초록 ▼

A compact and modular armrest having a frame with a pair of spaced apart downturned sidewalls each possessing a slot for capturing a portion of the thumbwheel that receives a height adjuster bolt having one end threaded into a nut anchored to a top wall web interconnecting the sidewalls of the frame

A compact and modular armrest having a frame with a pair of spaced apart downturned sidewalls each possessing a slot for capturing a portion of the thumbwheel that receives a height adjuster bolt having one end threaded into a nut anchored to a top wall web interconnecting the sidewalls of the frame and a head at its other end rotatively coupled to the thumbwheel with the bolt head bearing against the free end of a post attached to a bracket pivotally mounting the armrest to a vehicle seat. A retainer ring is secured to the bolt adjacent the head for keeping the thumbwheel and bolt captive to the frame. The ring also limits how far the thumbwheel can slide axially along the bolt head which also limits armrest height adjustment in one direction when the bolt is rotated in one direction. Height adjustment in the opposite direction can be limited by the ring bearing against the anchor nut when the bolt is rotated in the opposite direction. Preferably, height adjustment in the opposite direction is limited by an unthreaded portion of the bolt stem stopping against the threads of the anchor nut. A pad covering the frame also lines at least a portion of each slot for contacting the thumbwheel to dampen vibration and oppose random thumbwheel rotation. During operation, the thumbwheel is manually grasped between the thumb and forefinger of a seat occupant and rotated thereby rotating the bolt to raise or lower the armrest depending upon the direction of thumbwheel and bolt rotation.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [24.] An armrest for a vehicle seat comprising:a. a seat frame carrying a seat occupant supporting surface upon which a seat occupant can sit;b. an armrest mounting bracket attached to the seat frame and having a generally upwardly extending armrest mounting post with an abutm

[ What is claimed is:] [24.] An armrest for a vehicle seat comprising:a. a seat frame carrying a seat occupant supporting surface upon which a seat occupant can sit;b. an armrest mounting bracket attached to the seat frame and having a generally upwardly extending armrest mounting post with an abutment surface adjacent its uppermost end;c. an elongate armrest frame pivotally attached adjacent one end to the post enabling the frame to be pivoted about the post between a generally horizontal operating position enabling an arm of a seat occupant to be supported thereon and a position disposed from the generally horizontal operating position, the frame having a central web portion with an interior surface and an exterior surface, the web portion spacing apart a pair of sidewalls that extend generally downwardly from the web portion when the frame is disposed in its generally horizontal operating position, and each sidewall having a slot therein adjacent the post abutment surface with the slot in one of the sidewalls generally aligned with the slot in the other of the sidewalls;d. a threaded portion carried by the web portion and generally overlying the abutment surface of the armrest post when the frame is disposed in its generally horizontal operating position;e. a bolt received between the sidewalls and adjacent the web portion, the bolt having a longitudinal central axis, a threaded portion adjacent one end of the bolt with its end threadably received by the threaded portion of the web portion, a head at the opposite end of the bolt which bears against the abutment surface of the post when the armrest is disposed in its generally horizontal operating position, and an unthreaded portion between the head and the threaded portion;f. a thumbwheel received in the slots in the armrest frame sidewalls with a portion of the thumbwheel extending outwardly from at least one slot for enabling manual engagement therewith to manually rotate the thumbwheel and the thumbwheel having a through-opening constructed and arranged to telescopically slidably receive the head and to rotatively couple the thumbwheel to the bolt such that rotation of the thumbwheel rotates the bolt while permitting the bolt to move axially relative to the thumbwheel during bolt and thumbwheel rotation;g. a retainer carried by the bolt disposed between the bolt head and the end of the threaded portion of the bolt with the retainer having at least a portion extending radially outwardly from the bolt beyond the bolt head forming a shoulder that limits axial movement of the thumbwheel relative to the head; andh. wherein rotation of the bolt is limited in one direction by the retainer bearing against the thumbwheel thereby limiting height adjustment in the one direction.