U.S. patent application number 11/812266 was filed with the patent office on 2008-12-18 for armrest adjusting device.
Invention is credited to Hsueh-Yu Ho.
Application Number | 20080309140 11/812266 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40131603 |
Filed Date | 2008-12-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080309140 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ho; Hsueh-Yu |
December 18, 2008 |
Armrest adjusting device
Abstract
An armrest adjusting device for adjusting armrest of chairs
includes a hollow armrest seat and a guide plate is fixedly
inserted into the armrest seat. A movable member is movably
received in the armrest and includes a push end which includes
tapered surfaces to control two rods to be removably engaged with
click notches in the vertical portion of the elevator part which is
connected to the seat of the chair. The vertical portion is
inserted in the armrest seat. The movable member is operated via an
opening defined through a wall of the armrest seat which is moved
with the movable member. The armrest seat does not need to make
large holes so as to increase the structural strength and the
armrest adjusting device can also be used with tubular elevator
part.
Inventors: |
Ho; Hsueh-Yu; (Wuci
Township, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROSENBERG, KLEIN & LEE
3458 ELLICOTT CENTER DRIVE-SUITE 101
ELLICOTT CITY
MD
21043
US
|
Family ID: |
40131603 |
Appl. No.: |
11/812266 |
Filed: |
June 18, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/411.36 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 1/03 20130101; A47C
1/0305 20180801 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/411.36 |
International
Class: |
A47C 7/54 20060101
A47C007/54 |
Claims
1. An armrest adjusting device comprising: a hollow armrest seat
having an opening defined in a first sidewall and a recessed area
defined in a second sidewall of the armrest seat, an elongate slot
defined through an inside of the recessed area, a connection top
connected on a top of the armrest seat; an elevator part having a
horizontal portion and a vertical portion which is inserted into
the armrest seat from an underside of the armrest seat, at least
one elevation slot defined in the vertical portion of the elevator
part and a plurality of click notches defined in two insides of the
at least one elevation slot; a guide plate received in the armrest
seat and including a top plate which is fixed to the connection top
of the armrest seat, a body extending from an underside of the top
plate and including an elongate slot, the elongate slot
communicating with a narrowed space which is in communication with
a restriction slot, the narrowed space and the restriction slot
located corresponding to the at least one elevation slot and the
click notches of the elevator part; a movable member movably
received in the armrest seat and including an elongate plate and a
push end which extends from a lower end of the elongate plate, the
elongate plate being slidable along the guide plate and the push
end including a block extending laterally therefrom, the block
located in the narrowed space of the guide plate and including two
tapered surfaces and two parallel push surfaces which are located
above the two tapered surfaces, an operation unit connected to the
elongate plate so as to control movement of the movable member in
the armrest seat, and two rods located between two sides of the
block of the push end and restricted in the restriction slot, the
two rods engaged with two of click notches in the two insides of
the at least one elevation slot.
2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide plate is
located between the vertical portion of the elevator part and the
second sidewall of the armrest seat, two guide ridges extend from a
side of the body of the guide plate and the other side of the body
contacts the vertical portion of the elevator part, the operation
unit includes a recess defined in a first side of the elongate
plate and the recess is defined by a recessed portion protruding
from a second side of the elongate plate, an operation flange
extends from the first side of the elongate plate and is located at
a periphery of the recess, the recessed portion on the second side
of the elongate plate is movably accommodated in the opening of the
armrest seat, a spring is connected between a first protrusion
extending from a top of the recessed portion and a second
protrusion extending from an underside of the top plate of the
guide plate, the second side of the elongate plate is movable along
the two guide ridges on the body of the guide plate, each of the
two rods includes an enlarged head which are stopped by elongate
slot, a cover is engaged with the recessed area of the armrest seat
and includes a rib extending from an inner side thereof, the rib
contacts against the enlarged heads of the rods.
3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein elevator part is a
hollow tube and includes the horizontal portion and the vertical
portion, two elevation slots are defined through two sidewalls of
the vertical portion respectively and each elevation slot includes
click notches defined in the two insides thereof, the body of the
guide plate is received in the vertical portion of the elevator
part and a guide ridge is located in the elongate slot in the body,
the elongate plate of the movable member slidably contacts the
guide ridge and the operation unit includes a connection portion
connected to the elongate plate with a gap defined between the
connection portion and the elongate plate, the connection portion
extends through the opening of the armrest seat and is connected
with the operation flange, a spring is connected between a first
protrusion extending from a top of the push end and a second
protrusion extending from an underside of the guide ridge of the
guide plate.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an armrest adjusting device
which moves the armrest to a desired height while the armrest seat
does not need to make large holes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A conventional armrest elevator device is disclosed in U.S.
Pat. No. 6,585,322 and shown in FIG. 7, wherein the control button
14 is connected with a movable block 12 which is biased by a spring
so that the movable block 12 is movable in the oblong hole in the
armrest seat 1 and guided by the elongated groove 102. The movable
blocks 12 includes two tapered surfaces which push the cylinder
shafts 15 from the opening end to the closed end of the oblong
apertures 13 such that the cylinder shafts 15 are engaged with one
of pairs of click grooves 111 in the elevator plate 11 to position
the height of the armrest seat 1 relative to the elevator plate 11.
However, the armrest seat 1 has to be made with the oblong hole
101, the elongated groove 102 and the oblong apertures 103, and all
of which reduce the structural strength of the armrest seat 1 and
its outer appearance. The movable block 12 has to be inserted into
the elongated groove 102 and the cover plate 13 has to be hooked to
the oblong hole 101, and the control button 14 is connected to the
movable block 12 via the opening of the cover plate 13. The
assemble processes are too many and take a lot of time. The movable
block 12 is located at one side of the armrest seat 1 and if the
elevator plate 11 is a hollow tube and the click grooves 111 are
defined in one sidewall of the hollow tube, the cylinder shafts 15
applying forces on one sidewall will causes shaking to the elevator
plate 11 and the armrest seat 1. If both sidewalls of the hollow
tube are equipped with the movable blocks 12 and the cylinder
shafts 15, the complicated structure increase assemble steps and
might need extra maintenance.
[0003] The present invention intends to provide an adjusting device
for adjusting height of chairs and the adjusting device includes
less number of parts and the armrest seat does not need to make
large holes. The guide plate is movable at substantially enter of
the armrest seat.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention relates to an armrest adjusting device
which comprises a hollow armrest seat having an opening defined in
a first sidewall and a recessed area defined in a second sidewall
of the armrest seat. An elongate slot is defined through an inside
of the recessed area. An elevator part has a horizontal portion and
a vertical portion which is inserted into the armrest seat from an
underside of the armrest seat. An elevation slot is defined in the
vertical portion of the elevator part and a plurality of click
notches are defined in two insides of the elevation slot. A guide
plate is received in the armrest seat and includes a top plate
which is fixed to a connection top on a top of the armrest seat. A
body extends from an underside of the top plate and includes an
elongate slot which communicates with a narrowed space which is in
communication with a restriction slot. The narrowed space and the
restriction slot are located corresponding to the elevation slot
and the click notches of the elevator part.
[0005] A movable member is movably received in the armrest seat and
includes a elongate plate and a push end which extends from a lower
end of the elongate plate. The elongate plate is slidable along the
guide plate and the push end includes a block extending laterally
therefrom. The block is located in the narrowed space of the guide
plate and includes two tapered surfaces and two parallel push
surfaces which are located above the two tapered surfaces. An
operation unit is connected to the elongate plate so as to control
movement of the movable member in the armrest seat. Two rods are
located between two sides of the block of the push end and
restricted in the restriction slot. The two rods are removably
engaged with two of click notches in the two insides of the at
least one elevation slot.
[0006] The primary object of the present invention is to provide an
armrest adjusting device for adjusting armrest of chairs, wherein
the armrest seat needs only a limited area of opening via which the
user can access the movable member, so that the armrest seat has
better structural strength.
[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
armrest adjusting device for adjusting armrest of chairs, wherein
the adjusting device can be cooperated with tubular elevator
part.
[0008] The present invention will become more obvious from the
following description when taken in connection with the
accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration
only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is an exploded view to show the armrest adjusting
device of the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a side cross sectional view of the armrest
adjusting device of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a front cross sectional view of the armrest
adjusting device of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 4 is an exploded view to show another embodiment of the
armrest adjusting device of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a side cross sectional view of the armrest
adjusting device in FIG. 4 of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a front cross sectional view of the armrest
adjusting device in FIG. 4 of the present invention, and
[0015] FIG. 7 is a conventional armrest adjusting device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the armrest adjusting device of
the present invention comprises a hollow armrest seat 3 having an
opening 301 defined in a first sidewall and a recessed area 302 is
defined in a second sidewall of the armrest seat 3. An elongate
slot 303 is defined through an inside of the recessed area 302. A
connection top 304 is connected on a top of the armrest seat 3 so
as to be connected with an armrest (not shown).
[0017] An elevator part 4 has a horizontal portion 41 and a
vertical portion 42 which is inserted into the armrest seat 3 from
an underside of the armrest seat 3. An elevation slot 43 is defined
longitudinally in the vertical portion 42 of the elevator part 4
and a plurality of click notches 44 are defined in two insides of
the elevation slot 43. The horizontal portion 41 is connected with
the seat of the chair (both not shown).
[0018] A guide plate 31 is received in the armrest seat 3 and
located between the vertical portion 42 of the elevator part 4 and
the second sidewall of the armrest seat 3. The guide plate 3
includes a top plate 311 which is fixed to the connection top 304
of the armrest seat 3. An elongate body 312 extends from an
underside of the top plate 311 and includes an elongate slot 313
which communicates with a narrowed space 314 which is in
communication with a restriction slot 315. The narrowed space 314
and the restriction slot 315 are located corresponding to the at
least one elevation slot 43 and the click notches 44 of the
elevator part 4. Two guide ridges 317 extend from a side of the
body 312 of the guide plate 31 and the other side of the body 312
contacts the vertical portion 42 of the elevator part 4.
[0019] A movable member 32 is movably received in the armrest seat
3 and includes an elongate plate 321 and a push end 322 which
extends from a lower end of the elongate plate 321. The elongate
plate 321 is slidable along the guide ridges 317 of the guide plate
31 and the push end 322 includes a block extending laterally
therefrom. The block is located in the narrowed space 314 of the
guide plate 31 and including two tapered surfaces 326 and two
parallel push surfaces 327 which are located above the two tapered
surfaces 326. An operation unit "A" is connected to the elongate
plate 321 so as to control movement of the movable member 32 in the
armrest seat 3.
[0020] The operation unit "A" includes a recess 323 defined in a
first side of the elongate plate 321 and the recess 323 is defined
by a recessed portion protruding from a second side of the elongate
plate 321. A operation flange 324 extends from the first side of
the elongate plate 321 and is located at a periphery of the recess
323. The recessed portion on the second side of the elongate plate
321 is movably accommodated in the opening 301 of the armrest seat
3, so that the user's hand can insert in the recess 323 to pull the
movable member 32. A spring 33 is connected between a first
protrusion 325 extending from a top of the recessed portion and a
second protrusion extending from an underside of the top plate 311
of the guide plate 31 so as to keep the movable member 32 at a
lower position. The second side of the elongate plate 321 is
movable along the two guide ridges 317 on the body 312 of the guide
plate 31.
[0021] Two rods 34 extend through the elongate slot 303 in the
armrest seat 3, the elevation slot 43 of the elevator part 4 and
the restriction slot 315 in the guide plate 31. The rods 34 are
located between two sides of the block of the push end 322 and
pushed by the push surfaces 327 of the block of the push end 322 so
as to be engaged with two of click notches 44 in the two insides of
the at least one elevation slot 43. Each of the two rods 34
includes an enlarged head 341 which are stopped by elongate slot
303.
[0022] A cover 35 is engaged with the recessed area 302 of the
armrest seat 3 and includes a rib 351 extending from an inner side
thereof, the rib 351 contacts against the enlarged heads 341 of the
rods 34.
[0023] When the user pulls the movable member 32 upward, the two
push surfaces 327 are removed from the two rods 34 while the two
tapered surfaces 326 are still located between the two rods 34, and
the two rods 34 are removed from the click notches 44 so that the
user can pull or push the movable member 32 together with the
armrest seat 3 to a desired height. When releasing the movable
member 32, the spring 33 pushes the movable member 32 downward so
that the two push surfaces 327 are moved downward to push the two
rods 34 to engage with click notches 44 again to position the
armrest seat 3 relative to the elevator part 4 again. The guide
plate 31 and the vertical portion 42 of the elevator part 4 are
both received in the armrest seat 3 so that the assembly processes
can be simplified and the armrest seat 3 does not need to make
large holes.
[0024] FIGS. 4 to 6 show another embodiment of the armrest
adjusting device which is cooperated with a tubular elevator part
6. The elevator part 6 is a hollow tube and includes the horizontal
portion 61 and the vertical portion 62 which is inserted into the
hollow armrest seat 5. Two elevation slots 63 are defined through
two sidewalls of the vertical portion 62 respectively and each
elevation slot 63 includes click notches 64 defined in the two
insides thereof. The body 512 of the guide plate 51 is received in
the vertical portion 62 of the elevator part 6 and the top plate
511 of the guide plate 51 is connected to the connection top 504 of
the armrest seat 5. A guide ridge 517 is located in the elongate
slot 513 in the body 512 and the elongate plate 521 of the movable
member 52 slidably contacts the guide ridge 517.
[0025] The operation unit "A1" includes a connection portion 523
connected to the elongate plate 521 with a gap defined between the
connection portion 523 and the elongate plate 521. The connection
portion 523 extends through the opening 501 of the armrest seat 5
and is connected with an operation flange 524. A spring 53 is
connected between a first protrusion 525 extending from a top of
the push end 522 and a second protrusion extending from an
underside of the guide ridge 517 of the guide plate 51. The two
rods 54 are located on two sides of the tapered surfaces 526 and
push surfaces 527 of the push end 522 which is located in the
narrowed space 514 of the guide plate 51. The two rods 54 are
pushed toward two ends of the restriction slot 515 of the guide
plate 51 and are engaged with click notches 64 of both of the two
elevation slots 63.
[0026] While we have shown and described the embodiment in
accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those
skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without
departing from the scope of the present invention.
* * * * *