Abstract:
An arm assembly with an arm, a plurality of vertical support members and a horizontal member is telescopingly mounted in a housing, such that the arm assembly moves vertically by movement of a scissors mechanism having slidable pivot mountings, whereby movement of a linear actuator at the bottom of the housing translates horizontal movement to vertical movement, which vertical movement is imparted upwardly by a spring and downwardly against the spring, the vertical movement being controlled by a lever and cable actuated lock.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims priority based on U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/558,809. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Sitting chairs, chairs in motor vehicles, medical transfer chairs, hospital beds, etc., are heretofore known in the art to include arms or arm rests attached thereto. Such arms can be used by a person sitting on the chair to rest his or her arms thereon. At times, these arms can become problematic if, for example, their height restricts sideways movement of the person sitting on the chair. For example, in the medical field, a person sitting on a chair with arms may need to be moved from the chair and the person may not be in a condition to accomplish such movement on his or her own. In such a situation, the person may need to be pushed or slid off of the chair but due to the presence of arms on the chair, sliding or pushing the person off of the chair may not be possible. A second example, seating in a vehicle, could prevent the typical rotating arm, which a telescoping stub could be used and afford adequate ingress and egress. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In an aspect, the present disclosure provides for an adjustable telescoping arm (hereinafter “ATA”) that can be attached to a sitting chair, a medical transfer chair, a motor vehicle chair, a hospital bed, or the like. The ATA provides a user with the ability to lower or raise the ATA. For example, in accordance with the ATA disclosed herein, a user could lower the ATA to a point at or below the seating surface of a chair. By lowering the ATA below the seating surface of the chair, ingress and/or egress of a person to be seated or removed from the chair becomes readily possible without interference by the arm of the ATA. In another example, the arm could be lowered to a position that remains above the seating surface but is still sufficiently low to allow ingress and egress. 
         [0004]    In certain situations, the person sitting in the chair, or laying in a bed, may be unconscious or unable to move from the chair or bed under his or her own abilities. Under these circumstances, it may be necessary for a user to assist the person out of the chair or bed. In other situations, a person who is unconscious or immobile may need to be seated in a chair or bed and may need assistance from others to accomplish this goal. In the foregoing situations, a chair or bed equipped with the presently disclosed ATA would be ideal in that the ATA can be lowered to a position below the seating surface of the chair whereby interference from the ATA will be non-existent. Once seated, an operator can raise the ATA to a suitable height and the ATA can be locked in place so further movement thereof is not possible. In an example such as vehicle seating, the occupant may be unconstrained physically, but nevertheless utilize reduced arm height for ease of ingress and egress. Another advantage to a telescoping arm is the reduction or elimination of significant moving components external to the mechanism or upholstery. 
         [0005]    Thus, there is easy adjustment from up to down position, the adjustable telescoping arm allows occupant to adjust overall height to the comfort of the user, there is a scissors linkage controlled with floating pivot that is compact and can be enclosed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a side view of the adjustable telescoping arm in its full up position. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1   a  is a side view of an embodiment having mirror image linear actuators. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the adjustable telescoping arm in its mid-travel position. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the adjustable telescoping arm in its full down position. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is an elevated side view of the adjustable telescoping arm in its full up position. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is an elevated side view of the adjustable telescoping arm in its mid-travel position. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is an elevated side view of the adjustable telescoping arm in its full down position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged elevated side view of the linear actuator in the mid-travel position of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is an elevated side view of an embodiment of the adjustable telescoping arm in its full up position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is an elevated side view of an embodiment of the adjustable telescoping arm in its mid-travel position. 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is an elevated side view of an embodiment of the adjustable telescoping arm in its full down position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    In certain aspects, the Adjustable Telescoping Arm (“ATA”)  100  is equipped with a vertical adjustment mechanism  112  that can be easily operated by a user, caregiver or other operator. The vertical adjustment mechanism can be locked whereby the ATA  100  becomes stationary or immobile. Also, the vertical adjustment mechanism  112  can be unlocked, thereby providing a user with the ability to raise or lower the ATA  100 . 
         [0018]    In accordance with this disclosure, the ATA  100  can also include a pad (not shown in the drawings) attached to a top side thereof to provide comfort to an arm that is resting thereon. The ATA can also provide an adjuster  113  to adjust the height of the arm  102  at infinite points between the full up and full down positions of the ATA. The arm pad and/or the portion of the ATA which comes into contact with a user&#39;s arm, e.g. the arm  102  of the ATA, can be composed of many suitable materials, such as wood, steel, urethane, fabric, or the like, although the structural arm  102  is advantageously formed from metal, such as steel, or other structural metal. 
         [0019]    In an aspect, the vertical adjustment mechanism  112  can include a scissors-type linkage  114  controlled with a floating pivot  103 . The vertical adjustment mechanism  114  can be included in a housing  104  and the housing can be attached to any type of seat or seating apparatus. For example, the housing  104  can be attached to the side of a medical transfer chair or a medical bed. In certain aspects, two housings can be used, each enclosing a vertical adjustment mechanism  112 . One of the housings can be attached to a left side of the seating apparatus and the other housing can be attached to the right side of the seating apparatus. 
         [0020]    As can be seen in the drawing figures, the housing  104  is shown enclosing the vertical adjustment mechanism  112  and an arm  102  of the ATA is shown rising above the vertical adjustment mechanism  112 . While it is shown in each of the drawing figures, the housing  104  is not a required feature of the present disclosure and the ATA is fully operational and useful without a housing. The scissor-type linkage is shown having two rectangular members  105   a,    105   b  in a cross-like pattern. One end of a first rectangular member  105   a  is pivotally affixed to an upper pivot arm plate  116  and the opposite end of the rectangular member  105   a  is affixed to a lower section of the housing  104 . Second rectangular member  105   b  is slidably and pivotally affixed to an upper pivot arm plate  118  engaging a slot with a pin. By attaching the rectangular members in this fashion, they form a cross or x-shaped pattern. At the point where the rectangular members  105   a,    105   b  intersect or the point in the center of the “x” formed by the rectangular members, floating pivot  103  can placed which penetrates both members and connects them pivotally together. The pivot  103  can be a pin, tube, or the like, which permits the arm of the ATA to be raised or lowered. 
         [0021]    In certain aspects, one of the lower ends of the rectangular members  105   a,    105   b  can be attached to a spring mechanism  106  which allows movement of this lower end. The spring mechanism  106  can be biased in a manner whereby extension of the spring pushes the lower moveable end of the rectangular member  105   a  towards the lower end of the other rectangular member  105   b,  thereby causing the pivot  103  to rise, which, in turn, causes the upper plates  116 ,  118  and thence arm  102  of the ATA  100  to rise. When the spring is fully extended, the arm of the ATA  100  is in its full up position. 
         [0022]    Conversely, the spring  106  can be contracted by, for example, pushing downward on the arm  102  of the ATA  100 , which would cause the pivot  103  to be lowered and the moveable lower end of the rectangular member  105  a to translate away from the lower end of the other rectangular member  105   b  which is pivoted, but not in a fixed position. When the spring  106  is fully contracted, the arm  102  of the ATA  100  would be in its full down position. As previously mentioned, the full down position can place the arm of the ATA  100  in a location below, equal height with, or slightly above the seating surface of a chair, bed or seat, whereby a person can be slid into or out of the chair or bed without interference from the arm of the ATA  100  or with minimal limitation on ingress and egress. 
         [0023]    Moreover, the vertical adjustment mechanism  112  can be equipped with a locking mechanism  120 . This locking mechanism allows the arm of the ATA  100  to become stationary in a particular desired position. For example, when the spring is contracted and the arm of the ATA  100  is below the seating surface of a chair, the locking mechanism is engaged and the arm will lock and become stationary below the seating surface. When appropriate, the locking mechanism  120  can be released and the height of the arm can be raised. As the arm  102  is rising, the locking mechanism  120  is disengaged, but can be engaged at any time to stop the vertical movement of the arm and hold the arm at a particular height. If the locking mechanism  120  is not actuated, the spring will cause the arm of the ATA  100  to rise to its full up position. 
         [0024]    The locking mechanism can include a release lever  109 , which will be accessible by a user. If the locking mechanism is covered by a housing, upholstery, etc., the release lever  109  can protrude out of the housing or upholstery such that a user can activate the lever  109 . The release lever  109  can be connected by a cable  160  (shown in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  but not shown in the other figures) to a linear actuator  122  and/or an actuator pin  124 . When the release lever  109  is activated, it releases a lock in the linear actuator  122 , thereby allowing movement of the components of the ATA  100 , such as the spring mechanism  106 , the rectangular members  105   a,    105   b,  the horizontal platform member  107 , the vertical support members  108 , and the arm  102  of the ATA  100 . When the lever  109  is re-activated, the linear actuator  122  once again becomes locked, thereby preventing movement of the components of the ATA  100 . Locking of the linear actuator can be accomplished through the use of an actuator pin  124 , which can protrude through the linear actuator, thereby restricting its movement. While the linear actuator can be a linear recliner, as shown in the drawings, other actuators can be used, such as gas/spring actuators, or any other developed locking mechanisms known in the art. 
         [0025]    While the drawings show an embodiment including one lower, moveable end  126  of a rectangular member  105   b  and one spring, it is contemplated that both lower ends of each rectangular member can be moveable in connection with springs. In this embodiment it will be understood that the linear actuator and slidable, pivotal connection will be a mirror image of that shown. This is shown in  FIG. 1   a  with complementary linear actuators  122   a  and  122   b  and slotted, pivotal plates  118   a  and  118   b.  End  126  can be formed in a manner of a fork receiving a pin  130  which pin slides in a slot, thereby providing controlled horizontal movement which, operating through linkage  114 , raises or lowers arm  102 . 
         [0026]    In an aspect of this disclosure, the upper ends of each rectangular member can be affixed to a horizontal platform member  107  that interconnects plates  116 ,  118 . Vertical support members  108  can be attached to an upper surface of the platform member  107  and rise from the upper surface. This provides a more rigid structure permitting improved vectoring of raising and lowering forces. If the vertical adjustment mechanism is inside a housing  104 , the vertical support members  108  can rise out of the housing by placing appropriate openings in the top portion of the housing. The arm  102  of the ATA  100  can then be affixed to the vertical support members  108 . In such a configuration, when the locking member is released, the lower moveable end of the rectangular member will be pushed horizontally by the spring  106 , causing the pivot and the upper ends of the rectangular members  105   a    105   b  to rise, which, in turn, will cause the horizontal platform, vertical support members, and the arm of the ATA  100  to rise. Conversely, if the locking member is released and the arm of the ATA  100  is in its full up position, downward force can be placed on the arm of the ATA  100 , causing it, as well as the vertical support members  108 , horizontal platform  107 , upper ends of the rectangular members  105   a,    105   b,  and the pivot  103 , to be lowered. Such downward pressure will also cause the spring  106  associated with a lower moveable end  126  of the rectangular member  105   a  to become compressed. 
         [0027]    The elements included in the vertical adjustment mechanism  120  can be made of various metals, such as steel, aluminum, titanium, and the like, in sheet or other form. 
         [0028]    The embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10  demonstrates the adaptability of the linkage  114  in that it can be adapted to a housing  104  being horizontally shorter and vertically deeper, while having an arm  102  that is also longitudinally shorter. 
         [0029]    While certain features and functions have been described with respect to the ATA  100 , various modifications may become apparent to those skilled in the art which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and such modifications are intended to be covered herein.