Seat Back Tray Table Single-Axis Pivot for Compact Installation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional tray tables in passenger seats are not optimally designed for non-reclining seats, as they require separate mounting and can increase weight, material costs, and labor during installation, while also occupying more space due to their indirect attachment to the seat back frame.

Innovation Solution

A tray table pivotally coupled to the seat back frame using a protrusion with alternating flat and curved surfaces, allowing for simplified installation, reduced weight, and compact design, with the tray table rotating between deployed and stowed positions via a single pivot axis aligned with the longitudinal axis of the pivot bars.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If tray table is mounted indirectly to base of passenger seat via retractable arms, then tray table can be separated from seat back frame allowing recline without affecting tray use, but mounting complexity and number of moving parts increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseat recline compatibilityVSAvoidmounting structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The tray table mounting system is divided into discrete components: pivot bars attached to the seat back frame, and tray table arms with apertures that receive the pivot bars. This segmentation allows the tray table to be independently mounted to the seat back frame rather than requiring complex indirect mounting through multiple retractable arms and base connections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pivot bars are extracted as separate mounting elements that can be independently attached to the seat back frame. This extraction simplifies the overall mounting structure by removing the need for complex indirect mounting mechanisms while maintaining the ability to accommodate seat recline movements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If tray table is mounted indirectly to base of passenger seat, then separation from seat back frame isolates tray table from vibration, but weight and material usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration isolationVSAvoidtray table assembly weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The tray table mounting system merges the tray table arms directly with the seat back frame through pivot bars, eliminating the need for separate indirect mounting structures. This consolidation reduces overall weight and material usage while the pivot bar connection design inherently provides vibration isolation through controlled movement and friction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If tray table is mounted directly to seat back frame, then installation is simplified and labor costs reduced, but space requirements between seat back and tray table increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidspace occupation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The tray table arms are designed with pivot joints that allow dynamic movement between deployed and stowed positions. When stowed, the arms rotate to position the tray table flush with or recessed into the seat back frame, minimizing space occupation. The dynamic design enables simple direct mounting while accommodating space constraints through controlled movement rather than fixed positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of operation

If tray table uses traditional retractable arm mounting, then tray table can be pulled toward passenger when deployed, but number of moving parts and potential pinch points increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetray table deploymentVSAvoidpinch point reduction

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The complex multi-component retractable arm mechanism is extracted and replaced with a simplified pivot bar and aperture system. The tray table arms simply rotate on the pivot bars, eliminating intermediate linkages, joints, and potential pinch points while maintaining the ability to deploy and stow the tray table smoothly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using traditional retractable arms that extend and retract through multiple joints, the design inverts the approach by using rigid arms that rotate on fixed pivot bars. This inversion simplifies the mechanism, reduces moving parts, and eliminates pinch points while achieving the same functional outcome of tray table deployment and stowing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS9969311B2Easy install tray table

Publication Date: 2018.05.15 ZODIAC SEATS US LLC

AI summary

Described are passenger seat backs having tray tables pivotally coupled to the seat back frame and which rotate about a single axis. The tray table (20) may be directly connected to the seat back frame (10) without the need for a complex and heavy multi-axis pivot. The resulting seat and associated tray table are lighter, more compact, and easier to manufacture.