MXPA97009894A - Assembly of adjustment armrests - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an adjustable armrest assembly for use in a chair, characterized in that: a support member for securing it to a chair and substantially extending up therefrom; a armrest member that is substantially extended coaxially with said support member, a locking element secured to said support member and said armrest member, said locking member having a projecting portion including an end portion said end portion includes a first, co-operating member; to the other of said support member and said armrest member said adjusting member being substantially horizontally pivotable with respect to said locking member said adjusting member having a plurality of vertically spaced and horizontally extending flanges, said shoulders being spaced apart to form a plurality of holes each hole sized to receive said projecting portion of said locking element, each heuco has a second matching element corresponding to said first cradling element, whereby said armrest member is movable in a horizontal plane when said first and second matching elements are decoupled and said armrest member is also movable both in a horizontal plane and in a vertical plane when said first and second matching elements are decoupled and said projecting portion of said locking element is decoupled from said heuco of said adjusting member.

Description

ADJUSTABLE ARMRESTS ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the field < For the armrests that are used with chairs, particularly, the present invention refers to the field of armrests that are adjustable in various positions and heights to provide a more comfortable seat to the user. Chairs, particularly office chairs, are commonly designed with the armrests secured in a fixed position based on the desired use of the chair and the average size of the expected users. However, in an office environment, people of different sizes can spend many hours in a chair of the same size. Therefore, it is desirable to have armrests that are adjustable to fit the specific anatomy of a certain user. A chair, particularly the armrests, should be comfortable for people of widely varying sizes and shapes. Similarly, a armrest should be adjustable depending on the different user activities of the chair. For example, a user may wish to have a lower armrest when working with a pen and paper on a desk, but may want a second height when working with a computer. In addition, the armrests must also be angularly adjustable to adapt to the different activities associated with the use of the chair. A user may want the armrests in a first angular position when he is typing or - working with a pen and paper. However, the user may want a second angular position when working with a computer mouse. Some adjustable armrests have been described in the prior art. For example, in the patent of E.U.A. No. 4,951,995, issued to feppo et al., Describes a complex mechanism for height adjustment of armrests for a chair. A moving mechanism in vertical movement interconnects two laterally separated armrests. A cable assembly together with a rotatable gear move the movement of a first arm in a corresponding movement in the second arm, thus providing for the synchronized movement of the armrest assemblies. The patent of E.U.A. No. 4,884,846, issued to Tobler, describes armrests with limited height adjustment capabilities. The armrest is adjusted through the rotation of a carrier element on the armrest support. The support element is a structure of two-part bolts with threads on the right and on the left coupled together by the carrier element. Although pre-adjustable armrests have been described, there is still a need for adjustable armrests that provide reliable operation at a low manufacturing cost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the present invention is directed to an adjustable armrest assembly for use in a chair, which includes a support member, a armrest member, a locking element and an adjustment member. According to a first aspect of the invention, the support member is fixed to the chair and extends substantially upwards therefrom. The armrest member extends subs? primarily coaxially with the support member. The locking element is fixed to one of the support member and the armrest member. A projecting surface extends from an end portion of the locking element and includes a first commuting element. The adjustment member is fixed to the other of the support member and the armrest member. The adjustment member and the locking element move with respect to each other. A plurality of vertically spaced flanges form a plurality of recesses within the adjustment member. Each gap is adapted to receive the projecting portion of the locking element and has a second comming element corresponding to the first element match e. The armrest member is angularly movable when the first and second resident members are decoupled. The armrest member is also angular and vertical movable when the first and second comrades are decoupled and the projecting portion of the locking element is decoupled from the recess of the adjusting member. According to another aspect of the invention, the locking element is fixed to the support member and the adjustment member is fixed to the armrest member. According to a further aspect of the invention, the first matching element comprises a plurality of extending teeth and the second competing omentum comprises a pin-shaped surface. The adjustable armrest assembly of the present invention has three basic modes of operation: 1) a locked position, 2) an angularly moveable position and 3) a movable position angularly and vertically. In the locked position, the projecting surface of the locking element is engaged within a recess of the adjustment member and the first and second comming elements are coupled. In the movable position angularly, the projecting surface of the locking element is engaged within the recess of the adjusting member. However, the first and second comming elements are decoupled to allow for angular movement of the armrest member. In the angular and vertically movable position, the projecting surface of the locking element is decoupled from the recess of the adjusting member and the first and second matching elements are also decoupled. In this position, the armrest member is angular and vertically moveable towards a position selected by a user. The present invention will be better understood with reference to the following description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the adjustable armrest assembly of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the adjustable armrest assembly of the present invention; Figure 3 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of the adjustable armrest assembly of the present invention without the actuating element; Figure 4 is a top view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention with the armrest member in a locked position; Figure 5 is a top view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention with the armrest member in a partially unlocked position or an angularly adjustable position; Figure 6 is a top view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention with the armrest member shown in the unlocked position to be angularly and vertically adjustable; Figure 7 is a perspective view of the ratchet of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 8 is a perspective view of the adjustment member of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows an adjustable armrest assembly 10 for use on a chair 11 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The assembly 10 includes a support member 12 or tube that is fixed to a chair 11 below the seat thereof. A mounting element 14 extends outwardly from beneath the seat of the chair 11, the support member 12 extending vertically upward therefrom. The support member 12 has an internal passage 16 so that the central portion of the bar 18 can pass therethrough. An opening 20 in the mounting element 14 receives the button head 21 of the bar 18. A locking element or ratchet 30 is secured within the upper portion 32 of the support member 12. The pawl 30 has four flanges 34 (two shown) extending at 90 degree angles and coinciding with corresponding openings 36 within the upper portion 32 of the support member 12. The pawl 30 has a centrally positioned opening 38 extending therethrough. A clamping mechanism 40 such as a hexanol nut is mounted thereon for engaging the upper threaded portion 42 of the rod 18. As a result, the pawl 30 is secured in a fixed location to the support member 12 and the saddle 11. As best seen in Figure 7, the pawl 30 has a portion 44 projecting outwardly. This projecting portion 44 has a plurality of teeth 46 that extend substantially vertically over the end thereof. According to the preferred embodiment, the ratchet 30 includes three teeth 46. In a preferred embodiment, the mounting element 14 has a steel center with a plastic cover. The support member 12 can be fabricated from steel using a cold roll method and the ratchet 30 from a plastic material such as acetal. The armrest member 50 is slidably mounted on the support member 12. The armrest member 50 has an internal passageway 52 or cavity that is adapted to receive the support member 12. The armrest member 50 and the support member 12 are extend co-axial substance + e, the armrest member 50 being adjustable in telescopic fashion in relation to the support member 12. The armrest member 50 has a centrally located, internal protrusion that receives a hub 56 that extends downwardly. from the bottom 57 of the adjusting member 58. As shown in FIG. 3 above, a slot 60 is exposed horizontally in the upper portion 62 of the armrest member 50. An upper surface 64 of the armrest member 50 receives an arm pad 64 that supports a user's arm. A fastener mechanism such as 66 screws, serves to secure the arm pad with the armrest member 50. As shown in Figures 1 and 8, the adjustable member 58 has a plurality of vertically aligned recesses 70 formed by a plurality of flanges 71 extending horizontally. Each recess 70 is adapted to receive the portion 44 projecting outward from the pawl 30. In the preferred embodiment, the adjustment member 58 contains seven recesses 70. Within each recess 70, a pin-shaped surface 72 is centrally located along the curved rear wall 74 thereof. The pin-shaped surface 72 is adapted to engage with one of the teeth 46 on the pawl 30. In a preferred embodiment, the adjustment member 58 has a height of approximately * • *, each recess 70 having a height of approximately * *. The adjustment member 50 preferably has a length of approximately 25.7 mm and a depth of approximately 15.87 in. A square steel arrow 78 is mounted to the adjusting member 58 on the opposite side of the recesses 70 for use with the actuator member 80 or 80. The sill 78 passes through the slot 60 in the superior portion thereof. 62 of the armrest member 50. Slightly above the arrow 78, a spring engaging surface 84 projects outwards a short distance from the adjusting member. The spring 86 is connected to the coupling surface 84 on the adjusting member 58 and extends towards the holder 88 on the upper surface 64 of the armrest member 50. The spring 86 acts to drive the adjusting member 58. in engagement with the ratchet 30. Preferably, the adjusting member 58 and the armrest member 50 are fabricated using an injection molding process using glass-filled nylon such as that produced by Allied Signa with part No. 8233G. Similarly, in a preferred embodiment, the drive element 80 is formed from polypropylene. An upper aza 92, which corresponds to the lower aza 56, extends upwardly from the upper surface 93 of the adjustment member 58. The upper aza 92 is movably connected to the fastener 94 which is mounted to the upper surface 64 of the armrest member. 50. The upper and lower hubs 92 and 56 define a pivot axis on which the adjusting member 58 pivots when the operating member 80 is moved by a user. More specifically, the adjustment member 58 is pivotable about the axis defined by the upper and lower hubs 92 and 56. In a preferred embodiment, the fastener 94 is manufactured from c ro. The fastener 94 has three openings 96 located along the outer periphery thereof. The openings 96 receive fasteners such as the screw 98 that passes therethrough. In this manner, the fastener 94 is secured to the upper surface 64 of the armrest member 50. The longer opening 100 receives the upper hub 92 of the adjusting member 58. Accordingly, the fastener 94 and the protrusion 53 serve to secure the adjusting member to the armrest member 50. The actuating member 80 is movably connected to the outer surface- of the armrest member 50. The arrow 78 is mounted to a rear portion of the actuator member 80 in a channel 102 for inter- connecting drive member 80 and adjusting member 58. Arrow 78 passes through, and is movable along the length of slot 60. As a result, drive member 80 is also movable in a horizontal plane along the length of the slot 60. It should be recognized that the preferred embodiment of the pre invention shown in the figures can be modified by those skilled in the art for still the pre invention. For example, the preferred embodiment could be modified to change the relative interconnection of the locking element and the adjustment member with respect to the I L Support member and armrest member. In particular, the tear-off element could be fixed to the armrest member, and the adjustment member fixedly fixed to the support member. The locking element could then be moved in and out of engagement with the adjusting member to provide the same relative modes of operation as will be described later. According to another modification, the adjustment member could couple sliderin + e, instead? voterly, to the element of t rapamiento. According to another additional embodiment, the ratchet teeth of the ratchet and the pin-shaped surface of the recess can be replaced with a retainer and a plurality of recesses. Accordingly, it should be recognized that the preferred embodiment of the applicant's invention shown in the figures can be modified in a variety of ways. Figures 4-6 better illustrate the actual operation of the armrest assembly 10. In the locked position, as shown in Figure 4, the spring 86 urges the adjusting member 58 in engagement with the pawl 30 to secure the armrest member. 50 in a fixed position. More particularly, the projecting portion 44 of the ratchet 30 is trapped within a recess 70 and one of the teeth 46 on the end of the ratchet 30 is engaged by the pin-shaped surface 72 on the rear wall 74 of the recesses 70. In is + a position, the armrest member 50 is locked in position with the support member 12. To adjust the angular position of the armrest member 50 (but not the vertical position), a user could slide the actuator member 80 approximately 10 ° along the outer surface of the upper portion b2 «read armrest member 50. Therefore, the user thus overcomes the force of the spring 86 which drives the adjusting member 56 and the driving element 80 in the locked position. As a result of this movement, the adjustment member 58 pivots out a short distance from the coupling with the pawl 30. More specifically, the teeth 46 of the pawl 30 are decoupled from the pin-shaped surface 72 on the rear wall 74 of the hollow 70. However, the adjusting member 58 has not pivoted far enough to disengage the projecting portion 44 from the recess 70. Instead, the projecting portion 44 remains still trapped within the selected recess 70. In this position, as shown in + fig. 5, the armrest member 50 can be rotated to adjust the angular position of the armrest member 50 relative to the support member + e 12. The armrest member 50 is not adjustable vertically in this position. After rotating the armrest member 50 towards the new angular position, a user releases the drive element 80 to + rab the armrest member 50 in the new angular position. The adjustment member 58 pivots back towards the complete coupling as before. Instead, in this new angular position, a different tooth 46 on the end of the pawl 30 will now be engaged by the pin-shaped surface 72 of the recess 70. In this way, the armrest member 50 is now fixed at a new angular position. In order to adjust the height or vertical position of the armrest member 50 in relation to the support member 12, the user slides back to the actuating member 80. However, this time the user must slide to the actuating element 80. at least 20 ° or until the arrow 78 reaches the opposite end of the slot 60 to prevent further movement. By moving the actuating member 80 in this manner, the adjusting member 58 is pivoted completely out of engagement with the ratchet 30. In o + words, the entire projecting portion 44 including the teeth + is 46, they are completely decoupled from the recess 70. In this position, as shown in FIG. 6, the armrest member 50 is movable both vertically and angularly e. The armrest member 50 can then be moved up, down or anglemen + e as selected by the user. Once the user has selected a new vertical position and angular position (if desired), the actuating element 80 is released to thus return to the locked position. The adjusting member 58 pivots back towards the engagement with the pawl 30. The projecting portion 44 of the pawl 30 is now trapped within a new recess 70 on the adjusting member 58, engaging a tooth 46 on the end of the ratchet 30 the pin-shaped surface 72 in the recess 70. In the preferred embodiment, the adjustable armrest assembly 10 -has an adjustment scale of • **. The modality described is illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is indicated by the claims, rather than by the foregoing description. For example, as described above, the relative positioning of the adjusting member and ratchet with respect to the support member and the armrest member can be interchanged without departing from the spirit of this invention. In addition, the number of teeth in the ratchet or the specific materials used to make the elements of the present invention can also be changed. Therefore, the invention can be incorporated in other specific forms without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that all changes within the scope of the claims be encompassed by them.

Claims (20)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - An adjustable armrest assembly for use on a chair, said armrest assembly comprising: a support member secured to said chair and extending substantially upward therefrom; a armrest member extending substantially coaxia with said support member; a locking element fixed to one of said support member and said armrest member, said locking element having a projecting portion including an end portion, said end portion including a first commuting element; an adjustment member fixed to the other of said sunroof member and said armrest member, said adjusting member and said locking element move relative to each other, said adjustment member having a plurality of vertically spaced flanges said flanges are separated to form a plurality of recesses; each recess is adapted to receive said projecting portion of said locking element, each recess having a second comming element corresponding to said first comming element; wherein said armrest member is movable in a horizontal plane when said first and second elements coincide + is disengaged and said armrest member is also movable both in a vertical plane and in a horizontal plane when said first and second comrades are decoupled and said projecting portion of said locking element is decoupled from said recess of said adjusting member.

2. The adjustable armrest assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first matching member is a plurality of teeth that extend substantially vertically.

3. The adjustable armrest assembly according to claim 2, wherein said second commuting element is a pin-shaped projecting surface adapted to mate with one of said teeth of said first matching element.

4. The adjustable armrest assembly according to claim 3, wherein said locking element is a ratchet.

5. The adjustable armrest assembly according to claim 4, wherein said armrest member includes a cavity receiving said support member.

6. The adjustable armrest assembly according to claim 5, further comprising a drive member fixed to an outer surface of said armrest member. 7.- The adjustable armrest assembly of L 7 according to claim 6, wherein said driving member is fixed to said adjusting member. 8. The adjustable armrest assembly according to claim 7, wherein said adjustment member is pivotable with respect to said clamping element. 9. The adjustable armrest assembly according to claim 8, further comprising a spring connected to an upper part of said adjustment member and said armrest member for urging said adjustment member in engagement with said pawl. 10. An adjustable armrest assembly for use on a chair, said armrest assembly comprising: a support member fixed to said chair and extending substantially upward therefrom; a armrest member extending substantially coaxially with said support member; a locking element fixed to said support member, said locking element having a projecting portion including an end portion, said end portion including a first coinciding element; an adjusting member fixed to said armrest member, said adjusting member and said locking element move relative to each other, said adjusting member having a plurality of vertically spaced flanges, said flanges being spaced apart to form a plurality of recesses , each recess is adapted to receive said projecting portion of said railing element, each recess having a second coincident element corresponding to said first element coinciding + e; wherein said armrest member is movable in a horizontal plane when said first and second elements coincide are decoupled and said armrest member is also movable both in a vertical plane and in a horizontal plane when said first and second matching elements are decoupled and said projecting portion of said locking element is decoupled from said gap of said adjusting member. 11. The adjustable armrest assembly according to claim 10, wherein said first matching element is a plurality of vertically extending teeth. 12. The adjustable armrest assembly according to claim 11, wherein said second com¬ ponent element is a projecting surface in the form of a pin adapted to mate with one of said teeth of said first com¬ ponent element. 13. The adjustable armrest assembly according to claim 12, wherein said armrest member includes a cavity defined by an interior surface receiving said support member. 14. The adjustable armrest assembly according to claim 13, further comprising a drive member fixed to an outer surface of said armrest member and connected to said adjusting member. 15. The adjustable armrest assembly according to claim 14, further comprising a clamp that is affixed to said adjusting member for securing said adjustment member with the armrest member. 16. The adjustable armrest assembly according to claim 15, further comprising a spring attached to an upper portion of said adjustment member and said armrest member for urging said adjustment member in engagement with said locking element. 1

7. An adjustable armrest assembly for use on a chair, said armrest assembly comprising: a support member fixed to said chair and extending substantially upward therefrom; a armrest member extending substantially coaxially with said support member, said armrest member defining a cavity slidably receiving said support member; a locking element fixed to said support member, said locking element having a projecting portion including an end portion, said end portion includes a first matching element; an adjusting member fixed to said armrest member, said adjusting member being pivotable with respect to said locking element, said adjusting member having a plurality of spaced-apart flanges only, said flanges being + separated to form a plurality of hollows, each hollow is adapted to receive said projecting portion of said locking oem, each hollow has a second coinciding element corresponding to said first matching element; wherein said armrest member is movable in a horizontal plane when said first and second mating elements are decoupled and said armrest member is also movable in both a horizontal plane and a vertical plane when said first and second mating elements are decoupled and said projecting portion of said locking element is decoupled from said recess of said adjusting member. 1

8. The adjustable armrest assembly according to claim 17, further comprising a spring fixed to an upper part of said adjusting member and said armrest member for urging said adjustment member in engagement with said locking element. 1

9. The adjustable armrest assembly according to claim 18, further comprising a drive member attached to said adjusting member and an exterior surface of said armrest member. 20. The adjustable armrest assembly according to claim 19, wherein said first commuting element is a plurality of vertically extending teeth substantially and said second mating member is a pin-shaped projecting surface adapted to engage with one of said teeth of said first matching element.