Angularly Patents (Class 297/411.38)
  • Patent number: 7393058
    Abstract: An armrest height-adjusting device has a collar (10) fixed to an arm frame (8) and a spring (11). The spring (11) includes a coil portion (11A), provided around the collar (10), a first leg portion (11B) engaging with the seat back frame (5), and a second leg portion (11C) received in a window portion (41) of the arm frame (8). A diameter of the coil portion (11A) becomes short by the downward rotation of the arm frame (8) and becomes large by the upward rotation of the arm frame (8). The second leg portion (11C) is guided into the hook (24) by abutting against the window portion (41) when the arm frame (10) is rotated upward beyond a predetermined position. When the second leg portion (11C) is engaged with the hook (24), the diameter of the coil portion (11A) is kept in a state of becoming large.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Misao Omori
  • Publication number: 20080150341
    Abstract: An armrest for motor vehicles, especially a center armrest, is provided that includes an upper part and a lower part. These two parts of the armrest are connected to each other by two articulation arrangements. Each of the articulation arrangements has two degrees of freedom, namely a rotational axis and a translational axis. In addition, locking devices are associated with each articulation arrangement, in order to lock the articulation arrangement in arbitrary translational positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: BOS GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Jurgen Salewski
  • 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: 7357456
    Abstract: An arm rest assembly for a motorcycle passenger seat includes a vertically adjustable mount secured to the typical backrest behind the passenger seat. A U-shaped tubular member includes a medial portion rotatably secured in the mount, and arm rest cushions secured to opposed side arm portions. The U-shaped member is rotatable through an arc of approximately 180° about the axis of the medial portion, the range being limited by stop members joined to the medial portion. The side arm portions extend rearwardly to support baggage, or rotated to an upwardly extending disposition in which the passenger may mount or dismount the passenger seat, to a forwardly extending disposition in which the side arm portions extend to support the arms of the passenger and to provide side support for the passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Inventors: William Freer, Mary Martin
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7284799
    Abstract: A device for adjusting the inclination of the armrest by combined operation of the gear and cam mechanisms is provided. The device comprises a housing a ratchet member (12), a check member, a pivot control device comprising a fixed cam (22), a rotational com (24) and a torsion coil spring (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Woobo Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hae Il Chung
  • Patent number: 7261369
    Abstract: An aircraft passenger convenience apparatus comprising: a seat assembly; a support device attached to the seat assembly; and a platform having a top and bottom, the platform at least partially supported by the support device. In the preferred embodiment, the support device is selectable between at least a tray support and an armrest position. Also in the preferred embodiment, the seat assembly includes a seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Inventor: Sam J Ahad
  • 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: 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: 7198331
    Abstract: An armrest height-adjusting device has a collar (7) fixed to a seat back frame (5) and a spring (11). The spring (11) includes a coil portion (11A) provided on the outer periphery of the collar (7), a first leg portion (11B) engaging with the seat back frame (5), and a second leg portion (11C) received in a window portion (41) of the seat back frame (5). A diameter of the coil portion (11A) becomes short by the downward rotation of an arm frame (10) and becomes large by the upward rotation of the arm frame (10). The second leg portion (11C) is guided into the hook (21) by abutting against the window portion (41) when the arm frame (10) is rotated upward beyond a predetermined position. When the second leg portion (11C) is engaged with the hook (21), the diameter of the coil portion (11A) is kept in a state of becoming large.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: TS Tech Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Misao Omori
  • Patent number: 7185952
    Abstract: An adjusting device for rotatable armrest of a child car seat is provided. The adjusting device comprises an armrest support; an armrest pivotally coupled to the armrest support; a button operably disposed in the armrest; and an engaging assembly movably disposed in the armrest between the button and the armrest support and constructed such that the armrest can be locked in position or can be pivotally adjusted with respective to the armrest support by selective alignment between the button and the engaging assembly and a selective engagement/disengagement between the engaging assembly and the armrest support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shun-Min Chen, Jianqun Li
  • Patent number: 7175234
    Abstract: A foldable safety rail includes at least one fixing seat attachable to a wall, and at least one armrest body pivotally mounted on the at least one fixing seat. Thus, the armrest frame of the armrest body is located at the horizontal state rigidly and stably when in use so that a user holds safely the armrest frame of the armrest body so as to provide a support effect to the user. In addition, the armrest frame of the armrest body is movable to be parallel with the wall, so that the safety rail is folded when not in use, thereby saving the space occupied by the safety rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: GE Shine Industries Corp.
    Inventor: Ming-Fang Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7156459
    Abstract: A stackable chair has a backrest mounted on back supports by resilient mount units for tilting between an upright position and a tilted-back position. Each mount unit includes a rigid coupling member having a lower portion received within an upper end portion of the respective back support and pivotally joined to the respective back support and having an upper portion received within and affixed to a socket in the backrest. A compression spring received within the upper end portion of the back support and engaged between the lower portion of the coupling member and a front wall of the respective back support biases the backrest to the upright position. An armrest is slidably supported on an armrest support for simultaneous and controlled pivotal movement about a substantially vertical pivot axis of a rearward part of the armrest relative to a forward part of the armrest and translatory movement in a plane perpendicular to the pivot axis. Movements of the armrests permit dense stacking of the chairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Center for Design Research and Development N.V. c/o Open Ark B.V.
    Inventor: Emilio Ambasz
  • Patent number: 7140688
    Abstract: A damped armrest including an armrest frame defining a bore and a fixed mandrel defining an axis about which the frame rotates. A reservoir is formed by the bore and the mandrel. Vanes on the mandrel project into the reservoir. The reservoir is filled with damping media for controlling rotation of the frame about the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
    Inventor: Mark S. Hann
  • Patent number: 7134726
    Abstract: The armchair comprises a seat where an armchair user is seated and at least one armrest that can be folded between a substantially horizontal position and a substantially vertical position, that is characterized in that the at least one armrest describes a downward trajectory when moved from the substantially horizontal position to the substantially vertical position. The armrest does not bother the armchair user when it is in its substantially vertical position, thus enabling manufacturers to exploit the maximum width allowed for this type of armchairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Fabricación Asientos Vehículos Industriales, S.A.
    Inventor: Jaun Singla Casasayas
  • Patent number: 7134727
    Abstract: In some embodiments of the sofa lover's sofa, a sofa or the like can have an end cushion comprising a lower stationary member approximating the height of an armrest of the sofa and a rotatable upper member that may be rotated to overlie an armrest of the sofa. Thus, a back support may be provided for sitting crosswise on the sofa. In other embodiments of the sofa lover's sofa, a sofa or the like can have a lower front panel that is rotatable to a position overlying a seat cushion so as to act as an armrest for a person sitting crosswise on the sofa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Inventor: Kevin Williams
  • Patent number: 7125080
    Abstract: A retractable armrest is disclosed for a foldable chair. The chair has a seat and a backrest with the backrest being pivotably mounted to the seat by a chair pivot for movement between an operating position and a folded position. A link pivotably operates between armrest and the seat for enabling the armrest to be rotated into the retracted position when the backrest is in the operating position. The link rotates the armrest from the extended position to the retracted position upon the backrest being moved from the operating position to the folded position. The foldable chair is suitable for use on a personal mobility vehicle such as a scooter, a power wheel chair, a foldable personal mobility vehicle or any other suitable chair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Electric Mobility Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Jarema, III, Edward J. Dwyer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7108328
    Abstract: A vehicular arm rest has a fixed axle carrying primary and secondary parts formed with meshing arrays of sawteeth angled to inhibit movement of the arm-rest body in a downward direction between a raised position and the lowered position but permit movement of the arm-rest body in the upward direction between the lowered position to the raised position. A spring braced between an abutment and the secondary part urging the secondary-part teeth into mesh with the primary-part teeth. Cam formations push the secondary part away from the primary part on pivoting of the primary part in the downward direction from the raised position of the arm-rest body toward the lowered position for decoupling the primary-part teeth from the secondary-part teeth and couple the primary-part teeth with the secondary-part teeth and prevent further movement in the downward direction on reaching the lowered position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Grammar AG
    Inventors: Erwin Himmelhuber, Alexander Albu
  • Patent number: 7104609
    Abstract: There is provided a longitudinal extension mechanism of an armrest that includes a main body of an armrest, a fixed hinge shaft being non-rotatably fixed to a bracket and serving as a rotation axis of the armrest main body, an armrest extension provided at an end of the armrest main body so as to straightly move in the longitudinal direction of the armrest main body, and a length extending apparatus for allowing the armrest extension to straightly move with respect to the arm rest main body due to rotation of the armrest main body about the fixed hinge shaft. Therefore, when the armrest rotates to a horizontal posture, the armrest extension automatically protrudes by a certain length and the total length of the armrest is increased, thereby maximizing the convenience to a user. In addition, when the armrest rotates to a vertical posture, the total length of the armrest is decreased, thereby improving a reception ability and appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Seok-Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 7100242
    Abstract: A hinged structure for an armrest, table or shelf, e.g. in a motor vehicle or a rail vehicle, in which a body is connected by the hinge with a support and a disengaging element on the body is cammed out of engagement with the hinge arm when the body is swung upwardly with force exceeding a predetermined limiting force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Seeber AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Thomas Maierholzner
  • Patent number: 7077477
    Abstract: A seat assembly having a seat frame arranged to support a cushion, a rotatable armrest, a threaded receiver mounted to either the seat frame or the armrest, a translation shaft coupled with the other of the seat frame or the armrest which includes a thread disposed on the outside surface of the shaft arranged to matingly engage with the threaded receiver. Rotation of the armrest relative to the seat frame causes the armrest to translate toward or away from the seat frame as the threads of the translation shaft engage with the threaded receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Glenn F Syrowik, Ravi Hosalli, Ronald J Kaip
  • Patent number: 7063387
    Abstract: The invention relates to a seat for a transport vehicle or craft, the seat including a support structure (1) and at least one armrest (2) comprising a rest element (4) mounted on one end of a strut whose other end is hinged to the support structure about a first pivot (7) to tilt between an in-use position in which the rest element is substantially horizontal and a forwardly-tilted retracted position in which the rest element is substantially vertical and in front of the seat. The strut is L-shaped with a first arm (5) hinged at its free end about the first pivot and extending substantially rearwards from the first pivot when the strut is in the in-use position, and a second arm (6) extending substantially upwards when the strut is in the in-use position, and the rest element is hinged to the free end of the second arm of the strut about a second transverse axis (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Societe Industrielle et Commerciale de Material Aeronautique
    Inventor: Patrick Herault
  • 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: 6948775
    Abstract: An office chair armrest includes a support rod, a base, a locating seat, a mounting seat and an upper cover, wherein the base has a chamber having at least one guide rail each provided with engagement grooves; the locating seat has a recess having engagement grooves and at least one engagement block for engaging in on of the engagement grooves of the base by means of resilience of a spring; the mounting seat has at least one engagement block for engaging in one of the engagement grooves of the locating seat by means of resilience of a spring, thereby enabling the office chair armrest to be adjusted to move forward, backward, leftward or rightward by a user himself according to his own need to be in a proper position or at a proper angle that is comfortable for his arm to be rested on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Inventor: Po-Chuan Tsai
  • 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: 6916068
    Abstract: An armrest apparatus includes a fixed shaft fixed to a seat frame, a rotation plate integrally connected to an armrest body and having a tubular portion into which the fixed shaft is inserted, a lock spring wound tightly on outer peripheral surfaces of a part of the fixed shaft and the tubular portion of the rotation plate in a free condition, a cancellation block rotatably mounted on a pivot shaft, and a cam unit mounted on a distal end of the fixed shaft and including a lock-canceling cam portion and a re-lock cam portion, the re-lock cam portion being spaced from the lock-canceling cam portion in a direction of rotation of the cam member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Kitamura, Makoto Saito, Takashi Ogino, Toshiya Migita, Yoshihisa Nakagaki, Nobuyuki Wakabayashi
  • Patent number: 6811224
    Abstract: A chair with a back arrangement employing a back shell slidably supported on a pair of uprights projecting upwardly from opposite sides of the chair seat. The chair includes manually releasable latching mechanisms which cooperate with the uprights to allow height adjustment of the back arrangement. The chair additionally incorporates an adjustment mechanism which allows manual adjustment of the chair arms into the desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: First Source Furniture Group LLC
    Inventors: Lynn Roney, Scott Albright, Lance Lindenberg
  • Patent number: 6799805
    Abstract: A passenger seat, including at least one leg assembly having fore and aft attachment elements for attachment to a supporting surface and a single laterally-extending beam carried by the leg assembly in vertically spaced-apart relation to the fore and aft attachment elements, and first and second laterally spaced-apart seat frames positioned on respective opposite sides of the leg assembly and mounted on the beam for being supported thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: BE Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventor: Glenn A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6767065
    Abstract: An armrest for an inside wall of a motor vehicle, in particular for a door, the armrest being of elongate shape along a main longitudinal axis, presenting a first end region along the axis, the first end region being connected to the wall by a connection member, wherein the connection member defines a pivoting connection about a substantially horizontal transverse axis enabling the armrest to move angularly relative to the wall, and the armrest includes a locking member co-operating with a stop piece secured to the wall and adapted to hold the armrest in modifiable manner in a selected angular position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Faurecia Industries
    Inventor: Yves Heranney
  • Publication number: 20040130200
    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: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventors: Joe Willette, Eric J. Boone
  • Patent number: 6755474
    Abstract: A pivoting armrest is configured for mounting on the bottom part of the aisle side of a vehicle seat frame. The armrest may receive a control cable and is mounted on a hub that allows passage of the control cable to the vehicle seat mechanism. The armrest is maintained in position by a lock pin, and a resilient plate controls the lock pin. A handgrip is mounted to a lower part of the armrest for easy grasping by the fingers of a user. The handgrip engages a lower edge of the resilient plate so that a user's pulling outward on the lower edge of the handgrip releases the lock pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: American Seating Company
    Inventor: Richard Magnuson
  • Patent number: 6752462
    Abstract: A juvenile vehicle seat assembly includes a seat having a side wall, an armrest mount coupled to the side wall of the seat, and an armrest coupled to the armrest mount for movement relative to the seat about a pivot axis between a raised position and a lowered position. The armrest mount includes an outer wall formed to define a first notch and a second notch spaced-apart from the first notch. The armrest includes an outer wall and a top wall coupled to the outer wall to cooperate with the outer wall to define a cavity formed to receive the outer wall of the armrest mount therein. A lug of the armrest is located within the first notch of the armrest mount in the raised position and is located within the second notch of the armrest mount in the lowered position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Cosco Management, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Kain, Eugene Balensiefer, William Horton
  • Publication number: 20040090104
    Abstract: A four way adjustable armrest for use on a vehicle seat includes an arm support member having a extension member and the armrest is connected to a seat back including a pair of toothed track members extending along the seat back. A toothed gear is movable on the extension member of the armrest between an engaging position where the armrest position is locked and a retracted position where the gear teeth are removed from the toothed track members and the armrest is free to rotate and to translate along the track members via a track follower. The gear has a splined inner diameter and is carried on mating splines on an outer surface of the cylindrical extension member. A pivoting actuating member moves or throws the gear on the splined extension member between the engaged and retracted positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Kurt Seibold
  • Publication number: 20040056522
    Abstract: A seating system includes one or more seating units. Each seating unit includes a seat portion, and left and right stanchions attached to the seat portion on left and right sides of the seat portion. Each stanchion includes a bottom member having a first end adapted to be secured to a surface and a second end, and a second member having a first end adapted to be secured to the second end of the bottom member at any one of a plurality of different angular relationships.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Applicant: Hussey Seating Company
    Inventor: Edward J. Bailey
  • Patent number: 6652032
    Abstract: The invention relates to a folding armrest, in particular for a motor vehicle, of the type that hinges via one of its ends about a hinge (2) between at least two positions, one of these being a substantially horizontal lower operational position H, and the other a substantially vertical upper folded position V, in order to be held therein by locking means. According to the invention, said locking means are constituted by indexing means (3) integral with one of the fixed or mobile parts of the hinge, in permanent elastic contact with the other part, said other part having at least two notches, designed to co-operate with said indexing means so as to give the armrest (1) at least two stable end positions, an upper one V and a lower one H, which can be taken up or left automatically simply by operating said armrest, depending on a predetermined force F exerted by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Christine Laval
  • Patent number: 6609758
    Abstract: A device for automatic indexed guidance of a moving part (53) guided about an axis of rotation (5) on a fixed part (1) that is fixed about said axis of rotation (5), the device comprising: a toothed element (40) mounted to rock about a rocking axis (41) substantially parallel to the axis of rotation (5); a ratchet (12) defining a plurality of abutments for the toothed element (40), said abutments being angularly disposed around the axis of rotation (5); and a cam path (10) for controlling the rocking movements of the toothed element (40) about its rocking axis (41) during rotation of the moving part; said device comprising a firs rigid one-piece fixed cheek-plate (1) provided with a plurality of staged surfaces defining: the ratchet (12); the cam path (10); and at least one bearing surface (13, 14) suitable for guiding a moving plate (57) in rotation about the axis of rotation (5), the moving plate supporting the rocking axis (41) of the toothed element (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Inventor: Marc Lefevere
  • Publication number: 20030155797
    Abstract: A booster seat having a body including a seat back and a seat pan for supporting an occupant thereon and an adjustable thigh support coupled to the seat pan and being movable closer to or further away from the seat pan. The booster seat further includes a pair of adjustable arm rests coupled to the body, each arm rest being located on opposed sides of the body and being pivotable about an axis that extends generally transverse to the body. The booster seat includes a pair of head rests coupled to the seat back, each head rest being located on opposed sides of the seat back and being pivotable about an axis that extends generally along the height of the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventors: David Amirault, Mark Geis, Dennis Karns
  • Patent number: 6592185
    Abstract: A seating device for maneuvering a body part comprising a fully adjustable chair including a base assembly, an occupant supporting assembly and an elevator assembly including drive mechanisms for raising, lowering and tilting the occupant supporting assembly. The chair has a head rest, leg rest, chest rest and a plurality of arm rests. The chair has full adjustment in all axes: rotation around a vertical central axis; vertical height adjustment; fully adjustable seat back for proper lumbar support; and tilt of the seat. The base assembly includes a power unit biased toward the floor. The chair permits support of the occupant with a full range of adjustment so that the occupant can have proper positioning for selected medical procedures and body part positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Richard Lew INC
    Inventor: Richard Lew
  • Patent number: 6578922
    Abstract: A fixing device for a removable armrest, the device comprising a cylindrical support shaft having a projecting locking member and a housing with a plastics material ring adapted to receive the support shaft engaged therein as a bayonet mount. A metal reinforcing strength member surrounds the plastics material ring and co-operates angularly with the locking member of the support shaft by coming into abutment therewith to prevent relative pivoting between the support shaft and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Faurecia Sieges d'Automobile S.A.
    Inventors: Maher Khedira, Stéphane Peculier
  • Patent number: 6554364
    Abstract: An armrest structure includes a support and a body rotatably mounted on the support. The support includes a pair of protrusions and the body includes a notched channel for receiving the protrusions. By rotating the body on the support, the protrusions are repositioned in the notched channel between selected stable use positions. The notches are located on both sides of the channel such that the body can be located in a first position with the first surface on the body facing generally upwardly for use, and a second position with the second surface on the body facing generally upwardly for use. By varying the surfaces on the body, and also the engagement of the protrusion with the notched channel, various spacial positions and functional surfaces can be selectively positioned for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Arnold B. Dammermann, David A. Bodnar, Michael L. Deimen, Thomas R. Hahn, Duane F. Nagel, Charles P. Roossien, David L. Rundhaug, David S. Teppo
  • Patent number: 6533353
    Abstract: The lift chair has a chair fame pivotally connected to a chair base for pivotal movement about a chair frame horizontal axis. A liner actuator pivots the chair frame about a chair frame horizontal axis. Left and right arm rests are pivotally attached to the chair frame by hinge and ratchet assemblies. The hinge portions have an arm rest axis at the rear of the arm rests. The ratchet portion permit forward ends of the arm rests to be raised as required and hold the arm rests in selected positions to assist a person to stand after the chair frame has been pivoted upward about the chair frame horizontal axis. The arm rests are pivoted to their upper limit to release the ratchet assemblies and free the arm rests to pivot to their lower positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Inventor: Craig D. Johnston
  • Patent number: 6513877
    Abstract: An armrest for vehicle seat is provided, whose armrest body has a region so configured as to surround a connecting portion by which the armrest is rotatably connected with a seat back of the seat, wherein a cubic trim cover assembly of the armrest is formed with a local side defined on and along such region of armrest body. Formed in such local side of trim cover assembly is an injection hole for allowing injection of a liquid foaming material into the inside of trim cover assembly, so that the injection hole itself is not exposed outwardly of the armrest body, thus keeping the user away from contact with an objectionable spot originating from a part of liquid foaming material that has been leaked through the injection hole and cured there during a foaming process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Tachi-S Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Ikeda, Takashi Kato
  • Patent number: 6502904
    Abstract: Arm support for a chair comprising an upright stand (2) fixed to the chair and having an upper end which supports the arm support (1), said arm support (1) being movable on a substantially horizontal plane and possibly turnable around a vertical axis. The arm support (1) comprises a first guide plate (9) provided with guide openings (12) arranged on the rims and running along the longitudinal direction of the arm support, in which sliders (15) coupling geometrically the guide openings (12) are present, said sliders (15) being tightly connected to a second guide plate (14), the length of the second guide plate (14) along the shift direction being smaller than the length of the first guide plate and the second guide plate (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: SDM Hansen AG
    Inventor: Eckhard Hansen
  • Patent number: 6467847
    Abstract: An automobile comfort armrest having a mounting shaft and a mechanical adjustment mechanism located between the two ends of the armrest is disclosed. The adjustment mechanism includes an adjustment button, an adjustment rod, a sector, a cam, and a pawl. The sector contains gear teeth, an adjustment slot, a stowing notch, and a release ramp to permit retrieval of the comfort armrest from its stowed position. The cam contains a peripheral raised portion, a biasing adjustment nodule, a pawl release ramp to assist the armrest in retreating to its stowed position, and an adjustment rod slot to allow the user to mechanically adjust the position of the armrest. The pawl contains an end with teeth to mesh with the sector teeth and an end with a pointed hook to fit into the notch located in the sector to facilitate a downward stowing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Srinivas Bidare
  • Patent number: 6447069
    Abstract: An apparatus for removably securing an armrest to a mounting pin secured to a vehicle seat includes a housing, a user-actuated retaining member movably disposed within the housing, and a pair of diverging surfaces disposed within the housing. The retaining member includes a base portion and a pair of spaced-apart, resilient arms which extend outwardly from the base portion. Each arm includes an intermediate portion and a free end. The intermediate portion of each arm is configured to engage a respective portion of a groove that extends circumferentially around at least a portion of the mounting pin when the retaining member is in a relaxed configuration. An actuator is slidably disposed within the housing and is movable so as to engage, and apply a force to, the retaining member base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Collins & Aikman Products Co.
    Inventors: Edward R. Terris, Gasper J. Palazzolo
  • Publication number: 20020109388
    Abstract: A pivoting armrest is configured for mounting on the bottom part of the aisle side of a vehicle seat frame. The armrest may receive a control cable and is mounted on a hub that allows passage of the control cable to the vehicle seat mechanism. The armrest is maintained in position by a lock pin, and a resilient plate controls the lock pin. A handgrip is mounted to a lower part of the armrest for easy grasping by the fingers of a user. The handgrip engages a lower edge of the resilient plate so that a user's pulling outward on the lower edge of the handgrip releases the lock pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventor: Richard Magnuson
  • Patent number: 6427956
    Abstract: An armrest for a motor vehicle seat that can be attached by a bearing device and is pivotable about a pivot axis between two latching locations of a bearing device that delimit the pivoting range. A stop that moves with the armrest is associated with these latching locations. The bearing device has two assembled parts and has a flexible sliding element that brakes the pivoting movement of the armrest and latches the end positions of the armrest. The flexible sliding element is integrated in one piece into one part of the bearing device, and this one part consists of a one-piece molded plastic part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Thomas Heckmann, Holger Hoerner, Franz Krischen, Christian Wobst
  • Publication number: 20020096928
    Abstract: An automobile comfort armrest having a mounting shaft and a mechanical adjustment mechanism located between the two ends of the armrest is disclosed. The adjustment mechanism includes an adjustment button, an adjustment rod, a sector, a cam, and a pawl. The sector contains gear teeth, an adjustment slot, a stowing notch, and a release ramp to permit retrieval of the comfort armrest from its stowed position. The cam contains a peripheral raised portion, a biasing adjustment nodule, a pawl release ramp to assist the armrest in retreating to its stowed position, and an adjustment rod slot to allow the user to mechanically adjust the position of the armrest. The pawl contains an end with teeth to mesh with the sector teeth and an end with a pointed hook to fit into the notch located in the sector to facilitate a downward stowing position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Srinivas Bidare
  • Publication number: 20020070597
    Abstract: A chair adjustment device has a U-shaped frame, a first connection plate having a first round hole, a first circular aperture, and a second circular aperture, a second connection plate having a second round hole, a first driven block having a through hole, a protruded bar, and a protrusion, and a second driven block having a through aperture. A shaft passes through the through aperture, the second round hole, the first round hole, and the through hole. A click gear is disposed in the first driven block. A click pawl has a first round aperture and a second round aperture. A compression spring is inserted in the circular aperture and the first round aperture. A rivet passes through the first circular aperture and the second round aperture. The click pawl engages with the click gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventor: Gen-Fong Liu
  • Patent number: 6394553
    Abstract: An armrest assembly for a chair which can be adjusted in multiple aspects with the use of single actuating mechanism. The adjustment aspects of the preferred embodiment include a vertical adjustment with respect to the chair and a horizontal rotational adjustment. Such an armrest assembly can include an armrest base securable to a chair and having a tubular portion, a hollow armrest support slideably and rotationally disposed about the tubular portion and an armpad attached to the top of the hollow armrest support. A handle to disengage the actuating mechanism is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Knoll, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. McAllister, Gregory P. Allison, Harald Wurl