Deployable Elastomeric Bottle Holster for Aircraft Seat Accessibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional beverage holders in aircraft passenger seats are limited by being tied to tray tables, unavailable during taxi, takeoff, and landing, prone to tipping, and require complex deployment mechanisms, while rigid solutions are difficult to service and occupy dedicated space.
Innovation Solution
A deployable elastomeric bottle holster comprising a support bar, pivotally attached elastomeric bands, and a collapsible mesh tube that stows within a pocket on the backrest, allowing easy deployment and servicing, and accommodating various bottle sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If rigid beverage holders are incorporated into the backrest shroud, then structural strength and stability are improved, but device complexity and difficulty of servicing increase
Solution Approach 1:
The beverage holder transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic collapsible structure that can change between deployed and stowed configurations. The mesh tube collapses when not in use and expands when deployed, eliminating the need for complex rigid deployment mechanisms while maintaining structural integrity when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces rigid walls with a flexible mesh tube constructed from interwoven elastic bands. This flexible structure provides sufficient strength to hold beverages while allowing compact folding for storage and easy removal for servicing, resolving the contradiction between strength and complexity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If rigid beverage holders are positioned to satisfy head impact criteria, then safety is improved, but ease of operation and accessibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The collapsible beverage holder can be dynamically positioned - deployed to ergonomic locations during flight for easy access, and stowed or removed during taxi, takeoff, and landing to satisfy head impact safety criteria. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction between safety and accessibility.
3Ease of manufacture
If beverage holders are associated with tray tables, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability and availability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The beverage holder is segmented from the tray table assembly and implemented as a separate, independently deployable unit. This segmentation allows the beverage holder to be used independently of the tray table, providing availability during all flight phases including taxi, takeoff, and landing when the tray table is not deployed.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional beverage holder depressions are used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but reliability and stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The mesh tube construction with interwoven elastic bands creates a flexible yet stable structure that conforms to various bottle shapes and sizes. This flexible structure provides reliable container stability through its elastic properties, preventing tipping while accommodating different beverage container types.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a versatile, easily accessible, and ergonomic beverage holder that can be used during all phases of flight, is easy to service, and does not require dedicated space, while ensuring safety and accommodating different container sizes.
Implementation Method 1
a first elastomeric band coupled to the support bar, a second elastomeric band free of attachment to the support bar and to the first elastomeric band
Implementation Method 2
a collapsible mesh tube attached at one end to the first elastomeric band and at an opposing end to the second elastomeric band
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A deployable elastomeric bottle holster (124) for use with an aircraft passenger seat or other application. The holster includes a support bar (126) to which a first elastomeric band (128) is pivotally attached. A second elastomeric band (130) is interconnected to the first elastomeric band through an intermediate collapsible mesh tube (132). In use, the mesh tube is collapsible to bring the first and second bands together to stow the bottle holster in a pocket or the like, and in a deployed condition the second band hangs below the first band by the mesh tube in an extended condition. The bottle holster may be constructed from elastic materials such as polyesters and polyurethanes for light weight, durability, performance, etc.