Foldable Seat Tray With Slide And Pivot Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional retractable vehicle seats are uncomfortable for passengers sitting adjacent to the seat when the backrest is retracted, as they must pivot their bust to use the back of the retracted folder, and the deployment of the tablet is limited, only benefiting passengers behind the seat, causing bulk issues for those behind.
Innovation Solution
A retractable seat design with a tablet positioned at the rear of the backrest, featuring slide and pivot connecting means that allow the tablet to translate horizontally and rotate vertically, enabling it to extend laterally and provide support to adjacent passengers without requiring them to rotate their bust, along with modular attachment and stabilization mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the folder is retracted to save space, then the space utilization is improved, but the comfort for adjacent passengers deteriorates as they must pivot their bust to use the back support
Solution Approach 1:
The tablet is made dynamically reconfigurable through slide and pivot connecting means, allowing it to transition between a retracted position (when the folder is retracted) and a deployed position (when the folder is in nominal position). This dynamic adaptation enables the tablet to provide support to adjacent passengers when needed while maintaining space efficiency when not in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure is segmented into multiple independent components: the folder, the tablet, slide connecting means, and pivot connecting means. This segmentation allows each component to move and function independently, enabling the tablet to be positioned optimally for adjacent passengers without requiring the entire folder structure to be in a specific position.
2Ease of operation
If the tablet is fixed on the backrest to provide support, then the support function is improved, but the adaptability to different seating configurations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The tablet is designed with dynamic movement capabilities through slide connecting means (allowing translation in substantial horizontal plane) and pivot connecting means (allowing rotation around substantial vertical axis). This enables the tablet to adapt its position and orientation based on whether the folder is in nominal or retracted position, and whether it needs to serve passengers behind or adjacent to the seat.
Solution Approach 2:
The tablet serves multiple functions: it provides support to passengers sitting behind the seat when the folder is in nominal position, and it can be deployed to provide support to passengers on adjacent seats when the folder is retracted. The slide and pivot mechanisms enable this universal functionality across different seating configurations.
3Ease of operation
If the tablet is deployed to extend laterally for adjacent passengers, then the accessibility is improved, but the structural complexity increases due to additional connecting means
Solution Approach 1:
The slide connecting means and pivot connecting means are merged into an integrated assembly that connects the tablet to the folder. This combination of translation and rotation capabilities in a single integrated structure reduces the overall complexity compared to having separate mechanisms for each degree of freedom.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic connecting means are designed to provide the necessary movement freedom only when needed for lateral deployment, while maintaining a compact, low-complexity configuration when the tablet is in its standard position on the backrest.
Data Source
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AI summary
Retractable seat with tray table for a vehicle and vehicle equipped with said seat. Said seat (1) comprises a seat base (2) and a backrest (4) that moves with respect to the seat base (2) between a nominal position and a retracted position, and a tray table (8) positioned behind the backrest (4). The seat (1) further comprises sliding connection means configured to guide a translation of the tray table (8) relative to the backrest (4) in a substantially horizontal plane when the backrest (4) is in the retracted position, and pivoting connection means configured to allow a rotation of the tray table (8) relative to the backrest (4) about a substantially vertical axis of rotation (B) when the backrest (4) is in the retracted position. The tray table (8) moves relative to the backrest (4) between a stored position, in which the tray table (8) extends across without laterally overlapping the backrest (4), and a deployed position, in which the tray table (8) laterally overlaps the backrest (4), on one side or the other, with respect to a seat base of an adjacent seat.