Tray table with personal entertainment device holder

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10273009-B2
Application number	US-201715692961-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2017
Priority date	Aug 31, 2017
Publication date	Apr 30, 2019
Grant date	Apr 30, 2019

Abstract

In an illustrative embodiment, a two-piece folding tray table includes a personal electronic device (PED) support member connected to a tray section such that, in a stowed position, the PED support member is substantially flush with the tray table. The PED support member may be deployable in both a folded tray table configuration and a side-by-side tray table configuration to support a personal electronic device at a substantially identical angle regardless of tray table use mode.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tray table with an integrated personal electronic device (PED) holder apparatus, the tray table comprising:
a first tray section hingedly connected to a second tray section along a first side edge of the second tray section such that, in a first operational mode, the second tray section is folded on top of the first tray section with a first surface of the second tray section directed upward, and in a second operational mode, the second tray section is in line with the first tray section with the first surface of the second tray section directed downward;
a personal electronic device (PED) support member hingedly connected to the second tray section along a second side edge of the second tray section perpendicular to the first side edge, wherein,
in a stowed position, the PED support member is substantially flush with the first surface of the second tray section,
in a first deployed position corresponding to the first operational mode, the PED support member extends from the second tray section at a first deployment angle relative to the first surface of the second tray section,
in a second deployed position corresponding to the second operational mode, the PED support member extends from the second tray section at a second deployment angle relative to a second surface of the second tray section opposite the first surface; and
wherein the PED support member is extendable from the stowed position in an interior of the second tray section, whereby the PED support member when stowed is substantially encased between the first surface of the second tray section and a lower surface of the second tray section.

2. The tray table of claim 1 , wherein the PED support member, in the stowed position, comprises a portion of a passenger-facing surface of the second tray section in the first operational mode.

3. The tray table of claim 2 , wherein, to deploy the PED support member, a passenger reaches into a finger depression to pull up on an edge of the PED support member, wherein the finger depression is positioned within a substantially planar passenger-facing surface of the second tray section.

4. The tray table of claim 1 , wherein the PED support member is connected to a vertical edge of the second tray section using a friction hinge having a range of motion of at least 270 degrees such that, in the second operational mode, the PED support member deploys by rotating downward and around to the second deployment angle.

5. The tray table of claim 1 , wherein the first deployment angle of the PED support member is universally selectable within a deployment range of at least 45 degrees relative to the first surface of the second tray section.

6. The tray table of claim 1 , wherein the PED support member, in both the first operational mode and second operational mode, is pivotable relative to the second tray section.

7. The tray table of claim 1 , wherein the PED support member comprises a non-slip surface treatment to frictionally retain the personal electronic device.

Assignees

• Rockwell Collins Inc
• Be Aerospace Inc

Inventors

• Fishel Nathaniel Adam
• Foor Martin J
• Blanc Matteo
• Kreitz Iii Michael

Classifications

• A47B2023/045

  made of metal wires · CPC title

• A47B23/001

  Trays, e.g. with foldable legs · CPC title

• B64D11/0638 Primary

  with foldable tables, trays or cup holders · CPC title

• A47B23/044 Primary

  only foldable · CPC title