configuration indicated as EE3.2B in  FIG. 26A . For example, in some embodiments, ship services such as fan cool units, ventilation, firefighting systems, and the like (e.g., ship services  26  shown in  FIG. 26A ) may prevent the use of the first modular crew cabin configuration for all of the crew cabins in a portion of a deck by occupying a portion of the space that would be occupied by the full length of the first crew cabin module. Accordingly, the second modular crew cabin configuration, which has a shorter length than the first modular crew cabin configuration, may be installed in locations where such ship services  26  are present. However, because both the first modular crew cabin configuration and the second modular crew cabin configuration have identical height dimensions, they can be arranged interchangeably as needed to maximize the number of modular crew cabins that can be installed on a deck, while still ensuring crew members in both types of modular crew cabin configurations have enhanced living quarters including the various advantages described herein. In another non-limiting example illustrated in  FIG. 26B , one or more configurations of the crew cabin modules disclosed herein may be utilized to accommodate various irregularities in the shapes of crew cabin decks. For example, constraints associated with the hull shape in the forward section of each deck ordinarily lead to a reduction in the size of crew member living quarters. An example portion of the forward section of a deck is illustrated in  FIG. 26B . However, as shown in  FIG. 26B , the first and second modular crew cabin configurations of the present technology can be advantageously combined, staggered, or otherwise arranged to optimize placement of crew cabin modules, while still ensuring crew members in both types of modular crew cabin configurations have enhanced living quarters having various advantages of the modular crew cabin systems described herein. 
     Additional Embodiments 
     It will be understood that not necessarily all objects or advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment described herein. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that certain embodiments may be configured to operate in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other objects or advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. 
     The present technology optimizes modular crew cabins for a current industry-standard of sizes, dimensions, and/or volume of cabin module. However it will be understood that this is merely an example implementation. Different industry-standard criteria may apply to different types of ships, such as cargo or military crew berthing, and industry-standard criteria may also change from time to time. The presently-disclosed configurations can be adjusted to accommodate these differences in industry-standard dimensions for modular crew cabins. 
     The terms “about” or “approximate” and the like are synonymous and are used to indicate that the value modified by the term has an understood range associated with it, where the range can be ±20%, ±15%, ±10%, ±5%, or ±1%. The term “substantially” is used to indicate that a result (e.g., measurement value) is close to a targeted value, where close can mean, for example, the result is within 80% of the value, within 90% of the value, within 95% of the value, or within 99% of the value. 
     Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,” “might,” “may,” “e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or states. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or states are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without author input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or states are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” “involving,” and the like are synonymous and are used inclusively, in an open-ended fashion, and do not exclude additional elements, features, acts, operations, and so forth. Also, the term “or” is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its exclusive sense) so that when used, for example, to connect a list of elements, the term “or” means one, some, or all of the elements in the list. 
     Disjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y or Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with the context as used in general to present that an item, term, etc., may be either X, Y or Z, or any combination thereof (e.g., X, Y and/or Z). Thus, such disjunctive language is not generally intended to, and should not, imply that certain embodiments require at least one of X, at least one of Y or at least one of Z to each be present. 
     Unless otherwise explicitly stated, articles such as “a” or “an” should generally be interpreted to include one or more described items. Accordingly, phrases such as “a device configured to” are intended to include one or more recited devices. Such one or more recited devices can also be collectively configured to carry out the stated recitations. For example, “a processor configured to carry out recitations A, B and C” can include a first processor configured to carry out recitation A working in conjunction with a second processor configured to carry out recitations B and C. 
     While the above detailed description has shown, described, and pointed out novel features as applied to illustrative embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form and details of the devices or algorithms illustrated can be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. As will be recognized, certain embodiments described herein can be embodied within a form that does not provide all of the features and benefits set forth herein, as some features can be used or practiced separately from others. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.