Patent Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a single arm adjustment mechanism for supporting an object, the single arm adjustment mechanism comprising: a support arm; an upper adjustment assembly coupled to an upper end of said support arm, said upper adjustment assembly capable of being coupled to said object such that said object pivots about a first axis; and a lower adjustment assembly capable of being fixed to a support and pivotally coupled to a lower end of said support arm such that said support arm pivots about a second axis parallel to said first axis in order to maintain said object in a desired angular orientation with respect to said support.

Full Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    Embodiments of the present invention relate to a single arm adjustment mechanism for supporting an object that allows the object to be rotated, raised and lowered. Embodiments of the present invention are particularly suited for aircraft or vehicle tables, video screens and the like. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Various types of single arm adjustment mechanisms are currently available. For example, aircraft seats may be fitted with a single arm supported table which provides an eating and/or working surface for the occupant of the seat. 
         [0003]    Unfortunately, current single arm mechanisms are only minimally adjustable. For example, with respect to a single arm supported table used in an aircraft or vehicle, current adjustment mechanisms may provide for a limited adjustability of the table towards or away from the seat occupant. These mechanisms also do not allow for the table to be raised or lowered. Additionally, these mechanisms do not allow the table to be rotated away from the use to facilitate entry/exit from the seat. These mechanisms also do not provide any capability to allow the table angle to be changed to suit user preferences. 
         [0004]    It would therefore be a great improvement in the art if a single arm adjustment mechanism could be provided which addresses one or more of these deficiencies. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a single arm adjustment mechanism for supporting an object, the single arm adjustment mechanism comprising a support arm; an upper adjustment assembly coupled to an upper end of said support arm, said upper adjustment assembly capable of being coupled to said object such that said object pivots about a first axis; and a lower adjustment assembly capable of being fixed to a support and pivotally coupled to a lower end of said support arm such that said support arm pivots about a second axis parallel to said first axis in order to maintain said object in a desired angular orientation with respect to said support. 
         [0006]    The upper adjustment assembly may comprise a housing coupled to said upper end of said support arm; a connecting cylinder having a gear, said connecting cylinder disposed within the housing such that said connecting cylinder is free to rotate within said housing; a base coupled to said connecting cylinder; and an object attaching block slidingly disposed within said base, said object attaching block including a lower portion configured to engage with said gear; wherein said object is coupled to said object attaching block, such that said object may be raised to disengage said lower portion of said object attaching block to allow said object to be rotated about said first axis to a desired position, and said object may be lowered to engage said lower portion of said object attaching block to fix said object in said desired position. 
         [0007]    The connecting cylinder may further comprise a first roller having a linear slot offset from an axis of said cylinder, said first roller being coupled to one side of said gear; a first slide disposed within said linear slot of said first roller; a second roller having a linear slot offset from an axis of said cylinder, said second roller being coupled to an opposite side of said gear; and a second slide disposed within said linear slot of said second roller; wherein said base is coupled to said first and second slides such that said first and second slides restrict rotational movement of said cylinder to less than 180 degrees. 
         [0008]    The lower adjustment assembly may further comprise a lower adjustment assembly base; and a pivoting member coupled to said support arm such that said support arm pivots about said second axis, said pivoting member having a spindle extending through said lower adjustment assembly base, such that said support arm pivots about said spindle on a third axis. 
         [0009]    The pivoting member may further include a pair of flanges, said support arm being coupled to said flanges with a pivot pin. 
         [0010]    The single arm adjustment mechanism may further comprise a first bushing disposed between each of said flanges and said support arm; and a second bushing disposed between said lower adjustment assembly base and said pivoting member; wherein said first and second bushings provide sufficient friction to hold said support arm in place. 
         [0011]    The object may be a table. The support may be an arm of a chair. The support may be a backrest of a chair. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    Embodiments of the invention will be better understood and readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from the following written description, by way of example only, and in conjunction with the drawings, in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a single arm adjustment mechanism for supporting an object according to the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  shows an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of an upper adjustment assembly of the single arm adjustment mechanism of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  shows a close-up side and front view of the upper adjustment assembly of the single arm adjustment mechanism of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  shows an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of a lower adjustment assembly of the single arm adjustment mechanism of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5   a  shows a side view of a plurality of aircraft or vehicle seats with the single arm adjustment mechanism of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5   b  shows a plan view of a plurality of aircraft or vehicle seats with the single arm adjustment mechanism of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5   c  shows another side view of a plurality of aircraft or vehicle seats with the single arm adjustment mechanism of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  shows an exploded perspective view of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    Embodiments of the present invention provide a single arm adjustment mechanism for supporting an object, such as a stowable aircraft or vehicle table, a video screen, etc.  FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a single arm adjustment mechanism  100  for supporting an object according to the present invention.  FIG. 2  shows an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of an upper adjustment assembly  200  of the single arm adjustment mechanism  100  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  shows a close-up side and front view of the upper adjustment assembly  200  of the single arm adjustment mechanism  100  of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 4  shows an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of a lower adjustment assembly  300  of the single arm adjustment mechanism  100  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0022]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , the single arm adjustment mechanism  100  includes a support arm  110  having an upper end  120  and a lower end  130 . An upper adjustment assembly  200  is coupled to the upper end  120  of the support arm  110 . An object to be supported  180  may be coupled to the upper adjustment assembly  200 . The lower end  130  of the support arm  110  is coupled to a lower adjustment assembly  300 . 
         [0023]    In a preferred embodiment, the object  180  may be a tray table or video screen for use, for example, in association with an aircraft or vehicle seat. However, it is understood that the single arm adjustment mechanism  100  may be used with other objects and in other applications as desired, given the disclosure provided herein. 
         [0024]    With reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , the upper adjustment assembly  200  may include a housing  210 , a connecting cylinder  220 , a base  260 , and an object attaching block  270 . In this embodiment, the housing  210  includes first and second bearing housings  212 ,  214  separated by an opening  216 . In some embodiments, the housing  210  may be integrally formed in the upper end  120  of the support arm  110 . However, it is understood that the housing  210  of the upper adjustment assembly  200  may be coupled to the upper end  120  of the support arm  110  using, by way of example and not limitation, mechanical fasteners, glues, epoxies, etc. 
         [0025]    The bearing housings  212 ,  214  are configured to receive the connecting cylinder  220 . The connecting cylinder  220  may include first and second rollers  230 ,  240 , and a gear  250  sandwiched between and coupled to the first and second rollers  230 ,  240 . The gear  250  includes a plurality of teeth  252  and grooves  254  evenly spaced about a circumference of the gear  250 . The first and second rollers  230 ,  240  each include a plurality of roller bearings  232 ,  242 , respectively. The roller bearings  232 ,  242  are designed to contact an inside surface  213 ,  215  of the bearing housings  212 ,  214 , respectively. This allows for free rotation of the connecting cylinder  220  within the bearing housings  212 ,  214  respectively. 
         [0026]    Each of the rollers  230 ,  240  may include a slot or rail  234 ,  244  in an outside surface thereof. The slot or rail  234 ,  244  is configured to receive a corresponding slide  236 ,  246 . Each of the slides  236 ,  246  may include a first portion  236   a,    246   a  adapted to slidingly engage the slot or rail  234 ,  244 , respectively. Each of the slides  236 ,  246  may also include an attachment portion  236   b,    246   b  extending substantially perpendicularly from the respective first portions  236   a,    246   a.  The attachment portion  236   b,    246   b  is adapted to receive a pin or screw  239 . The function and operation of the slides  236 ,  246  will be discussed in more detail below. 
         [0027]    The upper adjustment assembly  200  also includes a base  260  designed to secure the connecting cylinder  220  within the housing  210 , and to provide a connection point for the object  180 . In one embodiment, the base  260  may have an inverted “U” shape. In this embodiment, the base  260  may have first and second sides  262 ,  264 , projecting substantially perpendicularly downwardly from a top portion  266 . Each of the first and second sides  262 ,  264  may include an opening  263 ,  265  which is offset from a central axis  221  of the connecting cylinder  220 . The opening  263 ,  265  is configured to receive the pin or screw  239 , which connects to the attachment portion  236   b,    246   b  of the slides  236 ,  246 , respectively. This configuration allows the base  260 , and thus the object  180  to rotate with respect to the housing  210 . 
         [0028]    The top portion  266  of the base  260  includes an opening  267  designed to slidingly engage the attaching block  270 . The attaching block  270  includes an upper portion  280 , a central portion  272 , and a lower portion  290 . The upper portion  280  of the attaching block  270  is configured to receive the object  180  to be supported. In a preferred embodiment, the upper portion  280  may include first and second flanges  282 ,  284  separated by a gap or opening  286 . In this embodiment, each of the first and second flanges  282 ,  284  includes an opening  283 ,  285 , respectively, extending transversely therethrough. The opening  283 ,  285  is configured for receiving a hinge pin  288 . In this embodiment, the object  180  may include a flange  182  having a hole  184  extending transversely therethrough. The hinge pin  288  passes through the opening  283 , the hole  184 , and the opening  285  to pivotally connect the object  180  to the upper adjustment assembly  200 . 
         [0029]    In one embodiment, the central portion  272  of the attaching block  270  may have a substantially rectangular cross-sectional area. In this embodiment, the opening  267  in the base  260  also has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional area that is slightly larger than the cross-sectional area of the central portion  272 . This allows the attaching block  270  to slide freely in a perpendicular direction with respect to the base  260 . However, it is understood that other cross-sectional shapes may also be used. 
         [0030]    The lower portion  290  of the attaching block  270  may be provided with one or more flanges  292 ,  294  which extend from the central portion  270  to prevent the attaching block  270  from disengaging with the base  260 . The lower portion  290  of the attaching block  270  also includes a stop portion  298  configured to engage the teeth  252  and grooves  254  of the gear  250  to prevent rotation. In the illustrated embodiment of the attaching block  270 , the first and second flanges  282 ,  284  of the upper portion  280  are provided at right angles to the flanges  292 ,  294  of the lower portion  290 . However, it is understood that these flanges may be provided at any angle with respect to each other, as long as the lower flanges  292 ,  294  are of sufficient size to prevent the attaching block  270  from disengaging with the base  260 . 
         [0031]    With reference to  FIG. 4 , the lower adjustment assembly  300  includes a base  310  and pivoting member  340 . The base  310  includes a plurality of mounting holes  312  which allow the base  310  to be connected to a support surface (not shown) using any type of mechanical fastener  314  known to those of skill in the art. By way of example and not limitation, the support surface may be an arm or back of a seat in an aircraft or vehicle. Alternately, the base  310  may be attached to the support surface using glues or epoxies. The base  310  also includes an opening  319 . 
         [0032]    The pivoting member  340  includes a spindle or pivot pin  342  which extends substantially perpendicularly downwardly from a lower surface  344  of the pivoting member  340 . The pivoting member  340  also includes one or more flanges  348 . In a preferred embodiment, the pivoting member  340  includes a pair of flanges  348   a,    348   b  separated by a gap  350 . Each of the flanges  348   a,    348   b  may include a hole  349   a,    349   b  respectively, extending therethrough. The lower portion  130  of the support arm  110  may include a hole  132  extending therethrough. In this configuration, the lower portion  130  of the support arm  110  is configured to fit within the gap  350  between the flanges  348   a ,  348   b  of the pivoting member  340 . A pivot pin  360  may then be inserted through the holes  349   a,    132  and  349   b  to pivotally connect the support arm  110  to the lower adjustment assembly  300 . In some embodiments, the pivoting member  340  may also include a stop  343  which restricts the rotational movement of the support arm  110 . The angle of rotation of the support arm is selected based on desired envelope of movement and nominal height of the table. For example, 45 degrees. 
         [0033]    In a preferred embodiment, the lower adjustment assembly  300  may also include a lower washer  320  fitted between the lower surface  344  of the pivoting member  340  and an upper surface  318  of the base  310 . The spindle or pivot pin  342  of the pivoting member  340  extends through a corresponding opening  319  in the base  310 . A fastener, such as a bolt and washer combination (not shown), may then be used to attach the pivoting member  340  to the base  310 . By adjusting the amount of torque that is applied to the fastener, the lower washer  320  may then be compressed to provide for friction between the pivoting member  340  and the base  310  to hold the support arm  110  in a desired rotational position. 
         [0034]    Similarly, one or more washers  362  may be provided between the flanges  348   a    348   b  and the lower portion  130  of the support arm  110 . In this embodiment, a bolt and nut may be used as the pin  360 . By adjusting the amount of torque on the bolt used as the pin  360 , the washers  362  may then be compressed to provide for friction between the flanges  348   a    348   b  and the lower portion  130  of the support arm  110  to hold the support arm  110  in a desired pivoting position. 
         [0035]    The various components of the single arm adjustment mechanism  100  may be made from different materials, depending for example on the weight of the object  180  to be supported. For example, the washers  320 ,  362  may be made from rubber. However, other materials may also be used. The support arm  110 , the housing  210 , the base  260 , the object attaching block  270 , the base  310  and the pivoting member  340  may be made from metal. The gear  250  may be made from metal. However, it is understood that other materials may be used for the various components without departing from the scope of the present embodiments. Furthermore, it is understood that the specific size of the gear  250  and the number of teeth  252  and grooves  254  in the gear  250  may be adjusted as desired for specific applications. 
         [0036]    With continuing reference to  FIGS. 2-4 , the operation of the single arm adjustment mechanism  100  will now be described. The upper adjustment assembly  200  allows the object  180  to be pivoted about a first axis, ie. the rotational axis of the connecting assembly  220 . Similarly, the support arm  110  pivots on a second axis that is parallel to the first axis. Advantageously, this allows the object  180  to be maintained in a desired angular orientation with respect to the support, regardless of the angle of the support arm  110 . Additionally, the slides  236 ,  246  which slidingly engage the slot or rail  234 ,  244 , respectively, provide a limit to the amount of rotation of the connecting cylinder  220  and thus the object  180 . 
         [0037]    Typically, the radius of the connecting cylinder  220  ranges from 2.5 to 3.5 cm. The length of the groove  254  is closer to or shorter than the radius of the connecting cylinder  220 . The height variations of the table can be determined using the following formula (refer to  FIG. 6 ): 
         [0000]        L /(sin(α+φ)± r /sqrt   (2)
 
         [0000]    where L is the effective length of the support arm  110 , α is the angle between the support arm  110  and the base  310 , φ is the angle of rotation of the support arm  110  and r is the radius of the connecting cylinder  220 . 
         [0038]    Furthermore, the lower adjustment assembly  300  also allows the support arm  110  to pivot about the spindle or pivot pin  342  of the pivoting member  340  on a third axis of the spindle  342 . In a preferred embodiment, this configuration may provide for 360 degrees of rotation. 
         [0039]    In a preferred embodiment, the single arm adjustment mechanism  100  may be coupled to an arm of an aircraft or vehicle seat. In this embodiment, the single arm adjustment mechanism  100  and seat combination may be configured such that the single arm adjustment mechanism  100  may be stored within the arm or back of the seat when not in use. 
         [0040]      FIG. 5   a , for example, is a side view of a plurality of aircraft or vehicle seats  501  to illustrate how the single arm adjustment mechanism  100  may be coupled to an arm  503  of the aircraft or vehicle seat  501 . In this embodiment, the single arm adjustment mechanism  100  and the aircraft or vehicle seat  501  are configured such that the single arm adjustment mechanism  100  may be stored within the arm  503  the aircraft or vehicle seat  501  when not in use. 
         [0041]    Embodiments of the present invention as described provide several advantages over the prior art. For example, when the object  180  is, for example, a table or video screen, the embodiments of the present invention allow a passenger to adjust the height of the table, the lateral distance of the table (ie. close to or farther away from the passenger), and the planar orientation of the table. 
         [0042]    In a preferred embodiment, as illustrated by  FIG. 5   c , the single arm adjustment mechanism  100  in this configuration allows the passenger to make adjustments to the height of the table while simultaneously maintaining the planar orientation of the table to be substantially horizontal. 
         [0043]    Additionally, as illustrated in  FIG. 5   b , the single arm adjustment mechanism  100  may be rotated about the spindle  342  to allow the passenger to exit the aircraft or vehicle seat  501  without stowing the table or removing any objects from the table. 
         [0044]    It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the present invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1