Seatback Meal Tray Display Mount With Secure Quick-Change Screen
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial passenger aircraft seatback-mounted meal trays with graphic displays are vulnerable to theft or vandalism, and existing mounting structures are often too complex to be efficiently changed between flights.
Innovation Solution
A meal tray assembly with a secure, easily changeable structure featuring a tray mountable to the seat back, movable between stowed and deployed positions, incorporating a flexible screen secured by inwardly facing flanges and an insert for enhanced strength, allowing for the display of advertising or graphical materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complex mounting structure is used to securely protect displays from theft and vandalism, then security and protection are improved, but the time required to change displays between flights increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting structure is divided into separate modular components: a mounting bracket attached to the meal tray and a separate mounting plate for the display. This segmentation allows the display to be quickly detached and replaced by simply removing mounting screws, without requiring complex tools or procedures. The modular design maintains security through robust individual components while enabling rapid display changes between flights.
2Reliability
If a complex mounting structure is used to securely protect displays from theft and vandalism, then security and protection are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is segmented into simple, standardized components: a mounting bracket with pre-drilled holes, a mounting plate, and conventional screws. This segmentation avoids complex integrated structures while providing secure attachment points. Each component is simple in design but collectively provides robust protection against theft and vandalism through durable materials and secure fastening mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting bracket serves as an intermediary element between the meal tray and the display device. This intermediate component provides a standardized interface that simplifies the overall mounting structure, allowing the display to be securely attached without requiring complex integration with the meal tray itself. The bracket acts as a mediator that decouples the complexity of display mounting from the meal tray design.
3Reliability
If displays are made secure and protected from theft, then reliability is improved, but the ease of operation for changing displays decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system uses segmented, modular components with standardized screw fastenings. This allows flight attendants to easily detach and replace display screens by simply removing and reattaching mounting screws, without requiring specialized tools or complex procedures. The segmented design maintains security through robust individual components while maximizing ease of operation for rapid display changes between flights.
Data Source
AI summary
A meal tray assembly for being carried by an aft-facing side of a seat back for use by a person seated aft of the seat back is provided. The assembly includes a tray mountable to the seat back and including a first shell having a forward facing surface when in the stowed position and a second shell for mating with the first shell and having a rearward facing surface towards the aft-seated person when in the stowed position. A major recess is defined in the rearward facing surface of the second shell and an inwardly facing elongate flanged is carried by the rearward facing surface of the second shell and extending towards the major recess. A flexible screen is provided for being positioned in the recess by an interference fit between the inwardly facing flange and an engaging surface of the major recess.