Two-Piece Tray Table Cover for Hygienic Barrier and Spill Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tray tables in public transportation and other settings pose hygienic and organizational challenges due to germ contamination and lack of organization for users, especially for children, leading to stress and messes during travel.
Innovation Solution
A two-piece multi-functional tray table cover comprising a flexible sleeve made of spandex with hook and loop fasteners and a water-resistant prop-up tray that creates a dedicated use area, with pockets for storage and a transparent window for multimedia use, allowing easy cleaning and containment of spills.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a tray table cover is used to provide hygienic barrier, then germ protection is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The tray table cover is divided into two separate components: a flexible sleeve that covers the tray table surface and a detachable prop-up tray for organizing items. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while maintaining hygiene and organization capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible sleeve serves multiple functions: it provides a hygienic barrier against germs, acts as a protective cover for the tray table, and serves as an attachment base for the prop-up tray. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a prop-up tray is added to create dedicated use area, then organizational capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The prop-up tray is designed as a detachable component that can be attached to or removed from the flexible sleeve. This segmentation allows users to add organizational capability only when needed, while maintaining simplicity of the basic cover when organization is not required.
Solution Approach 2:
The prop-up tray can be adjusted to different positions and angles using button mechanisms, allowing it to adapt to various organizational needs and user preferences while maintaining a relatively simple structural design.
3Ease of operation
If water-resistant material is used for spill containment, then ease of cleaning is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The prop-up tray is made from water-resistant material that changes the surface properties to prevent liquid absorption. This parameter change in material properties enables easy cleaning and spill containment while using standard manufacturing processes for treating fabric surfaces.
4Ease of operation
If hook and loop fasteners are used for attachment, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hook and loop fasteners enable the prop-up tray to attach to and detach from the flexible sleeve without requiring additional tools, complex mechanisms, or assistance. The fasteners self-engage and self-lock, providing easy operation while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.
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
The tray table cover provides a hygienic barrier, maintains organization, and contains spills, making travel more comfortable by creating a clean and organized space for users to place items while allowing easy access and visibility of devices during use.
Implementation Method 1
The sleeve is comprised of a spandex material to enable a user to stretch the fabric around various-sized tray tables
Implementation Method 2
The sleeve has a hook and loop fastener, such as Velcro®, on the top side, which attaches to a corresponding hook and loop fastener on the prop-up tray's bottom side
Implementation Method 3
the prop-up tray leverages a water-resistant material on at least its top surface to maintain a clean area and, should a spill occur, make clean-up easier and contained
Data Source
AI summary
A two-piece multi-functional tray table cover is configured with a flexible sleeve and water-resistant prop-up tray to simultaneously provide a hygienic barrier to the tray table's surface, and a dedicated play, work, or otherwise use area for a user to place their toys, drinks, food, etc. The sleeve is comprised of a spandex material to enable a user to stretch the fabric around various-sized tray tables to accommodate different manufacturers, airlines, etc. The sleeve has a hook and loop fastener, such as Velcro®, on the top side, which attaches to a corresponding hook and loop fastener on the prop-up tray. In addition, the bottom side of the sleeve, opposite the top side with the hook and look fastener, has at least a pocket with a transparent window that enables a user to view a computing device's screen or other contents.