Dot (department of transportation) lavatory and shower combination
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsMark E. Wentland, Wing Cheung, Kevin Shimasaki
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An expandable, modular, multi-mode lavatory for aircraft featuring its multi-mode use as a lavatory, shower and accommodations for handicapped persons. The invention comprises a primary structure with a volume that expands into adjacently located unused space, such as an aircraft's main entry cross-aisleway. Deployable walls and doors are used to create a partitioned environment. A false bottom shower pan cover provides structural support for wheelchairs while also being removable to reveal a modular shower pan for bathing.
Claims10
A multi-mode lavatory for aircraft comprising in combination:
- a shower area;
- said shower area having a floor, shower floor pan, and shower floor pan cover;
- a toilet area including a floor;
- a bi-fold door separating said shower area from said toilet area;
- said bi-fold door disposed in a closed condition, and said shower floor pan cover disposed in an upward position exposing said shower floor pan when said multi-mode lavatory for said aircraft is in a shower mode;
- and,
- said bi-fold door disposed in an open position, and said shower floor pan cover disposed in a down position covering said shower floor pan when said multi-mode lavatory for said aircraft is in a handicap lavatory mode thereby positioning the floor of said shower area even with the floor of said toilet area.
A multi-mode lavatory for aircraft-comprising in combination:
- a shower area;
- a toilet area;
- a-changing area;
- a bi-fold door separating said shower area and said changing area for providing multiple use of said shower area and said toilet area at the same time;
- a wall separating said shower area and said changing area;
- a doorway area adjacent said wall;
- and,
- said wall separating said shower and said changing area expandable into said doorway area adjacent said wall during takeoff and landing of the aircraft.
In combination:
- a DOT lavatory disposed adjacent a door and doorway area;
- a moveable door for closing off said door and doorway area for providing a passenger clothes changing area;
- and,
- including a further door facing said doorway area for use by passengers who have disrobed to gain access to a lavatory shower module through said doorway area.
A shower and lavatory system for aircraft comprising in combination:
- a DOT lavatory for accommodating handicapped passengers;
- said DOT lavatory having a fold-up shower pan and a lockable bi-fold door;
- and,
- said shower and lavatory system providing simultaneous use by two aircraft passengers.
a DOT lavatory and shower module for aircraft comprising:
- a doorway changing area;
- a sink, toilet and shower disposed in a single modular housing disposed adjacent said doorway changing area;
- and,
- locking means for separating said sink and toilet from said shower and doorway changing area.
A method of operating an expandable, modular, multi-mode lavatory and shower combination in an aircraft comprising the steps of:
- closing a bi-fold door and rotating a shower floor pan cover upward to expose a shower floor pan to operate the expandable, modular, multi-mode lavatory and shower combination in a shower mode;
- and,
- opening the bi-fold door and rotating the shower floor pan cover down to cover the shower floor pan to operate the expandable, modular, multi-mode lavatory and shower combination in a handicap lavatory mode.
An expandable, modular, multi-mode lavatory for aircraft comprising in combination:
- a DOT lavatory including a toilet area provided adjacent to a door and doorway area;
- and,
- a sliding wall and door for closing off said door and doorway area thereby providing a clothes changing area for passengers;
- and, further including a shower area adjacent said changing area, and a bi-fold door separating said shower area from said toilet area.
In combination:
- a DOT lavatory disposed adjacent a door and doorway area in an aircraft;
- a shower area unused during takeoff of the aircraft;
- a changing area;
- a wall separating said shower area and said changing area;
- said wall expandable into said doorway area;
- and,
- a rotatable filler panel for filling the gap between said expandable wall and a floor pan.
In combination:
- a multimode lavatory shower module for aircraft;
- a lavatory door disposed on the side of said multimode lavatory shower module;
- and,
- a sliding wall door structure over a lavatory door opening in the same direction as said lavatory door.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.