Lavatory system

• US 7,007,318 B1
• Filed: 02/12/2003
• Issued: 03/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bradley Fixtures Corporation (Bradley Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bradley Fixtures Corporation (Bradley Corporation)
• Inventors: Perrin, Timothy E., Bork, Kevin W.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TUAN N
• Application Number:
  US10/366,681
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: 466/3, 466/4, 423/4, 424/1, 424/8, 425/3, 425/4, 424/61, 424/64
• US Class Current: 4/664
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 13/12 Hinges
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 4/00 Combinations of baths, douches, sinks, wash-basins, closets, or urinals, not covered by a single other group of this subclass such combinations when connected to water supply or waste pipe E03C1/01

Abstract

A lavatory system is disclosed. The lavatory system comprises a base, a panel coupled to the base and configured for translating movement between a first position and a second position, a cover configured for pivoting movement relative to the base between a deployed position and a stowed position, a linkage coupled to the cover and the panel, and a motion control device including a damper configured to affect the movement of the cover and the panel. The linkage comprising at least one member configured to transfer the pivoting movement of the cover to translating movement of the panel. Movement of the cover from the deployed position towards the stowed position actuates the at least one member to move the panel from an extended position towards a retracted position. The damper is configured to control the velocity of the cover during movement.

Claims

1. In a lavatory having a base and a commode with a bowl, an apparatus comprising:

a panel coupled to the base and configured for movement between a first position and a second position;

a cover coupled to the panel and configured for movement between a first position and a second position; and

a first linkage including a motion dampening device coupled to the cover and configured to dampen the movement of the cover;

wherein access to the bowl of the commode is at least partially obstructed by movement of the cover.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cover is deployed in the first position of the cover and is stowed in the second position of the cover.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the cover is configured to provide a seating surface when deployed and wherein the panel is a backrest.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the panel is deployed in the first position of the panel and stowed in the second position of the panel.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second linkage coupled to the panel and the cover and configured to transfer movement of the cover to movement of the panel.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the motion dampening device provides a first force that biases the cover in at least one of the first position or the second position.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the first force is configured to assist the movement of the cover and to counteract a second force generated by the weight of the cover.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the motion dampening device comprises at least one of a gas spring, a shock, a damper, a hydraulic shock, or a solid spring.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the motion dampening device is configured to provide a generally constant impedance.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the motion dampening device is configured to provide a varying impedance to movement of the cover.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a biasing member coupled to the cover and configured to provide a biasing force on the cover.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the biasing force is applied to the cover when the cover is near at least one of the first position of the cover or the second position of the cover.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the biasing force applied to the cover is reduced when the cover is generally midway between the first position of the cover and the second position of the cover.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the biasing force is configured to assist in initiating movement of the cover from at least one of the first position of the cover or the second position of the cover.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the biasing force is applied to the cover when the cover is near the first position of the cover and the second position of the cover.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the biasing member comprises a spring.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the motion dampening device is configured to dampen the velocity that the cover can move between the first position of the cover and the second position of the cover.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the movement of the panel between the first position of the panel and the second position of the panel is translating movement so that the panel remains substantially vertical and wherein the movement of the cover between the first position of the cover and the second position of the cover is pivoting movement.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the second linkage comprises a member having a first portion coupled to the cover and a second portion coupled to the motion control device and a biasing member having a first end coupled to the member and a second end coupled to the base.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the motion dampening device is configured to dampen the movement of the cover between the first position of the cover and the second position of the cover.

21. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a backrest pad coupled to the backrest, wherein the backrest pad is removable from the backrest by selective engagement of one or more projections and one or more apertures.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the projections extend from the backrest and the apertures are located on a bracket coupled to the backrest pad.

23. A lavatory system comprising:

a base;

a panel coupled to the base and configured for translating movement between a first position and a second position;

a cover configured for pivoting movement relative to the base between a deployed position and a stowed position;

a linkage coupled to the cover and the panel, the linkage comprising at least one member configured to transfer the pivoting movement of the cover to translating movement of the panel; and

a motion control device including a damper coupled to the cover;

wherein movement of the cover from the deployed position towards the stowed position actuates the at least one member to move the panel from an extended position towards a retracted position; and

wherein the damper is configured to control the velocity of the cover during movement.

24. The lavatory system of claim 23 wherein the damper also provides a biasing force that biases the cover in the first position or the second position.

25. The lavatory system of claim 24 wherein the biasing force is configured to assist the movement of the cover and to counteract the torque force generated by the weight of the cover.

26. The lavatory system of claim 23 further comprising a biasing member coupled to the cover and configured to apply a biasing force on the cover.

27. The lavatory system of claim 26 wherein the biasing force is applied to the cover when the cover is near at least one of the first position or the second position.

28. The lavatory system of claim 26 wherein the biasing force is configured to assist in initiating movement of the cover from at least one of the first position or the second position.

29. The lavatory system of claim 23 wherein the damper is configured to provide a constant impedance to movement of the cover.

30. The lavatory system of claim 23 further comprising a barrier mounted adjacent to a gap between the cover and the panel.

31. The lavatory system of claim 30 wherein the barrier is hingedly coupled to the cover or the panel along a first edge.

32. The lavatory system of claim 31 wherein the barrier is configured to pivot about a hinge as the cover moves between the first position and the second position.

33. The lavatory system of claim 32 wherein a second side of the barrier is configured to slide along the surface of the cover as the cover moves between the first position and the second position.

34. The lavatory system of claim 23 wherein the base comprises a bracket and a top mounted to the bracket, wherein the top includes one or more projections configured to engage the bracket to the position the top relative to the bracket prior to assembly.

35. A lavatory system comprising:

a base;

a commode;

a cover coupled to the base and configured for movement between a stowed position which allows access to the commode and a deployed position which obstructs access to the commode;

a backrest coupled to the cover at an interface that forms a gap between the cover and the backrest; and

a barrier configured to extend at least partially across the gap to inhibit access to the commode through the gap.

36. The lavatory system of claim 35 wherein the barrier is hingedly coupled to the cover or the backrest along a first edge.

37. The lavatory system of claim 35 wherein the barrier is configured to pivot about a hinge as the cover moves between the stowed position and the deployed position.

38. The lavatory system of claim 35 wherein a portion of the barrier is configured to slide along the surface of the cover as the cover moves between the stowed position and the deployed position.