U.S. patent application number 12/579198 was filed with the patent office on 2011-04-14 for adjustable armrest.
Invention is credited to Niels Diffrient.
Application Number | 20110084535 12/579198 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51228832 |
Filed Date | 2011-04-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110084535 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Diffrient; Niels |
April 14, 2011 |
Adjustable Armrest
Abstract
In the specification and drawings an armrest is described and
shown with an arm, the arm having a support portion and a body
portion; a channel extending longitudinally along the support
portion, the channel having an open face along at least a portion
of its length; and a bracket, the bracket being slidably engaged
with the channel. Also in the specification and drawings an armrest
is described and shown with an arm, the arm having a support
portion and a body portion; and a bracket, the bracket being
slidably engaged with the arm such that the lower end of the
support portion extends below the bracket when the arm is in a
lowered height position.
Inventors: |
Diffrient; Niels;
(Ridgefield, CT) |
Family ID: |
51228832 |
Appl. No.: |
12/579198 |
Filed: |
October 14, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/411.36 ;
297/411.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 1/03 20130101; A47C
1/0305 20180801 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/411.36 ;
297/411.2 |
International
Class: |
A47C 7/54 20060101
A47C007/54 |
Claims
1. An armrest for a chair comprising: a. an arm, the arm having a
support portion and a body portion; b. a channel extending
longitudinally along the support portion, the channel having an
open face along at least a portion of its length; and c. a bracket,
the bracket being slidably engaged with the channel.
2. The armrest of claim 1 wherein the bracket is mounted to a
chair.
3. The armrest of claim 2 wherein the chair comprises a bar
interconnecting a chair back to a chair seat, the bracket being
mounted to the bar.
4. The armrest of claim 1 wherein the open face of the channel is
located in the inner side of the support portion.
5. The armrest of claim 1 wherein the bracket extends through the
open face of the channel.
6. The armrest of claim 1 wherein the bracket further comprises a
plurality of teeth, the plurality of teeth extending through the
open face of the channel.
7. The armrest of claim 6 wherein the plurality of teeth are
arranged in a substantially straight line.
8. The armrest of claim 6 further comprising a lever pivotally
mounted to the arm, the lever having a pawl for locking engagement
with at least one of the plurality of teeth.
9. The armrest of claim 8 wherein the lever is pivotally mounted to
the support portion of the arm.
10. The armrest of claim 8 further comprising an aperture extending
from the channel and through the front side of the support portion,
the pawl lockingly engaged to at least one of the plurality of
teeth through the aperture.
11. The armrest of claim 10 wherein the lever further comprises an
angled lower end and the aperture further comprises a complimentary
angled lower end.
12. The armrest of claim 8 further comprising a spring engaged with
the lever, for biasing the pawl into locking engagement with at
least one of the plurality of teeth.
13. The armrest of claim 1 further comprising a means for lockably
adjusting the height of the arm.
14. The armrest of claim 13 wherein the means for lockably
adjusting the height of the arm is a ratchet.
15. The armrest of claim 8 further comprising a rod obstructing the
lower end of the channel.
16. The armrest of claim 15 wherein at least one of the plurality
of teeth comprises a notch, the notch being adapted to receive the
rod.
17. The armrest of claim 1 wherein the bracket further comprises:
a. a channel engaging member mounted to the bracket, the channel
engaging member having a T-shaped cross sectional profile; and b. a
plurality of teeth mounted to the channel engaging member, the
plurality of teeth extending through the open face of the
channel.
18. The armrest of claim 1 wherein the channel is oriented at an
angle relative to the vertical, such that moving the arm to a
raised height position simultaneously moves the arm in both an
upper direction and a forward direction.
19. The armrest of claim 1 wherein the support portion and the body
portion intersect at an angle of greater than 90 degrees.
20. The armrest of claim 1 wherein the support portion and the body
portion intersect at an angle of between about 105 degrees and
about 135 degrees.
21. The armrest of claim I wherein the lower end of the support
portion extends below the bracket when the arm is in a lowered
height position.
22. The armrest of claim 21 wherein the upper end of the support
portion extends above the bracket and the lower end of the support
portion extends below the bracket, when the arm is in an
intermediate height position.
23. The armrest of claim 8 wherein the lever comprises an
activating portion, the activating portion being positioned at a
distance of less than about 5.5 centimeters from a channel
bisecting line, when the activating portion of the lever is
depressed and the pawl is out of locking engagement with the
plurality of teeth.
24. The armrest of claim 8 wherein the lever comprises an
activating portion, the activating portion being positioned at a
distance of less than about 11.5 centimeters from a channel
bisecting line, when the activating portion of the lever is
depressed and the pawl is out of locking engagement with the
plurality of teeth.
25. An armrest for a chair comprising: a. an arm, the arm having a
support portion and a body portion; and b. a bracket, the bracket
being slidably engaged with the arm such that the lower end of the
support portion extends below the bracket when the arm is in a
lowered height position.
26. The armrest of claim 25 wherein the upper end of the support
portion extends above the bracket and the lower end of the support
portion extends below the bracket, when the arm is in an
intermediate height position.
27. The armrest of claim 25 wherein the bracket is mounted to a
chair.
28. The armrest of claim 27 wherein the chair comprises a bar
interconnecting a chair back to a chair seat, the bracket being
mounted to the bar.
29. The armrest of claim 25 further comprising a channel extending
longitudinally along the support portion, the channel having an
open face along at least a portion of its length.
30. The armrest of claim 29 wherein the bracket is slidably engaged
with the channel.
31. The armrest of claim 30 wherein the open face of the channel is
located in the inner side of the support portion.
32. The armrest of claim 30 wherein the bracket extends through the
open face of the channel.
33. The armrest of claim 30 wherein the bracket further comprises a
plurality of teeth, the plurality of teeth extending through the
open face of the channel.
34. The armrest of claim 33 wherein the plurality of teeth are
arranged in a substantially straight line.
35. The armrest of claim 33 further comprising a lever pivotally
mounted to the arm, the lever having a pawl for locking engagement
with at least one of the plurality of teeth.
36. The armrest of claim 35 wherein the lever is pivotally mounted
to the support portion of the arm.
37. The armrest of claim 35 further comprising an aperture
extending from the channel and through the front side of the
support portion, the pawl lockingly engaged to at least one of the
plurality of teeth through the aperture.
38. The armrest of claim 37 wherein the lever further comprises an
angled lower end and the aperture further comprises a complimentary
angled lower end.
39. The armrest of claim 35 further comprising a spring engaged
with the lever, for biasing the pawl into locking engagement with
at least one of the plurality of teeth.
40. The armrest of claim 25 further comprising a means for lockably
adjusting the height of the arm.
41. The armrest of claim 40 wherein the means for lockably
adjusting the height of the arm is a ratchet.
42. The armrest of claim 35 further comprising a rod obstructing
the lower end of the channel.
43. The armrest of claim 42 wherein at least one of the plurality
of teeth comprises a notch, the notch being adapted to receive the
rod.
44. The armrest of claim 30 wherein the bracket further comprises:
a. a channel engaging member mounted to the bracket, the channel
engaging member having a T-shaped cross sectional profile; and b. a
plurality of teeth mounted to the channel engaging member, the
plurality of teeth extending through the open face of the
channel.
45. The armrest of claim 30 wherein the channel is oriented at an
angle relative to the vertical, such that moving the arm to a
raised height position simultaneously moves the arm in both an
upper direction and a forward direction.
46. The armrest of claim 25 wherein the support portion and the
body portion intersect at an angle of greater than 90 degrees.
47. The armrest of claim 25 wherein the support portion and the
body portion intersect at an angle of between about 105 degrees and
about 135 degrees.
48. The armrest of claim 35 wherein the lever comprises an
activating portion, the activating portion being positioned at a
distance of less than about 5.5 centimeters from a channel
bisecting line, when the activating portion of the lever is
depressed and the pawl is out of locking engagement with the
plurality of teeth.
49. The armrest of claim 35 wherein the lever comprises an
activating portion, the activating portion being positioned at a
distance of less than about 11.5 centimeters from a channel
bisecting line, when the activating portion of the lever is
depressed and the pawl is out of locking engagement with the
plurality of teeth.
Description
I. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0001] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment
described herein.
[0002] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment described
herein.
[0003] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of an embodiment described
herein.
[0004] FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of an embodiment described
herein.
[0005] FIG. 5 is a is a side elevation view of an embodiment
described herein.
[0006] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment described
herein.
[0007] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment described
herein.
[0008] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment
described herein.
[0009] FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG.
6.
[0010] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an embodiment described
herein.
[0011] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an embodiment described
herein.
[0012] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an embodiment described
herein.
[0013] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an embodiment described
herein.
[0014] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an embodiment described
herein.
II. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] As shown in the accompanying drawings, an embodiment is an
armrest. As shown in FIG. 1, an embodiment of the armrest 1 has an
arm 10. The arm 10 has a support portion 12 and a body portion 14.
The support portion 12 has a channel 16 extending longitudinally
along the support portion 12. The channel 16 has an open face 18
along its length. A bracket 20 is slidably engaged with the channel
16 (shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5).
[0016] Referring to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the arm 10 is
connected to a chair 22. The chair can be an office chair, a
reclining chair, a car seat, or any other type of apparatus used
for seating. The arm 10 is connected to the chair 22 by bracket 20.
The bracket 20 is mounted to the chair 22. The bracket 20 can be
mounted to the chair 22 by being integral with the chair 22, or the
bracket 20 can be a separate piece and can be mounted to the chair
22 with bolts, screws, welding, glue, or any other method for
attaching the bracket 20 to the chair 22. In the embodiment shown
in FIG. 2, the bracket 20 is mounted to a bar 24 of the chair 22.
The bar 24 interconnects the chair back 26 to the chair seat 28. In
another embodiment, the bracket can be mounted anywhere on the
chair that allows the armrest to function as an armrest for a user
seated in the chair.
[0017] Referring now to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 the
arm 10 can be moved from a lowered height position (shown in FIG.
3) to a raised height position (shown in FIG. 4) with the bracket
20 slidably traveling within the channel 16. The arm 10 can also be
moved to one or more intermediate height positions which are
between the lowered height position and the raised height position.
In an embodiment, moving the height position of the arm 10 to a
raised height position, to a lowered height position, or to an
intermediate height position can allow a user to selectively set
the height position of the arm according to his or her personal
preference.
[0018] As shown in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3, the lower end
30 of the support portion 12 extends below the bracket 20 when the
arm 10 is in a lowered height position. As shown in the embodiment
depicted in FIG. 4, the upper end 32 of the support portion 12
extends above the bracket 20 when the arm 10 is in a raised height
position. In an embodiment, the upper end of the support portion
extends above the bracket and the lower end of the support portion
extends below the bracket, when the arm is in an intermediate
height position.
[0019] Referring now to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 5, the arm
10 is shown in a lowered height position (shown in solid lines) and
a raised height position (shown in dotted lines as a ghosted view).
As is shown in FIG. 5, moving the arm 10 from a lowered height
position to a raised height position simultaneously moves the arm
in both an upper direction A and a forward direction B (forward
direction B is the direction a user would face when seated in a
chair). As shown in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, this
simultaneous upper direction movement and forward direction
movement is a result of the channel 16 being oriented at an angle C
relative to the vertical (the vertical shown as dotted line D in
FIG. 4). In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, the angle C is about
27 degrees. In another embodiment, the angle C is greater than 0
degrees. In yet another embodiment, the angle C is between about 12
degrees and about 42 degrees. In still another embodiment, the
angle C is between about 19 degrees and about 35 degrees. When the
bracket 20 is fix in a position, such as when fixedly mounted to a
chair, the channel 16 being oriented at an angle C can allow the
arm 10 to simultaneously move in both an upper direction and a
forward direction when the arm 10 is moved from a lowered height
position to a raised height position with the bracket 20 slidably
engaged with and traveling through the channel 16.
[0020] Referring still to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the
support portion 12 and the body portion 14 intersect at an angle E
of about 120 degrees. The angle E is defined as the resulting angle
E that is formed by a line F that runs substantially through the
line of average curvature of the body portion 14, intersecting with
a line G that runs parallel to the channel 16 of the support
portion 12. In another embodiment, the angle E is greater than 90
degrees. In yet another embodiment, the angle E is between about
105 degrees and about 135 degrees. In still another embodiment, the
angle E is between about 112 degrees and about 128 degrees.
[0021] Referring now to the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 2, 3, 6,
and 7, the support portion 12 of the arm 10 can have an inner side
34, an outer side 36, a front side 38, and a rear side 40. As shown
in FIG. 2, when the arm 10 is connected to a chair 22 the inner
side 34 of the support portion 12 is oriented in the direction of
the main body of the chair 22. Further, when the arm is connected
to a chair 22 the front side 38 of the support portion 12 is
oriented in the direction a user would face when seated in the
chair 22. FIG. 6 depicts an embodiment of the armrest that can be
used as a left hand armrest when the armrest is attached to a
chair. FIG. 7 depicts an embodiment of the armrest that can be used
as a right hand armrest when the armrest is attached to a
chair.
[0022] Referring now to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3, the
channel 16 extends longitudinally along the support portion 12 of
the arm 10. The open face 18 of the channel 16 is located in the
inner side 34 of the support portion 12. The bracket 20 extends
through the open face 18 of the channel 16 (as is better shown in
the cross section view of FIG. 9). In the embodiment depicted in
FIG. 3, the open face 18 of the channel 16 is not contained within
an enclosure, such as a tube which may be present in a
telescopically adjustable armrest. As shown in the embodiments
depicted in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, the portion of the open face 18
located at the upper end of the channel 16 is exposed when the arm
10 is in a raised height position; and the portion of the open face
18 located at the lower end of the channel 16 is exposed when the
arm 10 is in a lowered height position.
[0023] Referring now to the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 10, 11,
12, 13, and 14, the bracket 20 has a plurality of teeth 42, 44, 46,
48, 50, and 52 (not shown in FIG. 14). In these embodiments the
bracket 20 has six teeth 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, and 52 arranged in a
substantially straight line. In another embodiment, the bracket can
have more than six teeth or less than six teeth. As shown in the
embodiment depicted in FIG. 14, the bracket 20 can have one or more
bores 54 extending through the bracket 20 for bolting or screwing
the bracket 20 to a chair.
[0024] As is best shown in the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 12 and
13, the bracket 20 can have a channel engaging member 56 mounted to
the bracket 20. The channel engaging member 56 can be mounted to
the bracket 20 by being integral with the bracket 20. In another
embodiment, the channel engaging member 56 can be a separate piece
from the bracket 20 and can be mounted to the bracket 20 in a
secured fashion, such as with bolts, screws, welding, glue, or any
other method for mounting the channel engaging member 56 to the
bracket 20. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the channel engaging
member 56 has a T-shaped cross sectional profile. The channel 16
(shown in FIG. 9) has a complimentary cross sectional profile for
mating engagement with the channel engaging member 56. A plurality
of teeth 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, and 52 are mounted to the channel
engaging member 56.
[0025] Referring now to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 9, the
teeth 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, and 52 of the bracket 20 can extend
through the open face of the channel 16. Referring still to FIG. 9,
a lever 58 is pivotally mounted to the arm 10 at pivot point 60.
More particularly, the lever 58 is pivotally mounted to the support
portion 12 of the arm 10. The lever 58 has a pawl 62 (also shown in
FIGS. 1 and 8) on its lower end. The pawl 62 can lockably engage
one or more of the teeth 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, and 52. In the
embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the pawl 62 is shown in a lockably
engaged position. The pawl 62 is lockably engaged with tooth 46 and
tooth 48 by being positioned between tooth 46 and tooth 48, thereby
preventing movement of the bracket 20 within the channel 16.
Otherwise stated, when the pawl 62 is lockably engaged with the
bracket 20, movement of the arm 10 relative to the bracket 20 is
prevented, thereby securing the arm 10 in a fixed height position.
In an embodiment, the lever 58 can be a button, a trigger, or any
other suitable means that allows for the selective locking
engagement of the pawl 62 with at least one of the plurality of
teeth of the bracket 20.
[0026] Referring still to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 9, a
spring 64 is engaged with the lever 58. The spring 64 biases the
pawl 62 into locking engagement with at least one of the plurality
of teeth. In an embodiment, the spring can be a torsion spring, a
hair pin spring or any other type of device which is capable of
biasing the pawl 62 into locking engagement with at least one of
the plurality of teeth.
[0027] Referring still to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 9, an
aperture 66 extends from the channel 16 and through the front side
38 of the support portion 12 of the arm 10. The pawl 62 lockingly
engages at least one of the teeth by extending through the aperture
66. The lever 58 has an angled lower end. The aperture 66 also has
an angled lower end that is complimentary with the angled lower end
of the lever 58. The angled lower ends of the aperture 66 and the
lever 58 can allow the bottom end of the lever 58 to travel in an
arc about pivot point 60, while still allowing the lower end of the
lever 58 to sit substantially flush with the lower end of the
aperture 66 when the pawl 62 is in a lockably engaged position.
[0028] Referring still to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 9, a rod
68 extends across the channel 16 and obstructs the lower end of the
channel 16, thereby preventing the bracket 20 from exiting the
channel 16 when the arm 10 is moved to a raised height position. As
shown in FIGS. 11, 12, and 13, the lower tooth 42 can have a notch
70 therein. The notch 70 is adapted to receive the rod 68 (shown in
FIG. 9). By receiving the rod 68, the notch 70 can allow the arm 10
to be raised to a higher raised height position than would be
possible in the absence of the notch 70.
[0029] Referring still to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 9, the
length of the channel 16 as measured from the upper end of the
channel 16 to the rod 68 can be about 15 centimeters. In another
embodiment, the length of the channel can be between about 5
centimeters and about 25 centimeters. In still another embodiment,
the length of the channel can be between about 10 centimeters and
about 20 centimeters.
[0030] In an embodiment, the lever 58 has an activating portion 78
(see FIG. 1). As used in the description and claims, the activating
portion of the lever 58 is defined as a portion of the lever 58
that can be depressed, such as by a user, in order to move the pawl
62 out of locking engagement with the teeth of the bracket 20. In
the embodiment depicted in FIG. 9, the activating portion of the
lever 58 is the upper portion of the lever 58 that is located above
the pivot point 60.
[0031] Referring still to FIGS. 4 and 9, in an embodiment the
activating portion of the lever 58 is positioned sufficiently near
a channel bisecting line (depicted as line G of FIG. 4). As used in
the description and claims, a channel bisecting line is defined as
a line that bisects the channel 16 and that parallels the direction
of movement of the bracket 20 within the channel 16. As used in the
description and claims, the activating portion of the lever 58 is
positioned sufficiently near the channel bisecting line when, as a
user seated in a chair uses his or her hands to depress the
activating portion of the lever 58 and pushes or pulls the arm 10
in order to adjust the height position of the arm 10, excessive
rotation force on the arm 10 and the resulting binding between the
bracket 20 and the channel 16 is avoided.
[0032] In an embodiment, the activating portion of the lever 58 can
be positioned at a distance of about 4 centimeters from the channel
bisecting line when the pawl 62 is in locking engagement with the
teeth. In another embodiment, the activating portion of the lever
58 can be positioned at a distance of less than about 4 centimeters
from the channel bisecting line when the pawl 62 is in locking
engagement with the teeth. In still other embodiments, the
activating portion of the lever 58 can be positioned at a distance
of less than about 6 centimeters from the channel bisecting line
when the pawl 62 is in locking engagement with the teeth; less than
about 8 centimeters from the channel bisecting line when the pawl
62 is in locking engagement with the teeth; less than about 10
centimeters from the channel bisecting line when the pawl 62 is in
locking engagement with the teeth; or less than about 12
centimeters from the channel bisecting line when the pawl 62 is in
locking engagement with the teeth.
[0033] In an embodiment, the activating portion of the lever 58 can
be positioned at a distance of about 3.5 centimeters from the
channel bisecting line when the activating portion of the lever 58
is depressed and the pawl 62 is out of locking engagement with the
teeth. In another embodiment, the activating portion of the lever
58 can be positioned at a distance of less than about 3.5
centimeters from the channel bisecting line when the activating
portion of the lever 58 is depressed and the pawl 62 is out of
locking engagement with the teeth. In still other embodiments, the
activating portion of the lever 58 can be positioned at a distance
of less than about 5.5 centimeters from the channel bisecting line
when the activating portion of the lever 58 is depressed and the
pawl 62 is out of locking engagement with the teeth; less than
about 7.5 centimeters from the channel bisecting line when the
activating portion of the lever 58 is depressed and the pawl 62 is
out of locking engagement with the teeth; less than about 9.5
centimeters from the channel bisecting line when the activating
portion of the lever 58 is depressed and the pawl 62 is out of
locking engagement with the teeth; or less than about 11.5
centimeters from the channel bisecting line when the activating
portion of the lever 58 is depressed and the pawl 62 is out of
locking engagement with the teeth.
[0034] Referring again to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the
upper portion of the body portion 14 can have a base 72 for
supporting a pad 74, such as a pad made of a resilient material
such as foam, and cover 76, such as a leather, vinyl or fabric
cover, for covering the pad 74.
[0035] As opposed to the open face of the channel being located in
the inner side of the support portion, in an embodiment, the open
face of the channel can be located in the outer side of the support
portion, with the bracket positioned on the outer side of support
portion. The bracket can be slidably engaged with the channel and
the bracket can have a plurality of teeth extending through the
open face of the channel. In such an embodiment, a beam can
interconnect the bracket to a chair. The beam can be positioned so
as to allow the arm to move in an upper direction and/or a forward
direction and back without coming into contact with the beam. Some
or all of the other features and/or limitations described for this
embodiment can also be included and/or used in other embodiments
described herein. Further, some or all of the other features and/or
limitations described herein for other embodiments can also be
included and/or used in this embodiment.
[0036] In an embodiment, the arm, the lever, the bracket, the teeth
of the bracket, and any other component can be made of plastic,
resin, fiberglass, metal, wood, foam, or any other suitable
material.
[0037] In operation of an embodiment, the height position of the
arm can be adjusted, such as by a user seated in a chair, by moving
the height position of the arm to a raised height position, to a
lowered height position, or to an intermediate height position,
thereby allowing a user to selectively set the height position of
the arm according to his or her personal preference. In an
embodiment, the upper end of the lever is depressed in order to
overcome the biasing force of the spring, thereby moving the pawl
out of locking engagement with the teeth of the bracket. The arm
can then be moved to a raised height position, to a lowered height
position, or to an intermediate height position, such as by a user
pulling upward or pushing downward on the arm, with the bracket
slidably traveling in the channel of the arm. Once a desired height
position of the arm is reached, the lever is then released and the
spring forces the pawl into locking engagement with one or more of
the teeth of the bracket. In operation of an embodiment, moving the
arm to a raised height position simultaneously moves the arm in
both an upper direction and a forward direction.
[0038] The embodiments shown in the drawings and described above
are exemplary of numerous embodiments that may be made within the
scope of the appended claims. It is contemplated that numerous
other configurations may be used, and the material of each
component may be selected from numerous materials other than those
specifically disclosed. In short, it is the applicant's intention
that the scope of the patent issuing herefrom will be limited only
by the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *