Patent ID: 7857393

Claim:
An adjustable armrest assembly for use with a vehicle seat, the vehicle seat comprising a seat frame, the seat frame having a seat cushion support portion and a seat back portion, the seat cushion support portion being secured to a vehicle body structure; the armrest assembly comprising: an armrest housing pivotally secured by a pivot element to the seat back portion of the seat frame whereby it may be adjusted about a pivot axis to a stowed, generally upright position adjacent the seat back frame portion and adjusted to a lowered active position generally parallel to the seat cushion support portion; a fixed locking element secured to the armrest housing; an adjustment locking element carried by the armrest housing, the adjustment locking element being movable relative to the armrest housing toward and away from the fixed locking element; a spring acting on at least one of the locking elements opposing linear movement of the adjustment locking element; the adjustment locking element engaging a stop on the pivot element when the armrest housing is adjusted to the active position; the fixed locking element and the adjustment locking element having interlocking surface features; the fixed locking element being shiftable into locking engagement with the adjustment locking element to secure the adjustment locking element in an active armrest position selected by a seat occupant; and an actuator extending within the armrest housing and movable by the seat occupant into engagement with the fixed locking element to shift the fixed locking element out of locking engagement with the adjustment locking element whereby the seat occupant may select another active armrest position; wherein the adjustment locking element and the fixed locking element have interlocking surface features that are engaged when the armrest is locked in an active position; wherein the actuator is a rod with an end defining a cam surface, the fixed locking element having a cam surface engageable with the cam surface on the actuator rod; and whereby the fixed locking element is shifted out of locking engagement with the adjustment locking element when the actuator rod is moved toward the pivot axis.