Dual pivot expandable lavatory

An expandable lavatory disposed in an airplane, said airplane having a passenger doorway area, said lavatory comprising:

• (a) a stationary assembly disposed proximate said passenger doorway area, said stationary assembly comprising a side wall, a corner post affixed to said side wall and a lavatory door pivotably attached to said corner post;
• (b) a toilet assembly affixed within said stationary assembly away from said lavatory door;
• (c) a primary module pivotably attached to said post, said primary module being movable within an opening formed in said side wall from a stowed position substantially within said stationary assembly to a deployed position substantially outside of said stationary assembly within said doorway areas;
• (d) locking means for securing said primary module within said lavatory in said stowed position and in said deployed position, and
• (e) a secondary module pivotably attached to said side wall and being movable within said opening from a stowed position substantially within said stationary assembly to a deployed position substantially outside of said stationary assembly within said doorway area, said secondary module being provided with means for urging movement of said secondary module when said primary module is moved.

A process for using unused doorway space proximate a doorway disposed in an airplane, said process comprising:

• (a) disposing a stationary assembly proximate said passenger doorway area, said stationary assembly comprising a side wall having an opening, a corner post affixed to said side wall and a lavatory door pivotably attached to said corner hinge subassembly;
• (b) affixing a toilet assembly within said stationary assembly away from said lavatory door;
• (c) pivotably attaching a primary module to said corner post;
• (d) pivotably attaching a secondary module to said side wall;
• (e) providing said secondary module with means for urging movement of said secondary module when said primary module is pivoted
• (e) locking said primary module and said secondary module within said lavatory in a stowed position substantially within said stationary assembly;
• (f) unlocking said primary module and said secondary module when said airplane is in normal flight,
• (g) moving each of said modules within said opening from said stowed position to a deployed position substantially outside of said stationary assembly within said doorway area.

An expandable lavatory comprising:

• (a) a stationary assembly having a substantially open side wall;
• (b) a stationary toilet assembly affixed within said stationary assembly, said toilet having a plumbing system;
• (c) a primary module pivotably attached to said side wall, said primary module having a shell and being movable within said side wall from a stowed position substantially within said stationary assembly to a deployed position substantially outside of said stationary assembly, at least a portion of said plumbing system being supported within said shell;
• (d) a releasable locking assembly for securing said primary module in said stowed position and in said deployed position;
• (e) a secondary module pivotably attached to said side wall and being movable within said side wall from a stowed position substantially within said stationary assembly to a deployed position substantially outside of said stationary assembly, and
• (f) means for urging movement of said secondary module when said primary module is moved.

A process for increasing the number of passenger seats in an airplane, said airplane having an interior area proximate a passenger doorway, said process comprising:

• (a) positioning an expandable lavatory proximate said doorway area;
• (b) providing said expandable lavatory with a fixed shell containing a stationary toilet, said fixed shell having an open fixed wall, said stationary toilet having a plumbing system;
• (c) pivotably attaching a primary module to said fixed wall, said primary module having a first movable shell, at least a portion of said plumbing system being supported by said first movable shell, said primary module capable of being pivoted to a position within said doorway areas whereby space within said airplane may be saved and said lavatory may be used by passengers;
• (d) pivotably attaching a secondary module to another portion of said fixed wall, said secondary module being pivotable along with said secondary module to a position within said doorway area whereby space within said airplane may be saved by said expandable lavatory and said lavatory may be used by passengers, and
• (e) installing additional passenger seats in space saved by said lavatory, whereby the revenue generating potential of said airplane may be increased.

An expandable lavatory comprising:

• (a) a fixed lavatory subassembly of limited human-usable volume, said lavatory subassembly having an open sidewall;
• (b) a toilet affixed within said lavatory subassembly;
• (c) a corner post attached to said lavatory subassembly proximate said open side wall;
• (d) a primary module pivotably attached to said corner post, said primary module comprising a primary movable wall and a primary shell, said primary movable wall being pivotable between a stowed position abutting said open side wall and a deployed position away from said open side wall, said primary shell being attached to said primary movable wall and being capable of passing through said open side wall, and
• (e) a secondary module pivotably attached to said lavatory subassembly proximate said open side wall, said secondary module having a secondary movable wall and a secondary shell, said secondary shell being attached to said secondary movable wall and being capable of passing through said open side wall, said secondary movable wall being pivotable between a stowed position abutting said open side wall and a deployed position away from said open side wall, said secondary module interacting with said primary module, whereby when said primary module is pivoted away from said open side wall to said deployed position, said secondary module is also pivoted away from said open side wall and the human-usable volume of said expandable lavatory is increased, and when said primary module is pivoted into said stowed position, said secondary module is also pivoted into said stowed position.