FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to improvements in or relating to lavatories.

BACKGROUND

The fuselage of an aircraft is generally segregated into checked luggage storage (the 'hold') and passenger accommodation (the 'cabin'). The hold is usually provided in a lower portion of the fuselage and separated from the cabin by a partition (commonly the cabin floor). Water and waste storage may also be allocated in the lower portion of the fuselage adjacent the hold.

A typical aircraft cabin is fitted with seating, storage, lavatories and galleys to accommodate the passengers.

Weight is a major consideration in aircraft design and fit out. The take-off weight of any aircraft can be divided into the weight of the aircraft and the weight of the cargo (including passengers) being carried. One measure of efficiency is the ratio of cargo weight to the aircraft take-off weight.

Weight is added to the essential aircraft structure when the aircraft is fitted out.

But unnecessary weight onboard an aircraft is undesirable.

The fuselage and partition covers protect the aircraft structure, reduce sound penetration from the engines, dampen cabin noise and provide a presentable cabin interior. To minimise weight and complication the panels are generally fabricated from a composite or polymer material and fastened to the fuselage. The panels are generally removable to enable repair and replacement. The panels are typically thin, light weight and resilient to conform to space, weight and maintenance constraints. Each panel is commonly affixed to the fuselage by fasteners to simplify installations and maintenance.

Similar panelling may be used for the internal walls segregating the different sections of aircraft such as galleys, toilet cubicles and seating area. These are usually sparse and plain looking, largely to keep weight down. The panels provide a functional skin for the cubicle, but result in an industrial or bland appearance. The industrial impression is typically compounded by the absence of a fuselage window and resulting artificial lighting.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide interior decoration for an aircraft that is more interesting and/ or to provide the public or industry with a useful choice. The term "comprising" as used in the specification and claims, means "consisting at least in part of. When interpreting a statement in this specification and claims that includes "comprising", features other than that or those prefaced by the term may also be present. Related terms such as "comprise" and "comprises" are to be interpreted in the same manner.

In this specification where reference has been made to patent specifications, other external documents, or other sources of information, this is generally for the purpose of providing a context for discussing the features of the invention. Unless specifically stated otherwise, reference to such external documents is not to be construed as an admission that such documents, or such sources of information, in any jurisdiction, are prior art, or form part of the common general knowledge in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect the present invention may be said to be a commercial passenger aircraft with a lavatory that includes an interior surface to which an image is applied visible to a lavatory occupier, the image being incongruous with an occupier's usual expectations.

Preferably an edge of the image is positioned adjacent an upright edge of the surface, the image extending toward another lateral edge of the surface.

Preferably an edge of the image is positioned adjacent a lateral edge of the surface, the image extending toward another lateral edge of the surface.

Preferably the image covers at least part and preferably the entire surface.

Preferably the image is applied to a wall of the lavatory.

Preferably the image is applied to the lavatory floor or ceiling.

Preferably the image is applied to lavatory door.

Preferably the image is carried by a film that is affixed to the surface.

Preferably the film is removable to allow the image to be removed from the surface.

Preferably the image, at least in part, depicts a bookshelf.

Preferably the image depicts, at least in part, an aircraft interior including an aircraft window.

Preferably the image includes a depiction of a portion of a person's face in the window as though the person were peering into the lavatory from outside the aircraft.

Preferably the lavatory is one that is not immediately adjacent to the fuselage wall of the aircraft. In a second aspect the present invention may broadly be said to be a plastic film adorned by an image and sized commensurately with a surface integrated with and visible within a commercial passenger aircraft lavatory, one side of the film configured to receive an adhesive suitable for bonding the film to the surface, the image being incongruous with an occupier's general expectations of the lavatory.

Preferably the image depicts, at least in part, a bookshelf.

Preferably the image depicts, at least in part, an aircraft interior including a window. Preferably the image depicts a portion of a person's face in the window as though the person were peering into the cubical from outside the aircraft.

Preferably the image is sized commensurately with a wall of an aircraft lavatory.

Preferably the image is sized commensurately with a door of an aircraft lavatory.

Preferably commensurately with an aircraft lavatory's floor.

Preferably the image is sized commensurately with an airliner lavatory's ceiling.

In yet a further aspect the present invention may broadly be said to be a lavatory of or for a commercial passenger aircraft, that includes an interior surface to which an image is applied visible to a lavatory occupier, the image being incongruous with an occupier's usual expectations.

Preferably an edge of the image is positioned adjacent an upright edge of the surface, the image extending toward another lateral edge of the surface.

Preferably an edge of the image is positioned adjacent a lateral edge of the surface, the image extending toward another lateral edge of the surface.

Preferably the image covers at least part and preferably the entire surface.

Preferably the image is applied to a wall of the lavatory.

Preferably the image is applied to the lavatory floor or ceiling.

Preferably the image is applied to lavatory door.

Preferably the image is carried by a film that is affixed to the surface.

Preferably the film is removable to allow the image to be removed from the surface. Preferably the image, at least in part, depicts a bookshelf.

Preferably the image depicts, at least in part, an aircraft interior including an aircraft window.

Preferably the image includes a depiction of a portion of a person's face in the window as though the person were peering into the lavatory from outside the aircraft. Preferably the lavatory is one that is not immediately adjacent to the fuselage wall of the aircraft.

In yet a further aspect the present invention may broadly be said to be a commercial passenger aircraft with a lavatory that includes an interior surface to which an image is applied visible to a lavatory occupier, the image is carried by a film that is applied to a wall of the lavatory and is of an extent to cover an area of said wall from at least one of (a) wall side to wall side and (b) ceiling to floor of said wall.

This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.

The invention consists in the foregoing and also envisages constructions of which the following gives examples only.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an airliner.

Figure 2 is a schematic illustrating an internal layout including seating, toilet cubicles and galleys.

Figure 3 is a schematic top view of an unoccupied airliner toilet cubical.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of an occupied airliner toilet cubical.

Figure5 is a cartoon image of a bookshelf. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A passenger aircraft 100 is illustrated in flight in Figure 1. By way of example only, the aircraft comprises a pair of lift generating wings 102 affixed to a fuselage 103. A cockpit 105 is positioned toward a fore end of the fuselage 103. Three tail wings 104 are positioned toward an aft end of the fuselage 103.The pictured aircraft has a single engine 101 on each wing 102.

An internal fuselage layout for part of an aircraft is illustrated in Figure 2.

Shown are passenger provisions, including seating and lavatory 220. The lavatory 220 is an enclosed space segregated from the remainder of the fuselage by cubicle walls 301. A lockable door (not illustrated) provides access to the cubical.

Space within aircraft lavatory is generally restricted to what is functionally required, as cubicle allocations reduce the seating capacity of the aircraft.

The weight allowance for each lavatory is similarly constrained. The illustrated lavatory incorporates a toilet 310, hand basin 320, and faucet 321. Typical aircraft lavatory may also include other items such as a mirror, toilet and tissue paper dispensers, waste paper disposal facilities and soap dispensers handrail 501 etc.

To alleviate the industrial atmosphere of a typical aircraft lavatory an image may be applied to one or more surfaces viewable by an occupant within the cubicle. Such an image is unlikely to impact on any space or weight restrictions imposed on the cubicle or contribute to any significant increase in the duration of occupancy. It is desirable that the individual occupancy duration of each aircraft toilet cubicle is low, as the allotment of lavatories on an airliner is commonly restrained.

It is preferable that the image be light-hearted and incongruous with the general perception of a lavatory (i.e. the image does not conform to the occupant's usual expectations). Such an image may be a zany, bizarre or humorous simulation. Exemplary images are provided in Figures 4 and 5.

The image 610 as shown in figure 4 may be an image of an aircraft cabin window looking outward and showing in image of the sky, ground, birds (e.g. seagulls as shown), a picture of part of a person or caricature of a person. Preferably the image is applied to at least part of one or more walls within the lavatory and may imitate a fuselage window.

Another example of an image is shown in Figure 5 which is an image 700 of a bookshelf 710. The bookshelf 710 is supporting numerous books 720. The image 700 can be applied to a wall within the cubicle or another suitable surface, such as the storage area below the basin.

It is preferable that the image be applied to a surface contributing to the toilet cubicle structure and be visible to an occupant. Appropriate surfaces of the toilet cubicle may include the walls, floor, ceiling or door, the base of the lavatory and the storage provision below the basin. The image may extend the entire surface or a portion of the surface as desired. The image is preferably applied to a film that is subsequently affixed to the cubicle surface. The film may be sized commensurately with the image, the intended surface or a compromise between the respective areas (i.e. larger than the image but smaller than the intended surface). The film may be fabricated from a suitable polymer and is preferably removable from the surface to allow the image to be replaced.

Preferably the film includes an adhesive backing (similar to a decal). The adhesive backing retains the film on the cubicle surface and can be dissolved or sufficiently weakened when the film is to be removed. The adhesive may be applied to the entire backing of the film or portions of the backing as required.