Adjustable Armrest

Abstract

In the specification and drawings an armrest is described and shown with an arm, the arm having a support portion and a body portion; a channel extending longitudinally along the support portion, the channel having an open face along at least a portion of its length; and a bracket, the bracket being slidably engaged with the channel. Also in the specification and drawings an armrest is described and shown with an arm, the arm having a support portion and a body portion; and a bracket, the bracket being slidably engaged with the arm such that the lower end of the support portion extends below the bracket when the arm is in a lowered height position.

1 . An armrest for a chair comprising:
 a. an arm, the arm having a support portion and a body portion;   b. a channel extending longitudinally along the support portion, the channel having an open face along at least a portion of its length; and   c. a bracket, the bracket being slidably engaged with the channel.   
     
     
         2 . The armrest of  claim 1  wherein the bracket is mounted to a chair. 
     
     
         3 . The armrest of  claim 2  wherein the chair comprises a bar interconnecting a chair back to a chair seat, the bracket being mounted to the bar. 
     
     
         4 . The armrest of  claim 1  wherein the open face of the channel is located in the inner side of the support portion. 
     
     
         5 . The armrest of  claim 1  wherein the bracket extends through the open face of the channel. 
     
     
         6 . The armrest of  claim 1  wherein the bracket further comprises a plurality of teeth, the plurality of teeth extending through the open face of the channel. 
     
     
         7 . The armrest of  claim 6  wherein the plurality of teeth are arranged in a substantially straight line. 
     
     
         8 . The armrest of  claim 6  further comprising a lever pivotally mounted to the arm, the lever having a pawl for locking engagement with at least one of the plurality of teeth. 
     
     
         9 . The armrest of  claim 8  wherein the lever is pivotally mounted to the support portion of the arm. 
     
     
         10 . The armrest of  claim 8  further comprising an aperture extending from the channel and through the front side of the support portion, the pawl lockingly engaged to at least one of the plurality of teeth through the aperture. 
     
     
         11 . The armrest of  claim 10  wherein the lever further comprises an angled lower end and the aperture further comprises a complimentary angled lower end. 
     
     
         12 . The armrest of  claim 8  further comprising a spring engaged with the lever, for biasing the pawl into locking engagement with at least one of the plurality of teeth. 
     
     
         13 . The armrest of  claim 1  further comprising a means for lockably adjusting the height of the arm. 
     
     
         14 . The armrest of  claim 13  wherein the means for lockably adjusting the height of the arm is a ratchet. 
     
     
         15 . The armrest of  claim 8  further comprising a rod obstructing the lower end of the channel. 
     
     
         16 . The armrest of  claim 15  wherein at least one of the plurality of teeth comprises a notch, the notch being adapted to receive the rod. 
     
     
         17 . The armrest of  claim 1  wherein the bracket further comprises:
 a. a channel engaging member mounted to the bracket, the channel engaging member having a T-shaped cross sectional profile; and 
 b. a plurality of teeth mounted to the channel engaging member, the plurality of teeth extending through the open face of the channel. 
 
     
     
         18 . The armrest of  claim 1  wherein the channel is oriented at an angle relative to the vertical, such that moving the arm to a raised height position simultaneously moves the arm in both an upper direction and a forward direction. 
     
     
         19 . The armrest of  claim 1  wherein the support portion and the body portion intersect at an angle of greater than 90 degrees. 
     
     
         20 . The armrest of  claim 1  wherein the support portion and the body portion intersect at an angle of between about 105 degrees and about 135 degrees. 
     
     
         21 . The armrest of claim I wherein the lower end of the support portion extends below the bracket when the arm is in a lowered height position. 
     
     
         22 . The armrest of  claim 21  wherein the upper end of the support portion extends above the bracket and the lower end of the support portion extends below the bracket, when the arm is in an intermediate height position. 
     
     
         23 . The armrest of  claim 8  wherein the lever comprises an activating portion, the activating portion being positioned at a distance of less than about 5.5 centimeters from a channel bisecting line, when the activating portion of the lever is depressed and the pawl is out of locking engagement with the plurality of teeth. 
     
     
         24 . The armrest of  claim 8  wherein the lever comprises an activating portion, the activating portion being positioned at a distance of less than about 11.5 centimeters from a channel bisecting line, when the activating portion of the lever is depressed and the pawl is out of locking engagement with the plurality of teeth. 
     
     
         25 . An armrest for a chair comprising:
 a. an arm, the arm having a support portion and a body portion; and   b. a bracket, the bracket being slidably engaged with the arm such that the lower end of the support portion extends below the bracket when the arm is in a lowered height position.   
     
     
         26 . The armrest of  claim 25  wherein the upper end of the support portion extends above the bracket and the lower end of the support portion extends below the bracket, when the arm is in an intermediate height position. 
     
     
         27 . The armrest of  claim 25  wherein the bracket is mounted to a chair. 
     
     
         28 . The armrest of  claim 27  wherein the chair comprises a bar interconnecting a chair back to a chair seat, the bracket being mounted to the bar. 
     
     
         29 . The armrest of  claim 25  further comprising a channel extending longitudinally along the support portion, the channel having an open face along at least a portion of its length. 
     
     
         30 . The armrest of  claim 29  wherein the bracket is slidably engaged with the channel. 
     
     
         31 . The armrest of  claim 30  wherein the open face of the channel is located in the inner side of the support portion. 
     
     
         32 . The armrest of  claim 30  wherein the bracket extends through the open face of the channel. 
     
     
         33 . The armrest of  claim 30  wherein the bracket further comprises a plurality of teeth, the plurality of teeth extending through the open face of the channel. 
     
     
         34 . The armrest of  claim 33  wherein the plurality of teeth are arranged in a substantially straight line. 
     
     
         35 . The armrest of  claim 33  further comprising a lever pivotally mounted to the arm, the lever having a pawl for locking engagement with at least one of the plurality of teeth. 
     
     
         36 . The armrest of  claim 35  wherein the lever is pivotally mounted to the support portion of the arm. 
     
     
         37 . The armrest of  claim 35  further comprising an aperture extending from the channel and through the front side of the support portion, the pawl lockingly engaged to at least one of the plurality of teeth through the aperture. 
     
     
         38 . The armrest of  claim 37  wherein the lever further comprises an angled lower end and the aperture further comprises a complimentary angled lower end. 
     
     
         39 . The armrest of  claim 35  further comprising a spring engaged with the lever, for biasing the pawl into locking engagement with at least one of the plurality of teeth. 
     
     
         40 . The armrest of  claim 25  further comprising a means for lockably adjusting the height of the arm. 
     
     
         41 . The armrest of  claim 40  wherein the means for lockably adjusting the height of the arm is a ratchet. 
     
     
         42 . The armrest of  claim 35  further comprising a rod obstructing the lower end of the channel. 
     
     
         43 . The armrest of  claim 42  wherein at least one of the plurality of teeth comprises a notch, the notch being adapted to receive the rod. 
     
     
         44 . The armrest of  claim 30  wherein the bracket further comprises:
 a. a channel engaging member mounted to the bracket, the channel engaging member having a T-shaped cross sectional profile; and 
 b. a plurality of teeth mounted to the channel engaging member, the plurality of teeth extending through the open face of the channel. 
 
     
     
         45 . The armrest of  claim 30  wherein the channel is oriented at an angle relative to the vertical, such that moving the arm to a raised height position simultaneously moves the arm in both an upper direction and a forward direction. 
     
     
         46 . The armrest of  claim 25  wherein the support portion and the body portion intersect at an angle of greater than 90 degrees. 
     
     
         47 . The armrest of  claim 25  wherein the support portion and the body portion intersect at an angle of between about 105 degrees and about 135 degrees. 
     
     
         48 . The armrest of  claim 35  wherein the lever comprises an activating portion, the activating portion being positioned at a distance of less than about 5.5 centimeters from a channel bisecting line, when the activating portion of the lever is depressed and the pawl is out of locking engagement with the plurality of teeth. 
     
     
         49 . The armrest of  claim 35  wherein the lever comprises an activating portion, the activating portion being positioned at a distance of less than about 11.5 centimeters from a channel bisecting line, when the activating portion of the lever is depressed and the pawl is out of locking engagement with the plurality of teeth.