Sliding Tray Table Assembly for Unobstructed Passenger Egress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tray tables in aircraft require stowing during passenger egress, which is inconvenient and inefficient in terms of space usage, as they need to change orientation and often require passengers to remove items, and their storage within a vertical pocket adds complexity and weight.
Innovation Solution
A tray table assembly that includes a horizontal rail alongside the seat, a carriage assembly for sliding movement, and a pivot mechanism allowing the tray table to transition between vertical and horizontal orientations without needing to be stowed, with a ledge preventing premature deployment and a gas spring for balanced stowing, enabling deployment without obstructing egress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the tray table is stowed within a vertical pocket alongside the seatback, then the tray table can be stored in a compact position, but the device complexity increases due to complex hinge assemblies and armatures required to lift, pivot and rotate the tabletop
Solution Approach 1:
The tray table assembly is divided into separate functional components: a carriage assembly that travels along horizontal rails, and a tray table that pivots from the carriage. This segmentation allows the stowing function to be achieved through simple horizontal translation of the carriage, eliminating the need for complex hinge assemblies and armatures that would be required if the entire assembly pivoted from the seatback.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the stowing dimension from vertical (pivoting within a vertical pocket) to horizontal (translating along horizontal rails). The carriage assembly moves horizontally alongside the seatback, and the tray table pivots horizontally from the carriage. This dimensional change simplifies the mechanism by using straightforward horizontal motion instead of complex vertical pivoting and rotation.
2Ease of operation
If the tray table is stowed to permit ingress/egress from the seat, then passenger access is enabled, but the passenger must remove their articles beforehand which reduces convenience
Solution Approach 1:
The tray table assembly is designed to be dynamically movable along horizontal rails via a carriage assembly. When egress is needed, the carriage can be quickly translated horizontally to clear the passenger path, and the tray table can pivot to a vertical stowed position. This dynamic adjustment allows the tray table to remain in a deployed position with passenger articles on it while still permitting passenger access, eliminating the need to remove articles beforehand.
3Area of stationary object
If the tray table stows within a vertical pocket, then space is utilized, but valuable floor and seat space is consumed and weight increases due to added complexity
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the assembly into a lightweight carriage that travels on simple horizontal rails and a separately pivoting tray table, the overall weight is reduced compared to a single complex pivoting mechanism. The horizontal rail system uses simpler support structures than a vertical pocket mechanism, reducing the weight of the stationary components while still achieving compact stowing.
4Area of stationary object
If the tray table changes horizontal orientation to be stowed, then the tray table is stored compactly, but the passenger must remove articles which reduces ease of operation
Solution Approach 1:
The carriage assembly provides dynamic horizontal translation along rails, allowing the tray table to be quickly moved to a stowed position without requiring the passenger to remove articles. The tray table pivots horizontally from the carriage to a vertical position, maintaining article security while achieving compact stowing. This dynamic mechanism enables both compact stowing and article retention convenience simultaneously.
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 convenient passenger egress without stowing the tray table and optimizes space usage by allowing the tray table to deploy horizontally while maintaining a compact stowed position, enhancing passenger comfort and cabin space efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a gas spring arranged to provide a spring force for lifting the tray table for stowing
Implementation Method 2
a carriage assembly configured to travel horizontally along the length of the horizontal rail
Data Source
AI summary
A tray table assembly for a passenger seat including a horizontal rail arranged alongside the seat, the horizontal rail having a length extending from the seatback to a position forward of the seat, a carriage assembly configured to travel horizontally along the rail, and a tray table attached to the carriage assembly, the tray table configured to pivot between a vertical orientation in which the tray table is stowed alongside the seatback and a horizontal orientation in which the tray table is positioned forward of the seatback.