Patent Publication Number: US-6908157-B1

Title: Portable armrest assembly

Description:
Priority claimed on Ser. No. 60/464,666 filed Apr. 21, 2003 now abandoned. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to the field of armrests or supports, and more particularly to a novel portable arm support having a seat portion on which the user sits and an adjustable arm support with a cushion projecting upwardly from the seat portion. 
   2. Brief Description of the Prior Art 
   Armrests serve an important function to provide comfort, reduce fatigue and improve posture while seated. There are many different armrest configurations. Some armrests are integrated into the seating device, as is the case with a sofa, love seat and park bench. Other armrests are located on a structure adjacent to the seating devices, such as the door in many cars, trucks and small aircraft. Many armrests are separate assemblies that are attached to the seating device, as is the case with office chairs. 
   It is very important that the armrest be stable so that it remains stationary as the arm of the user applies a load force to it. For this reason, nearly all armrests, including highly adjustable armrests, are permanently fastened in place. Armrest assemblies may be attached in place by any number of permanent or semi-permanent methods including but not limited to the use of mounting brackets, mounting hardware, male-female or female-male adapters, glue or clips. 
   Even though armrests stand to benefit both the left and right arms equally, many seating devices/locations only provide the user with one usable armrest at a time. The following partial list of examples includes the sofa couch and park bench which have two armrests, but they are so far apart from one another that a person can only use one at a time. Many small aircraft cockpits and pickup trucks with bench seats have armrests in each of the two doors, but not in the center. The two door armrests are too far apart to rest both arms on at the same time and were clearly never intended to be used for both arms. As a result of small aircraft cockpits only having one armrest many pilots go without an armrest in the inside arm. This can cause fatigue and discomfort, especially on long flights and strenuous activities. This problem affects two-seat training aircraft all the way up to corporate jets. This invention solves the problem and allows pilots and drivers of cars to use two armrests. 
   Adding a second armrest in the aforementioned seating device and other single-armrest seating devices/locations is impractical in many situations for several reasons. One reason is that after-market assemblies are not always available for a given seating device or location. Even if they are available, they cannot be permanently mounted (bolted or screwed in place) without permission from the owner of the seating device. This limits their use in rental cars and trucks, rented or chartered small airplanes, public places (park benches, stadium bleachers, high school gymnasiums), or friend&#39;s houses. When the use of the seating device is temporary, like a football game or a short ride in a taxi, permanent installation becomes even more out-of-the-question. 
   Therefore, a long-standing need has existed to provide a portable armrest employing the user&#39;s weight to provide stability and balance and which is adjustable for height and angular positioning for use in the aforementioned seating situations. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The above problems and difficulties are avoided by the present invention which provides a portable single-sided armrest assembly that can be added to or removed from any seating device/location without requiring any mounting or permanent or semi-permanent attachment means. The armrest assembly includes an L-shaped member having a lower section which serves as a seat for the person using the armrest while further including an upright back section which slidably mounts a support plate. One end of the support plate includes an elongated cushion armrest fixedly attached thereto, while the body thereof includes an elongated slot mounting a threaded cap serving as a guide as the support plate is moved to a desired vertical position. A lock knob is employed for securing the armrest and support plate in a fixed location with respect to the L-shaped member. An adapter plate is employed for attachment between an angular section joining the upper back section of the L-shaped member to the lower seat section of the member, wherein the adapter is employed to occupy a vacant space and to provide added support when a seat, such as a bucket-type, is employed. 
   The L-shaped assembly places the lower seat section on the seat of a standard chair while the user sits directly on the seat section serving as a weight for holding the armrest in position with respect to the basic seat. The weight of the user on the seat-section secures the overall armrest assembly in place. 
   Therefore, it is among the primary object os the present invention to provide a portable and universal armrest assembly which includes stability and balance for the user&#39;s arm as it is rested on top of a vertical portion of the assembly. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable, single-sided armrest assembly that may be placed on a conventional seat with the user sitting on a portion of the assembly so that an instant armrest is provided and which may be carried away to another location after the user has left the basic seat. 
   Yet another object-resides in providing a portable armrest assembly which includes adjustability in one or more axes. 
   Still a further object of the invention resides in providing a single armrest with a pivoting accessory arm for supporting an accessory usable to the user, such as a cup holder or instrument. 
   A further object resides in providing an armrest which provides a stable and secure platform having a pivotal arm for a variety of accessories. 
   Another object of the present invention resides in providing a portable armrest assembly which does not require permanent fastening to a seating device nor requires the employment of screws or bolts or other permanent means in order for the assembly to function properly. 
   Yet a further object resides in providing an armrest assembly which may be placed on any conventional basic seat and employing the weight of the user for stability and balance for the user&#39;s arm. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood with reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of the novel portable armrest incorporating the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the armrest shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view illustrating the components comprising the armrest shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a transverse cross-sectional view of the armrest as shown in  FIG. 1  as taken in the direction of arrows  4 — 4  thereof; and 
       FIG. 5  is a reduced perspective view of the armrest incorporating a pivotal accessory arm. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , the novel portable armrest incorporating the present invention is illustrated in the general direction of arrow  10  and is used in connection with a conventional seat  11  which is supported on a base  12  connected to flooring  13 . The conventional seat  11  does not include a built-in armrest for supporting the occupant&#39;s left arm. However, the opposite side of the seat may include a built-in armrest for the right arm or, if not built-in, another portable armrest may be employed. The portable armrest includes an L-shaped member  14  having an upright support plate and a seat plate. The seat plate is indicated by numeral  15 , while the upright or vertical support plate is indicated by numeral  16 . An armrest  17  composed of a cushioned material is carried on the top of the upright plate  16  and the user&#39;s arm is resting thereon. The armrest  17  may be raised or lowered for the convenience of the occupant by a lock-knob  18 . 
   Referring now in detail to  FIG. 2 , the portable armrest  10  is seen to include a backplate  21  which is integrally connected to the seat portion  15  by an angular section  20 . The vertical or upright plate  16  is slidably carried on the front of the backplate  21  so that the armrest  17  can be raised or lowered. The lock-knob  18  retains the armrest  17  in a fixed position after the plate portion  16  has been placed in a desired position. 
   An adapter  22  is employed when the armrest is placed in a conventional seat wherein the corner of the seat is of a right angle construction. When such a construction is employed, the adapter  22  is attached to the backplate  21  by means of a threaded connector  23 . However, when the conventional seat includes an angular corner, such as a bucket seat, the adapter  22  is removed and the angular section  20  of the armrest is placed in the angular construction of the conventional seat. 
   Referring now in detail to  FIG. 3 , it can be seen that the upper edge of the upright support plate  16  terminates in a flange  24  that is connected to a mounting block  25  supporting the armrest  17 . Screw-type fasteners, such as screw  26 , are employed for connecting the flange  24  to the mounting block  25  and the armrest  17 . It is also to be noted that the upright support plate  16  includes a vertical slot  27  that receives a shank  28  on the backside of the lock-knob  18 . The shank  28  is threadably engageable with a fastener  30  so that when loosened, the plate  16  may be positioned vertically on the shank  28  so that the armrest  17  is placed in a desired position. Once the position has been reached, the knob  18  is tightened on the screw  30  so that the plate  16  will reside in the selected position. The vertical movement of the upright support plate  16  is against the surface of the backplate  21 . A threaded cap  31  is considered a guide means so that the upright support plate or portion  16  will not pivot or twist when the lock-knob is loosened. The threaded cap  31  is engageable with a threaded fastener  32  which projects through the slot  27 . 
   With respect to  FIG. 4 , it can be seen that the adapter  22  is not needed when the armrest is used in connection with a bucket seat, indicated by numeral  33 . However, as shown in broken lines, the adapter  22  would be used with a different type of seat construction when the construction includes a right angle configuration. Knob  18  has been tightened so that there is no movement between the upright support plate  16  and the backplate  21 . Also, it is to be noted that when the adapter  22  is used the upper edge of the adapter is in a flush relationship with the bottom edge of the upright support plate or portion  16 . The guide cap  31  also, when tightened, retains the backplate  21  and the upright support plate  16  in a releasable fixed relationship in addition to the lock-knob  18 .  FIG. 4  further illustrates that the occupant of the seat  33  places his body directly on the seat plate or portion  15  of the backplate and that the angular portion  20  comfortably accommodates the occupant&#39;s body. The armrest  17  accommodates support for the occupant&#39;s arm. 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , an accessory for the portable armrest is illustrated which includes an elongated bar  35  that is connected to the adapter  22  or which may be connected to backplate  21  depending on the type of seat in which the portable armrest is employed. The bar  35  is cantilevered forward of the armrest and includes an accessory, such as a cup-holder, flight instrumentation, or the like. Such a flight device may be a global positioning service device and is illustrated by numeral  36 . The bar  35  is positionable by the user so that the push buttons of the flight device  36  are within easy and convenient reach of the occupant while his arm is resting on the armrest  17 . 
   In view of the foregoing, it can be seen that the occupant of a conventional seat without a built-in armrest can readily support his arm by use of the portable armrest of the present invention. The user places the seat plate or portion  15  of the device on the seat of the conventional seat and his body is then placed on seat portion  15 . Load forces of the occupant&#39;s body will maintain the device in position while supporting the occupant&#39;s arm. The armrest  17  may be raised or lowered by means of the lock-knob  18  and the slidable support plate  16 . An adapter plate  22  may be used when a seat with right angle construction is encountered. An accessory may be mounted by use of the bar  35 . A feature resides in the fact that when the occupant leaves the conventional seat, he may take the armrest  10  with him and may enjoy the comforts thereof in another location. It is again noted that the armrest of the present invention is not permanently attached to flooring, to the conventional seat or to any other permanent structure. The occupant&#39;s body is the sole support for the armrest and it is the occupant&#39;s weight which holds the armrest in a desired position on a conventional seat. 
   While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention