Abstract:
A meal tray for a passenger seat includes a removable insert. The insert carries a sheet of graphics or advertisements in a protected, viewable position when the meal tray is stowed. Tamper-resistant latches secure the insert to the meal tray.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates generally to vehicle passenger seating and more particularly to a meal tray for a passenger seat unit.  
         [0002]     Commercial passenger aircraft seats often include seatback-mounted meal trays for use in consuming meals, holding work items, and the like. These trays typically fold between an upright, stowed position against the seat back of a seat forward of the user, and a lowered, deployed use position. It is known to adapt passenger seat meal trays to carry graphic displays with passenger information or advertisements.  
         [0003]     These displays are subject to theft or vandalism and must be protected. However, the time available for changing the displays between flights is short, and therefore it is undesirable to employ a mounting structure which is too complex. There is therefore a need for a display mounting device and system and is adapted particularly to the public transportation environment, for example, aviation, rail and bus transportation.  
         [0004]     Accordingly, there is an object of the invention to provide for a meal tray with a secure yet easily-changed structure for displaying advertising or similar graphical materials.  
         [0005]     This and other objects and advantages of the invention are achieved by providing a meal tray assembly for being carried by an aft-facing side of a seat back for use by a person seated aft of the seat back, and comprising a tray mountable to the seat back so that it is movable between a stowed position generally flush with the seat back and a deployed position generally perpendicular to the seat back. The tray includes a first surface facing forward when in the stowed position and a second surface facing rearward towards the aft-seated person when in the stowed position. The second surface includes a recess, and a transparent cover is provided for being positioned in or over the recess and defining a space between the second surface and the transparent cover for receiving and holding a graphical display sheet for viewing by the person seated aft of the seat back when the tray is in the stowed position.  
         [0006]     According to one embodiment of the invention, the cover is generally flush with the second surface surrounding the recess when positioned in the recess. According to another embodiment of the invention, the recess communicates with a side edge of the tray, and the cover is sized to slide into the recess from the side edge of the tray.  
         [0007]     According to another embodiment of the invention, the cover includes first and second panels positioned in a frame and spaced-apart for receiving the graphical display sheet there between.  
         [0008]     According to another embodiment of the invention, the cover includes a first transparent panel and a second panel positioned in a frame and spaced-apart for receiving the graphical display sheet there between.  
         [0009]     According to another embodiment of the invention, the recess includes a pair of opposed locking receptacles adapted to receive and retain a pair of complementary latches on the frame for locking the frame into the recess.  
         [0010]     According to another embodiment of the invention, the second panel includes an elongate slot having a width suitable for permitting a finger to extend into the slot for removing the graphical display sheet from between the first and second panels.  
         [0011]     According to another embodiment of the invention, the recess includes at least one fastener element positioned therein, and the transparent cover includes at least one complementary fastener element for engaging the at least one fastener element and retaining the cover in the recess.  
         [0012]     According to another embodiment of the invention, the recess includes a plurality of spaced-part fastener elements positioned in the recess around the periphery thereof, and the transparent cover includes a plurality of spaced-apart complementary fastener elements for engaging the plurality of spaced-apart fastener elements for retaining the cover in the recess.  
         [0013]     According to another embodiment of the invention, the transparent cover includes a frame, and the complementary fastener elements are positioned on the frame.  
         [0014]     According to another embodiment of the invention, the plurality of fastener elements and the plurality of complementary fastener elements comprise complementary hook and loop fastener elements.  
         [0015]     According to another embodiment of the invention, the at least one fastener element and the at least one complementary fastener element are detachable from each other by pulling the cover away from engagement with the recess.  
         [0016]     According to another embodiment of the invention, a suction cup is provided for pulling the cover away from engagement with the recess.  
         [0017]     According to another embodiment of the invention, the recess includes a pair of opposed tab slots and the cover includes a pair of complementary tabs for being received within the tab slots. The cover is flexible and, including the tab slots, is greater in dimension than a corresponding dimension of the recess whereby the cover must be flexed into a curved shape for the tabs to be received into the tab slots, and must be flexed into a curved shape for the tabs to be removed from the tab slots.  
         [0018]     According to another embodiment of the invention, a meal tray assembly is provided for being carried by an aft-facing side of a seat back for use by a person seated aft of the seat back, and comprises a tray mountable to the seat back so that it is movable between a stowed position generally flush with the seat back and a deployed position generally perpendicular to the seat back. The tray includes a first surface facing forward when in the stowed position and a second surface facing rearward when in the stowed position. The second surface includes a recess having a plurality of spaced-part touch fastener elements positioned in the recess around the periphery thereof. A transparent cover is provided for being positioned in the recess and defining a space between the second surface and the transparent cover for receiving and holding a graphical display sheet for viewing by the person seated aft of the seat back when the tray is in the stowed position. The transparent cover includes a frame having a plurality of spaced-apart complementary touch fastener elements thereon for engaging the plurality of spaced-apart fastener elements for retaining the cover in the recess.  
         [0019]     According to another embodiment of the invention, the plurality of touch fastener elements and the plurality of touch complementary fastener elements comprise hook and loop fastener elements. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]     The subject matter that is regarded as the invention may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in which:  
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a seat back incorporating a meal tray constructed according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the meal tray of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an insert which forms part of the meal tray;  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the insert of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0025]      FIG. 5A  is a perspective view showing an insert removed from a bottom shell of the meal tray;  
         [0026]      FIG. 5B  is a perspective view of the bottom shell shown in  FIG. 5 , with the insert installed in the shell;  
         [0027]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged perspective side view of a portion of the insert;  
         [0028]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged perspective side view of a portion of the bottom shell.;  
         [0029]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the rear-facing side of a seat back with another showing another embodiment of a meal tray with an advertising display;  
         [0030]      FIG. 9  is a partially disassembled view of the meal tray shown in  FIG. 8 ;  
         [0031]      FIG. 10  illustrates removal of the front cover of the cover of the advertising display with a suction cup;  
         [0032]      FIG. 11  illustrates an advertising display according to a further embodiment of the invention, in disassembled form; and  
         [0033]      FIG. 12  is an exploded view of the seat back and advertising display shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0034]     Referring to the drawings wherein identical reference numerals denote the same elements throughout the various views, an aircraft passenger seat back is illustrated in  FIG. 1  and shown generally at reference numeral  10 . It will be understood that the seat back  10  is part of a seat including a seat bottom and other conventional components not illustrated here. The present invention is equally applicable for use with other kinds of passenger seating, for example seating used in trains, buses or other vehicles. The seat back  10  includes a rear surface  12  and a headrest  14  positioned on an upper end thereof.  
         [0035]     A meal tray  16  is carried on pivoting arms  18  or another suitable support structure, so that it can move in a conventional manner between a stowed position against the rear surface  12  of the seat back  10 , and a deployed position in which it forms a generally horizontal surface for eating or other tasks.  
         [0036]     The meal tray  16  has a forward surface  20  and an aft surface  22  which are designated in relation to its stowed position. It is bounded by a top edge  24 , opposed side edges  26  and  28 , and a bottom edge  30 . As is best shown in  FIG. 2 , the meal tray  16  is constructed from a front shell  32  and a separate rear shell  34  which are connected together using suitable means such as adhesives, thermal bonding, snap-fits, or mechanical fasteners.  
         [0037]     The aft surface  22  has a recess  36  formed therein, which has a lip  38  bounding three of its sides. A fourth side is open to receive an insert  40  (described below). In the example illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the fourth side is oriented towards the bottom of the meal tray  16 , but it will be understood that the recess  40  could also be open to the sides or the top. A top groove  42  is disposed along the lip  38  near the top edge  24 , and side grooves  44  are disposed along the lip near the side edges  26  and  28 . A pair of locking receptacles  46  are formed at the lower corners of the recess  36 .  
         [0038]      FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate the insert  40 , which has opposed forward and aft faces  48  and  50 , and top, bottom, left, and right edges designated  52 A,  52 B,  52 C and  52 D, respectively. Opposed side tabs  54 A and  54 B extend laterally from the left and right edges  52 C and  52 D, respectively, and a top tab  56  extends from the top edge  52 A. A view opening  58  is formed through the insert  40 , and a boss  60  surrounds the perimeter of the view opening  58 . A transparent protective panel  62  is bonded to a shelf  64  formed in the boss  60 , and a retaining panel  66  is bonded to the outer edge  68  of the boss  60 . An access slot  70  may be provided in the retaining panel  66 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , a sheet  72  containing an advertisement, graphics, or other information to be displayed can easily be inserted into or removed from the space between the retaining panel  66  and the protective panel  62 .  
         [0039]     The insert  40  includes at least one locking device to retain it in the recess  36 . In the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5A, 5B  and  6 , latches  74  are disposed on opposite sides of the insert  40  near the bottom edge  52 B. Each of the latches  74  has a resilient beam portion  76  and a laterally protruding finger  78 .  
         [0040]     The locking receptacles  46  include a locking element complementary to the fingers  78 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 7 , an elongated opening  80  may be formed through a side wall of the locking receptacle  46 .  
         [0041]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate manner of inserting the graphical display into the meal tray  16 . After a sheet  72  is placed in the insert  40  as described above, the insert  40  is slid upwards into the recess  36 . The top tab  56  engages the top groove  42 , and the side tabs  54  slide into the side grooves  44 , thus preventing the insert  40  from moving in forward or aft directions. As the insert  40  is pushed fully into the recess  36 , the latches  74  flex inwards and then spring outwards to force the fingers  78  thereof into the openings  80  in the locking receptacles  46 . Once fully installed, the insert  40  cannot be easily withdrawn and the latches  74  are not exposed, as shown in  FIG. 5B . This discourages unauthorized disassembly or vandalism. When is It desired to change the sheet  72 , the latches  74  are pressed inwards with a screwdriver or other thin-bladed tool (not shown) to pull the fingers  78  clear of the openings  80 . The insert  40  can then be slid out of the recess  36  and the sheet  72  replaced.  
         [0042]     Referring now to  FIGS. 8, 9  and  10 , another embodiment of an advertising display for a meal tray is shown. The meal tray  100  is carried on pivoting arms  102  or another suitable support structure so that it can move in a conventional manner between a stowed position against the rear surface  12  of the seat back  10 , and a deployed position in which it forms a generally horizontal surface for eating or other tasks.  
         [0043]     The meal tray  100  has an aft surface  104  referred to in relation to its stowed position, and which forms the bottom surface of the tray  100  when deployed for use. It is bounded by a top edge  106 , opposed side edges  108  and  110 , and a bottom edge  112 . The meal tray  100  has a recess  120  formed in the aft surface  104 . Several spaced fastener elements, such as hook or loop elements  122 , are positioned around the periphery of the recess  120 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , tab slots  124  are formed in the recess  120 . A transparent cover  130  fabricated from, for example, a flexible polycarbonate sheet, is sized to fit within the recess, and is provided with tabs  132  that are positioned to be received within the tab slots  124 . The tabs  132  are positioned in the tab slots  124  by flexing the cover  130  slightly, and while flexed, positioning the tabs  132  into the tab slots  124 . When released, the cover  130  returns to its unflexed state with the tabs  132  securely positioned within the tab slots  124 .  
         [0044]     The cover also includes fastener elements  134  on the forward-facing surface of the cover  130  that are complementary to the fastener elements  122  on the recess  120  in both position and type, so that for example, if the fastener elements  122  are loop-type fasteners, then the fastener elements  134  are mating hook-type elements. The fastener elements  122  and  134  further secure the cover  130  to the meal tray  100 , prevent gaps between the cover  130  and the meal tray  100 , and provide an attachment that is sufficiently robust to retard tampering or removal except when removal is desired.  
         [0045]     As is shown in  FIG. 9 , a suitable card  140  having graphical material thereon is positioned in the recess  120  and sandwiched between aft surface  104  of the meal tray  100  and the cover  130 .  
         [0046]     Referring now to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , meal tray  150  is shown, and is similar to the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 8-10 . The meal tray  150  has an aft surface  152  that forms the bottom surface of the tray  150  when deployed for use. The meal tray has a top edge  154 , opposed side edges  156  and  158 , and a bottom edge  160 . The meal tray  150  has a recess  170  formed in the aft surface  152 . Several spaced fastener elements, such as hook or loop elements  174 , are positioned around the periphery of the recess  170  (not all shown). A transparent cover  180  fabricated from, for example, a flexible polycarbonate sheet, is sized to fit within the recess  170 . The cover  180  includes fastener elements  182  on the forward-facing surface of the cover  180  that are complementary to the fastener elements  174  on the recess  170  in both position and type, so that for example, if the fastener elements  174  are loop-type fasteners, then the fastener elements  182  are mating hook-type elements. The fastener elements  174  and  182  secure the cover  180  to the meal tray  150 , prevent gaps between the cover  180  and the meal tray  150 , and provide an attachment that is sufficiently robust to retard tampering or removal except when removal is desired. As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , a card  183  is positioned in the recess  170  and sandwiched between aft surface  152  of the meal tray  150  and the cover  180 .  
         [0047]     As is shown in  FIG. 12 , a suction cup  184  may be used to detach the cover  180  from the recess  170  without the need to extend a tool behind the cover  180  to pull the cover loose. This will prevent damage to the edges of the cover  180  and avoid the use of fingernails or other implements.  
         [0048]     An advertising display for a seat back meal tray is described above. Various details of the invention may be changed without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation, the invention being defined by the claims.