Knee Defenders
 

Just heard on the radio that a D.C. man has invented and patented a device passengers can use to prevent the person in front of them in coach from reclining the seat. The airlines claim that such a device does not violate any FAA regulations, but Northwest Airlines has already said it will ban them.

What do you think? Would you use such a device?

Bad idea. Would not use them. Sure to cause trouble if allowed on planes.

The same guy who would use one will most likely expect to be able to recline his own seat.

HI StCirq,
If God had meant for us to fly sitting straight up He wouldn't have invented reclining seats.

I'm with Ira on this one.

I think it's a dumb idea. I'd like to see this inventor fly a red eye sitting straight up.

Well, I wouldn't use one, either. There was a huge, rather vitriolic, debate about this on Fodors a year or so ago, though, so I thought it might spark some interest.

I'll bet 10 to 1 that the average person who would use such a device, would also then recline his or her own seat as far back as it would go. What an insult to use such a thing! Why not just say to the person in front of you, "Excuse me, but my comfort is much more important than yours, so please sit upright and do not lean back. Even though the airlines designed you a seat that could recline for your comfort, my comfort is more important than yours." Yea. Right.

The article was written by a writer from Associated Press and it was printed in my local paper yesterday. The $10 contraption that is for sale on the Internet is harnessed to the tray in front of your seat. Once it is harnessed in, it is impossible for the person in front of you to recline his/her seat. Northwest and other airlines are concerned that once the contraption is harnessed in unbeknownst to the person that wants to recline the seat, that s/he will attempt to force the seat into a reclining position, and break the tray. A hanging tray could become problematic if the plane needs to be evacuated quickly.

The gentleman (over 6 feet tall) that invented, patented and manufactured this contraption said that he will cease selling it once the airlines provide sufficient legroom for the passengers. The article also mentioned that over 10,000 of these contraptions have already been sold.

If the passenger behind me uses one I will request assistance from the flight attendant to remove the offending device. I doubt if anyone is going to have a big argument with the crew on board an airplane these days.

Marilyn,

Yep...exactly what I would do too.

I love this writer/inventor thinking he can hold the airlines hostage...why doesn't he buy first class tickets with the money he's already made selling this invention and he'll have all the leg room he wants.

Although my husband isn't very tall, he's relatively long from his hip to his knee, which can cause him difficulty on planes.

On one long flight, the very, very large gentleman in front of him, kept pushing the seat back really hard and banging into my husband's knees.

Politely asking the guy to give my husband a heads up so he could shift his legs to the side so enraged the guy that the stweardess had to threaten to have the air marshalls arrest him upon landing.

I can't imagine the trouble this device could spark.

>The...contraption..is harnessed to the tray in front of your seat. Once it is harnessed in, it is impossible for the person in front of you to recline his/her seat. <

I'm having trouble visualizing this. IIRC the tray in front of your seat is attached to the back of the seat in front of you and moves with the seat back.

I would like to see a demonstration before I spent my $10.

To IRA

Next time you fly take a good look at the tray configuration. You will find that it is not attached to the seat back but to the seat frame. If it were attached to the seat back everything would spill off the tray when the seat is reclined but since it is attached to the seat frame when the seat is reclined it moves toward and against the tray but the tray does not move closer towards you. This is the whole idea of the device in question. It stops the seat back from moving towards the tray and ultimately you. No airline is going to support the use of such a device. Anyone buying one is only wasteing their money. It's really a non-issue.

Larry J

And why bring up such a harmful piece of crap.

Larry - are you the inventor? You seem to know a lot more about this contraption than the local media do! I was having a hard time visualizing this contraption, too, but you seem to have a complete understanding of how the device can impede the reclining of the seat.
Cigale - you got a problem with a healthy debate about something that affects all travelers who fly coach?

To St Cirq

No, I'm not smart enough to be an inventor just a veteran of over 100 flights per year for several years. I would have to be brain dead to not know by now how tray tables and seats function. For years some smart alecs have used the same idea to stop seats from reclining such as wedging a bottle of water between the tray and the seat etc.

Larry J

I think that sounds great. Sure to provide lots and lots of inflight entertainment. If you use one then are you required to pay for the ticket of the person who you are using it on?

I want a device that locks one of the WC's. That way I can have a clean one all to myself for the entire journey!

There's more legroom in there, too. Do you think they'd serve you your meal in there? It would save so much time...

Marilyn - I am crying! That was hysterical. You have a great sense of humor!!!!!!!

Now that I think about it, if you put the locking device on early enough, I think it might me quite nice to pass the entire journey in there. The food tray could fit nicely over the sink area and you would be free to get up and go without having to wait for the hostess to liberate you from your seat. Ever notice how they do that? Although, come to think of it, where would you go? You would already be in the prime destination.

Thanks, Calamari. I must admit I chuckled myself after I posted it. But really, it would be like having a private compartment on a train, don't you think? No view, of course.