Tray table tuning mechanism with curved mating surface for passenger seat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12280700-B2
Application number	US-202218071461-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 29, 2022
Priority date	Nov 29, 2022
Publication date	Apr 22, 2025
Grant date	Apr 22, 2025

Abstract

A tray table tuning mechanism having a mount member; a pivot limiting member coupled to the mount member and having a mating surface defining a groove; a paddle arm deployment member pivotably coupled to the mount member and pivotable relative to the pivot limiting member; and a paddle arm pivotably coupled to the paddle arm deployment member, pivotable between a stowed state and a deployed state, and having at least one stop member; wherein, in the deployed state of the paddle arm, the at least one stop member is positioned within the groove and mates with the mating surface.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A tray table tuning mechanism comprising:
a mount member;
a pivot limiting member coupled to the mount member and comprising a mating surface defining a groove;
a paddle arm deployment member pivotably coupled to the mount member and pivotable relative to the pivot limiting member; and
a paddle arm pivotably coupled to the paddle arm deployment member, pivotable between a stowed state and a deployed state, and comprising at least one stop member;
wherein, in the deployed state of the paddle arm, the at least one stop member is positioned within the groove and mates with the mating surface; and
wherein a first screw couples a first portion of the pivot limiting member to the mount member, a second screw couples a second portion of the pivot limiting member to the mount member, and a position of the pivot limiting member is adjustable using at least one of the first screw or the second screw.

2. The tray table tuning mechanism of claim 1 , wherein a size and a shape of the groove corresponds to a size and a shape of the at least one stop member.

3. The tray table tuning mechanism of claim 1 , wherein a position of the pivot limiting member relative to the mount member is adjustable.

4. The tray table tuning mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the first screw adjusts a position of the pivot limiting member in a first direction, and the second screw adjusts the position of the pivot limiting member in a second direction.

5. The tray table tuning mechanism of claim 1 , wherein a maximum angle of rotation of the paddle arm is determined based on a shape of the groove.

6. The tray table tuning mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the groove is U-shaped or V-shaped.

7. The tray table tuning mechanism of claim 1 , wherein, in the deployed state of the paddle arm, the mating of the at least one stop member with the mating surface within the groove prevents a rotation of the paddle arm deployment member.

8. A method for using a tray table tuning mechanism comprising a mount member, a pivot limiting member comprising a mating surface defining a groove, a paddle arm deployment member, and a paddle arm, the method comprising:
rotating the paddle arm deployment member relative to the mount member; and
rotating the paddle arm relative to the paddle arm deployment member to a deployed state;
wherein, in the deployed state, at least one stop member extending from the paddle arm is positioned within the groove and mates with the mating surface to limit rotation of the paddle arm deployment member in a first rotation direction; and
wherein a first screw couples a first portion of the pivot limiting member to the mount member, a second screw couples a second portion of the pivot limiting member to the mount member, and a position of the pivot limiting member is adjustable using at least one of the first screw or the second screw.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein, a size and a shape of the groove corresponds to a size and a shape of the at least one stop member.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising adjusting a position of the pivot limiting member relative to the mount member.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first screw adjusts a position of the pivot limiting member in a first translation direction, and the second screw adjusts the position of the pivot limiting member in a second translation direction.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein a maximum angle of rotation of the paddle arm is determined based on a shape of the groove.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein, in the deployed state of the paddle arm, the mating of the at least one stop member with the mating surface within the groove prevents a rotation of the paddle arm deployment member.

14. A passenger seat comprising:
an arm rest; and
a tray table tuning mechanism coupled to the arm rest, the tray table tuning mechanism comprising:
a mount member;
a pivot limiting member coupled to the mount member and comprising a mating surface defining a groove;
a paddle arm deployment member pivotably coupled to the mount member and pivotable relative to the pivot limiting member; and
a paddle arm pivotably coupled to the paddle arm deployment member, pivotable between a stowed state and a deployed state, and comprising at least one stop member;
wherein, in the deployed state of the paddle arm, the at least one stop member is positioned within the groove and mates with the mating surface;
wherein a first screw couples a first portion of the pivot limiting member to the mount member, and the first screw adjusts a position of the pivot limiting member in a first direction; and
a second screw couples a second portion of the pivot limiting member to the mount member, and the second screw adjusts the position of the pivot limiting member in a second direction.

15. The passenger seat of claim 14 , wherein a size and a shape of the groove corresponds to a size and a shape of the at least one stop member.

16. The passenger seat of claim 14 , wherein a maximum angle of rotation of the paddle arm is determined based on a shape of the groove.

17. The passenger seat of claim 14 , wherein, in the deployed state of the paddle arm, the mating of the at least one stop member with the mating surface within the groove prevents a rotation of the paddle arm deployment member.

Assignees

• Safran Seats Usa Llc

Inventors

• Newbold Tyler L

Classifications

• A47C7/70

  of foldable type · CPC title

• A47C7/68

  Arm-rest tables {; or back-rest tables} · CPC title

• B64D11/0638

  with foldable tables, trays or cup holders · CPC title

• B60N2/79

  Adaptations for additional use of the arm-rests · CPC title

• B60N3/002 Primary

  of trays · CPC title