Adjusting mechanism for a support element included in a seat and pivotable in the vertical plane

Claim 1

In an adjusting mechanism for an armrest (2) included in a seat and pivotable in the vertical plane, said mechanism being of a type having a fastening element (1) adapted to be mounted on a seat or a separate body member and provided with a transverse through-hole (10) for a fulcrum pin to facilitate the pivotable fixing of the armrest (2), and a fastening member (3) adapted to be included in the armrest (2) and provided with a through-going opening (8) for the fulcrum pin, the improvement comprising: said opening (8) being elongated and having a first end and a second end; a bushing (6) provided at said first end and adapted to receive said fulcrum pin, said bushing being adapted for a relative movement in the longitudinal direction of said opening (8) towards said second end of said opening (8); a spring member (7) applying an impulsive force between said bushing (6) and the fastening member (3); and first guiding and locking elements (4, 5) included in the fastening member, and second guiding and locking elements (9a) included in said fastening element (1), said first and second guiding and locking elements (4, 5, 9a) being in cooperation with each other with said bushing (6) located at said first end and loaded by said spring member (7), wherein the pivoting of the armrest (2) to a desired position is effected by shifting the armrest (2) in the longitudinal direction of said opening (8) against the action of said spring member (7) towards the fulcrum pin remaining stationary relative to said fastening element (1), said guiding and locking elements (4, 5, 9a) being released from the relative engagement thereof for facilitating the pivoting motion of said armrest (2) to a desired locking position, wherein the spring member (7) is adapted to force the armrest (2) back to a position in which said bushing (6) is again at said first end of said opening (8) and said guiding and locking elements (4, 5, 9a) are in relative engagement; said guiding and locking elements comprising a guide slot (4) formed in the fastening member (3) and provided with at least one arrest shoulder (5) located between the extreme ends of the slot, and a guide and locking member (9a) which is included in said fastening element (1) and movable relative to said slot (4) and engageable with said arrest shoulder (5) for locking said armrest (2) in a desired pivoted position, and said guide slot (4) forming a sickle-shaped path, said at least one arrest shoulder (5) being provided at the junction of a substantially circular arc shaped sickle section (14) and a substantially straight handle section (13).