Recessed Seat Back Tray Table and Amenity Compartment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seat back systems for passenger seats often encroach on space available to aft-seated passengers due to the placement of amenities and tray tables, and there is a need to minimize the space occupied by these features when stowed while allowing for easy deployment and secure attachment.
Innovation Solution
A seat back assembly with a recessed design that accommodates a tray table assembly and an amenity compartment, where the tray table and compartment are pivotally coupled to minimize space usage, and a latching mechanism ensures secure stowage and easy deployment, with the compartment configured to fit within the seat back's recess.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If amenities and tray tables are mounted on the exterior surface of the seat back, then they are easily accessible to passengers, but they encroach on the space available to aft-seated passengers and require significant stowage space
Solution Approach 1:
The tray table assembly is nested within a recess formed in the seat back, allowing the table body to be stored inside the seat back structure when not in use. The amenity compartment is also integrated within the seat back, with both components sharing the recessed space. This nesting approach eliminates exterior mounting while maintaining accessibility during deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from two-dimensional exterior mounting to three-dimensional integration by creating a recessed cavity within the seat back structure. This allows the tray table and amenities to be positioned in the depth dimension of the seat back rather than protruding outward, thereby preserving exterior passenger space while maintaining functional accessibility.
2Device complexity
If the tray table is pivotally coupled to the seat back in a conventional location, then the pivot mechanism is simple, but it requires significant space for stowage
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot shaft is positioned within the recessed space of the seat back, allowing the tray table arms to rotate within the confines of the recess rather than requiring external stowage space. The table body nests within the recess when stowed, and the pivot mechanism is integrated into the seat back structure, minimizing the volume required for the stowage operation.
3Ease of operation
If amenities are mounted on the exterior surface of the seat back, then they are easily accessible, but they occupy excessive space and intrude on passenger area
Solution Approach 1:
The amenity compartment is nested within the recess formed in the seat back, with the compartment integrated into the seat back structure. This allows amenities to be stored and accessed without protruding into the passenger space, as the entire amenity assembly is contained within the recessed cavity of the seat back.
Solution Approach 2:
The amenity mounting system transitions from exterior surface mounting to interior recess integration, utilizing the depth dimension of the seat back to house the amenity compartment. This dimensional shift allows the amenities to remain accessible while being contained within the seat back volume rather than occupying exterior passenger space.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention include a seat back assembly comprising a seat back with a recess and a tray table assembly. The table body is configured to substantially fit within the recess. An amenity compartment may also be coupled to the seat back above the tray table assembly and may be configured to also substantially fit within the recess. The amenity compartment may be a bezel or an upper literature pocket. A latching mechanism releasably engages the tray table assembly with the amenity compartment. The amenity compartment may be coupled to the seat back via a hook that engages a slotted bracket on the seat back and projections that engage receptacles on the seat back. A protective covering may be inserted between the seat back and the amenity compartment and coupled to the seat back without additional fasteners. The protective covering may be a full shroud, a partial shroud, or a dress cover.