Chairs and seats – Armrest – Adjustable to multiple use positions relative to bottom or back
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-05
2001-02-06
Brown, Peter R. (Department: 3636)
Chairs and seats
Armrest
Adjustable to multiple use positions relative to bottom or back
C297S411320
Reexamination Certificate
active
06183046
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an adjustable armrest assembly and more particularly to an adjustable armrest assembly for a riding mower.
2. Description of the Related Art
Riding lawn mowers or mowers normally have an operator's seat positioned thereon with the seat including armrests at either side of the seat. Normally, the armrests are pivotally movable from a substantially horizontally disposed operative position to a substantially vertically disposed inoperative position. In the horizontally disposed position, the armrests are designed to support the arms of the operator while the operator is manipulating the control levers of the mower. It is desirable to be able to pivot the armrests to an upright position to enable the operator to more conveniently gain access to the seat and to enable the operator to easily disembark from the mower. Although the conventional pivotal armrests do generally perform their intended function, the armrests may not be the best suited for operator's having extremely long arms or extremely short arms. In other words, the arms of individual operators may not comfortably rest on the conventional armrests.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An adjustable armrest assembly is disclosed which is ideally suited for use on a riding lawn mower, although the adjustable armrest assembly of this invention could conceivably be used on other types of equipment wherein there is a need to vary the height of the armrest when the armrest is in its operative position. When the adjustable armrest of this invention is being used on a riding lawn mower, the operator's seat of the mower normally has an upstanding armrest support frame at either side of the seat. An armrest is pivotally secured, adjacent its rearward end, to the armrest support frame adjacent the upper end thereof with the armrest being pivotally movable between a substantially horizontally disposed position to a substantially vertically disposed position. The underside of the armrest is normally in engagement with the upper end of the armrest support frame when the armrest is in its substantially horizontally disposed position. An adjuster plate is selectively rotatably mounted on the armrest support frame and has an opening formed therein which is offset from the center thereof. The adjuster plate may be selectively rotatably moved with respect to the armrest support frame so that individual ends or edges of the adjuster plate will be disposed uppermost in the pivotal path of the armrest to vary the downward pivotal movement of the armrest.
It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide an improved adjustable armrest assembly.
A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable armrest assembly which is ideally suited for use on a riding lawn mower.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable armrest assembly wherein the armrest is conveniently adjustable through the use of an adjuster plate which is rotatably mounted on the armrest support frame.
It is yet a further object of the invention to provide an adjustable armrest assembly which may be mounted on an existing armrest assembly without extensive modification of the existing armrest assembly.
These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4067613 (1978-01-01), Pesiri
patent: 4219235 (1980-08-01), Heling
patent: 5316373 (1994-05-01), Markel
patent: 5709432 (1998-01-01), Gryp
patent: 5769496 (1998-06-01), Gryp
patent: 5823624 (1998-10-01), Dahlbacka
Brown Peter R.
Exmark Mfg. Co., Inc.
Thomte Dennis L.
Zarley McKee Thomte Voorhees & Sease
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