Sliding Meal Table Latch for One-Handed Seatback Stowage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional rotating latches for passenger seat meal tables require two-handed operation, detract from seat aesthetics, and pose a head injury risk during sudden deceleration.
Innovation Solution
A latch mechanism with a slider that converts linear motion into rotational motion, allowing one-handed operation and automatic deployment/stowage, featuring a housing, rod, slider, rotary motion component, and lock mechanism to maintain the latch in the unlatched condition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional rotating latch is used, then the meal table can be latched in the stowed position, but two-handed operation is required
Solution Approach 1:
A slider component acts as an intermediary between the user's manual input and the latch mechanism. The slider translates linear sliding motion into rotational motion of the latch through a cam surface or inclined plane, enabling one-handed operation while maintaining reliable latching functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The traditional direct rotational latch is replaced with a mechanism that converts linear motion to rotational motion. This substitution allows the user to operate the latch by simply sliding it linearly, which is easier to perform with one hand, while the internal mechanism handles the rotational movement required for latching
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a rotating latch protrudes from the seat back, then the latch can be operated, but head injury risk increases during sudden deceleration
Solution Approach 1:
The latch mechanism is extracted from its traditional protruding position and repositioned within a recess in the seat back structure. This removes the harmful protrusion that could cause head injuries during sudden deceleration, while the latch remains accessible through the recess opening for normal operation
Solution Approach 2:
The latch is positioned in a recessed area that prevents it from protruding forward during sudden deceleration events. The recess structure provides preliminary protection by constraining the latch's position, preventing it from becoming a hazard while still allowing full operational functionality
3Shape
If a rotating latch is visible on the seat back, then the latch can be operated, but seat back aesthetics are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The latch mechanism is nested within a recess in the seat back, similar to how a doll is placed inside another doll. This nesting allows the latch to be hidden within the seat back structure when not in use, maintaining clean aesthetics, while still being accessible through the recess opening for operation
Solution Approach 2:
The seat back surface is designed with a localized recess that accommodates the latch mechanism. This local modification allows the latch to be concealed within the recess for aesthetic purposes, while the opening in the recess provides sufficient access for users to operate the latch when needed
4Ease of operation
If a rotating latch is used, then the meal table can be latched, but the latch requires 90 degrees rotation which complicates operation
Solution Approach 1:
The direct rotational latch mechanism is replaced with a system that converts linear sliding motion into the necessary rotational movement. This substitution simplifies the user's interaction to a simple linear slide, while the internal cam or inclined plane mechanism handles the complex rotational transformation automatically
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 one-handed manipulation of the meal table, reduces head injury risk, and enhances seat aesthetics by minimizing protrusions.
Implementation Method 1
a rotary motion component mounted on the rod and configured to interact with the slider and the latch to convert linear motion of the slider into rotational motion of the latch
Implementation Method 2
a first biasing element coupled between the housing and the slider for biasing the slider toward a first end of the rod
Implementation Method 3
a lock mechanism mounted to the housing configured to interact with the rotary motion component to maintain the latch in the unlatched condition
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A latch mechanism (110) for a passenger seat meal table (104) and a passenger seat assembly (100) including a latching meal table. The latch mechanism includes a housing (114), a rod (120) mounted in the housing, a slider (118) mounted on the rod, a latch (112) rotatably mounted to the housing, a rotary motion component (124) mounted on the rod configured to interact with the slider and the latch to convert linear motion of the slider into rotational motion of the latch, and a lock mechanism (126) mounted to the housing configured to interact with the rotary motion component to maintain the latch in the unlatched condition. In use, moving the meal table to a stowed position causes the latch to deploy to a latched condition to maintain the meal table in the stowed position.