GB2477111A

GB2477111A - Armrest capable of moving forward, backward and rotating sideways

Info

Publication number: GB2477111A
Application number: GB1000991A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sian-Mao Wang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-01-22
Filing date: 2010-01-22
Publication date: 2011-07-27
Anticipated expiration: 2030-01-22
Also published as: GB201000991D0; GB2477111B

Abstract

An armrest assembly with an armrest capable of moving forward, backward and rotating sideways simply by pushing or rotating the armrest to the desired direction, and includes a propping portion 3 mounted around a rectangular column 21 formed at an upper end of an outer tube 2. An actuation element 5, which has corners extended with resilient pressing portions 51 and is internally provided with curved recesses, is received in displacement space 32, which is formed in the propping portion 3 and peripherally provided with wavy grooves 33. A limiting element 6 having an outer periphery formed with a plurality of projections is received in the actuation element 5. The limiting element 6 and the actuation element 5 are retained to the rectangular column of the outer tube by threaded fastener 64 passing through a washer 65.

Description

ARMREST ASSEMBLY WITH ARMREST CAPABLE OF MOVING

FORWARD AND BACKWARD AND ROTATING SIDEWAYS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to an armrest assembly with an armrest capable of moving forward and backward and rotating sideways, wherein the armrest assembly is installable at either of two lateral sides of a chair, and wherein the armrest can be easily adjusted (i.e., moved forward and backward and/or rotated sideways) according to a user's desired elbow position and be stably fixed in position after the adjustment.

2. Description of Related Art

In order to enhance the comfort of chairs of different purposes, the related industry has endeavored to provide effective movable assemblies designed specifically for seats, backrests, armrests, and other chair components, so that the finished chairs are adjustable according to users' body shapes and postures. Taking the armrest assemblies for example, existing adjustable armrest assemblies can be generally divided into the following: those capable of vertical movement, those capable of forwardlbackward movement, those capable of inward/outward movement, and those capable of tilting up and down and/or swinging laterally, wherein the preset movements of these assemblies render the armrests adjustable according to users' desired elbow positions. Presently, armrest assemblies capable of forwardlbackward movement and/or lateral swinging movement are implemented in a variety of ways and can be selected to suit personal operation habits.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a novel configuration of an adjustable armrest assembly installable at either of two lateral sides a chair and featuring an armrest capable of forward/backward movement and/or lateral swinging movement, wherein the armrest can be moved forward and backward and/or rotated sideways through a simple operation and be stably fixed at a desired position.

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an armrest assembly which is installable at either of two lateral sides of a chair and includes: a supporting member composed of an outer tube and an inner tube inserted in the outer tube; an armrest composed of a propping portion, a middle plate, and a top plate; and an actuation element and a limiting element, both of which are provided between an upper end of the outer tube and the propping portion. A rectangular column extends from the upper end of the outer tube, has a central hole integrated with a screw nut, and is inserted in a slot that penetrates the propping portion. A displacement space is formed at an inner side of the propping portion and peripherally provided with a plurality of wavy grooves. The actuation element is received in the displacement space and has four corners, each extended with a resilient pressing portion. A receiving space is formed centrally in the actuation element, has a through hole, and is peripherally provided with a plurality of curved recesses. The limiting element is received in the receiving space, is penetrated by a rectangular hole, and has an outer periphery formed with a plurality of projections corresponding in position to the curved recesses of the actuation element such that the projections can press resiliently against the corresponding curved recesses. A cover flange extends from an upper end of the limiting element and is configured to press against an upper surface of the actuation element. The limiting element and the actuation element are retained to the rectangular column of the outer tube by a threaded fastener passing through a washer. After the armrest assembly is assembled, the armrest can be moved forward or backward simply by pushing the armrest to the desired direction, such that the wavy grooves formed around the displacement space of the propping portion at a lower end of the armrest move against the resilient pressing portions of the actuation element until the armrest reaches the desired position, during which time a proper tightness is maintained between the resilient pressing portions and the corresponding wavy grooves. The armrest can also be rotated sideways by rotating the armrest to the desired direction.

By doing so, the actuation element confined in the propping portion is driven to move along with the armrest, and in consequence the curved recesses formed around an inner periphery of the actuation element move against the projections of the limiting element until the armrest is rotated to the desired direction, during which time a proper tightness is maintained between the projections and the corresponding curved recesses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objectives can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an armrest assembly according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the armrest assembly according to the present invention; FIG. 2A is an enlarged view of the circled area A in FIG. 2; FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of the circled area B in FIG. 2; FIG. 3 is a top view of the armrest assembly according to the present invention, wherein a middle plate and a top plate have been removed; FIG. 4 illustrates forward movement of an armrest of the armrest assembly according to the present invention; FIG. 5 illustrates backward movement of the armrest of the armrest assembly according to the present invention; FIG. 6 is a top sectional view of the armrest assembly according to the present invention; FIG. 6A is an enlarged view of the circled area A in FIG. 6; FIG. 7 illustrates outward rotation of the armrest of the armrest assembly according to the present invention; and FIG. 8 illustrates inward rotation of the armrest of the armrest assembly according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an armrest assembly with an armrest capable of moving forward and backward and rotating sideways, wherein the armrest assembly is to be installed at either of two lateral sides of a chair. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an armrest assembly 7 according to the present invention includes: a supporting member composed of an outer tube 2 and an inner tube 1 inserted in the outer tube 2; an armrest 4 composed of a propping portion 3, a middle plate 41, and a top plate 42; and an actuation element 5 and a limiting element 6, both of which are provided between an upper end of the outer tube 2 and the propping portion 3.

A rectangular column 21 extends from the upper end of the outer tube 2 and is centrally formed with a hole 22 integrated with a screw nut 23.

The propping portion 3 is centrally formed with a slot 31 sized according to an outer periphery of the rectangular column 21 of the outer tube 2. The propping portion 3 has an inner side formed with a displacement space 32 peripherally provided with a plurality of wavy grooves 33. In addition, a plurality of protrusions 34, each having a through hole, are arranged at predetermined positions on an upper surface of the propping portion 3.

The actuation element 5 has four corners, each extended with a resilient pressing portion 51. Moreover, the actuation element 5 is centrally formed with a receiving space 53 having a through hole 52. The receiving space 53 is peripherally provided with a plurality of curved recesses 54.

The limiting element 6 is centrally formed with and penetrated by a rectangular hole 61. The limiting element 6 has an outer periphery formed with a plurality of projections 62 corresponding in position to the curved recesses 54 of the actuation element 5. Besides, the limiting element 6 has an upper end extended with a cover flange 63.

The outer tube 2, the propping portion 3, the actuation element 5, and the limiting element 6 are put together in the following manner. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the rectangular column 21 at the upper end of the outer tube 2 is inserted into the slot 31 that penetrates the propping portion 3. Then, the actuation element 5 is received in the displacement space 32 formed at the inner side of the propping portion 3, such that the resilient pressing portions 51 extending respectively from the four corners of the actuation element 5 press against the corresponding wavy grooves 33 around the displacement space 32, thereby providing a proper tightness between the resilient pressing portions 51 and the corresponding wavy grooves 33.

Next, the limiting element 6 is inserted into the receiving space 53 centrally formed in the actuation element 5, such that the projections 62 extending from the outer periphery of the limiting element 6 press resiliently against the corresponding curved recesses 54 of the actuation element 5, as shown in FIG. 6, and the cover flange 63 at the upper end of the limiting element 6 presses against an upper surface of the actuation element 5, as shown in FIG. 3. After that, the limiting element 6 and the actuation element 5 are retained to the rectangular column 21 of the outer tube 2 by a threaded fastener 64 passing through a washer 65.

After the armrest assembly 7 is assembled, the armrest 4 can be moved forward and backward as demonstrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. To do so, the armrest 4 is pushed toward the desired direction, as indicated by the arrows in FIGS. 4 and 5.

As a result, the wavy grooves 33 formed around the displacement space 32 of the propping portion 3 at a lower end of the armrest 4 move against the resilient pressing portions 51 of the actuation element 5 until the armrest 4 reaches the desired position, during which time a proper tightness is manitained between the resilient pressing portions 51 and the corresponding wavy grooves 33. Once the push is stopped, the resilient pressing portions 51 of the actuation element 5 are engaged with the corresponding wavy grooves 33 formed around the displacement space 32 of the propping portion 3, thereby securing the armrest 4 at the desired position.

The armrest 4 of the armrest assembly 7 can also be rotated sideways as demonstrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. More specifically, the armrest 4 is rotated to the desired direction, as indicated by the arrows in FIGS. 7 and 8, thus driving the actuation element 5, which is confined between the wavy grooves 33 of the propping portion 3, to move along with the armrest 4. Consequently, the curved recesses 54 formed around an inner periphery of the actuation element 5 move against the projections 62 of the limiting element 6 until the armrest 4 reaches the desired position, during which time a proper tightness is maintained between the projections 62 and the corresponding curved recesses 54. When the rotation is stopped, the projections 62 at the outer periphery of the limiting element 6 are engaged with the corresponding curved recesses 54 of the actuation element 5 to secure the armrest 4 at the desired position.