Retractable support surface and method of assembling the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10993526-B2
Application number	US-201916242748-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 8, 2019
Priority date	Jan 8, 2019
Publication date	May 4, 2021
Grant date	May 4, 2021

Abstract

A support surface assembly includes a housing including a chamber and an opening. The support surface assembly also includes a support surface retractably coupled to the housing between a deployed position and a stored position. The support surface includes a plurality of slats pivotally coupled together, wherein each slat comprises a first end opening and an opposing second end opening. The support surface assembly also includes a plurality of rods associated with a corresponding slat of the plurality of slats. Each rod is positioned entirely within the first end opening of a first slat in the stored position and each rod is positioned partially within the second end opening of an adjacent second slat in the deployed position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A support surface assembly comprising:
a housing comprising a chamber and an opening, wherein the housing comprises a magnet positioned adjacent the opening;
a support surface retractably coupled to the housing between a deployed position and a stored position, wherein the support surface comprises a plurality of slats pivotally coupled together, wherein each slat comprises a first end opening and a second end opening opposite the first end opening; and
a plurality of rods associated with a corresponding slat of the plurality of slats, wherein each rod is positioned entirely within the first end opening of a first slat in the stored position and each rod is positioned partially within the second end opening of an adjacent second slat in the deployed position, wherein the magnet is configured to slide the plurality of rods from the stored position to the deployed position.

2. The support surface assembly of claim 1 , wherein each rod is positioned partially within the first end opening of the first slat in the deployed position such that the rod extends across a seam between the first slat and the adjacent second slat.

3. The support surface assembly of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a shaft, and wherein the support surface extends about the shaft in the stored position.

4. The support surface assembly of claim 3 , wherein the shaft comprises a plurality of retraction facilitation devices configured to move the support surface between the deployed position and the stored position.

5. The support surface assembly of claim 1 , wherein each slat comprises at least one magnet to retain each rod in the deployed position or the stored position.

6. The support surface assembly of claim 5 , wherein each slat comprises a first magnet configured to retain a first rod in the stored position and a second magnet to retain a second rod in the deployed position.

7. The support surface assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first end opening includes a first length, and where the second end opening includes a second length shorter than the first length.

8. The support surface assembly of claim 1 , wherein the support surface includes a top layer coupled to the plurality of slats, wherein the top layer is formed from a flexible material to facilitate transitioning between the stored position and the deployed position.

9. The support surface assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of sidewalls pivotally coupled to the support surface, wherein the pair of sidewalls are selectively moveable between a collapsed configuration when the support surface is in the stored position, and wherein the pair of sidewalls are in an extended configuration when the support surface is in the deployed position.

10. A support surface for use in a support surface assembly, the support surface comprising:
a plurality of slats moveable between a deployed position and a stored position, the plurality of slats comprising a first slat and an adjacent second slat, wherein the first slat and second slat each comprise a first end opening and a second end opening opposite the first end opening, wherein the second end opening of the first slat is positioned adjacent the first end opening of the second slat; and
a plurality of rods comprising a first rod positioned within the first end opening of the second slat when the plurality of slats are in the stored position, and wherein the first rod is positioned within the second end opening of the first slat when the plurality of slats are in the deployed position, wherein the first slat and the second slat each comprise at least one magnet positioned between the first end opening and the second end opening to retain the first rod in the deployed position or the stored position.

11. The support surface of claim 10 , wherein the first rod is positioned partially within the first end opening of the second slat and partially within the second end opening of the first slat in the deployed position such that the first rod extends between the first slat and the second slat.

12. The support surface of claim 10 , wherein the first end opening of the first slat is opposite the second slat and the second end opening of the first slat is proximate the second slat, and wherein the first end opening of the second slat is proximate the first slat and the second end opening of the second slat is opposite the first slat.

13. The support surface of claim 10 , wherein the first rod is positioned entirely within the first end opening of the second slat in the stored position.

14. The support surface assembly of claim 10 , wherein the first end opening includes a first length, and where the second end opening includes a second length shorter than the first length.

15. The support surface assembly of claim 10 , wherein the second slat comprises:
a first magnet positioned proximate the first end opening and configured to retain the first rod in the stored position; and
a second magnet positioned proximate the second end opening and configured to retain a second rod in the deployed position.

16. The support surface assembly of claim 10 , further comprising a pair of sidewalls pivotally coupled to the support surface, wherein the pair of sidewalls are selectively moveable between a collapsed configuration when the support surface is in the stored position, and wherein the pair of sidewalls are in an extended configuration when the support surface is in the deployed position.

17. A method of assembling a support surface assembly, the method comprising:
pivotally coupling a plurality of slats to one another to form a support surface, wherein each slat includes a first end opening and a second end opening opposite the first end opening;
retractably coupling the support surface to a housing such that the support surface is retractable between a deployed position and a stored position, wherein the housing comprises a magnet positioned adjacent a housing opening; and
positioning a rod in the first end opening of at least one slat, wherein the rod is positioned entirely within the first end opening of the at least one slat in the stored position and the rod is positioned partially within the second end opening of an adjacent slat in the deployed position, wherein the magnet slides the rod from the stored position to the deployed position.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein positioning the rod comprises positioning the rod partially within the first end opening of the at least one slat in the deployed position such that the rod extends between the at least one slat and the adjacent slat in the deployed position.

19. A support surface assembly comprising:
a housing comprising a chamber and an opening;
a support surface retractably coupled to the housing between a deployed position and a stored position, wherein the support surface comprises a plurality of slats pivotally coupled together, wherein each slat comprises a first end opening and a second end opening opposite the first end opening; and
a plurality of rods associated with a corresponding slat of the plurality of slats, wherein each rod is positioned entirely within the first end opening of a first slat in the stored position and each rod is positioned partially within the second end opening of an adjacent second slat in the deployed position, wherein each slat comprises at least one magnet to retain each rod in the deployed position or the stored position.

20. A method of assembling a support surface assembly, the method comprising:
pivotally coupling a plura

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Vandewall Cynthia A
• Lane Blake
• Vogel Craig G
• O'Hearn Elizabeth
• Keller Brian
• Mu shuai
• Ruan Chuyu
• Chopra Swati

Classifications

• A47B3/04 Primary

  with flexible roll-tops · CPC title

• B64D11/0638

  with foldable tables, trays or cup holders · CPC title

• B60N3/002

  of trays · CPC title

• A47B5/04 Primary

  foldable · CPC title

• B64D11/00

  Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for · CPC title