Chairs and seats – Armrest – Movable to nonuse position
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-21
2001-04-17
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3624)
Chairs and seats
Armrest
Movable to nonuse position
C297S411300, C297S112000, C297S113000, C297S411330
Reexamination Certificate
active
06217119
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In vehicles, such as trucks and automobiles, it has become common to provide an armrest beside or integral with a seat to provide a driver or passenger the opportunity to rest their arm thereon. Present seat manufacturers use fixed, or folding armrests on the side of seats. These armrests protrude into the space adjacent to the seat even when not in use, making actions such as ingress and egress difficult. Also, the space occupied by the armrest is unavailable for storage or other uses.
A need exists for improved seat assemblies with armrests which provide more efficient use of space and provide greater comfort and convenience for driver and passenger use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a seat assembly is provided. The seat assembly includes a seat portion and an armrest mounted to the seat portion for linear motion in a first direction and pivotal motion in a rotational plane generally perpendicular to the first direction. The armrest is moveable between a first position and a second position in the first direction. At least one of the first and second positions is a retracted position with the armrest retracted into the seat portion of the seat assembly. The other position is a deployed position, permitting the armrest to pivot in the rotational plane.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a device is provided for urging the armrest in the first direction from the first position to the second position. The device can be a pneumatic cylinder, electric solenoid, or mechanical spring. The device can be used to urge the armrest from the retracted position along the first direction to the deployed position.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the armrest can be provided with a shaft having a pin extending therefrom. The seat portion has a mount defining a cylindrical portion with a groove, the shaft received in the cylindrical portion with the pin in the groove. The groove is configured to have a linear portion along the first direction which transitions into a portion extending about the circumference of the cylindrical portion for movement of the armrest in the rotational plane.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3550958 (1970-12-01), Krein
patent: 3612606 (1971-10-01), Swenson
patent: 5290092 (1994-03-01), Geer
patent: 5547257 (1996-08-01), Lavender
Cook Charles L.
Corey Jeffrey S.
Kahn William C.
Schneck, Jr. Frank H.
Cuomo Peter M.
Paccar Inc
White Rodney B.
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