Abstract:
A lavatory complex for an aircraft is provided. The lavatory complex includes a male lavatory facility and a female lavatory facility. The male lavatory facility includes stall units and may include urinals. The female lavatory facility includes stall units. Each stall unit suitably includes a single commode. The male and female lavatory facilities include at least one sink separated from the stall units by stall unit doors. The lavatory complex may include sinks that are not located within either the male or female lavatory facilities. A lavatory may include illuminating indicators; an illuminated, folding, baby changing station; a vanity; a self-cleaning toilet; and/or an illuminated faucet.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    Current airplane lavatories are typically single, small units that include a commode and a sink. For example, the current aft end of the BOEING 777 commercial airplane, as shown in FIG. 1, includes a group of 6 individual lavatories. These six lavatories serve approximately 200 people. Therefore, each lavatory must serve approximately 34 people.  
           [0002]    When a passenger uses the lavatory unit, all the amenities of the unit are unavailable for use by another passenger—even when the passenger only occupies the unit to just use the sink.  
           [0003]    This can result in long lines of people waiting in the aisle for an available lavatory.  
           [0004]    In order to reduce waiting times for aircraft lavatories, it may be attempted to increase the number of lavatories on board an aircraft. However, installing more lavatories also reduces the available space for passenger seats. This results in a decrease in the ability of such an aircraft to generate revenue for an airline.  
           [0005]    Therefore, it would be desirable to provide more access to aircraft lavatory facilities with reduced wait times for passengers without adversely impacting revenue generation of an airplane. However, there is an unmet need to improve the efficiency of aircraft lavatories.  
           [0006]    Further, airlines have indicated that passengers often have difficulty locating necessities in the lavatory. For example, passengers may not be sure where to find paper towels, how to get to the trashcan, or how to flush the toilet. This can lead to frustrated passengers and dirty facilities. Traditionally, items in the lavatory have been stored in discrete locations, which can cause them to be difficult for passengers to find. Placards are often included in lavatories, but placards can result in too many words to focus on or confusing symbols the passenger may not understand. Placards may also be subject to vandalization. Therefore, there is an unmet need to improve instructions for using an aircraft lavatory.  
           [0007]    Moreover, passengers have also expressed a desire for enhanced lighting in the lavatory, especially around the mirror in order to prepare themselves for meetings after flights, etc. Thus, there is an unmet need to provide enhanced lighting in a lavatory.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention provides separate male and female lavatory complexes that allow for efficient use of fixtures, thereby allowing more passengers to cycle through while providing a more comfortable atmosphere for the passengers.  
           [0009]    One embodiment of the present invention includes an aircraft lavatory having stall units. Each stall unit suitably includes a single commode, and a sink is located external to the stall units. The lavatory is separated from the rest of the aircraft cabin.  
           [0010]    In one aspect of the invention, the lavatory may also include a urinal.  
           [0011]    In another aspect of the invention, a lavatory complex for an aircraft includes a male lavatory facility and a female lavatory facility. The male lavatory facility includes stall units and urinals. Each stall unit suitably includes a single commode. The female lavatory facility includes stall units. The male and female lavatory facilities include at least one sink separated from the stall units by stall unit doors.  
           [0012]    In still another aspect of the invention, the lavatory complex includes sinks that are not located within either the male or female lavatory facilities.  
           [0013]    In yet another aspect of the invention, a baby changing table is included in a single lavatory. The table folds into a wall unit and includes a light and diaper-holding pocket. The baby changing table may include a child seat where the child may be secured.  
           [0014]    In still yet another aspect of the invention, indicator lights illuminate around various amenities, such as a waste basket, paper towel holder, toilet paper, etc. The lights activate based on a sensed action or motion.  
           [0015]    In another aspect of the invention, a vanity mirror with adjustable lighting creates appropriate lighting for different skin tones.  
           [0016]    In still another aspect of the invention, the present invention provides efficient use of space with a small footprint for maximizing seat space and efficient use of services/amenities. The present invention is also more accessible with more user friendly devices, such as indicator lights. The lavatories suitably are modular units that have self-contained plumbing and wiring for connection to airplane systems at an interface.  
           [0017]    Services are available from the exterior of the lavatory to increase the user/unit ratio. Thus for the same space, more passengers are served, and each passenger may be served quicker. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]    The preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the prior art;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIGS. 3 and 4 are three-dimensional top views of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a toilet unit formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 6 is a view of external opening devices for the toilet unit shown in FIG. 5;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIGS. 7 and 8 are views of internal locking mechanisms for the toilet unit shown in FIG. 5,  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 9 is a perspective drawing of a faucet formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the faucet shown in FIG. 9, FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of the faucet shown in FIG. 9;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 12 is perspective view of the faucet shown in FIG. 9;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIGS. 13 and 14 are perspective views of a sink and dispenser formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 15-17 are perspective views of a baby changer formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIGS. 18 and 19 are perspective views of a baby changer and seat formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 20 is an interior perspective view of a trash can holder formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 21 is an exterior perspective view of a trash can exit door formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a vanity mirror formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a toilet used in the toilet unit of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0035]    One embodiment of the present invention is an aircraft lavatory system with separated amenities. As shown in FIGS. 2-4, a non-limiting example of the present invention is an aircraft lavatory system  20  that includes a male facility  22  and a female facility  24 .  
         [0036]    The male facility  22  includes one or more commode stalls  50 , one or more urinals  54 , and a sink  56 . Each commode stall  50  is separated from the urinals  54  and the sink  56  by a door  60 . A door  66  separates the commode stalls  50 , the urinals  54 , and the sink  56  from the rest of the aircraft cabin. The female facility  24  is similar to the male facility  22  except the urinals  54  are not included.  
         [0037]    The door  60  swings on a hinge into space within each facility  22  and  24 . Alternatively, the door  60  is a flexible sliding door that slides along one of the walls of the respective stall.  
         [0038]    [PLEASE PROVIDE EXAMPLES OF: COMMODE, STALL, AND URINAL MANUFACTURERS] 
         [0039]    The aircraft lavatory system  20  also includes one or more sinks  70  that are located outside both of the facilities  22  and  24 . The sinks  70  are suitably larger than conventional aircraft sinks to allow for greater ease of use. Because the commode stalls  50  are separate from the sinks  56  and  70  and the male facility  22  includes urinals  54 , use of passengers&#39; time is more efficiently spent.  
         [0040]    In one embodiment, the commode stalls  50  are approximately 32″×41″ in dimension. However, it will be appreciated that the stalls  50  may have any dimensions as desired for particular application or particular aircraft.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIGS. 5-8 illustrate an exemplary door handle and locking device  140  according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the door handle and locking device  140  is mounted on a door  144  with two sliding panels  146 . The door  144  is an alternate, exemplary door that may be used with the commode stall  50  (FIGS. 2-4). The door handle and locking device  140  includes exterior handle housings  148 . The exterior handle housings  148  include a first cavity  150  and a second cavity  152 . The first cavity  150  has an elongated oval shape sized to receive a user&#39;s fingers and the second cavity  152  has a circular shape sized to receive a user&#39;s thumb. The first cavity  150  and the second cavity  152  are disposed adjacent to each other, thereby forming a ridge  156  that a user pinches to open or close the two sliding panels  146 : The first cavity  150  and the second cavity  152  form the shape of a “P” or a reverse “P”.  
         [0042]    The door handle and locking device  140  may be used on any door where one desires to indicate occupancy.  
         [0043]    The first and the second cavities  150  and  152  are suitably outlined with clear acrylic plates  160 . Lights are positioned behind the clear acrylic plates  160  within the door handle housings  148 . The lights illuminate in a first color, such as green, when a lock is in an unlocked position. The lights illuminate in a second color, such as red, when a lock is in a locked position. The lights are suitably high intensity red and green LEDs. In one embodiment, the clear acrylic plates  160  are frosted to provide dissipation of the first and second colored (red and green) lights.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a locking switch  168  that is located on the interior of the two sliding panels  146 . The locking switch  168  is suitably a rotating switch that, when placed in the vertical position, unlocks the two sliding panels  146 . When the locking switch  168  is placed in the horizontal position the two sliding panels  146  become locked. In one embodiment, the locking mechanism that the locking switch  168  engages is an electromagnetic locking device (not shown). However, other locking devices may be used as desired, such as latching devices. Like the exterior handle housings  148 , given by way of non-limiting example the locking switch  168  is outlined with a clear acrylic plate  170  with green and red lights disposed behind the clear acrylic plate  170 . When the locking switch  168  is placed in the vertical position, the two sliding panels  146  are unlocked and a first set of colored (green) lights behind the clear acrylic plate  170  are illuminated. When the locking switch  168  is placed in the horizontal position, the two sliding panels  146  are locked and a second set of colored (red) lights behind the clear acrylic plate  170  are illuminated.  
         [0045]    When the locking switch  168  is placed in the horizontal position, the two sliding panels  146  are suitably locked by activation of an electromagnetic lock. However, it will be appreciated that the two sliding panels  146  could be locked by a mechanical or electromechanical lock, as desired.  
         [0046]    [0046]FIGS. 9-12 illustrate a faucet  200  formed in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The faucet  200  includes first and second components  202  and  204 . The first component  202  is suitably a stainless steel head that is attached to a faucet neck  206 . The first component  202  includes a cavity  210  for receiving the second component  204 . The second component  204  is an insert that is suitably formed of acrylic and includes fasteners  212  that attach the second component  204  within the cavity  210 . The second component  204  includes a first chamber  220  that includes a hose fitting  222  for receiving water from the faucet neck  206 . The second component  204  also includes a water chamber  224  that receives water from the hose fitting  222  and directs the received water through an orifice  226 . Below the orifice  226  is a cavity  230  that receives lights, such as LEDs  232 . The LEDs  232  suitably include 5 LED lights, two of which light the second component  204  and three that are aimed at water exiting the orifice  226 . Various colored LEDs can be used, as desired.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 13 illustrates a paper towel dispenser  250  that is mounted in a wall near a sink  262  that suitably includes a faucet like that shown in FIGS. 9-12. The paper towel dispenser  250  includes an opening  252  for retrieving paper towels. Positioned around the edge of the opening  252  is a light  256  that is suitably an electroluminescent wire, such as a fiber optic wire, or LEDs.  
         [0048]    In another embodiment, a soap dispenser  260  is mounted adjacent the sink  262 . The soap dispenser  260  includes a motion/proximity sensor (not shown) that causes soap to be dispensed when an occupant&#39;s hands are sensed within a threshold distance of the soap dispenser  260 . The soap is suitably dispensed by any pressurized source known in the art, such as a pump that is activated by the sensor.  
         [0049]    In one embodiment of the present invention, indicator lights within the lavatory are choreographed to turn on at an appropriate time when a passenger needs to use an item associated with the corresponding indicator light. The following are situations for which the indicator lights suitably may be used. The indicator lights would not necessarily be limited to the functions described below.  
         [0050]    For example, when the passenger lifts the toilet lid an indicator light comes on, thereby highlighting a toilet paper dispenser and a flush button (not shown). One way to accomplish this is to use electroluminescent wire around a toilet paper dispenser and a flush button (not shown). The electroluminescent wire is connected to a switch coupled to the toilet seat. Alternatively an LED backlight may be used to highlight the flush button. Other choreographed illuminations may occur as desired, such as the sink with soap dispenser are illuminated after a flush has occurred.  
         [0051]    [0051]FIGS. 15-17 illustrate a baby-changing device  280  that includes a wall section  286  and a tray section  284 . Referring to FIG. 15, the tray section  284  is suitably stored in a vertical position. The tray section  284  is hingedly attached to the bottom of the wall section  286  so that the tray section  284  folds out to a horizontal position. Referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, two flaps  288  are hingedly attached to ends of the tray section  284  and the two flaps  288  fold out to a horizontal position for changing a baby. The wall section  286  suitably includes a pocket  290  for receiving diapers or other amenities as desired. A light  292  is flush mounted above the pocket  290 . An attachment device  291 , such as without limitation a magnet pair, keeps the tray section  284  in a closed position with the wall section  286 .  
         [0052]    Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19, a baby change device  293  includes a child seat  294 . The child seat  294  includes a back section  295 , a seat  297 , and a harness  298 . The back section  295  is mounted to a wall section  296  of the baby change device  293 . The seat  297  is hingedly attached to the back section  295 . The harness  928  is attached to the back section  295  and the seat  297 . The harness  298  includes straps that are placed over a child&#39;s head with a strap spreader device resting on the child&#39;s chest. The straps are secured to an upper portion of the back section  295 . At the other end of the straps an attachment mechanism attaches to a base piece of the harness  298  that is secured to the seat  297 . The child&#39;s legs straddle the base piece of the harness  298  with their seat resting on the seat  297 . A child is placed in the child seat  294  for safety to allow the attendant of the child to attend to other matters.  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 20 illustrates a lavatory garbage can  300  within a bathroom unit  299  according to another embodiment of the invention. The garbage can  300  includes an automatic door or flap  302  that provides access to a wastebasket  304 . The automatic door  302  includes a sensor  306 , such as a motion sensor, that senses when a user&#39;s hand is within a threshold distance. When the hand is sensed within a threshold distance, a door is mechanically moved into an open position by an acceptable motive force, such as an electric motor or a biasing device, such as a spring. A light located around or near the flap  302 , such as without limitation an electroluminescent wire, is activated when a motion sensor (not shown) mounted at or near the faucet  200  (FIGS. 9-14) detects a user. Given by way of non-limiting example, the sensors described above are suitably any acceptable sensor known in the art, such as an infrared motion detector.  
         [0054]    As shown in FIG. 21, the lavatory garbage can  300  includes an exterior door  310  that allows access to the wastebasket  304  from outside the bathroom unit  299 .  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 22 illustrates a vanity mirror unit  330  according to another embodiment of the invention. Two doors  334  are hindgedly attached to a cabinet base  336 . Mirrors  338  are mounted on the inside of the two doors  334 . A mirror  340  is mounted to a support structure (not shown) that mechanically moves the mirror towards a user when the two doors  334  are opened. Lights  348  are attached to the cabinet base  336  behind the mirror  340 . Amenities  350  are provided below the mirror  340  on the cabinet base  336 . The lights are adjustable in brightness and color temperature. The amenities  350  include a tissue dispenser  352  and lotion or other dispensers  354 , such as dispensers or the like.  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 23 illustrates a toilet  380  that is mounted to two walls  382  that meet at a corner of the bathroom unit  299  and thus is suspended above a floor of the bathroom unit  298 . In one embodiment the toilet  380  includes a seat  386 , such as without limitation an automatic sanitizing (e.g., Sanisafe™ toilet seat system). toilet  380  includes a lid  384  that is hingedly attached to the toilet  380 . In one embodiment the toilet  380  includes a position sensing switch (not shown) that senses when the lid  384  is in a position other that closed/down. The position sensing switch produces a signal that cause other lights in the bathroom unit  299  to illuminate. For example, when the sensor senses that at least one of the seat  386  or seat lid  384  is in at least one of an up position or a position between full up and full down, a first light around or near a flush button is illuminated and a second light around or near a toilet paper dispenser is illuminated.  
         [0057]    With regards to the lighting used within the embodiments of the present invention, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/097,944 is hereby incorporated by reference.  
         [0058]    While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.