Passenger Protection System for Aircraft

Abstract

A passenger protection module for use inside an aircraft or other commercial carrier, the passenger protection module comprising an enclosure releasably installed inside an aircraft, at least one passenger seat installed inside the enclosure, a doorway providing passenger ingress into and egress from the enclosure, and a supply of treated and purified air flowing through the enclosure at a positive pressure relative to air outside the enclosure.

Claims

1. A passenger protection system comprising a plurality of selectively moveable and relocatable passenger modules each configured to seat one or more passengers in a contained, positive-pressure environment during flight of an aircraft.

2. The passenger protection system of claim 1 wherein each passenger module is configured to seat from one to four passengers.

3. The passenger protection system of claim 1 wherein each passenger module further comprises a door and a doorway allowing passenger ingress into and egress from the module.

4. The passenger protection system of claim 1 wherein each passenger module comprises means to facilitate food and beverage service to each passenger inside the passenger module.

5. The passenger protection system of claim 1 wherein each passenger module operably communicates with a continuous source of filtered, treated and pressurized air.

6. The passenger protection system of claim 1 wherein each passenger module is releasably attached to the aircraft.

7. The passenger protection system of claim 7 wherein each passenger module comprises at least one passenger seat releasably attached directly to the aircraft.

8. The passenger protection system of claim 7 wherein each passenger module comprises at least one passenger seat that is releasably attachable to the passenger module.

9. The passenger protection system of claim 1 wherein each passenger module comprises a plurality of wall sections.

10. The passenger protection system of claim 5 wherein each passenger module is configured to continually receive and discharge a supply of air sufficient to maintain a positive pressure inside each passenger module relative to the air pressure inside the aircraft but outside the passenger module.

11. A passenger protection module for use inside an aircraft, the passenger protection module comprising an enclosure releasably installed inside an aircraft, at least one passenger seat installed inside the enclosure, a doorway providing passenger ingress into and egress from the enclosure, and a supply of treated and purified air maintained inside the enclosure at a positive pressure relative to air outside the enclosure.

12. A passenger protection module for use inside an aircraft or other commercial carrier, the passenger protection module comprising an enclosure releasably installed inside an aircraft, at least one passenger seat installed inside the enclosure, a doorway providing passenger ingress into and egress from the enclosure, and a supply of treated and purified air flowing through the enclosure at a positive pressure relative to air outside the enclosure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0013] The system and method of the invention are further described and explained in relation to the following drawing, which is a diagrammatic top plan view intended to be representative of a fuselage or body section of a passenger aircraft or other commercial carrier depicting in simplified diagrammatic form one embodiment of an array comprising a plurality of selectively attachable and releasable passenger modules of different sizes as installed inside the fuselage, with each passenger module having from one to four passenger seats installed inside and also comprising means providing convenient ingress into and egress from each passenger module.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0014] Referring to the accompanying drawing FIGURE, a body section of a conveyance device as operated by a commercial carrier is depicted in simplified form. More particularly, aircraft fuselage section 10 is depicted in an embodiment where fuselage side walls 12, 14 contain a plurality of passenger modules 16, 18, 20 each having from one to four passenger seats 24 installed inside the module. In the embodiment shown, a row of single-seat passenger modules 16 is provided on one side of aisle 22 and a row of interspersed two-passenger modules 18 and a four-passenger module 20 are provided on the opposite side of aisle 22. At least one door 26 is provided for each passenger module 16, 18, 20 and in the embodiment shown, passenger module 20 has two doors to facilitate direct access to each of the two rows of seat 24 provided in that module.

[0015] As mentioned in the invention summary above, each passenger module can be provided with a shielded pass-through to facilitate food and beverage service by a flight attendant. As installed inside an aircraft or other commercial carrier, each passenger module desirably also comprises at least one air inlet port, at least one air outlet port (not shown for drawing simplification) that are operatively connected to a filtered air treatment and purification system that is configured to maintain a positive pressure inside each passenger module 16, 18, 20 when doors 26 are closed. Maintaining positive pressure inside each passenger module 16, 18, 20 will reduce the likelihood of contaminated air containing harmful pathogens from entering each passenger module and will reduce the likelihood of the pathogens being transmitted to a passenger inside the module. Alternatively, each passenger module 16, 18, 20 can be constructed with a dedicated air treatment, purification and pressurization system, but the provision, installation and use of such dedicated systems will drive up the cost to airlines and potential users.

[0016] The selection, installation or adaptation of a particular air treatment and purification system for the uses disclosed herein are considered to be a matter within the capabilities of one of ordinary skill in the art who reads the specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawing and is knowledgeable regarding the many known, conventional, commercially available air treatment and pressurization systems. Those of ordinary skill in the art will also appreciate upon review and consideration of this specification and the accompanying drawing that various modifications and alterations to the subject apparatus can be made within the scope of the invention, and it is intended that the scope of the invention disclosed herein be limited only by the broadest interpretation of the appended claims to which the inventor is legally entitled.