Abstract:
An improved seat arm for a reclinable recreational vehicle seat is adjustable for pitch, or the angle relative to the seat back for a more comfortable horizontal position relative to the floor of the vehicle and has a memory to maintain angle when the arm is flipped back and returned to the near horizontal position.

Description:
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/783,620, filed Jan. 14, 1997 and now abandoned. 
    
    
     This application claims priority based upon U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/012,901, filed Mar. 6, 1996. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is an improved seat arm for a seat such as an automobile or truck bucket seat or a recreational vehicle seat. Where the seat back on a seat or chair can be reclined, having the arm at a fixed angle relative to the seat back has significant disadvantages in discomfort, inconvenience and obstruction of the cabin or seating area of the vehicle. A seat arm adjustable for pitch, or the angle relative to the seat back may be adjusted to a more comfortable horizontal position relative to the floor of the vehicle. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The following drawings, in which like reference characters indicate like parts, are illustrative of embodiments of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any manner whatsoever, as encompassed by the claims forming a part hereof. 
     FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an adjustable seat arm. 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of an adjustable seat arm in a locked position. 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of an adjustable seat arm in a released position. 
     FIG. 4 is a general arrangement view of a seat having an adjustable seat arm. 
     FIG. 5 is a cutaway perspective view of an adjustable seat arm attachment to a seat frame. 
     FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of an adjustable seat arm. 
     FIG. 7 is a rear elevational view of an adjustable seat arm. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     An adjustable, pivoting seat arm 10 is provided for pivoting deployment and retraction on a seat back preferably an automobile, truck or recreational vehicle seat. The arm 10 is built up on a generally &#34;U&#34; shaped sheet metal frame 12 having a horizontal web 14 and vertical longitudinally extending flanges 16a and 16b. The term longitudinally refers to the convention of using the arm in a seat such as a bucket seat in a van or truck such that the seat is forward facing along the longitudinal axis of the base vehicle. The arm 10 has a forward end 18 and a rearward end 20. Located near the rearward end 20 is pivot 22 which may be a pin, tube or the like that permits the arm 10 to be raised to a generally vertical position substantially parallel with the seat back for ease of ingress and egress from the vehicle seat and a generally horizonal position deployed for use as an armrest. 
     With the arm 10 in its generally horizontal position, the position is maintained by housing 24 which is affixed around pivot 22 and has an end wall 26 with a recess or cut out 28 that butts against arm index pin 30. Arm index pin 30 both provides for angle control and vertical positioning stopping. It also provides transverse positioning so that the arm is maintained on pivot 22. 
     A offset pin supporting portion 32 on housing 24 has an aperture 34 in which control rod pin 36 is retained to provide an anchor point for rod 38. Extending generally longitudinally from pin 36 is control rod 38. Red 38 extends through spring plate 40 in a direction generally toward end 18. 
     Generally midway from pin 36 rod 38 has a stop 42. In the preferred embodiment stop 42 is provided by flattening rod 38 in two directions with the incumbent deformation of material in directions perpendicular thereto. Other alternatives such as a nut, pin, clip or cotter key could accomplish the function. Stop 42 provides an enlarged surface as rod 38 extends through an aperture 44 in spring plate 40. Spring plate 40 is carried on rod 38, providing an enlarged surface against which spring 50 bears. Spring plate 40 is configured so that its edges follow flanges 16a and 16b as rod 38 moves in an angular manner relative to web 14, as described below. 
     Opposite pin 36 as rod 38 further extends through spring plate 40 is threaded end 46 of rod 38. Carried on the shank portion between spring plate 40 and end 46 is compression spring 50. It will be noted that a similar operation could be obtained by using an extension spring aligned differently. 
     Also carried on the threaded portion 48 is eyelet 52. Eyelet 52 protects the threads, provides for a bushing maintaining the perpendicularity of the coils on spring 50 and allows the spring to move freely over threaded portion 48. Locker 54 is mounted on flanges 16a and 16b through transverse pin or rivet 56 in a pivotable manner. Aperture 58 passes entirely through locker 54. Corner 60 of locker 54 bears on the end of spring 50 and is preloaded in normal operation. Locker 54 has a threaded portion 62 in aperture 58 which threaded portion normally bears against threaded end 48 of rod 38. 
     Locker 54 and its elements described make up a self-energizing mechanism wherein the load increases the locking power making it more secure. Thus, while spring 50 urges the respective threads on threaded portion 62 and threaded end 48 into engagement, load on arm 10 actually increases the load tending to keep those threads in engagement. 
     Lever 64 enables displacement of locker 54 around pin 56 which disengages threaded portion 62 from rod end 48. This then permits the generally longitudinal movement of locker 54 and pin 56 aligned near end 18, assisted by spring 50. Because of the vertical displacement between pivot 22 and pin 36 at end 20 this generally longitudinal movement results in a change in the horizontal angle of web 14, although housing 24 does not move relative to arm index pin 30. In this manner, an angle adjustment for improved comfort and convenience of the occupant of a vehicle seat is enhanced while the general positioning of the arm is maintained. 
     The angle alpha represents the offset between the threaded portion 62 and the unthreaded sliding portion 66 of the locker 54. Angle alpha is preferably about eight and possibly has high as twelve degrees. This has been found sufficient to disengage standard threads and permit about a three degree change in the angle gamma between the arm 10 and seat back 70 per thread. Thus the angle gamma can be adjusted in three degree increments, an amount similar in magnitude to the industry standard of two and one half degrees increments for seat back adjustment. 
     The adjustable seat arm 10 is adapted to be mounted on a seat back 70 and more particularly on the frame 72 of the seat back. Aperture 73 in mounting 74 can be seen in FIG. 5 to have a keyhole configuration. This permits the arm 10 to be mounted on the seat back 70 by aligning so that keyhole index pin 77 passes through slot 75 of aperture 73. This insertion operation is shown in FIG. 4. As the arm 10 is rotated through angle beta to generally horizontal position 76 it is locked in place in mounting 74 by pin 77 under pressure from spring 78 (FIG. 7). Thus adjustable arm 10 is adapted to fit standard seat backs 70 and is therefore adaptable to easy and efficient manufacture, customization, and retrofitting. 
     The adjustable seat arm as shown and described permits adjustment of from about 5 degrees above the standard arm position to about 30 degrees below the standard arm position taking advantage of seat back 70 reclining arrangement. Nevertheless the entire arm 10 can be retracted to a nearly parallel position relative to seat back 70 preferably over parallel to approximately five degrees back of parallel. 
     The adjuster maintains position so when the arm is flipped back to the more horizontal position, the angle adjustment is maintained. The &#34;memory&#34; position provides a distinct advantage over prior art devices. 
     While lever 54 is preferably adjusted by manipulation at the end of the arm, other possibilities exist such as actuation by pressure through an aperture in the upholstery or actuation by squeezing resilient upholstery. 
     As many and varied modifications of the subject matter of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description given hereinabove, it will be understood that the present invention is limited only as provided in the claims appended hereto.