Laterally-expanding tray table

Abstract

A seat back tray table that includes an arm assembly attached to a seat having a seat back, and moveable between a stowed position and a deployed, use position, a first table segment carried by the arm assembly and moveable with the arm assembly between a stowed position against a stowage area of the seat back and a deployed position aft of the stowage area, and a second table segment carried by the first table segment and moveable between a stored position within the stowage area of the seat back and a deployed position laterally-extended from the first table segment to increase the total surface area of the tray table.

Claims

1. A seat back tray table for an aircraft passenger seat having a base, a seat bottom, and a seat back, the seat back tray table comprising: an arm assembly including a pair of laterally opposing arms pivotally attached to the seat back and a pivotally mounted stabilizing cross bar connecting the laterally opposing arms; a first table segment carried by the arm assembly and moveable with the arm assembly between a stowed position within or proximate a stowage area of the seat back and a deployed position aft of the stowage area; the first table segment including a pair of table supports extending from the pivotally mounted stabilizing cross bar and permitting the first table segment to slide away from the pivotally mounted stabilizing cross bar to an extended position and to slide toward the pivotally mounted stabilizing cross bar to a retracted position; a second table segment carried by the first table segment and moveable between a stored position within or proximate to the stowage area of the seat back and a position laterally-extended from the first table segment to increase the total surface area of the tray table when the first table segment is in the deployed position; and a pocket positioned on a bottom side of the first table segment, wherein the second table segment in its stored position is telescoped into the pocket in the first table segment and adapted to be translated laterally-outwardly from the pocket into the deployed, use position; wherein the first table segment encloses the pair of table supports when the first table segment is in the retracted position.

2. The seat back tray table according to claim 1, including passenger convenience devices positioned on a width of the seat back not occupied by the tray table in its stowed position.

3. The seat back tray table according to claim 2, wherein the passenger convenience devices are selected from the group consisting of an electronic device connectivity port, in-flight entertainment.

4. The seat back tray table according to claim 1, wherein the width of the tray table in the stowed position is approximately one-half of the width of the seat back, and the width of the tray table in the deployed position with the second table segment fully laterally-extended is substantially the entire width of the seat back.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

(1) The present invention is best understood when the following detailed description of the invention is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the seat back portion of an aircraft passenger seat showing a telescoping tray table according to one preferred embodiment of the invention in its stowed position against the seat back;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the seat back portion of an aircraft passenger seat showing a tray table according to one preferred embodiment of the invention as it is being extended laterally from its stowed position into the enlarged, deployed position;

(4) FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the telescoping tray table showing lateral and fore and aft movement;

(5) FIG. 4 is a is a perspective view of the seat back portion of an aircraft passenger seat showing a pivoting tray table according to another preferred embodiment of the invention as it is being extended laterally from its stowed position into the enlarged, deployed position; and

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the seat back portion of an aircraft passenger seat showing a bi-fold tray table according to a further preferred embodiment of the invention as it is being moved to its stowed position from the deployed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(7) Referring now to FIG. 1, a seat back S is shown of the general type found in main and business cabin areas of commercial aircraft, to which is mounted a tray table 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the first table segment 18 in its stowed position occupies one side of the rear of the seat back S, leaving the other side for containing IFE or other occupant convenience features C1 and C2. As also shown, the seat back S is provided with a video monitor V that includes reverse, play, pause/stop, fast forward and volume controls positioned below the video monitor V and above the level of the tray table 10.

(8) In the following FIGS. 2-5 the video monitor V and convenience features C1 and C2 have been removed for clarity in describing and illustrating the tray table 10.

(9) Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, tray table 10 includes an arm assembly with a pair of laterally-opposed arms 12, 14 connected by a pivotally-mounted stabilizing cross bar 16. As shown in FIG. 3, the cross bar 16 includes a pair of table supports 16A, 16B that provide support and permit the first table segment 18 to slide away from the seat back S towards the seat occupant, as desired.

(10) The first table segment 18 is positioned for pivotal movement with the movement of the cross bar 16, as shown, and includes an interior pocket 20. A second table segment 22 is positioned for lateral sliding movement between a stored position shown in FIG. 1, a partially-deployed position in FIG. 2 and a deployed, use position in FIG. 3. The partially-deployed position shown in FIG. 2 may be extended to a fully-deployed position by continuing to withdraw the second table segment 22 from the pocket 20 in the first table segment 18 to arrive at the position shown in FIG. 3.

(11) The second table segment 22 may be secured in its stored and/or deployed positions by any suitable latch, or may be retained in those positions by friction between the second table segment 22 and the contacting parts of the pocket 20. The interior pocket 20 may be secured in its stowed position against the seat back S with any suitable latching mechanism known in the art.

(12) As observed in FIG. 1, the tray table 10 in its stowed position allows significant additional space on the seat back S for other uses, which may include placement of a passenger's electronic device, IFE components, video screen or the like.

(13) The first and second table segments 18, 22 are constructed of lightweight plastic, resin or metal of the general type currently used for prior art tray tables and similar in-flight components.

(14) Referring to FIG. 4, a tray table 30, shown in a partially deployed position, includes a pair of laterally-opposed arms 32, 34 connected by a stabilizing cross bar 36. A first table segment 38 is positioned for pivotal movement on the cross bar 36, as shown and in a manner as shown in FIG. 3. A second table segment 40 is positioned for lateral pivoting movement, as shown, between a stored position in a narrow pocket 42 positioned beneath the first table segment 38 and a deployed, use position. In the fully deployed, use position, the second table segment 40 is in lateral alignment with the first table segment 38. In the fully stored position, the second table segment 40 is positioned beneath the first table segment in the pocket 42. The second table segment 40 pivots around a mounting pin or similar attachment mechanism, not shown, carried by the first table segment 38.

(15) The tray table 30 may be secured in its stowed position against the seat back S with any suitable latching mechanism known in the art. In its stowed position, the appearance of tray table 30 would be essentially the same as the tray table 10 of FIG. 1.

(16) Referring to FIG. 5, a tray table 50, shown in a partially deployed position, includes a pair of laterally-opposed arms 52, 54 connected by a stabilizing cross bar 56. A first table segment 58 is positioned for pivotal movement on the cross bar 56, as shown and as illustrated in FIG. 5, and includes a hinge 60 extending fore and aft on the interior side, as shown. A second table segment 62 is attached to the hinge 60 for pivoting movement, as shown, in a counter clockwise direction between a stored position and a deployed, use position. In the fully deployed position, the second table segment 62 extends towards the arm 52 in lateral alignment with and in the same horizontal plane as the first table segment 58. In the fully stowed position, the second table segment 62 rests on the top surface of the first table segment 58.

(17) The tray table 50 may be secured in its stowed position against the seat back S with any suitable latching mechanism known in the art. In its stowed position, the appearance of tray table 50 would be essentially the same as the tray table 10 of FIG. 1.

(18) As with tray table 10, tray tables 30 and 50 in their stowed position allow significant additional space on the seat back S for other uses, which may include placement of a passenger's electronic device, IFE components, video screen or the like. Similarly, the first and second table segments 38, 42 and 58, 62 are constructed of lightweight plastic, resin or metal currently used for prior art tray tables and similar in-flight components.

(19) Each of the above tray tables allow configurations in the areas not occupied by the tables when stowed that are not possible with a typical fore/aft expanding bifold table. In a typical bifold table, the aspect ratio of the table and the space it occupies when stowed is short and wide, which dictates a similar form factor to the space adjacent to it for items such as connectivity ports, IFE remote control devices and the like. Additionally, these novel tray table designs allow for multiple table sizes depending on how far the second table segment is extended. This design also eases ingress and egress when the tables 10, 30 and 50 are in their reduced size configuration.

(20) A seat back tray table according to the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments and examples. Various details of the invention may be changed without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation, the invention being defined by the claims.