Multi-latch assembly for selective retention of aircraft passenger tray table and/or other deployable components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021394906-A1
Application number	US-201817279887-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 26, 2018
Priority date	Sep 26, 2018
Publication date	Dec 23, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A multi-latch assembly may be utilized, for example, in an aircraft passenger seat to hold separately deployable components such as a tray table and secondary member for separately supporting a personal entertainment device. The multi-latch assembly can include a first latch member and a second latch member. The first latch member can include a first arm. The first latch member can further include a first shaft that extends from the first arm and that is at least partially hollow. The second latch member can include a second arm. The second latch member can further include a second shaft that extends from the second arm and that is received within the first shaft of the first latch member so that the first arm and the second arm are rotatable independently of one another.

First claim

1 . A passenger seat comprising:
a seat back; a tray table moveable between a stowed table position along the seat back and a deployed table position; a secondary member separate from the tray table and moveable between a stowed member position along the seat back and a deployed member position; and a multi-latch assembly configured to independently secure the tray table in the stowed table position and to independently secure the secondary member in the stowed member position, the multi-latch assembly comprising:
a housing coupled with or forming a part of a portion of the seat back between the tray table and the secondary member;
a first shaft received in the housing and defining a first opening along a central axis of the first shaft;
a first arm extending angled away from the first shaft and pivotable in response to rotation of the first shaft;
a second shaft received in the first opening of the first shaft; and
a second arm extending angled away from the second shaft and pivotable in response to rotation of the second shaft.

2 . The passenger seat of claim 1 , wherein the second arm is pivotable independently of rotation of the first shaft such that the first arm is independently pivotable between retaining and releasing one of the tray table or the secondary member and such that the second arm is independently pivotable between retaining and releasing the other of the tray table or the secondary member.

3 . The passenger seat of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises an inner surface sized and arranged as a bearing surface for an exterior of the first shaft.

4 . The passenger seat of claim 1 , wherein the first shaft comprises an inner surface having at least a portion sized and arranged as a bearing surface for at least a portion of an exterior of the second shaft.

5 . (canceled)

6 . The passenger seat of claim 1 , wherein the first arm and the second arm are arranged such that the tray table of the passenger seat is releasably retained by operation of the first arm or the second arm.

7 . The passenger seat of claim 1 , further comprising a housing comprising:
a first wall having a first passage sized to receive the first shaft; and a second wall having a second passage sized to receive a portion of the second shaft that extends beyond an end of the first shaft.

8 . The passenger seat of claim 7 , further comprising at least one biasing mechanism configured to bias at least one of the first arm or the second arm away from the second wall.

9 . The passenger seat of claim 7 , further comprising a retainer coupled with the second shaft to prevent movement of an end of the second shaft through the second passage toward the first wall.

10 . The passenger seat of claim 7 , further comprising a first detent assembly configured to provide a first plurality of predetermined stops for the first arm.

11 . The passenger seat of claim 10 , wherein the first detent assembly comprises:
a first projection extending from an outer surface of the first shaft; and a first plurality of grooves positioned in the first wall of the housing and shaped to respectively receive the first projection at respective different positions corresponding to respective different predetermined stops of the first arm.

12 . The passenger seat of claim 11 , further comprising a second detent assembly configured to provide a second plurality of predetermined stops for the second arm, the second detent assembly comprising:
a second projection extending from an outer surface of the second shaft; and a second plurality of grooves positioned in the second wall of the housing and shaped to respectively receive the second projection at respective different positions corresponding to respective different predetermined stops of the second arm.

13 . The passenger seat of claim 12 , further comprising:
a first biasing mechanism configured to bias the first projection toward the first wall; and a second biasing mechanism configured to bias the second projection toward the second wall.

14 . The passenger seat of claim 13 , wherein the first shaft further comprises an inward extension extending away from an outer periphery of the first shaft, wherein the first biasing mechanism is positioned between the second wall and the inward extension of the first shaft.

15 . The passenger seat of claim 14 , wherein the second shaft further comprises an outward extension extending away from a central axis of the second shaft, wherein the second biasing mechanism is positioned between the inward extension of the first shaft and the outward extension of the second shaft.

16 . The passenger seat of claim 1 , further comprising a third latch member comprising:
a third arm; and a third shaft that extends from the third arm and that is received within the second shaft so that the third arm is rotatable independently of the first arm and the second arm.

17 - 20 . (canceled)

21 . A passenger seat comprising:
a seat back; a tray table moveable between a stowed table position along the seat back and a deployed table position; a secondary member separate from the tray table and moveable between a stowed member position along the seat back and a deployed member position; and a multi-latch assembly configured to independently secure the tray table in the stowed table position and to independently secure the secondary member in the stowed member position, the multi-latch assembly comprising:
a housing coupled with or forming a part of a portion of the seat back between the tray table and the secondary member;
a first shaft received in the housing and defining a first opening along a central axis of the first shaft;
a first arm extending angled away from the first shaft and pivotable in response to rotation of the first shaft;
a second shaft received in the first opening of the first shaft; and
a second arm extending angled away from the second shaft and pivotable in response to rotation of the second shaft, wherein the second arm is pivotable independently of rotation of the first shaft such that the first arm is independently pivotable between retaining and releasing one of the tray table or the secondary member and such that the second arm is independently pivotable between retaining and releasing the other of the tray table or the secondary member.

22 . The passenger seat of claim 21 , wherein the housing comprises a housing inner surface sized and arranged as a bearing surface for an exterior of the first shaft; and
wherein the first shaft comprises a first shaft inner surface having at least a portion sized and arranged as a bearing surface for at least a portion of an exterior of the second shaft.

23 . A passenger seat comprising:
a seat back; a tray table moveable between a stowed table position along the seat back and a deployed table position; a secondary member separate from the tray table and moveable between a stowed member position along the seat back and a deployed member position; and a multi-latch assembly configured to independently secure the tray table in the stowed table position and to independently secure the secondary member in the stowed member position, the multi-latch assembly comprising:
a housing coupled with or forming a part of a portion of the seat back between the tray table and the secondary member;
a first shaft received in the housing and defining a first opening along a central axis of the first shaft;
a first arm extending angled away from the first shaft and pivotable in response

Assignees

• Safran Seats Usa Llc

Inventors

• Smith Jason K
• Funk Robert

Classifications

• B64D11/0638 Primary

  with foldable tables, trays or cup holders · CPC title

• Y02T50/40

  Weight reduction · CPC title