Adjustable Aircraft Tray Table with Height and Depth Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Passenger seat tray tables in aircraft do not adequately accommodate passengers of varying sizes, as they are typically designed with a one-size-fits-all approach, compromising comfort and usability.
Innovation Solution
A passenger seat assembly with a tray table that is adjustable in height and depth, featuring a telescopic height adjustment mechanism and a sliding rail mechanism, allowing the tray table to be moved from a stowed to a deployed configuration, and equipped with locking mechanisms for stability, enabling customizable positioning to suit different passenger needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-position tray table is used, then the device complexity is reduced and manufacturing is easier, but the adaptability to different passenger sizes is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The tray table is designed with adjustable height and depth capabilities, transforming from a static fixed-position structure to a dynamic reconfigurable one. This allows the tray table to adapt to different passenger sizes and preferences while maintaining a relatively simple mechanical adjustment mechanism that does not significantly increase overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the tray table position (height and depth) to accommodate different passenger needs. By allowing continuous or discrete adjustment of these parameters, the system achieves versatility without requiring completely different tray table designs for different passenger types
2Ease of operation
If the tray table is made adjustable in height and depth, then passenger comfort is improved, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanism is segmented into two independent functions: height adjustment and depth adjustment. This segmentation allows each mechanism to be optimized separately and simplifies the overall control system, as passengers can adjust height and depth independently to achieve their preferred configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary mechanical components (such as telescopic mechanisms and sliding rail mechanisms) that mediate between the passenger's adjustment actions and the tray table's final position. These intermediaries simplify the direct control requirements and enable smooth, controlled movement to comfortable positions
3Volume of moving object
If the tray table is housed in the armrest in stowed configuration, then the compactness is improved, but the ease of deployment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The tray table is pre-positioned within the armrest cavity in a compact stowed configuration, with adjustment mechanisms pre-configured and ready for use. This preliminary arrangement allows for space-efficient storage while enabling quick deployment through simple activation of the adjustment mechanisms without requiring complex assembly steps
Data Source
AI summary
A passenger seat assembly for an aircraft and a method of positioning a tray table are disclosed herein.The passenger seat assembly (100) comprises: a seat (1) having a front side and a back side separated from one another in a depthwise direction, and a first lateral side and a second lateral side separated from one another in a widthwise direction; and an armrest (3) located at one of the first lateral side or the second lateral side of the seat (1), the armrest (3) comprising a tray table (5) movable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. A position of the tray table (5) is adjustable, relative to the seat (1), in the depthwise direction and in a heightwise direction when in the deployed configuration.