GB2458922A

GB2458922A - Rotating support structure for an armrest

Info

Publication number: GB2458922A
Application number: GB0805928A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yu-Shan Lai
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-04-02
Filing date: 2008-04-02
Publication date: 2009-10-07
Anticipated expiration: 2028-04-02
Also published as: GB2458922B; GB0805928D0

Abstract

A rotating support structure for an armrest includes a rotating plate 2 (illustrated upside down) which comprises: a pivot member 211 which is received in a receiving chamber 11 of a armrest support member 1; and a retaining tab 22 having teeth 221 which are biased by a spring 23 into engagement with teeth 12 on a peripheral rim of receiving chamber 11 thereby locking the rotating plate 2 against rotation. The structure also comprises a holding panel 3 which may be assembled with the rotary plate and provides support for a user's elbow. The rotating plate 2 also includes a cut out 24 for receiving the sliding retaining tab 22. In use, the armrest support member 1 is mounted to a holder extending upwardly on each of two sides of a chair (not shown). To allow swivelling rotation of the armrest, tab 22 is pressed against the bias of spring 23 to free the teeth 221 from support teeth 12.

Description

ROTATING STRUCTURE FOR ARMRESTS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a rotating structure, and more particularly to a rotating structure for armrests that may obtain a quick and secure positioning purpose and may prevent from making noises while in operation.

Description of the Prior Arts

Conventional armrests may be adjusted to move upwardly and downwardly, however, its rotary angular adjustment may not be achieved before.

To improve above-mentioned defect, an improved angular adjusting structure has be developed, wherein a holding panel is pivotally connected with a support, and a biasing member (such as a biasing ball) is defined between the holding panel and the support so as to generate a engaging force by means of the biasing member, yet such a angular adjusting structure always makes great noises while in use.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a rotating structure for armrests that may obtain a quick and secure positioning purpose.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a rotating structure for armrests that may prevent from making noises while in operation.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rotating structure for armrests comprising a rotating plate disposed onto the top surface of a support for assembling with a holding plate, wherein the support is mounted to a holder extending upwardly on each of two sides of a chair and includes a receiving chamber formed on the top surface thereof and having a plurality of toothed recesses arranged around the external rim thereof; the rotary plate includes a pivotal member extending therefrom for corresponding to the support and having a cutout fixed on one side thereof for receiving a slidable retaining tab which is biased against by a spring, the retaining tab includes a number of toothed protrusions attached thereon and engaging with the toothed recesses; the holding panel is used for placing a user's elbow, and its bottom may be assembled with the rotary plate.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG 1 is a perspective view illustrating the exploded components of a rotating structure for armrests according to the present invention; FIG 2 is a perspective view illustrating the assembly of the rotating structure for armrests according to the present invention; FIG 3 is a plan view illustrating the operation of a slidable retaining tab and a plurality of toothed recesses according to the present invention; FIG 4 is another plan view illustrating the operation of a slidable retaining tab and the toothed recesses according to the present invention; FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the exploded components of a rotating plate according to the present invention; FIG. 6 is another perspective view illustrating the assembly of the rotating structure for armrests according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a rotating structure for armrests in accordance with the present invention comprises a rotating plate 2 disposed onto the top surface of a support 1 for assembling with a holding plate 3 (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2), wherein the support 1 is mounted to a holder extending upwardly on each of two sides of a chair and includes a receiving chamber 11 formed on the top surface thereof and having a plurality of toothed recesses 12 arranged around the external rim thereof (It is to be noted that the support I may be provided with a vertically moveable adjusting structure); the rotary plate 2 includes a pivotal member 21 extending therefrom for corresponding to the support 1 and having a cutout 24 fixed on one side thereof for receiving a slidable retaining tab 22 which is biased against by a spring 23, the retaining tab 22 includes a number of toothed protrusions 221 attached thereon and engaging with the toothed recesses 12; the holding panel 3 is used for placing a user's elbow, and its bottom may be assembled with the rotary plate 2 (It is to be noted that the holding panel 3 may be provided with a frontward and rear moving structure).

In the assembly, the retaining tab 22 is biased against the spring 23 in the cutout 24 for matching with the outer diameter of the pivotal member 21 so that the pivotal member 21 may be correspondingly received into the receiving chamber 11 of the support 1, in the meantime, the rotary plate 2 is axially affixed onto the support 1 and then assembled with the holding panel 3, thus finishing the assembly.

In operation, the retaining tab 22 is biased against the toothed recesses 12 by way of the spring 23 (as illustrated in FIG 3), so that the rotary plate 2 and the support 1 may be positioned, locating the holding panel 3 relative to the support 1. Besides, after the user presses the retaining tab 22, the spring 23 is urged to move inward so that the retaining tab 22 disengages from the toothed recesses 12 (as shown in FIG 4), hence the rotary plate 2 may be adjustably rotated relative to the support 1, and then the angular position of the holding panel 3 may be quickly adjusted on the basis of user's requirement. Thereafter, the retaining tab 22 is released to push the toothed recesses 12 by using the spring 23, such that the toothed protrusions 221 may relatively engage with the toothed recesses 12, obtaining a quick and secure positioning purpose.

Furthermore, the retaining tab 22 may be received into the cutout 24 with a gap by which a projection 222 and an indentation 241 corresponding to each other (as illustrated in FIGS. 5-6) are provided between the retaining tab 22 and the cutout 24. Therefore, during adjusting the angle of the holding panel 3, the retaining tab 22 may be pressed into the cutout 24, and the projection 222 on the retaining tab 22 is received into the indentation 241 so that the spring 23 is pressed and the toothed projections 221 are disengaged from the toothed recesses 12, such that the user may freely rotate the holding panel 3 for being adjusted to a desired angle, then the retaining tab 22 is moved to disengage the projection 222 from the indentation 241, thus returning the engaging status by using the spring 23 to achieve a quick operation.

On the other hand, on the corresponding surface where the rotary plate 2 is axially connected with the support 1 are provided with a plurality of pegs 211 and arcuate slots 111 so that the rotary plate 2 may be relative to the support 1 to have an angular adjustment and to be limited within the movable length of the pegs 211 in the arcuate slots 111, thereby achieving an angular limitation of the holding plate 3 relative to the rotation of the support 1.

The invention is not limited to the above embodiment but various modifications thereof may be made. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A rotating structure for armrests comprising: a rotating plate disposed onto the top surface of a support for assembling with a holding plate, wherein said support is mounted to a holder extending upwardly on each of two sides of a chair and includes a receiving chamber formed on the top surface thereof and having a plurality of toothed recesses arranged around the external rim thereof; said rotary plate includes a pivotal member extending therefrom for corresponding to said support and having a cutout fixed on one side thereof for receiving a slidable retaining tab which is biased against by a spring, said retaining tab includes a number of toothed protrusions attached thereon and engaging with said toothed recesses; said holding panel is used for placing a user's elbow, and its bottom may be assembled with said rotary plate; such that in the assembly, said retaining tab is biased against said spring in said cutout for matching with the outer diameter of said pivotal member so that said pivotal member may be correspondingly received into said receiving chamber of said support, in the meantime, said rotary plate is axially affixed onto said support and then assembled with said holding panel, thus finishing the assembly.
2. The rotating structure for arrnrests as claimed in claim 1, wherein said retaining tab may be received into said cutout with a gap by which a projection and an indentation corresponding to each other are provided between said retaining tab and said cutout, therefore during adjusting the angle of said holding panel, said retaining tab may be pressed into said cutout, and said projection on said retaining tab is received into said indentation so that said spring is pressed and said toothed projections are disengaged from said toothed recesses, such that the user may freely rotate said holding panel for being adjusted to a desired angle, then said retaining tab is moved to disengage said projection from said indentation, thus returning the engaging status by using said spring to achieve an easy and quick operation.
3. The rotating structure for armrests as claimed as claimed in claim 1, wherein on the corresponding surface where said rotary plate is axially connected with said support are provided with a plurality of pegs and arcuate slots so that said rotary plate may be relative to said support to have an angular adjustment and to be limited within the movable length of said pegs in said arcuate slots, thereby achieving an angular limitation of said holding plate relative to the rotation of said support.
4. The rotating structure for armrests as claimed as claimed in claim 1, wherein on the corresponding surface where said rotary plate is axially connected with said support are provided with a plurality of pegs and arcuate slots so that said rotary plate may be relative to said support to have an angular adjustment and to be limited within the movable length of said pegs in said arcuate slots, thereby achieving an angular limitation of said holding plate relative to the rotation of said support.
5. A rotating stmcture for armrests substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. An armrest structure comprising: a rotary plate disposed on the presented surface of a support for assembly with a holding plate on which a user's elbow can be placed, said support being adapted, in use, to extend upwardly from a side of a chair and including a circular receiving chamber formed on the top surface thereof with a plurality of tooth formations arranged around the periphery of the circular receiving chamber; said rotary plate including a pivot member extending therefrom for fitment in the circular receiving chamber and having a cutout formed on one :::., side thereof for receiving a slidable retaining tab which is acted upon by a spring, said retaining tab including a number of protrusions arranged to engage r*.. with the tooth formations extending around the receiving chamber under the action of the spring; the retaining tab being movable against the action of the spring to disengage the protrusions from the tooth formations to permit rotation of the pivot member within the receiving chamber.2. An armrest structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retaining tab --is slidably -received in the -cutout, and a projection and an opening corresponding to each other are provided between the retaining tab and the cutout such that, during adjustment of the angle of the holding plate, the retaining tab can be pressed into the cutout and the projection on the retaining tab will be received in the opening.3. An armrest structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the surface of the plate that is axially connected with the support is provided with a plurality of pegs and arcuate slots are provided in the upper surface of the support so that said rotary plate may be moved relative to said support to permit angular adjustment thereof.4. An armrest structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings. * *S * S * * S.. *. * * S. * S * **s*Sp..... (0