Chairs and seats – Armrest – Adjustable to multiple use positions relative to bottom or back
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-07
2001-09-04
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3624)
Chairs and seats
Armrest
Adjustable to multiple use positions relative to bottom or back
C297S411200, C297S411300, C297S411320, C297S188140
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283551
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an armrest for a seat, such as a theater or stadium seat, which pivots from a usable position where it is generally horizontal for use as an armrest, to a position where it is substantially vertical, and positioned between seat backs of adjacent seats. The armrest is constructed with a pad or cushion on both top and bottom sides, so that there is padding on top when it is in its horizontal position acting as an armrest and a finished fabric appearance when the armrest is raised and positioned between adjacent seat backs, where it functions as a filler back rest between the seat backs.
Cupholders on the ends of armrests have been developed before, as evidenced by U.S. Pat. No. 5,302,000, but with the onset of stadium seating in theaters in particular, the theater chairs have become more luxurious, and incorporate features such as pivoting arms that will raise up to be positioned between two adjacent seat backs from a generally horizontal position where they act as an armrest for the seat occupant. The previous cupholder arm rests are not adapted for pivoting.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a pivoting armrest and cupholder for seats which will pivot from a generally horizontal position for supporting an arm on a cushion top, to a position wherein the armrest is between and conforms to the configuration of the seat backs of the seat on which it is mounted and an adjacent seat. Theater or stadium seats generally are in rows, so one armrest will be mounted on each of the seats except for the end seats, which will have generally fixed horizontal armrests.
The present pivoting armrest has a cupholder configured so that it will be recessed out of the way when the arm is pivoted to its second position between adjacent seat backs.
A metal channel frame is utilized as a support for the arm and to provide a pivot structure. A molded armrest housing mounts over the channel and is held in position. The molded armrest has the cupholder molded in place as an integral assembly so that the device is easy to make and easy to mount. The armrest has members positioned to mount identical pads on both the top and bottom of the armrest. When the armrest is generally horizontal and is being used to rest an arm, there is a pad on the top, and the bottom pad becomes a backrest portion facing the same way as the backrests when the armrest is pivoted to position between the adjacent seat backs.
The armrest thus presents a luxury finish in both of its positions, and a fully functioning cupholder that is available at the outer end of the arm in its armrest position.
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Cuomo Peter M.
Media Technology Source, Inc.
Westman Champlin & Kelly P.A.
White Rodney B.
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