Double-Sided Lavatory Door Ashtray to Reduce Theft Risk
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial aircraft lavatory ashtrays are frequently stolen, leading to regulatory issues and high replacement costs, as they are often installed in multiple locations and can be easily accessed from both sides of the door, making them vulnerable to theft.
Innovation Solution
A double-sided ashtray integrated into the lavatory door with a design featuring rotating panels that pivot away from the door, reducing the number of access points and making theft more difficult, while maintaining functionality and reducing weight and installation complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate ashtrays are installed for inside and outside the lavatory, then both ashtrays are accessible and functional, but the number of access points increases making theft more likely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate ashtrays (one for inside the lavatory, one for outside) into a single dual-sided ashtray unit. This merged design maintains functionality for both locations while reducing the number of separate access points from two to one, thereby decreasing theft vulnerability while preserving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The ashtray is segmented into two functional sides - an interior side accessible from inside the lavatory and an exterior side accessible from outside. This segmentation allows each side to serve its specific purpose while being part of a single integrated unit that reduces overall access points.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple ashtrays are installed in different locations, then functionality is maintained, but replacement cost increases when theft occurs
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple ashtray functions into a single replaceable unit, the patent reduces replacement costs. When theft occurs, only one dual-sided ashtray needs to be replaced instead of multiple separate ashtrays, directly addressing the loss of substance issue while maintaining adaptability through the dual-sided design.
3Ease of operation
If separate ashtrays are installed for inside and outside the lavatory, then both sides are accessible, but the number of holes in the door increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the requirement for two separate door openings into a single opening that accommodates the dual-sided ashtray. This reduces installation complexity by requiring only one hole in the door while maintaining ease of operation through the rotatable design that provides access from both interior and exterior sides.
Solution Approach 2:
The ashtray incorporates a rotatable mechanism that allows it to dynamically change its orientation. This dynamic design enables a single static opening in the door to provide access to both sides of the ashtray at different times, reducing installation complexity while preserving accessibility from both interior and exterior locations.
Data Source
AI summary
A lavatory door including an ashtray is disclosed herein. The lavatory door includes a door panel having a first side and an opposing second side and the ashtray disposed within the door panel. The ashtray includes a first outer panel disposed along the first side of the door panel and configured to move away from the door panel, a second outer panel, opposite the first outer panel, disposed along the second side of the door panel and configured to move away from the door panel, and a bottom surface extending from the first outer panel to the second outer panel.