Table device and passenger seat and vehicle cabin with a table device

A table device for a vehicle cabin, in particular for a passenger cabin of an aircraft. The table device includes an active surface which is coated with at least one active material that is photoactive and antimicrobial. The table device furthermore includes an irradiation device, which is configured to irradiate the active surface with light. A passenger seat or a vehicle cabin may incorporate such a table device.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the German patent application No. 102020110710.2 filed on Apr. 20, 2020, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by way of reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a table device for a vehicle cabin. The invention furthermore relates to a passenger seat with a table device and to a vehicle cabin with a table device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hygiene in general, and a low level of microbial pathogens such as bacteria, fungi, protozoa or viruses in interior spaces, or vehicle cabins of vehicles such as aircraft, ships, buses, trains and the like, are of increasing importance. Particularly in passenger cabins which are used by many people in succession, tabletops, for example of folding tables, infant changing tables or the like, are therefore regularly also cleaned in the scope of interior cleaning. It is known that disinfectants, irradiation with UV light or heating of objects to high temperatures can kill microorganisms. However, many surfaces and materials react sensitively to treatment with aggressive cleaning agents, irradiation with UV light or high temperatures. The effectiveness of cleaning of tabletops in passenger cabins in order to disinfect them is therefore limited. Furthermore, such cleaning agents can only be used for cleaning when stopped, or in the absence of passengers, but not during ongoing operation of a vehicle.

Furthermore, the cleaning of folding tables requires them to be put in their usage position and for this purpose folded out. Disinfecting cleaning of tabletops of such folding tables, such as are used, for example, in aircraft cabins or the interior spaces of buses and trains, is therefore time-consuming and laborious.

Antimicrobial substances, for example silver chloride or other compounds comprising silver ions, are furthermore used, for instance to treat drinking water. Photoactive substances which in the scope of a photocatalytic reaction can release oxygen radicals that react with organic compounds and can thereby make microbial pathogens harmless, are furthermore occasionally used in the clinical field. For instance, it is known from DE 10 2011 012 343 A1 to provide medical products, food packaging or hygiene articles which are not thermally stable and by conventional disinfectants, with photosensitized surfaces in order to be able to sterilize them by the action of light. A similar approach is also known from EP 3 225 112 A1 and from EP 3 375 774 A1. In this case, usually either coated products are placed for cleaning purposes in irradiation chambers or under irradiation lamps, or cleaning staff bring a mobile irradiation device to the cleaning location.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

On the basis of the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a table device, which allows effective and/or simple disinfection, for a vehicle cabin. It is furthermore an object of the invention to provide a passenger seat and a vehicle cabin having such a table device.

A table device according to the invention for a vehicle cabin, in particular for a passenger cabin of an aircraft, comprises an active surface which is coated with at least one active material that is photoactive and antimicrobial. The table device furthermore comprises an irradiation device which is adapted to irradiate the active surface with light.

The invention furthermore relates to a passenger seat which comprises a table device according to the invention. The passenger seat may comprise a backrest on which the table device is arranged, in particular, rearward. The table device may be adapted to be used by a passenger who is sitting on a further passenger seat that is arranged behind the passenger seat. In other embodiments, the table device may also be fastened on an armrest of the passenger seat and/or on the passenger seat, in such a way that it is adapted for use by the passenger sitting on the passenger seat.

The invention also relates to a vehicle cabin having a table device according to the invention or having a passenger seat according to the invention. The vehicle cabin may be an aircraft cabin, in particular a passenger aircraft cabin, a bus cabin, a ship cabin or a train cabin.

Furthermore, the invention also comprises a vehicle, for example an aircraft, a bus, a train or a ship, having a vehicle cabin according to the invention.

The invention makes it possible to reduce a bioburden of a surface of a table device for a vehicle cabin reliably and effectively. In this way, the hygiene in a vehicle cabin can be improved. In addition, cleaning work may be reduced, for example, because the surface of the table device does not need to be cleaned with disinfectant and/or folded out for cleaning. It furthermore makes it possible to clean the surface of a table device during a flight or a journey, even in the presence of a passenger, so that contagion risks and a duration of cleaning when a vehicle is stopped can be reduced. In this case, it is to be noted that viruses are likewise meant to be understood as microorganisms or germs in the context of this disclosure.

According to one embodiment, the table device is intended to be arranged in an aircraft cabin, a bus cabin, a ship cabin and/or a train cabin, preferably a corresponding passenger cabin. The table device may comprise a tabletop. The active surface may be arranged on an upper side and/or a lower side of the tabletop. An edge of the tabletop may also be part of the active surface. The table device may be an aircraft table device, in particular, a folding aircraft cabin table. The door device may be an integral part of the passenger seat and/or configured at least partially in one piece with a component of the passenger seat. The table device may also be a table module. Furthermore, the table device may be used for another purpose and, for example, be an infant changing device, a serving table device, a nonfoldable table device, for instance of a seat compartment, a gaming table or the like.

The active material is adapted, in particular, to produce oxygen radicals from atmospheric oxygen in a photocatalytic reaction as a response to irradiation by the irradiation device. The active material may comprise a monolayer of molecules, which, for example, adhere to the active surface as a result of a sensitizing process. As an alternative, the active material may comprise a material layer which is vapor-deposited, printed, sputtered or suitably applied in another way. The active material may comprise organic and/or inorganic components. For example, the active material may comprise, or be, a photoactive metal oxide, for example titanium oxide (or titanium dioxide) or zinc oxide, in which case, both extensive layers and layers of nanoparticles or microparticles, nanorods, nanotubes and the like may be used. Doped materials may furthermore be used. As an alternative or in addition, organic dyes, metal-complex dyes or other organic molecules or polymers may be used. Preferably, the active material is adapted to absorb and/or make photocatalytically usable light with a wavelength of at least 300 nm, preferably at least 350 nm, and preferably visible light.

The irradiation device may comprise at least one LED, OLED, laser diode, electroluminescent film, incandescent lamp, gas discharge lamp or other suitable lighting means. The irradiation device may furthermore comprise an array of lighting means. The irradiation device is adapted, in particular, to irradiate the active surface permanently and/or continuously. In other embodiments, the irradiation device may also be adapted to emit light pulses.

The irradiation device may comprise at least one light source which is arranged at least partially, and, in particular, fully, in the tabletop.

Uniform irradiation of the active surface, and effective cleaning resulting therefrom, may, in particular, be achieved when the irradiation device comprises at least one two-dimensional light source. An area of the two-dimensional light source may correspond substantially to an area of the active surface.

The two-dimensional light source may comprise a planar light guide. For example, the light source may comprise a light-guide plate and one or more lighting means arranged on the frame of the latter, such as LEDs, OLEDs, laser diodes or the like. For example, the planar light guide may be arranged in the tabletop. As an alternative or in addition, the two-dimensional light source may comprise an array of lighting means and/or a luminous film or the like.

According to one embodiment, the two-dimensional light source may be arranged behind the active surface and irradiate it in the manner of background lighting. This way, a distance between the active surface and the light source may be reduced. Light effects, for example illuminated logos, for instance on a lower side of the tabletop and/or on its edge, or side, or the like, may furthermore be produced without additional components being required.

Furthermore, according to some embodiments the table device may comprise a stowage section, which may, for example, be arranged on a rear side of the backrest of the passenger seat. The tabletop may be movable relative to the stowage section between a stowage position and a usage position. In the stowage position, the upper side of the tabletop, in particular, faces toward the stowage section and/or is accommodated at least partially therein. For example, in the stowage position the upper side of the tabletop faces toward the rear side of the backrest of the passenger seat and/or the lower side of the tabletop faces away from the backrest of the passenger seat.

According to the invention, the irradiation device may be adapted to irradiate the active surface in the stowage position. The irradiation of the active surface may then be carried out while the tabletop is not in use, and, therefore in particular, without being noticed by a passenger. Furthermore, the active surface may in this way be cleaned regularly during a journey or a flight, since the tabletop is usually folded in and out by the passenger several times.

Electronic components may, in particular, be stowed in a space-saving way and simply when the irradiation device comprises at least one light source which is arranged in the stowage section. In particular, the entire irradiation device may be arranged in the stowage section and/or in the backrest of the passenger seat. The tabletop may then be free from electronic components. According to other embodiments, light sources of the irradiation device may also be arranged both in the tabletop and in the stowage section.

A long overall period during which cleaning of the active surface takes place may, in particular, be achieved when the table device furthermore comprises a switching unit which is adapted to automatically activate the irradiation device in the stowage position and/or automatically deactivate it in the usage position. The switching unit may be a button and/or a switch which responds mechanically to movement of the tabletop. As an alternative or in addition, a suitable sensor may be used. The switching unit may, for example, by use of a suitable electric circuit and/or a control unit, be adapted to carry out the activation or deactivation of the irradiation device in the event of movement of the table into the stowage position and/or into the usage position only after a predetermined time, for example after a few seconds or minutes. Particularly for the case of activation, this may therefore take place entirely unnoticed by the passenger, which prevents them from repeatedly moving the table to and fro in order intentionally to cause continual activation and deactivation, or to investigate the functionality of the irradiation device, as a result of which a mechanism and/or electronics of the table device could be excessively stressed.

As an alternative or in addition, the table device may comprise a switch, by means of which a user can activate and/or deactivate the irradiation device. The irradiation device may then, for example, be used as a lamp in the usage position and/or in the stowage position of the table, depending on where light sources of the irradiation device are fitted, in particular on an upper side and/or lower side of the tabletop. The switch may be provided in combination with the switching unit and be used, for example, to overwrite deactivation by the switching unit, i.e., according to some embodiments a passenger may reactivate the initially automatically deactivated irradiation device and/or prevent automatic deactivation thereof.

The table device may furthermore comprise a locking element which is adapted to hold the tabletop in the stowage position. The active surface may, in this case, be arranged at least partially on the locking element. The locking element may, for example, be a pushbutton, a rotating knob, a latch element, a lever, an electrical and/or magnetic switch or the like, by means of which the passenger may enable and/or cause movement of the tabletop. Since the passenger repeatedly touches such a locking element, its surface may also be exposed to germs. By this surface being coated with active material, it may likewise be cleaned effectively. The locking element may, in this case, have a light source of the irradiation device which is arranged in the locking element in order to provide the corresponding irradiation.

The invention furthermore comprises a method for cleaning an active surface, coated with the described active material, of a table device, in particular of a table device according to the invention. The method may comprise irradiation of the active surface with light. If the active surface is arranged on an upper side of a tabletop of the table device and the tabletop can be brought into a stowage position, the irradiation preferably takes place in the stowage position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG.1shows an aircraft10with a cabin region12of a passenger cabin of the aircraft. The invention will be explained below in the context of the aircraft10. As mentioned above, however, other vehicles may also be envisioned according to the invention.

The cabin region is equipped with a plurality of passenger seats14,16, only two of which are provided with references for reasons of clarity. One passenger seat14is equipped with a table device18on a rear side of its backrest15. The table device18is a folding table device. The table device18is adapted to be used by a passenger who is sitting on a passenger seat16behind the passenger seat14equipped with the table device.

FIG.2shows the passenger seat14with the table device18in a perspective representation. The table device18comprises a tabletop20and a stowage section22, which in the case represented is configured as a two-dimensional stowage compartment. The stowage section22is formed in the passenger seat14, particularly in its backrest15. The tabletop20comprises an upper side24and a lower side26. In the stowage position, the upper side24faces toward the stowage section22and bears on a rear side of the passenger seat16, or a rear side of its backrest15. In the stowage position, the lower side26of the tabletop20correspondingly faces toward the passenger. The case represented, however, corresponds to a usage position in which the tabletop20is folded out so that its upper side24can be used to receive and hold objects.

The table device18furthermore comprises a locking element28, which is configured to hold the tabletop20in the stowage position. The locking element28is, for example, a rotating knob with a holding arm that can be rotated over the lower side26of the tabletop20when the latter is arranged in the stowage section22.

The table device18comprises an active surface30, which is coated with a photoactive antimicrobial active material. A cross section of the table device18is represented inFIG.3. The active material is configured to produce oxygen radicals from atmospheric oxygen in a photocatalytic reaction as a response to irradiation with visible light and/or with UV light. Germs such as bacteria, viruses or other microorganisms lying on the active surface30are attacked by the oxygen radicals produced in this way and are therefore rendered harmless.

The active surface30comprises a first region, which is formed on the upper side24of the tabletop20, and a second region which is formed on a surface of the locking element28. In the case represented, the active surface30therefore comprises regions of the table device18that are frequently touched by the passenger.

The table device18furthermore comprises an irradiation device32which is adapted to irradiate the active surface30with visible light and/or with UV light. A first light source (not represented) of the irradiation device32is arranged in the locking element28. The locking element28is configured to be partially transparent and/or light-guiding, so that the region, arranged on the locking element28, of the active surface30can be irradiated by means of the first light source.

In other embodiments, the locking element28, its coating with active material and/or the first light source may be omitted.

The irradiation device furthermore comprises a second light source34, which is configured as a two-dimensional light source. The second light source34is arranged in the stowage section22. In the example represented, the second light source34comprises an array of light-emitting diodes or laser diodes which emit light with a suitable wavelength. If the tabletop20is in the stowage position, the active surface30on the upper side24of the tabletop20is arranged immediately in front of the second light source34. The active surface30can therefore be irradiated in the stowage position.

For this purpose, the table device18comprises a switching unit36which is configured to automatically activate the second light source34and/or the irradiation device32in the stowage position and automatically deactivate it in the usage position. The first light source may likewise be effected by this, so that it illuminates the locking device28in the stowage position and is therefore easy for the passenger to find.

Because of the small distance between the irradiation device32and the active surface30, the photocatalytic reaction for germ reduction can therefore take place effectively in the stowage position. The second light source34is furthermore automatically deactivated when the passenger wishes to use the tabletop20.

In the case represented, however, the passenger can activate the irradiation device32, or the second light source34, as required. For this purpose, the table device18comprises a switch38by means of which the automatic deactivation by the switching unit36is overridden. The passenger can then use the irradiation device32as a lamp in the usage position of the tabletop20.

Provision may furthermore be made that the passenger can deliberately deactivate the first light source, for example when the light of the locking element28is disturbing them.

FIG.4shows a perspective representation of a passenger seat14aaccording to a further embodiment. The passenger seat14acomprises a table device18a. The differences from the previous embodiment will primarily be described below. In respect of the function of components that are the same, reference is made to the description above.

The table device18acomprises a tabletop20a.FIG.5is a sectional representation of the tabletop20a. The tabletop20ais coated with active material on its upper side24aand therefore comprises an active surface30a. As an alternative or in addition, a coating of active material may also be provided on a lower side26aof the tabletop20a.

The table device18afurthermore comprises an irradiation device32ahaving a two-dimensional light source34a. The two-dimensional light source34ais arranged in the tabletop20a. As may be seen inFIG.5, the light source34acomprises a planar light guide40a, which in the case shown is configured as a light-guide plate. Lighting means42a, which emit into the planar light guide40a, are arranged along at least one edge of the planar light guide40a. The lighting means42aare arranged, for example, in the tabletop20a.

The two-dimensional light source34ais arranged behind the active surface30aand irradiates the active surface30ain the manner of background lighting. A core44a, enclosing the two-dimensional light source34aof the tabletop20amay correspondingly be transparent in order to transmit and/or guide in a controlled way light emerging from the light source34ato the active surface30a. As an alternative, the planar light guide34aitself may form the tabletop20a.

In other embodiments, the lighting means42acan also be arranged in the passenger seat14and can be suitably connected optically to the planar light guide40a. The tabletop20amay then be configured without electrical components but nevertheless be illuminated from the inside. For example, light may be introducible into the tabletop20athrough hinges and/or through a flexible light-guide section.

FIG.6shows a sectional representation of a tabletop20baccording to yet another embodiment. It may, for example, be used in one of the table devices18,18aaccording to the embodiments above. According to this embodiment as well, an irradiation device32bcomprises a two-dimensional light source34b. The two-dimensional light source34bcomprises an inner-lying illuminated structure, which comprises a transparent core44band two two-dimensional lighting means46b,48b. The two-dimensional lighting means46b,48bmay, for example, comprise diode arrays.

By means of the two-dimensional light source34b, both an upper side24band a lower side26bof the tabletop20bcan be illuminated. In this case, the lower side26bmay be coated with active material. According to other embodiments, only one of the two-dimensional light sources34bmay be provided, for example, in order to irradiate the upper side24bfrom behind.