Tray Table Deployable from Lower Seatback Area

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017283067-A1
Application number	US-201715478333-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 4, 2017
Priority date	Apr 4, 2016
Publication date	Oct 5, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

In an illustrative embodiment, a tray table for mounting to a lower seatback region of an aircraft passenger seat includes a tray table support bracket stowable to a position approximately parallel with the lower seatback region, and pivotably deployable to provide access to a tray table slideably coupled to the support bracket and configured to provide a substantially horizontal work surface when in a deployed state. In the stowed position, the tray table may be substantially positioned below a tray table deployment height such that additional clearance is provided on the seatback above the tray table for one or more accessory items such as a larger monitor in portrait orientation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An aircraft passenger seat assembly comprising:
a support bracket coupled to a seatback of a passenger seat in the aircraft cabin, the support bracket comprising at least one support arm having a proximal end pivotably coupled to the seatback, wherein the arm is operable to pivot about a first pivot axis between a stowed position in which a distal end of the at least one support arm is oriented to be substantially parallel to the seatback, and a deployed position in which the distal end of the at least one support arm is displaced away from the seatback, and at least one guide member extending between the distal end and the proximal end of the at least one support arm; and a tray table coupled to the support bracket and configured to provide a substantially horizontal work surface when in a deployed state, the tray table comprising a rear edge in a slidable engagement relationship with the at least one guide member and being configured to engage in rotatable coupling with the at least one support arm about a second pivot axis parallel to the first pivot axis when the rear edge of the tray table is disposed at the proximal end of the at least one support arm; wherein, in the stowed position, a majority of the tray table is positioned below a deployment height of the tray table such that additional clearance is provided on the seatback above the tray table for one or more accessory items.

2 . The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one support arm comprises two support arms that are each adapted to slidably engage opposite lateral sides of the tray table.

3 . The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tray table is configured to be received in a recess defined in the seatback when the tray table support bracket is pivoted to the stowed position.

4 . The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tray table comprises an outer table portion in telescoping engagement with an inner table portion, wherein the outer table portion is configured to substantially envelop an inner table portion in the stowed position.

5 . The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 4 , further comprising a latch pivotably coupled to the inner table portion and operable to pivot between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein when in the locked position, a distal end of the latch retains the outer table portion in a retracted position relative to the inner table portion, and wherein when in the unlocked position, the distal end of the latch is displaced such that the outer table portion is free to slide distally relative to the inner table portion, the latch being configured to automatically unlock responsive to the inner table portion rotating about the lateral axis of rotation.

6 . The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 5 , further comprising a rocker actuator for automatically unlocking the latch, the rocker actuator comprising a spring bias mechanism directed substantially downward to engage the proximal end of the latch in response to the inner table portion being rotated about the lateral axis of rotation.

7 . The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the seatback further comprises an aperture or recess for receiving a display monitor positioned in portrait orientation.

8 . The aircraft passenger seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the display aperture is configured to releasably receive a display monitor having a diagonal dimension of at least 15 inches.

9 . A passenger seat comprising:
a tray table support bracket comprising at least one support arm having a proximal end configured to hingedly couple to a passenger seatback, the at least one support arm operable to pivot between a stowed position in which a distal end of the at least one support arm is oriented to be substantially parallel to the seatback, and a deployed position in which the distal end of the at least one support arm is displaced away from the seatback, and a guide member extending between the distal end and the proximal end of the at least one support arm; a tray table coupled to the tray table support bracket and configured to provide a substantially horizontal work surface when in a deployed state, the tray table comprising a hinge base portion in a slidable engagement relationship with the guide member and being rotatably coupled to the at least one support arm about a lateral axis of rotation when the hinge base is positioned proximate to the distal end of the at least one support arm, and an extension portion configured to define a work surface, the extension portion being in a controlled slidable engagement relationship with the hinge base portion; and a latch pivotably coupled to the hinge base portion and operable to pivot between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein when in the locked position, a distal end of the latch retains the extension portion in a retracted position relative to the hinge base portion, and wherein when in the unlocked position, the distal end of the latch is displaced such that the extension portion is free to slide distally relative to the hinge base portion, the latch being configured to automatically unlock responsive to the hinge base portion rotating about the lateral axis of rotation.

10 . The passenger seat of claim 9 , further comprising a rocker actuator for automatically unlocking the latch, the rocker actuator comprising a spring bias mechanism directed substantially downward to engage the proximal end of the latch in response to the hinge base portion being rotated about the lateral axis of rotation.

11 . The passenger seat of claim 9 , wherein, in the stowed position, a majority of the tray table is positioned below a deployment height of the tray table such that additional clearance is provided on the seatback above the tray table for one or more accessory items.

12 . The passenger seat of claim 9 , wherein the at least one support arm comprises two support arms that are each adapted to slidably engage opposite lateral sides of the tray table.

13 . The passenger seat of claim 9 , wherein the tray table is configured to be received in a recess defined in the seatback when the tray table support bracket is pivoted to the stowed position.

14 . The passenger seat of claim 9 , wherein the hinge base portion comprises at least one extension arm, and the extension portion is in telescoping engagement with the hinge base portion.

15 . The passenger seat of claim 9 , further comprising a seatback shroud, wherein the tray table support bracket is fixed to the seatback shroud, the seatback shroud further comprising a display aperture for receiving a display monitor positioned in portrait orientation.

16 . The passenger seat of claim 9 , wherein the display aperture is configured to releasably receive a display monitor having a diagonal size of at least 15 inches.

17 . A seat assembly comprising:
a tray table configured to provide a substantially horizontal work surface when in a deployed state, the tray table comprising a first table portion, a second table portion, and a means for telescoping engagement of the first table portion with the second table portion; a tray table support bracket for coupling to passenger seatback, the tray table support bracket comprising at least one support arm having a proximal end and a distal end, a means for pivoting the at least one support arm between a stowed position in which a distal end of the at least one support arm is oriented to be substantially parallel to the passenger seat, and a deploy

Assignees

• Be Aerospace Inc

Inventors

• Darbyshire Martin
• Nguyen Vien Mcarthur
• Baker Cameron
• Tretout Lucas

Classifications

• B64D11/0638 Primary

  with foldable tables, trays or cup holders · CPC title