Vertically Patents (Class 297/411.36)
  • Publication number: 20080191537
    Abstract: An armrest device comprises an armrest base plate on the upper end of an armrest support rod. A support block is provided on the armrest base plate. An engagement portion of the support block engages in a slot of the armrest base plate. A plurality of grooves are formed on a projection along the slot. An elastic tongue of the support block engages with the projection to allow the armrest base plate to slide back and forth smoothly. The armrest support rod is surrounded by an intermediate tube and an armrest support tube. A turning lever in the armrest support rod is pivotally mounted to an operating lever on the upper end of the armrest support rod. A pin which passes through a hole of the turning lever engages in an opening of the intermediate tube. The opening comprises a vertical elongate portion and a plurality of horizontal engagement portions. The pin selectively engages in any one of the engagement portions to allow the armrest to be held at respective height.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventor: Youichirou ODA
  • Patent number: 7387339
    Abstract: The invention relates to furniture, in particular to sitting devices and can be used as a work chair or therapeutic furniture. The aim of said invention is to develop a sitting device which would make it possible to efficiently relieve the backbone in a sitting posture taking into consideration individual morphological and functional asymmetries, thereby normalizing the work of other organs and systems of an organism, first and foremost the organs of the small pelvis, optimizing the “turtuosity” of the backbone associated with constitutional and geophysical factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Inventors: Alexei Alexeevich Bykov, Alexandr Nikolaevich Novoselsky, Andrei Rufovich Gruzdev
  • Patent number: 7387342
    Abstract: A vertically adjustable armrest that is suitable for use in connection with various types of passenger vehicles, including commercial aircraft. The armrest includes a slide mechanism for permitting easy height adjustment of the armrest and also includes a locking mechanism for securely locking the headrest in the desired elevated position. The armrest moves in a smooth vertical motion and is continuously biased toward an upraised position. Vertical adjustment of the armrest is accomplished by pushing a push button located in the upper portion of the armrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Inventors: Robert Clough, Roberto E. Arance
  • Publication number: 20080129101
    Abstract: An armrest locking device for preventing unintentional unlocking thereof upon a car crash is disclosed. The armrest locking device includes an armrest body defining a receiving space therein, an armrest cover pivotally rotatably coupled to the armrest body for opening and closing the armrest body, a push button provided at the armrest cover for regulating locking and unlocking of the armrest, a hook member configured to move along with the push button, so as to be caught by the armrest body, an elastic member provided at the rear side of the push button for providing the push button with an elastic force in a protruding direction of the push button, and a sensor member having a rotating shaft pivotally rotatably disposed in a space defined at the rear side of the hook member, a supporting portion for supporting the hook member, and a weight connected to the rotating shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hyungsang PARK
  • Patent number: 7360839
    Abstract: An angle-adjusting apparatus for an office chair includes: a supporting body with an bottom end attached to one side of a seat body of the office chair, a receiving cavity being defined by the front side of the upper portion of the supporting body, a plurality of notches being continuously formed in the front wall of the supporting body; a hollow socket mounted on the supporting body and liftable thereon; a locking shank having a pivot pin disposed at the top thereof and a protrusion at the bottom thereof for fitting into one of the notches, a spring being interposed between the front side of the locking shank and the wall of the hollow socket for providing the locking shank with an elastic pushing force in direction of the notches, a holding portion passing through the through hole of the hollow socket being extended forward from the pivot pin of the locking shank; and an armrest body transversely disposed at the top of the hollow socket and movably connected to the hollow socket so as to perform the ascendi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Inventor: Yung-Hua Chen
  • Patent number: 7357051
    Abstract: A ratchet-type adjustment device for the ratcheting displacement of an adjustment body with respect to a fixed base element having an oblong actuating element, where the actuating element can be displaced along linear toothed portions, which are fitted to the adjustment body on either side of the actuating element, and latched into the first linear toothed portion, acting as driving toothed portion, by first ratchet elements, the adjustment device furthermore comprising at least two second ratchet elements mounted pivotably on the fixed base element, which ratchet elements can be latched into the second linear toothed portion, acting as blocking and braking toothed portion, to block a displacement movement of the adjustment body with respect to the fixed base element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Grammer AG
    Inventor: Holger Raum
  • Publication number: 20080079302
    Abstract: An adjustable arm assembly for a chair is described including an adjustable arm having a detent actuator to be manually depressed so that elevation of the chair arm can be selectively adjusted relative to the chair seat to accommodate the arms of a user. An elevation adjustment tube to which the adjustable arm is connected is slidable through a hollow elevation guide tube at the side of the chair so that the elevation of the adjustable arm can be changed. A lock is carried by and slidable with the elevation adjustment tube through the elevation guide tube. The lock has a detent pin that is moved into receipt by one of a plurality of detent holes formed in the elevation guide tube when the detent actuator is not being operated so as to releasably retain the elevation adjustment tube within the elevation guide tube. An elongated actuator arm runs through the elevation adjustment tube between the detent actuator and the lock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Inventor: James E. Grove
  • Publication number: 20080073965
    Abstract: An armrest assembly for a chair includes an armrest support, a slide seat mounted on the armrest support, a first slide mounted on the slide seat, a second slide mounted on the first slide, a rotation member mounted on the second slide, a retainer mounted on the rotation member, a mounting member secured in the armrest support and provided with a stud extended through the first slide, the second slide and the rotation member and secured to the retainer, and an armrest mounted on the first slide. Thus, the armrest is movable in the axial direction and the transverse direction and is rotatable horizontally relative to the armrest support, so that the position of the armrest can be adjusted easily and freely according to the user's practical requirement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Inventor: Po-Chuan Tsai
  • Patent number: 7341313
    Abstract: An armrest includes an armrest support and a subassembly supported thereon for vertical adjustment by a height adjustment device having a rotatable high-lead-angle threaded shaft, a mating nut, and a trigger. The shaft member is rotatable upon a vertical force being placed on the subassembly, and the trigger engages the shaft to prevent rotation and fix a selected height position. The subassembly includes a housing, an armrest cap, and a pair of swing arms pivoted to each of the housing and cap for adjustably supporting the armrest cap for rotational and translational horizontal movement. Horizontal adjustment is controlled by choice of materials, a frictional wave spring and dampener. Optionally, the armrest cap includes a keyhole slot and one of the links includes a configured protrusion shaped to selectively linearly slide along a long part of the slot . . . or rotate in the circular end of the keyhole slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Adam C. Bedford, David A. Bodnar, Gary Lee Karsten
  • Publication number: 20080036264
    Abstract: A height adjustable chair armrest comprises a lower tube, an upper tube, and a push member. Two circular supporting units are provided on upper and lower ends of the lower tube so that the lower tube has an exact contact with the upper tube and a smooth adjustment can be achieved. A flexible gripper secured to one side of the upper tube receives urgently a fastener provided on one side of the push member so that pressing the push member will make a first protrusion at a lower section of the push member to depart from one of a plurality of holes of the lower tube so as to adjust the height of the armrest. Meanwhile, a protrusion protrudes from an inner side of the upper tube for cooperating with a bar groove extending vertically on the lower tube to provide a smooth guide of movement of the upper tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventor: Toung-Chun Pan
  • Publication number: 20080036265
    Abstract: A height adjustable chair armrest has a lower tube, an upper tube, and a push member. Two circular supporting units are provided on upper and lower ends of the lower tube so that the lower tube has an exact contact with the upper tube and a smooth adjustment can be achieved. A flexible gripper secured to one side of the upper tube receives urgently a fastener provided on one side of the push member so that pressing the push member will make a first protrusion at a lower section of the push member to depart from one of a plurality of holes of the lower tube so as to adjust the height of the armrest. Meanwhile, a protrusion protrudes from an inner side of the upper tube for cooperating with a bar groove extending vertically on the lower tube to provide a smooth guide of movement of the upper tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventor: Toung-Chun Pan
  • Patent number: 7325868
    Abstract: A tool is provided for supporting the human upper body when having to lean over to work. The tool comprising a platform member for supporting the human upper body in a leaning position thereby reducing back muscle strain and fatigue; a cushioned pad secured to an upper surface of the platform member providing a cushioned interface between the human upper body and the platform; an omni-directional tilt and swivel member secured to a bottom surface of the platform member; an elongated telescopic height adjustment member comprising two or more elongated telescopic sections providing platform height adjustment, said sections being separable from one another so that sections may be removed or added as desired; one or more removable base members, the base member being removable to permit replacing the base member so as to accommodate base member configured for different floor or support conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Inventors: Steven D. West, Cheryl A. West
  • Patent number: 7322647
    Abstract: A juvenile vehicle seat unit includes a seat and a headrest mounted for up-and-down movement on a headrest support included in the seat. The seat unit also includes a headrest height-adjustment mechanism coupled to the headrest and to the headrest support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Cosco Management, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald F. Munn, William Horton, Philip W. Burbrink
  • Patent number: 7306288
    Abstract: An adjustable armrest assembly includes a support fixed to a chair seat and a sleeve slidably mounted on the support. An armrest is mounted to the sleeve to move therewith. The sleeve is slidable relative to the support to allow adjustment of a level of the armrest. The sleeve can be retained at a desired level relative to the support. An upward force is imparted to the sleeve while the sleeve is slidable relative to the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: KIMRO2 International Ltd.
    Inventors: Yung-Ming Hu, Roger Sands
  • Patent number: 7296855
    Abstract: A chair has a chair body, a rest, an adjusting mechanism for adjusting a height of the rest and including a securing element solidly connected to the chair body and having a free end with a slot, a threaded bolt extending through the slot and screwable into a thread in the rest, and a hand wheel to which the threaded bolt is rigidly connected, so that securing of the rest to the end portion of the securing element in clamping fashion is effected, a clamping sleeve has a throughbore through which the threaded bolt reaches in an assembled state and an end face with diameter greater than a width of the slot, a plurality of detent elements lockingly engageable by the end face of the clamping sleeve, wherein the clamping sleeve or the detent recesses have at least one oblique face, and a pressure-generating device builds up a pressure force between the hand wheel and the clamping sleeve and has at least one force component parallel to the longitudinal axis of the clamping sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Interstuhl Bueromoebel GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventor: Werner Link
  • Patent number: 7252338
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes an armrest attached to a seat, and an amrest coupling assembly for coupling the armrest to the seat comprising a linear adjustment mechanism coupled to the armrest, and a rotational adjustment mechanism coupled to the armrest. The linear adjustment mechanism is arranged to enable the armrest to translate along an initial linear axis between a plurality of generally vertical positions. The rotational adjustment mechanism is arranged to enable the armrest to pivot about the rotational axis between a plurality of angular positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventor: Mark W Crossman
  • Patent number: 7246859
    Abstract: A chair has a backrest and a pair of armrests. A pair of support struts for supporting the backrest is connected to a shaft of a base under a seat. The armrest is supported by an arm post. An operating lever is mounted on the upper front end of the arm post. When the backrest is tilted, it is held at a desired angle by pressing up the operating lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Okamura Corporation
    Inventors: Ryo Igarashi, Naoki Numa, Ken Nakayama, Hiroshi Masunaga
  • Patent number: 7237844
    Abstract: A light-weight portable vertebrae decompression support device comprising a pair of arm rests with selectively adjustable members connecting the arm rests and a base member. The base member is adapted to rest on a seat. The selective adjustment raises and lowers the height of the arm rests with respect to the base. The support device provides arm support sufficient to decompress the vertebrae and aids persons recovering from back surgery or those with chronic back problems. The support device can be made adjustable to fit different girth persons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: The Idea People LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth G Stewart, III, Thomas Sweeney
  • Patent number: 7234777
    Abstract: A task chair is disclosed, including a base, a seat supported by the base, and a pair of uprights connected to the base and extending upwardly from the seat. A pair of armrests are attached respectively to the uprights, and are selectively positionable along the uprights in a manner in which the height of the armrests along the uprights is adjustable. A backrest is also selectively positionable along the uprights, and the height of the backrest with respect to the seat may be adjusted by moving the backrest upwardly or downwardly along the uprights. The armrests and backrest each include mount sleeves telescopingly slidable along the uprights, each of the mount sleeves including a user-operable adjustment mechanism which includes a lever having a portion thereof selectively engagable with one of a series of holes along the uprights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Kimball International, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek R Schweikarth, Chad M Kieffner
  • Patent number: 7234779
    Abstract: An armrest includes an armrest support and a subassembly supported thereon for vertical adjustment by a height adjustment device having a rotatable high-lead-angle threaded shaft, a mating nut, and a trigger. The shaft member is rotatable upon a vertical force being placed on the subassembly, and the trigger engages the shaft to prevent rotation and fix a selected height position. The subassembly includes a housing, an armrest cap, and a pair of swing arms pivoted to each of the housing and cap for adjustably supporting the armrest cap for rotational and translational horizontal movement. Horizontal adjustment is controlled by choice of materials, a frictional wave spring and dampener. Optionally, the armrest cap includes a keyhole slot and one of the links includes a configured protrusion shaped to selectively linearly slide along a long part of the slot . . . or rotate in the circular end of the keyhole slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Adam C. Bedford, David A. Bodnar, Gary Lee Karsten
  • Patent number: 7201449
    Abstract: An adjustable armrest includes an elevation device to allow adjustment of a height of the armrest, a first rocking device to allow adjustment of the armrest to the left or to the right, a movement controlling device to allow front and rear adjustment of the armrest and a second rocking device to allow movement of the armrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Fusco Industrial Corporation
    Inventor: Ching Tao Tsai
  • Patent number: 7198329
    Abstract: A height adjustable chair has an upper portion that moves relative to a lower portion. Push-off arm rests are provided so that a person need not leave the chair to adjust the seat height upwardly. A seated person can transfer their body weight to the push-off arm rests supported directly by the stationary lower portion while the seat is being adjusted upwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventor: John E. Larson
  • Patent number: 7188901
    Abstract: A chair adjustment mechanism has a pin retaining member (as, for example, a sleeve) with a slot having two laterally spaced pin receptors. Each receptor is partially defined by a peripheral wall of the slot and is further defined by a spring finger that projects along side of the peripheral wall. With this arrangement, a pin may be received through the slot and into a longitudinal slot of a second member (as, for example, a J-bar), which longitudinal slot defines a rack. The pin receptors may be positioned such that with the pin in a first of the pin receptors, it is engaged by the rack. In consequence, the pin retaining member may be moved upwardly with respect to the second member by notching the pin over teeth of the rack against the urging of the spring finger. The top of the longitudinal slot may have a cam surface to cam the pin into the second pin receptor such that the pin is now spaced from the rack. This releases the pin retaining member to be lowered with respect to the second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Leggett & Platt Ltd.
    Inventors: Gerard Helmond, Kenneth A. Beggs, David Watkins
  • Patent number: 7182403
    Abstract: A reclining chair, in particular a passenger chair, for use in a vehicle such as an aircraft, bus or mobile home. The chair includes a base assembly, a seat frame located above the base assembly, a seat attached to the seat frame, and a seat back connected to the seat frame. In various embodiments, the chair includes features such as an energy absorbing base assembly, an adjustable arm rest, a fully reclining seat back and a seat that increases its angle with respect to the horizontal as the seat back reclines, thereby forcing one back into the chair. The seat and seat back is also capable of achieving a fully horizontal position when the seat back is fully reclined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: John Williamson, Sreekanth Chintapudi
  • Patent number: 7156466
    Abstract: A chair arm adjustment mechanism is disclosed. The mechanism includes a T-shaped driving member, a spring biased trigger member in a vertical section of the driving member and having a finger tab, a lock members including two bifurcated ends; a positioning member fitted around a portion of the driving member and including a longitudinal channel, and an upper and lower shrouds. Lifting the finger tab will pivot the bifurcated ends of the lock members toward each other until a joining portion thereof is stopped. Releasing the finger tab will lower the trigger member, pivot the bifurcated ends away each other until the joining portion thereof is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Chuan Lin Wang Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Feng-mei Chang
  • Patent number: 7156465
    Abstract: A light-weight portable vertebrae decompression support device comprising a pair of arm rests with selectively adjustable members connecting the arm rests and a base member. The base member is adapted to rest on a seat. The selective adjustment raises and lowers the height of the arm rests with respect to the base. The support device provides arm support sufficient to decompress the vertebrae and aids persons recovering from back surgery or those with chronic back problems. The support device can be made adjustable to fit different girth persons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: The Idea People LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth G. Stewart, III, Thomas Sweeney
  • Patent number: 7114777
    Abstract: A seating unit includes a seating unit having a base, a seat and a back operably pivoted to the base for synchronous movement including recline of the back and forward movement of the seat, an adjustable variable back stop adjustably engaging the seat for adjustably limiting a rearward tilt of the back, and a handle. The handle and the back stop are supported for independent movement, but are interconnected by a connecting mechanism including a pair of links so that the back stop is selectively adjusted upon rotation of the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Daryl Knoblock, legal representative, Arnold B. Dammermann, Larry DeKraker, Kurt R. Heidmann, Gordon J. Peterson, Charles P. Roossien, David S. Teppo, Glenn A. Knoblock, deceased
  • Patent number: 7108318
    Abstract: A vehicular arm has a fixed axle, an arm-rest body pivotable on the axle about its axis between a raised position and a lowered position, an abutment axially fixed on the axle and rotationally coupled to the arm-rest body, and a pusher rotationally fixed and axially shiftable on the axle. The abutment lies between the pusher and the arm-rest body. Coupling projections on the pusher and on the abutment extend toward each other and have mutually engaging faces lying in planes extending at an acute angle to the axis. A spring presses the pusher axially toward the abutment, such that, when the arm-rest body is pressed toward the lowered position with a force exceeding a predetermined limit, the faces cam the pusher axially away from the abutment and permit limited rotation of the abutment and arm-rest body on the axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Grammar AG
    Inventors: Erwin Himmelhuber, Alexander Albu, Gerhard Delling
  • Patent number: 7097254
    Abstract: The present invention provides a height-adjustment mechanism for an armrest. In an embodiment, a height-adjustment mechanism for an armrest includes an integral one-piece leverage body, and an integral one-piece sleeve. In an embodiment, the integral one-piece sleeve has pivot seats formed on a pair of locking arms depending from a first wall of the sleeve. These parts may be made of low cost materials suitable for integrally forming their features in an injection-moulding operation. Various features built into these parts may provide a user with a sense of quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Leggett & Platt Ltd.
    Inventors: David Lloyd Hobb, Gerard J. Matern, Gerard Helmond, Arthur A. Patton, Cuong Quoc Vo, David Watkins
  • Patent number: 7066546
    Abstract: A horizontally adjustable armrest for a chair including a vertically slideable element having a base, a lower horizontal slide element movable longitudinally, an upper horizontal slide element movable laterally and an armrest cover. The lower horizontal slide element includes a longitudinally extending slot with a shoulder. Two fasteners extend through the slot and are fastened to the base. Under the fasteners' heads are springs and washers to bias the lower slide element into frictional engagement with the base. The upper surface of the lower horizontal slide element includes a pair of guide rails which are received in recesses formed in the bottom surface of the upper horizontal slide element. The upper slide element includes two slots extending perpendicular to the slot of the lower slide element. Fasteners, springs and washers are used to bias the upper slide element into frictional engagement with the lower slide element. An armrest cover fits over the horizontal slide elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Brian R. Trego, Jay R. Machael, Marcus C. Koepke
  • Patent number: 7055910
    Abstract: An armrest assembly includes an armrest platform with hand and elbow extensions which is mounted to a swivel base unit that tilts, turns and rotates under the control of a single load control knob to permit placement of a patient's arm in several positions as needed to draw blood. The swivel base unit is mounted on the distal end of a cylindrical riser that can be raised and lowered to a desired elevation by a single load control lever supported by a base securing device that is adapted to be secured to different types of surfaces configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Medical Device Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Clifford A. Wright
  • Patent number: 7029071
    Abstract: A chair having an adjustable resilient back recliner mechanism, a pair of adjustable armrests, modular upper back portions and an adjustable lumbar support. The chair includes a tension control that adjusts the tension in the recliner mechanism. The tension control is cam-operated to permit adjustment throughout the entire range of adjustability with only limited rotational movement of a control knob. The chair includes a recline limit control that adjusts the limit of rearward movement in the recliner mechanism. The limit control includes a cable operated stop that interact with a stepped trackway on the seat. The chair further includes a height control for adjusting the seat height including a push-button located in the tension control knob. The armrests include height and angle adjustment mechanisms. The lumbar support includes a lumbar cam that is rotatably mounted to a lumbar pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: JSJ Seating Company Texas, L.P.
    Inventors: Ronnie K. Watson, Anthony K. Chapman, Matthew E. Chrostowski, Randall C. Lewis, Timothy P. Coffield, James W. Bach, David F. Bach, Christopher G. Inman, Scott M. Ebenstein
  • Patent number: 7011371
    Abstract: An armrest assembly includes an L-shaped support having a vertical section, a lift mechanism telescopically mounted in the vertical section of the support, a sleeve movably mounted on the vertical section of the support and secured on the lift mechanism to move therewith, and an armrest secured on the lift mechanism to move therewith. Thus, the armrest can be moved on the vertical section of the support upward and downward adjust the height of the armrest so as to fit requirements of different users. In addition, the user only needs to drive the control member to release the movable shaft from the limit plate so as to adjust the height of the armrest easily and conveniently, thereby facilitating the user adjusting the height of the armrest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Inventor: Po-Chuan Tsai
  • Patent number: 6976739
    Abstract: An armrest assembly includes a stationary tube for attachment to a chair. The stationary tube includes recesses in an internal face. A movable tube is inserted in the stationary tube. The movable tube includes an aperture. An armrest is installed on the movable tube. A detent can be inserted into one of the recesses of the stationary tube through the aperture of the movable tube. A rod is inserted in the movable tube. The rod defines a recess for receiving the detent. The recess of the rod includes a shallow portion and a deep portion. A lever is connected with the rod and installed on the armrest in order to move the rod so as to control the detent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Chuan Hsing Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ching-Chang Wang
  • Patent number: 6974189
    Abstract: A vertically adjustable armrest assembly having a support, a plate fitted to an interior of said support, the plate having a series of vertically aligned openings, a slide having an armrest at a top end portion, and a lateral slot for guiding a block into and out of selective aligned openings in the plate. A rod having a saw tooth portion complementing a slanted opening in the block allows manipulation of the rod to selectively move the block into and out of the plate openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Jay R. Machael, Marcus C. Koepke, Brian R. Trego
  • Patent number: 6974190
    Abstract: An armrest adjustment mechanism that comprises a sleeve, a bracket, an adjustment rod and a pair of adjustment blocks, by pulling the pulling portion of the adjustment rod upward will cause withdrawal of the adjustment blocks and further lead to disengagement of the adjustment blocks from the toothed portion of the sleeve, therefore, a height-adjustment of the armrest can be performed, after being adjusted, the adjustment rod is released and will be pulled back to its original position by the return spring, this will cause outward motion of the adjustment blocks and further lead to an engagement of the adjustment blocks with the sleeve, and thus adjustment of the armrest is accomplished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Inventor: Yu-Ching Hung
  • Patent number: 6962393
    Abstract: A child car seat includes a child-car-seat shell and an armrest. The armrest is attached to the shell. The armrest is adjustable for height at least between a first position and a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Evenflo Company, Inc.
    Inventor: David Amirault
  • Patent number: 6957867
    Abstract: A height-adjustable armrest for a chair includes a body, a coupling seat, and an adjusting device mounted to the coupling seat. The body includes an arm support section for supporting an arm of a user. The body further includes a tubular section having a vertical slot with a plurality of vertically spaced positioning grooves. The coupling seat includes a longitudinal hole so as to be mounted around the tubular section of the body. The adjusting device includes a push button and a positioning member having a positioning section that is releasably and selectively engaged in one of the positioning grooves. The positioning section of the positioning member is disengaged from the positioning grooves when the push button is pushed, allowing adjustment of a height of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Inventor: Tung-Hua Su
  • Patent number: 6948774
    Abstract: A chair, such as a swivel chair for the office, has an armrest that is made up of an armrest carrier, which includes a carrier and a sleeve sliding thereon and attached to the seat at the bottom by a seat flange which can be displaced transversely to the seat direction, and of an arm support, which can be displaced longitudinally via a guide and can be rotated via a rotary part mounted in a rotary bearing. The guide is arranged parallel, but eccentrically in relation, to the axis of symmetry of the arm support. Since the rotatability of the arm support is at least 1800, it is possible to set different clear distances between the two arm supports of the chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Sedus Stoll AG
    Inventors: Klaus Maier, Michael Klaesener, Thomas Stenzel
  • Patent number: 6923505
    Abstract: An ergonomic arm support system maintains a neutral position for the forearm. A mechanical support structure attached to a chair or other mounting structure supports the arms of a sitting or standing person. The system includes moving elements and tensioning elements to provide a dynamic balancing force against the forearms. The support structure is not fixed or locked in a rigid position, but is an active dynamic system that is maintained in equipoise by the continuous operation of the opposing forces. The support structure includes an armrest connected to a flexible linkage or articulated or pivoting assembly, which includes a tensioning element such as a spring. The pivoting assembly moves up and down, with the tensioning element providing the upward force that balances the downward force of the arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Michael J Siminovitch, Jeffrey Y Chung, Steven Dellinges, Robin E Lafever
  • Patent number: 6908158
    Abstract: A support arm for a chair includes a base component and a support body interconnected therewith wherein opposite ends of the support body are movable longitudinally and laterally. The opposite ends may be displaced simultaneously in opposite lateral directions to permit angular displacement of the support body. The connector arrangement which interconnects the support body to the base component includes two sets of locking formations wherein the first set include longitudinally elongate parallel slots and the second set include an array of lateral rows and longitudinal columns of openings. The holes define the lateral and longitudinal position of one end of the support body while the slots define the lateral position of the opposite end of the support body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Haworth, Inc.
    Inventors: Joe Willette, Eric J. Boone
  • Patent number: 6896333
    Abstract: A height-adjustment mechanism may include an integral one-piece leverage body; an integral one-piece sleeve; and a locking member. In an embodiment, the integral one-piece leverage body has a handle, a pair of pivot pins projecting from opposed sides, a tongue projecting rearwardly, and a resilient biasing member projecting forwardly. These parts may be made of low cost materials suitable for integrally forming their features in an injection-moulding operation. Various features built in to these parts may provide a user with a sense of quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Leggett & Platt Ltd.
    Inventors: Gerard J. Matern, David Lloyd Hobb, Gerard Helmond, Arthur A. Patton, Cuong Quoc Vo, David Watkins
  • Patent number: 6883872
    Abstract: An armrest of a chair includes an armrest main body arranged on one side of a seat of a chair for allowing a sitter to rest one hand thereon, an adjustment mechanism connected to both the seat and the armrest main body for adjusting the armrest main body with, and an auxiliary security unit securely located opposite an outward side of the armrest main body for allowing the sitter to press the hand against when the sitter is standing up from the seat; thus, the sitter doesn't have to press his the hand against the armrest main body, which might lock ineffectively after adjustment, and will move to cause accidents if the sitter presses it hard when standing up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Inventor: Wen-Fa Su
  • Patent number: 6877813
    Abstract: An adjustable armrest for a chair includes a housing having a cavity defined by a wall and a latch member slideably mounted in the cavity. The latch member includes a wedge shaped portion having a first and second surface forming a oblique angle between them. One of the first and second surfaces engages the wall of the housing at least when the latch is in the engaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Herman Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerome C. Caruso, Steven J. Caruso, Bruce R. Gezon, Marc A. Gierz, Jack R. Nyenhuis
  • Patent number: 6857700
    Abstract: An adjustable child seat includes a seat body having a seat back and a seat portion. The seat portion has a first base and a second base movably mounted to the first base. The child seat further includes a seat adjusting mechanism for adjusting the length of the seat to customize to differently sized children. In addition, the child seat includes a recline mechanism connected to the first and second bases to selectively tilt the seat body. The child seat can also include two adjustable armrests, and adjustable headrest, and an adjustable shoulder belt clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Graco Children's Products Inc.
    Inventors: Alan W. Eastman, Robert J. Warner, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6851754
    Abstract: An armrest adjustment mechanism supports an armrest unit with respect to a vehicle seat. The mechanism includes a plate fixed to the seat. The fixed plate has a pair of projecting pins and a plate slot extending between the pins. A frame is movably mounted adjacent to the plate and attached to the armrest unit. The frame has a bore extending therethrough and a pair of frame slots which slidably receive the pins. A bolt has a head which non-rotatably engages the plate and which is slidable in the plate slot. The bolt has a threaded shaft which extends through the bore in the plate. A knob is rotatably and threadably mounted on the end of the shaft. A hollow cylindrical bushing is mounted on the shaft between the knob and the frame. The knob can be rotated to clamp the frame with respect to the plate, or loosened to allow the frame to be moved with respect to the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Ronald Dean Bremner
  • Patent number: 6846042
    Abstract: A chair for transporting a patient includes a base frame, a plurality of casters mounted to the base frame, a patient support, and a push bar mounted to a back section of the patient support for use when transporting the patient. A wheel is coupled to the base frame for movement between a downward brake-steer position, facilitating steering the chair during transport of the patient, and an upward neutral position. The patient support includes articulated leg and seat sections. A handle is coupled to the patient support and is movable between a position in which movement of the handle moves the leg section relative to the seat section and a position in which movement of the handle does not move the leg section relative to the seat section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas W. Hanson, John D. Vogel, Steven V. McCaig, Jack C. Newkirk, Donald E. Smith, Jonathan D. Turner, Terence M. Duncan, Gary S. Siegle, Gregory J. Figel, Jeffrey A. Heyser, William M. Blyshak, Michael P. Bish
  • Patent number: 6843534
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an armrest apparatus installed in a chair for a computer work. An armrest member which is freely movable on a horizontal surface by a link apparatus is provided in an upper portion of an armrest body vertically installed at both sides of a seat of a chair. The armrest apparatus is used as a common armrest for a chair at a usual time on which a user's arms are placed in such a manner that an armrest member is closely contacted with an upper surface of an armrest body or is lifted upwardly. The armrest member is upwardly lifted at the height at which a keyboard work is conveniently performed during a computer work, so that a user's arms are freely movable on the armrest on a horizontal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Inventors: Soon-won Lee, Jong-ho Lee
  • Patent number: 6840582
    Abstract: An arm assembly includes an outer stem (52) and an inner stem (50) slidable in the outer stem and including a number of recesses (107) along its length. A biased locking device (117) engages one or more of the recesses (107) to lock the position of the inner stem (50) relative to the outer stem (52). A release member (103) operably connected to an actuator (101) has a number of recesses (110) and raised surfaces (112), the release member (103) slidable relative to the inner stem (50) between a first position in which recess(es) (110) in the release member is/are aligned with recess(es) (107) of the inner stem and the locking device (117) engages recess(es) in the stem (50) to inhibit movement thereof relative to the outer stem, and a second position in which raised surface(s) (112) of the release member align(s) with recess(es) (107) of the stem (50) to disengage the locking device from the recess(es) of the stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Formway Furniture Limited
    Inventors: Damon Gregory Burwell, Paul Michael Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 6837545
    Abstract: A chair arm includes an inner post having a first end secured on a chair and a second opposite to the first end of the inner post. The inner post includes a first slot longitudinally defined therein near the second end of the inner post and extending through the inner post. The first slot has two opposite sides each having a series of first indentations defined in the inner post. An outer post is sleeved on the inner post. The outer post has a through hole defined therein and communicating with the first slot when the outer post partially receiving the inner post. A locking device is reciprocally slidably mounted in the through hole and extending into the inner post to selectively hold the outer post in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Inventor: Hsueh Yu Ho