Tray Table Assembly Recessed in Seat Back
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tray tables mounted on passenger seats encroach on space when stowed due to their conventional location outside the seat back contour, which is exacerbated by the reclining motion of the seat back, necessitating a solution to minimize occupied space while allowing seat back recline without disturbing the tray table.
Innovation Solution
A tray table assembly that fits within a recess in the passenger seat back, featuring a slim table body with a honeycomb or framed internal structure, and adjustable arms that pivot relative to a pivot shaft, allowing the seat back to recline without disturbing the tray table, which can be stowed flush with the seat back to minimize space usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the tray table is mounted outside the contour of the passenger seat back, then the tray table can be coupled to the pivot shaft allowing seat back recline without disturbing tray table use, but the tray table encroaches on the space available to the passenger when stowed
Solution Approach 1:
The tray table assembly is nested within a recess formed in the passenger seat back, allowing the tray table to be housed inside the seat back structure rather than mounting it externally. This nesting approach reduces the space occupied by the tray table when stowed while maintaining the coupling to the pivot shaft for recline functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention moves the tray table from an external mounting position to an internal recessed position within the seat back, utilizing the third dimension (depth) of the seat back structure. This dimensional transition allows the tray table to be accommodated within the existing seat back volume, reducing its external footprint.
2Area of stationary object
If the tray table is mounted within the recess of the passenger seat back, then the space occupancy is reduced when stowed, but the coupling location must allow seat back recline without disturbing tray table use
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot shaft serves multiple functions: it couples the tray table assembly to the passenger seat back structure and simultaneously enables the seat back recline motion. By making the coupling mechanism universal and multi-functional, the invention avoids adding separate complex mechanisms while achieving both tray table stability and seat recline capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the tray table coupling function with the existing seat back recline mechanism by coupling the tray table to the pivot shaft. This consolidation combines two functions (tray table mounting and recline motion) into a single integrated system, reducing overall device complexity.
3Area of stationary object
If the table body thickness is reduced to fit within the recess, then the tray table can be stowed flush with the seat back to minimize space usage, but the structural integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The table body is constructed using composite materials that provide high strength-to-weight ratio and structural integrity despite reduced thickness. The composite construction allows the thin table body to fit within the recess while maintaining sufficient strength to support typical tray table loads.
Solution Approach 2:
The table body utilizes a thin-walled structural design with optimized wall thickness that provides adequate strength while minimizing overall thickness. The thin-film approach allows the tray table to be sufficiently thin to fit within the recess contour while maintaining structural integrity through optimized wall geometry and material selection.
Data Source
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AI summary
A tray table assembly comprises a table body, at least one arm, and at least one table stop. The at least one arm is pivotally coupled to the table body. The at least one arm is also pivotally coupled to a pivot shaft interior to at least one location where a passenger seat back is pivotally coupled to the pivot shaft. The at least one table stop is fixedly coupled to the pivot shaft adjacent the location where the at least one arm is pivotally coupled to the pivot shaft. The tray table assembly may be coupled to a passenger seat back comprising a recess and may be configured to substantially fit within the recess.