Patent US5215282A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5215282A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adjustable armrest assembly
Assignee: P Tech LLC
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Filing: 1990-10-15
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Granted: 1993-06-01
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Expires: 2010-10-15
Abstract
Abstract An armrest assembly is for use with a piece of furniture and for supporting an arm of a person seated in a chair to relieve the weight of the arm on the shoulder, neck, elbow and wrist. The armrest assembly includes an armrest, means for selectively positioning the armrest vertically and/or longitudinally and/or laterally and/or pivotally in one of a plurality of positions relative to the piece of furniture, and means for fixing the armrest in a selected one of the plurality of positions. The armrest supports both the elbow and a portion of the forearm in an anatomically correct manner. The armrest is contoured and padded to contact the limb properly to minimize injury arising through long term contact. The armrest may be movable to ease ingress and egress from the chair. The armrest may be built as part of a specifically designed chair; it may be an attachment for an existing chair; or it may be an attachment for an existing table. The armrest is properly contoured to avoid any injury to the supported arms which might be caused by the long duration contact of the arms with the supports. With the arms thus properly supported, fatigue is minimized because the neck and shoulder muscles do not need to support the full weight of the arms.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter M. Bonutti
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 03:25
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47C; A47C7/00; A47C7/54; A47C7/546; A47B; A47B21/00; A47B21/03; A47B21/0371; A47C16/00; A47B2200/00; A47B2200/0084; A47B2200/0092
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
In an apparatus including (i) a desk having a front edge and a working surface, (ii) an armrest for supporting the arm of a person working at the desk, and (iii) separate support means connected between the armrest and the desk for supporting the armrest near the desk for movement between a plurality of positions relative to the desk; the improvement wherein said support means supports the armrest for movement between a first position underneath the desk and a second position not underneath the desk for supporting the arm of a person working at the desk; said support means including first and second relatively slidable members, said first relatively slidable member being connected with the armrest and being movable with the armrest when the armrest moves between its first position underneath the desk and its second position not underneath the desk, said second relatively slidable member being fixed to the desk, the armrest thereby sliding from its first position underneath the desk into its second position not underneath the desk upon relative sliding movement of said first and second relatively slidable members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
In an apparatus including (i) a desk having a front edge and a working surface, (ii) an armrest for supporting the arm of a person working at the desk, and (iii) separate support means connected between the armrest and the desk for supporting the armrest near the desk for movement between a plurality of positions relative to the desk; the improvement wherein said support means supports the armrest for movement between a first position underneath the desk and a second position not underneath the desk for supporting the arm of a person working at the desk; said support means including first and second relatively slidable members, said first relatively slidable member being connected with the armrest and being movable with the armrest when the armrest moves between its first position underneath the desk and its second position not underneath the desk, said second relatively slidable member being fixed to the desk, the armrest thereby sliding from its first position underneath the desk into its second position not underneath the desk upon relative sliding movement of said first and second relatively slidable members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first relatively slidable member is a rail attached to the armrest and the second relatively slidable member is a track attached to the desk, the rail riding along the track when the armrest is moved between its first position underneath the desk and its second position not underneath the desk.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
83 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the rail is attached to a support bracket connected with the armrest and the track is attached to an undersurface of the desk, the support bracket moving from a working position adjacent the front edge of the desk when the armrest is in its second position not underneath the desk and a storage position spaced back from the front edge of the desk when the armrest is in its first position underneath the desk.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
106 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support means includes a support arm member connected between said armrest and said desk and a pivotal adjuster interconnecting said armrest and said support arm member, said pivotal adjuster supporting said armrest on said support arm member for movement about said pivotal adjuster relative to said support arm member between a working orientation for supporting the arm of a person working at the desk when said armrest is in its second position not underneath the desk, and a storage orientation different from said working orientation when said armrest is in its first position underneath the desk.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support means includes a plurality of adjusters operable when said armrest is in its second position not underneath the desk, said adjusters being operable to allow selective locking positioning of said armrest at a plurality of distances from the front edge of the desk.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein at least one of said adjusters is operable to allow selective locking positioning of said armrest at a plurality of locations spaced apart in a direction parallel to the front edge of the desk.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein at least one of said adjusters is operable to allow selective locking positioning of said armrest at a plurality of locations above or below the working surface of the desk.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support means includes a pivotal adjuster connected with said armrest and supporting said armrest for movement in three degrees of freedom among a plurality of different orientations for supporting the arm of a person working at the desk, all when the armrest is in its second position not underneath the desk.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said armrest has a relative hard shell and a relatively soft arm contact surface and an inflatable bladder within said shell for varying the contour of said arm contact surface without varying the contour of said shell.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
64 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said armrest has a relatively hard shell and a relatively soft arm contact surface, said apparatus further comprising a plurality of discrete individual pieces of padding selectively insertable into said armrest between said shell and said arm contact surface for varying the contour of said arm contact surface without varying the contour of said shell.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
299 words
In an apparatus including (i) a desk having a front edge and a working surface thereon, (ii) an armrest for supporting the arm of a person working at the desk, and (iii) support means connected between the armrest and the desk for supporting the armrest near the desk for movement between a plurality of positions relative to the desk; the improvement wherein the support means comprises a support arm connected between the armrest and the desk and movable (i) in a first direction parallel to the front edge of the desk by relative movement of coaxial tube sections extending generally in the first direction to slide the support arm as a whole in the first direction, said coaxial tube sections being selectively lockable in a plurality of different relative positions to position the support arm in a plurality of different lateral positions relative to the desk, (ii) in a second direction perpendicular to the front edge of the desk by relative movement of coaxial tube sections extending generally in the second direction to slide the support arm as a whole in the second direction, said coaxial tube sections being selectively lockable in a plurality of different relative coaxial positions to position the support arm at a plurality of different distances from the desk, and (iii) vertically by pivotal movement of a first one of a pair of coaxial tube sections relative to a second one of said pair of coaxial tube sections to move the support arm as a whole vertically, said relatively pivotable coaxial tube sections being selectively lockable in a plurality of different relative pivotal positions to position the support arm at a plurality of different vertical positions, to place said support arm in a plurality of different orientations relative to the working surface of the desk.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
299 words
In an apparatus including (i) a desk having a front edge and a working surface thereon, (ii) an armrest for supporting the arm of a person working at the desk, and (iii) support means connected between the armrest and the desk for supporting the armrest near the desk for movement between a plurality of positions relative to the desk; the improvement wherein the support means comprises a support arm connected between the armrest and the desk and movable (i) in a first direction parallel to the front edge of the desk by relative movement of coaxial tube sections extending generally in the first direction to slide the support arm as a whole in the first direction, said coaxial tube sections being selectively lockable in a plurality of different relative positions to position the support arm in a plurality of different lateral positions relative to the desk, (ii) in a second direction perpendicular to the front edge of the desk by relative movement of coaxial tube sections extending generally in the second direction to slide the support arm as a whole in the second direction, said coaxial tube sections being selectively lockable in a plurality of different relative coaxial positions to position the support arm at a plurality of different distances from the desk, and (iii) vertically by pivotal movement of a first one of a pair of coaxial tube sections relative to a second one of said pair of coaxial tube sections to move the support arm as a whole vertically, said relatively pivotable coaxial tube sections being selectively lockable in a plurality of different relative pivotal positions to position the support arm at a plurality of different vertical positions, to place said support arm in a plurality of different orientations relative to the working surface of the desk.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
73 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 including a pivotal adjuster on an outer end portion of said support arm, said armrest being supported by said pivotal adjuster on said outer end portion of said support arm for movement in three degrees of freedom for enabling levelling of said armrest when said support arm is in any one of said plurality of different orientations relative to the working surface of the desk.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said armrest has a relatively hard shell and a relatively soft arm contact surface and an inflatable bladder within said shell for varying the contour of said arm contact surface without varying the contour of said shell.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
64 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said armrest has a relatively hard shell and a relatively soft arm contact surface, said apparatus further comprising a plurality of discrete individual pieces of padding selectively insertable into said armrest between said shell and said arm contact surface for varying the contour of said arm contact surface without varying the contour of said shell.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-05-31 | 1996-11-30 | 1997-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-05-31 | 2000-11-30 | 2001-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-05-31 | 2004-11-30 | 2005-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |