Chairs and seats – Armrest
Utility Patent
2000-01-10
2001-01-02
Nelson, Jr., Milton (Department: 3636)
Chairs and seats
Armrest
C297S440100
Utility Patent
active
06168236
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an armrest that can be easily and quickly assembled and that is advantageous to recycle.
2. Description of the Related Art
A typical armrest is shown in
FIG. 6
of the drawings, wherein an upper cover
1
′ is mounted to a lower cover
2
′ by screws
3
′. The upper cover
1
′ includes a number of recesses
7
′ and the lower cover
2
′ includes a number of holed pegs
6
′ that are respectively received in the recesses
7
′ of the upper cover
1
′. Such an armrest is used for a chair that allows adjustment in the armrest. Nevertheless, the assembly speed is low, as one has to locate the upper cover
1
′ right above the lower cover
2
′ for aligning screw holes
4
′ in the lower cover
2
′ with screw holes
5
′ in the upper cover
1
′ and then insert the screws
3
′ into the aligned screw holes
4
′ and
5
′, respectively.
FIG. 7
of the drawings illustrates another conventional armrest that includes a lower cover
10
′ with a number of holes
12
′ and an upper cover
20
′ with a number of nails
30
′ for engaging with the holes
12
′. The nails
30
′ are integrally formed with the upper cover
20
′ by plastic molding injection. As a result, the nails
30
′ are apt to break if the holes
12
′ and the nails
30
′ are not precisely aligned with each other. Some manufacturers put metal holed pegs or nuts into the mold before forming the armrest such that the holed pegs or nuts are embedded in the armrest after injection molding. Yet, it is not advantageous to recycle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved armrest that can be easily and quickly assembled and recycled.
An armrest in accordance with the present invention comprises:
a lower cover including a plurality of retainer rings;
an upper cover mounted on top of the lower cover;
a plurality of nut fasteners mounted in the retainer rings, respectively, each said nut fastener having a screw hole; and
means for securely engaging the upper cover with the lower cover.
The lower cover includes a plurality of lower fixing plates and the upper cover includes a plurality of upper fixing plates. The engaging means includes a plurality of engaging members for securely engaging the upper fixing plates with the lower fixing plates.
Each engaging member is a substantially S-shape plate and includes a first outer plate section, a second outer plate section, and an intermediate plate section between the first outer plate section and the second outer plate section. The first outer plate section and intermediate plate section together define a first compartment for securely holding an associated upper fixing plate of the upper cover. The second outer plate section and the intermediate plate section together define a second compartment for securely holding an associated lower fixing plate of the lower cover.
Each upper fixing plate of the upper cover includes a vertical recess for receiving the first outer plate section of an associated said engaging member. The first outer plate section of each engaging member includes two notches defined in two opposite sides thereof, the notches being engaged with two vertical side walls that define the vertical recess of the associated upper fixing plate.
Each lower fixing plate of the lower cover includes a vertical recess for receiving the second outer plate section of an associated engaging member. The second outer plate section of each engaging member includes two notches defined in two opposite sides thereof, the notches being engaged with two vertical side walls that define the vertical recess of the associated lower fixing plate.
Each retainer ring includes an inner ring therein, the inner ring including a through-hole. Each nut fastener includes an enlarged head and a stem that is mounted in the through-hole. Each retainer ring includes four vertical slits to thereby form two retainer ring sections in which each retainer ring section is defined between two adjacent slits. Each retainer ring includes a projection with an inclined outer surface for guiding an associated nut fastener into the associated retainer ring. Each inner ring further includes four stops projected outward from an outer periphery thereof, wherein a first and a second of the four stops together define a first compartment, and a third and a fourth of the stops together define a second compartment. Each nut fastener includes two claws extended outward from the enlarged head thereof, wherein a first of the two claws is engaged in the first compartment and a second of the two claws is engaged in the second compartment to thereby prevent rotation of the nut fastener in the retainer ring.
Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5395161 (1995-03-01), Spykerman et al.
patent: 5439268 (1995-08-01), Dozsa-Farkas
patent: 5667277 (1997-09-01), Van De Riet
Jr. Milton Nelson
Kamrath Alan
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