TABLE DEVICE AND PASSENGER SEAT AND VEHICLE CABIN WITH A TABLE DEVICE

Abstract

A table device for a vehicle cabin, in particular for a passenger cabin of an aircraft. The table device includes an active surface which is coated with at least one active material that is photoactive and antimicrobial. The table device furthermore includes an irradiation device, which is configured to irradiate the active surface with light. A passenger seat or a vehicle cabin may incorporate such a table device.

Claims

1. A table device for a vehicle cabin, comprising: an active surface which is coated with at least one active material that is photoactive and antimicrobial; and an irradiation device which is configured to irradiate the active surface with light.

2. The table device according to claim 1, wherein the irradiation device comprises at least one two-dimensional light source.

3. The table device according to claim 2, wherein the two-dimensional light source comprises at least one planar light guide.

4. The table device according to claim 2, wherein the two-dimensional light source is arranged behind the active surface and irradiates the active surface as background lighting.

5. The table device according to claim 1, furthermore comprising a tabletop and a stowage section, wherein the tabletop can be moved relative to the stowage section between a stowage position and a usage position.

6. The table device according to claim 5, wherein the active surface is arranged at least partially on at least one of an upper side or a lower side of the tabletop.

7. The table device according to claim 5, wherein the irradiation device is configured to irradiate the active surface in the stowage position.

8. The table device according to claim 7, furthermore comprising a switching unit which is configured to at least one of automatically activate the irradiation device in the stowage position or automatically deactivate the irradiation device in the usage position.

9. The table device according to claim 5, wherein the irradiation device comprises at least one light source which is arranged in the stowage section.

10. The table device according to claim 5, wherein the irradiation device comprises at least one light source which is arranged in the tabletop.

11. The table device according to claim 5, furthermore comprising a locking element which is configured to hold the tabletop in the stowage position, wherein the active surface is arranged at least partially on the locking element.

12. The table device according to claim 1, furthermore comprising a switch, by means of which a user can at least one of activate or deactivate the irradiation device.

13. The table device according to claim 1, wherein the active material is configured to produce oxygen radicals from atmospheric oxygen in a photocatalytic reaction as a response to irradiation by the irradiation device.

14. The table device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle cabin comprises a passenger cabin of an aircraft.

15. A passenger seat, comprising: a backrest; and a table device according to claim 1, wherein the table device is arranged on the backrest.

16. A vehicle cabin having a table device according to claim 1.

17. A vehicle cabin according to claim 16, wherein the vehicle cabin comprises an aircraft cabin.

18. A vehicle cabin having a passenger seat according to claim 15.

19. A vehicle cabin according to claim 16, wherein the vehicle cabin comprises an aircraft cabin.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be explained in more detail with the aid of the appended schematic drawings, of which

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a cabin region of a vehicle cabin with a passenger seat;

[0028] FIG. 2 shows a perspective representation of the passenger seat with a table device;

[0029] FIG. 3 shows a cross section of a tabletop of the table device;

[0030] FIG. 4 shows a perspective representation of a passenger seat with a table device according to a further embodiment;

[0031] FIG. 5 shows a sectional representation of a tabletop of the table device according to the further embodiment; and

[0032] FIG. 6 shows a sectional representation of a tabletop according to yet another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0033] FIG. 1 shows an aircraft 10 with a cabin region 12 of a passenger cabin of the aircraft. The invention will be explained below in the context of the aircraft 10. As mentioned above, however, other vehicles may also be envisioned according to the invention.

[0034] The cabin region is equipped with a plurality of passenger seats 14, 16, only two of which are provided with references for reasons of clarity. One passenger seat 14 is equipped with a table device 18 on a rear side of its backrest 15. The table device 18 is a folding table device. The table device 18 is adapted to be used by a passenger who is sitting on a passenger seat 16 behind the passenger seat 14 equipped with the table device.

[0035] FIG. 2 shows the passenger seat 14 with the table device 18 in a perspective representation. The table device 18 comprises a tabletop 20 and a stowage section 22, which in the case represented is configured as a two-dimensional stowage compartment. The stowage section 22 is formed in the passenger seat 14, particularly in its backrest 15. The tabletop 20 comprises an upper side 24 and a lower side 26. In the stowage position, the upper side 24 faces toward the stowage section 22 and bears on a rear side of the passenger seat 16, or a rear side of its backrest 15. In the stowage position, the lower side 26 of the tabletop 20 correspondingly faces toward the passenger. The case represented, however, corresponds to a usage position in which the tabletop 20 is folded out so that its upper side 24 can be used to receive and hold objects.

[0036] The table device 18 furthermore comprises a locking element 28, which is configured to hold the tabletop 20 in the stowage position. The locking element 28 is, for example, a rotating knob with a holding arm that can be rotated over the lower side 26 of the tabletop 20 when the latter is arranged in the stowage section 22.

[0037] The table device 18 comprises an active surface 30, which is coated with a photoactive antimicrobial active material. A cross section of the table device 18 is represented in FIG. 3. The active material is configured to produce oxygen radicals from atmospheric oxygen in a photocatalytic reaction as a response to irradiation with visible light and/or with UV light. Germs such as bacteria, viruses or other microorganisms lying on the active surface 30 are attacked by the oxygen radicals produced in this way and are therefore rendered harmless.

[0038] The active surface 30 comprises a first region, which is formed on the upper side 24 of the tabletop 20, and a second region which is formed on a surface of the locking element 28. In the case represented, the active surface 30 therefore comprises regions of the table device 18 that are frequently touched by the passenger.

[0039] The table device 18 furthermore comprises an irradiation device 32 which is adapted to irradiate the active surface 30 with visible light and/or with UV light. A first light source (not represented) of the irradiation device 32 is arranged in the locking element 28. The locking element 28 is configured to be partially transparent and/or light-guiding, so that the region, arranged on the locking element 28, of the active surface 30 can be irradiated by means of the first light source.

[0040] In other embodiments, the locking element 28, its coating with active material and/or the first light source may be omitted.

[0041] The irradiation device furthermore comprises a second light source 34, which is configured as a two-dimensional light source. The second light source 34 is arranged in the stowage section 22. In the example represented, the second light source 34 comprises an array of light-emitting diodes or laser diodes which emit light with a suitable wavelength. If the tabletop 20 is in the stowage position, the active surface 30 on the upper side 24 of the tabletop 20 is arranged immediately in front of the second light source 34. The active surface 30 can therefore be irradiated in the stowage position.

[0042] For this purpose, the table device 18 comprises a switching unit 36 which is configured to automatically activate the second light source 34 and/or the irradiation device 32 in the stowage position and automatically deactivate it in the usage position. The first light source may likewise be effected by this, so that it illuminates the locking device 28 in the stowage position and is therefore easy for the passenger to find.

[0043] Because of the small distance between the irradiation device 32 and the active surface 30, the photocatalytic reaction for germ reduction can therefore take place effectively in the stowage position. The second light source 34 is furthermore automatically deactivated when the passenger wishes to use the tabletop 20.

[0044] In the case represented, however, the passenger can activate the irradiation device 32, or the second light source 34, as required. For this purpose, the table device 18 comprises a switch 38 by means of which the automatic deactivation by the switching unit 36 is overridden. The passenger can then use the irradiation device 32 as a lamp in the usage position of the tabletop 20.

[0045] Provision may furthermore be made that the passenger can deliberately deactivate the first light source, for example when the light of the locking element 28 is disturbing them.

[0046] FIG. 4 shows a perspective representation of a passenger seat 14a according to a further embodiment. The passenger seat 14a comprises a table device 18a. The differences from the previous embodiment will primarily be described below. In respect of the function of components that are the same, reference is made to the description above.

[0047] The table device 18a comprises a tabletop 20a. FIG. 5 is a sectional representation of the tabletop 20a. The tabletop 20a is coated with active material on its upper side 24a and therefore comprises an active surface 30a. As an alternative or in addition, a coating of active material may also be provided on a lower side 26a of the tabletop 20a.

[0048] The table device 18a furthermore comprises an irradiation device 32a having a two-dimensional light source 34a. The two-dimensional light source 34a is arranged in the tabletop 20a. As may be seen in FIG. 5, the light source 34a comprises a planar light guide 40a, which in the case shown is configured as a light-guide plate. Lighting means 42a, which emit into the planar light guide 40a, are arranged along at least one edge of the planar light guide 40a. The lighting means 42a are arranged, for example, in the tabletop 20a.

[0049] The two-dimensional light source 34a is arranged behind the active surface 30a and irradiates the active surface 30a in the manner of background lighting. A core 44a, enclosing the two-dimensional light source 34a of the tabletop 20a may correspondingly be transparent in order to transmit and/or guide in a controlled way light emerging from the light source 34a to the active surface 30a. As an alternative, the planar light guide 34a itself may form the tabletop 20a.

[0050] In other embodiments, the lighting means 42a can also be arranged in the passenger seat 14 and can be suitably connected optically to the planar light guide 40a. The tabletop 20a may then be configured without electrical components but nevertheless be illuminated from the inside. For example, light may be introducible into the tabletop 20a through hinges and/or through a flexible light-guide section.

[0051] FIG. 6 shows a sectional representation of a tabletop 20b according to yet another embodiment. It may, for example, be used in one of the table devices 18, 18a according to the embodiments above. According to this embodiment as well, an irradiation device 32b comprises a two-dimensional light source 34b. The two-dimensional light source 34b comprises an inner-lying illuminated structure, which comprises a transparent core 44b and two two-dimensional lighting means 46b, 48b. The two-dimensional lighting means 46b, 48b may, for example, comprise diode arrays.

[0052] By means of the two-dimensional light source 34b, both an upper side 24b and a lower side 26b of the tabletop 20b can be illuminated. In this case, the lower side 26b may be coated with active material. According to other embodiments, only one of the two-dimensional light sources 34b may be provided, for example, in order to irradiate the upper side 24b from behind.

[0053] While at least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention(s) is disclosed herein, it should be understood that modifications, substitutions and alternatives may be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art and can be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. This disclosure is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the exemplary embodiment(s). In addition, in this disclosure, the terms “comprise” or “comprising” do not exclude other elements or steps, the terms “a” or “one” do not exclude a plural number, and the term “or” means either or both. Furthermore, characteristics or steps which have been described may also be used in combination with other characteristics or steps and in any order unless the disclosure or context suggests otherwise. This disclosure hereby incorporates by reference the complete disclosure of any patent or application from which it claims benefit or priority.