Title:

Armrest of chair with cushion

United States Patent Application 20030030317

Kind Code:

A1

Abstract:

An armrest of a chair with a cushion is arranged at one side of a chair and is movable for adjusting the position and orientation thereof. The armrest comprises a slidable platform and a parallel linkage means. The slidable platform has a retaining seat and a sliding seat. The retaining seat is fixed to a predetermined position at one of two sides of the chair. The sliding seat is supported by the retaining seat and is movable with respect to the retaining seat. A parallel linkage means including a main linkage and a pair of swinging linkages is pivotally connected to two ends of the main linkage. Another ends of the swinging linkages not being connected to the main linkage are pivotally connected retaining seat. The main linkage has a cushion. By the supporting of the parallel linkage means, the user can move the cushion to different positions or be at any orientation.

Inventors:

Chen, Chao Ken (Taipei, TW)

Application Number:

10/059974

Publication Date:

02/13/2003

Filing Date:

01/30/2002

Export Citation:

Click for automatic bibliography generation

Assignee:

CHEN CHAO KEN

Primary Class:

297/411.35

International Classes:

A47C1/03; (IPC1-7): A47C7/54

View Patent Images:

Download PDF 20030030317

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Primary Examiner:

NELSON JR, MILTON

Attorney, Agent or Firm:

Chao Ken Chen (Taipei, TW)

Claims:

What is claimed is:

1. An armrest of a chair with a cushion being arranged at one side of a chair and being movable for adjusting the position and orientation thereof; the armrest comprising: a retaining seat fixedly installed to a predetermined position at one side of a chair; a parallel linkage means including a main linkage and a pair of swinging linkages pivotally connected to two ends of the main linkage; another ends of the swinging linkages not being connected to the main linkage being pivotally connected to the retaining seat; the main linkage having a cushion; wherein by the supporting of the parallel linkage means, the user can move the cushion to different positions or be at any orientation.

2. The armrest of a chair with a cushion as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retaining seat is fixed to one of a supporting frames at two sides of the chairs.

3. The armrest of a chair with a cushion as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retaining seat is fixed to two sides of a chair back.

4. The armrest of a chair with a cushion as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a safety cover which covers the retaining seat.

5. The armrest of a chair with a cushion as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parallel linkage means is formed by four parallel linkages.

6. The armrest of a chair with a cushion as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of stop means are installed between the swinging linkages and the sliding seat, the stop means includes a plurality of concave cavities which are installed in the retaining seat and the swinging linkages, and stop devices; the concave cavities are coupled with the stop devices so as to retain the swinging linkages to predetermined positions.

7. The armrest of a chair with a cushion as claimed in claim 6, wherein the concave cavities are formed in the retaining seat; and the stop devices are installed in the swinging linkages; each sliding seat has at least one elastic sheet; one end of the elastic sheet is fixed, and another end extends out and has an elastic free end; the free end has a tip facing to a surface of the concave cavity; wherein by the elastic force of the elastic sheet, the tip falls into the concave cavity, thereby, the swinging linkage is retained at a predetermined position.

8. The armrest of a chair with a cushion as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of fixed limiting elements are formed at two sides of the retaining seat for confining the swinging linkages to move within a sector region.

9. An armrest of a chair with a cushion being arranged at one side of a chair and being movable for adjusting the position and orientation thereof; the armrest comprising: a slidable platform having a retaining seat and a sliding seat; the retaining seat being fixed to a predetermined position at one of two sides of the chair; the sliding seat being supported by the retaining seat and being movable with respect to the retaining seat; a parallel linkage means including a main linkage and a pair of swinging linkages pivotally connected to two ends of the main linkage; another ends of the swinging linkages not being connected to the main linkage being pivotally connected retaining seat; the main linkage having a cushion; wherein by the supporting of the parallel linkage means, the user can move the cushion to different positions or be at any orientation.

10. The armrest of a chair as claimed in claim 9, wherein the retaining seat and the sliding seat are formed with dovetail blocks and dovetail grooves, respectively; thereby, the retaining seat and sliding seat are coupled or adjusted.

11. The armrest of a chair with a cushion as claimed in claim 9, wherein the slidable platform includes a stop means; the stop means has a plurality of stop positions and a stop device which are installed at the retaining seat and the sliding seat, respectively, by coupling the stop positions and the stop device, the sliding seat is fixed at a predetermined position temporarily.

12. The armrest of a chair with a cushion as claimed in claim 9, wherein a plurality of stop positions are concave cavities arranged along the sliding direction of the sliding seat; the stop device is an elastic sheet installed to the retaining seat; one end of the elastic sheet is fixed to the retaining seat, and another end thereof extends out and has an elastic free end; the free end has a tip facing a surface of the concave cavity of the sliding seat; the tip falls into the concave cavity due to the elastic force of the elastic sheet so that the sliding seat is retained in a predetermined position temporarily.

13. The armrest of a chair with a cushion as claimed in claim 9, wherein the slidable platform is further installed with a limiting means; the limiting means includes a stopper fixed to the retaining seat and a limiting post installed in the sliding seat; by the interaction of the limiting post and the stopper, the sliding seat is prevented from separating with retaining seat.

14. The armrest of a chair with a cushion as claimed in claim 13, wherein the stopper is a protruding element which is installed on the retaining seat facing to the sliding seat; and the limiting post is a stud installed in the sliding seat.

Description:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an armrest of a chair with a cushion, and particularly to an armrest installed at one of two sides of a chair, wherein the position and orientation thereof can be adjusted as desired.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Armrests are installed at two sides of a chair. In early age, the armrest is fixed. Namely, the position and orientation thereof can not be installed as desired. Therefore, the user's arms can not be well located.

[0003] Some movable armrests are developed for improving the defects in the prior art, while these designs are not perfect. In one prior art design, a movable armrest is disclosed, while the armrest only moves forwards and backwards. Another one end of the armrest is pivotally connected, so that the armrest may be rotated around the pivotal point. However, in this prior art, the position of the armrest can not be adjusted to complete match the requirement of user's arm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide an armrest of a chair with a cushion, wherein the position and orientation thereof is adjustable so that the two arms of the user may be supported comfortably.

[0005] To achieve above object, the present invention provides an armrest of a chair with a cushion, wherein, the armrest is arranged at one side of a chair and is movable for adjusting the position and orientation thereof. The armrest comprises a slidable platform and a parallel linkage means. The slidable platform has a retaining seat and a sliding seat. The retaining seat is fixed to a predetermined position at one of two sides of the chair. The sliding seat is supported by the retaining seat and is movable with respect to the retaining seat. A parallel linkage means including a main linkage and a pair of swinging linkages pivotally connected to two ends of the main linkage. Another ends of the swinging linkages not being connected to the main linkage are pivotally connected retaining seat. The main linkage has a cushion. By the supporting of the parallel linkage means, the user can move the cushion to different positions or be at any orientation.

[0006] The various objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the appended drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.

[0008] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the present invention, wherein the connections of the elements of the present invention is illustrated.

[0009] FIG. 3A shows the bottom of the platform of the present invention.

[0010] FIG. 3B is a lateral view showing the platform and the parallel linkage means of the present invention.

[0011] FIG. 4 shows that the present invention is installed to a chair.

[0012] FIG. 5 is a lateral view of the present invention, wherein the slidable platform is confined by a limiting means.

[0013] FIG. 6 is a partial view showing the limiting means of the slidable platform and the stop means.

[0014] FIG. 7 is a partial enlarged view of FIG. 6 showing the stop means of the slidable platform.

[0015] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the present invention, wherein a safety cover is added to the parallel linkage means.

[0016] FIGS. 9-11 are schematic views about the operation of the present invention, showing examples for adjusting the cushion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the armrest of a chair with a cushion of the present invention is illustrated. The armrest of the present invention has the following components.

[0018] A slidable platform 10 is formed by a retaining seat 11 and a sliding seat 12. The retaining seat 11 is fixed to a fixing position at two sides of a chair 20 (referring to FIG. 4). The sliding seat 12 is supported by the retaining seat 11 and is slidable with respect to the retaining seat 11.

[0019] A parallel linkage means 30 includes a main linkage 31 and a pair of swinging linkages 32a, 32b pivotally connected to two ends of the main linkage 31. Another ends of the swinging linkages 32a, 32b are pivotally connected to the sliding seat 12. Therefore, other than being fixed to a surface of the retaining seat 11, the sliding seat 12 can be one linkage in a parallel linkage means 30. The main linkage 31 serves for bearing the cushion 40 (referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B). By the supporting of the parallel linkage means 30, the user can move the cushion 40 to different positions or be at any orientation (referring to FIGS. 9 to 11) so that the arms of the user can be supported comfortably.

[0020] In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sliding seat 12 faces to a front or rear sides of the chair 20. Thereby, the user may move the sliding seat 12 and cushion 40 according to the lengths of the arms. There are many ways for combining the retaining seat 11 and cushion 40 so that the two can move with respect to one another. FIG. 2 shows a design in that dovetail blocks 110 and dovetail grooves 120 are disclosed. Two lateral sides of the retaining seat 11 can be added with dovetail blocks 110 and two lateral sides of the retaining seat 11 are formed with dovetail grooves 120. Therefore, the sliding seat 12 and retaining seat 11 can be coupled and movable with respect to one another.

[0021] For preventing the sliding seat 12 sliding away from the retaining seat 11. The slidable platform 10 is further installed with a limiting means. The limiting means includes a stopper 111 fixed to the retaining seat 11 and a limiting post 121 installed in the sliding seat 12. By the interaction of the limiting post 121 and the stopper 111, the sliding seat 12 is prevented from separating with retaining seat 11 (referring to FIGS. 5 and 6). The stopper 111 is positioned on the retaining seat 11 at a side facing the sliding seat 12. The stopper 111 is a protruding element or a plate-like element. It is preferred that the limiting post 121 is movable, such as studs screwed to the sliding seat 12. Therefore, the limiting post 121 is selectable so that it can move to a position resisting against the stopper 111 for preventing the sliding seat 12 from separating with the sliding seat 12. Moreover, the limiting post 121 may be moved to an unlocking position so that as desired, the sliding seat 12 can be taken down from the retaining seat 11.

[0022] In another preferred embodiment, a stop means is installed between the sliding seat 12 and the retaining seat 11. Through this stop means, the sliding seat 12 can be positioned in different predetermined positions. The stop means includes a plurality of stopping points and stop devices. FIG. 1 discloses one embodiment, wherein a plurality of stop positions are through holes or concave cavities 50 arranged along the sliding direction of the sliding seat 12. The stop device is an elastic sheet 51 installed to the retaining seat 11. One end of the elastic sheet 51 is fixed to the retaining seat 11 (for example, a screw 52 screwed to the retaining seat 11), and another end thereof extends out and has an elastic free end. The free end has a tip 510 facing a surface of the concave cavity 50 of the sliding seat 12. The tip 510 can fall into the concave cavity 50 due to the elastic force of the elastic sheet 51 so that the sliding seat 12 is retained in a predetermined position temporarily (referring to FIGS. 5 to 7). Abovesaid example is only one preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the present invention, even the positions of the concave cavity 50 and elastic sheet 51 are interchanged, the same effect can be achieved. The number of the concave cavity 50 and distances therebetween are adjustable as desired.

[0023] The parallel linkage means 30 serves for supporting the cushion 40. In one preferred embodiment, the parallel linkage means 30 are four parallel linkages which includes a main linkage 31 and swinging linkages 32a, 32b. The main linkage 31 and swinging linkages 32a, 32b are pivotally by studs 33 and washers 34, wherein the swinging linkages 32a, 32b may rotate below the main linkage 31 so that the linkages are overlapped (referring to FIG. 3A).

[0024] Besides, one swinging linkages 32a do not rotate, while the other linkage 32b rotate as illustrated in FIG. 9. Therefore, it may rotate along the swinging linkage 32a so as to adjust the orientation of the cushion 40. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of stop means are installed between the swinging linkages 32a, 32b and the sliding seat 12. The stop means includes concave cavities 50a as described above, and the stop devices 53a and 53b installed to the swinging linkages 32a, 32b. The concave cavities 50a are formed on the sliding seat 12. The two stop devices have the same structure. They may move with the rotation of the swinging linkages 32a, 32b. The stop devices have at least one elastic sheet 54 which is identical to the above elastic sheet 51. One end of the elastic sheet 54 is fixed, while another end thereof extends out and has an elastic free end. The free end has a tip 540 facing a surface of the concave cavity 50a of the sliding seat 12. The tip 540 can fall into the concave cavity 50a due to the elastic force of the elastic sheet 54 so that the swinging linkages 32a, 32b are retained in a predetermined position temporarily (referring to FIGS. 9 to 11).

[0025] The concave cavities 50a are distributed at a round section with a center of a pivotal point. The pivotal point is the pivotal point of the swinging linkages 32a, 32b and the sliding seat 12. Each time the swinging linkages 32a, 32b move to different positions or orientations. To prevent the swinging linkages 32a, 32b to over-rotate to become unused, two sides of the sliding seat 12 can be installed with a plurality of light emitting elements 122 which are fixed so as to confine the swinging linkages 32a, 32b in a predetermined sector region (referring to FIG. 9).

[0026] The way for installing the retaining seat 11 to the two sides of the chair 30 is, for example, to install the retaining seat 11 to the supporting elements 21 at two sides of the chairs 30 (referring to FIG. 4). The supporting elements 21 are possibly fixed to the supporting frames at two sides of the chair 30, or the retaining seat II is fixed to the two sides of the back of the chairs 30 directly.

[0027] With reference to FIG. 8, to prevent the exposed parallel linkage means 30 from hurting the user, in the present invention, a safety cover 60 is used. The safety cover 60 covers the upper side of the sliding seat 12 for shielding the swinging linkages 32a, 32b and the stop means.

[0028] The present invention is thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

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