Movable Table Carriage for Aircraft Suite Width Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current airplane cabin suite designs face challenges in maximizing seating width while accommodating storage and table arrangements, leading to reduced comfort and inefficient use of space, especially in first-class and business-class cabins.

Innovation Solution

A suite layout where the table is movable between stored and deployed positions, allowing it to extend parallel to the seat axis, occupy minimal space when not in use, and adapt to the suite's width, while maintaining access to storage and wardrobe space, ensuring maximum seating width and adaptability to aircraft side wall dimensions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the table is arranged next to the seat, then the table is easily accessible, but the available width of the seat is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetable accessibilityVSAvoidseat width
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The table is made movable on a carriage that can be positioned in different locations relative to the seat. The table can be moved between a stored position where it does not reduce seat width and a deployed position where it is accessible to the passenger. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction between seat width and table accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The table arrangement transitions from a fixed lateral position (reducing seat width) to a movable position along the longitudinal axis of the suite. By changing the dimension of table movement from purely lateral to including longitudinal movement, the design maintains seat width while providing table accessibility through the movable carriage mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Length of moving object

If the bed unfolds perpendicular to the seat and table assembly, then the seating width is maximized, but the table is not available for use in intermediate positions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseat widthVSAvoidtable usability in intermediate positions
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The table on the movable carriage can be positioned at different locations along the suite's longitudinal axis. In intermediate seating positions, the table can be moved to an intermediate position between the ottoman and the seat, making it accessible regardless of the seat's configuration. This dynamic positioning maintains both seat width and table usability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The movable table carriage serves multiple functions: it provides table surface when the seat is in sitting position, maintains accessibility in intermediate positions, and does not interfere with the bed configuration in lying position. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction between maximizing seat width and maintaining table usability across all seat positions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Volume of moving object

If storage cabinet and table are integrated next to the seat, then space is utilized, but the seat width is reduced and adaptability to aircraft width variations is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuite space utilizationVSAvoidseat width
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The table is extracted from the fixed integration with the storage cabinet and placed on a separate movable carriage. This allows the storage cabinet to be positioned to maximize suite space utilization while the table can be moved independently to maintain full seat width. The separation resolves the contradiction between space utilization and seat width.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The design allows the suite configuration to adapt to different aircraft width parameters. The movable table carriage can be positioned to accommodate variations in suite width, and the storage cabinet can be configured independently. This parameter adaptability resolves the contradiction between fixed space utilization and adaptability to aircraft width variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4185530B1Suite with improved arrangement, in particular for an aircraft cabin
Publication Date: 2024.05.22 SAFRAN SEATS GB LTD
  • EP4185530B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4185530B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4185530B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention relates to a suite (10), in particular for an aircraft cabin, comprising: - a seat (19), - an ottoman (21), and - a storage cupboard (22), - the suite (10) further comprising a movable table (27) capable of assuming: • a stowed state in which the movable table (27) extends in a vertical plane, in which the movable table (27) is arranged between the cupboard (22) and the ottoman (21), and • a deployed state in which the movable table (27) extends in a horizontal plane.