Aircraft galley sink stations having movable sink covers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9708064-B2
Application number	US-201514637035-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 3, 2015
Priority date	Mar 3, 2015
Publication date	Jul 18, 2017
Grant date	Jul 18, 2017

Abstract

Sink stations for galleys of aircraft and other vehicles, methods of operating such sink stations, and aircraft equipped with galleys having such sink stations. A sink station includes a sink cover, which may fully or partially cover a sink and extend the countertop space over the sink cavity. When covering the sink, the sink cover may support a set weight corresponding to objects typically used in galleys, such as pots, cups, and the like. The sink cover allows for liquid to pass into the sink cavity even when the sink cover is used to cover the sink thereby reduce spill clean-ups. The sink cover is movable and may partially or completely expose the sink cavity or keep it completely covered. For example, the sink cover may be folded and/or rolled away and stored at the sink station for periodic use.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An aircraft galley sink station for use in a galley of an aircraft, the aircraft galley sink station comprising:
a sink comprising:
a back wall,
a front wall,
a left side wall,
a right side wall, and
a bottom forming a sink cavity;

a faucet for delivering water into the sink cavity;
a sink cover movably connected to at least one of the back wall, the front wall, the left side wall, and the right side wall,
wherein the sink cover is movable with respect to the sink between a covered position and an open position,
wherein the sink cover is pivotably connected to at least the back wall,
wherein, when the sink cover is in the covered position, the sink cover substantially covers the sink cavity, extends substantially parallel to a plane defined by top edges of the back wall, the front wall, the left side wall, and the right side wall, and is configured to support a set weight exerted on to the sink cover in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the top edges of the back wall, the front wall, the left side wall, and the right side wall,
wherein the sink cover is supported by at least two of the back wall, the front wall, the left side wall, and the right side wall when the sink cover is in the covered position,
wherein the sink cavity is substantially open when the sink cover is in the open position, and
wherein the sink cover comprises a plurality of openings allowing a liquid to pass through the sink cover and into the sink when the sink cover in the covered position.

2. The aircraft galley sink station of claim 1 , wherein the sink cover is supported by all four of the back wall, the front wall, the left side wall, and the right side wall while the sink cover is in the covered position.

3. The aircraft galley sink station of claim 1 , wherein, when the sink cover is in the covered position, the sink cover extends within the plane defined by top edges of the back wall, the front wall, the left side wall, and the right side wall.

4. The aircraft galley sink station of claim 3 , wherein the top edges of at least the left side wall or the right side wall are parts of a countertop of an aircraft galley.

5. The aircraft galley sink station of claim 1 , wherein the sink cover is separably connected to the at least one of the back wall, the front wall, the left side wall, and the right side wall allowing the sink cover to be removed from the sink.

6. The aircraft galley sink station of claim 1 , wherein the sink cover is foldable.

7. The aircraft galley sink station of claim 1 ,
wherein the sink cover comprises:
a front portion, and
a back portion, and

wherein the front portion is movable relative to the sink independently from the back portion allowing a partially closed position of the sink cover.

8. The aircraft galley sink station of claim 7 , wherein the front portion and the back portion are connected by a middle hinge.

9. The aircraft galley sink station of claim 7 , wherein the back portion is supported by at least one of the left side wall or the right side wall when the sink cover is in the partially closed position.

10. The aircraft galley sink station of claim 1 ,
wherein the sink cover comprises:
a first portion, and
a second portion, and

wherein the first portion and the second portion are independently attached to the back wall of the sink and independently movable with respect to the back wall.

11. The aircraft galley sink station of claim 10 ,
wherein the first portion comprises:
a first front portion, and
a first back portion pivotably attached to the first front portion, and

wherein the second portion comprises a second front portion and a second back portion pivotably attached to the second front portion.

12. The aircraft galley sink station of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first rail, and
a second rail,
the first rail and the second rail supporting the sink cover in the covered position and in the opened position and supporting the sink cover while moving between the covered position and in the opened position,

wherein the first rail is disposed along the left side wall, and
wherein the second rail is disposed along the right side wall.

13. The aircraft galley sink station of claim 12 ,
wherein the sink cover comprises multiple hinges extending between the first rail and the second rail, and
wherein the multiple hinges separate multiple portions of the sink cover foldable with respect to each other thereby allowing the sink cover to advance along the first rail and the second rail between the covered position and in the opened position.

14. An aircraft galley sink station for use in a galley of an aircraft, the aircraft galley sink station comprising:
a sink comprising:
a back wall,
a front wall,
a left side wall,
a right side wall, and
a bottom forming a sink cavity;

a faucet for delivering water into the sink cavity;
a sink cover movably connected to at least one of the back wall, the front wall, the left side wall, and the right side wall,
wherein the sink cover is movable with respect to the sink between a covered position and an open position,
wherein, when the sink cover is in the covered position, the sink cover substantially covers the sink cavity, extends substantially parallel to a plane defined by top edges of the back wall, the front wall, the left side wall, and the right side wall, and is configured to support a set weight exerted on to the sink cover in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the top edges of the back wall, the front wall, the left side wall, and the right side wall,
wherein the sink cover is supported by at least two of the back wall, the front wall, the left side wall, and the right side wall when the sink cover is in the covered position,
wherein the sink cavity is substantially open when the sink cover is in the open position,
wherein the sink cover comprises a plurality of openings allowing a liquid to pass through the sink cover and into the sink when the sink cover in the covered position,
wherein the back wall of the sink comprises a compartment, and
wherein the sink cover is disposed within the compartment when the sink cover is in the open position.

15. The aircraft galley sink station of claim 14 , wherein the sink comprises a compartment cover covering the compartment and protecting the sink cover within the compartment.

16. An aircraft galley sink station for use in a galley of an aircraft, the aircraft galley sink station comprising:
a sink comprising:
a back wall,
a front wall,
a left side wall,
a right side wall, and
a bottom forming a sink cavity;

a faucet for delivering water into the sink cavity;
a sink cover movably connected to at least one of the back wall, the front wall, the left side wall, and the right side wall,
wherein the sink cover is movable with respect to the sink between a covered position and an open position,
wherein, when the sink cover is in the covered position, the sink cover substantially covers the sink cavity, extends substantially parallel to a plane defined by top edges of the back wall, the front wall, the left side wall, and the right side wall, and is configured to support a set weight exerted on to the sink cover in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the top edges of the back wall, the front wall, the left side wall, and the right side wall,
wherein the sink cover is supported by at least two of the back wall, the front wall, the left side wall, and the right side wall when the sink cover is in the covered

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Vandewall Cynthia A
• Chew Mun Yee
• HOO Fang Rong Bonnibelle

Classifications

• B64D11/04

  Galleys · CPC title

• A47K1/12

  Wash-basins attachable to sinks; Collapsible washing stands attachable to sinks · CPC title

• A47K1/04

  Basins (connected to waste pipe E03C1/12); Jugs; Holding devices therefor · CPC title

• A47K1/00

  Wash-stands; Appurtenances therefor · CPC title

• B64D11/02 Primary

  Toilet fittings · CPC title