Patent ID: 12258126

FIG.1shows a detail of a rear end of an aircraft cabin11. The aircraft is an aircraft type denoted “single aisle”, comprising a central aisle18and two groups of first aircraft seats6arranged to the sides thereof. In the rear portion of the aircraft cabin11, a monument comprising an aircraft kitchen module1and two sanitary modules2and3is provided, which monument is mounted in the aircraft cabin11in a preassembled form, as a unit.

The two groups of first aircraft seats6are delimited by two partitions7, at the end facing the monument, such that, with the exception of the central aisle18, the passengers sitting on the first aircraft seats6are visually and acoustically separated from the monument. Two exits10that branch off to the sides from the central aisle18and that comprise an exit door9in each case are provided between the partitions7and the monument, which exits can be designed as a normal exit or as an emergency exit.

Two second aircraft seats8are provided on the partitions7, on each of which seats a cabin crew member can sit during the take-off and landing phase of the aircraft. The second aircraft seats8are the Cabin Attendant Seats (CAS) described at the outset. The second aircraft seats8are foldable and can therefore be folded up into a position that frees the exits10. Furthermore, a camera of a video surveillance device5, which camera is directed towards the first aircraft seats6, is provided on one of the partitions7. In order for the camera to record as far as possible all the passengers of the aircraft cabin11, said camera is arranged in an upper portion of one of the partitions7, close to the central aisle18, and oriented forwards, into the aircraft cabin11, in the direction of flight, so as to be at as shallow an angle as possible. Alternatively, the camera of the video surveillance device5can also be arranged in a front portion of the aircraft cabin11and be directed to the first aircraft seats6, from the front. Furthermore, the video surveillance device5can also comprise a plurality of cameras directed to different groups of the first aircraft seats6.

A monitor4oriented transversely to the direction of flight is provided on a front wall19on the aircraft kitchen module1, which monitor is arranged in an upper portion of the aircraft kitchen module1and so as to be at the eye height of the cabin crew member sitting opposite, on the second aircraft seat8, as can also be seen inFIG.2.

The aircraft kitchen module1comprises a plurality of standardised slide-in compartments of different sizes and shapes. In a lower portion of the aircraft kitchen module1, a double-width slide-in compartment comprising two trolleys13and14arranged therein is provided on the right-hand side, the left-hand side of which compartment is adjoined by a single-width slide-in compartment comprising just one trolley12. The double-width slide-in compartment is of a depth that corresponds to the depth of three “half-size trolleys”, meaning that three half-size trolleys or one full-size trolley and one half-size trolley can be inserted therein. In contrast, the single-width slide-in compartment is only the depth of two half-size trolleys or the depth of one full-size trolley, meaning that, accordingly, two half-size trolleys or one full-size trolley can be inserted therein. The trolleys12,13and14are used for storing food and drinks and are pre-packed by catering firms located at the airport. Furthermore, a compartment comprising a rubbish bin15is provided on the left-hand lower portion of the aircraft kitchen module1, below which rubbish bin a shut-off valve20is furthermore provided, by means of which valve the entire monument can be separated from a central compressed air supply of the aircraft.

In an upper portion of the aircraft kitchen module1, a plurality of smaller slide-in compartments having corresponding slots17is provided, in which compartments for example a coffee machine, crockery, cutlery, ice cubes or also simply additional packaging for the food and drinks stored in the trolleys12,13and14can be received. The division of the upper slide-in compartments is slightly set back with respect to a horizontal central partition of the aircraft kitchen module1, such that the central partition forms a work surface on the upper face thereof. Furthermore, a slot-like, vertical storage compartment16is provided to the side of the slide-in compartments, in which storage compartment the monitor4can be inserted when in a non-use position. In the use position, which can be seen inFIG.2, the monitor4is oriented so as to be perpendicular to the direction of flight and having the display in the direction of flight. The monitor4is of approximately the dimensions of a conventional computer monitor, having a screen diagonal of at least 13 inches, and is used for reproducing images of the aircraft cabin11recorded by the video surveillance device5. The cabin crew member sitting on the second aircraft seat8arranged opposite thereto is at a distance of approximately 0.8 to 1.5 m in front of the monitor4and can clearly identify the images shown on said monitor, in an adequate size, owing to the size of the monitor4. This is achieved in this case in particular by using a monitor4of a corresponding size, having a resolution of at least 1280×720 pixels, preferably 1920×1080 pixels.

In this case, the aircraft kitchen module1has been slightly reduced in size and expanded into a monument by combining it with the sanitary modules2and3, with the result that the two individual toilets, previously provided, to the right and left of the central aisle18, are omitted.

In this case, this space gained in the aircraft cabin11can be used for arranging one or two further rows of first aircraft seats6, with the result that the passenger capacity of the aircraft increases. This advantage is provided in particular in the case of aircraft of the “single aisle” aircraft type, which are preferably used for short-haul flights. In the case of short-haul flights, it is not disadvantageous for the aircraft kitchen module1in the monument to be designed so as to be slightly smaller than conventional aircraft kitchen modules1, since the amount of food and drinks to be served is also slightly smaller in the case of short-haul flights.

In this case, the monument is realised in the form of a wall having a smaller aircraft kitchen module1in the left-hand half, and two narrower sanitary modules2and3in the right-hand half. In addition to or instead of the monitor4provided on the aircraft kitchen module1, monitors4can also be provided, instead or in addition, on the sanitary modules2and3, as can be seen inFIG.1. If a plurality of monitors4is provided, said monitors can be designed for reproducing the images of different cameras, and can thus show different portions of the aircraft cabin11in a view that is enlarged compared with the use of a single monitor4.

The monitors4are preferably arranged on the aircraft kitchen module1or the sanitary modules2and3, in the upper half of the monument, such that the cabin crew can observe said monitors in an ergonomic and expedient manner, in as horizontal a perspective as possible, when sitting upright. Furthermore, the monitor4can also be fixedly arranged on a slot17of the aircraft kitchen module1, such that the slot17can be pushed into and out of the slide-in compartment, together with the monitor4. The monitor4thus does not prevent use of the slot17. If the monitor4is pivotably movable into a use position, the pivotability and the use position defined thereby is selected such that the monitor4covers a surface, in the use position, in which either no slide-in compartment is provided, or in which a slide-in compartment is provided that comprises a slot17used only rarely.

EMBODIMENTS

Embodiment 1. Monument for an aircraft cabin (11), characterised in thata monitor (4) for reproducing the images recorded by a video surveillance device (5) is provided on the monument.

Embodiment 2. Monument according to embodiment 1, characterised in thatthe monitor (4) is arranged so as to be transverse to the direction of flight, in a use position.

Embodiment 3. Monument according to either of the preceding embodiments, characterised in thata second aircraft seat (8) arranged opposite the monitor (4) is provided on the monument.

Embodiment 4. Monument according to any of the preceding embodiments, characterised in thatthe monitor (4) is pivotably retained on the monument.

Embodiment 5. Monument according to any of the preceding embodiments, characterised in thata storage compartment (16) for receiving the monitor (4) is provided on the monument.

Embodiment 6. Monument according to any of the preceding embodiments, characterised in thatthe monitor (4) comprises one or more optical input and output units and/or one or more acoustic input and output units and/or one or more haptic input units.

Embodiment 7. Monument according to any of the preceding embodiments, characterised in thatthe monitor (4) is designed for reproducing the image of the viewer.

Embodiment 8. Monument according to any of the preceding embodiments, characterised in thatthe monitor (4) has a resolution of at least 1280×720 pixels, preferably 1920×1080 pixels.

Embodiment 9. Monument according to any of the preceding embodiments, characterised in thatthe monitor (4) has a screen diagonal of at least 13 inches.

Embodiment 10. Monument according to any of the preceding embodiments, characterised in thatthe monument comprises an aircraft kitchen module (1), and the monitor (4) is arranged on the aircraft kitchen module (1).

Embodiment 11. Monument according to any of the preceding embodiments, characterised in thatthe monument comprises at least one sanitary module (2,3), and that the monitor (4) is arranged on the sanitary module (2,3).

Embodiment 12. Aircraft comprising a monument according to any of embodiments 1 to 11, characterised in thatthe video surveillance device (5) and the monitor (4) together form a stand-alone system that is independent of further devices.

Embodiment 13. Aircraft according to claim12or comprising a monument according to any of embodiments 1 to 11, characterised in thatthe aircraft comprises an order system that provides for an order process personalised to the aircraft seat, andthe monitor (4) is designed for reproducing the order process personalised to the aircraft seat.

Embodiment 14. Aircraft according to either embodiment 12 or embodiment 13 or comprising a monument according to any of embodiments 1 to 11, characterised in thatthe aircraft comprises a communications device personalised to the aircraft seat, andthe monitor (4) is designed for reproducing the signals transmitted by the communication device.

Embodiment 15. Aircraft according to any of embodiments 12 to 14 or comprising a monument according to any of embodiments 1 to 11, characterised in thata second aircraft seat (8) arranged so as to be opposite the monitor (4), in the assembled position, is provided in the aircraft.