Chair arm cup holder

Abstract

An improved chair arm configuration having a generally horizontal arm rest portion from which a bridging portion extends downwardly to a lower cup support portion and with a cup ring member having an opening therethrough supported by the bridging portion forward of the bridging portion and vertically above the cup support portion.

1 . An elongate chair arm having:
 a generally horizontal arm rest portion disposed at a first height,   a bridging portion, and   a generally horizontal cup support portion disposed at a second height below the first height,   the bridging portion disposed intermediate the arm rest portion and the cup support portion and joining a forward end of the arm rest portion with a rear end of the cup support portion,   the bridging portion descending from the first height of the arm rest portion to the second height of the cup support portion,   a cup ring member having an opening therethrough,   the cup ring member supported by the bridging portion in a position forward of the bridging portion and with the opening extending vertically through the cup ring member vertically above the cup support portion spaced a distance above the cup support portion.   
   
   
       2 . A chair arm as claimed in  claim 1  wherein
 the cup ring member is supported on the bridging portion by a bracket member having a rear end and a forward end,   the rear end of the bracket secured to the bridging member and extending forwardly thereof to the forward end supporting the cup ring member above the cup support portion.   
   
   
       3 . A chair arm as claimed in  claim 1  wherein
 the bridging portion extending from a forward end of the arm rest generally at an angle forwardly and downwardly to a rear end of the cup support portion.   
   
   
       4 . A chair arm as claimed in  claim 1  wherein
 the chair arm comprises a continuous elongate member forming in sequence the arm rest portion, the bridging portion and the cup support portion.   
   
   
       5 . A chair arm as claimed in  claim 1  in combination with a container sized to be removably received in the opening of the cup ring member with an access mouth of the container open upwardly. 
   
   
       6 . A chair arm as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the container is selected from the group consisting of a beverage container and an ashtray. 
   
   
       7 . A chair arm as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the container is a beverage container having a closed lower end, side walls extending upwardly from the lower end to an upper end carrying the mouth,
 the container sized to have its lower end passed down through the opening to engage and rest on the cup support portion,   the cup ring member having a top surface at a set height above the cup support portion,   wherein with the lower end of the container resting on the cup support portion, the side walls extending upwardly through the opening to above the opening.   
   
   
       8 . A chair arm as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the container is a beverage container having a closed lower end, side walls extending upwardly from the lower end to an upper end, and the mouth at an upper end,
 the cup ring member having a top surface at a set height above the cup support portion,   the side walls extending upwardly from the lower end to a distance greater than the set height.   
   
   
       9 . A chair arm as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the container having a circumferential shape about its side walls from the lower end up the side walls to a height greater than the set height smaller than the circumferential shape of the opening such that the container can be placed to extend downwardly through the opening to an extent that the lower end engages the cup support portion against downward movement and the container side walls engage inwardly directed surfaces of the opening of the cup ring member against movement laterally. 
   
   
       10 . A chair arm as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the container is an ashtray having a closed lower end, side walls extending upwardly from the lower end to an upper end, and the mouth at an upper end. 
   
   
       11 . A chair arm as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the container is an ashtray having a closed lower end, side walls extending upwardly from the lower end to an upper end defining the mouth therein and a radially outwardly extending flange about the mouth,
 the ashtray sized to have its lower end and side walls passed down through the opening with the flange engaging the cup ring member outwardly of the opening against downward movement.   
   
   
       12 . A chair arm as claimed in  claim 7  wherein
 the cup support portion having an upwardly directed cup support surface for engagement with the lower end of the container to prevent movement of the container downwardly therepast.   
   
   
       13 . A chair having a seat and a chair arm laterally of the seat,
 the seat having an upper surface at a seat height, the upper surface extending laterally to the lateral side surface of the seat,   the chair arm having:   an arm rest portion disposed at a first height,   a cup support portion disposed forward from the arm rest portion at a second height below the first height,   a ring member having an opening therethrough,   the ring member supported in a position forward of the arm rest portion and with the opening extending vertically through the ring member vertically above the cup support portion spaced a distance above the cup support portion,   the ring member at a height above the seat height,   the cup support portion at a height above the seat height.   
   
   
       14 . A chair as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the ring member is supported by the chair arm. 
   
   
       15 . A chair as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the chair arm further having:
 a bridging portion disposed intermediate the arm rest portion and the cup support portion and joining a forward end of the arm rest portion with a rear end of the cup support portion,   the bridging portion descending from the height of the arm rest portion to the height of the cup support portion,   the ring member supported by the bridging portion in a position forward of the bridging portion.   
   
   
       16 . A chair as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the ring member is laterally of the lateral side surface of the seat so as to not overlie the chair seat. 
   
   
       17 . A chair as claimed in  claim 14  wherein a gap is provided between the lateral side surface of the seat and the cup support portion extending vertically from above the upper surface of the seat to below the cup support portion. 
   
   
       18 . A chair as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the ring member is rearward from a forwardmost surface of the seat. 
   
   
       19 . A chair as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the ring member is rearward from a forwardmost surface of the seat. 
   
   
       20 . A chair structure having a pair of adjacent side-by-side chairs facing in the same direction,
 each chair having a seat,   a chair arm in between the chairs laterally of the sat of each chair,   each seat having an upper surface at a seat height, the upper surface extending laterally to a lateral side surface of the seat proximate the chair arm,   the chair arm having:   an arm rest portion disposed at a first height,   a cup support portion disposed at a second height below the first height,   a ring member having an opening therethrough,   the ring member supported by the chair arm in a position forward of the arm rest portion and with the opening extending vertically through the ring member vertically above the cup support portion spaced a distance above the cup support portion,   the ring member at a height above the seat heights,   the cup support portion at a height above the seat heights,   the ring member is laterally of the lateral side surface of each of the seat so as to not overlie either chair seat.