Tray table pillow for aircraft passenger seat
View Patent ↗A tray table pillow combination for a passenger seat has a table rotatably coupled on each side to a support arm. The table has a utility surface and a cushioned surface on an opposed surface. The support arms are pivotally coupled to either a barrier or another seat forward of the passenger seat. Each arm has a seat connecting segment pivotally coupled to the barrier or other seat, and a table connecting segment slidably engaged with the seat connecting segment. The table is rotatably coupled to the table connecting segment. A detent mechanism is cooperatively engaged between the table connecting segment and the seat connecting segment to selectively lock and release slidable engagement of the seat connecting segment with the table connecting segment. A rotation lock is cooperatively engaged between the table connecting segment and the table on at least one of the support arms.
1. A tray table pillow combination for a first vehicle passenger seat, comprising:
a table rotatably coupled on each side to a support arm, the table comprising a utility surface on one face and a cushion surface on an opposed face;
wherein the support arms are pivotally coupled to either a barrier or a second passenger seat longitudinally forward of the first vehicle passenger seat, the support arms each comprising a seat connecting segment pivotally coupled to the barrier or the second passenger seat, and a table connecting segment slidably engaged with the seat connecting segment, the table rotatably coupled to the table connecting segment;
a detent mechanism cooperatively engaged between the table connecting segment and the seat connecting segment of at least one of the support arms, the detent mechanism operable to selectively lock and release slidable engagement of the seat connecting segment with the table connecting segment to enable user selectable length of the support arms; and
a rotation lock cooperatively engaged between the table connecting segment and the table on at least one of the support arms, the rotation lock operable to hold the table in selected rotary positions with reference to the support arms.
2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the detent mechanism comprises a spring pin coupled to one of the table connecting segment and the seat connecting segment, and a plurality of spaced apart openings the other of the seat connecting segment and the table connecting segment, wherein the spring pin is operable by a user to retract from one of the plurality of spaced apart openings, the spring pin urged by a spring to extend into one of the plurality of spaced apart openings when released by the user.
3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the rotation lock comprises a blocking plate and an anti-rotation plate arranged on a pivot pin extending between the table and the support arm, the blocking plate and the anti-rotation plate arranged to enable rotation of the table in a first direction and to stop rotation of the table in a direction opposed to the first direction.
4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the anti-rotation plate is connected to the table by at least one pin.
5. The combination of claim 1 wherein the detent mechanism comprises:
a pivot arranged to couple the seat connecting segment to the table connecting segment wherein the table connecting segment is rotatable with respect to the seat connecting segment;
at least one locking tab extending from within the table connecting segment into the seat connecting segment, the at least one locking tab offset from the pivot to rotationally lock the table connecting segment with respect to the seat connecting segment; and
an operating rod engaged with the at least one locking tab and coupled to a single control, such that moving the single control retracts the at least one locking tab to enable both rotation and sliding motion of the table connecting segment with respect to the seat connecting segment.