Abstract:
A seat back tray for being pivotally mounted an aircraft seat, and including a frame mounted on the aircraft seat and movable between a stowed position against a seat back of the aircraft seat and a deployed, generally horizontal position for use by an aft-seated occupant and a fabric sleeve formed of top and bottom panels for being removably positioned in a tensioned condition on and supported by the frame for providing a support surface for use items.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to a tray for use by vehicular passengers. This invention relates more particularly to a fabric tray for mounting to the back of an airline passenger seat for use by a passenger occupying the area behind the seat. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A typical airline seat is equipped with a pivotally mounted seat back tray that can be stowed against the seat back and hinged down and away from the seat back into a generally horizontal position for use by a passenger seated aft of the seat. A typical seat back tray has a rigid main panel that serves to support food items and passenger articles. These trays are generally fabricated of a smooth plastic material can be periodically wiped down by airline employees during aircraft cabin servicing between flights, and during scheduled interior cleaning. However, these trays are not easily removed, collected and transported when more thorough cleaning or replacement is desired. A typical seat back tray having a rigid main panel is also not easily customized to match particular color schemes or other appearance options. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved seat back tray to support food items and passenger articles of an aft-seated passenger. Other objects of the invention include providing a seat back tray that is light weight, durable, inexpensive, easily removed and replaced without special tools, and that may be thoroughly cleaned without special facilities. 
         [0004]    These and other objects and advantages of the invention are achieved by providing 
         [0005]    In at least one embodiment of the invention, a tray pivotally mounted to the back of an aircraft seat includes a generally rectangular shaped frame, which is pivotally connected to the back of the aircraft seat, and a tensioned fabric sleeve disposed on the frame and being supported by the frame. The frame is pivotally movable between a stowed generally vertical position and a deployed generally horizontal position. The fabric sleeve defines a tray for supporting articles when the frame is in the deployed position. 
         [0006]    These and other objects and advantages of the invention are achieved by providing a seat back tray for being pivotally mounted to an air craft passenger seat, and including a frame movable between a stowed position against a seat back of the passenger seat and a deployed, generally horizontal position for use by an aft-seated occupant, and a fabric sleeve formed of top and bottom panels for being removably positioned in a tensioned condition on and supported by the frame for providing a support surface for use items. 
         [0007]    According to one embodiment of the invention, the tray includes at least one releasable fastener for retaining the sleeve on the frame and permitting removal of the sleeve from the frame when desired. 
         [0008]    According to another embodiment of the invention, the tray includes an opening formed in at least the top major panel of the sleeve for receiving a cup holder insert therethrough. 
         [0009]    According to another embodiment of the invention, the tray includes an opening formed in the top and bottom major panel of the sleeve for receiving a cup holder insert therethrough. 
         [0010]    According to another embodiment of the invention, the fastener includes a zipper extending laterally along a side of the sleeve proximate the seat back for retaining the sleeve on the frame. 
         [0011]    According to another embodiment of the invention, the sleeve is constructed of a fabric selected from the group consisting of woven, knitted and nonwoven fabric. 
         [0012]    According to another embodiment of the invention, an aircraft passenger seat is provided that includes a seat back, and a seat back tray for being pivotally mounted to the passenger seat. A frame is mounted to the seat and is movable between a stowed position against the seat back and a deployed, generally horizontal position for use by an aft-seated occupant. A fabric sleeve is formed of top and bottom panels for being removably positioned in a tensioned condition on and supported by the frame for providing a support surface for use items. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    Some of the objects of the invention have been set forth above. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description of the invention proceeds when taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an aircraft seat having a fabric seat back tray according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of a fabric seat back tray according to  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the fabric seat back tray of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of a fabric seat back tray embodiment without a cup holder feature; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of an uncovered tray frame of a type suitable for receiving and supporting the fabric seat back tray according to the invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a fragmentary view of the tray frame of  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 ; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a tray frame and mounting bracket of the according to one embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    Referring to the drawings wherein identical reference numerals denote the same elements throughout the various views,  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an aircraft seat  10  having a fabric seat back tray  100  according to one embodiment of the present invention. Mounting brackets 12  are pivotally connected to seat  10  at each lateral side of seat  10 . Mounting brackets  12  hinge at respective lower ends  14  between deployed and extended positions. In the extended position, as shown in  FIG. 1 , upper ends  16  of mounting brackets  12  extend rearward from seat back  18  of the seat  10  and serve as pivotal mounts for the tray  100 . The manner in which the tray  100  is mounted to the seat  10  is conventional and is not further described. 
         [0022]    As is also shown in  FIG. 1 , the tray  100  is movable between a stowed, locked position shown on the left seat  10 , and a lowered use position shown on the right seat  10 . A latch  20  holds the tray  100  in its locked position. 
         [0023]    Referring now also to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the fabric seat back tray  100  includes a sleeve  110  formed by stitching or otherwise bonding two fabric panels  112 ,  114  together along the lateral sides  104  and the distal side  106  to form the sleeve  110 . The two fabric panels  112 ,  114  are positioned in a tensioned condition on a tray frame  300 . The panel  112  thus forms the tray surface when the seat back tray  100  is in use 
         [0024]    As best shown in  FIG. 3 , the sleeve  110  has an open end proximate the seat back  18  that enables the sleeve  110  to be slipped in a tensioned condition onto the frame  300 . A fastener, such as a zipper  120 , permits the sleeve  110  to be fastened onto the frame  300 . The zipper  120  may include a tab  122  for operating the zipper, but which may be removable when not in use to prevent tampering or unauthorized removal of the sleeve  110 . 
         [0025]    The cup holder  101  is formed in a opening  105  through one or both panels  112 ,  114 , as shown in the illustrated example of  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3  In the embodiment most clearly shown in  FIG. 3 , the cup holder  101  is formed of two complementary collars  124 ,  126  that are positioned through the opening seat back tray  100 . The collars  124 ,  126  may be provided with screw threads, or bayonet fittings for locking them together to form a unitary rigid opening. Alternatively, the cup holder may be more simply fabricated from a ring set into the panel  112  of sufficient depth to prevent shifting of the cup. These or other alternatives may be utilized in order to provide suitable resistance to the cup sliding on the panel  112 . In addition, the fabric from which the panels  112 ,  114  is fabricated may inherently have a higher coefficient of friction due to the irregular surface of the fabric, which will further inhibit movement of the cup during normal flight. 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , fabric seat back tray  200  is constructed much like fabric seat back tray  100 , but does not include a cup holder  101 . As noted above, the irregular surface of the fabric may be sufficient to inhibit movement of the cup during normal flight without providing any form of indentation. Other possibilities include providing a tacky, high coefficient of friction pad onto which a cup may be placed. 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , the sleeve  110  is placed onto a tray frame  300 , which has a generally rectangular shape with rounded corners to provide for passenger safety and to assist in guiding sleeve  110  onto frame  300 . 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , fittings  310  include lever extensions  312  that abut inner stopping-surfaces of mounting brackets  12  when seat back tray  100  reaches its fully deployed position. For example, seat back tray  100  may be maintained at a nearly horizontal angle such as 3 degrees above horizontal for in-flight use. A set screw for adjusting the full deployment angle may be provided. A latch **releasably maintains the seat back tray in its generally vertical stowed position. 
         [0029]    The fabric panels of sleeve  110  are constructed of natural or synthetic fibers that may be woven, knitted or nonwoven. Various fabrics may be selected according to various desired color schemes and textures. Liquid-absorbing or non-absorbent fabric may be chosen. The fabric may have elastic properties to facilitate tension in the surfaces of sleeve  110  to assure that upper fabric tray panel  112  provides a tight generally planar upper surface to support food items and other articles. Although sleeve  110  shown in the drawings is zippered about frame  300  for convenient installation and removal, other embodiments of fabric seat back trays according to the invention are stitched along all sides to enclose an inner frame without use of a zipper. Other closures such as hook-and-loop strips, buttons and corresponding button holes, and other snaps and clasps may be used as well. A rigid or semirigid filler may fill the space within sleeve  110  within the perimeter of the frame  300  provide rigidity to seat back tray  100 . 
         [0030]    While specific embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications thereto can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and the best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation.