Space efficient lavatory module for commercial aircraft

Abstract

A space efficient lavatory module for commercial aircraft includes an aft facing concave wall recess that provides a greater distance from an upper, forward facing portion of a cabin structure, such as an aircraft passenger seat to avoid having a passenger's head impact the aft facing lavatory or enclosure wall in a sudden aircraft deceleration. The aft facing concave wall recess also provides space for mounting of a protective cushion, in order to reduce a passenger's risk of head trauma in a sudden deceleration, as well as other items, such as a video monitor, a bassinet or infant bed, without inhibiting passenger movement

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A lavatory unit for a cabin of an aircraft, comprising:
 an aft wall; and   a forward wall comprising:
 an upper portion; 
 a lower portion; 
 a middle portion below the upper portion defining an upper recess aftward of at least a portion of the lower portion; 
 a lower cavity proximate a bottom of the lower portion; 
   wherein the upper recess is adapted to receive at least a portion of an exterior aft surface of a seat back of a seat immediately forward of the forward wall;   wherein the lower cavity provides a volume aftward of at least a portion of the lower portion for receiving at least an aft-extending portion of a seat support of the seat.   
     
     
         3 . The lavatory unit of  claim 2 , wherein the forward wall is load-bearing. 
     
     
         4 . The lavatory unit of  claim 3 , wherein the forward wall is adapted to receive loads from the seat. 
     
     
         5 . The lavatory unit of  claim 3 , wherein the forward wall is adapted to receive loads from an adjacent structure exterior of the lavatory unit. 
     
     
         6 . The lavatory unit of  claim 3 , wherein the forward wall is adapted to receive loads from the seat and an adjacent structure exterior of the lavatory unit different from the seat. 
     
     
         7 . The lavatory unit of  claim 2 , wherein the seat back is upwardly and aftwardly inclined, and wherein a forward surface of the forward wall is shaped to substantially conform to the shape of the upwardly and aftwardly inclined seat back of the seat. 
     
     
         8 . The lavatory unit of  claim 7 , wherein an aft-facing surface of the lower portion is accessible from the interior. 
     
     
         9 . The lavatory unit of  claim 7 , wherein an aft-facing surface of the middle portion is accessible from the interior. 
     
     
         10 . The lavatory unit of  claim 7 , wherein at least an aft-facing surface of the upper portion, an aft-facing surface of the middle portion, and an aft-facing surface of the lower portion of the forward wall are accessible from an interior of the lavatory unit. 
     
     
         11 . The lavatory unit of  claim 2 , wherein the upper recess is adapted to receive at least a portion of the exterior aft surface of the seat back when the seat back is in an upright and not a reclined position. 
     
     
         12 . The lavatory unit of  claim 2 , wherein an aft-facing surface of the upper portion defines an interior secondary space aftward of an aft-facing surface of the upper portion, and wherein the secondary space is accessible from the exterior of the lavatory unit. 
     
     
         13 . A lavatory unit for a cabin of an aircraft, comprising:
 a plurality of walls comprising a forward wall portion, the forward wall portion comprising:
 an upper portion; 
 a lower portion; 
 a middle portion below the upper portion defining an upper recess aftward of at least one of a portion of the lower portion and a portion of the upper portion; 
 a lower cavity proximate a bottom of the lower portion; 
   wherein the upper recess is adapted to receive at least a portion of the exterior aft surface of a seat back of a seat immediately forward of the forward wall portion;   wherein the lower cavity provides a volume aftward of at least a portion of the lower portion for receiving at least an aft-extending portion of a seat support of the seat.   
     
     
         14 . The lavatory unit of  claim 13 , wherein the forward wall portion is load-bearing. 
     
     
         15 . The lavatory unit of  claim 14 , wherein the forward wall portion is adapted to receive loads from the seat. 
     
     
         16 . The lavatory unit of  claim 14 , wherein the forward wall portion is adapted to receive loads from an adjacent structure exterior of the lavatory unit. 
     
     
         17 . The lavatory unit of  claim 13 , wherein an aft-facing surface of the lower portion is accessible from the interior. 
     
     
         18 . The lavatory unit of  claim 13 , wherein an aft-facing surface of the middle portion is accessible from the interior. 
     
     
         19 . The lavatory unit of  claim 13 , wherein the upper recess is adapted to receive at least a portion of the exterior aft surface of the seat back when the seat back is in an upright and not a reclined position. 
     
     
         20 . A lavatory unit for a cabin of an aircraft, comprising:
 an aft wall; and   a forward wall comprising:
 an upper portion; 
 a lower portion; 
 a middle portion below the upper portion defining an upper recess aftward of at least a portion of the lower portion and at least a portion of the upper portion; 
 a lower cavity proximate a bottom of the lower portion; 
   wherein the upper recess is adapted to receive at least a portion of the exterior aft surface of a seat back of a seat immediately forward of the forward wall;   wherein the lower cavity provides a volume aftward of at least a portion of the lower portion, the lower cavity configured to receive at least an aft-extending portion of a seat support of the seat.   
     
     
         21 . The lavatory unit of  claim 20 , wherein the forward wall is adapted to receive loads from the seat and an adjacent structure exterior of the lavatory unit different from the seat. 
     
     
         22 . The lavatory unit of  claim 20 , wherein a forward surface of the forward wall is shaped to substantially conform to the shape of the upwardly and aftwardly inclined seat back of the seat. 
     
     
         23 . The lavatory unit of  claim 20 , wherein at least an aft-facing surface of the upper portion, an aft-facing surface of the middle portion, and an aft-facing surface of the lower portion of the forward wall are accessible from an interior of the lavatory unit. 
     
     
         24 . The lavatory unit of  claim 20 , wherein the upper recess is adapted to receive at least a portion of the exterior aft surface of the seat back when the seat back is in an upright and not a reclined position.