Sliding Tray Table Extension for Gap-Free Surface Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft tray tables have limited usable surface area due to stowage constraints, and existing expandable designs suffer from hinge-related issues such as bulkiness and gaps in the table top surface.
Innovation Solution
A deployable tray table with a main table and a sliding table extension that deploys from a stowed position below the main table, utilizing an intermediate support with parallel guide rails to expand the surface area without hinges, ensuring a gap-free and compact stowage solution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If hinged table parts are used to expand the tray table, then the table top surface area is increased, but gaps appear in the table top surface and the structure becomes bulkier
Solution Approach 1:
The tray table is divided into a main table and a separate table extension that can be deployed independently. The table extension is further segmented into multiple sections that slide relative to each other along guide rails, allowing the surface area to be expanded without using traditional hinges that create gaps.
Solution Approach 2:
The table extension sections are nested within the main table when stowed, with each section fitting within the previous one. This nesting arrangement allows the extension to be compact during stowage while providing additional surface area when deployed, eliminating the need for bulky hinged structures.
2Area of moving object
If the tray table is made larger to provide more surface area, then the usable table top area increases, but the stowage space required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The table extension sections are designed to nest within the main table when not in use, with each section fitting within the previous one. This nesting mechanism allows the extension to provide additional surface area when deployed while occupying minimal stowage space, effectively resolving the contradiction between table size and stowage volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The tray table employs a dynamic sliding mechanism where the table extension can be deployed and retracted along guide rails. This dynamic design allows the table to transition between a compact stowage configuration and an expanded usable configuration, providing large surface area when needed while maintaining small stowage volume.
Data Source
AI summary
A tray table assembly including a main table and a table extension deployable from a stowed position below the main table to a deployed position laterally adjacent the main table. The main table and the table extension are coupled through an intermediate support slidably coupled to each of the main table and the table extension. The deploy the table extension, the table extension slides relative to the intermediate support and the intermediate support slides relative to the main table to increase the total surface area of the table top as needed.