The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 13, 2026
Filed:
Dec. 10, 2021
United Airlines, Inc., Chicago, IL (US);
Matthew C. Gates, Chicago, IL (US);
Brian Wood, Montgomery, TX (US);
Mike Garcia, Orlando, FL (US);
Alan Rosenberg, Orlando, FL (US);
Chris Lynch, Orlando, FL (US);
UNITED AIRLINES, INC., Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
A tray table indicator includes a channel, a cover, and a magnetic ball. The channel has a first extension, a curve, and a second extension, and the cover encloses the channel. A magnetic ball is contained within the channel and is movable from the first extension around the curve to the second extension of the channel in response to rotation of the rotating tray table component by a minimum distance in a first direction. The curve of the channel is configured to prevent gravity from returning the magnetic ball to the first extension from the second extension in response to rotation of the rotating tray table component in a second direction after having rotated the minimum distance in the first direction.