Patent Description:
United States patent application <CIT> discloses a monument configured to be positioned in the interior of an aircraft that includes first, second, third and fourth sides and first and second lavatories spaced apart from one another by at least a portion of a galley storage section that is open to the first side. The first and second sides are opposite to one another and the third and fourth sides are opposite to one another. The first lavatory defines a first lavatory interior and includes a first toilet therein and the second lavatory defines a second lavatory interior and includes a second toilet therein.

Modern passenger aircraft are equipped with a number of features to increase passenger comfort and make flights more pleasant and enjoyable for passengers. Such features include maximizing the space available for passengers and providing various inflight amenities for passengers. Although first class passengers generally enjoy more amenities than coach or business class passengers, airlines still want non-first class passengers to have an enjoyable flight experience.

Various aircraft features can provide a variety of services to the passengers aboard the aircraft. For example, food and beverage services are frequently provided to passengers using a meal cart controlled by an onboard flight attendants. Different types of aircraft monuments can be installed at various locations within the aircraft to increase passenger comfort and safety. For example, seat ottomans may be used for increased passenger comfort, closets may be used to increase storage capacity for passenger items, and bar units may be used to provide drinks, snacks and other amenities to passengers.

In a preferred embodiment, an aircraft monument is adapted for being mounted against an aft-facing bulkhead of the aircraft. The monument has an aisle-accessible compartment that includes comestible item dispensers and lower footwell regions to accommodate the passengers seated immediately aft of the monument. The monument includes an aft-facing wall that may be readily removal during a maintenance operation so as to facilitate servicing of a heater or chiller unit disposed inside the monument.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to an aircraft cabin monument with integrated footwell adapted for use by passengers seated facing the monument. The monument has at least one footwell disposed in the bottom portion of the monument. The footwell may be configured to receive, for example, a passenger's feet and lower legs. The monument has at least one side wall configured to be adjacent to an aisle of an aircraft. At least one monument compartment is contained within the monument housing, which may retain and dispense items accessible, for example, by passengers on-demand. The footwell may include amenities, for example, air circulation at user-selected flow rates and/or temperature. The monument with the integrated footwell provides for increased passenger and cabin space by creating more foot and leg space for a passenger.

Various embodiments may achieve one or more advantages. For example, some embodiments may increase passenger comfort by providing a surface on which a passenger can rest their feet and lower legs. In some embodiments, the service requirements imposed on the flight attendant crew may be reduced by allowing the passengers to serve themselves from a self-service monument and not requiring continual restocking of inventory by the flight attendant crew. The monument has an aisle door that may allow for easy and convenient access to the food and/or beverage items contained within compartments in the monument without significantly interfering with other seated passengers in the surrounding area. The monument has a façade that is detachable and which facilitates a customizable close-out for the monument. In this sense, the façade and corresponding substructure allow for various components of the monument to be upgraded, replaced, reconfigured, refaced, modified, or otherwise altered without having to entirely remove the monument and replace it with a new one.

The forgoing general description of the illustrative implementations and the following detailed description thereof are merely exemplary aspects of the teachings of this disclosure, and are not restrictive.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate one or more examples of monuments that are not part of the invention and an embodiment according to the invention and, together with the description, explain these examples and monument. The accompanying drawings have not necessarily been drawn to scale. Any values or dimensions illustrated in the accompanying graphs and figures are for illustration purposes only and may or may not represent actual or preferred values or dimensions. Where applicable, some or all features may not be illustrated to assist in the description of underlying features. In the drawings:.

The description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended to be a description of various, examples of monuments. The embodiments shown in <FIG> are not part of the present invention. <FIG>, show embodiments according to the present invention. Specific features and functionalities are described in connection with each illustrative example and embodiment; however, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed examples and embodiment may be practiced without each of those specific features and functionalities.

Reference throughout the specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the subject matter disclosed. Thus, the appearance of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout the specification is not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Further, it is intended that embodiments of the disclosed subject matter cover modifications and variations thereof.

It must be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context expressly dictates otherwise. That is, unless expressly specified otherwise, as used herein the words "a," "an," "the," and the like carry the meaning of "one or more. " Additionally, it is to be understood that terms such as "left," "right," "top," "bottom," "front," "rear," "side," height," "length," "width," "upper," "lower," "interior," "exterior," "inner," "outer," and the like that may be used herein merely describe points of reference and do not necessarily limit embodiments of the present disclosure to any particular orientation or configuration. Furthermore, terms such as "first," "second," "third," etc., merely identify one of a number of portions, components, steps, operations, functions, and/or points of reference as disclosed herein, and likewise do not necessarily limit embodiments of the present disclosure to any particular configuration or orientation.

Furthermore, the terms "approximately," "about," "proximate," "minor variation," and similar terms generally refer to ranges that include the identified value within a margin of <NUM>%, <NUM>% or preferably <NUM>% in certain embodiments, and any values therebetween.

All of the functionalities described in connection with one example or embodiment are intended to be applicable to the additional examples and embodiment described below except where expressly stated or where the feature or function is incompatible with the additional examples or embodiment. For example, where a given feature or function is expressly described in connection with one embodiment or example but not expressly mentioned in connection with an alternative example or embodiment, it should be understood that the inventors intend that that feature or function may be deployed, utilized or implemented in connection with the alternative example or embodiment unless the feature or function is incompatible with the alternative example embodiment.

<FIG> depicts a centerline aircraft monument, not being part of the present invention, in use by passengers aboard a passenger aircraft. In this particular example, the monument <NUM> is located in front of the first row seating of a section of a cabin on the centerline of an airplane. The monument <NUM> forms all or part of a section divider or can be added on to an existing galley area The monument <NUM> is defined by multiple walls (an aft-facing wall <NUM>, an aisle-facing wall <NUM>, and a forward-facing wall (not shown)) and a top cover <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the dimensionality of monument <NUM> is such that it is relatively narrow in a longitudinal direction and extends in a lateral direction across the width of the aircraft cabin. Thus, the monument <NUM> possesses a length substantially equal to one group of seats forming a portion of a row in an economy seating section. The monument <NUM> according to the example shown sits on the deck of the aircraft cabin with an <NUM> (<NUM> in. ) depth foot print. Of course, other dimensions can be used depending on the cabin size, seat spacing, and other considerations.

In the depicted example, the monument <NUM> has side compartments 120a and 120b and a center compartment <NUM>. The center compartment <NUM> is configured to supply heating and/or cooling to the side compartments 120a and 120b. Integrated into the aisle-facing wall <NUM> is an aisle door <NUM>, which restricts and or permits access to the inside of side compartment 120a Access to the inside of side compartments 120b is accomplished by opening the aisle door <NUM> on the aisle-facing wall <NUM>, which exposes the compartment bays 130a, 130b, 130c, and 130d. Compartment bays 130a, 130b, 130c, and 130d each have a light source <NUM> such that a user accessing side compartment 120a can see the contents contained within the compartment bays 130a, 130b, 130c, and 130d. Similarly, the opposite side compartment 120b also possesses an aisle-facing wall (not shown) with a door (not shown) that when opened, exposes compartment bays (not shown), each with a light source (not shown).

Although shown as being positioned between the side compartments 120a and 120b, the center compartment <NUM> may instead be located elsewhere on the monument. For example, the center compartment <NUM> may instead be repositioned as a side compartment. Further, a portion of the contents of the center compartment <NUM> may be housed beneath a floor of the passenger cabin or above a ceiling of the passenger cabin. The center compartment <NUM> may be separate from the monument <NUM> while still being operably connected to side compartments 120a and 120b. The center compartment <NUM> may also be positioned on the top or the bottom of the monument <NUM>. Similarly, side compartments 120a and 120b may be located elsewhere on the monument.

The side compartments 120a and 120b may be used to store food and/or beverage items which can be accessed by passengers on-demand. For example, a thirsty passenger may use the aisle door <NUM> to access a cold beverage stored within the side compartments 120a and 120b whenever they so desire. The compartments 120a and 120b can be serviced and stocked by the ground catering crew to make the monument <NUM> self-sustaining by containing enough service items to last the entire flight duration. The service requirements imposed on the flight attendant crew are thus reduced by (<NUM>) allowing the passengers to serve themselves, and (<NUM>) not requiring continual restocking of inventory by the flight attendant crew. The aisle door <NUM> may allow for easy and convenient access to the food and/or beverage items contained within the side compartments 120a and 120b without significantly interfering with other seated passengers in the surrounding area.

Although shown as a swinging door, the aisle door may be any type of door. For example, the aisle door <NUM> may be a sliding door that can slide vertically or horizontally within a channel on the monument <NUM>. The aisle door <NUM> may be a collapsible or foldable door that can be in a compact configuration when in an open position. In other examples, the aisle door <NUM> may be a shutter door that can retract into, or extend from a drum that supports the door.

In the bottom portion of monument <NUM> there is depicted at least one footwell <NUM>. A typical footwell <NUM> is defined by a lower surface <NUM>, a back wall <NUM>, side walls 160a and 160b, and an upper surface <NUM>. The monument <NUM> is positioned such that the footwell <NUM> can receive a passenger's feet while the passenger is sitting in a passenger seat <NUM>. The footwell <NUM> provides for increased passenger space (by creating more foot and leg space for the passenger) and increased passenger comfort (by providing a surface on which a passenger can rest their feet and lower legs). Other footwells (not shown) may also be located in front of each seat in a seating row, such that each passenger can use the footwell space for personal item storage or for resting the seated passenger's feet and lower legs.

Although the footwell <NUM> is depicted as having mostly flat surfaces which define a rectangular or trapezoidal prism, the footwell <NUM> may have other types of designs. For example, the surfaces of the footwell <NUM> may have a substantially curved shape, which may provide aesthetic or functional benefits to passengers. The footwell <NUM> may also have a grooved surface (or otherwise non-planar surface) that can provide a passenger's feet with additional frictional support.

In the illustrative example, a first passenger <NUM> is sitting in the passenger seat <NUM> with his or her feet and lower legs extending into of footwell <NUM>. A second passenger <NUM> is illustrated as standing in an aisle <NUM> proximate to the aisle-facing wall <NUM>. The second passenger <NUM> is shown as having opened the aisle door <NUM> to gain access the interior contents of side compartment 120b of the monument <NUM>, thus allowing the second passenger to take chilled and/or heated items (such as a beverage or a snack) from the compartment bay 130a. This particular example thus illustrates how the monument <NUM> provides self-service to passengers within an economy class environment with minimal or no additional workload being imposed on the flight crew.

<FIG> depicts a perspective view of an exemplary aircraft monument, not being part of the present invention, with footwells built into the monument. The monument <NUM> houses side compartments 220a and 220b which are heated and/or cooled by the center compartment <NUM>. The contents of center compartment <NUM> (which may include a thermal unit and electrical/ducting components) can be accessed by removing a center compartment panel <NUM>.

The center compartment panel <NUM> and aft-facing wall <NUM> may be equipped with customizable LED back lit branding, and may be formed of a translucent material which provides a canvas for airlines to customize a unique branded look. The back lit branding may be powered by electrical wiring contained within the center compartment <NUM>, or may receive power from a source external to the monument <NUM>. Both the center compartment panel <NUM> and aft-facing wall <NUM> may be removed to permit customization of the branding displayed on their respective aft-facing surfaces.

On the lateral sides of the monument <NUM> are aisle doors 235a and 235b that restrict and permit access to the side compartments 220a and 220b, respectively. The aisle doors 235a and 235b are shown as being at least partially formed out of a transparent material, such that some of the interior space of the side compartments 220a and 220b can be viewed while the aisle doors 235a and 235b are in the closed position. This viewing gives the passenger the ability to look inside of the side compartment 220a and 220b to see what, if anything, is stocked within.

In this example, the monument <NUM> is shown as having four individual footwells 245a, 245b, 245c, and 245d that provide leg room comfort for four individual passengers without space reduction to the cabin. Vertical dividers 250a, 250b, and 250c separate the individual footwells 245a, 245b, 245c, and 245d from one another. By not having to share a common footwell, each passenger can use their own footwell without interfering with the footwell of an adjacent passenger. The individual footwells 245a, 245b, 245c, and 245d may also contain LED lighting (such as RGB or UV lighting) in the foot compartment that provides a passenger with added convenience and perception of space.

Although the vertical dividers 250a, 250b, and 250c are shown as being substantially planar in shape, other shapes are possible. For example, the vertical dividers 250a, 250b, and 250c may be curved instead of being planar. In one embodiment, the vertical dividers 250a, 250b, and 250c are curved such that the middle portion of the dividers has a substantially smaller width than the top and bottom portion of the dividers.

<FIG> depicts a perspective view of an exemplary aircraft monument, not being part of the present invention, with an aisle door in an open position and exposing the interior of side compartment 320b. The aisle door 335b is shown as being in an open position, allowing a passenger to access the contents of side compartment 320b. The side compartment 320b has vertically oriented bays 340a, 340b, 340c, and 340d for retaining and/or dispensing various items. The individual bays 340a, 340b, 340c, and 340d may be heated and/or cooled separately or together via the central compartment <NUM>. The individual bays 340a, 340b, 340c, and 340d may also provide access to different types of items. For example, bay 340a might be used to store and/or dispense hot food items, bay 340b might be used to store and/or dispense hot beverages, 340c might be used to store and/or dispense cold beverages, and 340d might be used to store and/or dispense cold food items.

Although the individual bays 340a, 340b, 340c, and 340d are shown as being vertically stacked on top of one another, other orientations are possible. For example, two or more narrower the bays might be horizontally adjacent to one another. In another example, the bays may have adjacent bays in both the horizontal and vertical directions. The individual bays 340a, 340b, 340c, and 340d may be defined by substantially flat, planar surfaces, or may have other types of surfaces. For example, the bottom surface of a bay may be curved to conform to the shape of the contents being stored within the bay. Each bay may also have dividers for separating each item being stored within the bay.

<FIG> depicts a section view of an exemplary aircraft monument, not being part of the present invention, illustrating the contents of the interior compartments of the monument. As depicted, the outer perimeter of the monument <NUM> is defined by an aft-facing wall <NUM>, two opposing aisle-facing walls 410a and 410b, and forward-facing wall <NUM>. The monument <NUM> is divided up into three separate compartments (two side compartments 420a and 420b and one center compartment <NUM>). As the side compartments 420a and 420b are essentially mirror images of each other, the features of either side compartment 420a or 420b will now be further described in detail with reference to side compartment 420a.

In this example, side compartment 420a has at least two types of lighting. There is an exterior light source <NUM> on the outside of side compartment 420a (on the aisle-facing wall 410a) that provides lighting to the area around the aisle-facing wall 410a This enables a passenger to see more clearly the area around the outside of the aisle-facing wall 410a. An interior light source <NUM> lies within the side compartment 420a, and allows a passenger accessing the side compartment 420a to see more clearly the area inside of the side compartment 420a.

Horizontal bays 440a, 440b, and 440c that lie within the side compartment 420a are configured to retain and/or dispense various items to a passenger. Although three bays are illustrated for the side compartment 420a, the number of bays can be smaller or larger depending upon, for example, the size of the items stored within the side compartment 420a and the exact dimensions of monument <NUM>. The bays 440a, 440b, and 440c may be selectively accessible by a passenger. Food items, snacks, beverages, or any other types of items may be stored in the bays 440a, 440b, and 440c.

A passenger can utilize a vending user interface <NUM> to select an item inside of side compartment 420a that the passenger desires. In one example, side compartment 420a may act as a vending machine that will only dispense a selected item to a passenger when sufficient payment is made using the vending user interface <NUM>. The vending user interface <NUM> may accept payment through various means (such as by credit card or cash), and user selection of the desired item may be accomplished through various means (such as a keypad or touch screen interface). Alternatively, access to the contents of the side compartment 420a may be "gratis" as part of the passenger fare.

Cooled areas within the side compartment 420a may create significant condensation on various surfaces. A passenger accessing a beverage within the side compartment 420a may also accidentally spill the beverage within the side compartment 420a as well. In order to collect spilled liquids or condensation, the side compartment 420a has a drain <NUM> for receiving water condensation or liquid from spilled beverages. The drain <NUM> may be configured within the side compartment 420a so that the force of gravity directs any liquid or condensation into the drain <NUM>. The drain <NUM> may connect to a liquid waste management region of the aircraft.

The temperature of the side compartments 420a and 420b may be controlled through various mechanisms contained within the center compartment <NUM>. In one example, center compartment <NUM> houses a thermal unit <NUM> which is configured to provide hot or cold air flow to either side compartment 420a or 420b. The air flow is channelled through input ducting <NUM> that may be connected to the entirety of the side compartment 420a, or may be selectively attached to each of the bays 440a, 440b, and 440c. The circulated air is then channelled out of the bays 440a, 440b, and 440c (or the side compartment 420a) through output ducting <NUM>. In the present example, the output ducting <NUM> sends air flow through output ducting apertures <NUM> in the forward-facing wall <NUM>. However, other examples may have the output ducting <NUM> configured to re-circulate the air flow back to the thermal unit <NUM> for recycling.

Certain contents stored within the side compartments may also require a certain level of humidity to adequately preserve them Although not depicted in <FIG>, the center compartment may house a humidifier which controls the humidity of the side compartments 420a and 420b. The humidifier may be connected to the side compartments 420a and 420b in a way similar to the thermal unit <NUM>. The humidifier may have its own separate control which is independent from the control of the thermal unit <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts a side view of an exemplary aircraft monument according to the present invention with a footwell built into the monument. The monument <NUM> is defined by an aft-facing wall (not shown), a forward-facing wall (not shown), an outboard-facing wall (not shown), a top cover (not shown), and two aisle doors 525a and 525b that are proximate to an aisle (not shown). The two aisle doors 525a and 525b can be used to access an upper stowage closet (not shown) and lower compartment (not shown) contained within the monument <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts a front view of an exemplary aircraft monument according to the present invention with a footwell built into the monument. The monument <NUM> as illustrated is configured to conform to the shape of an outboard wall of an airplane. The monument <NUM> is defined by an aft-facing wall <NUM>, a forward-facing wall (not shown), an outboard-facing wall <NUM>, atop cover <NUM>, and two aisle doors (not shown) that are proximate to an aisle (not shown). The aft-facing wall <NUM>, forward-facing wall (not shown), and outboard-facing wall <NUM> each possesses a unique profile that conforms to the profile of an outboard wall of an aircraft.

The monument <NUM> has a footwell <NUM> disposed in the bottom portion of the aft-facing wall <NUM> for receiving passengers' feet and lower legs. The footwell <NUM> has a ledge <NUM>, which is slightly elevated above the floor (not shown). The exact level of elevation of the ledge <NUM> may be customized to conform to the height requirements of a typical passenger aboard an aircraft. A video screen <NUM> is shown as being attached to or embedded within the aft-facing wall <NUM> for the viewing pleasure of passengers. An applied graphics panel <NUM> is also attached to or embedded within the aft-facing wall <NUM>.

As illustrated, <FIG> includes a shared footwell region <NUM> for passengers. In other examples, the footwell region <NUM> may be divided, such as the footwells of <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>. The space in each footwell may be substantially the same as other footwells. The space in each footwell may instead have different amounts of space for each footwell.

<FIG> depicts an exemplary aircraft monument according to the present invention abutting an outboard wall of an aircraft with a footwell built into the monument. The monument <NUM> as illustrated is configured to conform to the shape of an outboard wall <NUM> of an airplane. The monument <NUM> is defined by an aft-facing wall <NUM>, a forward-facing wall (not shown), an outboard- facing wall <NUM>, atop cover <NUM>, and two aisle doors 725a and 725b that are proximate to an aisle <NUM>. The two aisle doors 725a and 725b can be used to access an upper stowage closet (not shown) and lower compartment (not shown) contained within the monument <NUM>. The aft-facing wall <NUM>, forward-facing wall (not shown), and outboard-facing wall <NUM> each possesses a unique profile that conforms to the profile of the outboard wall <NUM> of an aircraft.

Although the monument <NUM> is generally shaped to occupy the cabin space defined between the floor, outboard-facing wall <NUM>, and ceiling of an aircraft, other alternative examples are possible. For example, the monument <NUM> might have an open space between the top cover <NUM> of the monument <NUM> and the ceiling of the aircraft. There may also be intermediate objects that are spaced between the surfaces on the outside of the monument <NUM> and the floor, outboard-facing wall <NUM>, and ceiling of the aircraft.

The monument <NUM> has a footwell <NUM> disposed in the bottom portion of the aft-facing wall <NUM> for receiving passengers' feet and lower legs. The footwell <NUM> has a ledge <NUM>, which is slightly elevated above the floor <NUM>. The exact level of elevation of the ledge <NUM> may be customized to conform to the height requirements of a typical passenger aboard an aircraft.

The ledge <NUM> may be inclined in the aft or forward directions for increased comfort. Additional foot rests may be positioned on top of the ledge <NUM>. The ledge <NUM> may also be padded or cushioned, or may be rigid and solidly formed.

A video screen <NUM> is shown as being attached to or embedded within the aft-facing wall <NUM> for the viewing pleasure of passengers sitting in passenger seats 755a and 755b. An applied graphics panel <NUM> is also attached to or embedded within the aft-facing wall <NUM>. The applied graphics panel <NUM> may also be customized for the aesthetic pleasure of passengers sitting in passenger seats 755a and 755b.

In some examples, a lower aisle door 725b may be configured as a footwear storage compartment (not shown) for retaining passenger shoes or footwear. The footwear storage compartment may have various methods for sanitizing a passenger's footwear. One example of a sanitizing method may be pulsed UV light contained within the footwear storage compartment, combined with an interlock that turns off the UV light source when the lower aisle door 725b is opened. Another possible method for sanitizing passenger footwear may include a sanitizing pad inside of the footwear storage compartment that possess antibacterial properties. Further, the storage compartment 725b may be provided with air conditioning in the form of a scent or odor management compound which reduces or removes offensive odors from the storage compartment 725b.

<FIG> depicts a perspective view of an exemplary aircraft monument according to the present invention with lower stowage compartments and elevated inclined foot rests. Aisle doors 805a and 805b are used for accessing upper and lower stowage compartments (not shown) contained within the monument <NUM>. In the bottom portion of monument <NUM> are several stowage cavities 810a, 810b, and 810c that can be used to stow various passenger items. The stowage cavities 810a, 810b, and 810c are separated by vertical dividers 815a and 815b so that each passenger has their own personal stowage cavity separate from the other passenger's stowage cavities.

<FIG> depicts a perspective view of an exemplary aircraft monument according to the present invention with lower stowage compartments and elevated inclined foot rests. Aisle doors 905a and 905b are used for accessing upper and lower stowage compartments (not shown) contained within the monument <NUM>. In the bottom portion of monument <NUM> are several stowage cavities 910a, 910b, and 910c that can be used to stow various passenger items. The stowage cavities 910a, 910b, and 910c are separated by vertical dividers 915a and 915b so that each passenger has their own personal stowage cavity separate from the other passenger's stowage cavities.

Each stowage cavity 910a, 910b, and 910c has its own retention element, which prevents the items being stored within the stowage cavities from falling out of or being ejected from the stowage cavity <NUM>. One such exemplary retention element is a flexible netting <NUM> that is shown as mostly covering the opening to the stowage cavities 910a, 910b, and 910c. Any items being jostled around within any of the stowage cavities 910a, 910b, and 910c will be retained within the cavity by the flexible netting <NUM>.

Other retention elements are possible for retaining various items within the stowage cavities 910a, 910b, and 910c. For example, the stowage cavities 910a, 910b, and 910c may have a pocket or pockets in which passenger items can be stowed. Another possible retaining mechanism could be a retention rail that may be movable to facilitate access to the interior of the stowage cavities 910a, 910b, and 910c.

A footrest <NUM> is disposed in the bottom portion of monument <NUM> and located above the stowage cavities 910a, 910b, and 910c. The footrest <NUM> is illustrated as being in a raised inclined position (although other examples can be horizontal or even declined). The footrest <NUM> may be padded or cushioned, or may be rigid and solidly formed. In one example, the footrest <NUM> may include individual padded regions corresponding to fore position passenger seats.

<FIG> depicts a front view of an exemplary aircraft monument according to the present invention with lower stowage compartments and elevated inclined foot rests. The stowage cavities 1005a, 1005b, and 1005c are shown as containing multiple stowage items <NUM>. The stowage items <NUM> are prevented from being ejected from the stowage cavities 1005a, 1005b, and 1005c by the flexible netting <NUM>. If stowage items <NUM> are jostled around due to aircraft turbulence or other forces acting on the aircraft, the flexible netting <NUM> provides elastic support to items that would otherwise escape from the stowage cavities 1005a, 1005b, and 1005c. Stowage cavity light sources <NUM> provide lighting so that passengers can see the contents of the stowage cavities 1005a, 1005b, and 1005c.

Above the stowage cavities 1005a, 1005b, and 1005c are the individual footwells 1025a, 1025b, and 1025c, which are similar to the footwell shown in <FIG>, but having the added feature of vertical dividers 1030a and 1030b. Footwell light sources <NUM> provide lighting to each individual footwell 1025a, 1025b, and 1025c that provides passengers with added convenience and perception of space.

<FIG> depicts a front view of an exemplary aircraft monument according to the present invention with upper and lower stowage racks extending from the compartments of the monument. Upper rack <NUM> is able to extend and retract within the monument <NUM>. When the upper rack <NUM> is extended from the monument <NUM>, a passenger can place various items on the upper rack <NUM> for stowing within the monument <NUM>. In the illustrative example, coat hangers <NUM> are hanging on the upper rack <NUM> along with passenger clothing <NUM>. When the upper rack <NUM> is fully retracted within the monument <NUM>, a door (not shown) is used to shut the upper rack <NUM> inside its compartment (not shown) within the monument <NUM>. The upper rack <NUM> also has a light source <NUM> attached so that passengers can see what items are stowed on the rack.

The lower rack <NUM> lies below the upper rack <NUM> and is also able to extend and retract within the monument <NUM>. A bottom rack surface <NUM> of the lower rack <NUM> is substantially flat and supports the weight of various items placed on the bottom rack surface <NUM>. In the illustrative example, a passenger briefcase <NUM> and a variety of other items sit on the bottom rack surface <NUM>. The lower rack <NUM> includes a wall member <NUM> at its distal end that is configured to be substantially flush with the wall on the right side of the monument <NUM> (not shown) when the lower rack <NUM> is fully retracted within the monument <NUM>. The lower rack <NUM> also has a light source <NUM> attached so that passengers can see what items are stowed on the rack.

<FIG> depicts a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a modular aircraft monument according to the present invention with a detachable aft-facing façade detached from the monument according to the invention. The façade <NUM> is shown as being detached from the substructure <NUM>, thus exposing the interior of the monument <NUM>. The façade <NUM> has an opening <NUM> configured to receive a video monitor (not shown). A footwell <NUM> is also disposed within the bottom portion of the façade <NUM>. The façade <NUM> may be used as an exterior decorative panel, and may also be configured to be replaceable (such that the façade <NUM> can be replaced without having to completely replace the whole monument <NUM>).

The substructure <NUM> has a variety of openings <NUM> to receive elements attached to the façade <NUM>. For example, the large opening <NUM> near the bottom of the substructure <NUM> is sized, shaped, and positioned to allow the footwell <NUM> to be received therein when the substructure <NUM> and the façade are mated. Another opening through the aft side can also be used to run cabling associated with electronics on the façade <NUM> (for example, a video screen). Other openings may be provided through one or more of the other sides of the monument <NUM> to accommodate elements and/or save weight. The openings may come in various sizes and shapes, which can be customized to the various needs of a given aircraft.

The detachable nature of the façade <NUM> facilitates a customizable close-out for the monument <NUM>. In this sense, the façade <NUM> and substructure <NUM> allow for various components of the monument <NUM> to be upgraded, updated, replaced, reconfigured, refaced, or otherwise modified to suit specific needs and requirements. Thus, the monument <NUM> can be changed or altered without having to entirely remove the monument <NUM> and replace it with a new one.

For example, contents of the monument <NUM> present a video screen in the façade <NUM>. In an embodiment, the monument <NUM> may be customized to house a sound system for passenger listening pleasure. In another embodiment, the monument <NUM> can be reconfigured to store safety items that are typically found on an aircraft. Although the façade <NUM> is shown as having an opening <NUM> configured to receive a video monitor, in addition the façade has other openings and possible surfaces that facilitate any number of functions (such as the ones described above). The façade <NUM> might also be at least partially formed out of transparent or opaque material to allow for (or prevent) viewing of the contents of monument <NUM>.

The façade <NUM> and substructure <NUM> can be attached using any number of conventional fasteners. For example, a bolt may be used to fasten the façade <NUM> to the substructure <NUM>. Alternatively, a hook and loop fastener may be used to fasten the façade <NUM> to the substructure <NUM>, which may better facilitate removal of the façade <NUM> than a bolt fastener. In another alternative embodiment, magnets may be used to fasten the façade <NUM> to the substructure <NUM>. The fasteners can be concealed for aesthetics and to prevent tampering.

Although various embodiments have been described with reference to the figures, other embodiments are possible. For example, the monument may be adapted to be placed in locations other than the centerline and cabin sides of an aircraft. The placing of the monument may be consistent with weight and balance considerations, ease of passenger and ground crew restocking access, and other considerations. In one possible embodiment, the monument may be configured to extend along the longitudinal axis of an airplane, with a lateral dimension that is substantially less than the monument's longitudinal dimension. Furthermore, multiple monuments may be placed at various points in an aircraft cabin, and may or may not be placed in symmetric orientations in the aircraft cabin.

In some implementations, the monument may have a stowage closet that can include other options for stowing passenger items. The compartments in the monument may have coat rods for hanging passenger clothing. The coat rods may have hangers configured to support the weight of a heavy coat, or configured to hang passenger ties or belts. Monument compartments may have shelves on which passengers can place their personal items. Other types of organizers may be used, such as a hanging organizer on which passengers can hang their personal items.

In some embodiments, the monument may take forms other than a rectangular prism. For example, the outer surfaces of the monument may be curved instead of flat. The curvature of the outer surfaces may be constant or may vary along the surface. The dimensionality of the monument may be in the form of trapezoidal prism or other types of prisms.

Although some embodiments of the monument have been described as having only aft-facing features and accessories, in some embodiments, the features or accessories could instead be forward-facing. In other embodiments, the monument may have forward, aft, and side facing accessories or features. Accessories can be placed on any surface of the monument, whether that surface has a specific forward, aft, or side orientation relative to the aircraft.

In some embodiments, a sensor may be located in the footwell of the monument. In one example, a weight sensor may notify a passenger of an object is left in the footwell (for example, in case a passenger leaves something in the footwell after landing while deplaning). The weight sensor may be calibrated to send a signal to the passenger only when sufficient weight is placed on the footwell (for example, <NUM>,<NUM>, <NUM>,<NUM> or <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM> Ibs. or <NUM> lbs. In another example, an obstruction sensor may identify existence of one or more items in the footwell of the monument, for example due to obstructing at least one beam configured to traverse a portion of the footwell. A flashing audible or visual indicator can activate to notify a passenger if an object is detected in the footwell by the sensor during deplaning mode. A deplaning mode signal may be indicated by a switch operated by the flight crew. A controller may communicate with the aircraft network to receive a mode signal, such that the sensor and indicator are put into operating mode upon receiving the signal.

In some embodiments, heating or cooling elements may be present in the footwell to increase passenger comfort. For example, a passenger may want to warm up their shoes or cool off their pillow. By placing these items in the footwell near an activated heating or cooling element, the passenger can achieve the desired temperature for their various personal items. A passenger can control whether a heating or cooling element is active using a control that may be disposed on the footwell.

In some embodiments, each side compartment may have an aft-facing door, which may be opened or closed to store, access, or dispense various items inside of side compartment. In some embodiments, side compartments may include on their aft-facing sides lock boxes, cubbies, bins, or other storage compartments. A lock box may be used for storing items that can only be accessed with a key or other access means. Cubbies may be used for retaining items that do not require cooling or heating (or a particular level of humidity). Bins may be configured to extend out of the side compartment to provide for additional space to retain various items.

In some embodiments, the accessories on the monument may take various shapes or configurations. For example, cubbies may have a rounded or circular opening, and may have a raised member on the bottom of the opening so that items stored within the cubbies do not easily fall out of the cubbies. Bins may have retaining members which prevent the bins from unintentionally popping out of the monument when the airplane experiences turbulence or other jostling forces. Bins may also have handles or knobs on the outside of the bins to facilitate opening and closing of the bins.

In some embodiments, a footwell may have a dimensionality substantially resembling a rectangular prism. In some embodiments, two top vents may be located near the top of footwell, which may be used for the purpose of expelling air into the footwell. In some embodiments, a lower vent may be located on the bottom of footwell, and may be used for drawing in air from the footwell. In some embodiments, velocity and temperature of the air being expelled from top vents (and drawn into the lower vent) may be controlled using a fan speed control and a temperature control, respectively. In some embodiments, each passenger may be provided with individual temperature settings for controlling a localized air flow within their portion of the footwell. The temperature controlled air flow, in some examples, may be used to warm a pillow, blanket, or other personal item for use by the passenger.

In some embodiments, the bottom side of the footwell may have one or more inclined foot rests on which a passenger's feet can rest. In some embodiments, the foot rests may be slightly inclined to conform to the angle of a passenger's feet when positioned inside of footwell. In some embodiments, the foot rests may be spaced apart in such a manner as to conform to the spacing between atypical passenger's feet.

In some embodiments, the foot rests may be formed as a single, unitary foot rest. In some embodiments, the foot rests may be padded or cushioned. In some embodiments, the foot rests may be rigid and solidly formed. In some embodiments, the foot rests may have different angles of inclination (including zero or perhaps negative inclination). In some embodiments, the level of inclination of the foot rests may not be fixed, but rather may be set by a passenger using an inclination controller.

In some embodiments, light sources may be located on the side walls of the footwell to provide better lighting for the inside of the footwell. In some embodiments, the light sources may be located elsewhere within the footwell (such as on the back, upper, or bottom surfaces of the footwell). In some embodiments, the light sources may shine white light. In some embodiments, the light sources may be formed of RGB LEDs. In some embodiments, the light sources may shine any color or frequency of light. In some embodiments, the color of light emanating from the light sources may vary in time to provide aesthetic benefit to passengers.

In some embodiments, an exemplary aircraft monument may have aft-facing tray tables. In some embodiments, tray tables may be attached to or embedded within the aft-facing wall of the monument. In some embodiments, tray tables may be designed to fold out and provide a level surface on which a passenger can consume a meal. In some embodiments, magazine pockets or other convenience features may be incorporated into or onto the walls of the monument.

In some implementations, the aircraft monument includes at least one footwell-mounted health apparatus for the benefit of an aft-positioned passenger. In some embodiments, a footwell may have foot pedals. In some embodiments, foot pedals may be disposed within the footwell for exercising the feet or legs of a passenger. Providing foot pedals to passengers may allow for the passengers to increase the blood flow to the lower extremities during the flight. This may give the passengers the added health benefit of not being completely idle or stationary while they sit on a long (perhaps <NUM> hours or more) flight. In some embodiments, foot pedals may be connected to a power storage unit or an electronic device that can receive the energy expended by a user when they are pedalling on the foot pedals.

In some embodiments, the footwell may have a circulation-encouraging health apparatus such as a shiatzu foot massager or foot roller that a passenger can utilize to massage their feet. In some embodiments, a passenger may store their footwear within a footwear storage compartment contained within the monument. In a further embodiment, the monument may have step exercise equipment for encouraging passenger activity.

The monument is partially formed from an aircraft monument substructure. The substructure has shapes for openings, which may be a variety of different shapes for openings in the substructure. In some embodiments, at least one compartment in the substructure may contain ducting. In some embodiments, at least one compartment may contain various safety items (such as a life vest, life saver, and fire extinguisher). In some embodiments, at least one compartment may contain various wiring and electrical components, which may be configured to interface with electronics on the monument façade and/or lighting features in compartments. In one example, the electrical components may provide power or cable TV signals to the video screen located on the façade. A receiving compartment at the bottom portion of monument is for receiving a footwell and possibly other feature located on the façade.

In some embodiments, the monument substructure and façade may be customized for an exemplary "entertainment system‴ setup. An entertainment setup includes a screen monitor, which may be a big screen monitor, a video gaming system, video game controllers, and headphones plugged into the monument. In some embodiments, the big screen monitor may face in the aft direction, thus allowing passengers sitting in forward-facing passenger seating to view the big screen monitor and interact with the monument configured to an "entertainment system" setup. In some embodiments, gaming accessories may be positioned in a footwell region. The gaming accessories, for example, may be health apparatus encouraging activity and thus increased circulation for seated passengers. For example, the footwell region may include accelerator and brake pedals for driving games, bicycle type pedals for pedaling games, or electronically friction-dampened steps mimicking walking on varying surface inclines in another exercise-related game.

In some embodiments, an aircraft monument may have forward and aft-facing accessories. For example, the accessories may be located on either the aft-facing wall or the forward-facing wall of monument.

Forward-facing passenger seats may be located on the aft side of monument with aft-facing video screens mounted on or integrated into the aft-facing wall, where the aft-facing video screens may be configured to align with their corresponding forward-facing passenger seat. This may give each passenger sitting in a forward-facing passenger seat control over what they are viewing on their own corresponding aft-facing video screen. In some embodiments, aft-facing passenger seats may be located on the forward side of monument. Forward-facing video screens may be mounted on or integrated into the forward-facing wall of the monument, where the forward-facing video screens may be aligned with their corresponding aft-facing passenger seat. This may give each passenger sitting in an aft-facing passenger seat control over what they are viewing on their own corresponding forward-facing video screen.

In some embodiments, footwells may be located on both the aft-facing wall and the forward-facing wall of the monument. In some embodiments, footwells may be located on any wall or surface of the monument.

In some embodiments, one of the aisle-facing doors may restrict and/or permit access to the contents stored within the monument. In some embodiments, an aisle-facing door may be configured such that it does not interfere or impinge upon the centerline aisle, which passengers and aircraft crew may be using to travel to various points within the aircraft.

In some embodiments, a thermal unit may be located on the top of monument, which may be configured to provide heating and/or cooling to the interior contents of monument. In some embodiments, the thermal unit may be housed within the monument, provided at a bottom of the monument, or may be completely separate from the monument. In some embodiments, the thermal unit may be connected to ducting or venting in order to provide user-controllable cool and/or hot air flow to the interior compartments of monument.

In some embodiments, footwells may be climate controlled by an HVAC system located within the monument. The HVAC system may be operably connected to the footwells via ducting, which may provide air flow delivery to, and air flow return from the footwells. In some embodiments, wiring and electrical compartments within the monument may be configured to provide electrical power and signals to the one or more video screens on the monument. In some embodiments, the wiring and electrical compartments may be connected to electrical connections external to the monument, which may provide the electrical power or signal sources for the one or more video screens.

In some embodiments, various food and beverage compartments may containing a variety of food and beverage items (such as soda cans, prepackaged heated meals, and candy). In some embodiments, the contents of the food and beverage compartments may be selectively cooled or heated by a thermal unit via ducting. In some embodiments, the thermal unit may be on a top side of monument, may be housed within the monument, or may be completely separate from the monument.

Claim 1:
A modular aircraft monument (<NUM>), comprising:
a monument substructure (<NUM>) adapted to be installed within an aircraft and
the monument substructure (<NUM>) comprising a first wall adapted to be positioned within the aircraft aft-facing, a second wall adapted to be positioned within the aircraft forward facing, and substantially parallel to the first wall, a first side adapted to be positioned within the aircraft aisle facing, and a second side adapted to be positioned within the aircraft fuselage facing;
a façade (<NUM>);
characterized in that
the façade (<NUM>) comprises:
a footwell (<NUM>, <NUM>) disposed within the bottom portion of the façade; and
an opening (<NUM>) receiving a video monitor (<NUM>); and in that the monument substructure (<NUM>) comprises:
an upper (725a) and a lower door (725b) attached to the first side for accessing upper and lower stowage compartments, the lower door (725b) permitting access to a footwear storage compartment (<NUM>);
an opening (<NUM>) sized, shaped, and positioned to allow the footwell (<NUM>, <NUM>) to be received therein when the substructure (<NUM>) and the façade (<NUM>) are mated;
a plurality of openings (<NUM>) provided through the first wall and the second wall;
and in that the façade (<NUM>) is detachably affixed to the first and/or second wall of the monument substructure (<NUM>).