Quick release armrest assembly for a bath chair

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A quick release armrest assembly includes at least one holder, an armrest and at least one resilient sheet. Each one of the at least one holder is bent and has a through hole. The armrest is connected to the at least one holder and has at least one end. The at least one end is mounted respectively in the at least one holder and each one of the at least one end has a mounting hole. The mounting hole corresponds to the through hole of the corresponding holder. The at least one resilient sheet is mounted respectively in the at least one end of the armrest and has two ends and a positioning protrusion. The positioning protruision is mounted on one of the ends of the resilient sheet and extends selectively through the mounting hole of the corresponding end of the armrest and the through hole of the corresponding holder.

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Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to an armrest assembly, and more particularly to a quick release armrest assembly for a bath chair that can be detached from the bath chair quickly and easily.

2. Description of the Related Art

A bath chair can be used to help a physically handicapped user sit and bathe. Sometimes two armrests may be installed on the bath chair to prevent the user on the bath chair from collapsing and improve safety of the bath chair.

With reference to FIG. 4, a conventional bath chair comprises a front supporting member, a rear supporting member, a seat (41), two supporting rods (42), a back (43) and two armrests (44). The front supporting member is U-shaped and has two legs (40) and a connecting rod. Each leg (40) has a top and two through holes (401) defined through the leg (40) near the top of the leg (40). The connecting rod is mounted between the tops of the legs (40). The rear supporting member is U-shaped, has a structure same as that of the front supporting member and comprises two legs (40) and a connecting rod. The seat (41) is mounted on the connecting rods of the front supporting member and the rear supporting member. The supporting rods (42) are L-shaped and each supporting rod (42) has a mounting segment and an extending segment. The mounting segment is mounted on the connecting rods of the front supporting member and the rear supporting member. The extending segment is connected to the mounting segment and extends upward. The back (43) is mounted on the extending segments of the supporting rods (42).

Each armrest (44) is U-shaped, is mounted on corresponding legs (40) of the front and rear supporting members and has two ends. Each end of the armrest (44) has two mounting holes (441), two bolts (45) and two nuts (46). The mounting holes (441) are defined through the end of the armrest (44), correspond to and are aligned respectively with the through holes (401) in the corresponding legs (40). The bolts (45) extend respectively through the mounting holes (441) and the through holes (401) in the corresponding leg (40). The nuts (46) are screwed respectively onto the bolts (45) to fasten the armrest (44) onto the corresponding legs (40).

The conventional armrest (44) for the conventional bath chair as described has following disadvantages:

1. Because the armrests (44) are mounted on the legs (40) by multiple bolts (45) and nuts (46), assembling the armrests (44) is inconvenient.

2. Detaching the armrests (44) from the conventional bath chair is also time-wasting and needs tools. In addition, when the armrests (44) are not detached from the conventional bath chair, the conventional bath chair occupies a large space and storing and transporting the conventional bath chair are also inconvenient.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a quick release armrest assembly for a bath chair to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a quick release armrest assembly for a bath chair that can be detached from the bath chair quickly and easily.

The quick release armrest assembly comprises at least one holder, an armrest and at least one resilient sheet. Each one of the at least one holder has a through hole. The armrest is connected to the at least one holder and has at least one end. The at least one end of the armrest is mounted respectively in the at least one holder and each one of the at least one end has a mounting hole. The mounting hole corresponds to the through hole of a corresponding holder and has a diameter.

The at least one resilient sheet is mounted respectively in the at least one end of the armrest and has two ends and a positioning protrusion. The positioning protrusion is mounted on one of the ends of the resilient sheet and extends selectively through the mounting hole of the corresponding end of the armrest and the through hole of the corresponding holder.

Preferably, the positioning protrusion of each one of the at least one resilient sheet has a lip having an outer diameter larger than the diameter of the through hole of a corresponding end of the armrest.

Preferably, the quick release armrest assembly comprises two holders and two resilient sheets. The armrest is U-shaped and has two ends.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a quick release armrest assembly for a bath chair in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the quick release armrest assembly in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an operational side view in partial section of the quick release armrest assembly in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional bath chair in accordance with the prior art.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIG. 1, a bath chair comprises a front supporting member, a rear supporting member, a seat (11), two supporting rods (12), a back (13) and two armrest assemblies (20) in accordance with the present invention. The front supporting member is U-shaped and has two legs (10) and a connecting rod. The rear supporting member is U-shaped and has a structure same as that of the front supporting member. The seat (11) is mounted on the connecting rods of the front supporting member and the rear supporting member. The supporting rods are L-shaped and each supporting rod has a mounting segment and an extending segment. The mounting segment is mounted on the connecting rods of the front supporting member and the rear supporting member. The extending segment is connected to the mounting segment and extends upward. The back (13) is mounted on the extending segments of the supporting rods.

With further reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, each armrest assembly (20) in accordance with the present invention is attached to corresponding legs (10) of the front and rear supporting members and comprises two holders (21), an armrest (22) and two resilient sheet (23). The holders (21) are tubular and are bent and are connected respectively to the corresponding legs (10) of the front supporting member and the rear supporting member. Each holder (21) has an inner diameter and a through hole (210). The armrest (22) is tubular, is U-shaped, is connected to the holders (21) and has two ends. Each end of the armrest (22) is mounted in one of the holders (21) and has an outer diameter and a mounting hole (220). The outer diameter is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the holder (21). The mounting hole (220) corresponds to and is aligned with the through hole (210) in the corresponding holder (21) and has a diameter. The armrest can also be T-shaped and has an end mounted in one holder.

Each resilient sheet (23) is V-shaped, is mounted in one of the ends of the armrest (22) and has two ends and a positioning protrusion (231). The positioning protrusion (231) is mounted on one of the ends of the resilient sheet (23), extends selectively through the mounting hole (220) of the corresponding end of the armrest (22) and the through hole (210) of the corresponding holder (21) and has a lip (232) having an outer diameter. The outer diameter of the lip (232) is larger than the diameter of the mounting hole (220) of the end of the armrest (22) so the position of the positioning protrusion (231) can be fixed.

When the armrests (22) are inserted respectively into the holders (21) and the mounting holes (220) of the armrest (22) are aligned respectively with the through holes (210) of the holders (21), the positioning protrusions (231) of the resilient sheets (23) extend respectively through the mounting holes (220) of the armrests (22) and the through holes (210) of the holders (21) to position the armrests (22). When the armrests (22) are detached, the positioning protrusions (231) are pushed inward to release the armrests (22) and the armrests (22) with the resilient sheets (23) are pulled upward to leave the holders (21). Accordingly, the armrests (22) can be assembled and detached quickly and conveniently. In addition, the bath chair with the armrests (22) being detached can be stored and transported easily.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. A quick release armrest assembly for a bath chair comprising

at least one holder and each one of the at least one holder being bent and having a through hole having a diameter;
an armrest being connected detachably to the at least one holder and having at least one end being mounted respectively in the at least one holder and each one of the at least one end having a mounting bole corresponding to the through hole in a corresponding holder and having a diameter; and
at least one resilient sheet being mounted respectively in the at least one end of the armrest and each one of the at least one resilient sheet having two ends; and a positioning protrusion being mounted on one of the ends of the resilient sheet and extending selectively through the mounting hole of a corresponding end of the armrest and the through hole of a corresponding holder.

2. The quick release armrest assembly for a bath chair as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the positioning protrusion of each one of the at least one resilient sheet has a lip having an outer diameter larger than the diameter of the through hole of a corresponding end of the armrest

3. The quick release armrest assembly for a bath chair as claimed in claim 2, wherein

the quick release armrest assembly has two holders and two resilient sheets; and
the armrest is U-shaped and has two ends inserted respectively into the holders.

4. The quick release winiest assembly for a bath chair as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the quick release armrest assembly has two holders and two resilient sheets; and
the armrest is U-shaped and has two ends inserted respectively into the holders.
Patent History
Publication number: 20080136244
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 6, 2006
Publication Date: Jun 12, 2008
Applicant:
Inventor: Ming-Chuan Cheng (Taichung)
Application Number: 11/635,234
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Detachably Interfitted To A Particular Chair Or Seat At A Connecting Joint (297/411.26)
International Classification: A47C 7/54 (20060101);