US3596987A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Packaging and serving of food
Assignee: AUTAIR INT AIRWAYS Ltd
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Filing: 1969-03-27
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Granted: 1971-08-03
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Expires: 1989-03-27
Abstract
Abstract The invention described relates to means whereby prepared meals are made available in hygienic manner in vehicles such as aircraft in which weight, space and personal service are matters of economy. It resides basically in providing storage in the back of a seat accessibly to the next passenger behind, and is therefore concerned with vehicles in which seats are arranged one behind another.
Inventors
- 👤 Anthony A R Wilson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 20:51
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64D; B64D11/00; B64D11/0007; B60; B60N; B60N3/00; B60N3/001; B60N3/002; B60N3/004; B64D11/06; B64D11/0627; B64D11/0638
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A seat back for a vehicle seat, comprising: a backwall facing the seat behind said vehicle seat, said backwall being provided with a recess facing and accessible to a passenger in said seat behind said vehicle seat; a flap table hingedly supported on said backwall having a first upright position closing said recess and conforming with said backwall and a second position extending horizontally from said backwall; and a recessed tray mounted on said flap for movement with said flap table to said upright and horizontal positions, said tray having a plurality of pockets for receiving individual items of a meal, a removable lid for enclosing and sealing said pockets to isolate the items in said pockets from each other and to retain said items in said pockets when in said upright position, and means for catching food debris from said tray after said meal is eaten and said tray and table are returned to said upright position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
A seat back for a vehicle seat, comprising: a backwall facing the seat behind said vehicle seat, said backwall being provided with a recess facing and accessible to a passenger in said seat behind said vehicle seat; a flap table hingedly supported on said backwall having a first upright position closing said recess and conforming with said backwall and a second position extending horizontally from said backwall; and a recessed tray mounted on said flap for movement with said flap table to said upright and horizontal positions, said tray having a plurality of pockets for receiving individual items of a meal, a removable lid for enclosing and sealing said pockets to isolate the items in said pockets from each other and to retain said items in said pockets when in said upright position, and means for catching food debris from said tray after said meal is eaten and said tray and table are returned to said upright position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A seat back according to claim 1, wherein said tray is retained on the top side of said table when in said horizontal position and within said recess when in said upright position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A seat back according to claim 1, wherein said table comprises a box and a hinged lid forming the top of the table when in said horizontal position, said box being received within said recess when in said upright position and said tray being retained within said box.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A seat back according to claim 1, wherein said tray is retained beneath said table when in said horizontal position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
A seat back according to claim 1, wherein said means for catching food debris comprises laterally disposed pliable walls extending in web-like manner between said lid and said tray so as to define a trough at the bottom end of said tray for the reception of said food debris when said tray is in said upright position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
A vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein said means for catching food debris comprises the wall of said tray adjacent the hinge of said table, said wall of said tray being curved to form a trough positioned at the bottom of said tray when in said upright position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
139 words
A seat back for a vehicle seat, comprising: a backwall facing the seat behind said vehicle seat, said backwall being accessible to a passenger in said seat behind said vehicle seat; a flap table hingedly supported on said backwall having a first upright position conforming with said backwall and a second position extending horizontally from said backwall; and a recessed tray mounted on said flap table for movement with said flap table to said upright and horizontal positions, said tray having a closed unbroken bottom wall and a plurality of pockets on the top side of said bottom wall for receiving individual items of a meal, and a removable lid for enclosing and sealing said pockets to isolate the items in said pockets from each other and To retain said items in said pockets when in said upright position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
139 words
A seat back for a vehicle seat, comprising: a backwall facing the seat behind said vehicle seat, said backwall being accessible to a passenger in said seat behind said vehicle seat; a flap table hingedly supported on said backwall having a first upright position conforming with said backwall and a second position extending horizontally from said backwall; and a recessed tray mounted on said flap table for movement with said flap table to said upright and horizontal positions, said tray having a closed unbroken bottom wall and a plurality of pockets on the top side of said bottom wall for receiving individual items of a meal, and a removable lid for enclosing and sealing said pockets to isolate the items in said pockets from each other and To retain said items in said pockets when in said upright position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A vehicle seat according to claim 7, wherein said tray further comprises means for catching food debris from said tray after said meal is eaten and said tray and table are returned to said upright position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
A seat back according to claim 8, wherein said means for catching food debris comprises laterally disposed pliable walls extending in weblike manner between said lid and said tray so as to define a trough at the bottom end of said tray for the reception of said food debris when said tray is in said upright position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
A vehicle seat according to claim 8, wherein said means for catching food debris comprises the wall of said tray adjacent the hinge of said table, said wall of said tray being curved to form a trough positioned at the bottom of said tray when in said upright position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-02 | 1975-02-01 | 1975-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-02 | 1979-02-01 | 1979-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-02 | 1983-02-01 | 1983-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |