Abstract:
Described are passenger seat backs having tray tables pivotally coupled to the seat back frame and which rotate about a single axis. The tray table ( 20 ) may be directly connected to the seat back frame ( 10 ) without the need for a complex and heavy multi-axis pivot. The resulting seat and associated tray table are lighter, more compact, and easier to manufacture.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is related to and claims priority benefits from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/938,553 (“the &#39;553 application”), filed on Feb. 11, 2014, entitled Easy Install Tray Table. The &#39;553 application is hereby incorporated in its entirety by this reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The field of the invention relates to passenger seats or the like, and more particularly to tray tables for use with passenger seats. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Many passenger seats such as those on passenger aircraft, buses, trains, and the like are arranged so that each passenger seat, other than the forward-most located passenger seats, faces the back of the next forward passenger seat. To increase a passenger&#39;s comfort, many passenger seat backs rotate between upright and reclined positions. 
         [0004]    In some instances, a tray table may be mounted adjacent to the back of each passenger seat for use by a passenger in the next aft passenger seat. The tray table is deployed by the passenger to provide a relatively flat surface for eating, working, recreation, or other uses. 
         [0005]    In many conventional uses, the tray table may be mounted to the back of each passenger seat via a pair of retractable arms that allow the tray table to be pulled toward the passenger while deployed. Conventionally, the tray tables are mounted indirectly to the base of the passenger seat, and are not mounted to the seat back frame of the passenger seat. This allows the seat back to recline while not affecting the use of the tray for an aft passenger. The separation of seat back frame and tray table also helps to isolate the tray table from vibration or other disturbances. 
         [0006]    Recently, there has been movement in carrier industries away from passenger comfort and convenience towards light-weight, compact seating arrangements. Many common carriers have moved away from reclining seats, particularly on shorter routes, to allow for lighter seats and reduced space requirements for passengers. This change in focus has led to non-reclining seats, and new opportunities for advancement of tray table technology. In particular, a tray table mounted directly to a seat back frame offers a number of advantages over conventional tray table assemblies. 
         [0007]    The present invention discloses, among other things, a tray table that is pivotally coupled to the seat back frame of a non-reclining passenger seat. This arrangement allows for a simplified mounting and installation of the tray table, which saves weight, material costs, and labor costs during installation. A tray table pivotally coupled to the seat back frame is also a more reliable design, with fewer moving parts and potential pinch points than the traditional tray table mounting arrangements. Furthermore, pivotally coupling a tray table to a non-reclining seat back frame saves space. There is less space required between the aft edge of the seat back and the forward edge of the deployed tray table due to the fixed nature of the seat back frame. There are also opportunities for coupling the tray table to the seat back frame in such a way as to recess the tray table into the seat back in its stowed position, further reducing passenger space requirements and allowing for more compact seating arrangements. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    The terms “invention,” “the invention,” “this invention” and “the present invention” used in this patent are intended to refer broadly to all of the subject matter of this patent and the patent claims below. Statements containing these terms should be understood not to limit the subject matter described herein or to limit the meaning or scope of the patent claims below. Embodiments of the invention covered by this patent are defined by the claims below, not this summary. This summary is a high-level overview of various aspects of the invention and introduces some of the concepts that are further described in the Detailed Description section below. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject matter should be understood by reference to appropriate portions of the entire specification of this patent, any or all drawings and each claim. 
         [0009]    According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a passenger seat may comprise a tray table pivotally coupled to a seat back frame with at least one pivot bar. 
         [0010]    In some embodiments the pivot bar comprises a protrusion. 
         [0011]    In certain embodiments, the protrusion comprises a material selected from the group of steel, aluminum, a polymer, or a composite. 
         [0012]    In some embodiments, the protrusion comprises a projection along its length. 
         [0013]    In certain embodiments the protrusion comprises opposing flat surfaces and opposing curved surfaces along the length of the protrusion. The opposing flat surfaces may alternate with the opposing curved surfaces around the circumference of the protrusion. 
         [0014]    In some embodiments, the tray table may comprise at least one tray table arm, and the at least one tray table arm comprising an aperture. 
         [0015]    In some embodiments, the at least one tray table arm comprises a material selected from the group of steel, aluminum, a polymer, or a composite. 
         [0016]    In certain embodiments, the aperture may be sized larger than a distance between opposing flat surfaces along a length of the protrusion and smaller than a distance between opposing curved surfaces along the length of the protrusion, where the protrusion is in communication with the seat back frame. 
         [0017]    In some embodiments, the tray table may comprise at least one tray table arm comprising an aperture, wherein the at least one pivot bar comprises a protrusion comprising a narrowed dimension across the protrusion that is narrower than the opening of the aperture. The opening of the aperture may be narrower than all other dimensions across the protrusion. 
         [0018]    In certain embodiments, the pivot bar may be covered by a shroud. 
         [0019]    In some embodiments, the tray table may be secured by a down stop pin. 
         [0020]    In certain embodiments, the tray table may be secured by a fastener. 
         [0021]    According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a passenger seat may comprise a seat back frame comprising at least one pivot bar with a protrusion, a tray table comprising at least one tray table arm with an aperture that partially encloses a recess, wherein the protrusion is positioned within the recess. The protrusion may comprise a narrowed dimension across the protrusion that is narrower than an opening of the aperture. 
         [0022]    In certain embodiments, the at least one pivot bar may be covered by a shroud. 
         [0023]    In some embodiments, the tray table may be secured by a down stop pin. 
         [0024]    In certain embodiments, the tray table may be secured by a fastener. 
         [0025]    In some embodiments, the protrusion may comprise a projection along its length. 
         [0026]    According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a passenger seat with a tray table pivotally coupled to a seat back frame may comprise providing a seat back frame and providing a protrusion in communication with the seat back frame. Then, the protrusion may be formed so as to have opposed surfaces along its length and opposed curved surfaces along its length, with the opposing surfaces alternating with the opposing curved surfaces around the circumference of the protrusion. It may also be necessary to provide a tray table with at least one tray table arm, that tray table arm comprising an aperture. The aperture should be sized larger than a greatest distance between the opposing flat surfaces along the length of the protrusion, and sized smaller than a distance between the opposing curved surfaces along the length of the protrusion. Then, the aperture may be aligned with the opposing flat surfaces of the protrusion and passed over the protrusion. Finally, the aperture may be rotated away from the opposing flat surfaces of the protrusion. 
         [0027]    In some embodiments, the at least one tray table arm may be secured with a down stop pin. 
         [0028]    In certain embodiments, the at least one tray table arm may be secured with a fastener. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0029]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a passenger seat back with a tray table assembly in a stowed position, according to certain embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of a passenger seat back with a tray table assembly in a stowed position, according to certain embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a passenger seat back with a tray table assembly in an installation position, according to certain embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of a pivot bar coupling during installation, according to certain embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of a pivot bar coupling in a stowed position, according to certain embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 6  is a side elevation view of a pivot bar coupling in a deployed position, according to certain embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0035]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a tray table support arm, according to certain embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0036]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a tray table support arm, according to certain embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0037]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a tray table pivot bar component, according to certain embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0038]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a pivot bar coupling, according to certain embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0039]      FIG. 11  is a partially exploded perspective view of a pivot bar coupling, according to certain embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0040]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a pivot bar coupling, according to certain embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0041]      FIG. 13  is an enlarged perspective view of a pivot bar coupling, according to certain embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0042]      FIG. 14  is an exploded view of a tray table, according to certain embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0043]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a single piece tray table support structure, according to certain embodiments of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0044]    The subject matter of embodiments of the present invention is described here with specificity to meet statutory requirements, but this description is not necessarily intended to limit the scope of the claims. The claimed subject matter may be embodied in other ways, may include different elements or steps, and may be used in conjunction with other existing or future technologies. This description should not be interpreted as implying any particular order or arrangement among or between various steps or elements except when the order of individual steps or arrangement of elements is explicitly described. 
         [0045]    The described embodiments of the invention provide a tray table pivotally coupled to a seat back frame for passenger seats. While the tray tables are discussed for use with aircraft seats, they are by no means so limited. Rather, embodiments of the tray table may be used in passenger seats or other seats of any type or otherwise as desired. 
         [0046]    In some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in  FIGS. 1-6 and 11-13 , a passenger seat back  1  comprises a seat back frame  10  and a tray table  20  mounted directly to the seat back frame  10 . The tray table  20  is pivotally coupled to the seat back frame  10  at or near at least one pivot bar  30 . The tray table  20  may rotate about the pivot bars  30  to allow the tray table  20  to move between a deployed position (as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 12 ), a stowed position (as shown in  FIGS. 1-2, 5, and 13 ), and an installation position (as shown in  FIGS. 3-4 ). In certain embodiments of the present invention, the tray table  20  moves about a single pivot axis X that substantially aligns with a longitudinal axis of the pivot bars  30 . It should be appreciated that in certain embodiments the seat back frame  10  may be stationary and without a reclining function. The seat back frame  10 , tray table  20 , and pivot bars  30  may be made from any suitable materials including but not limited to aluminum, stainless steel, nylon, aircraft steel, aramid fibers, polycarbonate, polypropylene, other metals or alloys, composites, or similar materials. Furthermore, any combination of the aforementioned materials may be used to construct the seat back frame  10 , tray table  20 , and pivot bars  30 , and these or any other parts may be single pieces or assembled from sub-parts from any suitable materials including, but not limited to, the aforementioned materials. 
         [0047]    The tray table  20  may be attached to the seat frame  10  or through the pivot bar  30  in a number of ways that allows the tray table  20  to rotate between the deployed and stowed positions. For example, in certain embodiments, the tray table  20  may be secured to the seat frame  10  or the pivot bars  30  via suitable fasteners, which include but are not limited to screws, bolts, rivets, or other mechanical or chemical fasteners. 
         [0048]    According to certain embodiments of the present invention as shown in  FIGS. 4-6 , the tray table  20  may include a tray table arm  21 , an extension  22 , an aperture  24 , and a recess  25 . The pivot bar  30  may be attached to or part of a seat back frame  10 , and may include a protrusion  32  and a down stop pin hole  34 . 
         [0049]    In some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in  FIGS. 4-6 , the tray table  20  is attached to the tray table arm  21 . The tray table arm  21  may include a pair of prongs  23 A,  23 B, which are spaced apart from each other and extend outward from an end of the tray table arm  21 . In some embodiments, an extension  22  may extend from an end of the first prong  23 A. Internal surfaces of one or both prongs  23 A,  23 B may comprise a concave shape, which causes the ends of the first prong  23 A and the second prong  23 B to be spaced apart by a narrower distance than the space between the concave internal surfaces of the prongs  23 A,  23 B. The narrower distance between the ends of the first prong  23 A and second prong  23 B is referred to as an aperture  24 , and the space formed between the concave internal surfaces of the prongs  23 A,  23 B and a curved end of the tray table arm  21  is referred to as a recess  25 . 
         [0050]    In certain embodiments, the protrusion  32  may be shaped to selectively engage with the aperture  24  for installation and removal purposes. For example, the protrusion  32  may include a narrowed dimension across the protrusion  32  that is narrower than the opening of the aperture  24 , thus allowing the protrusion  32  to fit through the aperture  24  when the tray table arm  21  is rotated into the installation position (as shown in  FIGS. 3-4 ). In this installation position, the narrowed dimension is aligned substantially parallel to the opening of the aperture  24 . 
         [0051]    Opposing surfaces  38  of the protrusion  32  that comprise the narrowed dimension between them may have any suitable shape so long as the maximum distance between the surfaces  38  does not exceed the narrowed dimension that is configured to fit through the aperture  24 . In other words, the opposing surfaces  38  may be convex, concave, straight, parabolic, parallel, angled, or another suitable shape or orientation with respect to each other as needed for the desired outcome, so long as the maximum distance between the sides is still narrower than the opening of the aperture  24  when the maximum distance is aligned substantially parallel to the opening of the aperture  24 . As a result, the protrusion  32  passes through the aperture  24  and into the recess  25  when the tray table arm  21  is rotated into the installation position. 
         [0052]    In order to prevent the protrusion  32  from sliding through the aperture  24  when the tray table arm  21  is rotated away from installation position, the protrusion  32  is shaped so that all other dimensions across the protrusion  32  are wider than the opening of the aperture  24  when those dimensions are aligned substantially parallel to the opening of the aperture  24 . As a result, the protrusion  32  is held within the recess  25  by the prongs  23 A,  23 B until the tray table arm  21  is rotated back into the installation position. The recess  25  may take on any number of geometries, but may be shaped to accept the protrusion  32  and allow the tray table arm  21  to rotate about the protrusion  32 . 
         [0053]    According to one exemplary embodiment, the opposing surfaces  38  may be substantially parallel, flat sides, and these opposing sides may be separated by opposing curved surfaces  37 . As a result, the protrusion  32 , when viewed along its longitudinal axis, may have alternating curved surfaces  37  and flat surfaces  38 . The pivot bar  30  may also include the down stop pin hole  34 , which is configured to receive a down stop pin (not shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 ). 
         [0054]    According to some embodiments of the present invention,  FIGS. 3-4  illustrate the tray table  20  during installation onto the pivot bars  30  and the seat back frame  10 . For installation, the tray table  20  and tray table arms  21  are positioned in the installation position so that the maximum distance between the opposing surfaces  38  of the protrusion  32  is arranged substantially parallel to the opening of the aperture  24 . The tray table  20  and the tray table arms  21  then slide over the protrusions  32  until the protrusions  32  are positioned within the recess  25  of each tray table arm  21 . 
         [0055]    The tray table arms  21  and tray table  20  are then rotated so that the opening of the aperture  24  is substantially parallel to another dimension across the protrusion  32  that is wider than the opening of the aperture  24 , which prevents the protrusion  32  from exiting the recess  25  through the aperture  24 . As a result, the tray table arm  21  may no longer disengage from the seat back frame  10 . In this configuration, the profile of the recess  25  may be in contact with portions of the curved surfaces  37  of the protrusion  32  and thereby provide a bearing surface for rotation of the tray table arm  21  about the protrusion  32 . It should be appreciated that in certain embodiments of the present invention, specialized bearing surfaces to reduce friction and wear may be incorporated onto the protrusion  32  or within the tray table arm  21 . These bearing surfaces may include, but are not limited to, nylon, Teflon, other polymers, metallic bearings, dry lubricants, friction or wear reducing coatings, or any other bearing surface as desired or required for the specific application. 
         [0056]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-2, 5 and 13 , the tray table  20  and tray table arm  21  are rotated into the stowed position. The protrusion  32  may not pass through the aperture  24  in this position because the dimension across the protrusion  32  that is substantially parallel to the opening of the aperture  24  is wider than the opening of the aperture  24 . In this position (or any other suitable position where the extension  22  is positioned rotationally below or aft of the down stop pin hole  34 ), a down stop pin  35  (as shown in  FIG. 6 ) may be inserted into the down stop pin hole  34  The down stop pin  35  may then restrict the rotation of the tray table arm  21  about the protrusion  32  into the installation position, thus preventing removal of the tray table  20  from the seat back frame  10  until the down stop pin is removed. It should be appreciated that the location of the down stop pin  35  and extension  22  may change to accommodate different design requirements or protrusion  32  configurations. By way of non-limiting example, the extension  22  may extend from the second prong  23 B and the down stop pin  35  may be located to interfere with the motion of extension  22  as the tray table  20  is rotated from a stowed position to a deployed position. 
         [0057]      FIGS. 6 and 12  illustrate the tray table  20  in the deployed position according to certain embodiments of the present invention. As shown in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the extension  22  of the tray table arm  21  contacts the down stop pin  35  inserted in the down stop pin hole  34  and prevents further rotation of the tray table  20  in that direction. Furthermore, the tray table arm  21  and tray table  20  may support loads because the down stop pin  35  will restrict rotation of the tray table arm  21  when a load is applied to the tray table  20 . 
         [0058]    According to certain embodiments of the present invention as shown in  FIGS. 7-13 , the tray table arm  21  may include the aperture  24 , the recess  25 , and a fastener hole  26 . The tray table arm  21  may be formed or produced as part of the tray table  20 , or may be an independent part which is affixed to the tray table  20  (not shown in  FIGS. 7-10 ). The fastener hole  26  is located on the tray table arm  21  concentric with the axis of rotation of the tray table arm  21  about the pivot axis X (not shown). The fastener hole  26  may be unthreaded to allow the tray table arm  21  to rotate about the fastener (not shown) without binding. A variety of fasteners may be used in conjunction with the tray table arm  21 , including but not limited to, bolts, screws, pins, rivets, or the like. The tray table arm  21  also features the recess  25 , the surface of which is contoured to allow the surface of the recess  25  to act as a bearing surface and guide for the tray table arm  21  as it rotates about the protrusion  32 . 
         [0059]    Still referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , as described above with respect to  FIGS. 4-6 , the protrusion  32  may be shaped to selectively engage with the aperture  24  for installation and removal purposes. In these embodiments, the protrusion  32  may include a narrowed dimension across the protrusion  32  that allows the protrusion  32  to fit through the aperture  24  when the narrowed dimension is aligned substantially parallel to the opening of the aperture  24 . 
         [0060]    The surfaces  38  that comprise the narrowed dimension between them may have any suitable shape so long as the maximum distance between the surfaces  38  does not exceed the narrowed dimension that is configured to fit through the aperture  24 . In other words, the opposing surfaces  38  may be convex, concave, straight, parabolic, parallel, angled, or another suitable shape or orientation with respect to each other as needed for the desired outcome, so long as the maximum distance between the sides is still narrower than the opening of the aperture  24  when the maximum distance is aligned substantially parallel to the opening of the aperture  24 . As a result, the protrusion  32  passes through the aperture  24  and into the recess  25  in the installation position. 
         [0061]    In order to prevent the protrusion  32  from sliding through the aperture  24  when the tray table arm  21  is rotated away from installation position, the protrusion  32  is shaped so that all other dimensions across the protrusion  32  are wider than the opening of the aperture  24  when those dimensions are aligned substantially parallel to the opening of the aperture  24 . As a result, the protrusion  32  is held within the recess  25  by the size of the aperture  24  until the tray table arm  21  is rotated back into the installation position. 
         [0062]      FIG. 9 , according to certain embodiments of the present invention, provides a perspective view of the pivot bar  30 , which may include the protrusion  32 , a fastener hole  36 , and a projection  39 . It should be appreciated that the pivot bar  30  may be integrated into the seat back frame  10 , or formed as a separate part and otherwise affixed to the seat back frame  10  (as shown in  FIGS. 11-13 ). 
         [0063]    According to certain embodiments of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 10 , a pivot bar coupling  40  may include the tray table arm  21 , the pivot bar  30 , the protrusion  32 , a projection  39 , and a fastener  41 . 
         [0064]    In certain embodiments of the present invention, the tray table arm  21  may be pivotally coupled to the protrusion  32  and pivot bar  30 . The protrusion  32  is located within the recess  25  (see  FIGS. 7 and 8 ) of the tray table arm  21 . The tray table arm  21  is affixed to the protrusion  32  with a fastener  41 . The fastener  41  may comprise a multitude of different fasteners including, but not limited to, bolts, screws, pins, rivets, or any other fastener which may allow the tray table arm  21  to rotate about the protrusion  32 . The projection  39  of the protrusion  32  is positioned to contact an edge of the aperture  24  to prevent further rotation of the tray table  20  in that direction (similar to the function of the down stop pin  35  described above). The projection  39  also serves as a load bearing surface to prevent additional rotation of the tray table arm  21  when a load is applied to the tray table  20 . 
         [0065]    Still referring to  FIG. 10 , it should be appreciated that it is not necessary to have an aperture  24  in the tray table arm  21  that is sized to allow the protrusion  32  to pass through the aperture  24  and into the recess  25  of the tray table arm  21 , as discussed above. 
         [0066]    Rather, since a separate fastener may be used to couple the tray table arm  21  to the protrusion  32  (instead of relying on the geometry of the aperture  24  and the protrusion  32  to couple the tray table arm  21  to the pivot bar  30 ), the tray table arm  21  may be installed in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the fastener holes  36 . 
         [0067]    Nevertheless, the use of an aperture  24  that is sized to allow the protrusion  32  to pass through the aperture only when the aperture  24  is aligned with the opposing surfaces  38  of the protrusion  32  may still be desirable in certain embodiments. Notably, the tray table arm  21 , and attached tray table  20 , may be installed from a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the tray table arm  21  about the protrusion  32 . This direction of installation is preferable during manufacturing as it allows the tray table  20  and associated tray table arms  21  to be affixed to the pivot bars  30  as an assembly, greatly reducing installation times and labor costs. It should also be appreciated that the amount of rotation of the tray table arm  21  about the protrusion may be controlled and adjusted by the interaction of the size of the aperture  24  and the location and sizing of the projection  39  on the protrusion  32 . These properties may also be adjusted to alter the angle of installation to best fit a particular manufacturing facility or product configuration. Finally, any of the pivot couplings of this or any other embodiments may be provided with a shroud that covers and protects the pivot coupling and associated components from damage or tampering. 
         [0068]    As shown in  FIG. 11 , the pivot bars  30  may be affixed to the seat back frame  10 . The tray table  20  and tray table arms  21  are oriented in a position such that the apertures  24  are substantially parallel with the narrowed dimensions between the opposing surfaces  38  of the protrusions  32 . The tray table arms  21  may be guided or displaced such that the protrusions  32  pass through the apertures  24  and into the recesses  25 . When the protrusions  32  are located within the recesses  25 , the fastener holes  26  of the tray table arms  21  will align with the fastener holes  36  of the protrusions  32 . The tray table  20  and tray table arms  21  may then rotate such that the apertures  24  are no longer in alignment with the opposing surfaces  38 , and are captured by the interference of the curved surfaces  37  with the recesses  25  and the apertures  24 . The tray table arms  21  and protrusions  32  may then receive a fastener in their respective fastener holes  26 ,  36 . 
         [0069]      FIG. 12  provides a perspective view of the passenger seat back  1  pivot bar coupling after the protrusions  32  have passed through the apertures  24  and the tray table  20  and tray table arms  21  have been rotated away from the installation alignment described above and depicted in  FIG. 11 . The fastener hole  26  of the tray table arm  21  is now aligned with the fastener hole (not shown) of the protrusion  32  and is ready to receive a fastener to securely affix the tray table arm  21  to the pivot bar  30  and seat back frame  10 . 
         [0070]      FIG. 13  provides a perspective view of the pivot bar coupling with the tray table  20  in a stowed position. The tray table arm  21  is affixed to the pivot bar  30  with a fastener  41 . It should be appreciated that any type of suitable fastener, including screws, pins, bolts, rivets, or the like which allow for rotation of the tray table arm  21  about the pivot bar  30  may be used. 
         [0071]    According to certain embodiments of the present invention, as shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , a tray table  20  may include tray table arms  21 , a tray table support structure  27 , tray table outer layers  28 , pivot bars  30 , or an integrated tray table support  29 . 
         [0072]    As shown in  FIG. 14 , the tray table  20  may be provided as an assembly which includes a tray table support structure  27  sandwiched between tray table outer layers  28 . The tray table support structure  27  and tray table outer layers  28  may be affixed or otherwise attached to the tray table arms  21  and pivot bars  30 . The constituent parts may then form an assembly which may be installed onto a passenger seat back frame (not shown). It should be appreciated that any of the aforementioned parts may be cast, stamped, molded, or otherwise formed from any suitable materials including but not limited to aluminum, stainless steel, nylon, aircraft steel, aramid fibers, polycarbonate, polypropylene, other metals or alloys, composites, or similar materials. 
         [0073]    As shown in  FIG. 15 , according to certain embodiments of the present invention, an integrated tray table support  29  may incorporate tray table arms  21  into the tray table  20  as a single piece. The integrated tray table support  29  may be injection molded, cast, machined, or formed from any suitable material including, but not limited to, aluminum, stainless steel, nylon, aircraft steel, aramid fibers, polycarbonate, polypropylene, other metals or alloys, composites, or similar materials. It should be appreciated, however, that any tray table existing or yet to be developed may be used in conjunction with a seat back frame and a pivot bar coupling. 
         [0074]    Different arrangements of the components depicted in the drawings or described above, as well as components and steps not shown or described are possible. Similarly, some features and sub-combinations are useful and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. Embodiments of the invention have been described for illustrative and not restrictive purposes, and alternative embodiments will become apparent to readers of this patent. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above or depicted in the drawings, and various embodiments and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claims below.