Patent ID: 6824218
Filing Date: 2004-11-30
Classification: A47C,Y10T

Abstract:
An adjustable armrest assembly comprising:a. a fixed member having a chair attachment portion and a housing portion; b. a vertically adjustable member having an armrest portion and a post portion, said post portion having a lower end thereof slidably disposed in said housing portion, said vertically adjustable member selectively movable between a fully raised position, a fully lowered position, and at least one intermediate position; c. a sleeve member disposed in said housing, said sleeve member having an inner surface adjacent said lower end of said post portion and an outer surface adjacent an inside surface of said housing portion; and d. a height adjustment mechanism comprising a camming slot formed in said lower end of said post portion, an angled slot formed in said inner surface of said sleeve member on opposite sides of said camming slot, a locking pin operably positioned through each of said camming and angled slots with opposite ends of said locking pin slidably captured in said angled slot, and a bushing member projecting at least partially into said angled slot, said bushing member defining upper and lower regions of said angled slot, said camming slot having a plurality of notches on one side and a generally planar surface on an opposing side, said upper region of said angled slot adjacent said generally planar surface and said lower region adjacent said plurality of notches, said camming slot having top and bottom surfaces, said top surface forcing said locking pin across said bushing member into said lower region of said angled slot at said fully lowered position, said bottom surface forcing said locking pin across said bushing member into said upper region of said angled slot at said fully raised position, said locking pin being maintained in one of said upper and lower regions by said bushing member until said locking pin is caused to move across said bushing member by said bottom and top surfaces, when said locking pin is in said lower region of said angled slot gravity urges said locking pin toward said plurality of notches, such that said locking pin is urged into one of said plurality of notches when such becomes aligned with said lower region, wherein said locking pin is movable from said one notch responsive to upward vertical movement of said post portion such that said vertically adjustable member is held at a height corresponding to said one notch until further upward vertical movement of said post portion moves said locking pin from said one notch.