Adjustable Armrest

Abstract

In the specification and drawings an armrest is described and shown with an arm, the arm having a support portion and a body portion; a channel extending longitudinally along the support portion, the channel having an open face along at least a portion of its length; and a bracket, the bracket being slidably engaged with the channel. Also in the specification and drawings an armrest is described and shown with an arm, the arm having a support portion and a body portion; and a bracket, the bracket being slidably engaged with the arm such that the lower end of the support portion extends below the bracket when the arm is in a lowered height position.

Description

I. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

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.

II. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in the accompanying drawings, an embodiment is an armrest. As shown in FIG. 1, 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).

Referring to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, 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. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, 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. 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 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. In an embodiment, 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.

As shown in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3, the lower end 30 of the support portion 12 extends below the bracket 20 when the arm 10 is in a lowered height position. As shown in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, the upper end 32 of the support portion 12 extends above the bracket 20 when the arm 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, 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). As is shown in FIG. 5, 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). As shown in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, 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). In the embodiment depicted 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. When 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.

Referring still to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, 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. 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, 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. As shown in FIG. 2, when the arm 10 is connected to a chair 22 the inner side 34 of the support portion 12 is oriented in the direction of the main body of the chair 22. Further, when the arm is connected to a 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.

Referring now to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3, 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). In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3, 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. 3, 4, and 5, 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.

Referring now to the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14, the bracket 20 has a plurality of teeth 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, and 52 (not shown in FIG. 14). In these embodiments the bracket 20 has six teeth 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, and 52 arranged in a substantially straight line. In another embodiment, the bracket can have more than six teeth or less than six teeth. As shown in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 14, 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.

As is best shown in the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 12 and 13, 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. In another embodiment, 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. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, 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.

Referring now to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 9, the teeth 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, and 52 of the bracket 20 can extend through the open face of the channel 16. Referring still to FIG. 9, 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. In an embodiment, 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.

Referring still to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 9, 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. 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 the pawl 62 into locking engagement with at least one of the plurality of teeth.

Referring still to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 9, 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.

Referring still to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 9, 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. As shown in FIGS. 11, 12, and 13, 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.

Referring still to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 9, 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.

In an embodiment, the lever 58 has an activating portion 78 (see FIG. 1). As used in the description and claims, 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. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 9, the activating portion of the lever 58 is the upper portion of the lever 58 that is located above the pivot point 60.

Referring still to FIGS. 4 and 9, in an embodiment the activating portion of the lever 58 is positioned sufficiently near a channel bisecting line (depicted as line G of FIG. 4). As used in the description and claims, 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. As used in the description and claims, 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.

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 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. In still other embodiments, 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.

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 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. In still other embodiments, 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.

Referring again to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, 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.

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

1. An armrest for a chair comprising:

a. an arm, the arm having a support portion and a body portion;

b. a channel extending longitudinally along the support portion, the channel having an open face along at least a portion of its length; and

c. a bracket, the bracket being slidably engaged with the channel.

2. The armrest of claim 1 wherein the bracket is mounted to a chair.

3. The armrest of claim 2 wherein the chair comprises a bar interconnecting a chair back to a chair seat, the bracket being mounted to the bar.

4. The armrest of claim 1 wherein the open face of the channel is located in the inner side of the support portion.

5. The armrest of claim 1 wherein the bracket extends through the open face of the channel.

6. The armrest of claim 1 wherein the bracket further comprises a plurality of teeth, the plurality of teeth extending through the open face of the channel.

7. The armrest of claim 6 wherein the plurality of teeth are arranged in a substantially straight line.

8. The armrest of claim 6 further comprising a lever pivotally mounted to the arm, the lever having a pawl for locking engagement with at least one of the plurality of teeth.

9. The armrest of claim 8 wherein the lever is pivotally mounted to the support portion of the arm.

10. The armrest of claim 8 further comprising an aperture extending from the channel and through the front side of the support portion, the pawl lockingly engaged to at least one of the plurality of teeth through the aperture.

11. The armrest of claim 10 wherein the lever further comprises an angled lower end and the aperture further comprises a complimentary angled lower end.

12. The armrest of claim 8 further comprising a spring engaged with the lever, for biasing the pawl into locking engagement with at least one of the plurality of teeth.

13. The armrest of claim 1 further comprising a means for lockably adjusting the height of the arm.

14. The armrest of claim 13 wherein the means for lockably adjusting the height of the arm is a ratchet.

15. The armrest of claim 8 further comprising a rod obstructing the lower end of the channel.

16. The armrest of claim 15 wherein at least one of the plurality of teeth comprises a notch, the notch being adapted to receive the rod.

17. The armrest of claim 1 wherein the bracket further comprises:

a. a channel engaging member mounted to the bracket, the channel engaging member having a T-shaped cross sectional profile; and

b. a plurality of teeth mounted to the channel engaging member, the plurality of teeth extending through the open face of the channel.

18. The armrest of claim 1 wherein the channel is oriented at an angle relative to the vertical, such that moving the arm to a raised height position simultaneously moves the arm in both an upper direction and a forward direction.

19. The armrest of claim 1 wherein the support portion and the body portion intersect at an angle of greater than 90 degrees.

20. The armrest of claim 1 wherein the support portion and the body portion intersect at an angle of between about 105 degrees and about 135 degrees.

21. The armrest of claim I wherein the lower end of the support portion extends below the bracket when the arm is in a lowered height position.

22. The armrest of claim 21 wherein 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.

23. The armrest of claim 8 wherein the lever comprises an activating portion, the activating portion being positioned at a distance of less than about 5.5 centimeters from a channel bisecting line, when the activating portion of the lever is depressed and the pawl is out of locking engagement with the plurality of teeth.

24. The armrest of claim 8 wherein the lever comprises an activating portion, the activating portion being positioned at a distance of less than about 11.5 centimeters from a channel bisecting line, when the activating portion of the lever is depressed and the pawl is out of locking engagement with the plurality of teeth.

25. An armrest for a chair comprising:

a. an arm, the arm having a support portion and a body portion; and

b. a bracket, the bracket being slidably engaged with the arm such that the lower end of the support portion extends below the bracket when the arm is in a lowered height position.

26. The armrest of claim 25 wherein 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.

27. The armrest of claim 25 wherein the bracket is mounted to a chair.

28. The armrest of claim 27 wherein the chair comprises a bar interconnecting a chair back to a chair seat, the bracket being mounted to the bar.

29. The armrest of claim 25 further comprising a channel extending longitudinally along the support portion, the channel having an open face along at least a portion of its length.

30. The armrest of claim 29 wherein the bracket is slidably engaged with the channel.

31. The armrest of claim 30 wherein the open face of the channel is located in the inner side of the support portion.

32. The armrest of claim 30 wherein the bracket extends through the open face of the channel.

33. The armrest of claim 30 wherein the bracket further comprises a plurality of teeth, the plurality of teeth extending through the open face of the channel.

34. The armrest of claim 33 wherein the plurality of teeth are arranged in a substantially straight line.

35. The armrest of claim 33 further comprising a lever pivotally mounted to the arm, the lever having a pawl for locking engagement with at least one of the plurality of teeth.

36. The armrest of claim 35 wherein the lever is pivotally mounted to the support portion of the arm.

37. The armrest of claim 35 further comprising an aperture extending from the channel and through the front side of the support portion, the pawl lockingly engaged to at least one of the plurality of teeth through the aperture.

38. The armrest of claim 37 wherein the lever further comprises an angled lower end and the aperture further comprises a complimentary angled lower end.

39. The armrest of claim 35 further comprising a spring engaged with the lever, for biasing the pawl into locking engagement with at least one of the plurality of teeth.

40. The armrest of claim 25 further comprising a means for lockably adjusting the height of the arm.

41. The armrest of claim 40 wherein the means for lockably adjusting the height of the arm is a ratchet.

42. The armrest of claim 35 further comprising a rod obstructing the lower end of the channel.

43. The armrest of claim 42 wherein at least one of the plurality of teeth comprises a notch, the notch being adapted to receive the rod.

44. The armrest of claim 30 wherein the bracket further comprises:

a. a channel engaging member mounted to the bracket, the channel engaging member having a T-shaped cross sectional profile; and

b. a plurality of teeth mounted to the channel engaging member, the plurality of teeth extending through the open face of the channel.

45. The armrest of claim 30 wherein the channel is oriented at an angle relative to the vertical, such that moving the arm to a raised height position simultaneously moves the arm in both an upper direction and a forward direction.

46. The armrest of claim 25 wherein the support portion and the body portion intersect at an angle of greater than 90 degrees.

47. The armrest of claim 25 wherein the support portion and the body portion intersect at an angle of between about 105 degrees and about 135 degrees.

48. The armrest of claim 35 wherein the lever comprises an activating portion, the activating portion being positioned at a distance of less than about 5.5 centimeters from a channel bisecting line, when the activating portion of the lever is depressed and the pawl is out of locking engagement with the plurality of teeth.

49. The armrest of claim 35 wherein the lever comprises an activating portion, the activating portion being positioned at a distance of less than about 11.5 centimeters from a channel bisecting line, when the activating portion of the lever is depressed and the pawl is out of locking engagement with the plurality of teeth.