U.S. patent application number 15/799607 was filed with the patent office on 2018-05-03 for table for aircraft interiors.
The applicant listed for this patent is Textron Aviation Inc.. Invention is credited to Jason Michael Decker, Christopher Adair Pinkerton, Michael Scott Robinson.
Application Number | 20180116391 15/799607 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 62020206 |
Filed Date | 2018-05-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180116391 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Decker; Jason Michael ; et
al. |
May 3, 2018 |
Table For Aircraft Interiors
Abstract
A system and method for providing a table in aircraft is
disclosed. The table is able to be deployed out such that it
extends across an aisle towards an inwardly-facing seat on the
other side. The extension enables passengers sitting in the side
facing seat to support articles and otherwise use the extended
surface area.
Inventors: |
Decker; Jason Michael;
(Wichita, KS) ; Robinson; Michael Scott; (Wichita,
KS) ; Pinkerton; Christopher Adair; (Derby,
KS) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Textron Aviation Inc. |
Wichita |
KS |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
62020206 |
Appl. No.: |
15/799607 |
Filed: |
October 31, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62415128 |
Oct 31, 2016 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 1/05 20130101; B64D
11/0627 20141201; A47B 85/04 20130101; B64D 11/0605 20141201; A47B
13/023 20130101; A47B 2001/053 20130101; B64D 11/064 20141201; A47B
85/08 20130101; A47B 83/00 20130101; B64D 11/0601 20141201 |
International
Class: |
A47B 1/05 20060101
A47B001/05; B64D 11/06 20060101 B64D011/06 |
Claims
1. A system for use in an aircraft, the aircraft having a cabin
area including a floor area defining an aisle, a forward-facing
seat and an aft-facing seat on opposite sides of a table, the
forward and aft facing seats being located across the aisle from a
side-facing seat, the system comprising: a table extension member,
the extension member being positionable from a retracted mode where
the extension member is at least partially concealed beneath the
table, and into a deployed mode where the extension member is
extended at least partially out into the aisle to an extent that
the extension member is able to support articles for the benefit of
a passenger sitting in the side-facing seat.
2. The system of claim 1 comprising: a pedestal mounted at a lower
end to the floor and at an upper location to a pocket, the pocket
being located underneath the table, the pocket at least partially
concealing the extension member when the extension member is in the
retracted position.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the table has a table-top, and
hingeably-attached tabletop flaps, the tabletop flaps being
rotatable up, and lockable so that they are level with the tabletop
to increase an overall tabletop size.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the extension member includes
oppositely-mounted and hingeably-attached extension flaps, the
extension flaps being deployable and lockable so that they are
level with the tabletop to increase an overall extension size.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein the extension flaps, when in the
extension is in the retracted position, are foldable on top of the
extension member, and when the extension member is in the deployed
mode, the extension flaps are rotatable out and down to create an
enlarged extension surface.
6. The system of claim 1, comprising: a pedestal mounted at a lower
end to the floor and at an upper location to a pocket, the pocket
being located underneath the table, the pocket at least partially
concealing the extension member when the extension member is in the
retracted position.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the extension member is raisable
and lockable such that an upper surface of the extension member is
substantially level with a table-top surface.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the extension member upon
entering into deployment mode is configured to spring up into the
upper surface of the extension member is substantially level with
the table-top surface.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 62/415,128, filed Oct. 31, 2016, the entire
contents thereof are herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field
[0002] The disclosed embodiments relate generally to the field of
aircraft interiors. More specifically, the field of providing table
arrangements in the passenger areas of aircraft.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0003] Tables have been used in the cabin areas of aircraft. For
example, table arrangements have been provided for aircraft cabins
immediately in front of forward-facing seats. Such arrangements can
exist in a manner in which they are deployed from various locations
(e.g., the back of a seat immediately in front, or from an enclosed
position in an armrest).
[0004] In cabin arrangements where two seats face each other,
arrangements have been used where a table is located between the
two seats.
SUMMARY
[0005] Disclosed in embodiments is a system for use in an aircraft,
where the aircraft has a cabin area including a floor area defining
an aisle, a forward-facing seat and an aft-facing seat on opposite
sides of a table. The forward and aft facing seats are located
across the aisle from a side-facing seat. The table system
disclosed, in one embodiment, includes a table extension member,
the extension member being positionable from a retracted mode where
the extension member is at least partially concealed beneath the
table, and into a deployed mode where the extension member is
extended at least partially out into the aisle to an extent that
the extension member is able to support articles for the benefit of
a passenger sitting in the side-facing seat.
[0006] In embodiments, the system includes a pedestal mounted at a
lower end to the floor and at an upper location to a pocket, the
pocket being located underneath the table, the pocket at least
partially concealing the extension member when the extension member
is in the retracted position. In some embodiments, the table has a
table-top, and hingeably-attached tabletop flaps, the tabletop
flaps being rotatable up, and lockable so that they are level with
the tabletop to increase an overall tabletop size. In some
embodiments, the extension member includes oppositely-mounted and
hingeably-attached extension flaps, the extension flaps being
deployable and lockable so that they are level with the tabletop to
increase an overall extension size. The extension flaps, when the
extension is in the retracted position, are foldable on top of the
extension member, and when the extension member is in the deployed
mode, the extension flaps are rotatable out and down to create an
enlarged extension surface.
[0007] In embodiments, the table arrangement is mounted on top of a
pedestal. In embodiments, the pedestal is mounted at a lower end on
the floor and at an upper location to a pocket, the pocket being
located underneath the table, the pocket at least partially
concealing the extension member when the extension member is in the
retracted position. In embodiments, the extension member is
raiseable and lockable such that an upper surface of the extension
member is substantially level with a table-top surface. In
embodiments, the extension member upon entering into deployment
mode is configured to spring up into the upper surface of the
extension member is substantially level with the table-top
surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Illustrative embodiments are described in detail below with
reference to the attached drawing figures, which are incorporated
by reference herein and wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the table
in an environment;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the FIG. 1 embodiment in a
retracted mode where the table extension is completely
concealed;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the FIG. 1 embodiment in an
intermediate mode where the extension is partially deployed;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a is a perspective view of the FIG. 1 embodiment
of a mode where the extension is completely removed from the
pocket;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the FIG. 1 embodiment of a
mode where the table extension is raised to be level with the main
table;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the FIG. 1 embodiment where
extension flaps have been lowered to create a level working surface
for a passenger sitting in a side-facing seat; and
[0015] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the FIG. 1 embodiment in a
fully deployed mode.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] Embodiments provide systems and a method for providing an
extendable table in an aircraft cabin.
[0017] FIG. 1 shows the extendable table system in an environment
in one embodiment. As can be seen in the figure, a table system 100
is located in a cabin area 102. A main table portion 104 is
substantially located between an aft-facing pair of seats 106 and a
forward-facing pair of opposing seats 108. The main table portion
104 is supported on top of a pedestal 110 (see FIG. 2). Opposing
flaps 112 and 114 include hinge sets 116 and 118 (see FIG. 7) which
enable flap 112 to extend upward and be locked into place towards
the aft-facing seats 106 and flap 114 to rotate up and be locked
into place towards the forward-facing seats 108 as shown in FIG. 1.
Although not shown, the hinges in sets 116 and 118 are bottom
mounted such that rotation is created at the bottom edges of main
table 104 and each of flaps 112 and 114. Thus, the flaps 112 and
114 are rotatable downward, to hang down, or to be raised and
locked into the position shown in FIG. 1. Additionally, these
hinges are preconfigured to be locked in place when raised, and
then released upon lifting up
[0018] The top of the pedestal 110 is mounted at a lower end to the
floor. It then extends up to support a lower surface of a pocket
124. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-7, the pocket 124 is formed
inside a retaining housing, e.g., a rectangular box 125 with an
opening (see FIG. 6) at the front. The upper surface of the box 125
supports, from below, the main portion 104 of the table. The pocket
124 at least partially conceals an extension member 120 when the
extension member 120 is in the retracted position. Lateral sides
117 and 119 of the box 125, in the disclosed embodiment, extend out
only far enough so the main table flaps 112 and 114 are able to
come down to a true vertical position (not shown) to avoid
interference with flap function.
[0019] The system also enables the deployment of an extension
member 120 which is extendable into an aisle area 122 of the
aircraft cabin 102. The table extension member 120 can be
positioned in a retracted mode (see FIG. 2) where the extension
member 120 is concealed underneath the table in a pocket 124. The
extension member 120 can be transformed into a fully-deployed mode
(see FIG. 7) where opposing extension member flaps 126 and 128 are
extended out in forward and aft directions, respectively.
Top-mounted hinge sets 130 and 132 are arranged such that rotation
occurs at the top of the edges at the interfaces between each flap
(of extension flaps 126 and 128) and the extension member 120. The
hinge set 130 shows this best in FIG. 4. It should be understood
that the same symmetrical arrangement exists for the other hinges
132.
[0020] The transition steps from retracted mode (see FIG. 2) into
full deployment can be seen in FIGS. 2-7.
[0021] FIG. 2 shows a fully-retracted mode where the box 125
located underneath main table portion 104 completely conceals the
extension member. While in this mode the extension flaps 126 and
128 are folded on top of the extension member 120, and when the
extension member 120 is later placed in a deployed mode, the
extension flaps are rotatable out and down to create an enlarged
extension surface (as will be discussed later).
[0022] In FIG. 3, a user has pulled the table out partially, and in
FIG. 4 the extension member 120 has been pulled out completely, but
the upper surface of extension member 120 is, at least initially,
below the level of the upper surface of main table 104.
[0023] FIG. 5 shows that the extension 120, in embodiments,
includes raise-up and locking features. Those skilled in the art
will recognize that numerous hardware arrangements exist in
non-analogous fields which enable the pulling out of a member, and
then enabling lifting and locking into place of that member. One
example of an arrangement installable inside pocket 124 and usable
for the lifting and locking purposes described is the Productivity
Solutions.TM. Lift-N-Lock system (Model No. KSM03) available from
The Global Furniture Group, a company located at 17 West Stow Road
in Marlton, N.J. Another example of a mechanical system installable
inside of pocket 124 to accomplish the described lift and lock
functionality is the Heavy-duty Spring Lifting Table Slide
(Table-Extension Mechanism) Model No. LC-010 manufactured and made
available by Langcheng Metal Products located in Guangdong, China.
The Langcheng product provides a spring lift that causes the table
to pop up and be locked in place. Either of these products are
capable of supporting a table in the stages shown in FIGS. 2-7, and
both arrangements are releasable after locking. Thus, the stages
shown in the figures are reversible from full extension and
deployment of the flaps in FIG. 7, all the way back to the stowed
position shown in FIG. 2. In embodiments, the extent of rise of the
extension member 120 is such that the upper surface of the
extension member is substantially level the top surface of main
table 104. Also, where a spring-up embodiment of the mechanical
system is used, the extension member, upon entering into deployment
mode is configured to spring up to a level where an upper surface
of the extension member is substantially level with the top surface
of main table 104.
[0024] While in full-deployment mode shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, the
extension member is able to support articles for the benefit of a
passenger sitting in the side-facing seat 134, as can be seen best
in FIG. 1. Also, the main table flaps 112 and 114, since they are
hinge-ably attached, and lockable, can be rotatable up, secured in
place so that they are level with the tabletop to increase an
overall tabletop size. Similarly, since extension member 120 also
includes oppositely-mounted and hingably-attached flip-down
extension flaps 126 and 128, the lowering makes the upper surfaces
of member 120 as well as flaps 126 and 128 level with the main
tabletop 104 to add to overall table size.
[0025] Many different arrangements of the various components
depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without
departing from the spirit and scope of what is claimed herein.
Embodiments have been described with the intent to be illustrative
rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become
apparent to those skilled in the art that do not depart from what
is disclosed. A skilled artisan may develop alternative means of
implementing the aforementioned improvements without departing from
what is claimed.
[0026] It will be understood that certain features and
subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without
reference to other features and subcombinations and are
contemplated within the scope of the claims. Not all steps listed
in the various figures need be carried out in the specific order
described.
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