Chairs and seats – With table – desk – or easel – Extensible from within or beneath seat component
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-15
2001-04-24
Crown, Peter R. (Department: 3636)
Chairs and seats
With table, desk, or easel
Extensible from within or beneath seat component
C297S173000, C297S188160
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220658
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to tray tables for a vehicle seat. More specifically, this invention relates to a tray table for a vehicle seat movable between a retracted or stowed position and an extended or use position.
BACKGROUND
It is known in the art to stow a tray table adjacent a seat, usually under one of the armrests. The tray table is typically movable to one or more positions, such as a stowed position and a use position. Prior tray table designs, however, typically suffer from unreliable rotation and locking mechanisms. For ease of use, it is paramount to provide a tray table moveable from stowed and use positions through simple and reliable rotating and locking mechanisms.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The tray table assemblies according to the invention are simple and reliable. First, a cam and follower locking mechanism allows the pivot arm to rotate upon an axis and lock in one or more positions, such as a stowed position and a use position. The pivot arm locks into position upon rotation of the arm to that position. A locking mechanism is released by continued rotation of the pivot arm in the same direction, beyond the locked position. Release of the locking mechanism allows the pivot arm to rotate in the opposite direction, to the other locked position.
Second, a telescoping pivot assembly allows a support arm to translate along and rotate about the horizontal axis and lock in one or more positions, such as a stowed position and a use position. The support arm locks into the stowed and use positions upon rotation of the arm to one of the positions. The locking mechanism is released by depressing an actuator button, which permits the support arm to translate and rotate to the other position.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4372604 (1983-02-01), Raksanyi et al.
patent: 5035464 (1991-07-01), Spallholtz
patent: 5087096 (1992-02-01), Yamazaki
patent: 5129702 (1992-07-01), Ervin
patent: 5547247 (1996-08-01), Dixon
patent: 5653499 (1997-08-01), Goodall
patent: 177232 (1953-06-01), None
patent: 1600744 (1981-10-01), None
Barber Jeffrey L.
Dykla James A.
Eschelbach Randy G.
Lukawski Traci J.
Crown Peter R.
Foley & Lardner
Johnson Controls Technology Company
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