Privacy panel for a passenger seat

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional aircraft cabins lack the ability to facilitate social distancing or isolation among passengers, posing a challenge in maintaining passenger safety, especially in enclosed spaces where air-transmitted pathogens are a concern.

Innovation Solution

A privacy panel for passenger seats that includes a main body positioned between adjacent seats and an attachment mechanism removably coupled to the main body, featuring a first attachment member that couples to an armrest and a second attachment member that prevents rotation of the armrest, along with stability features to minimize panel rotation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a privacy panel is installed between adjacent passenger seats, then passenger separation and social distancing are improved, but the panel may rotate or move unintentionally

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepanel stabilityVSAvoidattachment mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment mechanism incorporates dynamic elements including a spring-loaded clamp that adapts to different armrest thicknesses, and a rotating attachment member that can engage with various seat configurations. The mechanism transitions between movable and fixed states to secure the panel reliably while accommodating natural seat movements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines multiple attachment functions into a single integrated mechanism that simultaneously clamps to the armrest, prevents rotation, and secures the panel to the seatback. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate components needed while achieving reliable panel stabilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If the attachment mechanism is made more secure to prevent rotation, then panel stability is improved, but ease of installation and removal deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment securityVSAvoidinstallation ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment mechanism uses spring-loaded components that provide strong securing force during normal use but can be easily disengaged by applying force in a specific direction. The dynamic spring mechanism maintains secure attachment under normal conditions while allowing quick installation and removal when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment mechanism is designed so that the securing action is passive (spring-loaded engagement) while the release action is active (user-applied force). This inversion makes the mechanism easy to install and remove while maintaining strong attachment during use, as the user only needs to overcome the spring force temporarily.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS12330792B2Privacy panel for a passenger seat

Publication Date: 2025.06.17 ZODIAC SEATS US LLC

AI summary

Described herein is a privacy panel for a passenger includes a main body positioned between adjacent passenger seats and an attachment mechanism removably coupled to the main body. The attachment mechanism may include a first attachment member couplable to an armrest of the passenger seat and a second attachment member coupled to the first attachment member. The second attachment member may be attachable to a fixed location on the passenger seat for preventing rotation of the armrest.