Pivoting Tray Table Segments for Easier Seat-Row Passage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tray tables in vehicles obstruct passage during ingress and egress due to their fixed, large surface area, requiring passengers to repeatedly stow and retrieve the table when not in use, especially in tight seat rows.
Innovation Solution
A configurable tray table with a support assembly and tray assembly that includes pivotally coupled segments, allowing for multiple configurations such as coplanar, small table, and folded positions to optimize space usage and facilitate passage between seats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If a conventional tray table with a single large surface is used, then passengers have sufficient surface area for eating and working, but the tray table obstructs passage during ingress and egress of seat rows
Solution Approach 1:
The tray table is divided into multiple pivotally coupled segments that can be independently positioned. This segmentation allows the tray table to be configured in different arrangements (coplanar, multi-planar, folded) to provide sufficient surface area when needed while reducing obstruction to passage when not in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The tray table employs pivotal connections between segments that enable dynamic reconfiguration. The segments can rotate relative to each other to transition between coplanar configuration (providing maximum surface area) and multi-planar or folded configurations (reducing obstruction to passage), allowing the tray table to adapt to different operational requirements.
2Ease of operation
If passengers repeatedly stow and retrieve the tray table to allow passage, then passage is facilitated, but time is lost and the operation becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic reconfiguration capability allows passengers to quickly adjust the tray table from coplanar to multi-planar or folded positions without fully stowing and retrieving it. This reduces the time and effort required to facilitate passage while maintaining the tray table in a readily accessible state.
Solution Approach 2:
The segmented design with pivotal connections enables rapid reconfiguration to different configurations. Passengers can quickly pivot segments to create passage space without the need to completely stow and retrieve the entire tray table assembly, significantly reducing the time loss associated with facilitating passage.
3Ease of operation
If the tray table is kept in a horizontal position for use, then usability is improved, but it creates obstruction to other passengers in the seat row
Solution Approach 1:
The tray table can dynamically switch between coplanar configuration (horizontal, maximizing usability) and multi-planar or folded configurations (reducing obstruction). This dynamic capability allows the tray table to be kept in a usable horizontal position when needed while minimizing obstruction to other passengers when not in use, without requiring full stowing and retrieving operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The segmented design with pivotal connections allows portions of the tray table to be positioned horizontally for usability while other segments are folded or positioned to minimize obstruction. This enables the tray table to provide usable surface area while reducing the harmful obstruction effect on other passengers in the seat row.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and methods provide for a configurable tray table and method of configuring a tray table. According to aspects of the disclosure, a tray table includes a support assembly and a tray assembly. The support assembly is configured to connect to a structure. The tray assembly is coupled to the support assembly and is configurable between coplanar and multi-planar tray configurations. The tray assembly includes a number of tray table segments pivotally coupled to one another.