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Gadget Prevents Plane Seats From Reclining
AP via Excite News ^ | Oct 24, 2:00 PM (ET) | BRAD FOSS

Posted on 10/24/2003 1:35:02 PM PDT by leadpencil1

WASHINGTON (AP) - Every cramped air traveler may have the right to lean his seat back, but Ira Goldman sees airplane justice from another perspective - that of the person behind - and he's found a way to even the score.

Goldman invented the Knee Defender, a beeper-sized block of plastic that lets passengers prevent the seat in front of them from reclining.

The gadget, which went on sale about a month ago on the Internet for $10, has sparked heated debate in online chat rooms, and aviation officials worry about the disagreements that will be generated at 30,000 feet.

Alison Duquette, a spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration, said the product violates no FAA regulations, so it would be up to individual airlines to prohibit it.

Northwest Airlines (NWB) said it will ban the Knee Defender from all flights. Other carriers, such as American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, acknowledged concerns about safety - not to mention the comfort of passengers who want to recline - but are still figuring out what to do.

The safety concerns stem from the design, because the Knee Defender works only when the tray table is down. The hard plastic block, which has an inch-wide groove down the middle, fits around the arm of a tray table and acts as a barrier to the seat's backward movement.

"We have tested this product on several seat types and find that when installed, should someone try to force the seat to recline, the tray table assembly can break," said Mary Stanik, a Northwest spokeswoman. "If the seat is damaged, including the tray table, in flight, it may adversely affect passenger evacuation in the event of an emergency."

Goldman said he would stop selling the product if the airlines prove it unsafe, but so far he's unmoved by their arguments. The 50-year-old Washington, D.C., resident, who's 6-foot-4, said he didn't invent Knee Defender so fliers would be able to "hog scarce space," but rather for the physical well-being of tall travelers like himself.

"If I hadn't been bashed in the knees over and over again, this wouldn't have been invented," said Goldman, who estimated that nearly 1,000 Knee Defenders have been ordered. At the very least, he said the device could be a useful "early warning system" for long-legged fliers or people using laptops, enabling them to ask the passenger in front not to recline.

"Be polite to fellow passengers," says a sticker affixed to each Knee Defender.

Kevin Gross of San Francisco, who ordered a Knee Defender but hasn't yet used it, said he would immediately remove the device if asked to by a passenger or flight attendant. But Gross is betting it'll go undetected in most cases, since travelers will just assume the seat is busted and not make a fuss.

Don't count on 50-year-old Dan Hammer of White Plains, N.Y., to be so docile.

"If I saw somebody that put the Knee Defender on the seat behind me so that I can't go back, I'll be very upset," Hammer said.

That's just the kind of high dudgeon that worries Dawn Deeks, a spokeswoman for the Association of Flight Attendants.

After all, flight attendants already often ask passengers not to lean back too far, and they would be the ones to police any disputes.

To Deeks, the Knee Defender is "an insensitive knee-jerk reaction to insensitive people" that would only inflame tempers.


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: airlines; invention
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To: BluH2o
My solution for the individual who insists on full recline ... I stand up lean over and plant a big kiss on their forehead.

Post pic please.

61 posted on 10/24/2003 2:19:29 PM PDT by leadpencil1 (Kill your television)
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To: MineralMan
Typically, I have mexican hispanic food before an extended airline flight. If anyone wants a sample, I am more than willing to share.
62 posted on 10/24/2003 2:20:16 PM PDT by alaskanfan
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To: ArrogantBustard
Put your mask back on.

Outside power is needles, but there is no G-d but Allah.

63 posted on 10/24/2003 2:20:25 PM PDT by Lazamataz (I am the extended middle finger in the fist of life.)
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To: Willie Green
One of my all time favorites.
64 posted on 10/24/2003 2:20:45 PM PDT by leadpencil1 (Kill your television)
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To: alaskanfan
Eeewwww.
65 posted on 10/24/2003 2:21:53 PM PDT by hispanarepublicana (successful, educated unauthentic latina--in Patrick Leahy's eyes, at least)
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To: MineralMan
I wish the airlines would simple lock all the seats upright.

I wish the airlines would pop their head out and adjust the pitch and width to fit men as well as 5' 95 pound women. That would justify a modest price increase - although nothing like the tripling of prices for "first class".

66 posted on 10/24/2003 2:22:58 PM PDT by jimt
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To: jimt
I think I'll copy this thread to the CEO's of the major airlines for customer feedback purposes.
67 posted on 10/24/2003 2:24:07 PM PDT by leadpencil1 (Kill your television)
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Comment #68 Removed by Moderator

To: AxelPaulsenJr
Frankly, I thought it was funny (in a Don Rickles sort of way). Some folks are way too quick to click the Report Abuse link. :'(

But, when something truly is offensive, if it doesn't reflect too poorly on FR as a whole, I'd just as soon leave it up there.

"Give it a break"? Yeah, like you started out by giving leadpencil1's "friggin" knees a break, eh? [grin] But, I see your #7's gone now, too. Bummer.

69 posted on 10/24/2003 2:25:30 PM PDT by newgeezer (We learn by trail and errror. ;-)
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To: newgeezer
It wasn't my decision.

You should quierie the admin moderator.

70 posted on 10/24/2003 2:27:15 PM PDT by alaskanfan
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To: newgeezer
LOl, who knows. The mod pulls that but leaves these posts where someone is talking about taking box cutter knives on board and killing people.
71 posted on 10/24/2003 2:27:50 PM PDT by AxelPaulsenJr (I think, therefore I vote Republican, see Tommy Chong's new movie, "Up in Jail")
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To: Lazamataz
What should we pour down the funnel?
72 posted on 10/24/2003 2:28:13 PM PDT by ArrogantBustard
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To: MineralMan
If you can't sit for a few hours without that 5-degree incline, buy first class. I wish the airlines would simple lock all the seats upright.

Absolutely. I'm sick of the inconsiderate slobs in front of me thinking nothing of sticking their head and seat back in my face.

73 posted on 10/24/2003 2:28:16 PM PDT by paul51
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To: alaskanfan
Somebody's panties are in a bunch, that's for sure. ;0)
74 posted on 10/24/2003 2:28:44 PM PDT by newgeezer (We learn by trail and errror. ;-)
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To: ArrogantBustard
What should we pour down the funnel?

It puts the lotion on it's skin or it gets the hose again.

75 posted on 10/24/2003 2:30:08 PM PDT by Lazamataz (I am the extended middle finger in the fist of life.)
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To: Lazamataz
'Twas Brillig, and the slithey toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe.
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
76 posted on 10/24/2003 2:32:06 PM PDT by ArrogantBustard
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To: AxelPaulsenJr
Yeah- I suspect that this entire thread is not going to be around too much longer...
77 posted on 10/24/2003 2:32:29 PM PDT by RANGERAIRBORNE ("De gustibus non disputandem est")
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To: RANGERAIRBORNE
And probably for the better of all. Have a nice weekend, I'm outta here till Monday.
78 posted on 10/24/2003 2:33:37 PM PDT by AxelPaulsenJr (I think, therefore I vote Republican, see Tommy Chong's new movie, "Up in Jail")
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To: newgeezer
Personally, I try to be respectful to those around me. I do not do to them what I would not want to endure myself.

I understand that some folks don't share these values.

79 posted on 10/24/2003 2:33:41 PM PDT by alaskanfan
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To: AxelPaulsenJr
LOl, who knows. The mod pulls that but leaves these posts where someone is talking about taking box cutter knives on board and killing people.

Aw, comon man, everybody knows I'm goofin'.

I wouldn't praise Allah when I'm killing people.

80 posted on 10/24/2003 2:33:55 PM PDT by Lazamataz (I am the extended middle finger in the fist of life.)
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