Tray table with amenities for a passenger seat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12304374-B2
Application number	US-202018029644-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 21, 2020
Priority date	Oct 21, 2020
Publication date	May 20, 2025
Grant date	May 20, 2025

Abstract

Described are tray tables for passenger seats having a first surface, a second surface opposite from the first surface, and at least one of a pocket, a control panel, or a table support. The pocket may be defined in one of the surfaces of a tray table and have a pocket surface that is recessed in the tray table relative to the second surface. The control panel may be embedded in one of the surfaces of a tray table and may control at least one piece of cabin equipment associated with a passenger seat having the tray table. The table support may be connected between opposing sides of a tray table to pivotably support the tray table on a seat back of a passenger seat having the tray table.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A tray table for a passenger seat, the tray table comprising:
a first surface;
a second surface opposite from the first surface, wherein the tray table is movable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration, and wherein, in the stowed configuration, the second surface is an aft-facing surface;
a control panel embedded in the second surface and comprising a user interface; and
a pocket defined in the second surface and comprising a pocket surface,
wherein the pocket surface is recessed in the tray table relative to the second surface.

2. The tray table of claim 1 , wherein a distance between the pocket surface and the first surface is less than a distance between the second surface and the first surface.

3. The tray table of claim 1 , wherein the pocket further comprises a pocket cover extending over the pocket surface, wherein the pocket surface and the pocket cover together define a pocket cavity, and wherein the pocket cover defines an opening providing access to the pocket cavity.

4. The tray table of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first side extending between the first surface and the second surface;
a second side opposite from the first side and extending between the first surface and the second surface, wherein, in a deployed position, the first side and the second side extend in a forward and aft direction; and
a table support configured to pivotably support the tray table on a seat back, wherein the table support is connected to the tray table between the first side and the second side.

5. The tray table of claim 1 , wherein the control panel is configured to control at least one piece of cabin equipment associated with a passenger seat comprising the tray table.

6. The tray table of claim 5 , wherein the pocket is a first pocket and the pocket surface is a first pocket surface, wherein the tray table further comprises a second pocket defined in the second surface and comprising a second pocket surface that is recessed relative to the second surface, and wherein the control panel is between the first pocket and the second pocket.

7. The tray table of claim 1 , wherein the tray table is configured to move between a stowed position and a deployed position relative to a seat back, and wherein, in the deployed position, the second surface is downward facing and the first surface is upward facing.

8. A tray table for a passenger seat, the tray table comprising:
a first surface;
a second surface opposite from the first surface; and
a control panel embedded in the second surface and comprising a user interface,
wherein the control panel is configured to control at least one piece of cabin equipment associated with a passenger seat comprising the tray table.

9. The tray table of claim 8 , further comprising a pocket defined in the second surface, wherein the pocket comprises a pocket surface, and wherein the pocket surface is recessed in the tray table relative to the second surface.

10. The tray table of claim 9 , wherein the pocket is a first pocket and the pocket surface is a first pocket surface, wherein the tray table further comprises a second pocket defined in the second surface and comprising a second pocket surface that is recessed relative to the second surface, and wherein the control panel is between the first pocket and the second pocket.

11. The tray table of claim 8 , wherein the control panel comprises a touch screen.

12. The tray table of claim 8 , wherein the at least one piece of cabin equipment comprises at least one of a cabin light associated with the tray table or an air vent associated with the tray table.

13. The tray table of claim 8 , further comprising:
a first side extending between the first surface and the second surface;
a second side opposite from the first side and extending between the first surface and the second surface, wherein, in a deployed position, the first side and the second side extend in a forward and aft direction; and
a table support configured to pivotably support the tray table on a seat back, wherein the table support is connected to the tray table between the first side and the second side,
wherein the tray table is configured to move between a stowed position and a deployed position relative to the seat back, and
wherein, in the deployed position, the second surface is downward facing and the first surface is upward facing.

14. A tray table for a passenger seat comprising:
a first side;
a second side opposite from the first side;
a control panel embedded in a surface between the first side and the second side and comprising a user interface; and
a table support configured to pivotably support the tray table on a seat back of a passenger seat comprising the tray table,
wherein the table support is connected to the tray table between the first side and the second side.

15. The tray table of claim 14 , wherein the tray table is configured to support the tray table such that the tray table is slidable relative to the seat back.

16. The tray table of claim 14 , further comprising:
a second surface extending between the first side and the second side;
the surface opposite from the first surface and extending between the first side and the second side, wherein, in a deployed position, the surface is downward-facing and the second surface is upward-facing; and
a pocket defined in the surface and comprising a pocket surface, wherein the pocket surface is recessed in the tray table relative to the surface.

17. The tray table of claim 16 , wherein the pocket is a first pocket and the pocket surface is a first pocket surface, wherein the tray table further comprises:
a second pocket defined in the surface and comprising a second pocket surface that is recessed relative to the surface,
wherein the control panel is between the first pocket and the second pocket.

18. The tray table of claim 14 , further comprising:
a second surface extending between the first side and the second side;
the surface opposite from the second surface and extending between the first side and the second side; and
an aft side extending between the first side and the second side and between the second surface and the surface, wherein the table support is connected to the aft side of the tray table.

19. The tray table of claim 14 , further comprising a central axis between the first side and the second side, wherein, in a deployed position, the central axis extends in a forward and aft direction, and wherein the table support is aligned with the central axis.

20. The tray table of claim 14 , wherein the tray table is configured to move between a stowed position and a deployed position relative to the seat back, and wherein, in the deployed position, the first side and the second side extend in a forward and aft direction.

Assignees

• Safran Seats Usa Llc

Inventors

• Mansouri Reza
• Parker Charles Michael
• Tranier Romain
• Omoragbon Amen
• Tran Anthony
• Ramarathnam Gokul
• Chak Igor

Classifications

• B64D11/0638 Primary

  with foldable tables, trays or cup holders · CPC title

• B60R7/005

  Nets or elastic pockets tensioned against walls or backrests · CPC title

• B64D11/06

  Arrangements of seats, or adaptations or details specially adapted for aircraft seats (crew seat constructions for emergency purposes B64D25/04) · CPC title

• B60N3/004 Primary

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