Arced rail for aircraft tray table

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10370107-B2
Application number	US-201815939431-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 29, 2018
Priority date	Mar 31, 2017
Publication date	Aug 6, 2019
Grant date	Aug 6, 2019

Abstract

A tray table configured to transition between a stowed position within a stowage module to a deployed position outside of the stowage module by way of an arced rail having rail heads, and a plurality of tray table wheels and stowage module wheels arranged to mesh with the rail heads. The tray table follows an arcuate path between the stowed and deployed positions and remains horizontal in all positions of the tray table.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tray table assembly, comprising:
a stowage module;
a tray table configured to transition along an arcuate path between a stowed position within the stowage module and a deployed position outside of the stowage module;
an arced rail having a first tab, a second tab parallel to the first tab, a first rail head extending from the first tab, and a second rail head extending from the second tab;
a plurality of tray table wheels rotatably mounted to the tray table and engaging at least the first rail head; and
a plurality of stowage module wheels rotatably mounted to the stowage module and engaging at least the second rail head.

2. The tray table assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tray table remains horizontal in each of the stowed position, the deployed position, and intermediate positions as the tray table transitions along the arcuate path between the stowed and deployed positions of the tray table.

3. The tray table assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of tray table wheels has a groove that engages the first rail head, and each of the stowage module wheels has a groove that engages the second rail head.

4. The tray table assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first rail head has a semi-circular shape.

5. The tray table assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first rail head has a V-shape.

6. The tray table assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a third rail head extending from the first tab, and a fourth rail head extending from the second tab.

7. The tray table assembly of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of tray table wheels are provided in a doubled stacked configuration to mesh with the first rail head and third rail head, and wherein the plurality of stowage module wheels are provided in a doubled stacked configuration to mesh with the second rail head and fourth rail head.

8. The tray table assembly of claim 6 , wherein
the first rail head is disposed along an outer surface of the first tab;
the third rail head is disposed along an inner surface of the first tab opposite the inner surface of the first tab;
the second rail head is disposed along an inner surface of the second tab; and
the fourth rail head is disposed along an outer surface of the second tab opposite the inner surface of the second tab.

9. The tray table assembly of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of tray table wheels mesh with the first and the fourth rail heads, and wherein the plurality of stowage module wheels mesh with the second and third rail heads.

10. The tray table assembly of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of tray table wheels are arranged in a first plane and the plurality of stowage module wheels are arranged in a second plane disposed below the first plane relative to the top surface of the arced rail.

11. The tray table assembly of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of stowage module wheels are arranged in a staggered pattern, and wherein the plurality of tray table wheels are arranged in a parallel pattern about the arced rail.

12. The tray table assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a linear rail affixed to an underside of the tray table; and
a tray table carriage slidable along the linear rail and affixed to the plurality of tray table wheels;
wherein the tray table is configured to translate along the linear rail.

13. A tray table assembly, comprising:
a stowage module;
a tray table configured to transition along an arcuate path between a stowed position within the stowage module and a deployed position outside of the stowage module;
an arced rail comprising a first outer rail head disposed along a first outer surface of the arced rail, a second outer rail head disposed along a second outer surface of the arced rail, a first inner rail head disposed along a first inner surface of the arced rail, and a second inner rail head disposed along a second inner surface of the arced rail;
a plurality of tray table wheels rotatably mounted to the tray table and engaging the first and second inner rail heads; and
a plurality of stowage module wheels rotatably mounted to the stowage module and engaging the first and second outer rail heads.

14. The tray table assembly of claim 13 , wherein the tray table remains horizontal in each of the stowed position, the deployed position, and intermediate positions as the tray table transitions along the arcuate path between the stowed and deployed positions of the tray table.

15. The tray table assembly of claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of tray table wheels and the stowage module wheels has a V-groove defined in a surface thereof.

16. The tray table assembly of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of tray table wheels are arranged in a first plane and the plurality of stowage module wheels are arranged in a second plane disposed below the first plane relative to a top surface of the arced rail.

17. The tray table assembly of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of stowage module wheels are arranged in a staggered pattern and the plurality of tray table wheels are arranged in a parallel pattern about the arced rail.

18. The tray table assembly of claim 13 , further comprising:
a linear rail affixed to an underside of the tray table; and
a tray table carriage slidable along the linear rail and affixed to the plurality of tray table wheels;
wherein the tray table is configured to translate along the linear rail.

19. The tray table assembly of claim 18 , wherein the tray table translates along the linear rail in the deployed position of the tray table.

20. A tray table assembly, comprising:
a stowage module;
a tray table configured to transition along an arcuate path between a stowed position within the stowage module and a deployed position outside of the stowage module;
an arced rail having a first tab, a second tab parallel to the first tab, a first rail head extending from the first tab, and a second rail head extending from the second tab;
a plurality of tray table wheels rotatably mounted to the tray table and engaging at least the first rail head;
a plurality of stowage module wheels rotatably mounted to the stowage module and engaging at least the second rail head;
a linear rail affixed to an underside of the tray table; and
a tray table carriage slidable along the linear rail and affixed to the plurality of tray table wheels, wherein the tray table is configured to translate along the linear rail.

Assignees

• Be Aerospace Inc

Inventors

• Pozzi Alexander N
• Foohey Mark W
• Scudder Sam C
• Horton Iv John C
• Brown Steve K
• Daniel Darryl D

Classifications

• B64D11/0638

  with foldable tables, trays or cup holders · CPC title

• B64D11/0605 Primary

  including tables or desks · CPC title

• B60N3/002

  of trays · CPC title