Pivoting Tray Assembly Power Outlet Layout for Passenger Seat Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing passenger seats in transportation vehicles lack effective means to supply electricity to personal electronic devices at or around the tray assembly, causing inconvenience when passengers need to charge their devices.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a tray assembly with a pivotably coupled tray table and a center bar featuring electrical outlets and wireless charging modules, allowing for convenient power supply to electronic devices regardless of the tray table's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If power outlets are provided at the bottom portions of passenger seats, then electricity can be supplied to personal electronic devices, but the tray assembly area remains without power supply capability
Solution Approach 1:
The tray assembly is transformed from a single-function serving surface into a multi-functional power supply hub by integrating multiple power outlets and wireless charging modules. This allows the tray assembly to simultaneously serve as a charging station for various electronic devices while maintaining its original function, thereby expanding the power supply capability without requiring separate dedicated power outlets at every location.
Solution Approach 2:
Power supply capability is extended from the vertical dimension (bottom portions of seats) to the horizontal dimension (tray assembly surface). By placing power outlets and wireless charging modules on the tray assembly, the patent creates a distributed power supply network that covers multiple spatial zones, allowing devices to be charged at various locations within the passenger seat area.
2Ease of operation
If the tray table is moved from stow position to open position for use, then accessibility to tray table is improved, but the tray assembly power outlets may be exposed to spills
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply functionality is segmented into multiple independent components: wired power outlets and wireless charging modules. The wireless charging modules are embedded within recesses in the tray assembly surface, while the wired outlets are positioned on the center bar. This segmentation allows different power delivery methods to be distributed across different locations, with the wireless modules providing protected charging options that are less susceptible to spill damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless charging modules are nested within recesses in the tray assembly surface, creating a protective cavity that shields the charging function from direct exposure to spills and liquid. This nesting approach allows the power supply capability to remain integrated into the tray assembly while providing physical protection against harmful factors like spills.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple power outlets and wireless charging modules are integrated into the tray assembly, then power supply versatility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tray assembly is transformed from a single-function serving surface into a multi-functional power supply hub by integrating multiple power outlets and wireless charging modules. This allows the tray assembly to simultaneously serve as a charging station for various electronic devices while maintaining its original function, thereby expanding the power supply capability without requiring separate dedicated power outlets at every location.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the power supply function with the tray assembly structure by integrating power outlets and wireless charging modules directly into the tray assembly. This consolidation combines the serving function and charging function into a single integrated component, reducing the need for separate power supply units and simplifying the overall system architecture despite the added functionality.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables passengers to conveniently charge their devices by plugging or wirelessly charging them using the tray assembly, ensuring accessibility and safety from spills, and minimizing inconvenience.
Implementation Method 1
the tray assembly may include at least one wireless charging module configured to wirelessly charge an electronic device
Data Source
AI summary
Systems are provided for supplying electricity at a tray assembly for a passenger seat of a transportation vehicle. In some aspects, the tray assembly includes a center bar including an electrical outlet and a tray table pivotably coupled to a first support arm at a first corner and to a second support arm at a second corner, the tray table being pivotably coupled to the first support arm and the second support arm to move between a stow position and an open position where the tray table is substantially parallel to a floor and released from a seatback. The center bar is pivotably coupled to the tray table to be movable to a first position where the electrical outlet faces substantially upward during the open position, and to be movable to a second position where the electrical outlet face substantially downward during the stow position.