Tray table assembly with automatic centering during stowage

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10674829-B2
Application number	US-201815917134-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 9, 2018
Priority date	Mar 30, 2017
Publication date	Jun 9, 2020
Grant date	Jun 9, 2020

Abstract

A tray table assembly adapted to move to and from a stowed position in a stowage module positioned to one side of a passenger seat. The assembly includes an arcuate rail movably mounted in the stowage module, a tray table mounted on the rail for arcuate movement along the rail between the stowed position and the deployed position relative to the rail, and also mounted on the rail for fore and aft translating movement in the deployed position. The tray table rides on an arcuate rail that permits both deployment and fore and aft movement of the tray table, and automatically centers the tray table during movement toward the stowed position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tray table assembly adapted to deploy from a stowage module, comprising:
a rail mountable to a stowage module and movable between a stowed position and a deployed position of the rail relative to a stowage module;
a tray table mounted on the rail for arcuate movement along the rail between a stowed position and a deployed position of the tray table relative to the rail;
a channel disposed on an underside of the tray table and movable with the tray table, the channel comprising an arcuate segment defining a curve corresponding to a curve of the rail and a funnel-shaped centering segment communicating with the arcuate segment of the channel; and
at least one roller pin fixed in a predetermined position on the rail representing a centered position for the tray table to assume before entering a stowage module, wherein as the tray table moves toward a stowage module the roller pin moves along the arcuate segment of the channel and contacts the funnel-shaped centering segment, and as the funnel-shaped channel engages and moves relative to the roller pin the roller pin centers the tray table relative to the rail such that the tray table enters a stowage module in a predetermined centered position.

2. The tray table of claim 1 , wherein the rail comprises a rail latch disposed adjacent a carriage for being moved by the carriage to an open position as the carriage moves towards the stowed position of the tray table, and a latch detent arranged to catch an end of the rail to lock the tray table in the stowed position of the tray table when the rail reaches the stowed position of the rail.

3. The tray table of claim 2 , wherein the rail latch is mounted on a pivot adjacent one end of the rail such that the rail latch is enabled to pivot into and out of a locked position of the rail.

4. The tray table of 3 , wherein the rail latch is biased toward a locked position of the rail.

5. The tray table of claim 1 , further comprising:
a guide arm carried by the rail and extending towards the deployed position of the tray table; and
a guide pin mounted on the guide arm and positioned to travel in a guide slot positioned in a bottom surface of the tray table, the guide slot being angled in relation to the tray table.

6. The tray table of claim 5 , wherein the guide slot and the channel intersect.

7. A tray table assembly adapted to move to and from a stowed position with respect to a stowage module positionable to one side of a passenger seat, comprising:
a rail movably mounted relative to a stowage module between a stowed position of the rail and a deployed position of the rail, the rail comprising a rail latch disposed adjacent the rail for being moved by the rail to an open position as the rail moves towards the stowed position of the rail, and a latch detent positioned to catch an end of the rail to lock the tray table in a stowed position of the tray table when the rail reaches the stowed position of the rail;
a tray table mounted on the rail for arcuate movement along the rail between a stowed position of the tray table and a deployed position of the tray table relative to the rail;
a channel disposed on an underside of the tray table and movable with the tray table, the channel having an arcuate segment defining a curve corresponding to a curve of the rail and a funnel-shaped centering segment communicating with the arcuate segment of the channel; and
at least one roller pin fixed in a position on the rail representing a centered position for the tray table to assume before entering a stowage module, wherein as the tray table moves toward a stowage module the roller pin moves along the arcuate segment of the of the channel and contacts the funnel-shaped centering segment, and as the funnel-shaped channel engages and moves relative to the roller pin, the roller pin centers the tray table relative to a stowage module for predetermined centered alignment for stowing the tray table.

8. The tray table of claim 7 , wherein the rail latch is mounted on a pivot adjacent one end of the rail such that the rail latch is enabled to pivot into and out of its locked position.

9. The tray table of claim 7 , wherein the rail latch is biased by a biasing member toward a locked position of the rail.

10. The tray table of claim 7 , further comprising:
a guide arm carried by the rail and extending toward the deployed position of the tray table; and
a guide pin mounted on the guide arm and positioned to travel along a guide slot positioned in a bottom surface of the tray table, the guide slot being angled in relation to the tray table.

11. A tray table assembly combined with a stowage module, the tray table assembly adapted to move to and from a stowed position in the stowage module, the stowage module positionable to one side of a passenger seating unit, and a deployed position outside of the stowage module and positionable forward of a passenger seat, the tray table assembly and stowage module combination comprising:
an arcuate rail mounted in the stowage module for movement between a stowed position and a deployed position of the rail, the rail comprising a rail latch positioned adjacent a carriage for being moved by the carriage to an open position as the carriage moves toward the stowed position of the rail and a latch detent positioned to catch on an end of the rail for locking a tray table in a stowed position of the tray table when the rail reaches a fully stowed position;
the tray table mounted on the rail for arcuate movement along the rail between a stowed position and a deployed position of the tray table relative to the rail;
a channel positioned on an underside of the tray table and movable with the tray table, the channel having an arcuate segment defining a curve corresponding to a curve of the rail and a funnel-shaped centering segment communicating with the arcuate segment of the channel; and
a plurality of adjacent and radially-aligned roller bearing pins fixed in a position along the rail representing a centered position for the tray table to assume before entering the stowage module.

12. The tray table of claim 11 , wherein the rail includes a rail latch positioned adjacent the carriage for being moved by the carriage to an open position as the carriage moves towards the stowed position of the tray table and a latch detent positioned to catch on an end of the rail for locking the tray table in the stowed position of the tray table when the rail reaches the stowed position of the rail.

13. The tray table of claim 12 , wherein the rail latch is pivotally mounted adjacent one end of the rail such that the rail latch is enabled to pivot into and out of a locked position.

14. The tray table of claim 13 , wherein the rail latch is biased by a biasing member toward the locked position.

15. The tray table of claim 11 , further comprising:
a guide arm carried by the rail and extending towards the deployed position of the tray table; and
a guide pin mounted on the guide arm and positioned to ride in a guide slot positioned in a bottom surface of the tray table, the guide slot being angled in relation to the tray table.

16. The tray table of claim 15 , wherein the guide slot and the channel intersect.

17. The tray table of claim 11 , further comprising a detent carried by the carriage configured to maintain the tray table in the deployed position of the tray table.

18. The tray table according to claim 11 , wherein the rail intersects the tray table on a side of the tray table adjacent the stowage module.

19. The tray table a

Assignees

• Be Aerospace Inc

Inventors

• Pozzi Alexander Nicholas
• Daniel Darryl D
• Foohey Mark W
• Scudder Samuel C
• Horton Iv John C

Classifications

• B64D11/0638 Primary

  with foldable tables, trays or cup holders · CPC title

• B61D37/00

  Other furniture or furnishings · CPC title

• B64D11/0646

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

• B60N3/002

  of trays · CPC title

• A47B81/002

  Corner cabinets; Cabinets designed for being placed in a corner or a niche (corner cabinets provided with trays revolving on a vertical axis A47B49/006) · CPC title