Tray Table Arm Assembly with Override Stopper for Crash Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Centrally placed latch or slider in tray table assemblies can pose a hazard during crash scenarios, as they can cause the seat back to twist, leading to separation of the tray table from the seat back, potentially exposing a projecting feature that may harm passengers.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a tray table arm with a pivot mount, stowed and deployed configuration stoppers, and an override feature that allows the tray table to move with the seat back during a crash by modifying the stoppers' position or configuration in response to excessive force, ensuring the tray table remains secure and reduces the risk of injury.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a centrally placed latch or slider is used to retain the tray table assembly in a stowed position, then the overall number, complexity, and weight of components are reduced, but the tray table may separate from the seat back during crash scenarios, exposing projecting features that pose a hazard to passengers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the latch mechanism into multiple segments: a first latch element positioned laterally offset from the center, and a second latch element positioned at or near the center. This segmentation allows the system to maintain component efficiency while distributing retention points to prevent hazardous separation during crashes. The lateral offset of the first latch element specifically addresses the crash hazard by providing a retention point that prevents the tray table from twisting away from the seat back.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetric positioning of latch elements, with the first latch element positioned laterally offset from the central axis and the second latch element positioned centrally or near-centrally. This asymmetric configuration creates a more robust retention system that prevents both normal unauthorized deployment and hazardous separation during crashes, while still maintaining reasonable simplicity in the overall mechanism.
2Reliability
If a centrally placed latch or slider is used to retain the tray table assembly, then the latch can effectively secure the tray table in the stowed position, but it can cause the seat back to twist during crash scenarios, leading to separation of the tray table from the seat back
Solution Approach 1:
The retention system is segmented into two functionally distinct latch elements: a first latch element positioned laterally offset that provides primary retention and crash stability, and a second latch element positioned centrally that provides additional retention support. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function optimally without interfering with the other, maintaining both reliable retention and seat back stability during crashes.
Solution Approach 2:
The first laterally offset latch element acts as an intermediary that prevents the hazardous twisting motion during crashes. By positioning this latch element laterally, it serves as a mediator that distributes forces more evenly during impact events, preventing the seat back from twisting about the vertical axis and thereby maintaining the stability of the overall assembly configuration.
3Device complexity
If the tray table is secured only at the center of the seat back by a centrally-placed latch or slider, then the overall number of components is reduced, but the side of the seat back may twist away and separate from the side of the tray table during crash scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the latch system into a first latch element positioned laterally offset from the center and a second latch element positioned centrally. This segmentation provides multiple retention points that prevent the tray table from separating from the seat back during crashes, thereby eliminating the hazardous projecting feature exposure while still maintaining reasonable component simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by positioning the first latch element at a specific lateral offset location where it can most effectively prevent hazardous separation. This localized positioning optimizes the crash protection function at the critical lateral edge of the tray table assembly, where separation would create the most hazardous projecting features, while the central second latch element provides additional retention support.
Data Source
AI summary
Described are assemblies that include elements of a tray table, such as for an aircraft or other passenger craft. A tray table body can be movable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. A set of arms may support the table body relative to a seat back in the stowed configuration and in the deployed configuration. In response to movement of the seat back (such as in a crash scenario), the arms may permit release of a constraint of the tray table body that would otherwise inhibit the tray table body from moving with the seat back.