Recessed Seat-Back Tray Table for Unobstructed Recline

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional tray tables mounted to passenger seat backs encroach on space when stowed due to their conventional location outside the seat back contour, disrupting the reclining motion of the seat back.

Innovation Solution

A slim tray table assembly with a table body, arms, and table stops that pivotally couple to a pivot shaft located interior to the passenger seat back, allowing the seat back to recline without disturbing the tray table, and configuring to fit within a recess in the seat back for minimized stowed space.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the tray table is mounted to a pivot shaft outside the contour of the passenger seat back, then the tray table can be used without being disturbed by the reclining motion of the seat back, but the tray table encroaches on the space available to the passenger when the tray table is stowed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetray table functionalityVSAvoidspace occupied when stowed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The tray table assembly is nested within a recess formed in the passenger seat back, with the table body, arms, and coupling mechanisms all contained within the seat back contour when stowed. This nesting approach allows the tray table to be stored inside the seat back structure rather than protruding outward, eliminating space encroachment while maintaining functional independence during seat recline.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention relocates the pivot shaft coupling point from the exterior contour of the seat back to an interior location within the seat back structure. By changing the dimensional position of the coupling interface from external to internal, the tray table can pivot independently without interfering with seat recline while occupying minimal external space when stowed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the tray table is mounted to a pivot shaft outside the passenger seat back, then the tray table can remain stationary during seat recline, but the conventional location encroaches on passenger space

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetray table position stabilityVSAvoidoccupied space

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The tray table assembly including table body, arms, and stops is nested within the seat back recess, maintaining stability through internal coupling to the pivot shaft while occupying no external space beyond the seat back contour when stowed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The tray table assembly is divided into separate functional components (table body, arms, stops, coupling mechanisms) that can be independently positioned and secured. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for both stability during use and compactness when stowed within the recess.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Area of stationary object

If the tray table assembly is configured to fit within a recess in the seat back, then space utilization is enhanced, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestowed spaceVSAvoidassembly structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The tray table assembly is merged with the seat back structure by integrating the coupling mechanisms directly into the recess formation. The pivot shaft coupling, rotation stops, and arm pivot points are combined into a unified assembly that fits within the recess, reducing the need for separate external mounting structures and simplifying the overall system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 the tray table to remain stationary and oriented at a released angle while the passenger seat back pivots, maintaining functionality without increasing the occupied space when stowed, thus enhancing passenger comfort and space utilization.

Implementation Method 1

the pivot shaft is coupled to a fixed structure and transfers a turning force from the at least one table stop to the fixed structure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTorque: Torque

Implementation Method 2

a side of the rotation limiting pin receiver is configured to contact the at least one rotation limiting pin when the table body is positioned at a released table body angle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical constraint: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 3

a side of the stop pin receiver is configured to contact the stop pin when the at least one arm is positioned at a released arm angle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical constraint: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentUS8336957B2Tray table

Publication Date: 2012.12.25 ZODIAC SEATS US LLC

AI summary

A tray table assembly comprises a table body, at least one arm, and at least one table stop. The at least one arm is pivotally coupled to the table body. The at least one arm is also pivotally coupled to a pivot shaft interior to at least one location where a passenger seat back is pivotally coupled to the pivot shaft. The at least one table stop is fixedly coupled to the pivot shaft adjacent the location where the at least one arm is pivotally coupled to the pivot shaft. The tray table assembly may be coupled to a passenger seat back comprising a recess and may be configured to substantially fit within the recess.