# US 10,307,024 B2 · Dual mode toilet assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,307,024 B2 - Document ID: US10307024B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/360,049 - Filed: 2016-11-23 - Published: 2017-06-01 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2015-11-27 - Assignees: Airbus Operations GmbH - Applicants: Airbus Operations GmbH - Inventors: Christian Seibt; Jens Wiebalck; Georg Rose - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307024B2 ## CPC - A47K 17/028: {Foot- or knee-rests} - A47K 17/02: Body supports, other than seats, for closets, e.g. handles, back-rests, foot-rests; Accessories for closets, e.g. reading tables - A47K 17/026: {Armrests mounted on or around the toilet (A47K17/022 takes precedence)} - B64D 11/02: Toilet fittings - E03D 11/02: Water-closet bowls (auxiliary chambers with connections to flushing water for bowl-cleaning utensils E03D9/06; modified for using upwardly-directed sprays E03D9/08; seats or covers A47K13/00 ){; Bowls with a double odour seal optionally with provisions for a good siphonic action; siphons as part of the bowl (parts or details of bowls E03D11/13)} - E03D 11/04: Bowls of flat shape with only slightly inclined bottom {; Squat-type closets} - E03D 11/13: Parts or details of bowls; Special adaptations of pipe joints or couplings for use with bowls {, e.g. provisions in bowl construction preventing backflow of waste-water from the bowl in the flushing pipe or cistern, provisions for a secondary flushing, for noise-reducing} - E03D 11/135: {Supports for bowls} - A47K 17/022: {Wall mounted grab bars or handles, with or without support on the floor} - A47K 2017/006: {Defecation help for disabled persons} - Y02T 50/40: Weight reduction - A47K: SANITARY EQUIPMENT; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR, e.g. TOILET ACCESSORIES - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT - E03D: WATER-CLOSETS OR URINALS WITH FLUSHING DEVICES; FLUSHING VALVES THEREFOR - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A passenger lavatory unit has an enclosing structure enclosing a lavatory space, and a toilet assembly inside the lavatory space. The toilet assembly has a toilet bowl and a shroud to support the user during use. The toilet assembly serves as a hybrid toilet to be used as a sitting toilet or as a squatting toilet. The shroud includes an upper edge surrounding an upper opening of the toilet bowl. To accommodate a user sitting position, the upper edge is provided as a toilet seat, and a feet-placing area is provided on a floor segment in front of the toilet assembly. The shroud has two lateral tread portions, one on either side of the toilet bowl. To accommodate a user squatting position, the tread portions are provided as elevated rest-platforms arranged on an intermediate level provided above a floor level and below a toilet seat level. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A passenger lavatory unit, comprising: an enclosing structure at least partly enclosing a lavatory space; and a toilet assembly arranged inside the lavatory space, the toilet assembly comprising: a load bearing base unit; a toilet bowl for receiving and discharging material, the toilet bowl supported by the base unit; support structures coupled to the base unit and comprising two lateral support surfaces; and a one-piece shroud structure that is a separate and distinct component from the toilet bowl, the shroud structure configured to support a user during use of the toilet assembly and configured to cover the toilet bowl, the shroud structure having an interface section for a functional connection with the toilet bowl, and the shroud structure removably connected to the toilet bowl and the base unit; wherein the toilet assembly is provided as a hybrid toilet configured to be used as a sitting toilet in a first mode of use, and as a squatting toilet in a second mode of use; wherein the shroud structure comprises a toilet seat integrated therein and having an upper edge at least partly surrounding an upper opening of the toilet bowl, the toilet seat allowing the user to adopt a sitting position during the first mode of use; wherein a feet placing area is provided on a floor segment in front of the toilet assembly to allow the user to adopt the sitting position during the first mode of use; wherein the shroud structure comprises two lateral tread portions integrated therein, one on either side of the toilet bowl, and, for allowing the user to adopt a squatting position during the second mode of use, the lateral tread portions are provided as elevated rest-platforms, which are arranged on an intermediate level provided above a floor level and below a toilet seat level; and wherein the lateral support surfaces abut the shroud structure below the lateral tread portions to transfer load. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The passenger lavatory unit according to claim 1, wherein: the shroud structure is configured to be exchangeable; and the toilet bowl is configured to remain mounted and connected to the base unit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The passenger lavatory unit according to claim 1, wherein the shroud structure is a multifunctional supporting cover structure, which transfers load from the upper edge and from the tread portions to a floor structure, and which covers the toilet bowl while providing access to the upper opening of the toilet bowl. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The passenger lavatory unit according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate level is provided approximately halfway between a floor level and a toilet seat level. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The passenger lavatory unit according to claim 1, wherein the toilet seat level is in the range of approximately 40 to 50 cm above the floor level, and the intermediate level is in the range of approximately 20 to 30 cm above the floor level. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The passenger lavatory unit according to claim 1, wherein the tread portions are provided as lateral pedestal sections that extend from the toilet bowl to adjacent space-enclosing surfaces. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The passenger lavatory unit according to claim 1, wherein the tread portions are provided with a front edge that is displaced in relation to a front edge of the shroud structure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The passenger lavatory unit according to claim 1, wherein the tread portions are provided as overhanging portions that project in a forward manner such that a floor rest portion is provided below at least a part of the tread portions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The passenger lavatory unit according to claim 1, wherein the upper edge of the shroud structure comprises an elevated front portion providing a splash-guard. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The passenger lavatory unit according to claim 1, further comprising a toilet lid that is pivotably mounted by a hinge at a rear portion of the upper edge, wherein the toilet lid is foldable along a line parallel to a pivoting axis of the hinge. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The passenger lavatory unit according to claim 1, further comprising a movable toilet seat that is pivotably mounted by a hinge at a rear portion of the upper edge, wherein, the toilet seat is foldable along a line parallel to a pivoting axis of the hinge. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The passenger lavatory unit according to claim 1, wherein: the toilet assembly comprises a configurable toilet kit comprising the one-piece shroud structure and a second type of shroud; the second type of shroud is provided with only an upper edge for a sitting toilet type; and the one-piece shroud structure and the second type of shroud are provided as exchangeable and replaceable components. ### Claim 13 An on-board interior space structure comprising: at least one passenger section for accommodating passengers; and at least one passenger lavatory unit comprising an enclosing structure at least partly enclosing a lavatory space, and a toilet assembly arranged inside the lavatory space, the toilet assembly comprising: a load bearing base unit; a toilet bowl for receiving and discharging material, the toilet bowl supported by the base unit; support structures coupled to the base unit and comprising two lateral support surfaces; and a one-piece shroud structure that is a separate and distinct component from the toilet bowl, the shroud structure configured to support a user during use of the toilet assembly and configured to cover the toilet bowl, the shroud structure having an interface section for a functional connection with the toilet bowl, and the shroud structure removably connected to the toilet bowl and the base unit; wherein the toilet assembly is provided as a hybrid toilet configured to be used as a sitting toilet in a first mode of use, and as a squatting toilet in a second mode of use; wherein the shroud structure comprises a toilet seat integrated therein and having an upper edge at least partly surrounding an upper opening of the toilet bowl, the toilet seat allowing the user to adopt a sitting position during the first mode of use; wherein a feet placing area is provided on a floor segment in front of the toilet assembly to allow the user to adopt the sitting position during the first mode of use; wherein the shroud structure comprises two lateral tread portions integrated therein, one on either side of the toilet bowl, and, for allowing the user to adopt a squatting position during the second mode of use, the lateral tread portions are provided as elevated rest-platforms, which are arranged on an intermediate level provided above a floor level and below a toilet seat level; wherein the lateral support surfaces abut the shroud structure below the lateral tread portions to transfer load; and wherein the least one passenger lavatory unit is accessible from the at least one passenger section. ### Claim 14 A vehicle, comprising: a body structure; and at least one on-board interior space having at least one lavatory unit comprising an enclosing structure at least partly enclosing a lavatory space, and a toilet assembly arranged inside the lavatory space, the toilet assembly comprising: a load bearing base unit; a toilet bowl for receiving and discharging material, the toilet bowl supported by the base unit; support structures coupled to the base unit and comprising two lateral support surfaces; and a one-piece shroud structure that is a separate and distinct component from the toilet bowl, the shroud structure configured to support a user during use of the toilet assembly and configured to cover the toilet bowl, the shroud structure having an interface section for a functional connection with the toilet bowl, and the shroud structure removably connected to the toilet bowl and the base unit; wherein the toilet assembly is provided as a hybrid toilet configured to be used as a sitting toilet in a first mode of use, and as a squatting toilet in a second mode of use; wherein the shroud structure comprises a toilet seat integrated therein and having an upper edge at least partly surrounding an upper opening of the toilet bowl, the toilet seat allowing the user to adopt a sitting position during the first mode of use; wherein a feet placing area is provided on a floor segment in front of the toilet assembly to allow the user to adopt the sitting position during the first mode of use; wherein the shroud structure comprises two lateral tread portions integrated therein, one on either side of the toilet bowl, and, for allowing the user to adopt a squatting position during the second mode of use, the lateral tread portions are provided as elevated rest-platforms, which are arranged on an intermediate level provided above a floor level and below a toilet seat level; wherein the lateral support surfaces abut the shroud structure below the lateral tread portions to transfer load; wherein the vehicle is provided as at least one of the group of a train carriage, a coach, and an aircraft; and wherein the at least one on-board interior space is provided by the body structure. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the vehicle is an aircraft, the body structure is a fuselage structure, and the fuselage structure accommodates the at least one interior space in form of at least one cabin structure; and wherein the at least one lavatory unit is arranged within the at least one cabin structure.