Stowage module mounted tray table with multi-bar linkage driven movement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10342338-B2
Application number	US-201815935750-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 26, 2018
Priority date	Mar 29, 2017
Publication date	Jul 9, 2019
Grant date	Jul 9, 2019

Abstract

A tray table assembly including a tray table movable horizontally along a predetermined path between a stowed position within a stowage module and a deployed position outside of the stowage, a linear translation member adapted to adjust a position of the tray table relative to a passenger seat, and a multi-bar linkage assembly affixed at one end to the tray table and at an opposing end to the linear translation member, the multi-bar linkage assembly comprising a plurality of links arranged to deploy the tray table along the predetermined path between the stowed and deployed positions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tray table assembly, comprising:
a tray table movable horizontally along a predetermined path between a stowed position and a deployed position;
a linear translation member adapted to adjust a position of the tray table relative to a passenger seat; and
a multi-bar linkage assembly affixed at one end to the tray table and at an opposing end to the linear translation member, the multi-bar linkage assembly comprising a plurality of links arranged to deploy the tray table along the predetermined path between the stowed and deployed positions;
wherein the predetermined path is an arced path and the tray table rotates as the tray table transitions between the stowed and deployed positions of the tray table.

2. The tray table assembly of claim 1 , wherein the multi-bar linkage assembly comprises:
a first link pivotably attached at one end to an extension of the linear translation member;
a second link pivotably attached at one end to the linear translation member;
a third link pivotably attached at one end to the first link and at an opposing end to the tray table; and
a fourth link pivotably attached at one end to the second link and at an opposing end to the tray table;
wherein the third link is pivotably attached to the second link.

3. The tray table assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first link limits angular rotation between the first link and the third link, and the second link limits angular rotation between the second link and the third link, such that the first link and the second link cooperate to limit rotation of the third link to limit tray table deployment.

4. The tray table assembly of claim 2 , wherein at least one of link length, link configuration, and pivoting attachment points between links determine the predetermined path.

5. The tray table assembly of claim 1 , wherein the linear translation member operates independent of the multi-bar linkage assembly.

6. The tray table assembly of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined path is an arced path such that the tray table rotates 90-degress as the tray table transitions between the stowed and deployed positions of the tray table.

7. The tray table assembly of claim 1 , wherein the linear translation member is adapted to horizontally translate along a fixed guide member.

8. The tray table assembly of claim 1 , wherein the multi-bar linkage assembly folds to stow below and within the bounds of a surface area of the tray table when the tray table is in the stowed position.

9. The tray table assembly of claim 1 , wherein a combined vertical profile of the tray table and the multi-bar linkage assembly is between 1″ and 2″.

10. A tray table assembly, comprising:
a stowage module adapted to be positioned in proximity to a passenger seat;
a tray table configured to transition along a predetermined path between a stowed position within the stowage module and a deployed position outside of the stowage module;
a linear translation member coupled to the stowage module for movement relative to the stowage module; and
a multi-bar linkage assembly affixed at one end to the tray table and at an opposing end to the linear translation member, the multi-bar linkage assembly comprising a plurality of links arranged to deploy the tray table along the predetermined path between the stowed and deployed positions;
wherein the predetermined path is an arced path and the tray table rotates as the tray table transitions between the stowed and deployed positions of the tray table.

11. The tray table assembly of claim 10 , wherein the multi-bar linkage assembly comprises:
a first link pivotably attached at one end to an extension of the linear translation member;
a second link pivotably attached at one end to the linear translation member;
a third link pivotably attached at one end to the first link and at an opposing end to the tray table; and
a fourth link pivotably attached at one end to the second link and at an opposing end to the tray table;
wherein the third link is pivotably attached to the second link.

12. The tray table assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first link limits angular rotation between the first link and the third link, and the second link limits angular rotation between the second link and the third link, such that the first link and the second link cooperate to limit rotation of the third link to limit tray table deployment.

13. The tray table assembly of claim 10 , wherein the linear translation member translates horizontally along a fixed member mounted to the stowage module to adjust a distance of the tray table from a passenger seat, and wherein the linear translation member operates independent of the multi-bar linkage assembly.

14. The tray table assembly of claim 10 , wherein the predetermined path is an arced path such that the tray table rotates 90-degress as the tray table transitions between the stowed and deployed positions of the tray table.

15. The tray table assembly of claim 10 , wherein a longitudinal tray table axis is parallel to a longitudinal stowage module axis when the tray table is in the stowed position, and wherein the longitudinal tray table axis is at an angle to the longitudinal stowage module axis when the tray table is in the deployed position.

16. The tray table assembly of claim 15 , wherein the angle is 90 degrees.

17. The tray table assembly of claim 10 , further comprising a tray disposed in the stowage module, wherein the tray table is housed within the tray and the multi-bar linkage assembly folds to stow below the tray table when the tray table is in the stowed position.

18. The tray table assembly of claim 17 , wherein the tray comprises a perimeter sidewall having a break in the perimeter sidewall at an exit point of the tray table from the tray and the stowage module.

19. The tray table assembly of claim 10 , wherein a combined vertical profile of the tray table and the multi-bar linkage assembly is between 1″ and 2″.

20. A tray table assembly, comprising:
a tray table movable horizontally along a predetermined path between a stowed position and a deployed position;
a linear translation member adapted to adjust a position of the tray table relative to a passenger seat; and
a multi-bar linkage assembly affixed at one end to the tray table and at an opposing end to the linear translation member, the multi-bar linkage assembly comprising a plurality of links arranged to deploy the tray table along the predetermined path between the stowed and deployed positions, the multi-bar linkage assembly comprising:
a first link pivotably attached at one end to an extension of the linear translation member;
a second link pivotably attached at one end to the linear translation member;
a third link pivotably attached at one end to the first link and at an opposing end to the tray table; and
a fourth link pivotably attached at one end to the second link and at an opposing end to the tray table;
wherein the third link is pivotably attached to the second link.

Assignees

• Be Aerospace Inc
• B/E Aerospce Inc

Inventors

• Foohey Mark W

Classifications

• A47B3/00

  Folding or stowable tables (folded and suspended or hinged, or wall tables A47B5/04) · CPC title

• A47B83/02 Primary

  Tables combined with seats {(folding or stowable tables with separable parts combined with seats A47B3/063; foldable table and seat units A47B3/14)} · CPC title

• B64D11/0638

  with foldable tables, trays or cup holders · CPC title

• B60N3/002

  of trays · CPC title

• B64D11/0646

  Seats characterised by special features of stationary arms, foot or head rests · CPC title