# US 10,370,107 B2 · Arced rail for aircraft tray table > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,370,107 B2 - Document ID: US10370107B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/939,431 - Filed: 2018-03-29 - Published: 2018-10-04 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-31 - Assignees: B/E Aerospace, Inc. - Applicants: B/E Aerospace, Inc. - Inventors: Alexander N. Pozzi; Mark W. Foohey; Sam C. Scudder; John C. Horton, IV; Steve K. Brown; Darryl D. Daniel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10370107B2 ## CPC - B64D 11/0605: {including tables or desks} - B60N 3/002: {of trays} - B64D 11/0638: {with foldable tables, trays or cup holders} - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A tray table configured to transition between a stowed position within a stowage module to a deployed position outside of the stowage module by way of an arced rail having rail heads, and a plurality of tray table wheels and stowage module wheels arranged to mesh with the rail heads. The tray table follows an arcuate path between the stowed and deployed positions and remains horizontal in all positions of the tray table. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tray table assembly, comprising: a stowage module; a tray table configured to transition along an arcuate path between a stowed position within the stowage module and a deployed position outside of the stowage module; an arced rail having a first tab, a second tab parallel to the first tab, a first rail head extending from the first tab, and a second rail head extending from the second tab; a plurality of tray table wheels rotatably mounted to the tray table and engaging at least the first rail head; and a plurality of stowage module wheels rotatably mounted to the stowage module and engaging at least the second rail head. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tray table assembly of claim 1, wherein the tray table remains horizontal in each of the stowed position, the deployed position, and intermediate positions as the tray table transitions along the arcuate path between the stowed and deployed positions of the tray table. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The tray table assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of tray table wheels has a groove that engages the first rail head, and each of the stowage module wheels has a groove that engages the second rail head. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The tray table assembly of claim 1, wherein the first rail head has a semi-circular shape. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The tray table assembly of claim 1, wherein the first rail head has a V-shape. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The tray table assembly of claim 1, further comprising a third rail head extending from the first tab, and a fourth rail head extending from the second tab. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The tray table assembly of claim 6, wherein the plurality of tray table wheels are provided in a doubled stacked configuration to mesh with the first rail head and third rail head, and wherein the plurality of stowage module wheels are provided in a doubled stacked configuration to mesh with the second rail head and fourth rail head. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The tray table assembly of claim 6, wherein the first rail head is disposed along an outer surface of the first tab; the third rail head is disposed along an inner surface of the first tab opposite the inner surface of the first tab; the second rail head is disposed along an inner surface of the second tab; and the fourth rail head is disposed along an outer surface of the second tab opposite the inner surface of the second tab. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The tray table assembly of claim 8, wherein the plurality of tray table wheels mesh with the first and the fourth rail heads, and wherein the plurality of stowage module wheels mesh with the second and third rail heads. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The tray table assembly of claim 9, wherein the plurality of tray table wheels are arranged in a first plane and the plurality of stowage module wheels are arranged in a second plane disposed below the first plane relative to the top surface of the arced rail. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The tray table assembly of claim 10, wherein the plurality of stowage module wheels are arranged in a staggered pattern, and wherein the plurality of tray table wheels are arranged in a parallel pattern about the arced rail. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The tray table assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a linear rail affixed to an underside of the tray table; and a tray table carriage slidable along the linear rail and affixed to the plurality of tray table wheels; wherein the tray table is configured to translate along the linear rail. ### Claim 13 A tray table assembly, comprising: a stowage module; a tray table configured to transition along an arcuate path between a stowed position within the stowage module and a deployed position outside of the stowage module; an arced rail comprising a first outer rail head disposed along a first outer surface of the arced rail, a second outer rail head disposed along a second outer surface of the arced rail, a first inner rail head disposed along a first inner surface of the arced rail, and a second inner rail head disposed along a second inner surface of the arced rail; a plurality of tray table wheels rotatably mounted to the tray table and engaging the first and second inner rail heads; and a plurality of stowage module wheels rotatably mounted to the stowage module and engaging the first and second outer rail heads. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The tray table assembly of claim 13, wherein the tray table remains horizontal in each of the stowed position, the deployed position, and intermediate positions as the tray table transitions along the arcuate path between the stowed and deployed positions of the tray table. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The tray table assembly of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of tray table wheels and the stowage module wheels has a V-groove defined in a surface thereof. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The tray table assembly of claim 13, wherein the plurality of tray table wheels are arranged in a first plane and the plurality of stowage module wheels are arranged in a second plane disposed below the first plane relative to a top surface of the arced rail. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The tray table assembly of claim 13, wherein the plurality of stowage module wheels are arranged in a staggered pattern and the plurality of tray table wheels are arranged in a parallel pattern about the arced rail. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The tray table assembly of claim 13, further comprising: a linear rail affixed to an underside of the tray table; and a tray table carriage slidable along the linear rail and affixed to the plurality of tray table wheels; wherein the tray table is configured to translate along the linear rail. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The tray table assembly of claim 18, wherein the tray table translates along the linear rail in the deployed position of the tray table. ### Claim 20 A tray table assembly, comprising: a stowage module; a tray table configured to transition along an arcuate path between a stowed position within the stowage module and a deployed position outside of the stowage module; an arced rail having a first tab, a second tab parallel to the first tab, a first rail head extending from the first tab, and a second rail head extending from the second tab; a plurality of tray table wheels rotatably mounted to the tray table and engaging at least the first rail head; a plurality of stowage module wheels rotatably mounted to the stowage module and engaging at least the second rail head; a linear rail affixed to an underside of the tray table; and a tray table carriage slidable along the linear rail and affixed to the plurality of tray table wheels, wherein the tray table is configured to translate along the linear rail.