PRIORITY REFERENCE

This application claims benefit of and hereby incorporates by reference French Patent Application No. FR 15 57737, filed on Aug. 14, 2015.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a toilet cabin for a public transport vehicle, in particular for a rail vehicle, intended to receive a person with reduced mobility.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Such a toilet cabin must be sufficiently spacious so as to enable the use thereof by a person with reduced mobility, and in particular to enable this person to maneuver a wheelchair in a sufficiently comfortable manner. To this end, when the minimum interior width of the floor of the train is greater than 2400 mm, the standard TSI 2014 (Technical Specifications for Interoperability) imposes the requirement of having an architecture within the interior of the toilet module that makes it possible to adhere to an approach method for laterally approaching the toilet bowl. This method of lateral approach requires the presence, in the toilet cabin, of a circular space having a diameter of 1500 mm. The TSI 2014 standard also provides for a clearance measuring 700 mm in length in front of the wash basin, in order to allow for the person with reduced mobility to access the wash basin, as well as a mirror or any other component item of the toilet cabin.

However, a simple increase in the dimensions of the toilet cabin in order to comply with the requirements of this standard TSI 2014 is not satisfactory, because the general dimensional footprint of the toilet cabin would then become too large.

SUMMARY

The objective of the invention is in particular to remedy this drawback by offering a toilet cabin that is optimized in order to meet the requirements of the standard TSI 2014, while also presenting a limited dimensional footprint. To this end, the object of the invention relates to a toilet cabin for a public transport vehicle, in particular for a rail vehicle, intended to receive a person with reduced mobility, characterized in that it is delimited by:

- a front wall;
- a rear wall, arranged to be facing the front wall, and separated from the front wall by a first distance, with a toilet bowl being arranged in the proximity of this rear wall, this toilet bowl being turned to be facing toward the front wall
- a first lateral wall, in the proximity of which the toilet bowl is arranged; and
- a second lateral wall, arranged to be facing the first lateral wall, a second maximal distance being defined between this second lateral wall and the first lateral wall
  and in that at least one circular space, delimited by a virtual circle tangent to the toilet bowl, is defined in the proximity of the second lateral wall, this circular space being free of any fixed obstructing fittings, and the virtual circle presenting a diameter that is greater than 95% of the first distance and greater than 70% of the second maximal distance.

This arrangement of the toilet bowl, in the proximity of the rear wall and the first lateral wall, and this definition of the circular space, makes it possible to obtain a toilet cabin whose dimensional footprint is optimized while also taking into account the requirements of standard TSI 2014.

It should be noted that the second maximal distance is defined as being the distance between two farthest points, one of which is taken on the first lateral wall, and the other is taken on the second lateral wall, in a direction perpendicular to the first lateral wall.

When the first and second lateral walls are parallel, this second maximal distance is in a conventional manner the distance between these walls.

When the second lateral wall is not straight, for example comprising at least one curved part, the second maximal distance is the distance between the most distant point of the second lateral wall and the first lateral wall, in a direction perpendicular to the first lateral wall.

A toilet cabin according to the invention may also include one or more of the following characteristic features, taken into consideration alone or in all technically possible combinations.

- The first lateral wall bears a functional panel that includes in particular a wash basin, and a free space, devoid of any fixed obstructing fittings other than the wash basin and having a length greater than 40% of the first distance, is provided in front of the toilet bowl, with the wash basin being located adjacent to this free space.
- The circular space and the free space overlap in part.
- The toilet cabin includes a lateral drop-down grab rail arranged in the proximity of the toilet bowl, that is movable between a deployed (drop-down) position, in which the lateral grab rail extends into the circular space, substantially parallel to the toilet bowl, and a retracted (raised) position in which the lateral grab rail extends outside of the said circular space.
- The lateral grab rail is arranged at a distance that is greater than 800 mm from the second lateral wall.
- The toilet bowl extends substantially parallel to the first and second lateral walls.
- The toilet cabin includes a curved sliding door extending in the closed position between the front wall and the second lateral wall, substantially parallel to an arc of the virtual circle delimiting the circular space, and arranged to be facing this arc.
- The first distance is substantially equal to 1560 mm, the second maximal distance is substantially equal to 2100 mm, and the diameter of the virtual circle is substantially equal to 1500 mm.

The invention also relates to a public transport vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, characterized in that it includes a toilet cabin as previously defined above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention shall be better understood upon reading the description that will follow, given merely by way of an example, and made with reference to the figures annexed among which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view from the top of the toilet cabin according to an example of embodiment of the invention, in which a wheelchair is represented in lateral approach position;

FIG. 2 is a view that is similar to FIG. 1, in which the wheelchair is represented in diagonal approach position;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view from the top of the toilet cabin according to a second example of embodiment of the invention, in which a wheelchair is represented in lateral approach position; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic view from the front of a functional panel fitted within the toilet cabin.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Represented in FIGS. 1 and 2, is a toilet cabin 10 designed to be installed in a public transport vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle.

The toilet cabin 10 includes a rear wall 12, and a front wall 14 arranged to be facing the rear wall 12, substantially parallel to the latter, and separated from this rear wall 12 by a first distance D1.

The toilet cabin 10 also includes a first lateral wall 16 and a second lateral wall, 18, arranged to be facing the first lateral wall 16, substantially parallel to the latter, and separated from this first lateral wall 16 by a second maximal distance D2.

The toilet cabin 10 includes a toilet bowl 20, arranged in the proximity of the rear wall 12 and the first lateral wall 16. In other words, the toilet bowl 20 is arranged in a corner of the toilet cabin 10.

More particularly, the toilet bowl 20 is preferably spaced away from the rear wall 12 at a distance of less than 50 mm, and it is preferably spaced from the first lateral wall at a distance of between 150 mm and 170 mm, for example substantially equal to 160 mm.

The rear of the toilet bowl 20 is defined to be facing the rear wall 12, and the front of the toilet bowl 20 is defined to be facing the front wall 14. In other words, the toilet bowl 20 is turned towards the front wall 14. It should be noted that the front of the toilet bowl 20 corresponds to the front of a user in the normal seated use position.

In addition, the toilet bowl 20 extends in a longitudinal direction substantially parallel to the first 16 and second 18 lateral walls.

This position of the toilet bowl 20 such as defined here above is optimal for minimizing the general overall dimensions of the toilet cabin 10.

Preferably, a deployable changing table 22 is arranged in a conventional manner above the toilet bowl 20, by being securely fixed to the rear wall 12.

The first lateral wall 16 bears a functional panel 24, which includes in particular a wash basin 26, fitted with a faucet 26A.

This functional panel 24 also comprises other functional elements of the toilet cabin 10, in particular:

- a device for dispensing toilet paper;
- a flush system push button actuator for the toilet bowl;
- an emergency call button;
- a water distribution circuit, and an access hatch for accessing a water tank;
- a mirror positioned above the wash basin 26;
- a soap dispensing device disposed in the proximity of the wash basin 26;
- a hand towel device, in particular for dispensing of paper or linen towels;
- a water distribution circuit;
- an electrical panel, and/or
- any other possible functional element that may be envisaged.

The functional panel 24 also preferably carries a first fixed lateral grab rail 27 extending to the side of the toilet bowl 20, parallel to the latter.

Access to the wash basin 26 is ensured, in particular for a person with reduced mobility, by means of a free space 28, which is devoid of fixed obstructing fittings other than the wash basin 26, and is adjacent to this wash basin 26. The free space 28 extends lengthwise in front of the toilet bowl 20, for example up to a trash can 45 borne by the front wall 14, in the longitudinal direction of the toilet bowl 20, thus parallel to the first lateral wall 16 and perpendicularly to the rear wall 12.

The length L of this free space 28, taken in a direction perpendicular to the rear wall 12, is at least greater than 40% of the first distance D1, for example substantially greater than 700 mm.

This free space 28 makes it possible for a user with reduced mobility having a wheelchair 30 to access the wash basin 26 without being hindered by the toilet bowl 20 or the front wall 14.

The toilet cabin 10 according to the invention presents at least one circular space 32, delimited by a virtual circle 34 that is tangent to the toilet bowl 20, with this circular space 30 being devoid of fixed obstructing fittings and being defined in the proximity of the second lateral wall 18. This virtual circle has a diameter D3 that is greater than 95% of the first distance D1, and greater than 70% of the second maximal distance D2.

It is to be noted that the major part of the functional equipment items fitted to the cabin 10 is borne by the functional panel 24, so as not to reside in the circular space 32.

As this is represented in the figures, the circular space 32 and the free space 28 overlap in part.

For example, the first distance D1 is substantially equal to 1560 mm, the second maximal distance D2 is substantially equal to 2100 mm, and the diameter D3 of the virtual circle 34 is substantially equal to 1500 mm.

Advantageously, the toilet cabin 10 includes a second lateral drop-down grab rail 36, arranged in the proximity of the toilet bowl 20, with this grab rail 36 being movable between a deployed (drop-down) position, in which the grab rail extends into the circular space 32, as it is represented in FIG. 1, substantially parallel to the toilet bowl 20 and to the first lateral rail 27, and a retracted (raised) position (not represented) in which the grab rail extends outside of the said circular space 32. For example, in the retracted position, the grab rail is folded (raised) towards the top so as to extend parallel to the rear wall 12.

It should be noted that this second lateral grab rail 36 is not a fixed obstructing fitting extending into the circular space 32, because it can be folded up out of this circular space 32.

The grab rail 36 is advantageously arranged at a distance that is greater than 800 mm from the second lateral wall 18, in order to allow for a wheelchair 30 to be positioned laterally in parallel with the toilet bowl 20, as represented in FIG. 1. This provides the ability for the user to make a lateral approach from the wheelchair 30 to the toilet bowl 20.

It should be noted that, as it is illustrated in FIG. 2, the toilet cabin 10 according to the invention also allows for an approach diagonally from the wheelchair 30 relative to the toilet bowl 20.

Advantageously, the toilet cabin 10 includes a sliding curved door 40 extending between the front wall 14 and the second lateral wall 18 substantially parallel to an arc of the virtual circle 34 delimiting the circular space 32, and arranged to be facing this arc.

It appears clearly that the layout of the toilet cabin 10 is optimized so as to allow for the presence of the circular space 32 while also presenting limited dimensions D1 and D2.

In FIG. 3 a toilet cabin 10 is represented according to a second example of embodiment of the invention.

In accordance with this second embodiment, the second lateral wall 18 is not straight.

In this case, the distance D2 between the first 16 and second 18 lateral walls is the maximal distance between these walls. More particularly, the distance D2 is defined as the distance, in a transverse direction perpendicular to the first lateral wall 16, between two farthest points, one of which is taken on the first lateral wall 16 and the other is taken on the second lateral wall 18.

In this second embodiment, the second lateral wall 18 is curved, and more particularly forms an arc. The distance D2 is considered from the point of this circular arc that is farthest away from the first lateral wall 16 in the said transverse direction. It is to be noted that the tangent at this point is substantially parallel to the first lateral wall 16.

This configuration makes it possible in particular to reduce the overall volume of the toilet cabin 10. The second lateral wall 18 then takes on the form of the sliding curved access door 40 in the open position, and it is parallel to the virtual circle 34.

According to a variant of the embodiment, represented in this FIG. 3, the position of the trash bin 45 is modified in order to be integrated into the functional panel 24, like the one represented in FIG. 4. This variant makes it possible to increase the free space 28 in order to improve the accessibility to the wash basin 26, especially for persons with reduced mobility.

This functional panel 24 also has other functional elements of the toilet cabin 10, including in particular:

- a device for dispensing toilet paper 24A,
- a flush system push button actuator 24B for the toilet bowl;
- an emergency call button 24C,
- a water distribution circuit, and an access hatch 24D for accessing a water tank;
- a trash bin 24E;
- a mirror 24F positioned above the wash basin 26;
- a soap dispensing device 24G disposed in the proximity of the wash basin 26;
- a hand towel device 24H, in particular for dispensing of paper or linen towels;
- a water distribution circuit, concealed by a hatch 24I;
- an electrical panel, and/or
- any other possible functional element that may be envisaged.

It should be noted that the invention is not limited to the embodiments previously described above, but could present various other variants.