Seat Back Electronic Device Holder with Inductive Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reclining seats on aircraft interfere with existing solutions for holding portable electronic devices, as the separate ranges of motion between tray tables and seats make suitable positions unsuitable when the seat is upright or reclined, and there is no separate portable electronic device holder option for single-piece tray tables.
Innovation Solution
A portable electronic device holder with upper and lower holding elements, including wireless inductive charging, is designed to be separate from the tray table, featuring extension arms and retention plates that bias the device into a stable position relative to the seat back, allowing for secure placement and adjustable viewing angles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If portable electronic device holders are built into tray tables, then device holding is enabled, but the separate ranges of motion between tray table and reclining seat make suitable positions unsuitable when seat is reclined
Solution Approach 1:
The device holder is separated from the tray table into an independent component mounted on the seat back. This segmentation allows the holder to maintain a fixed position relative to the seat back while the tray table can move independently, resolving the conflict between tray table motion and seat recline motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat back serves as an intermediary mounting surface for the device holder, decoupling the holder's position from the tray table's range of motion. This intermediary connection allows the holder to remain stable relative to the seat back while the tray table moves separately.
2Adaptability or versatility
If tray tables are removed to simplify configuration, then device complexity is reduced, but no separate portable electronic device holder option is available
Solution Approach 1:
The device holder is combined with the seat back structure, integrating the holding function directly into the seat assembly. This merger eliminates the need for separate tray table-based holders while maintaining a relatively simple configuration that leverages existing seat components.
3Area of stationary object
If bifold tray tables are used to accommodate space constraints, then tray table installation is enabled, but single-piece tray table configuration is lost and device holder integration becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The device holder function is extracted from the tray table structure and mounted independently on the seat back. This extraction eliminates the need for complex bifold tray table configurations, allowing the use of simpler single-piece tray tables while maintaining device holding capability.
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
The solution provides a secure, adjustable, and versatile holder for various device sizes, ensuring the device remains stationary and at a suitable viewing angle during flight, even with reclining seats, and can be integrated with existing aircraft seat configurations without requiring a bifold tray table.
Implementation Method 1
The portable electronic device holder includes a wireless inductive charging element
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
A portable electronic device holder, separate from an aircraft tray table, has a spring biased lower retention portion (112; 206) with lower retention plates (114) for securing a lower edge of a portable electronic device. The lower retention plate acts in concert with either one or more ridges (208, 210) molded into or affixed to a recess in a seat back panel, or with a spring biased, extendable upper retention portion (106) with an upper retention plate (110) to hold the portable electronic device in place.