Systems and methods for sanitizing a tray table

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016250362-A1
Application number	US-201514633374-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 27, 2015
Priority date	Feb 27, 2015
Publication date	Sep 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system for sanitizing a tray table may include a sanitation assembly operatively coupled to the tray table. The sanitation assembly includes an ultraviolet (UV) light source configured to emit UV light, and a sanitation control unit operatively coupled to the UV light source. The sanitation control unit operates the UV light source to emit the UV light onto the tray table when the tray table is secured in an upright position, and prevents the UV light source from emitting the UV light when the tray table is not secured in the upright position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system for sanitizing a tray table, the system comprising:
a sanitation assembly operatively coupled to the tray table, wherein the sanitation assembly includes:
an ultraviolet (UV) light source configured to emit UV light; and
a sanitation control unit operatively coupled to the UV light source.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the sanitation control unit is configured to operate the UV light source to emit the UV light onto the tray table when the tray table is secured in an upright position, and wherein the sanitation control unit prevents the UV light source from emitting the UV light when the tray table is not secured in the upright position.

3 . The system of claim 2 , further comprising a tray table position sensor in communication with the sanitation control unit, wherein the tray table position sensor is configured to detect when the tray table is secured in the upright position.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the sanitation assembly is securely connected to a seat assembly.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the UV light source is configured to emit UV germicidal irradiation and comprises one or more of a low pressure mercury discharge lamp, one or more fiber optic couplings, or one or more light emitting diodes.

6 . The system of claim 2 , further comprising a passenger interface in communication with the sanitation control unit, wherein the passenger interface is configured to allow a passenger to activate a sanitation cycle when the tray table is secured in the upright position.

7 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a master control unit remotely located from and in communication with the sanitation control unit, wherein the master control unit is configured to monitor operation of the sanitation assembly.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein one or both of the sanitation assembly and the tray table comprises one or more reflective surfaces that are configured to reflect the UV light emitted from the UV light source onto surfaces of the tray table.

9 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a covering filter secured to outer surfaces of one of the sanitation assembly or the tray table, wherein the covering filter is configured to filter the UV light.

10 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the sanitation assembly further comprises a shutter moveably secured over the UV light source, wherein the shutter is in a closed position that covers the UV light source when the tray table is not secured in the upright position, and wherein the shutter is moved to an open position that exposes the UV light source when the tray table is secured in the upright position.

11 . A method of sanitizing a tray table, the method comprising:
emitting ultraviolet (UV) light from a UV light source onto the tray table when the tray table is secured in an upright position; and preventing emission of the UV light from the UV light source when the tray table is not secured in the upright position.

12 . The method of claim 11 , detecting when the tray table is secured in the upright position with a tray table position sensor.

13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising securing the UV light and the tray table to one or more portions of a seat assembly.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the emitting comprises emitting UV germicidal irradiation from one or more of a low pressure mercury discharge lamp, one or more fiber optic couplings, or one or more light emitting diodes.

15 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising using a passenger interface to allow a passenger to activate a sanitation cycle when the tray table is secured in the upright position.

16 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising using a master control unit remotely located from the tray table to control the emitting and preventing operations.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the emitting operation comprises reflecting the UV light onto surfaces of the tray table.

18 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising using a covering filter to filter the UV light proximate to edge portions of the tray table during the emitting operation.

19 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
moving a shutter to a closed position that covers the UV light source when the tray table is not secured in the upright position, and moving the shutter to an open position that exposes the UV light source when the tray table is secured in the upright position.

20 . A vehicle, comprising:
an internal cabin; and a plurality of seat assemblies within the internal cabin, wherein each of the plurality of seat assemblies comprises a tray table and a sanitation assembly operatively coupled to the tray table, wherein each of the sanitation assemblies includes:
an ultraviolet (UV) light source configured to emit UV light; and
a sanitation control unit operatively coupled to the UV light source.

21 . The vehicle of claim 20 , wherein the sanitation control unit is configured to operate the UV light source to emit the UV light onto the tray table when the tray table is secured in an upright position, and wherein the sanitation control unit prevents the UV light source from emitting the UV light when the tray table is not secured in the upright positon.

22 . The vehicle of claim 21 , further comprising a master control unit remotely located from and in communication with the sanitation control units of the plurality of seat assemblies, wherein the master control unit is configured to monitor operation of the sanitation assemblies of the plurality of seat assemblies, and wherein the master control unit is configured to monitor power consumption within the vehicle and selectively activate and deactivate sanitation cycles for the tray tables of the plurality of seat assemblies based on a comparison of the power consumption and one or more power thresholds.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Mackin Steven George

Classifications

• A61L2202/14

  Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs · CPC title

• A61L2/24

  Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation · CPC title

• A61L2/10 Primary

  Ultraviolet [UV] radiation · CPC title

• B60N3/004

  of foldable trays mounted on the back-rest · 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