Aircraft Tray Table With Retractable Support for Device Viewing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional passenger tray tables on aircraft do not provide adequate ergonomic support for passengers to view their personal electronic devices during flights, as they lack dedicated mechanisms for positioning these devices at comfortable viewing angles.
Innovation Solution
A tray table designed for aircraft passenger seats, featuring a main body with a slidable member and a rotatable member that can be extended to support an electronic device, allowing it to be positioned at various angles for optimal viewing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional tray tables are used without additional support structures, then the tray table maintains a simple structure and easy stowability, but it cannot provide ergonomic support for electronic devices at comfortable viewing angles
Solution Approach 1:
The tray table is divided into functional segments: a main body and separate support members (first and second members) that can be independently positioned. The first member supports the electronic device bottom and can slide to adjust horizontal position, while the second member supports the device back and can rotate to adjust viewing angle, allowing ergonomic positioning without complicating the overall tray table structure
Solution Approach 2:
The support members are designed with dynamic adjustment capabilities - the first member slides along guides to adjust position, and the second member rotates on a hinge to adjust angle. This dynamic functionality allows the tray table to adapt to different viewing preferences and device sizes while maintaining a relatively simple base structure
2Ease of operation
If support members are added to the tray table to position electronic devices, then ergonomic viewing is enabled, but the tray table loses its ability to be fully stowed during take-off and landing
Solution Approach 1:
The support members are designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing them to be positioned when needed and retracted when not needed. The first member slides back along guides and the second member rotates flat against the main body, enabling complete stowability during take-off and landing while providing positioning capability during cruise flight
Solution Approach 2:
The tray table is designed to serve multiple functions: it can be used as a conventional flat table surface when support members are stowed, and it can be configured with extended support members for electronic device viewing during cruise flight. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction between positioning capability and stowability
3Stability of the object's composition
If the tray table is designed with fixed support structures for electronic devices, then device positioning is stable, but the tray table cannot adapt to different device sizes and viewing preferences
Solution Approach 1:
The support members incorporate dynamic adjustment mechanisms - sliding guides for horizontal positioning and rotational hinges for angle adjustment. This allows the tray table to adapt to different device sizes and passenger preferences while maintaining stability once positioned, as the members can be locked at desired positions
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the support structure have specialized functions optimized for their specific roles - the first member with sliding guides provides stable horizontal positioning, while the second member with rotational capability provides stable angular positioning. This localized optimization allows adaptability across different configurations while maintaining stability in each specific configuration
Data Source
AI summary
A tray table for a passenger seat has a main body defining a table surface, and a first member configured to slide relative to the main body between a first position and a second, extended position, wherein in the second, extended position the first member is configured to define a first rest for supporting a first portion of an electronic device, and a second member configured to move relative to the main body between a first, stowed position and a second, extended position, wherein in the second position the second member protrudes upwardly from the table surface of the main body to define a second rest for supporting a second portion of an electronic device, and wherein the first member and the second member, when in their respective second, extended positions, thus cooperate to support and position an electronic device.