US Patent Granted: Automated aircraft tray table disinfecting system using ultra-violet light

November 3, 2023

Innovation Title:
Automated aircraft tray table disinfecting system using ultra-violet light

Name and Age of Inventors (at the time of innovation):
Yumna Syeda Ali Shah (16)
Nimra Syeda Ali Shah (14)
Bilal Syed Ali Shah (11)

Problem Statement:
The aircraft tray table was found to be one of the dirtiest places on the plane. A study in 2015 found it is 50 times dirtier than a toilet flush button. An aircraft tray table has cold viruses, human parainfluenza viruses, norovirus (which can cause diarrhea and vomiting), and the superbug MRSA, which causes skin infections.
For an average aircraft with 300 seats, it will take approximately an hour for airlines to just disinfect all tray tables. Airlines do not have this much time and therefore they silently neglect leaving passengers at the mercy of viruses, bacteria, and germs.

About the Innovation:
Young inventors at DiscoverSTEM have designed an automatic airplane tray table disinfectant system, which uses UV-C light to disinfect the table within just 18 seconds. The light turns on as soon as the passenger latches the table and shuts off when it is opened, to save human exposure to UV-C light.

Patent Certificate:

US Patent Grant Date:
August 30, 2022

United States Patent Publication Number:
11427326

Awards & Recognition:
‘Alternate Finalist’ at Conrad Spirit of Innovation Challenge-2018 held at NASA Kennedy Space Center.

To Read Patent Details:
Click Here USPTO | Google Patents

About DiscoverSTEM

DiscoverSTEM nurtures child prodigies. Through our various programs, we transform children into young innovators and entrepreneurs who can solve some of the world’s most pressing problems through their patented innovations.

We provide a complete innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem to children and help them transform their unique ideas into practical solutions and products.

For more information on DiscoverSTEM, please contact us HERE.