Aircraft Tray Table With Pivoting Lid Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tray tables lack a secure mounting structure for portable electronic devices, leading to instability during use, particularly in vehicles like airplanes, where devices may fall or obstruct others.
Innovation Solution
A multi-use aircraft tray table with a recessed storage compartment and a pivoting lid that doubles as a table surface, featuring an automatic closing mechanism to prevent collisions and provide hands-free device viewing, along with integrated features like a mirror and charging capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional tray tables are used without mounting structures, then the tray table design is simple and easy to manufacture, but portable electronic devices cannot be securely held and may fall or become unstable during use
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting structure is integrated within the tray table itself, with the tray table enclosure housing the mounting mechanism. The portable electronic device is mounted through a slot or opening in the tray table surface, creating a nested configuration where the mounting structure is contained within the tray table assembly, adding security without requiring separate external structures
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting structure is combined with the tray table enclosure and surface, merging the support function into the existing tray table design. The mounting structure includes components that integrate with the tray table's physical architecture, eliminating the need for separate mounting devices while providing secure device holding capability
2Adaptability or versatility
If the tray table includes additional features like storage compartments and mirrors, then the versatility and functionality are improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tray table is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as a surface for meals and beverages, provides a mounting structure for portable electronic devices, includes storage compartments for personal items, and incorporates a mirror for grooming. This multi-functional design allows a single device to replace multiple separate items, enhancing versatility while managing complexity through integrated design
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple functional elements are merged into a single tray table assembly. The storage compartment is integrated within the tray table enclosure, the mirror is mounted on the enclosure or lid, and the electronic device mounting is built into the surface structure. This consolidation of functions into one unified device provides versatility while streamlining manufacturing compared to providing separate devices for each function
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft tray table assembly includes a recessed storage compartment covered by a pivoting lid which becomes an integral part of the tray table surface upon closing. A mirror may be fixedly attached to the inside of the lid. A passenger may be provided a mirror surface by flipping open the pivoting lid when positioned in a passenger seat within an aircraft. A retractor may be configured to closing of the pivoting lid when a passenger manually translates the tray table into a stowed position, thereby avoiding contact of the deployed lid with aircraft fixture surfaces proximate the stowed position of the tray table.