Patent Publication Number: US-6659561-B1

Title: Arm rest adjustable forwardly and rearwardly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an armrest, and more particularly to an adjustable armrest adjustable up and down and adjustable forwardly and rearwardly relative to chairs or objects. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Various kinds of typical armrests have been developed and provided to solidly attach to the chairs or the like for supporting the arms of the users. The arm rests may be moved up and down together with the chairs when the chairs are moved or adjusted up and down relative to a supporting base, but may not be adjusted up and down relative to the chairs. 
     The other typical arm rests comprise an adjustable structure for moving or adjusting up and down relative to the chairs, in order to support the arms of the users at different heights or elevations. However, the typical arm rests may only be adjusted up and down relative to the chairs, but may not be adjusted forwardly or rearwardly relative to the chairs to different forward or rearward positions. 
     The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional adjustable armrests. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an adjustable armrest, which is adjustable up and down and adjustable forwardly and rearwardly relative to the chairs or objects. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided an adjustable arm rest comprising a housing including an upper portion, a plate secured to the upper portion of the housing with at least one fastener, and including at least one catch extended therefrom, a casing slidably disposed on the upper portion of the housing, and including at least one channels formed therein, to slidably receive the fastener, and to guide the casing to slide relative to the housing and the plate, a board slidably disposed in the casing, and disposed above the plate, and including a bottom portion having a plurality of recesses formed therein, to selectively receive the catch of the plate, and to selectively or adjustably position the board and the casing to the plate and the housing, and means for forcing the board away from the plate, to selectively disengage the catch of the plate from the recesses of the board, and to allow the board and the casing to move and adjust forwardly and rearwardly relative to the plate and the casing when the catch of the plate is disengaged from the recesses of the board. 
     The casing includes at least one pin extended therefrom, the board includes at least one hole formed therein to slidably receive the pin of the casing, and to guide the board to move up and down and toward and away from the plate and the casing. 
     One or more springs may further be provided and engaged with the board, to bias the board toward the plate, and to force and engage the catch of the plate into either of the recesses of the board. 
     The forcing means includes at least one bulge extended from the board, and a follower slidably received between the board and the plate, the follower includes at least one swelling extended therefrom, for engaging with the bulge of the board, to force the board away from the plate when the follower is forced to move relative to the board. 
     The board includes a groove formed therein to slidably receive the follower. One or more springs may further be provided and coupled between the follower and the casing, to bias and disengage the swelling of the follower away from the bulge of the board. 
     The forcing means includes a lever having a middle portion pivotally secured to the casing, and having a first end engageable with the follower to move the follower relative to the board and the plate and the casing, and having a second end to be actuated to rotate the lever and to force the first end of the lever to engage with the follower. The casing includes an opening formed therein to receive the second end of the lever. 
     A post may further be provided for attaching to an object, the housing includes a chamber formed therein to slidably receive the post, to allow the housing to be moved up and down relative to the post to different elevations. 
     A latch may further be provided and attached to the housing, to selectively engage with the post, and to position the housing to the post at selected positions. The post includes a plurality of notches formed therein, the latch includes a bar extended therefrom and engageable with either of the notches of the post, to position the housing to the post at the selected positions. 
     The housing includes a plurality of orifices to selectively and slidably receive the latch, the bar of the latch includes a passage formed therein to slidably receive the post, and to allow the bar and the housing to be moved up and down relative to the post. 
    
    
     Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a chair having an adjustable armrest in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the adjustable armrest; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the adjustable armrest as seen from the left side of the upper and rear portion thereof; 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the adjustable armrest as seen from the right side of the upper and rear portion thereof; 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the adjustable armrest as seen from the lower and rear portion thereof; 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the adjustable armrest as seen from the front and side portion thereof; 
     FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of the adjustable arm rest as seen from the right side of the upper portion thereof, in which some upper parts or elements of the arm rest have been removed; 
     FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of the adjustable arm rest as seen from the left side of the upper and rear portion thereof, in which some upper parts or elements of the arm rest have been removed; 
     FIG. 9 is a partial cross sectional view taken along lines  9 — 9  of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view showing a post extended from the chair to support the adjustable arm rest; and 
     FIG. 11 is a plan schematic view illustrating the operation of the adjustable armrest. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, an adjustable arm rest  1  in accordance with the present invention is provided for attaching to either side of an object  10 , such as a chair  10  or the like, and comprises a bracket  11  secured to the object  10 , and a post  12  secured to or extended up from the bracket  11 . The post  12  includes a number of notches  14  formed therein and defined by or between projections  15  (FIG.  10 ). 
     The arm rest  1  includes a housing  20  having a chamber  21  formed therein (FIG. 9) to slidably receive the post  12 , for allowing the housing  20  to be moved or adjusted up and down relative to the post  12  and the bracket  11  and thus the chair  10  to different heights or elevations, best shown in FIG.  11 . The housing  20  includes a number of orifices  22  formed in one of the side portions thereof, and includes one or more, such as two apertures  23  formed in the upper portion thereof (FIGS. 3,  4 ). 
     As shown in FIGS. 3,  4 ,  6 ,  10 , a latch  30  includes a bar  31  extended therefrom and slidably engaged into the chamber  21  of the housing  20  via either of the orifices  22  of the housing  20 . The bar  31  of the latch  30  includes a passage  32  formed therein to slidably receive the post  12  (FIGS. 9,  10 ), and is engageable with either of the notches  14  and/or the projections  15  of the post  12  (FIG.  10 ), in order to secure and position the latch  30  to the post  12 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 4,  6 ,  7 , the latch  30  is slidably received in either of the orifices  22  of the housing  20 , and slightly extendible out of the housing  20 , so as to be depressed toward or into the housing  20  by users. One or more, such as two springs  33  are disposed between the latch  30  and the post  12  and/or partially received in the depressions  34  of the latch  30  (FIG.  10 ), to bias the latch  30  to partially or slightly extend out of the housing  20 , and to force the bar  31  of the latch  30  to engage with the post  12 . 
     In operation, the bar  31  of the latch  30  may be biased or forced to engage with either of the notches  14  and/or the projections  15  of the post  12  (FIG.  10 ), by the springs  33 , in order to secure and position the latch  30  and thus the housing  20  to the post  12  at the selected or required position. At this moment, the latch  30  is also biased or forced to partially or slightly extend out of the housing  20  by the springs  33 . 
     When the latch  30  is depressed toward or into the housing  20  against the springs  33  by the users, the bar  31  of the latch  30  may be moved or forced to be disengaged from the notches  14  and/or the projections  15  of the post  12  (FIG.  10 ), against the springs  33 . At this moment, the latch  30  and thus the housing  20  may be moved or adjusted up and down relative to the post  12  to any selected or required position, until the bar  31  of the latch  30  is biased or forced to engage with either of the notches  14  and/or the projections  15  of the post  12  again by the springs  33 , when the latch  30  is released by the users. 
     The arm rest  1  includes a casing  40  slidably disposed above the housing  20 , and having one or more, such as two oblong holes or channels  41  formed therein and aligned with the apertures  23  of the housing  20  respectively, and having one or more, such as four pins  42  extended therefrom. The casing  40  includes an opening  47  formed therein (FIGS. 5,  6 ,  9 ), such as formed in the front and bottom portion thereof. 
     A plate  43  includes one or more, such as two fasteners  44  extended downwardly therefrom and slidably extended through the channels  41  of the casing  40 , and engaged into the apertures  23  of the housing  20 , and secured to the housing  20 . As shown in FIGS. 3-6, the fasteners  44  of the plate  43  may be slidably received in the channels  41  of the casing  40 , such that the casing  40  may be slidably secured to the housing  20  with the plate  43 . 
     The sliding engagement of the fasteners  44  of the plate  43  in the channels  41  of the casing  40  may thus be used to limit the relative sliding movement between the casing  40  and the housing  20 . The plate  43  includes one or more catches  45  extended upwardly therefrom. A cover  49  may be secured onto the casing  40  with such as fasteners (not shown), latches (not shown), adhesive materials, or by welding processes, in order to cover and shield the plate  43  or the other parts or elements received in the casing  40 . 
     A board  50  is slidably disposed above the plate  43 , and includes one or more, such as four holes  51  formed therein to slidably receive the pins  42  of the casing  40 , and to guide the board  50  to move up and down or toward or away from the plate  43  and the casing  40 . One or more, such as four springs  52  are engaged onto the pins  42  and/or engaged between the board  50  and the cover  49  for biasing the board  50  to slidably engage with the pins  42  of the casing  40 . 
     The board  50  includes two rows of recesses  53 ,  54  formed therein (FIG.  5 ), such as formed in the bottom portion thereof, to. receive the catches  45  of the plate  43 . For example, the catches  45  of the plate  43  may be forced to engage into the recesses  53 ,  54  of the board  50 , in order to position the board  50  and the casing  40  to the plate  43  and the housing  20 , and so as to prevent the casing  40  from being moved forwardly and rearwardly relative to the housing  20 . 
     It is to be noted that the recesses  53  of the board  50  include a width or length smaller than that of the other recesses  54  of the board  50 . When a first catch  45  of the catches  45  of the plate  43  is engaged into either of the smaller recesses  53  of the board  50 , the first catch  45  may not be moved relative to the board. The other or the second catch  45  will thus be loosely engaged into either of the greater recesses  54  of the board  50 , and may thus be slightly moved relative to the board, such that the board  50  and thus the casing  40  may be slightly rotated relative to the plate  43  and the housing  20 . 
     As also shown in FIG. 5, the board  50  further includes a groove  55  formed therein, and includes one or more, such as two bulges  56 ,  57  extended therefrom, such as extended into the groove  55  thereof. 
     A follower  60  is slidably received in the groove  55  of the board  50 , and includes one or more, such as two swellings  61 ,  62  extended therefrom, for engaging with the bulges  56 ,  57  of the board  50 , in order to move or to force the board  50  upwardly away from the plate  43  against the springs  52 , when the follower  60  is forced to move along the groove  55  of the board  50 . 
     The follower  60  and includes one or more, such as two rods  63  extended therefrom, and each coupled to one or more springs  64  respectively. The springs  64  are coupled to one or more pegs  48  (FIG. 8) that are extended from the casing  40 , in order to bias and to move the swellings  61 ,  62  of the follower  60  away from the bulges  56 ,  57  of the board  50 , and thus for allowing the catches  45  of the plate  43  to be forced to engage into the recesses  53 ,  54  of the board  50  and to position the board  50  and the casing  40  to the plate  43  and the housing  20 . 
     A lever  70  includes a middle portion rotatably or pivotally secured to the casing  40  with a pivot axle  72 , and includes one end  71  slightly extended out through the opening  47  of the casing  40 , and the other actuating end  73  engageable with the follower  60  (FIGS.  7 - 9 ), in order to move the follower  60  relative to the board  50  and the plate  43  and the casing  40  and against the springs  64 , when the actuating end  73  is forced toward and to engage with the follower  60  by actuating or depressing the end  71  of the lever  70  into the opening  47  of the casing  40 . 
     In operation, when the end  71  of the lever  70  is actuated or depressed into the opening  47  of the casing  40  by the users, the actuating end  73  may be forced toward and to engage with the follower  60 , in order to move the follower  60  relative to the board  50  and the plate  43  and the casing  40  and against the springs  64 , and so as to move the swellings  61 ,  62  of the follower  60  to engage with the bulges  56 ,  57  of the board  50 , and thus to move or to force the board  50  upwardly away from the plate  43  against the springs  52 . 
     At this moment, the catches  45  of the plate  43  may be disengaged from the recesses  53 ,  54  of the board  50 , and the board  50  and the casing  40  may thus be moved or adjusted relative to the plate  43  and the housing  20 , thus for allowing the casing  40  to be moved or adjusted forwardly and rearwardly relative to the housing  20 . 
     Accordingly, the adjustable armrest in accordance with the present invention may be adjusted up and down and may be adjusted forwardly and rearwardly relative to the chairs or objects. 
     Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.