Interlocking Food Tray Assembly for Stable Aircraft Meal Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food tray and container assemblies fail to provide a secure and reusable system that prevents food from falling and causing stains, especially during turbulence or uneven handling, while allowing multiple positioning options for food containers.
Innovation Solution
An interlocking system with male and female parts on the food tray and container, respectively, allows for secure positioning and repositioning of food containers on the tray, providing stability against tilting and falling, and can be manufactured integrally during production using injection molding or other techniques.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If high friction or anti-slip coating is provided on the tray surface, then friction between tray and container is increased to prevent slipping, but the container can still fall over during turbulence or uneven handling
Solution Approach 1:
The tray surface is segmented into multiple discrete interlocking locations rather than a continuous surface. Each location has male and female parts that can engage independently, providing localized secure attachment points for containers throughout the tray area.
Solution Approach 2:
The male and female interlocking parts are nested within each other when engaged. The male part fits into the female part, creating a nested configuration that mechanically locks the container to the tray, preventing both slipping and falling over.
2Reliability
If a separate pin insertion system is used to hold cups in position, then falling over during transport is prevented, but the system does not address falling over during meal consumption and limits container positioning options
Solution Approach 1:
The interlocking system serves multiple functions: it prevents sideways movement during transport, prevents falling over during meal consumption, and allows containers to be positioned at multiple locations on the tray. The same male-female part engagement mechanism addresses all these requirements simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a single-pin vertical insertion approach to a multi-point engagement system that operates in multiple dimensions. The male and female parts engage in a way that constrains movement in multiple directions (sideways, forward, backward, and rotational), providing comprehensive stability.
3Ease of operation
If recessions in tray and protrusions in container bottom are provided for anti-slip, then sideways movement is limited, but the container is not prevented from falling over
Solution Approach 1:
The male and female parts have asymmetric geometries that provide directional engagement. The male part has a shape that fits into the female part in a specific orientation, preventing rotational movement and falling over, while still allowing easy placement through the asymmetric insertion path.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides an assembly of a food tray (183) and a food container such as a cup or a plate. The tray (183) can comprise a generally flat surface for supporting the food containers. The food tray (183) and the food container comprise an interlocking system for positioning the food containers on the food tray. The interlocking system comprises male and corresponding female parts provided on the food tray and food container. The generally flat surface comprises a field of multiple (female or male) parts of the interlocking system forming a surface for positioning and releasably locking at multiple positions bottom side of the food container. The invention provides for the use of the interlocking system in travel catering, such as in vehicles and airplanes.