# US 2017/0284076 A1 · Systems and methods for automatically cleaning a lavatory floor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0284076 A1 - Document ID: US20170284076A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/176,323 - Filed: 2016-06-08 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-31 - Assignees: The Boeing Company - Applicants: The Boeing Company - Inventors: Charles C. Jensen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170284076A1 ## CPC - E03D 9/002: {Automatic cleaning devices} - B64C 1/18: Floors - B64D 11/02: Toilet fittings - B64F 5/30: Cleaning aircraft - E03D: WATER-CLOSETS OR URINALS WITH FLUSHING DEVICES; FLUSHING VALVES THEREFOR - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT - B64F: GROUND OR AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-DECK INSTALLATIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT; DESIGNING, MANUFACTURING, ASSEMBLING, CLEANING, MAINTAINING OR REPAIRING AIRCRAFT, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; HANDLING, TRANSPORTING, TESTING OR INSPECTING AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A self-cleaning floor assembly is configured to form or be positioned on a floor of an enclosed space. The self-cleaning floor assembly includes a moveable floor including a moveable floor panel, an actuation system that is operatively coupled to the floor panel, and a cleaning system proximate to at least a portion of the moveable floor. The actuation system is configured to move at least a portion of the floor panel into and through the cleaning system during a cleaning cycle. The cleaning system is configured to clean the portion(s) of the floor panel during the cleaning cycle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A self-cleaning floor assembly that is configured to form or be positioned on a floor of an enclosed space, the self-cleaning floor assembly comprising: a moveable floor including a moveable floor panel; an actuation system that is operatively coupled to the floor panel; and a cleaning system proximate to at least a portion of the moveable floor, wherein the actuation system is configured to move at least a portion of the floor panel into and through the cleaning system during a cleaning cycle, and wherein the cleaning system is configured to clean the at least a portion of the floor panel during the cleaning cycle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The self-cleaning floor assembly of claim 1, wherein the moveable floor further comprises: at least one conveyor moveably coupled to the floor panel; and a support that is configured to support the floor panel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The self-cleaning floor assembly of claim 1, wherein the actuation system comprises: an actuator; and at least one link that operatively couples the actuator to the moveable floor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The self-cleaning floor assembly of claim 1, wherein the cleaning system comprises a vacuum that is configured to remove debris from the at least a portion of the floor panel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The self-cleaning floor assembly of claim 1, wherein the cleaning system comprises a cleaner that is configured to clean the at least a portion of the floor panel during the cleaning cycle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The self-cleaning floor assembly of claim 5, wherein the cleaner comprises at least one nozzle in fluid communication with a storage tank that contains cleaning fluid, wherein the cleaning fluid is deposited onto the at least a portion of the floor panel through the at least one nozzle during the cleaning cycle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The self-cleaning floor assembly of claim 5, wherein the cleaner comprises at least one ultraviolet (UV) light that is configured to irradiate the at least a portion of the floor panel during the cleaning cycle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The self-cleaning floor assembly of claim 1, wherein the cleaning system comprises a dryer that is configured to dry the at least a portion of the floor panel during the cleaning cycle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The self-cleaning floor assembly of claim 1, wherein the actuation system and the cleaning system are deactivated when the enclosed space is occupied by an individual. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The self-cleaning floor assembly of claim 1, wherein a width of the floor panel is the same as the width of a threshold of the enclosed space. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The self-cleaning floor assembly of claim 1, further comprising a control unit that is in communication with the actuation system and the cleaning system, wherein the control unit is configured to operate the actuation system and the cleaning system during the cleaning cycle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The self-cleaning floor assembly of claim 11, wherein the control unit is configured to deactivate the actuation system and the cleaning system when the enclosed space is occupied by an individual. ### Claim 13 A method of automatically cleaning a floor within an enclosed space, the method comprising: operatively coupling an actuation system to a floor panel of a moveable floor; moving, by the actuation system, at least a portion of the floor panel into and through a cleaning system during a cleaning cycle; and cleaning, by the cleaning system, the at least a portion of the floor panel during the cleaning cycle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the operatively coupling comprises operatively coupling an actuator of the actuation system to the moveable floor with at least one link. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the cleaning comprises vacuuming debris from the at least a portion of the floor panel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the cleaning comprises depositing cleaning fluid onto the at least a portion of the floor panel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the cleaning comprises irradiating the at least a portion of the floor panel with ultraviolet (UV) light. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the cleaning comprises drying the at least a portion of the floor panel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising deactivating the cleaning cycle when the enclosed space is occupied by an individual. ### Claim 20 An aircraft comprising: a fuselage having an internal cabin, wherein a lavatory is located within the internal cabin; wings outwardly extending from the fuselage; an empennage outwardly extending from the fuselage; one or more engines carried by one or more of the wings and the empennage; and a self-cleaning floor assembly that forms or is positioned on a floor of the lavatory, wherein the self-cleaning floor assembly comprises: a moveable floor including a moveable floor panel; an actuation system that is operatively coupled to the floor panel; and a cleaning system proximate to at least a portion of the moveable floor, wherein the actuation system is configured to move at least a portion of the floor panel into and through the cleaning system during a cleaning cycle, and wherein the cleaning system is configured to clean the at least a portion of the floor panel during the cleaning cycle.