Aircraft Folding Table with Dual-Track Guide for Simplified Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing folding tables for aircraft lack intuitive and ergonomic movement sequences, result in increased design complexity and potential stability losses due to separate movement of the table top from the folding mechanism.
Innovation Solution
A guide device with a straight first guide track and a second guide track featuring a straight section and an arcuate section, allowing the support device to be guided linearly and pivoted through a 90° angle, enabling forced guidance of the table top from a vertical to a horizontal position with a single drive unit, enhancing stability and ergonomic operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the table top is guided separately from the folding mechanism, then the movement sequence can be controlled independently, but the design complexity increases and stability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the table top guidance function with the folding mechanism by integrating guide tracks into the existing support structure. The guide tracks are formed as integral parts of the support arms or housing, eliminating separate guidance components while maintaining controlled movement sequences during folding and extension operations.
2Ease of operation
If separate movement sequences are provided for table top and folding mechanism, then independent control is achieved, but the design effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The design merges table top guidance with the folding mechanism into a unified structure. The guide tracks are incorporated into the support arms and housing as integral features rather than separate components, reducing design effort while maintaining the ability to control movement sequences through the unified mechanism's geometric constraints.
3Ease of operation
If multiple joints are used for separate guidance, then independent movement control is possible, but losses in stability occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the guidance function into the rigid support structure itself, using the inherent stiffness of the support arms and housing to provide stable guidance. The guide tracks are formed as integral parts of these rigid structures, eliminating additional joints that would compromise structural stability while maintaining controlled movement through geometric constraints.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a folding table (1), in particular for an aircraft (3), comprising a supporting device (9) for a tabletop (6), a pull-out device (11) for moving the supporting device (9) for the tabletop (6) from a substantially vertical stowing position to a substantially horizontal usage position via a pull-out position, in particular a substantially vertical pull-out position, wherein the pull-out device (11) has a guiding device (12) for guiding the supporting device (9) between the stowing position and the pull-out position, characterized in that the guiding device (12) has a substantially linear first guide track (13) for a first guide element (14) on the supporting device (9) and a second guide track (15) for a second guide element (18) on the supporting device (9), which second guide track has a linear segment (16) and an arcuate segment (17), wherein the supporting device (9) can be slid along the linear segment (16) of the second guide track (15) of the guiding device (12) from the stowing position into the pull-out position and can be pivoted along the arcuate segment (17) of the second guide track (15) of the guiding device (12) from the pull-out position into the usage position.