Tray table arms with rotation stopper override

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10696407-B2
Application number	US-201615751225-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 21, 2016
Priority date	Aug 24, 2015
Publication date	Jun 30, 2020
Grant date	Jun 30, 2020

Abstract

Described are assemblies that include elements of a tray table, such as for an aircraft or other passenger craft. A tray table body can be movable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. A set of arms may support the table body relative to a seat back in the stowed configuration and in the deployed configuration. In response to movement of the seat back (such as in a crash scenario), the arms may permit release of a constraint of the tray table body that would otherwise inhibit the tray table body from moving with the seat back.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A tray table assembly comprising:
a table body movable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration;
a set of arms configured to support the table body relative to a seat back in the stowed configuration and in the deployed configuration; and
a latch assembly configured to secure an upper portion of the table body in the stowed configuration at a first location on a left side of a centerline of the table body and at a second location on a right side of the centerline of the table body, wherein the latch assembly comprises:
a first projection and a second projection extending from a rear of the seat back and aligned with one another so as to define an axis therebetween; and
a cover pivotally mounted on the first projection and the second projection so as to rotate about the axis between a closed configuration in which the cover secures a top portion of the table body in the stowed configuration and an open configuration in which the cover is situated so as to permit movement of the table body to or from the stowed configuration.

2. The tray table assembly of claim 1 , wherein the set of arms is configured, in response to movement of the seat back, to release a constraint of the table body that would otherwise inhibit the table body from moving with the seat back; and
wherein the constraint of the table body would otherwise inhibit the table body from moving with the seat back in a twisting motion about an axis oriented from top to bottom of the seat back.

3. The tray table assembly of claim 1 , wherein the set of arms is configured, in response to movement of the seat back, to release a constraint of the table body that would otherwise inhibit the table body from moving with the seat back; and
wherein the table body is pivotable at a lower portion thereof relative to the set of arms.

4. The tray table assembly of claim 1 , wherein the set of arms includes a tray table arm comprising:
a pivot mount configured to receive a shaft of the table body so as to permit rotation of the table body relative to the tray table arm;
a stowed configuration stopper;
a deployed configuration stopper, the stowed configuration stopper and the deployed configuration stopper defining ends of a path of travel, the stowed configuration stopper and the deployed configuration stopper disposed such that the path of travel is sized to permit travel therein of a rotation guide structure coupled with the table body such that (i) rotation of the table body is obstructed when travel of the rotation guide structure is obstructed and (ii) rotation of the table body is allowed when travel of the rotation guide structure is allowed, the stowed configuration stopper configured to block travel of the rotation guide structure past one end along the path of travel so as to prevent rotation of the table body past the stowed configuration of the table body, and the deployed configuration stopper configured to block travel of the rotation guide structure past another end along the path of travel so as to prevent rotation of the table body past the deployed configuration of the table body; and
an override feature configured to, in response to exertion of a force exceeding a threshold upon the table body, modify at least one of a position, structure, or configuration of the deployed configuration stopper so as to permit travel of the rotation guide structure past the one end along the path of travel so as to permit rotation of the table body past the stowed configuration of the table body.

5. The tray table assembly of claim 4 , wherein the override feature comprises a portion of the tray table arm comprising the stowed configuration stopper, said portion configured to rupture so as to permit passage of the rotation guide structure therethrough in response to exertion of the force exceeding the threshold upon the table body.

6. The tray table assembly of claim 4 , wherein the override feature comprises a biasing member configured to resist displacement of the stowed configuration stopper from a position at the one end of the path of travel in an absence of exertion of the force exceeding the threshold upon the table body.

7. The tray table assembly of claim 4 , wherein the tray table arm is configured to receive the rotation guide structure in a configuration in which the rotation guide structure is mounted on the shaft of the table body.

8. The tray table assembly of claim 4 , wherein the tray table arm is configured to receive the rotation guide structure in a configuration in which the rotation guide structure is coupled with the table body separately from the shaft of the table body.

9. The tray table assembly of claim 4 , further comprising at least one adjustment structure configured for adjustably positioning at least one of the stowed configuration stopper or the deployed configuration stopper so as to change a position of at least one end of the path of travel.

10. A passenger seat comprising:
a seat back having a front and a rear;
a set of arms;
a table body supported relative to the seat back by the set of arms; the table body coupled with the set of arms so as to be movable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration; and
a latch assembly configured to secure both a left side and a right side of an upper portion of the table body when in the stowed configuration, wherein the latch assembly comprises:
a first projection and a second projection extending from the rear of the seat back and aligned with one another so as to define an axis therebetween; and
a cover pivotally mounted on the first projection and the second projection so as to rotate about the axis between a closed configuration in which the cover secures a top portion of the table body in the stowed configuration and an open configuration in which the cover is situated so as to permit movement of the table body to or from the stowed configuration.

11. The passenger seat of claim 10 , wherein the cover comprises a contact surface corresponding to a location in which the upper portion of the table body contacts the cover when the cover is in the closed configuration and the table body is in the stowed configuration, wherein a shape of the cover causes the contact surface to be substantially aligned with the axis when the cover is in the closed configuration.

12. The passenger seat of claim 10 , further comprising a shroud, wherein at least a portion of the cover is rotated behind the shroud when moving between the closed configuration and the open configuration.

13. A tray table assembly comprising:
a table body movable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration;
a set of arms configured to support the table body relative to a seat back in the stowed configuration and in the deployed configuration; and
a latch assembly configured to secure both a left side and a right side of an upper portion of the table body when in the stowed configuration, wherein the latch assembly comprises:
a first lever positioned to secure the right side of the upper portion of the table body; and
a second lever positioned to secure the left side of the upper portion of the table body.

14. The tray table assembly of claim 13 , wherein the first lever and the second lever are operatively coupled such that at least one of:
actuating the first lever will cause actuation of the second lever; or
actuating of the second lever will cause actuation of the first lever.

15. The tray table assembly of claim 13 , further comprising a central lever positioned to secure a central area of the upper portion of the table body, the c

Assignees

• Safran Seats Usa Llc

Inventors

• Murray Michael T
• Malligere Girish J
• Willey Michael
• Valdes Armando
• Izzo Melinda A
• Creed Kevin
• Chang Naintzu
• Thornhill Shaka

Classifications

• Y02T50/40

  Weight reduction · CPC title

• B60N3/004

  of foldable trays mounted on the back-rest · CPC title

• A47C7/70

  of foldable type · CPC title

• B64D11/0638 Primary

  with foldable tables, trays or cup holders · CPC title

• Y02T50/46

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic