CA2125728A1 - Lateral adjustment mechanism for a chair armrest - Google Patents

Lateral adjustment mechanism for a chair armrest

Info

Publication number
CA2125728A1
CA2125728A1 CA002125728A CA2125728A CA2125728A1 CA 2125728 A1 CA2125728 A1 CA 2125728A1 CA 002125728 A CA002125728 A CA 002125728A CA 2125728 A CA2125728 A CA 2125728A CA 2125728 A1 CA2125728 A1 CA 2125728A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
bracket
armrest support
knob
teeth
armrest
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA002125728A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Frank Doerner
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Leggett and Platt Canada Co
Original Assignee
Doerner Products Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Doerner Products Ltd filed Critical Doerner Products Ltd
Priority to CA002125728A priority Critical patent/CA2125728A1/en
Publication of CA2125728A1 publication Critical patent/CA2125728A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47CCHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
    • A47C1/00Chairs adapted for special purposes
    • A47C1/02Reclining or easy chairs
    • A47C1/022Reclining or easy chairs having independently-adjustable supporting parts
    • A47C1/03Reclining or easy chairs having independently-adjustable supporting parts the parts being arm-rests
    • A47C1/0307Reclining or easy chairs having independently-adjustable supporting parts the parts being arm-rests adjustable rectilinearly in horizontal direction

Abstract

A lateral armrest support adjustment mechanism has a bracket attached underneath the chair with a slot receiving a lateral extension of the armrest support. A rack of teeth projecting into an opening extending along the lateral extension of the armrest support receives two pins depending from a knob carried on the bracket. A bar is biased into blocking relation with the teeth of the rack of teeth in order to latch the mechanism. When a user turns the knob, the pins walk along the teeth in order to laterally adjust the armrest support. The knob has four circumferentially equally spaced notches which facilitate ready gripping and turning by the user. The bracket has a square hole through one of its faces and a circular hole registered with the square hole through its opposite face. This allows the bracket to be utilized with another lateral adjustment mechanism. More particularly, a post with a square cross-sectional portion may be received through the further bracket openings and through a slot in an armrest support member. A knob may then be threaded to the post so that the knob extends through one of the bracket openings and pushes the armrest support extension against a face of the bracket thereby frictionally locking the armrest support to the bracket. Adjustment is accomplished by loosening the knob, moving the armrest support, and retightening the knob.

Description

._,, 2l2~728 LATERAL ADJUSTMENT MR~ANISM FOR A C~AIR ARMR~.~ T

Background of the Invention 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a lateral adjustment 5 mechanism for a chair armrest.
2. Description of the Related Art Office chairs are typically adjustable so that they may accommodate a wide range of users. In this regard, one desirable adjustment is the width between the chair armrests. A known mechanism permitting such adjustment comprises a bracket mounted underneath the chair seat with a slot receiving a lateral extension of an armrest support member. A post extends through both openings in the bracket and a slot which runs along the lateral extension in the support. A large knob is threaded to 15 the post so that it abuts the support and pushes the support against the back of the bracket, thereby frictionally locking the support to the bracket. To laterally adjust the armrest, the knob is loosened, the armrest support pulled or pushed to an appropriate lateral position, and the knob then tightened to lock the support - and the armrest - in its new lateral position.
Because this mechanism relies on friction for locking, the knob must be made relatively large to allow the user a sufficient moment arm. Even so, two-handed operation of the knob is often required. In any event, adjustment while seated is difficult.

Furthermore, adjustment is a multi-step process: loosening the knob, moving the support, then tightening the knob.
There is therefore a need for a lateral adjustment mechanism which permits easy one-handed operation while seated.
There is also a need for a versatile apparatus adapted to permit construction of different adjustment mechanisms.

Summary of the Invention According to the present invention, there is provided a lateral adjustment mechanism for a chair armrest, comprising the following: an armrest support having an upstanding portion and a lateral extension, said lateral extension having an opening extending therealong and a rack of teeth extending therealong and projecting into said opening; a bracket adapted for mounting underneath a chair seat, said bracket having a slot slidably receiving said lateral extension of said armrest support; a bar within said armrest support opening biased into blocking relation with said teeth; a knob having a pair of depending pins extending through an aperture in said bracket and received within spaces between the teeth of said rack; whereby, when said knob is turned, said pins walk along said rack such that said armrest support moves with respect to said bracket.
According to another aspect of this invention, there is provided a bracket for a lateral adjustment mechanism for a chair armrest comprising the following: means for mounting said bracket underneath a chair seat; a slot for reception of a lateral extension of an armrest support, said armrest support of the type having an armrest support opening extending along said lateral extension; a first aperture extending through a face of said bracket to said bracket slot, said first aperture adapted for reception of walking pins whereby said bracket slot may receive an armrest support with a rack of teeth extending along said lateral extension and projecting into said armrest support opening, said rack of teeth for receiving said walking pins, and with a bar within said armrest support opening biased into blocking relation with said teeth; a second aperture extending through said face of said bracket, said aperture being non~
circular and adapted for reception of a post having a threaded end and a non-circular cross-section such that said post is held against rotation when within said aperture, whereby said bracket slot may receive an armrest support with an armrest support opening, said second aperture and said armrest support opening may receive said post, and a knob may be threaded onto said post into abutting relation with said armrest support in order to frictionally lock said armrest support between said knob and said bracket.

Description of the Drawings In the figures which disclose example embodiments of the invention, Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a lateral adjustment mechanism made in accordance with this invention, Figure 2 is a front view of the adjustment mechanism of Figure 1 seen from the direction of the number 2 in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along the lines 3-3 of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the mechanism of Figure 1 shown in operation, Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the mechanism of Figure 1 shown in operation, Figure 6 is a exploded perspective view of another adjustment mechanism made in accordance with this invention, and Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view along the lines 7-7 of Figure 6.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments Turning to Figure 1, a lateral adjustment mechanism illustrated generally at 10 comprises an armrest support 12 having an upstanding portion 14 and a lateral extension 16.
Referencing Figure 3 as well as Figure 1, the lateral extension has an opening 18 extending therealong and a rack of teeth 20 extending along, and projecting into, opening 18. A bracket 24 has a slot 30 which slidably receives the lateral extension 16 of armrest support 12. Bracket 24 has flanges 26 (Figure 1) with bolt receiving openings 28 (Figure 1) which adapt the bracket for mounting underneath a chair seat.
As best seen in Figure 3, a bar 34 within the armrest support opening 18 is biased by a spring 36, which acts between wall 38 of bracket 24 and the bar 34, into blocking relation with the rack of teeth 20.
A knob 40 has a pair of depending pins 42a, 42b extending through an aperture 44 in the bracket 24. The depending pins 42a, 42b are received within spaces 48 between the teeth 50 of the rack of teeth 20.

With reference to Figure 2, knob 40 has four circumferentially equally spaced finger receiving notches 52.
As will be apparent from that Figure, each of these notches is radiused.
5Returning to Figure 1, a back plate 56 is received by a recess 58 in bracket 24. Screws 60 received in shouldered openings 62 of the back plate and are threaded into threaded openings in pins 42a, 42b so that the back plate 56 holds the knob 40 in place.
10In operation, referencing Figure 2, a user sitting in a chair to which bracket 24 has been attached may reach under the chair seat and grasp knob 40. The four radiused notches 52 allow the knob to be grasped comfortably with little re-orientation of the user's natural hand position. The user may then turn the 15knob. Referring to Figure 4, if the knob is rotated in a clockwise sense, it rotates about pin 42a so that pin 42b leaves its space 48 between teeth 50 at one side of pin 42a.
Referencing Figure 5, pin 42b continues to move while the knob is rotated until pin 42b enters a space 50 which is at the 20opposite side of pin 42a. At this point the knob has rotated through 180 degrees. Clearly, the knob 40 may be turned clockwise or counterclockwise, as desired, and will alternately rotate about pins 42a and 42b as the knob is turned in one sense.
Consequently, pins 42a, 42b "walk" as the knob is rotated in one 25sense, therefore, these pins may be described as "walking pins".
Walls 17 and 19 limit rotation of the knob when one of the pins comes into abutment with one of these walls. Because knob 40 is laterally fixed with respect to bracket 24 and the bracket is fixed underneath a chair seat, it is the rack of teeth 20 which must move laterally when knob 40 is turned. However, the rack is fixed with respect to the armrest support 12.
Consequently, turning knob 40 moves the armrest support 12 laterally.
It will be noted from Figure 4 that bar 34 is displaced by a pin against the urging of spring 36 when the knob 40 is turned. The bar and spring therefore act to latch the lateral adjustment mechanism until knob 40 is turned.
As will be apparent to anyone who reaches under a chair while seated, the range of rotational motion of the hand allowed by human joints is limited. Furthermore, the torque which may be imparted is also more limited in this position. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the provision of the multi-notched knob 40 facilitates lateral adjustment of the armrest even given the limited rotational freedom of a user's hand. Furthermore, the torque required to turn knob 40 of adjustment mechanism 10 is sufficiently low that adjustment while seated is easily accomplished. This is in contrast to an adjustment mechanism relying upon a friction lock.
With reference to Figures 1 and 2, bracket 24 also has an opening 66 through its back face 68 and an opening 70 through its front face 72. Opening 66 has a square cross-section.
Opening 66 and 70 adapt bracket 20 for use with a second lateral adjustment mechanism as is described here following.
Turning to Figures 6 and 7, armrest support 112 of armrest adjustment mechanism 110 has an upstanding portion 114 and a lateral extension 116. The lateral extension has a slot 118 extending therealong. A post 180 extends through opening 66 of the back face 68 of bracket 24, slot 118 of armrest support 112, and opening 70 of the front face 72 of bracket 24. The post has a square cross-sectional portion 182 which is received within opening 66 in order to lock the post 180 against rotation. Post 180 also has a threaded end 184 for reception of knob 186. Knob 186 has a reduced diameter portion 188 which has a diameter less than that of opening 70 through the front face of bracket 24.
Accordingly, when knob 186 is threaded down on post 180, the 10reduced diameter portion 188 extends through opening 70 and abuts the lateral extension 116 of armrest support 112 on either side of slot 118. By tightening knob 186, the lateral extension 116 is therefore sandwiched between the knob and the inside back face of bracket 24 and frictionally locked in place.
15In operation, knob 186 may be loosened, the armrest support 112 moved laterally as desired and then knob 186 retightened. The lateral adjustment mechanism 110 is of simpler construction than that of mechanism 10 of Figure 1 so as to provide a less expensive option. It is not, however, preferred as one-handed operation while seated is not facilitated.
Nevertheless, bracket 24 may be used in either mechanism 10 of Figure 1 or mechanism 110 of Figure 6 which reduces overall manufacturing costs.
Bracket 24 and armrest support 12 (of Figure 1) and 112 (of Figure 6) are preferably made of glass reinforced nylon.
This is particularly useful in mechanism 110 of Figure 6 as glass reinforced nylon has a higher coefficient of friction than many other materials, such as steel, thereby enhancing frictional locking between the bracket and the armrest support.
Modifications with be apparent to those skilled in the art and, therefore, the invention is defined in the claims.

Claims (4)

1. A lateral adjustment mechanism for a chair armrest, comprising the following:
- an armrest support having an upstanding portion and a lateral extension, said lateral extension having an opening extending therealong and a rack of teeth extending therealong and projecting into said opening;
- a bracket adapted for mounting underneath a chair seat, said bracket having a slot slidably receiving said lateral extension of said armrest support;
- a bar within said armrest support opening biased into blocking relation with said teeth;
- a knob having a pair of depending pins extending through an aperture in said bracket and received within spaces between the teeth of said rack;
whereby, when said knob is turned, said pins walk along said rack such that said armrest support moves with respect to said bracket.
2. The lateral adjustment mechanism of claim 1 wherein said knob has at least four circumferentially equally spaced finger receiving notches whereby said knob may be readily grasped and turned with one hand.
3. The lateral adjustment mechanism of claim 2 wherein said notches are radiused.
4. A bracket for a lateral adjustment mechanism for a chair armrest comprising the following:
- means for mounting said bracket underneath a chair seat;
- a slot for reception of a lateral extension of an armrest support, said armrest support of the type having an armrest support opening extending along said lateral extension;
- a first aperture extending through a face of said bracket to said bracket slot, said first aperture adapted for reception of walking pins whereby said bracket slot may receive an armrest support with a rack of teeth extending along said lateral extension and projecting into said armrest support opening, said rack of teeth for receiving said walking pins, and with a bar within said armrest support opening biased into blocking relation with said teeth;
- a second aperture extending through said face of said bracket, said aperture being non-circular and adapted for reception of a post having a threaded end and a non-circular cross-section such that said post is held against rotation when within said aperture, whereby said bracket slot may receive an armrest support with an armrest support opening, said second aperture and said armrest support opening may receive said post, and a knob may be threaded onto said post into abutting relation with said armrest support in order to frictionally lock said armrest support between said knob and said bracket.
CA002125728A 1994-06-13 1994-06-13 Lateral adjustment mechanism for a chair armrest Abandoned CA2125728A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002125728A CA2125728A1 (en) 1994-06-13 1994-06-13 Lateral adjustment mechanism for a chair armrest

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002125728A CA2125728A1 (en) 1994-06-13 1994-06-13 Lateral adjustment mechanism for a chair armrest

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2125728A1 true CA2125728A1 (en) 1995-12-14

Family

ID=4153805

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002125728A Abandoned CA2125728A1 (en) 1994-06-13 1994-06-13 Lateral adjustment mechanism for a chair armrest

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA2125728A1 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20180125246A1 (en) * 2015-04-13 2018-05-10 Steelcase Inc. Seating arrangement
US11553797B2 (en) 2015-04-13 2023-01-17 Steelcase Inc. Seating arrangement

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20180125246A1 (en) * 2015-04-13 2018-05-10 Steelcase Inc. Seating arrangement
US11324325B2 (en) * 2015-04-13 2022-05-10 Steelcase Inc. Seating arrangement
US11553797B2 (en) 2015-04-13 2023-01-17 Steelcase Inc. Seating arrangement

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6209835B1 (en) Adjustable merchandise display structure
US4878685A (en) Wheelchair work tray
US6513876B1 (en) Multiple function boat seat
US6375257B1 (en) Chair tablet arm apparatus
US5427436A (en) Adjustable headrest
US7152836B2 (en) Adjustable tilt mount
EP2157885B1 (en) Adjustable headrest
US5048784A (en) Adjustable inset bracket
US6843530B1 (en) Multi-stage backrest assembly
EP1423030B1 (en) Adjustable keyboard support assembly
EP0516341A1 (en) A chair tilting mechanism
EP0321120A1 (en) Clamp fixture
JPH0243481B2 (en)
WO1999025223A1 (en) Dual-pivot multi-position ratcheting chair arm
US5176603A (en) Exercise board
US20090173860A1 (en) Mounting system for flat panel display
EP1070652A2 (en) Clamping device for a steering column
US5405189A (en) Chair seat back height adjustment mechanism
US5997021A (en) Adjustable seat back assembly for a wheelchair
US6938866B2 (en) Adjustable keyboard support assembly method of use
CA2125728A1 (en) Lateral adjustment mechanism for a chair armrest
US5921630A (en) Height adjustment mechanism for a back rest or an arm rest of a chair
GB2193884A (en) A tilting mechanism for a chair
AU2012259529B2 (en) Lateral support apparatus for a chair
US6482138B1 (en) Rotational friction exercise device selectively attached to a support surface

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
EEER Examination request
FZDE Dead