Patent Publication Number: US-2022234739-A1

Title: Portable electronic device holder for seat

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The field of the invention relates to additive manufactured components for passenger seats in aircraft or the like. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In many instances, passenger vehicles, such as aircraft, buses, trains, ships, and automobiles, include passenger seats with a wide assortment of portable electronic and entertainment options to encourage passengers to remain seated as much as possible during transport for safety, crew mobility, and to enable efficient cabin service. Some passenger seats may provide video and audio entertainment, including television, video games, internet access, and other on-board entertainment (“OBE”) or in-flight entertainment (“IFE”) components. Typically, these entertainment devices are mounted in the seat backs and/or arm rests of the passenger seats. 
     With the advent of portable electronic devices (“PEDs”), such as tablet computers, mobile phones, smart phones, handheld video game systems, portable digital assistants, palmtop computers, DVD players, data and audio-video media, multi-media enabled devices, laptop computers, and other similar electronic devices, many passengers prefer to use their own PEDs, rather than the OBE or IFE components that are mounted in the passenger seats. 
     The rate at which PEDs, namely mobile phones, tablets, portable computers, personal digital assistants (“PDAs”), have been evolving has been exponential. These devices are constantly increasing in functions and decreasing/altering in size, making them more portable and at the same time able to perform more tasks. This evolution has led to passengers carrying their personal information and media on these devices with the expectation of using them while traveling. 
     To this point, there have been very few examples of the integration of these PEDs into airplane seats in any specific way to the seat, other than providing a location on a tray table, such as a groove to hold the PED, and sometimes a power connection to charge them. Conventional mounting locations are in the tray table, which must be stowed during certain times during flight. 
     There is a need for passengers to have a way to hold or store these PEDs while in flight in a manner that allows the PEDs to be used and enjoyed at any given moment. In some cases, it may be desirable to provide a way for passengers to connect their PEDs to the OBE or IFE systems, so that they may use their own PEDs in lieu of the OBE or IFE systems. In other cases, it may be desirable to provide a way for passengers to connect their PEDs to the OBE or IFE systems to use in conjunction with the system&#39;s video display or to receive power for their PEDs or otherwise. Some conventional seats include provisions for PEDs located behind the tray table, which limits the availability of such features to times when the tray table is deployed. In addition, provisions located behind the tray table may not be ergonomically suited to small or large passengers. 
     As a result, there is a need for a holder assembly and interface system for PEDs that is always available (regardless of whether the tray table is deployed) and adaptable to a wide range of passengers (and to a range of PED sizes, shapes, and thicknesses, and that does not create the need for an extra components or adapters). Such a solution eliminates the need for airlines to provide a large number of cases/adapters, which represents additional weight and the need for additional storage space, as well as eliminating the costs for passengers to purchase an additional case/adapter for his or her PED. Such a solution also allows passengers to use their PEDs with or without a case, and to make the tray tables available for meals, documents, or any other object, or to allow passengers to stow the tray tables while still having the PEDs securely placed for use, charging, and/or viewing. 
     SUMMARY 
     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. 
     According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a portable electronic device holder for a passenger seat comprises: a base plate; a back plate pivotally attached to the base plate; and at least one movable arm attached to the back plate, wherein the back plate is adjustable relative to the base plate over a range of approximately 0° to 90°. 
     The portable electronic device holder, in certain embodiments, comprises a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. 
     In certain embodiments, the at least one movable arm folds relative to back plate to reduce a thickness of the portable electronic device holder in the stowed configuration. 
     In some embodiments, in the stowed configuration, the base plate and the back plate are approximately parallel to one another. 
     In some embodiments, the base plate is attached to the passenger seat. 
     The attachment between the base plate and the passenger seat, in certain embodiments, comprises a rotational joint such that, in the stowed configuration, the portable electronic device holder is folded flat against a surface of a seatback of the passenger seat. 
     A forward edge of the base plate, in some embodiments, comprises an upstanding lip. 
     In some embodiments, the at least one movable arm is attached to an upper edge of the back plate. 
     In certain embodiments, the at least one movable arm slides along a width of the back plate. 
     In some embodiments, the at least one movable arm comprises an inner surface with a varying width such that the at least one movable arm is narrower at a proximal end to the back plate. 
     The at least one movable arm, in certain embodiments, comprises two movable arms that each slide along an upper edge of the back plate. 
     According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a passenger seat comprises: a seat back; and a portable electronic device holder comprising: a base plate attached to the seat back; a back plate pivotally attached to the base plate; and at least one movable arm attached to the back plate, wherein an angle of the back plate is adjustable relative to the base plate. 
     In some embodiments, the portable electronic device holder comprises a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. 
     The at least one movable arm, in certain embodiments, folds relative to back plate to reduce a thickness of the portable electronic device holder in the stowed configuration. 
     In certain embodiments, in the stowed configuration, the base plate and the back plate are approximately parallel to one another. 
     In some embodiments, the attachment between the base plate and the passenger seat comprises a rotational joint such that, in the stowed configuration, the portable electronic device holder is folded flat against a surface of a seatback of the passenger seat. 
     A forward edge of the base plate, in certain embodiments, comprises an upstanding lip. 
     In certain embodiments, the at least one movable arm is attached to an upper edge of the back plate. 
     In some embodiments, the at least one movable arm slides along a width of the back plate. 
     The at least one movable arm, in certain embodiments, comprises an inner surface with a varying width such that the at least one movable arm is narrower at a proximal end to the back plate. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a passenger seat with a portable electronic device holder according to certain embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2A  is a front perspective view of the portable electronic device holder of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 2B  is a rear perspective view of the portable electronic device holder of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 2C  is a top view of the portable electronic device holder of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3A  is a front perspective view of the portable electronic device holder of  FIG. 1  with a portable electronic device in a landscape view. 
         FIG. 3B  is a front perspective view of the portable electronic device holder of  FIG. 1  with a portable electronic device in a portrait view. 
         FIG. 3C  is a partial perspective view of the portable electronic device holder of  FIG. 1  with a portable electronic device in a landscape view. 
         FIG. 3D  is a front perspective view of the portable electronic device holder of  FIG. 1  with a portable electronic device in a landscape view. 
         FIG. 4A  is a top perspective view of a movable arm of the portable electronic device holder of  FIG. 1  in an extended configuration. 
         FIG. 4B  is a top perspective view of the movable arm of  FIG. 4A  in a retracted configuration. 
         FIG. 5A  is a side view of the portable electronic device holder of  FIG. 1  in a deployed configuration. 
         FIG. 5B  is a side view of the portable electronic device holder of  FIG. 1  in a partially stowed configuration. 
         FIG. 5C  is a side view of the portable electronic device holder of  FIG. 1  in a fully stowed configuration. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     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. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates exemplary embodiments of passenger seats  10  with a portable electronic device holder  100 .  FIGS. 2A-5C  show examples of portable electronic device holders  100 . In some embodiments, a passenger seat  10  includes a rear surface  11 , a front surface  12 , a lower feature  13  on the rear surface  11 , at least one armrest  14 , a headrest  15  on the front surface  12 , an upper feature  16  on the rear surface  11 , and a portable electronic device holder  100  on the rear surface  11 . The upper feature  16  may include at least one of a display screen, a storage compartment, a literature pocket, or any other appropriate feature. The lower feature  13  may include at least one of a tray table, a storage compartment, a literature pocket, or any other appropriate feature. 
     The portable electronic device holder  100 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , may be located on the rear surface  11  of the passenger seat  10 . The portable electronic device holder  100  may be located above the lower feature  13  (e.g., a tray table) and below the upper feature  16  (e.g., a display screen). In some embodiments, the portable electronic device holder  100  may be integral to the lower feature  13  such that the portable electronic device holder  100  is located on a rear surface of the lower feature  13  (i.e., below the upper edge  13 . 1  of the lower feature  13 , as shown in  FIG. 1 ). In other embodiments, the portable electronic device holder  100  may be located on the rear surface  11  of the passenger seat  10  behind the lower feature  13 . In such embodiments, when the lower feature  13  is a tray table and the tray table is in the stowed configuration (as shown in  FIG. 1 ), the portable electronic device holder  100  would be covered by the tray table and the passenger would be required to open/deploy the tray table to access the portable electronic device holder  100 . In other embodiments, the portable electronic device holder  100  may be located in the area of the upper feature  16 . For example, when the upper feature  16  is a storage compartment, a literature pocket, or another similar feature, the portable electronic device holder  100  can be integral with or disposed adjacent to the upper feature  16 . 
     The portable electronic device holder  100  may include a base plate  101 , a back plate  102  pivotally attached to the base plate  101 , and at least one movable arm  103  attached to the back plate  102 . In some embodiments, the back plate  102  is adjustable relative to the base plate  101  over a range of approximately 0° to 90°. The axis of rotation for the back plate  102  relative to the base plate  101  is approximately horizontal (i.e., parallel to a floor on which the passenger seat  10  is supported) and is parallel and/or coplanar with the rear surface  11  of the passenger seat  10 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3A-3D , the at least one movable arm  103  engages the vertical edges of the PED  1  without engaging the top horizontal edge of the PED  1 . 
     The base plate  101  may include an approximately flat upper surface  112  designed to interface with a portion (e.g., an edge) of a PED  1 , an upstanding lip  111 , a lower surface  113 , and a rear attachment  114 . In some embodiments, the upstanding lip  111  is located at a forward edge of the base plate  101  and is approximately perpendicular to the upper surface  112  of the base plate  101 . The upstanding lip  111  may be designed to engage a portion of the PED  1  and prevent the PED  1  from sliding off a front portion of the base plate  101 . For example, when the PED  1  is arranged in a landscape orientation (see  FIG. 3A ), a side edge of the PED  1  rests on the base plate  101  and the upstanding lip  111  prevents the side edge from sliding off the front portion of the base plate  101 . Similarly, when the PED  1  is arranged in a portrait orientation (see  FIG. 3B ), a bottom edge of the PED  1  rests on the base plate  101  and the upstanding lip  111  prevents the bottom edge from sliding off the front portion of the base plate  101 . 
     In some embodiments, the back plate  102  may include a pivotable connection  122  to the upper surface  112  of the base plate  101  (see  FIGS. 2B and 5A-5C ) and the back plate  102  may be positioned/deployed at a number of different angles (see angle θ in  FIG. 5A ). The angle θ may be adjusted on-the-fly by a passenger to adapt for the passenger&#39;s size, posture, and/or seating position to ensure the PED  1  is properly oriented. For example, if the passenger seat  10  is reclined (i.e., due to activity of a passenger in the row forward of the passenger viewing the PED  1 ), the passenger viewing the PED  1  can adjust angle θ to correct the position of the PED  1 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2A-2C , the at least one movable arm  103  may be attached to an upper edge  121  of the back plate  102 . The at least one movable arm  103  may include two or more movable arms  103  where at least one of the movable arms  103  can slide along the length of upper edge  121  to fit a PED  1 . In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 2A-2C , the portable electronic device holder  100  electronic device holder  100  includes two movable arms  103 . In some cases, the left side movable arm  103  (as shown in  FIG. 2A ) is static while the right side movable arm  103  (as shown in  FIG. 2A ) can move along the length of the upper edge  121  to fit a PED  1 . In other embodiments, both the left and right side movable arms  103  (as shown in  FIG. 2A ) are moveable along the length of the upper edge  121  to fit a PED  1 . The movable arms  103  may be symmetric about a center of the PED  1 . In some cases, the movable arms  103  move independently of one another. The upper edge  121  may include at least one stop feature that limits movement of the at least one movable arm  103 . For example, the upper edge  121  may include a stop feature near the left and right sides of the back plate  102  (i.e., near each end of the upper edge  121 ) to prevent the at least one movable arm  103  from disconnecting from the back plate  102 . 
     The at least one movable arm  103  may include an outer lip  131  and an inner surface  132 . In some embodiments, the outer lip  131  extends inward toward the other movable arm  103  such that the outer lip(s)  131  retain the PED  1  within the portable electronic device holder  100 . The inner surface  132  may be contoured to include an angled and/or a curved surface. In some embodiments, the inner surface  132  is arranged such that the narrowest width between the two movable arms  103  is adjacent to the outer lip  131  and widest width between the two movable arms  103  is adjacent to the back plate  102 . In other words, the contours of the inner surface(s)  132  biases the PED  1  toward the back plate  102 . The movable arm  103  itself may be narrower at a proximal end to the back plate  102  and wider at the distal end at the outer lip  131 . In addition to sliding along the length of the upper edge  121 , in some embodiments, the at least one movable arm  103  may be capable of rotating between an extended configuration (see  FIG. 4A ) and a retracted configuration (see  FIG. 4B ). For such embodiments, the at least one movable arm  103  may rotate about a hinge  133 . In some cases, the depth of the at least one movable arm  103  (i.e., the distance between the surface of the back plate  102  and the outer lip  131 ) may be sufficient to hold/store two PEDs. Such a configuration may be desired for secure storage, charging purposes, or other appropriate reasons. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3C , the portable electronic device holder  100  is arranged such that various connections and ports of the PED  1  are not obstructed. For example, the at least one movable arm  103  does not block power/charging ports, audio/headphone connectors, or various other connections. 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 3A-3D , the portable electronic device holder  100  may be capable of supporting various sizes of devices including mobile phones (smart phones) and tablets in both portrait and landscape orientations. 
     The portable electronic device holder  100  may be capable moving between a deployed configuration (see  FIG. 5A ) and a stowed configuration (see  FIG. 5C ). In some embodiments, the portable electronic device holder  100  is attached to the rear surface  11  of the passenger seat  10  at rear attachment  114 . The base plate  101  may rotate about the rear attachment  114  such that the base plate  101  is approximately horizontal. In the deployed configuration, the back plate  102  is rotated about pivotable connection  122  to provide a proper viewing angle (based on the passenger&#39;s preference) for viewing the PED  1 . In some embodiments, the proper viewing angle (i.e., the angle θ between the back plate  102  and the base plate  101 ) is between approximately 0° and approximately 90°. 
       FIG. 5B  shows a partially stowed configuration. In some embodiments, when the portable electronic device holder  100  is no longer necessary, the passenger may rotate the back plate  102  (including the at least one movable arm  103 ) down toward the base plate  101 , which results in the partially stowed configuration. In some cases, when in the partially stowed configuration, the portable electronic device holder  100  may function as a shelf. The entire portable electronic device holder  100  may be rotated about the rear attachment  114  to the fully stowed configuration, as shown in  FIG. 5C . The portable electronic device holder  100  may folded flat against the rear surface  11  of the passenger seat  10 . In some embodiments, in the fully stowed configuration, the lower surface  113  of the base plate  101  is approximately flush with the rear surface  11  of the passenger seat  10 . To the extent that portions of the these respective components are flat, the lower surface  113  of the base plate  101  may be approximately coplanar with the rear surface  11  of the passenger seat  10  when the portable electronic device holder  100  is in the fully stowed configuration. In some embodiments, the rear surface  11  of the passenger seat  10  may include a recess that approximately corresponds to a size of the portable electronic device holder  100 . 
     If the at least one movable arm  103  is capable of rotating between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration, the movable arm  103  may be moved to the retracted configuration (see  FIGS. 4A and 4B ) when the portable electronic device holder  100  is moved to the partially stowed or the fully stowed configuration. 
     The components of the portable electronic device holder  100  may be formed of materials including, but not limited to, aluminum, steel, titanium, carbon composite, graphite composite, polyester, nylon, plastic, thermoplastic, fabric materials, stainless steel, other plastic or polymer materials, other metallic materials, other composite materials, or other similar materials. Moreover, the components of the portable electronic device holder  100  may be attached to one another via suitable fasteners, which include, but are not limited to, screws, bolts, rivets, or other mechanical or chemical fasteners. 
     In the following, further examples are described to facilitate understanding of aspects of the invention: 
     Example A. A portable electronic device holder for a passenger seat comprising: 
     a base plate; 
     a back plate pivotally attached to the base plate; and 
     at least one movable arm attached to the back plate, 
     wherein the back plate is adjustable relative to the base plate over a range of approximately 0° to 90°. 
     Example B. The portable electronic device holder of Example A or any of the preceding or subsequent examples, further comprising a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. 
     Example C. The portable electronic device holder of Example B or any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the at least one movable arm folds relative to back plate to reduce a thickness of the portable electronic device holder in the stowed configuration. 
     Example D. The portable electronic device holder of Example B or any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein, in the stowed configuration, the base plate and the back plate are approximately parallel to one another. 
     Example E. The portable electronic device holder of Example B or any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the base plate is attached to the passenger seat. 
     Example F. The portable electronic device holder of Example E or any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the attachment between the base plate and the passenger seat comprises a rotational joint such that, in the stowed configuration, the portable electronic device holder is folded flat against a surface of a seatback of the passenger seat. 
     Example G. The portable electronic device holder of Example A or any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein a forward edge of the base plate comprises an upstanding lip. 
     Example H. The portable electronic device holder of Example A or any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the at least one movable arm is attached to an upper edge of the back plate. 
     Example I. The portable electronic device holder of Example A or any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the at least one movable arm slides along a width of the back plate. 
     Example J. The portable electronic device holder of Example A or any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the at least one movable arm comprises an inner surface with a varying width such that the at least one movable arm is narrower at a proximal end to the back plate. 
     Example K. The portable electronic device holder of Example A or any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the at least one movable arm comprises two movable arms that each slide along an upper edge of the back plate. 
     Example L. A passenger seat comprising: 
     a seat back; and 
     a portable electronic device holder comprising:
         a base plate attached to the seat back;   a back plate pivotally attached to the base plate; and   at least one movable arm attached to the back plate,   wherein an angle of the back plate is adjustable relative to the base plate.       

     Example M. The passenger seat of Example L or any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the portable electronic device holder comprises a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. 
     Example N. The passenger seat of Example M or any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the at least one movable arm folds relative to back plate to reduce a thickness of the portable electronic device holder in the stowed configuration. 
     Example O. The passenger seat of Example M or any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein, in the stowed configuration, the base plate and the back plate are approximately parallel to one another. 
     Example P. The passenger seat of Example M or any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the attachment between the base plate and the passenger seat comprises a rotational joint such that, in the stowed configuration, the portable electronic device holder is folded flat against a surface of a seatback of the passenger seat. 
     Example Q. The passenger seat of Example L or any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein a forward edge of the base plate comprises an upstanding lip. 
     Example R. The passenger seat of Example L or any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the at least one movable arm is attached to an upper edge of the back plate. 
     Example S. The passenger seat of Example L or any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the at least one movable arm slides along a width of the back plate. 
     Example T. The passenger seat of Example L or any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the at least one movable arm comprises an inner surface with a varying width such that the at least one movable arm is narrower at a proximal end to the back plate. 
     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.