Patent ID: 6948776
Filing Date: 2005-09-27
Classification: B60N

Abstract:
1. An armrest and back member for a seat having a seat bottom wherein the back member is selective rotatable between a substantially vertical position to a substantially horizontal position with respect to the seat bottom, said back member having a first pivot pin attached thereto that moves in an arc as said back member is rotated between said vertical and horizontal positions, said armrest comprising: a housing defined by parallel first and second side walls that each have a first end and a second end with a first opening located adjacent to said second end, said housing being located on said back member by said first pivot pin extending through said first opening in each of said first and second side walls such that said first end of said housing may pivot with respect to said first pivot pin; a first plate fixed to said first pivot pin and located between said first and second side walls, said first plate having a first surface that defines a first stop and a second surface that defines a second stop; a second plate fixed to said first pivot pin and located between said first plate and said second side wall, said second plate having an arcuate surface thereon with a first plurality of teeth thereon that extend from a first location to a second location, said first location being aligned with said first stop and said second location being aligned with said second stop; a first lever having a first end and a second end, said first end being fixed to said first end of said first side wall to define a cantilevered beam and position a second plurality of teeth on a said second end thereof in engagement with said first plurality of teeth on said second plate; a second lever having a first end and a second end, said second lever having an oval slot located adjacent said second end thereof; a ball that is located in said oval slot; a second pivot pin that is secured to said first and second side walls and extends through said second lever to locate said ball adjacent said second plate with said ball in tangential engagement with said second side wall and in contact engagement with said first lever; and an actuator for applying an input force to said first end of said second lever that causes said second end of said second lever to pivot about said second pivot pin and move said ball on the second side wall such that a force is applied to said first lever through said contact engagement with said ball that causes said first lever to laterally move toward said first side wall as a function of a flexure of said cantilevered beam to bend such that said second plurality of teeth are moved out of engagement with said first plurality of teeth and aligned on said first plate between said first stop and said second stop to thereafter permit said first end of said housing to be moved by pivoting about said first pivot pin to a desired alignment with respect to said seat bottom, said first lever on termination of said input force resiliently returning to alignment with said second plate such that said second plurality of teeth again mesh with said first plurality of teeth to retain said first end of said housing in said desired alignment with said seat bottom.