Aircraft Lavatory Door Integrated Flight Attendant Seat

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aircraft cabin designs face challenges in maximizing passenger capacity without compromising comfort, as existing configurations often require significant space for flight attendant seats and lavatories, which can obstruct aisles and reduce passenger seating capacity.

Innovation Solution

A modular configuration where a vehicle attendant seat is integrated into the door of a lavatory module, allowing the seat to fold into the door when not in use, thereby minimizing space usage and maintaining aisle accessibility, with a locking mechanism ensuring the seat can only be swiveled into an operating position when the door is locked.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a flight attendant seat is mounted separately from the door, then the seat is easily accessible, but more space is consumed and passenger seating capacity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseat accessibilityVSAvoidspace consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The flight attendant seat is merged with the door structure by fastening it directly to the door. This integration allows the seat to be stored within or attached to the door when not in use, significantly reducing the space occupied in the cabin while maintaining accessibility when the door is open.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The seat is designed to be nested within the door structure when not in use. The door acts as a container or mounting structure for the seat, allowing the seat to be stored inside or attached to the door, thereby minimizing the space consumed in the cabin area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Area of stationary object

If the seat is fastened to the door, then space is optimized, but the seat must be securely locked during flight

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace optimizationVSAvoidseat security

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A locking mechanism is integrated into the door structure that automatically locks the seat in its mounted position when the door is closed. This preliminary locking action ensures the seat is securely fastened before flight, addressing the reliability concern while maintaining the space-saving configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A locking mechanism acts as an intermediary between the door and the seat, providing a secure connection during flight. The locking mechanism ensures the seat remains firmly attached to the door while allowing for easy access when unlocked, thus resolving the contradiction between security and accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Length of moving object

If the seat is recessed into the door, then aisle accessibility is maintained, but the door structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaisle accessibilityVSAvoiddoor structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The door structure is segmented to include a recess or integrated mounting area for the seat. This segmentation allows the seat to be recessed into the door when not in use, maintaining aisle accessibility, while the modular design of the segmented door makes the overall structure more manageable despite the added complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10189571B2Module for an aircraft cabin with a seat fastened to a door

Publication Date: 2019.01.29 AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH

AI summary

A module for an aircraft cabin and an aircraft with a passenger cabin and such a module where the module includes a door to open the module, and a seat that is fastened to the door. The seat can be a vehicle attendant seat, and the module can be a lavatory. The rear side of the module can nestle against the pressure bulkhead in the tail of the aircraft. The module can include another module directly adjacent to its side, e.g., a galley module.