Abstract:
Disclosed is a foldable tracking table assembly comprising a primary leaf, and a secondary leaf rotatably secured to the primary leaf and a table bracket secured to the opposite end of the primary leaf The table bracket in turn is secured to an adapter plate which is atop one or more pillow blocks. The pillow blocks are disposed atop linear rails upon which the pillow blocks are capable of longitudinally traversing. Adjacent the linear rail is a serrated track parallel to the at least one rail and a serrated pawl capable of locking engagement with the serrated track. A solenoid facilitates the locking engagement of the pawl with the serrated track wherein a user of the table assembly manually activates the solenoid withdrawing the serrated pawl from locking engagement with the serrated track thereby allowing the table assembly to traverse the linear rail to a position that accommodates the user.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/808,034 filed Apr. 3, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates generally to a table assembly for use in an aircraft. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Because functional space aboard an aircraft is delivered at a cost premium making that space and the associated equipment in that space multi-functional is an outcome preferred by customers. The use of a tray table that is capable of tracking forward toward a seated occupant and locking in position is one such feature that enhances the space aboard an aircraft by making the space multi-functional. This feature allows the table to be moved closer to a person where it is desired to be closer to the table for tasks such as eating, working on a computer or using a smart phone without sacrificing leg room as is often the case when the seat occupant tracks toward the table. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure is directed to a tracking table assembly within an aircraft for use by passengers to position food, beverages, reading materials, documents and computer equipment over their lap as needed. The table assembly includes a primary leaf, a table bracket and a secondary rotating leaf secured to the primary leaf. The tracking table assembly further includes an adapter plate attached atop at least one pillow block wherein the table bracket is in turn secured to the adapter plate. The at least one pillow block rests atop one or more linear rails. The pillow block is capable of longitudinally traversing the rails upon which it rests. Hard stops on both ends of the rails prevent the tracking table assembly from traversing beyond the stops. 
     A serrated track is positioned adjacent to and running parallel to the rails. A serrated pawl capable of locking engagement with the serrated track is positioned atop a plunger of a solenoid. The solenoid is positioned perpendicular to the serrated track. When activated by the user the solenoid retracts the plunger and the serrated pawl separates from engagement with the serrated track thereby allowing movement of the tracking table assembly along the rail. With the serrated pawl not engaging the rail the user is free to position the tracking table assembly anywhere along the length of the rail to accommodate their particular needs. Once the tracking table is in the desired position over the lap the user deactivates the solenoid and the serrated pawl reengages the serrated track locking the table assembly in position. 
     For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a tracking table assembly that is foldable to decrease the area over the lap when the need for supporting work related materials or food is diminished. 
     For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a tracking table assembly that translates toward and away from the seated occupant to accommodate the user&#39;s particular needs and body size without sacrificing leg room. 
     For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a tracking table assembly that can be readily repositioned and then locked into a position that is accommodating to the user. 
     Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of a tracking table assembly; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a tracking table assembly revealing the linear track mechanism; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of embodiments of a portion of the primary leaf, table bracket, linear rails and pillow blocks; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of the adapter plate mounted atop the pillow blocks; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of embodiments of the pillow blocks, solenoid and serrated pawl engaging a serrated track; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded view of an embodiment of the tracking table assembly; and 
         FIG. 7  is a supplemental exploded view of an embodiment of the tracking table assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As seen in  FIG. 1 , the tracking table  10  is comprised of a primary leaf  12  with a first edge  14  and a second edge  16 . Attached adjacent the primary leaf is a secondary rotating leaf  18  that is secured to the second edge  16  of the primary leaf  12 . The secondary rotating leaf  18  is secured to the primary leaf  12  via a hinged mechanism  20  and a hard stop (not shown) that prevents the secondary leaf  18  from rotating lower than the horizontal orientation of the primary leaf  12  but facilitates folding over of the secondary leaf  18  on top of the primary leaf  12  at the second edge  16 . The primary  12  and secondary  18  leaves are preferably fabricated from a rigid, yet lightweight material, such as an engineered plastic, a composite or aluminum. 
     As seen in  FIGS. 1-3 , secured to the primary leaf  12  is a table bracket  22 . The table bracket, as seen in  FIG. 7 , has a flange  24  that extends outwardly from the main body  26  of the table bracket  22 . The flange  24  has a plurality of holes through which screws  28  or other attachment means are passed into the back face  30  of the primary leaf  12 . The flange  24  preferably extends outwardly from the main body  26  of the table bracket a sufficient distance to provide support for the primary and secondary leaves  12 ,  18 . The table bracket  22  main body  26  has an upper face  32 , a lower face  34 , a first edge  36  and a second edge  38 , the first edge  36  of the table bracket  22  abuts the first edge  14  of the primary leaf  12 . The second edge  38  of the table bracket main body  26  extends outward away from the primary and secondary leaves  12 ,  18 . 
     The main body  26  and the flange  24  of the table bracket  22  are preferably fabricated from a material capable of withstanding impact loading without fracturing. The main body  26  and the flange  24  are of a sufficient thickness to minimize weight and yet still provide sufficient structural robustness to avoid fracturing under loads applied by the placement of foods, documents and computer equipment. 
     As seen in  FIG. 4  an adapter plate  40  is utilized as part of the overall tracking table assembly. The adapter plate, when fully operational is positioned beneath the lower face  34  of the main body  26  of the table bracket  22 . The adapter plate  40  is configured with a series of threaded  42  and unthreaded countersunk holes  44  throughout. As seen in  FIG. 3 , the main body  26  of the table bracket  22  has similarly sized holes  46  that align with the threaded holes  42  of the adapter plate  40 . Preferably four screws (not shown) or other functionally equivalent fasteners are passed through the holes  46  in the table bracket  22  and into the threaded holes  42  in the adapter plate  40 . These screws secure the table bracket  22  and adapter plate  40  together. 
     As seen in  FIG. 5  the adapter plate  40  is removed and disposed beneath the adapter plate are pillow blocks  50 . In the preferred embodiment, the adapter plate  40  preferably rests upon four pillow blocks  50 ; however, alternative embodiments may employ a unibody pillow block or dual pillow blocks, for example without deviating from the spirit of the implementation. The pillow blocks  50  have a plurality of threaded holes  52  sunk into the top surface  54 . When the adapter plate  40  is positioned atop the pillow block  50  screws  56  are passed through the adapter plate  40  and into pillow block threaded holes  52  to secure the two components together. The adapter plate  40  is preferably constructed of aluminum; however, an engineered plastic may also be utilized. 
     As seen in  FIG. 5  situated beneath the pillow blocks  50  are linear rails  58  upon which the pillow blocks may slide. The pillow blocks  50  and the linear rails  58  are effectively interlocked together. As seen in  FIG. 5 , the pillow blocks  50  include small flanges  60 ,  62  extending outwardly from a channel  64  cut into the underside  66  of the blocks  50 . The small flanges  60 ,  62  engage with grooves  68 ,  70  disposed within each side of the linear rails  58 . The engagement between the small flanges  60 ,  62  and the grooves  68 ,  70  in the linear rails prevent the entire tracking table assembly  10  from rotating when weight is placed on the primary and secondary leaves  12 ,  18  by the user. In order to install the pillow blocks  50  onto the linear rails  58  the pillow blocks are preferably slid onto the linear rails at one end of each rail prior to installation of the tracking table stops  72  and securement of the linear rails to the installation plate  74  and ultimately to the structure of the vehicle. The grooves  68 ,  70  run the entire length of the linear rails  58  allowing the pillow blocks  50  to translate the entire length of the rails  58 . Translation of the pillow blocks is halted at each end of the linear rails  58  by tracking table stops  72 . The stops  72  halt the movement of the pillow blocks  50  by blocking the path of the pillow blocks  50  serving as a hard stop at each end of the rail. The hard stops  72  are mounted to the supporting structure with the aid of screws or other comparable securement devices passed through holes  73  in each of the hard stops. 
     As seen in  FIG. 6 , the linear rails  58  are in turn secured to a linear rail installation plate  74 . The installation plate  74  serves as the foundation for the slidable mechanism comprising the rails  58 , pillow blocks  50  and adapter plate  40 . Screws (not shown) are passed through holes  78  in the linear rails and into the installation plate  74 . The installation plate  74  in turn is secured to the supporting structure by passage of screws, or similar securing means, into the supporting structure. 
     Returning to  FIG. 5 , disposed beneath the adapter plate  40  and between the pillow blocks  50  is a solenoid  80 . The solenoid  80  is energized through switching means located on the table bracket  22 . At the operational end of the solenoid  80  is a plunger  82 . The plunger extends outwardly from the solenoid and the far end of the plunger is a serrated pawl  84 . The serrated pawl  84  is configured for locking engagement with a serrated track  86  that runs parallel to the linear rails  58 . When the solenoid  80  is energized by the user manipulating a switch mechanism the plunger  82  is withdrawn and the serrated pawl  84  disengages from the serrated track  86 . The user is then free to translate the entire table assembly  10  forward or backward between the hard stops  72  to a position that is comfortable for their particular needs. 
     As seen in  FIG. 5  and as noted immediately above, the disclosed embodiment has the solenoid  80  positioned between two sets of pillow blocks  50  and beneath the adapter plate  40 . The solenoid  80  rests atop a solenoid cradle  88  and is covered by the adapter plate  40 . As seen in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the adapter plate  40  includes a cutout cavity  90  under which the solenoid  80  is covered. The solenoid cradle  88  may be variously configured; however, the objective of the cradle  88  is to rigidly secure the solenoid in position as the serrated pawl  84 , solenoid plunger  82  and solenoid  80  will be subject to considerable forces as the seat occupant exerts pressure on the primary and secondary leaves  12 ,  18  during normal use of the table assembly. 
     The solenoid  80  is energized and retracts the serrated pawl when the user performs an action, such as depressing a momentary switch  94 , as seen in  FIG. 2 . The momentary switch  94  is preferably located in a cutout  96  on the table bracket  22  where it is readily accessible by a user. The electrical connection between the momentary switch  94  and the solenoid  80  is comprised of wires (not shown) that are located beneath the table bracket  22  and that lead directly to the solenoid  80  beneath the adapter plate  40 . All wiring is hidden from view by the user of the table assembly. 
     The serrated track  86 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , is adjacent to and runs parallel with the linear rails  58 . The serrated track  86  rests atop a spacer  92 . The spacer  92  elevates the serrated track  86  so that there is optimal engagement between the serrated track  86  and the serrated pawl  84 . The serrated track  86  may also optionally be secured to the spacer  92  at the bottom edge of the serrated track with the spacer  92  secured to the supporting structure through various attachments means that are well known to those skilled in the art. 
     In operation, the user is seated in the aircraft seat with the tracking table assembly  10  placed directly in front of her. The user has the option of utilizing both the primary leaf  12  and the secondary leaf  18  or rotating the secondary leaf  18  over atop the primary leaf  12  if less area of a supporting surface is desired. Should the user need to reposition the entire tracking table assembly  10  either closer or farther away, the momentary switch  94  located within the table bracket  22  is depressed. Once depressed the solenoid  80  is energized, with power to energize the solenoid being provided by the aircraft electrical system or alternatively a stand-alone battery. 
     Once the solenoid  80  is energized the plunger  82  is retracted thereby disengaging the serrated pawl  84  from the serrated track  86 . Once the serrated pawl  84  is retracted the entire assembly is free to translate along the linear rails  58 . The pillow blocks  50  upon which the adapter plate  40  rests may move bi-directionally along the linear rails and remain engaged with the rails because of the inwardly extending flanges  60 ,  62  that are received into the rail grooves  68 ,  70 . The range of movement of the pillow blocks  50  is limited by the hard stops  72  at each end of the linear rails. 
     Once the user decides upon a preferred position for the tracking table assembly  10  she releases the momentary switch  94  which de-energizes the solenoid  80 . Once the solenoid is de-energized the solenoid plunger  82  extends outwardly and the serrated pawl  84  reengages the serrated track  86 . The reengagement of the pawl  84  and serrated track  86  locks the entire assembly into a position that is comfortable for the user. 
     While the preferred form of the present invention has been shown and described above, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the subject invention is not limited by the figures and that the scope of the invention includes modifications, variations and equivalents which fall within the scope of the attached claims. Moreover, it should be understood that the individual components of the invention include equivalent embodiments without departing from the spirit of this invention. 
     It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims. Not all steps listed in the various figures need be carried out in the specific order described.