Vehicle lavatory uv light sanitization system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023398246-A1
Application number	US-202118039400-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 19, 2021
Priority date	Jan 19, 2021
Publication date	Dec 14, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle lavatory monument assembly that includes an enclosure having a plurality of walls that cooperate to define a lavatory interior, an entry door positioned on one of the plurality of walls, and a UV sanitization system that includes a first light module positioned in the lavatory interior. The first light module includes an ultraviolet light source that emits ultraviolet light rays and a lens member. The UV sanitization system also includes a first reflective surface having a reflective coating thereon, a first direct surface to be sanitized, and a first indirect surface to be sanitized. The lens member is configured to direct ultraviolet light rays to the first direct surface to be sanitized and to direct ultraviolet light rays to the first reflective surface. The first reflective surface is angled to direct ultraviolet light rays to the first indirect surface to be sanitized.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A vehicle lavatory monument assembly comprising:
an enclosure that includes a plurality of walls that cooperate to define a lavatory interior, wherein an entry door is positioned on one of the plurality of walls, and a UV sanitization system that includes a first light module positioned in the lavatory interior, wherein the first light module includes an ultraviolet light source that emits ultraviolet light rays and a lens member, a first reflective surface that includes a reflective coating thereon, a first direct surface to be sanitized, a first indirect surface to be sanitized, wherein the lens member is configured to direct ultraviolet light rays to the first direct surface to be sanitized, wherein the lens member is configured to direct ultraviolet light rays to the first reflective surface, and wherein the first reflective surface is angled to direct ultraviolet light rays to the first indirect surface to be sanitized.

2 . The vehicle lavatory monument assembly of claim 1 wherein the UV sanitization system includes a controller that is configured to activate the UV sanitization system a predetermined number of seconds after the lavatory interior has been vacated.

3 . The vehicle lavatory monument assembly of claim 1 wherein the UV sanitization system includes a controller that is configured to activate the UV sanitization system a predetermined amount of time after a previous activation of the UV sanitization system.

4 . The vehicle lavatory monument assembly of claim 1 wherein the first reflective surface is located adjacent to a non-reflective surface.

5 . The vehicle lavatory monument assembly of claim 4 wherein the first reflective surface is not parallel to the non-reflective surface.

6 . The vehicle lavatory monument assembly of claim 1 wherein the lens member includes a first portion with a first thickness and a second portion with a second thickness, wherein the first portion is configured to direct ultraviolet light rays to the first direct surface to be sanitized, wherein the second portion is configured to direct ultraviolet light rays to the first reflective surface.

7 . The vehicle lavatory monument assembly of claim 1 wherein the UV sanitization system includes a manual activation switch configured to activate the UV sanitization system, and wherein the manual activation switch is located outside the lavatory interior.

8 . The vehicle lavatory monument assembly of claim 7 wherein the manual activation switch is part of an activation assembly, wherein the activation assembly includes an indication system that is configured to indicate a UV sanitization status of the lavatory interior.

9 . The vehicle lavatory monument assembly of claim 8 , wherein the indication system includes a plurality of indication lights that include a first indication state and a second indication state, wherein the first indication state indicates that the vehicle interior is clean, and wherein the second indication state indicates that the vehicle interior is not clean.

10 . The vehicle lavatory monument assembly of claim 7 wherein the manual activation switch is disabled when the lavatory interior is occupied.

11 . The vehicle lavatory monument assembly of claim 7 wherein the manual activation switch is disabled when the entry door is locked.

12 . The vehicle lavatory monument assembly of claim 1 wherein the first direct surface to be sanitized includes a first visual indication coating on an outer surface thereof, wherein the first visual indication coating includes at least a first phosphorescing additive, wherein the first phosphorescing additive is configured to illuminate when irradiated by a first light that includes light waves within a predetermined wavelength range, and wherein the first phosphorescing additive is present in the first visual indication coating in a predetermined pattern.

13 . A vehicle lavatory monument assembly comprising:
an enclosure that includes a plurality of walls that cooperate to define a lavatory interior, wherein an entry door is positioned on one of the plurality of walls, and a UV sanitization system that includes a first light module positioned in the lavatory interior, wherein the first light module includes an ultraviolet light source that emits ultraviolet light rays and a lens member, a first reflective surface that includes a reflective coating thereon, a first direct surface to be sanitized, a first indirect surface to be sanitized, wherein the lens member is configured to direct ultraviolet light rays to the first direct surface to be sanitized, wherein the lens member is configured to direct ultraviolet light rays to the first reflective surface, wherein the first reflective surface is angled to direct ultraviolet light rays to the first indirect surface to be sanitized, wherein the first reflective surface is located adjacent to a non-reflective surface, wherein the first reflective surface is not parallel to the non-reflective surface, wherein the UV sanitization system includes an activation assembly that includes a manual activation switch configured to activate the UV sanitization system, wherein the manual activation switch is located outside the lavatory interior, wherein the activation assembly includes an indication system that is configured to indicate a UV sanitization status of the lavatory interior, wherein the indication system includes a plurality of indication lights that include a first indication state and a second indication state, wherein the first indication state indicates that the vehicle interior is clean, and wherein the second indication state indicates that the vehicle interior is not clean, wherein the manual activation switch is disabled when the lavatory interior is occupied, and wherein the manual activation switch is disabled when the entry door is locked.

14 . The vehicle lavatory monument assembly of claim 13 wherein the UV sanitization system includes a controller that is configured to activate the UV sanitization system a predetermined number of seconds after the lavatory interior has been vacated.

15 . The vehicle lavatory monument assembly of claim 13 wherein the UV sanitization system includes a controller that is configured to activate the UV sanitization system a predetermined amount of time after a previous activation of the UV sanitization system.

Assignees

• Safran Cabin Inc

Inventors

• Smithson Tyler
• Del Pinto James
• De La Cruz Marie
• Verweij Ron
• Ducos Romain

Classifications

• A61L2103/75

  Room floors or walls · CPC title

• A61L2/10 Primary

  Ultraviolet [UV] radiation · CPC title

• B64D11/02 Primary

  Toilet fittings · CPC title

• A61L2202/14

  Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs · CPC title

• A61L2202/25

  Human Necessities · mapped topic