FOLDING CHAIR ARM FOR PASSENGER TRANSPORT VEHICLES

Abstract: The supporting structure of the chair arm consists of two half-parts (1 and 2) in section iron, the second one of which has delimiting parts of the interposed side (4) of the other half-part (1) in order to determine, by means of a passing pivot (5), a rotating articula­ tion on a vertical plane with blocking knobs (6) and interposed clotch-disks (7). The first half-part (1) shows an angled appendix (8) fitted in the profile section of the other one in order to allow two stopping positions. In order to bring the two half-parts into an axial prosecution, the second half-part (2) is shifted upwards. When the retention effect of the clutch-disks (7) is over, the low­ er part (9) of the angled appendix (8) beats on the inside wall (10) of the second half-part (2). On the contrary, by bringing this sa­ me part downwards, the upper wall (11) beats on the inside wall (12) of the second half-part (2). The arm shows the initial half-part (1) brought by the articulation part (13) with variable axle formed by pivot (14) which juts out from the side part (15) and set into eyelet (16) in stop condition by means of the side tooth (17) which beats on strip (18) of the articulation part (13). By pulling the arm out­ wards, the articulation (13) of base (18) is unhooked from the tooth (17) by gliding in eyelet (16) of pin (14), thus allowing to bring the arm downwards on the side.

Description: The invention refers to a carrier structure for the armrest of a chair made of two square drawpiece parts, jointed in vertical rotation, of which the initial part rises in slantwise to the seat backrest so to support the other part for allowing the passenger arm rest. The above indicated structure permits, by means of the second part raising which is moved in rectilinear standing of the initial part, to free side space part (fig. 5 - position "A") so to make easy the passanger motion for sitting down or standing up from the seat. Other characteristic consists to foresee said armrest carrier structure linked to the seat backrest on articulated joint with variable axle to permit during non-use its disposition sideways to the seating member (fig. 6 - position "B") so to completely free the space between the seating member and the moving passage of the vehicle. In the vehicles for transport of more passenger, like coachs and such, it is necessary to reconcile the seat comfort with the inside space saving. The multiplicity of the systems adopted as time passed in the prior art leads to believe as acquired to the current state technics to foresee the armrest facing the passage and hinged to a supporting lever to permit its shifting, with pressure or for traction, in lowering or in raising to make free the side space so to make easy the getting out and entrance motion of the passenger. Consequently the systems which foresee the armrest shifting, acting on a supporting lever which bears it on backrest, cannot itself set up a sound argument for granting a patent. With reference to the prior art it is known the U.S. Patent 4,097,088 which foresees an armrest supported on a lever with means pivotably connecting the ends of the armrest and of the lever and with hinge means to the other end of said lever adapted to mount same for swinging motion between first and second limiting positions. Said system moreover foresees locking means adapted to secure said supporting lever between the two positions and adapted to secure said armrest between an inoperative position and other operative. A second device, foreseen in U.S. Patent 4,496,190, employs a folding armrest where an actuating lever positioned in the armrest can be manually moved and said armrest can be lifted about a pivot pin to release a locking pawl slidably carried on one of the parallelogram links. In the first of said patents the armrest supporting in operative position is given by a strut structure while in the second patent system the supporting is given by a lever arm, vice versa in the present application system the armrest supporting is permitted by an angle supporting, by rotating link while said angle supporting is fixed on the backrest by means of a capturing with variable axis link. In comparison with said indicated systems the present system permits a general simplifying within a new invented idea and it permits two different solutions to bring in no-interference positions the armrest in the inoperative phase: a first position, forming the principal device solution, consists of lifting the armrest aligned with its supporting made of the initial part rises in slantwise from the seat backrest while a second position, subordinated to the previous one, consists of bringing the armrest aligned on the seating member by means of a different clutch on the backrest. Said solutions carry out by means of two square drawpiece parts start from the backrest hinged to a vertical link and keeping in position by means of knobs acting on clutch discs, form a new armrest characterized by component essentiality, a space saving and a cheap price manufacturing which permits the universality use. The armrest carrier structure is formed by two square drawpiece parts 1 and 2 jointed in vertical rotation of which the initial part 1 rises in slantwise from the backrest upright and supports the second part 2 for the passenger arm rest. The said link permits to free the space directly alongside to the passage raising the second part 2, acting as armrest, which is brought aligned with the first part 1. Said movement is permitted by a couple of abutments 3 integrated with the second part 2 which rotate on the interposed bar 4 integrated with first part 1 and mounted to be pivotable on said abutments 3 by means of the linking shaft 5. To lock the second part 2 in the desired position it is foreseen the couple of knobs 6 which act on the couple of clutch discs 7 interposed between the linking members. The bar 4 is formed with oblique end 8 to permit itself two break positions on inside wall opposite parts of the second part 2. To reach the inoperative position, overcoming the braking effect given by the couple of clutch discs 7, it is raised the second part 2 to its upper movement limit determined by the beating effect of the below outline 9 of the bar 4 on the below part 10 of the inside wall of said second part 2. To reach the operative position, overcoming the braking effect, it is brought down, the second part 2 to its lower movement limit determined by the beating effect of the oblique end 8 of bar 4 on the upper part 11 of the inside wall of said part 2. The armrest carrier structure, formed by the initial part 1 and the second part 2, is mounted on the backrest upright foreseen two different positions carring out by a variable axle link forming to the pivot 12 rises from the backrest upright 13 and which is positionable into the hole 14 foreseen on the plate 15 integrated with first part 1 with clasp put into effect by the pawl 16 foreseen on upright 13 which comes to beat on the base 17 of the plate 15. Drawing forward the armrest 18, formed bu the carrier structure with the two parts 1 and 2, for sliding of the pivot 12 into hole 14 is determined the unfastening of the base 17 of the plate 15 from the pawl 16. This permits to bring the armrest 18 in lowering so to place itself on the border 19 of the backrest lateral 20 of the seating member 21. In this way the armrest is put in a total no-interference position with the entry space passage. An embodiment of the present device is illustrated in the drawings of sheets 1 and 2. In sheet 1 fig. 1 is a longitudinal view of the armrest carrier structure in operative position and of the backrest upright. It is shown the plate 15 held in position by the pawl 16 of the backrest upright. This permits the slantwise upward disposition of the initial part 1 of the armrest carrier structure to bring, in angle disposition, the second part 2 of the same structure for the sitting passenger arm rest. Fig. 2 is a top view only of the armrest carrier structure with the two parts 1 and 2 aligned. Fig. 3 is view of the same members of fig. 1 with the armrest carrier structure with the parts 1 and 2 aligned. Fig. 4 is view of the armrest structure brought, after the unfastening of the plate 15 from the pawl 16 of the upright 13, in total lowering. In sheet 2 fig. 5 is side view of a seat with its armrest 18 in operative position while sketched it is the same armrest 18 shown when the part for the arm rest, formed by the second part 2 of the carrier structure, is aligned with the initial part 1 of the armrest carrier structure. Fig. 6 is view of the same seat of fig. 5 with the armrest 18 brought in lowering on the border 19 so to totally no-interfere with the entry space of the passage. In the realization the linkage and stop means and also shapes and materials can be different foreseen.

Claims: Folding chair arm for passenger transport vehicles consisting of an armrest carrier structure formed by two parts (1, 2) jointed in vertical rotation, the first part (1) rising slantwise from the backrest upright and supporting the second part (2), a linking shaft (5) being provided on which the second part (2) pivots, allowing the second part (2) to pivot between an operative position in which the second part (2) acts as arm rest and an inoperative position in which the second part (2) is in alignment with the first part (1), said positions being defined by a couple of abutments (3) integrated with the second part, characterized by the following: The two parts (1, 2) have a square profile and are linked through an interposed bar (4) which is integrated with the first part (1). To lock the second part (2) in a desired position a couple of knobs (6) are provided which acts on a couple of clutch discs (7) interposed between the pivoting parts (1, 4). The interposed bar (4) is formed with an oblique end (8) to permit two brake positions on parts of opposite inside walls of the second part (2). To reach the inoperative position, overcoming the braking effect given by the couple of clutch discs (7), the second part (2) is raised to its upper movement limited determined by the beating effect of the bottom outline (9) of the bar (4) on the starting part (10) of the lower inside wall of said second part (2). To reach the operative position, overcoming the braking effect, the second part (2) is brought down to its lower movement limit determined by the beating effect of the oblique end (8) of bar (4) on the starting part (11) of the upper inside wall of the second part (2). Folding chair arm for passenger transport vehicles, as in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the lower end of the first part (1) is connected with a plate (15) which is linked to a pivot (12) extending from an upright (13) of the backrest. By drawing forward the armrest (18), formed by the carrier structure with the two parts (1, 2), its pivot (12) slides into a hole (14) which is provided in the plate (15), thereby releasing the base (17) of the plate (15) from the pawl (16) which is provided in the upright (13). This permits the armrest (18) to be lowered so as to place itself on the border (19) of the backrest lateral (20) of the seating member. In this way the armrest is put in a total no-interference position with the entry space passage.

Inventors: SPINSANTI FABIO, SPINSANTI, FABIO
Applicants: LAZZERINI R & C COST MECC LEGG, LAZZERINI R & C COST MECC LEGGERE SPA
Application year: 1988
Main classification: B60N2
IPC codes: B60N2