Knee Defender http://t.co/iS8P3dOaaf #kneedefender #travel #gadgets #airplane pic.twitter.com/u1rxxi9OMa
— HowDidI? (@HowDidILive) September 9, 2014
The plane is a pressure cooker of manners and manners. Which passenger has the right to close the window, who gets to put the trolley in the upper compartment, is it okay to take off your shoes. But no issue is more controversial than the debate over seat backs. Some passengers believe that if a seat has the ability to recline, it is their full right to use that option. Others are ashamed and there are those who advocate in principle the prohibition of this action.
In preparation for the upcoming vacations, and at the beginning of the summer vacations, videos are published on social media about a facility that is supposed to prevent exactly this problem – or start wars. This is the “knee defender”, a small wedge-shaped device designed to prevent the seat in front of you from leaning back, thus actually protecting your knees, hence its name. This facility is not new, and in fact it was created about ten years ago, but now it is starting to get more attention from passengers, at a time when several airlines completely stop the possibility of reclining.
The small plastic device consists of two parts, which must be placed on the support bars of the seat table in the plane. By creating friction and leverage. This extra space prevents the seat in front from fully reclining, or in some cases completely disables the possibility, but the effectiveness depends on the design of the tray table and the structure of the seat even though it fits most seats. The device is usually made of lightweight plastic, usually ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) Due to its strength and flexibility.
The knee protector is the brainchild of Ira Goldman, a former aide to former governor and US Senator Pete Wilson. In 2003, he flew and realized that he was tired of crowded airplane travel and limited legroom, and decided to take matters into his own hands. He created this simple device, and it quickly found a niche market among tall travelers who were tired of their knees hurting even when leaning back.
Want protection from reclining airplane seats? Here’s our Gadget Duck Knee Defender Review: http://t.co/44IV7N41oV pic.twitter.com/sAhJizX1Xw
— Bryan Black (@bryanpblack) January 27, 2014
A United passenger’s “knee defender” caused a quarrel so heated the plane was forced to land. http://t.co/hVfP61ZgBW pic.twitter.com/YIU37sUQIs
— National Post (@nationalpost) August 26, 2014
While some see the devices as a godsend, others see it as brazenness for its own sake. In fact, the opponents see the action as a violation of the right of the passenger in front to recline his seat – a right they claim they paid for when purchasing the ticket. Although in an age of ever-shrinking legroom, this right feels increasingly contested.
The airlines themselves have not exactly adopted the “knee protector”. Almost all major airlines in the US have banned the use of the knee protector, and many international companies are also boycotting it, including Air Canada, WestJet, Qantas, and Virgin Australia. The ban is mainly due to safety concerns and fear of damage to airplane seats. Others are silent, And leaving the issue to the passenger’s discretion (and possible conflict). The FAA (US Federal Aviation Administration) has not specifically prohibited the use of devices, but it has regulations regarding tampering with aircraft equipment.