US20110084535A1 - Adjustable Armrest - Google Patents
Adjustable Armrest Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20110084535A1 US20110084535A1 US12/579,198 US57919809A US2011084535A1 US 20110084535 A1 US20110084535 A1 US 20110084535A1 US 57919809 A US57919809 A US 57919809A US 2011084535 A1 US2011084535 A1 US 2011084535A1
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- armrest
- channel
- bracket
- arm
- teeth
- 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
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Classifications
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- A47C1/00—Chairs adapted for special purposes
- A47C1/02—Reclining or easy chairs
- A47C1/022—Reclining or easy chairs having independently-adjustable supporting parts
- A47C1/03—Reclining or easy chairs having independently-adjustable supporting parts the parts being arm-rests
- A47C1/0303—Reclining or easy chairs having independently-adjustable supporting parts the parts being arm-rests adjustable rectilinearly in vertical direction
- A47C1/0305—Reclining or easy chairs having independently-adjustable supporting parts the parts being arm-rests adjustable rectilinearly in vertical direction by peg-and-notch or pawl-and-ratchet mechanism
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
- A47C1/00—Chairs adapted for special purposes
- A47C1/02—Reclining or easy chairs
- A47C1/022—Reclining or easy chairs having independently-adjustable supporting parts
- A47C1/03—Reclining or easy chairs having independently-adjustable supporting parts the parts being arm-rests
Definitions
- FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment described herein.
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment described herein.
- FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of an embodiment described herein.
- FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of an embodiment described herein.
- FIG. 5 is a is a side elevation view of an embodiment described herein.
- FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment described herein.
- FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment described herein.
- FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment described herein.
- FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9 - 9 of FIG. 6 .
- FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an embodiment described herein.
- FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an embodiment described herein.
- FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an embodiment described herein.
- FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an embodiment described herein.
- FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an embodiment described herein.
- an embodiment is an armrest.
- 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 ).
- 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 .
- 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 .
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- the lower end 30 of the support portion 12 extends below the bracket 20 when the arm 10 is in a lowered height position.
- the upper end 32 of the support portion 12 extends above the bracket 20 when the arm 10 is in a raised height position.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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).
- forward direction B is the direction a user would face when seated in a chair.
- 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 ).
- 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.
- 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 .
- 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 .
- the angle E is greater than 90 degrees.
- the angle E is between about 105 degrees and about 135 degrees.
- the angle E is between about 112 degrees and about 128 degrees.
- 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 .
- the inner side 34 of the support portion 12 is oriented in the direction of the main body of the 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.
- 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 ).
- 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.
- 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.
- the bracket 20 has a plurality of teeth 42 , 44 , 46 , 48 , 50 , and 52 (not shown in FIG. 14 ).
- the bracket 20 has six teeth 42 , 44 , 46 , 48 , 50 , and 52 arranged in a substantially straight line.
- the bracket can have more than six teeth or less than six teeth.
- 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.
- 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 .
- 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 .
- 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 .
- 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.
- 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 .
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 .
- 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.
- the lever 58 has an activating portion 78 (see FIG. 1 ).
- 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 .
- the activating portion of the lever 58 is the upper portion of the lever 58 that is located above the pivot point 60 .
- 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 .
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 .
- a pad 74 such as a pad made of a resilient material such as foam
- cover 76 such as a leather, vinyl or fabric cover
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- the lever is then released and the spring forces the pawl into locking engagement with one or more of the teeth of the bracket.
- moving the arm to a raised height position simultaneously moves the arm in both an upper direction and a forward direction.
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Abstract
Description
-
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment described herein. -
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment described herein. -
FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of an embodiment described herein. -
FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of an embodiment described herein. -
FIG. 5 is a is a side elevation view of an embodiment described herein. -
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment described herein. -
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment described herein. -
FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment described herein. -
FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 ofFIG. 6 . -
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an embodiment described herein. -
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an embodiment described herein. -
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an embodiment described herein. -
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an embodiment described herein. -
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an embodiment described herein. - As shown in the accompanying drawings, an embodiment is an armrest. As shown in
FIG. 1 , an embodiment of the armrest 1 has anarm 10. Thearm 10 has asupport portion 12 and abody portion 14. Thesupport portion 12 has achannel 16 extending longitudinally along thesupport portion 12. Thechannel 16 has anopen face 18 along its length. Abracket 20 is slidably engaged with the channel 16 (shown inFIGS. 3 , 4, and 5). - Referring to the embodiment shown in
FIG. 2 , thearm 10 is connected to achair 22. The chair can be an office chair, a reclining chair, a car seat, or any other type of apparatus used for seating. Thearm 10 is connected to thechair 22 bybracket 20. Thebracket 20 is mounted to thechair 22. Thebracket 20 can be mounted to thechair 22 by being integral with thechair 22, or thebracket 20 can be a separate piece and can be mounted to thechair 22 with bolts, screws, welding, glue, or any other method for attaching thebracket 20 to thechair 22. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 2 , thebracket 20 is mounted to abar 24 of thechair 22. Thebar 24 interconnects the chair back 26 to thechair 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. - Referring now to the embodiments shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4 thearm 10 can be moved from a lowered height position (shown inFIG. 3 ) to a raised height position (shown inFIG. 4 ) with thebracket 20 slidably traveling within thechannel 16. Thearm 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 thearm 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. - As shown in the embodiment depicted in
FIG. 3 , thelower end 30 of thesupport portion 12 extends below thebracket 20 when thearm 10 is in a lowered height position. As shown in the embodiment depicted inFIG. 4 , theupper end 32 of thesupport portion 12 extends above thebracket 20 when thearm 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. - Referring now to the embodiment depicted in
FIG. 5 , thearm 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 inFIG. 5 , moving thearm 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 inFIG. 4 , this simultaneous upper direction movement and forward direction movement is a result of thechannel 16 being oriented at an angle C relative to the vertical (the vertical shown as dotted line D inFIG. 4 ). In the embodiment depicted inFIG. 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 thebracket 20 is fix in a position, such as when fixedly mounted to a chair, thechannel 16 being oriented at an angle C can allow thearm 10 to simultaneously move in both an upper direction and a forward direction when thearm 10 is moved from a lowered height position to a raised height position with thebracket 20 slidably engaged with and traveling through thechannel 16. - Referring still to the embodiment shown in
FIG. 4 , thesupport portion 12 and thebody 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 thebody portion 14, intersecting with a line G that runs parallel to thechannel 16 of thesupport 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. - Referring now to the embodiments depicted in
FIGS. 2 , 3, 6, and 7, thesupport portion 12 of thearm 10 can have aninner side 34, anouter side 36, afront side 38, and arear side 40. As shown inFIG. 2 , when thearm 10 is connected to achair 22 theinner side 34 of thesupport portion 12 is oriented in the direction of the main body of thechair 22. Further, when the arm is connected to achair 22 thefront side 38 of thesupport portion 12 is oriented in the direction a user would face when seated in thechair 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. - Referring now to the embodiment depicted in
FIG. 3 , thechannel 16 extends longitudinally along thesupport portion 12 of thearm 10. Theopen face 18 of thechannel 16 is located in theinner side 34 of thesupport portion 12. Thebracket 20 extends through theopen face 18 of the channel 16 (as is better shown in the cross section view ofFIG. 9 ). In the embodiment depicted inFIG. 3 , theopen face 18 of thechannel 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 inFIGS. 3 , 4, and 5, the portion of theopen face 18 located at the upper end of thechannel 16 is exposed when thearm 10 is in a raised height position; and the portion of theopen face 18 located at the lower end of thechannel 16 is exposed when thearm 10 is in a lowered height position. - Referring now to the embodiments depicted in
FIGS. 10 , 11, 12, 13, and 14, thebracket 20 has a plurality ofteeth FIG. 14 ). In these embodiments thebracket 20 has sixteeth FIG. 14 , thebracket 20 can have one ormore bores 54 extending through thebracket 20 for bolting or screwing thebracket 20 to a chair. - As is best shown in the embodiments depicted in
FIGS. 12 and 13 , thebracket 20 can have a channelengaging member 56 mounted to thebracket 20. Thechannel engaging member 56 can be mounted to thebracket 20 by being integral with thebracket 20. In another embodiment, thechannel engaging member 56 can be a separate piece from thebracket 20 and can be mounted to thebracket 20 in a secured fashion, such as with bolts, screws, welding, glue, or any other method for mounting thechannel engaging member 56 to thebracket 20. As shown inFIGS. 12 and 13 , thechannel engaging member 56 has a T-shaped cross sectional profile. The channel 16 (shown inFIG. 9 ) has a complimentary cross sectional profile for mating engagement with thechannel engaging member 56. A plurality ofteeth channel engaging member 56. - Referring now to the embodiment depicted in
FIG. 9 , theteeth bracket 20 can extend through the open face of thechannel 16. Referring still toFIG. 9 , alever 58 is pivotally mounted to thearm 10 atpivot point 60. More particularly, thelever 58 is pivotally mounted to thesupport portion 12 of thearm 10. Thelever 58 has a pawl 62 (also shown inFIGS. 1 and 8 ) on its lower end. Thepawl 62 can lockably engage one or more of theteeth FIG. 9 , thepawl 62 is shown in a lockably engaged position. Thepawl 62 is lockably engaged withtooth 46 andtooth 48 by being positioned betweentooth 46 andtooth 48, thereby preventing movement of thebracket 20 within thechannel 16. Otherwise stated, when thepawl 62 is lockably engaged with thebracket 20, movement of thearm 10 relative to thebracket 20 is prevented, thereby securing thearm 10 in a fixed height position. In an embodiment, thelever 58 can be a button, a trigger, or any other suitable means that allows for the selective locking engagement of thepawl 62 with at least one of the plurality of teeth of thebracket 20. - Referring still to the embodiment depicted in
FIG. 9 , aspring 64 is engaged with thelever 58. Thespring 64 biases thepawl 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 thepawl 62 into locking engagement with at least one of the plurality of teeth. - Referring still to the embodiment depicted in
FIG. 9 , anaperture 66 extends from thechannel 16 and through thefront side 38 of thesupport portion 12 of thearm 10. Thepawl 62 lockingly engages at least one of the teeth by extending through theaperture 66. Thelever 58 has an angled lower end. Theaperture 66 also has an angled lower end that is complimentary with the angled lower end of thelever 58. The angled lower ends of theaperture 66 and thelever 58 can allow the bottom end of thelever 58 to travel in an arc aboutpivot point 60, while still allowing the lower end of thelever 58 to sit substantially flush with the lower end of theaperture 66 when thepawl 62 is in a lockably engaged position. - Referring still to the embodiment depicted in
FIG. 9 , arod 68 extends across thechannel 16 and obstructs the lower end of thechannel 16, thereby preventing thebracket 20 from exiting thechannel 16 when thearm 10 is moved to a raised height position. As shown inFIGS. 11 , 12, and 13, thelower tooth 42 can have anotch 70 therein. Thenotch 70 is adapted to receive the rod 68 (shown inFIG. 9 ). By receiving therod 68, thenotch 70 can allow thearm 10 to be raised to a higher raised height position than would be possible in the absence of thenotch 70. - Referring still to the embodiment depicted in
FIG. 9 , the length of thechannel 16 as measured from the upper end of thechannel 16 to therod 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. - In an embodiment, the
lever 58 has an activating portion 78 (seeFIG. 1 ). As used in the description and claims, the activating portion of thelever 58 is defined as a portion of thelever 58 that can be depressed, such as by a user, in order to move thepawl 62 out of locking engagement with the teeth of thebracket 20. In the embodiment depicted inFIG. 9 , the activating portion of thelever 58 is the upper portion of thelever 58 that is located above thepivot point 60. - Referring still to
FIGS. 4 and 9 , in an embodiment the activating portion of thelever 58 is positioned sufficiently near a channel bisecting line (depicted as line G ofFIG. 4 ). As used in the description and claims, a channel bisecting line is defined as a line that bisects thechannel 16 and that parallels the direction of movement of thebracket 20 within thechannel 16. As used in the description and claims, the activating portion of thelever 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 thelever 58 and pushes or pulls thearm 10 in order to adjust the height position of thearm 10, excessive rotation force on thearm 10 and the resulting binding between thebracket 20 and thechannel 16 is avoided. - 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 thepawl 62 is in locking engagement with the teeth. In another embodiment, the activating portion of thelever 58 can be positioned at a distance of less than about 4 centimeters from the channel bisecting line when thepawl 62 is in locking engagement with the teeth. In still other embodiments, the activating portion of thelever 58 can be positioned at a distance of less than about 6 centimeters from the channel bisecting line when thepawl 62 is in locking engagement with the teeth; less than about 8 centimeters from the channel bisecting line when thepawl 62 is in locking engagement with the teeth; less than about 10 centimeters from the channel bisecting line when thepawl 62 is in locking engagement with the teeth; or less than about 12 centimeters from the channel bisecting line when thepawl 62 is in locking engagement with the teeth. - 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 thelever 58 is depressed and thepawl 62 is out of locking engagement with the teeth. In another embodiment, the activating portion of thelever 58 can be positioned at a distance of less than about 3.5 centimeters from the channel bisecting line when the activating portion of thelever 58 is depressed and thepawl 62 is out of locking engagement with the teeth. In still other embodiments, the activating portion of thelever 58 can be positioned at a distance of less than about 5.5 centimeters from the channel bisecting line when the activating portion of thelever 58 is depressed and thepawl 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 thelever 58 is depressed and thepawl 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 thelever 58 is depressed and thepawl 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 thelever 58 is depressed and thepawl 62 is out of locking engagement with the teeth. - Referring again to the embodiment depicted in
FIG. 1 , the upper portion of thebody portion 14 can have a base 72 for supporting apad 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 thepad 74. - 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Claims (49)
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2009/060680 WO2011046550A1 (en) | 2009-10-14 | 2009-10-14 | Adjustable armrest |
US12/579,198 US20110084535A1 (en) | 2009-10-14 | 2009-10-14 | Adjustable Armrest |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2009/060680 WO2011046550A1 (en) | 2009-10-14 | 2009-10-14 | Adjustable armrest |
US12/579,198 US20110084535A1 (en) | 2009-10-14 | 2009-10-14 | Adjustable Armrest |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20110084535A1 true US20110084535A1 (en) | 2011-04-14 |
Family
ID=51228832
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/579,198 Abandoned US20110084535A1 (en) | 2009-10-14 | 2009-10-14 | Adjustable Armrest |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20110084535A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2011046550A1 (en) |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8960104B2 (en) | 2012-04-27 | 2015-02-24 | Steelcase Inc. | Table |
USD888479S1 (en) | 2018-06-04 | 2020-06-30 | Steelcase Inc. | Chair arm |
USD889667S1 (en) * | 2018-02-12 | 2020-07-07 | Midmark Corporation | Armrest |
USD891842S1 (en) | 2018-06-04 | 2020-08-04 | Steelcase Inc. | Chair arm |
US11083301B2 (en) | 2018-06-01 | 2021-08-10 | Steelcase Inc. | Seating arrangement |
US11344128B2 (en) * | 2020-07-08 | 2022-05-31 | Atec International Team Co., Ltd. | Height adjustment assembly |
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- 2009-10-14 US US12/579,198 patent/US20110084535A1/en not_active Abandoned
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US8960104B2 (en) | 2012-04-27 | 2015-02-24 | Steelcase Inc. | Table |
USD889667S1 (en) * | 2018-02-12 | 2020-07-07 | Midmark Corporation | Armrest |
US11083301B2 (en) | 2018-06-01 | 2021-08-10 | Steelcase Inc. | Seating arrangement |
US11800935B2 (en) | 2018-06-01 | 2023-10-31 | Steelcase Inc. | Seating arrangement |
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US11344128B2 (en) * | 2020-07-08 | 2022-05-31 | Atec International Team Co., Ltd. | Height adjustment assembly |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2011046550A1 (en) | 2011-04-21 |
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Legal Events
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Owner name: HUMANSCALE CORPORATION, NEW YORK Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:DIFFRIENT, NIELS;REEL/FRAME:023431/0244 Effective date: 20091014 |
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Owner name: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT, NEW YORK Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:HUMANSCALE CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:025321/0222 Effective date: 20101104 |
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STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |
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Owner name: HUMANSCALE CORPORATION, NEW JERSEY Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.;REEL/FRAME:054356/0903 Effective date: 20201104 |