US20070164594A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20070164594A1
Application number: US11/306,956
Authority: US
Inventors: Ching-Chung Yang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-10-26
Filing date: 2006-01-17
Publication date: 2007-07-19
Also published as: TW200612852A; TWI249392B

Abstract

An armrest assembly includes a platform, a post pivotally installed on the platform, a cylinder movably installed on the post, an armrest pivotally installed on the cylinder, an angle controller for controlling the angle of the post on the platform and an elevation controller for controlling the elevation of the cylinder on the post.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a multi-functional armrest assembly.

2. Related Prior Art

Disclosed in Taiwanese Patent Publication M242101 is a device for adjusting the elevation of an armrest. The device includes a stationary post1 and a movable cylinder2 movable up and down on the stationary post1. An armrest4 is attached to the movable cylinder2. Between the stationary post1 and the movable cylinder2 is a retaining element3 that is movable axially. By means of operating the retaining element3, the elevation of the movable cylinder2 on the stationary post1 can be adjusted, and so can the elevation of the armrest4.

There are problems with the conventional device. Although providing users with the possibility of adjusting the elevation of the armrest, it fails to provide any other functions that users may want.

The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the present invention, an armrest assembly includes a platform, a post pivotally installed on the platform, a cylinder movably installed on the post, an armrest pivotally installed on the cylinder, an angle controller for controlling the angle of the post on the platform and an elevation controller for controlling the elevation of the cylinder on the post.

An advantage of the armrest assembly of the present invention is that the angle of the post on the platform can be adjusted.

Another advantage of the armrest assembly of the present invention is that the angle of the armrest on the cylinder can be adjusted.

Other advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description referring to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described through detailed illustration of two embodiments referring to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an armrest assembly according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the armrest assembly shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the armrest assembly ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the armrest assembly in another position than shown inFIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the armrest assembly in another position than shown inFIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the armrest assembly in another position than shown inFIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is another cross-sectional view of the armrest assembly shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the armrest assembly in another position than shown inFIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of an armrest assembly according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the armrest assembly shown inFIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the armrest assembly in another position than shown inFIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the armrest assembly in another position than shown inFIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown an armrest assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The armrest assembly includes astationary platform10, apivotal post20 pivotally installed on thestationary platform10, amovable cylinder30 movably installed on thepivotal post20, anarmrest40 attached to themovable cylinder30, anangle controller60 installed between thestationary platform10 and thepivotal post20 and anelevation controller50 installed between thepivotal post20 and themovable cylinder30. Thestationary platform10 includes anaxle11 on a side. Theaxle11 is an annular edge.

Thepivotal post20 is a flat element. Thepivotal post20 includes aring21 at an end and arack23 at an opposite end. Thering21 is installed on theaxle11. An annular gear22 is formed on a side of thering21 opposite to thestationary platform10. The annular gear22 includes a plurality of teeth on an internal side. Aconnector24 is used to keep thering21 on theaxle11. Theconnector24 defines an aperture25. Therack23 includes a plurality of ratchets. Agroove26 is defined in an edge of thepivotal post20.

Theangle controller60 includes a gear61, abutton62 and a spring63. The gear61 is made corresponding to the annular gear22. Thebutton62 is made compliant with the aperture25.

Referring toFIG. 7, the spring63 is compressed between theaxle11 and the gear61. The gear61 is located in the annular gear22. The gear61 is attached to theaxle11 by means of afastener70 such as a threaded bolt. Thefastener70 includes a shank on which the gear61 can move but cannot rotate. Thebutton62 is movably installed on theannular connector24, within the aperture25. As the annular gear22 is engaged with the gear61, the angle of thepivotal post20 on thestationary platform10 is retained.

Referring toFIG. 8, by means of pushing thebutton62, the gear61 is pushed from the annular gear22 so as to allow thepivotal post20 to be pivoted on thestationary platform10.

Once thebutton62 is released, the gear61 will be returned to the position shown inFIG. 7 from the position shown inFIG. 8 by means of the spring63.

Referring toFIG. 2, themovable cylinder30 is installed on thepivotal post20. Apin31 is driven into thegroove26 through themovable cylinder30. Thus, themovable cylinder30 is movable on thepivotal post20 but the former cannot be detached from the latter. Themovable cylinder30 includes a smooth concave surface32 at an upper end and twoears33 on the smooth concave surface32.

Theelevation controller50 includes alatch51, a releasingdevice52 and aspring53. Thelatch51 includes a detent512 at an end and ashaft511 at an opposite end. The releasingdevice52 includes a fastener, apusher523 and a spring524. The fastener includes a threaded bolt521 and anut522. Thespring53 is a bent leaf spring. That is, thespring53 includes a first section and a second section extending from the first section at a sharp angle.

The armrest41 includes a frame41 and a pad42. The frame41 is hollow. The frame41 includes a smoothconvex surface43 on the bottom and a slot44 therein.

Referring toFIG. 3, thelatch51 is inserted through the slot44. Theshaft511 is located across the slot44 and installed on theears33. Thus, thelatch51 is pivotal. The pad42 is attached to the frame41. Thedetent512 and thespring53 are positioned in themovable cylinder30. Thedetent512 is engaged with therack23. The first section of thespring53 is attached to thelatch51. The second section of thespring53 is located against themovable cylinder30. Thus, thespring53 keeps thedetent512 engaged with therack23. Thepusher523 is attached to the threaded bolt521. Thepusher523 is positioned in themovable cylinder30. Thepusher523 is located against thelatch51. The threaded bolt521 is driven through themovable cylinder30. The spring524 is installed on the threaded bolt521 outside themovable cylinder30. Anut522 is engaged with the threaded bolt521 outside themovable cylinder30. Thus, the spring524 tends to keep thepusher523 to themovable cylinder30.

Referring toFIG. 4, thenut522 is pushed so that thelatch51 is pivoted by means of thepusher523. Thus, thedetent512 is disengaged from therack23. Hence, the elevation of themovable cylinder30 on thepivotal post20 can be adjusted.

Referring toFIG. 5, thenut522 is released so that thelatch51 is returned by means of thespring53. Thus, thedetent512 is engaged with therack23 again. Hence, the elevation of themovable cylinder30 on thepivotal post20 is retained.

Referring toFIG. 6, because of the slot44 that allows thelatch51 to move in, the smoothconvex surface43 can slide on the smooth concave surface32 so that the armrest40 can tilt on themovable cylinder30.

Referring toFIG. 9, there is shown an armrest assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is identical to the first embodiment except including a differentpivotal post20 and adifferent angle controller60.

Thepivotal post20 includes a gear27 on a side of thering21. A cover28 includes a cutout29 therein.

Theangle controller60 includes a latch64, a spring66 and a fastener65. The latch64 includes a detent67 at an end and a handle68 at an opposite end. The spring66 is a torque spring. The fastener65 is a threaded bolt.

The latch64 is connected to the cover28 by means of the fastener65. The spring66 is provided between the latch64 and the cover28.

The cover28 is secured to thestationary platform10 by means of a fastener12 such as a threaded bolt. The cover28 cannot rotate on thestationary platform10.

Referring toFIG. 10, the latch64 is inserted through the cutout29 so that the detent67 is positioned in the cover28 while the handle68 is located outside the cover28. The detent67 is engaged with the gear27. Hence, thepivotal post20 cannot rotate on thestationary platform10.

Referring toFIG. 11, the handle68 is pushed so that the detent67 is disengaged from the gear27. Hence, thepivotal post20 can rotate on thestationary platform10.

Referring toFIG. 12, the handle68 is released so that the detent67 is engaged with the gear27 again by means of the spring66. Hence, the angle of thepivotal post20 on thestationary platform10 is retained.

The armrest assembly according to the present invention exhibits several advantages. Firstly, the angle of thepivotal post20 on thestationary platform10 can be adjusted. Secondly, the angle of the armrest40 on thecylinder30 can be adjusted. Thirdly, theelevation controller50 can easily be operated.

The present invention has been described through the illustration of the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.

Claims

1. An armrest assembly comprising:

a platform;

a post pivotally installed on the platform;

a cylinder movably installed on the post;

an armrest pivotally installed on the cylinder;

an angle controller for controlling the angle of the post on the platform; and

an elevation controller for controlling the elevation of the cylinder on the post.

2. The armrest assembly according toclaim 1 wherein the platform comprises an axle thereon, wherein the post comprises a ring installed on the axle.

3. The armrest assembly according toclaim 2 wherein the post comprises an annular gear on a side of the ring, wherein the angle controller comprises a gear movable but not rotational on the axle between a locking position engaged with the annular gear and a releasing position disengaged from the annular gear.

4. The armrest assembly according toclaim 3 wherein the angle controller comprises a fastener for attaching the gear to the axle.

5. The armrest assembly according toclaim 3 wherein the angle controller comprises a spring compressed between the axle and the gear for keeping the gear in the locking position.

6. The armrest assembly according toclaim 5 comprising a connector for keeping the ring on the axle.

7. The armrest assembly according toclaim 6 wherein the angle controller comprises a button movable on the connector between a first position corresponding to the locking position of the gear and a second position corresponding to the releasing position of the gear.

8. The armrest assembly according toclaim 2 wherein the post comprises a gear on a side of the ring, wherein the angle controller comprises a latch pivotal on the axle between a locking position engaged with the gear and a releasing position disengaged from the gear.

9. The armrest assembly according toclaim 8 wherein the latch comprises, at an end, a detent for engagement with the gear.

10. The armrest assembly according toclaim 9 wherein the latch comprises, at an opposite end, a handle operable for moving the detent between the locking position and the releasing position.

11. The armrest assembly according toclaim 8 wherein the angle controller comprises a spring between the platform and the latch.

12. The armrest assembly according toclaim 8 comprising a cover attached to the axle, wherein the latch is pivotal on the cover.

13. The armrest assembly according toclaim 12 comprising a fastener for attaching the cover to the axle.

14. The armrest assembly according toclaim 1 wherein the post defines a groove for receiving a pin driven through the cylinder so as to allow the movement of the cylinder on the post but avoid the detachment of the cylinder from the post.

15. The armrest assembly according toclaim 1 wherein the post comprises a rack located in the cylinder, wherein the elevation controller comprises a latch located in the cylinder between a locking position engaged with the rack and a releasing position disengaged from the rack.

16. The armrest assembly according toclaim 15 wherein the latch comprises a shaft installed on the cylinder and a detent for engagement with the rack.

17. The armrest assembly according toclaim 15 wherein the elevation controller comprises a releasing device operable to move the latch to the releasing position.

18. The armrest assembly according toclaim 17 wherein the releasing device comprises:

a pusher positioned against the latch in the cylinder between a first position corresponding to the locking position of the latch and a second position corresponding to the releasing position of the latch; and

a fastener for attaching the pusher to the cylinder.

19. The armrest assembly according toclaim 18 wherein the elevation controller comprises a spring compressed between the fastener and the cylinder so as to keep the pusher in the first position.

20. The armrest assembly according toclaim 1 wherein the cylinder comprise a smooth concave surface, wherein the armrest comprises a smooth convex surface for sliding on the smooth concave surface.