Modular lavatory system optimized for narrow body commercial aircraft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9862491-B2
Application number	US-201514677626-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 2, 2015
Priority date	Apr 7, 2014
Publication date	Jan 9, 2018
Grant date	Jan 9, 2018

Abstract

An optimized, multi-configuration cabin and lavatory arrangement for a single aisle aircraft that adds either another row of seating or increases cabin space without sacrificing performance or function of the existing components. The invention includes a space efficient lavatory that may incorporate various design configurations to meet the needs of airlines seeking to generate additional revenue. The configuration of the present invention uses a reduction in the lavatory floor plan with the option for a modular flex wall area to provide a customizable combination that gains extra cabin space for carriers that can be utilized for additional revenue streams.

First claim

We claim:

1. A modular system for a cabin area of a commercial passenger aircraft, comprising:
a lavatory module comprising a forward wall and an aft wall, each of the walls having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the aft wall is substantially flat, the upper portion of the forward wall extends along a first plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the aircraft, and
the lower portion of the forward wall extends along a second plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft, such that the upper and lower portions of the forward wall define a void area between the first plane and the second plane and below the upper portion of the forward wall, the void area being configured to receive at least a portion of a seat and being situated outside of the lavatory module: and
a modular unit comprising a forward wall and an aft wall the forward wall of the modular unit abutting the upper portion of the aft wall of the lavatory module and extending downwardly from the top of the aft wall of the lavatory module.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the seat is a flight attendant fold down seat, wherein the seat in a retracted position is substantially contained between the first plane and the second plane.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the modular unit comprises a removable drink dispenser.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the seat comprises at least a seat back configured to extend between the first plane and the second plane when in an unreclined position.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the modular unit includes a vending machine.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein an interior region aft of the upper portion of the forward wall comprises a storage locker.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a lavatory storage region at least partially disposed between the first plane and the second plane, wherein the lavatory storage region is accessible from inside the modular lavatory.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the modular unit is a passenger rental storage space.

9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a flight attendant seat installed on the aft wall, wherein the flight attendant seat is positioned under the modular unit such that the flight attendant seat, when in a stowed position, is entirely contained with the region extending from aft wall to a third plane along which an aft portion of the modular unit extends.

10. The system of claim 9 , further comprising a storage compartment disposed below the flight attendant seat.

11. A method for optimizing use of space in a cabin area of a single aisle commercial aircraft with a modular lavatory system, comprising:
installing a lavatory module of the modular lavatory system, the lavatory module comprising
a first side wall disposed on a first side of the lavatory module, the first side wall including a lower portion and an upper portion, wherein the upper portion is wider in a dimension parallel to a longitudinal axis of the commercial passenger aircraft than the lower portion, such that
the upper portion extends along a first plane parallel to a latitudinal axis of the commercial passenger aircraft, and
the lower portion extends along a second plane parallel to the latitudinal axis of the commercial passenger aircraft,
wherein a void area between the first plane and the second plane is configured to accommodate at least a portion of a seat, the void area being situated outside of the lavatory module, and

a modular wall disposed on a second side of the lavatory module, the modular wall being configured to abut a selected module of at least two interchangeable modules; and

installing a first module of the at least two interchangeable modules, the first module including a forward wall and an aft wall, wherein, upon installation, the forward wall of the first module abuts the modular wall of the lavatory module, such that in combination, the lavatory module and the first module integrate into an existing cabin lining space sized for a preexisting standard lavatory.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the seat is a flight attendant seat mounted beneath the upper portion such that the flight attendant seat in a folded position is substantially contained between the first plane and the second plane.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein a first module of the at least two interchangeable modules is a full-height module, and a second module of the at least two interchangeable modules is a partial height module, wherein the partial height module is configured to mount proximate a ceiling of a cabin area of the passenger aircraft.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the selected module comprises a vending machine.

15. A method for retrofitting a cabin area of a single aisle commercial aircraft with a modular lavatory system, comprising:
replacing a preexisting lavatory with a modular lavatory compartment, wherein the modular lavatory compartment comprises a first side wall including an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion is wider in a dimension parallel to a longitudinal axis of the commercial passenger aircraft than the lower portion, such that
the upper portion extends along a first plane parallel to a latitudinal axis of the commercial passenger aircraft, and
the lower portion extends along a second plane parallel to the latitudinal axis of the commercial passenger aircraft,
wherein a void area between the first plane and the second plane is configured to accommodate at least a portion of a passenger seat;

repositioning the passenger seat rearward toward the modular lavatory compartment, such that the top portion extends above a height of a headrest of the at least one passenger seat, and a portion of a seat back of the passenger seat extends between the first plane and the second plane when the passenger seat is in a reclined position; and
installing, proximate a rearward wall of the modular lavatory compartment, a selected module of at least two interchangeable plug-and-play modules, the selected module having a forward wall and an aft wall, the forward wall abutting the upper portion of the first side wall of the modular lavatory compartment;
wherein, upon installation, the modular lavatory compartment combined with the selected module substantially conforms to a footprint of the preexisting lavatory.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein a combined weight of the modular lavatory compartment and the selected module is less than a weight of the preexisting lavatory.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein repositioning the at least one passenger seat comprises moving the at least one passenger seat rearwardly within the cabin area by at least 6 inches.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the at least two interchangeable plug-and-play modules are designed for interchangeable installation with little to no downtime for the passenger aircraft.

Assignees

• Be Aerospace Inc

Inventors

• Mckee Jefferey
• Skelly Trevor

Classifications

• B64D2011/0046

  Modular or preassembled units for creating cabin interior structures · CPC title

• Y02T50/46

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• B64D11/02 Primary

  Toilet fittings · CPC title

• B64D11/0691

  specially adapted for cabin crew · CPC title

• Y02T50/40

  Weight reduction · CPC title