Bezel assembly with deployable friction hinged shelf
A bezel assembly for mounting onto a back of a seat includes a bezel having an outer peripheral portion and an inner recess, and a deployable shelf rotatably mounted to the bezel and configured to rotate between stowed and deployed positions. The rotational attachments are friction hinges including a bracket and a dowel pin receivable in the shelf. One end of the dowel pin defines a plurality of circumferential grooves for seating one or more O-rings for providing a variable frictional interface for constraining rotation of the deployable shelf. In embodiments, the friction hinges eliminate the need for a separate mechanical latch for holding the deployable shelf in a stowed position.
1 . A bezel assembly for mounting onto a back of a passenger seat, the bezel assembly comprising:
a bezel including an outer peripheral portion and an inner recess, the inner recess having an upper portion for receiving a video monitor and a lower portion positioned below the upper portion;
a deployable shelf positioned in the lower portion, the deployable shelf configured to rotate between a stowed position in the inner recess and a deployed position outside of the inner recess;
left and right side friction hinges rotatably mounting the respective left and right sides of the deployable shelf to the bezel, each friction hinge including:
a bracket mounted to the bezel, the bracket including a cylindrical receiver opening in a direction of the deployable shelf;
a dowel pin having a first end rotatably mounted in the cylindrical receiver, and a second end mounted in the deployable shelf;
wherein the first end of the dowel pin defines a plurality of circumferential grooves; and
at least one O-ring mounted in at least one of the plurality of circumferential grooves to provide a frictional interface between the first end of the dowel pin and the cylindrical receiver.
2 . The bezel assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one O-ring comprises a first O-ring mounted in a first one of the plurality of circumferential grooves and a second O-ring mounted in a second one of the plurality of circumferential grooves.
3 . The bezel assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a frictional force provided by the at least one O-ring is configured to maintain the deployable shelf in the stowed position.
4 . The bezel assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the dowel pin includes a circumferential shoulder demarcating the first and second ends, and wherein one end of the circumferential shoulder bears against an end of the cylindrical receiver.
5 . The bezel assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a longitudinal length of the first end of the dowel pin is substantially equal to a longitudinal length of the cylindrical receiver.
6 . The bezel assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of circumferential grooves are spaced apart and parallel.
7 . The bezel assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the deployable shelf forms a plurality of upstanding parallel ribs for positioning a device positioned on the deployable shelf.
8 . The bezel assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a free edge of the deployable shelf, when in the stowed position, is spaced apart from the bezel to facilitate grabbing the free edge to deploy the deployable shelf.
9 . The bezel assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the deployable shelf includes a first portion and a second portion angled relative to the first portion.
10 . A friction hinge for rotatably mounting a deployable shelf to a bezel mountable onto a back of a passenger seat, the friction hinge comprising:
a bracket configured to be mounted to the bezel, the bracket including a plate at one end and a cylindrical receiver at an opposing end;
a dowel pin having a first end rotatably mounted in the cylindrical receiver, and a second end configured to be mounted in the deployable shelf, wherein the first end of the dowel pin defines a plurality of circumferential grooves; and
at least one O-ring mounted in at least one of the circumferential grooves, the at least one O-ring configured to provide a frictional interface between the first end of the dowel pin and the cylindrical receiver for maintaining a rotational position of the dowel pin relative to the cylindrical receiver.
11 . The friction hinge according to claim 10 , wherein the at least one O-ring comprises a first O-ring mounted in a first one of the plurality of circumferential grooves and a second O-ring mounted in a second one of the plurality of circumferential grooves.
12 . The friction hinge according to claim 10 , wherein the dowel pin includes a circumferential shoulder demarcating the first and second ends, and wherein one end of the circumferential shoulder bears against the end of the cylindrical receiver.
13 . The friction hinge according to claim 10 , wherein a longitudinal length of the first end of the dowel pin is substantially equal to a longitudinal length of the cylindrical receiver.
14 . The friction hinge according to claim 10 , wherein the plurality of circumferential grooves are spaced apart and parallel.
15 . A deployable shelf assembly attachable to a bezel mounted onto a back of a passenger seat, the deployable shelf assembly comprising:
a deployable shelf positionable in a recess formed in the bezel;
left and right side friction hinges for rotatably mounting the respective left and right sides of the deployable shelf to the bezel, each friction hinge including:
a bracket mountable to the bezel; and
a dowel pin having a first end mounted to the bracket, and a second end receivable in a respective opening formed in one side of the deployable shelf;
wherein the second end of the dowel pin defines a plurality of circumferential grooves; and
at least one O-ring mounted in at least one of the circumferential grooves to provide a frictional interface between the second end of the dowel pin and the respective opening formed in the shelf for maintaining a position of the deployable shelf.
16 . The deployable shelf assembly according to claim 15 , wherein the at least one O-ring comprises a first O-ring mounted in a first one of the plurality of circumferential grooves and a second O-ring mounted in a second one of the plurality of circumferential grooves.
17 . The deployable shelf assembly according to claim 15 , wherein a frictional force provided by the at least one O-ring is configured to maintain the deployable shelf in a stowed position without requiring a separate latch.
18 . The deployable shelf assembly according to claim 15 , wherein the dowel pin and the bracket are integrally formed.
19 . The deployable shelf assembly according to claim 15 , wherein the plurality of circumferential grooves are spaced apart and parallel.