Patent Publication Number: US-11641946-B2

Title: Multi-directional gliding arm rest pad device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/060,381, filed Aug. 3, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a moveable arm rest pad and, more particularly, to a multi-directional, 360°, gliding arm rest pad device that eliminates forearm-to-pad friction during movement of a user&#39;s arm when operating a device, such as a joystick, a computer mouse and the like. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Arm rest pads can be very beneficial to support one&#39;s arms in various positions while sitting in a chair at a computer, other work stations, or operating a joy stick in industrial applications. One&#39;s arms together with one&#39;s hands consist of about 10% of a person&#39;s body weight. Thus, a good arm rest pad can prevent, as well as provide good relief for, musculoskeletal disorders like bursitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, and elbow pain. 
     Currently, there are many different kinds of arm rest pads in the marketplace, with most of them having some type of padding. However, most arm rest pads have a limited range of motion, namely, forward or backward or side to side movement, i.e., movement limited to 180°. Some arm rests made of brackets have a wider range of motion but typically are cumbersome which limits the settings in which they can be used, and tend to become uncomfortable after a while. Thus, there exists a need for an arm rest pad that is multi-directional, i.e., has a full range of motion of 360°, that is extremely comfortable, compact, and that can be used in a wide variety of settings where one needs to sit for work or for play. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention fulfills this need by proving a unique, soft-cushioned, free-moving, multi-directional, gliding arm rest pad device which eliminates forearm-to-pad friction during a user&#39;s arm movements. The multi-directional gliding arm rest pad allows free movement of a user&#39;s forearm to glide multi-directionally with minimal tension resistance, so that shoulder strain is substantially reduced, development of bursitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, and elbow pain is greatly diminished, and a user&#39;s functional work performance duration time is extended due to reduction of arm fatigue afforded by the smooth and effortless directional motion of the arm rest pad. 
     The multi-directional gliding arm rest pad device provides these benefits in part due to the inclusion of a plurality of ball transfer units, which have been designed to allow for multi-directional function. The present invention therefore eliminates the need for mechanical pivot, tilt, swivel or articulation of the physical arm rest pad, resulting in enhancement of control movement precision by a user when using a computer mouse or a joy stick in industrial applications, such as, without limitation, cranes, winches, marine equipment, agricultural machines, forestry machines, construction equipment, material handling vehicles, robotics, medical apparatuses, office chairs and factory production lines. 
     The multi-directional gliding arm rest pad device is comprised of an arm rest pad; a box lid having a first side, a second side, an upper side, a lower side, and two circular openings therein; a box base having a first side and a second side; a pad connection bracket having a raised central portion and a circular opening located on each side of the raised central portion; a plurality of sealed bearings; a glide plate having a top side and a bottom side, the top side having two circular recessed areas therein and a circular opening in the center of each recessed area; and a plurality of ball transfer units. 
     The multi-directional gliding arm rest pad device of the present invention is assembled by affixing two ball transfer units to one end of the bottom of the glide plate and two ball transfer units to the other end of the bottom of the glide plate. A bolt is inserted into each of the openings on the pad connection bracket, a washer is inserted over each of the bolts, one sealed bearing is inserted over each of the washers, and another washer is inserted over each of the sealed bearings to form a pad connection bracket assembly. The pad connection bracket assembly is positioned atop the upper side of the box lid so that each of the sealed bearings inserts into each of the openings in the box lid. The top of the glide plate is positioned on the underside of the box lid so that each of the two bolts insert into each of the openings in the glide plate and each of the two sealed bearings insert into each of the two circular recessed areas on the top side of the glide plate. The glide plate is affixed to the underside of the box lid with two nuts which are tightened on each of the two bolts. Optionally, a magnet is placed in the center of the bottom of the glide plate and another magnet is placed in the center of the box base. The box base is placed atop an arm of a chair and affixed thereto with screws inserted into screw holes located at the corners of the base bottom. The arm rest pad connection bracket assembly which is affixed to the upper side of the box lid with the glide plate affixed to the underside of the box lid is positioned over the box base and affixed to the box base with screws inserted into two screw holes located at the ends of the box lid and the box base. The arm rest pad then is affixed atop the arm rest pad connection bracket. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A fuller understanding of the invention can be gained from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, which illustrate some, but not the only and exclusive, examples of embodiments of the invention and, as such, the figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than limiting. In the drawings: 
         FIG.  1   . is a top perspective view of the multi-directional gliding arm rest pad device, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG.  2    is a side perspective view of the multi-directional gliding arm rest pad device, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG.  3    is a top plan view of the multi-directional gliding arm rest pad device with the arm rest pad positioned in a rightward direction, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG.  4 A  is a perspective view of the under side of the box lid and  FIG.  4 B  is a perspective view of the box base, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG.  5 A  is a perspective view of the top side of the glide plate and  FIG.  5 B  is a perspective view of the bottom side of the glide plate, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view of the bottom of the glide plate showing four ball transfer units affixed to both ends of the glide plate, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG.  7    is an exploded view of the arm rest pad connection bracket assembly comprised of the arm rest pad connection bracket, bolts, two sealed bearings, washers, and the box lid, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG.  8    is a perspective view of the arm rest pad connection bracket assembly positioned on the top side of the box lid and showing the bolts with sealed bearings thereon protruding out of the openings on the box lid, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG.  9    is a perspective view of the glide plate affixed to the underside of the box lid with a magnet affixed in the center of the glide plate, two ball transfer units affixed on each end of the glide plate, and two nuts screwed onto the two bolts, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG.  10    is a perspective view of the arm rest pad connection bracket assembly affixed to the upper side of the box lid with the glide plate affixed to the underside of the box lid in which the sealed bearings are shown in the openings of the box lid and the ball transfer units are shown on the underside of the box lid, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG.  11    is a perspective view of the arm rest pad connection bracket assembly affixed to the upper side of the box lid with the glide plate affixed to the underside of the box lid and a perspective view of the box base in which a magnet is affixed in the center of the box base, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG.  12 A  is a perspective view of the bottom side of the arm rest pad showing the recessed area that affixes over the arm rest pad connection bracket of the assembled box which is shown in  FIG.  12 B . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the figures, the multi-directional gliding arm rest pad device  10  of the invention generally is shown in  FIGS.  1 - 3   . The multi-directional gliding arm rest pad device  10  is comprised of an arm rest pad  12 ; a box lid  14  having a first side  13 , a second side  15 , an upper side  35 , and an underside  21  (shown in  FIGS.  4 A and  7   ); and a box base  16  having a first side  17  and a second side  19 . The box lid  14  has a length ranging from about 5.0 inches to about 20 inches, and a width ranging from about 2.0 inches to about 5.0 inches. In an embodiment, the box lid has length of about 10.2 inches and a width of about 4.2 inches. The box base  16  has a length ranging from about 5.0 inches to about 20.0 inches, and a width ranging from about 2.0 inches to about 5.0 inches. In an embodiment, the box base  16  has length of about 9.9 inches and a width of about 3.9 inches. The invention contemplates that the box lid  14  is very slightly larger than the box base  16  so that there is a snug fit when the box lid  14  fits over the box base. The invention also contemplates that the box lid  14  and box base  16  are rectangular in shape, although various other shapes, such as oblong, may be used in the invention so long as the device fits compactly and comfortably atop an arm rest. 
     As shown in  FIG.  4 A , the box lid  14  has two circular openings  18  therein. Each of the circular openings has a diameter ranging from about 0.5 inches to about 5.0 inches. In an embodiment, the diameter is about 2.5 inches. Both the box lid  14  and the box base  16  have two screw holes  22 ,  22 ′ on their ends and a small cleft  43 ,  44  on each corner of the box lid  14  and box base  16 , respectively, which allows the box lid  14  to fit securely on the box base  16 . In addition, the box base  16  has four small screw holes  23  near each corner of the box base  16 , which are used to screw the box base  16  onto an arm rest. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  5 A  and B, the device includes a glide plate  30  having a top side  31  ( FIG.  5 A ) and a bottom side  33  ( FIG.  5 B ). The glide plate has a length ranging from about 2.0 inches to about 20.0 inches; and width ranging from about 0.3 inches to about 5.0 inches. In an embodiment, the glide plate  30  has a length of about 7.5 inches and a width of about 1.8 inches. The top side  31  of the glide plate  30  has two circular recessed areas therein  32  and a circular opening  34  in the center of each recessed area  32 . Each of the recessed areas  32  has a diameter ranging from about 0.1 inches to about 5.0 inches. In an embodiment, the diameter of the recessed areas  32  is about 1.1 inches. The circular opening  34  in the recessed area  32  has a diameter ranging from about 0.03 inches to about 2.0 inches. In an embodiment, the circular opening  34  in the recessed area  32  has a diameter of about 0.38 inches. 
     As shown in  FIG.  6   , two ball transfer units  36  are affixed near each end of the bottom  33  of the glide plate  30 . The diameter of the ball transfer units  36  ranges from about 5.0 mm to about 40.0 mm. In an embodiment, the diameter is about 22.0 mm. The height of the ball transfer units  36  ranges from about 8.0 mm to about 30.0 mm. In an embodiment, the height is 17.6 mm. The ball transfer units  36  may be manufactured from materials such as, without limitation, stainless steel, carbon steel or nylon. 
     As shown in  FIG.  7   , the device also includes an arm rest pad connection bracket  24  having a raised central portion  45 , a circular opening  28  located on each side of the raised central portion  45 , and two sealed bearings  20 . The arm rest connection bracket  24  has a length and width ranging from about 0.25 inches to about 15.0 inches. In an embodiment, the arm rest connection bracket  24  has a length of about 6.3 inches and a width of about 2.0 inches. The diameter of the sealed bearings  20  ranges from about 0.5 inches to about 2.0 inches. In an embodiment, the diameter of the sealed bearings  20  is about 1.0 inch. In another embodiment, a small metal sleeve (not shown) less than 1.0 in diameter may replace the sealed bearings  20 . 
     Again referring to  FIG.  7   , an arm rest pad connection bracket assembly  46  is assembled by inserting a bolt  25  into each of the openings  28  of the arm rest pad connection bracket  24 , inserting a washer  27  over the bolt  25 , inserting one sealed bearing  20  over the washer  27 , and inserting another washer  27  over the sealed bearing  20 . The arm rest pad connection bracket assembly  46  in positioned over the upper side  35  of the box lid  14 . 
       FIG.  8    shows the arm rest pad connection bracket assembly  46  positioned atop the upper side  35  of the box lid  14  so that each of the bolts  25  and the sealed bearings  20  protrude out of one of the openings  18  in the box lid  14 . 
       FIG.  9    shows the bottom  33  of the glide plate  30  positioned on the underside  21  of the box lid  14  so that each of the two bolts  25  insert into each of the openings  34  in the glide plate  30 . The glide plate is affixed to the underside  21  of the box lid  14  with nuts  26  that are tightened onto each of the two bolts  25 . Also shown is a circular magnet  38  centered on the bottom  33  of the glide plate  30 . Shown in  FIG.  10    are the two sealed bearings  20  inserted into the two circular openings  18  of the box lid  14 , each of the sealed bearings  20  resting atop one of the circular recessed areas  32  (not shown) on the top side  31  of the glide plate  30 . 
       FIG.  11    shows the arm rest pad connection bracket assembly  46  affixed to the top of the box lid  14 , with the sealed bearings  20  shown within the openings  18  of the box lid  14 . Also shown is the box base  16  with a magnet  39  positioned and affixed in the center of box base  16  so that it directly meets and attracts the magnet  38  affixed to the glide plate  30  shown in  FIG.  9   . Suitable magnets include, without limitation, neodymium or ceramic magnets. The arm rest pad connection bracket assembly  46  affixed to the upper side  35  of the box lid  14  with the glide plate affixed to the underside  21  of the box lid  14  is positioned over the box base  16  and affixed thereto with screws inserted into the two screw holes  22 ,  22 ′ located at the ends of the box lid  14  and the box base  16 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  12 A , B, the recessed area  42  of the arm rest pad  12  rest pad is configured to affix atop the raised central portion  45  of the arm rest pad connection bracket  24 . In use, the box base  16  is attached to an arm rest with screws that insert into the four screw holes  23  in the box base  16  prior to affixing it to the box lid  14  with affixed previously-described elements. The completely assembled box lid affixed to the box base  40  is shown in  FIG.  12 B . The height of the assembled box lid and box base  40  has a height ranging from about 0.3 inches to about 3.0 inches. In an embodiment, the height of the assembled box lid and box base  40  is about 1.1 inches. 
     The invention contemplates that any suitable attachment means may be used to affix the ball transfer units  36  to the bottom  33  of the glide plate  30 , one magnets  38  to the bottom  33  of the glide plate  30 , another magnet  39  to the box base  16 , and the recessed area  42  of the arm rest pad  12  to the raised central portion  45  of the arm rest pad connection bracket  24 , such as, without limitation, adhesive tapes, glues, or hook and loop fasteners. 
     In use, the sealed bearings  20  roll freely around within the confines of the two openings  18  in the box lid  14 . This rolling motion of the sealed bearings  20  in conjunction with the ball transfer units  36  provides a very smooth, gliding, 360° motion of the arm rest pad device  10 . In addition, if magnets are included in the device, the magnetic attraction between the two magnets maintains itself during movement and provides a degree of resistance depending on the strength of the magnets as the arm rest connection bracket is moved via the arm rest pad in any direction. Alternatively, the multi-directional gliding arm rest pad device is configured to function with the same smooth and stable 360° degree movement without magnets if no resistance to the movement is desired by a user. 
     While specific embodiments have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular embodiments disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the (device) and method described herein, which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any and all equivalents thereof.