Aircraft Lavatory Layout With Movable Divider for Accessibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lavatories in commercial aircraft occupy a significant amount of space, reducing the available area for passenger seating and posing challenges for individuals with reduced mobility, while existing solutions either compromise on space or accessibility.
Innovation Solution
A lavatory system comprising two adjacent lavatory units within a single enclosure, arranged side-to-side, which maintains space for additional seating and includes features like moveable dividers and storage compartments for enhanced accessibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a traditional single lavatory is installed in a commercial aircraft, then it provides basic lavatory functions, but it occupies excessive space (20%-30% more longitudinal area than a seat assembly) reducing passenger seating capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The lavatory is divided into two separate lavatory units (first and second lavatory units) within a single enclosure, each with its own door and access. This segmentation allows more efficient space utilization while providing multiple functional areas, thereby reducing the overall space required compared to a traditional single lavatory while maintaining passenger seating capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
Two complete lavatory units are combined within a single shared enclosure structure. By merging the enclosures and sharing common walls, doors, and structural elements, the design achieves space efficiency while providing the functionality of two separate lavatories, thus reducing total space occupation without compromising passenger seating.
2Productivity
If a traditional confined lavatory is designed to reduce space, then it increases passenger seating capacity, but it creates difficulty for persons of reduced mobility to maneuver between entrance, toilet, and sink
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the lavatory into two separate units with individual doors, each unit can be designed with optimized internal dimensions and layouts that accommodate persons of reduced mobility more easily, while the overall enclosure footprint remains space-efficient for maximizing passenger seating capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The inclusion of a movable partition wall allows the lavatory configuration to be dynamically adjusted. When the partition is repositioned or removed, it creates expanded accessible space that facilitates easier maneuverability for persons of reduced mobility between the entrance, toilet, and sink areas.
3Ease of operation
If a larger lavatory is designed specifically for persons of reduced mobility, then it improves accessibility and maneuverability, but it necessarily reduces space for other components such as passenger seating
Solution Approach 1:
Two lavatory units are merged within a single enclosure that utilizes the aircraft's existing structural features (such as bulkheads and window lines). This merging approach allows the lavatory to provide enhanced accessibility for persons of reduced mobility while conforming to the aircraft's existing space constraints, thereby maintaining passenger seating capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The lavatory design optimizes the use of three-dimensional space by strategically positioning fixtures and utilizing vertical space. This dimensional optimization allows for improved accessibility and maneuverability within the confined enclosure without increasing the longitudinal footprint, thus preserving passenger seating capacity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
A lavatory system (150) within an internal cabin (100, 152) of a vehicle includes an enclosure defining an interior chamber (182), a first lavatory unit (156) within the interior chamber (182), and a second lavatory within the interior chamber (182). The first lavatory unit (156) is adjacent to the second lavatory unit (158). In at least one example, a lavatory within an internal cabin (100, 152) of a vehicle includes an interior chamber (182) defined by one or more outer walls, and a storage compartment extending outwardly from at least one of outer walls. The storage compartment defines an internal storage space that connects to the interior chamber (182). In at least one example, a lavatory includes a first lavatory unit (156), a second lavatory adjacent to the first lavatory unit (156), and a containment compartment common to the first lavatory unit (156) and the second lavatory unit (158).