Lavatory reconfiguration system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9308997-B2
Application number	US-201213621462-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 17, 2012
Priority date	Sep 17, 2012
Publication date	Apr 12, 2016
Grant date	Apr 12, 2016

Abstract

A method and apparatus operating a moveable partition. The moveable partition is configured for use with a first lavatory and a second lavatory. The moveable partition is further configured to separate the first lavatory and the second lavatory into separate spaces within a fixed perimeter for the first lavatory and the second lavatory when the moveable partition is in a first configuration. The moveable partition is further configured to define a single space within the fixed perimeter when the moveable partition is in a second configuration. The moveable partition is connected to a door for the first lavatory in the second configuration.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a moveable partition configured for use with a first lavatory and a second lavatory, wherein the moveable partition is configured to separate the first lavatory and the second lavatory into separate spaces within a fixed perimeter for the first lavatory and the second lavatory when the moveable partition is in a first configuration and wherein the moveable partition is configured to define a single space within the fixed perimeter when the moveable partition is in a second configuration; and
a hinge system rotatably connecting the moveable partition to a door of the first lavatory about a common axis, wherein the moveable partition is foldable and configured to be folded against the door in the second configuration.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first lavatory includes a first toilet and a first wash basin and the second lavatory includes a second toilet and a second wash basin and wherein the first toilet, the first wash basin, the second toilet, and the second wash basin are unobstructed by the moveable partition in the second configuration.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a connector system configured to hold the moveable partition in a folded position against the door.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:
a divider adjacent to at least one of the first toilet and the second toilet, wherein the divider is configured to move.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the divider is configured to rotate.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the first lavatory includes the first toilet and the second lavatory includes the second toilet and wherein rotation of the divider towards the wall increases accessibility to at least one of the first toilet and the second toilet.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the moveable partition is comprised of a composite material.

8. A method for reconfiguring lavatory space in an aircraft, the method comprising:
moving a moveable partition for a first lavatory and a second lavatory between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein the first configuration separates the first lavatory and the second lavatory into separate spaces within a fixed perimeter for the first lavatory and the second lavatory, and wherein the second configuration has a single space present within the fixed perimeter and the moveable partition is rotatably connected to a door about a common axis by a hinge system, wherein the moveable partition is foldable and configured to be folded against the door in the second configuration.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first lavatory includes a first toilet and a first wash basin and the second lavatory includes a second toilet and a second wash basin and wherein the first toilet, the first wash basin, the second toilet, and the second wash basin are unobstructed by the moveable partition in the second configuration.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising:
a connector system configured to hold the moveable partition in a folded position against the door.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the connector system is a magnetic connector system.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first lavatory includes a first toilet and the second lavatory includes a second toilet and wherein a divider is located adjacent to at least one of the first toilet and the second toilet, wherein the divider is configured to rotate towards a wall and rotation of the divider towards the wall increases accessibility to at least one of the first toilet and the second toilet.

13. A method of operating an aircraft, the method comprising:
operating the aircraft in which a first lavatory and a second lavatory are located in the aircraft with a moveable partition configured for use with the first lavatory and the second lavatory, wherein the moveable partition is configured to separate the first lavatory and the second lavatory into separate spaces within a fixed perimeter for the first lavatory and the second lavatory when the moveable partition is in a first configuration and wherein the moveable partition is configured to define a single space within the fixed perimeter when the moveable partition is in a second configuration, wherein the moveable partition is rotatably connected to a door about a common axis by a hinge system, wherein the moveable partition is foldable and configured to be folded against the door in the second configuration.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first lavatory includes a first toilet and a first wash basin and the second lavatory includes a second toilet and a second wash basin and wherein the first toilet, the first wash basin, the second toilet, and the second wash basin are unobstructed by the moveable partition in the second configuration.

15. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the divider is adjacent to the first toilet and the second toilet.

Assignees

• Scown Stephen Lee
• Wilcynski Paul Joseph
• Nix Jeffrey
• Spane Marc Anton
• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Scown Stephen Lee
• Wilcynski Paul Joseph
• Nix Jeffrey
• Spane Marc Anton

Classifications

• B64D11/0023

  Movable or removable cabin dividers, e.g. for class separation · CPC title

• B64D11/02 Primary

  Toilet fittings · CPC title