Modular Seatback Tray Table for Variable Aircraft Seat Widths
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity and cost of manufacturing aircraft seat tray tables are increased due to the variety of seat sizes in aircraft cabins, requiring different designs for each seat, which complicates the manufacturing process.
Innovation Solution
A modular seatback tray table module with a deployable tray table that can be mounted to a fixed seatback without conventional legs, featuring a modular body with internal walls and actuation members to adjust between stowed and deployed positions, accommodating various seat widths and including features like deployable extension members and a personal electronic device holder.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If different tray table designs are created for each aircraft seat size, then the tray table can be properly fitted to each seat, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tray table module is designed as a universal component that can be mounted on different aircraft seat sizes through adjustable mount points and configurable extension members. The modular body with standardized mounting interfaces allows the same base unit to serve multiple seat configurations, eliminating the need for custom manufacturing for each seat size while maintaining proper fit and functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The tray table is divided into separate modular components including a base body, extendable table surface, and mounting module. This segmentation allows each component to be independently manufactured using standardized processes and then assembled to fit different seat configurations, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining adaptability to various seat sizes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If different tray table designs are created for each aircraft seat size, then the tray table can be properly fitted to each seat, but the part count increases and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The modular design employs universal components that can be reused across different seat configurations. The same base body, mounting brackets, and actuation mechanisms can be used on various seat sizes by simply adjusting the extension member configurations, thereby reducing the total part count while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The extendable table surface and mounting components are designed to nest within or attach to the base body when not in use. This nesting capability reduces the overall part count by eliminating the need for separate structural supports and allows compact storage of components, further reducing manufacturing complexity and part quantity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional tray table legs are used, then the tray table structure is simple, but the module cannot be easily mounted to various seat widths
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting mechanism incorporates adjustable and reconfigurable elements that can dynamically adapt to different seat widths. The mount points can be repositioned along the seatback, and the extension members can be adjusted to accommodate varying seat dimensions, allowing the same mounting mechanism to work on multiple seat widths without requiring complex custom designs for each configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
A modular seatback table module may include a modular body with a plurality of internal walls, where the plurality of internal walls may at least partially define an interior cavity. The seatback table module may include a deployable tray table configured to actuate between a tray table stowed position and a tray table deployed position, where at least a portion of the interior cavity of the modular body may be configured to receive at a portion of the deployable tray table when the deployable tray table is in the tray table stowed position. The seatback table module may include one or more tray table actuation members configured to couple to one or more mount points integrated on the modular body, where the one or more tray table actuation members may be configured to actuate the deployable tray table between the tray table stowed position and the tray table deployed position.