[0001] The invention relates to an armrest device, more particularly to an armrest device
that can be suitably mounted on a body supporting apparatus, such as, a seat, an office
chair, a wheelchair, an electric wheelchair, an electric mobility scooter, a walker,
etc.
[0002] A conventional body supporting apparatus, such as a seat, an office chair, a wheelchair,
an electric wheelchair, an electric mobility scooter, a walker, etc., generally has
an armrest device connected to a backrest thereof. The armrest device includes a fixed
bracket, and two armrest boards fixedly mounted on the fixed bracket for a user to
rest his/her arms thereon. Although the conventional armrest device can provide resting
of the user's arms, the width thereof is fixed. When the width of the backrest is
changed or the stature of the user is different, the armrest device must be redesigned
to match the backrest or the stature of the user. In view of this, the armrest device
of the conventional body supporting apparatus may not only be inconvenient to manufacture
and assemble, but also may not be comfortable to use when the distance between the
armrest boards does not fit the stature of the user.
[0003] Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide an armrest device that is capable
of overcoming the aforesaid drawbacks of the prior art.
[0004] Accordingly, an armrest device of this invention includes a connecting mechanism
and two armrest units. The connecting mechanism includes two connecting rods and at
least one fixing member. Each connecting rod has an armrest mounting portion and an
overlapping portion connected to the armrest mounting portion. The overlapping portions
of the connecting rods are overlapped with each other. The overlapping length of the
overlapping portions is adjustable. The at least one fixing member detachably interconnects
the overlapping portions of the connecting rods. The armrest units are mounted pivotably
and respectively to the armrest mounting portions of the connecting rods.
[0005] A beneficial effect of this invention resides in that because the armrest units are
respectively mounted on the connecting rods and because the overlapping length of
the connecting rods is adjustable, the width between the armrest units can be adjusted,
so that the armrest device of this invention can be suitably mounted on the body supporting
apparatus 1 with different widths. Hence, easy manufacturing and assembling thereof
can be enhanced. Furthermore, the width between the armrest units 3 and the heights
of the armrest units 3 can be adjusted to cope with the different stature of users
to thereby enhance use comfort.
[0006] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the
following detailed description of the embodiment with reference to the accompanying
drawings, of which:
Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a body supporting apparatus incorporating
an armrest device according to the embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of a left armrest unit and a left connecting
rod of the armrest device of the embodiment;
Figure 3 is a schematic top view of the embodiment;
Figure 4 is a sectional view of the embodiment taken along line IV-IV of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a sectional view of the embodiment taken along line V-V of Figure 3;
Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, but with a second adjustment screw being moved
toward an outer side of a second threaded hole to permit adjustment of an armrest
unit of the embodiment; and
Figure 7 is a sectional view of the embodiment taken along line VII-VII of Figure
3, with the solid lines representing the armrest unit of the embodiment in a horizontal
arm-resting position and with the phantom lines representing the armrest unit of this
embodiment in a vertical non-resting position.
[0007] Referring to Figures 1 to 7, an armrest device according to the embodiment of the
present invention is suitable for mounting on a body supporting apparatus 1, such
as a seat, an office chair, a wheelchair, an electric wheelchair, an electric mobility
scooter, a walker, etc., and is adjustable according to the width of the body supporting
apparatus 1. The body supporting apparatus 1 includes a backrest 11, and a rear cap
12 fixed to a rear side of the backrest 11 by a plurality of fasteners 10. The backrest
11 has a semicircular mounting portion 111 facing the rear cap 12. The rear cap 12
has two spaced-apart through holes 121. The body supporting apparatus 1 further includes
a mounting passage 13 cooperatively defined by the backrest mounting portion 111 and
the rear cap 12, and a telescopic rod 14 disposed at a rear lower portion of the backrest
11. The armrest device of this embodiment comprises a connecting mechanism 2 and two
armrest units 3.
[0008] The connecting mechanism 2 includes two connecting rods 21 adjustably and movably
mounted in the mounting passage 13, two reinforcing plates 23 respectively fixed to
the connecting rods 21 by a plurality of fixing screws 22, and two fixing members
24 detachably interconnecting the connecting rods 21. Each of the connecting rods
21 has an armrest mounting portion 211, and an overlapping portion 212 connected to
and disposed inwardly of the armrest mounting portion 211. The armrest mounting portion
211 includes an inner sleeve section 213 connected to the overlapping portion 212,
and an outer sleeve section 214 connected to the inner sleeve section 213 opposite
to the overlapping portion 212. In this embodiment, each of the reinforcing plates
23 is fixed to the overlapping portion 212 of the respective connecting rod 21 by
using two fixing screws 22, and is proximate to the inner sleeve section 213 of the
respective connecting rod 21. The inner sleeve section 213 has a circular main body,
and a notched part 215 formed in the main body adjacent to a junction between the
inner and outer sleeve sections 213, 214. The outer sleeve section 214 has a circular
main body, a notched part 218 with two diametrically opposite notches 2181 formed
in an outer end of the main body of the outer sleeve section 214 and distal from the
notched part 215, and a threaded connecting hole 216 extending axially and inwardly
from the outer end of the outer sleeve main body between the notches 218.
[0009] The overlapping portion 212 has a semi-circular cross section, and is formed with
a plurality of fixing holes 217 spaced apart from each other along the length thereof.
The overlapping portions 212 of the connecting rods 21 are overlapped with each other.
The length of the connecting mechanism 2 after assembly can be altered by adjusting
the overlapping length of the overlapping portions 212 of the connecting rods 21.
[0010] With reference to Figures 1, 4 and 5, the armrest units 3 are symmetrically disposed
on left and right sides of the connecting mechanism 2, and are mounted pivotably and
respectively to the armrest mounting portions 211 of the connecting rods 21. Each
of the armrest units 3 includes an engaging ring 39, two compressible rings 31, a
pivot limiting seat 30, a wear-resistant piece 32, an angle fixing seat 33, and an
armrest assembly 34. Since the structures of the armrest units 3 are similar, only
the armrest unit 3 mounted to the armrest mounting portion 211 of a left one of the
connecting rods 21 will be described hereinafter.
[0011] The engaging ring 39 is sleeved fixedly on the inner sleeve section 213 of the armrest
mounting portion 211. The two compressible rings 31 are sleeved side by side on the
inner sleeve section 213. The pivot limiting seat 30 is sleeved fixedly and non-rotatably
on the notched part 215 of the inner sleeve section 213. The wear-resistant piece
32, the angle fixing seat 33, and the armrest assembly 34 are sequentially sleeved
on the outer sleeve section 214 of the armrest mounting portion 211 from an inner
side to an outer side thereof. The compressible rings 31 are disposed between the
engaging ring 39 and the pivot limiting seat 30. The wear-resistant piece 32 is sandwiched
between the pivot limiting seat 30 and the angle fixing seat 33. The armrest unit
3 further includes a mounting assembly 35, a first adjustment screw 37 threadedly
and adjustably connected to the angle fixing seat 33, and a second adjustment screw
38 threadedly and adjustably connected to the armrest assembly 34.
[0012] The pivot limiting seat 30 has a seat main body 301 fixedly sleeved on the notched
part 215 of the inner sleeve section 213, a protruding portion 302 extending rearwardly
from the seat main body 301, a pivot limiting member 303 projecting from the seat
main body 301 toward the angle fixing seat 33, and a coupling rod 304 coupling the
protruding portion 302 to the telescopic rod 14 (see Figure 1) of the body supporting
apparatus 1. The wear-resistant piece 32 is circular, and has a first axial hole 321
for extension of the armrest mounting portion 211 therethrough, and an insertion hole
322 offset from the first axial hole 321 for extension of the pivot limiting member
303 therethrough.
[0013] The angle fixing seat 33 includes a circular main body 331 defining a central hole,
an axial tubular wall 339 projecting from an outer surface of the main body 331 toward
the armrest assembly 34 and defining a second axial hole 330 communicating with the
central hole in the main body 331, and a first stopping block 332 projecting from
the outer surface of the main body 331 and surrounding an outer periphery of the axial
tubular wall 339. An inner surface 333 of the main body 331 faces the wear-resistant
piece 32, and has an arcuate pivot limiting groove 334 surrounding the central hole
in the main body 331. The pivot limiting groove 334 has a first groove end 335 and
a second groove end 336 opposite to the first groove end 335. The first stopping block
332 has a first stopping face 337, and a first threaded hole 338 spaced apart from
the first stopping face 337.
[0014] The armrest assembly 34 includes an armrest rod 340, and an armrest board 348 adjustably
mounted on the armrest rod 340. The armrest rod 340 has a mounting portion 341 for
mounting of the armrest board 348 thereon, and a pivot connection portion 342 mounted
coaxially on and pivotable relative to the angle fixing seat 33. The pivot connection
portion 342 has a third axial hole 343 axially aligned with the second axial hole
330, and a second stopping block 344 protruding toward the angle fixing seat 33 and
surrounding the third axial hole 343. The second stopping block 344 has a second stopping
face 345 (see Fig. 5), and a second threaded hole 347 spaced apart from the second
stopping face 345. As shown in Figs. 2 and 5, each of the first and second adjustment
screws 37, 38 is configured as a headless screw, and is inserted threadedly and adjustably
into a respective one of the first and second threaded holes 338, 347. An inner end
of the first adjustment screw 37 is abuttable against the second stopping face 345,
while an inner end of the second adjustment screw 38 is abuttable against the first
stopping face 337. How to adjust an angular position of the armrest board 348 relative
to the armrest rod 34 is not an important aspect of this invention, so that a detailed
description thereof is dispensed herewith.
[0015] The mounting assembly 35 includes a first cushion pad 351 sleeved non-rotatably on
the notched part 218 of the outer sleeve section 214 of the armrest mounting portion
211, a second cushion pad 352 abutting against the first cushion pad 351, and a connecting
screw 353 extending through the first and second cushion pads 351, 352 and threadedly
engaging the threaded hole 216 in the outer sleeve section 214. Through this, the
armrest assembly 34 is mounted on the connecting rod 21.
[0016] With reference to Figures 1 to 3, to use the armrest device of this embodiment, the
overlapping length of the overlapping portions 212 of the connecting rods 21 is first
adjusted according to the width of the backrest 11 of the body supporting apparatus
1, after which the fixing members 24 are inserted through the through holes 121 in
the rear cap 12 and two of the fixing holes 217 in one of the connecting rods 21,
and are threadedly and selectively engaged with two of the fixing holes 217 in the
other connecting rod 21, thereby fixedly coupling the overlapping portions 212 of
the connecting rods 21. Next, the armrest units 3 are respectively mounted and connected
to the armrest mounting portions 211 of the connecting rods 21. After assembly, the
armrest assemblies 34 of the armrest units 3 are respectively disposed on the left
and right sides of the backrest 11 of the body supporting apparatus 1.
[0017] It should be noted that during adjustment of the overlapping length of the overlapping
portions 212 of the connecting rods 21, there is no need to detach the rear cap 12
from the rear side of the backrest 11. It is only necessary to remove the fixing screws
24, so that the connecting rods 21 can be adjustably moved within the mounting passage
13 until the desired overlapping length of the overlapping portions 212 thereof is
obtained. Hence, the armrest device of this embodiment can be adjusted according to
the width of the backrest 11 of the body supporting apparatus 1 without much effort.
[0018] With reference to Figures 1, 2, 5 and 6, when it is desired to adjust the height
of the armrest board 348 of the armrest assembly 34 of each armrest unit 3, one of
the first and second adjustment screws 37, 38 is first threadedly adjusted to move
toward an outer side of the respective first or second threaded holes 338, 347 so
that the inner end thereof is moved away from the respective second or first stopping
face 345, 337. During this time, the armrest assembly 34 of each armrest unit 3 is
pivotable about the armrest mounting portion 211 of the respective connecting rod
21. When a desired angle or height of the armrest assembly 34 is reached, the other
one of the first and second adjustment screws 37, 38 is threadedly adjusted to move
further into the respective first or second threaded hole 338, 347, so that the inner
end thereof pushes the respective second or first stopping face 345, 337, thereby
moving the inner end of the one of the first and second adjustment screws 37, 38 to
abut against the respective second or first stopping face 345, 337. At this time,
the armrest assembly 34 of each armrest unit 3 cannot pivot further, and is retained
at the desired angle or height. During adjustment, because the first cushion pad 351
is sleeved non-rotatably on the outer sleeve section 214 of the armrest mounting portion
211 of the respective connecting rod 21, and because the connecting screw 353 presses
the second cushion pad 352 against the first cushion pad 351, the armrest assembly
34 is not only mounted coaxially and pivotably to the armrest mounting portion 211
of the respective connecting rod 21, but also the connecting screw 353 is not likely
to loosen during the pivot movement of the armrest assembly 34.
[0019] With reference to Figure 7, in combination with Figures 1, 2 and 5, when a user desires
to enter or exit the body supporting apparatus 1 from a single side thereof, the armrest
assembly 34 of one of the armrest units 3 is pivoted upward and rearward. That is,
when the user pulls the armrest assembly 34, because the first and second adjustment
screws 37, 38 respectively abut against the second and first stopping blocks 334,
332, the pulling force exerted on the armrest assembly 34 drives the angle fixing
seat 33 to pivot along with the armrest assembly 34. When the pivot limiting member
303 abuts against the second groove end 336 of the pivot limiting groove 334 of the
angle fixing seat 33, the angle fixing seat 33 and the armrest assembly 34 cannot
pivot further. At this moment, the armrest unit 3 is moved from a horizontal arm-resting
position, as shown in solid lines in Figure 7, to a vertical non-resting position,
as shown in phantom lines in Figure 7.
[0020] In other words, when the armrest device of this embodiment is in normal use, because
the compressible rings 31, the pivot limiting seat 30, the wear-resistant piece 32,
the angle fixing seat 33 and the armrest rod 340 of the armrest assembly 34 of each
armrest unit 3 are disposed tightly close to each other, and because the pivot limiting
member 303 is inserted into the pivot limiting groove 334 of the angle fixing seat
33 and abuts against the first groove end 335 thereof, each armrest unit 3 is disposed
in the horizontal arm-resting position at this time, and the armrest assembly 34 thereof
is retained at a fixed angle for an arm of the user to rest thereon.
[0021] When it is desired to adjust the height of the armrest board 348 of the armrest assembly
34, the first and second adjustment screws 37, 38 are simply rotated. Further, when
it is desired to enter or exit the body supporting apparatus 1, the armrest assemblies
34 of the armrest units 3 are simply pulled upward and rearward to drive the angle
fixing seat 33 to move upward therealong. Hence, the armrest device of this invention
not only has a novel structure, but also can be adjusted according to the requirement
of the body supporting apparatus 1. That is, the width between the armrest units 3
can be adjusted so that the armrest device of this invention can be mounted to the
body supporting apparatus 1 with different widths. The purpose of easy manufacturing
and assembling can thus be achieved. Simultaneously, the width between the armrest
units 3 and the heights of the armrest units 3 can be adjusted to cope with the different
stature of users to thereby enhance use comfort.
1. An armrest device
characterized by:
a connecting mechanism (2) including two connecting rods (21) and at least one fixing
member (24), each of said connecting rods (21) having an armrest mounting portion
(211) and an overlapping portion (212) connected to said armrest mounting portion
(211), said overlapping portions (212) of said connecting rods (21) being overlapped
with each other, the overlapping length of said overlapping portions (212) being adjustable,
said at least one fixing member (24) detachably interconnecting said overlapping portions
(212) of said connecting rods (21); and
two armrest units (3) mounted pivotably and respectively to said armrest mounting
portions (211) of said connecting rods (21).
2. The armrest device as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that said overlapping portion (212) of each of said connecting rods (21) has a plurality
of fixing holes (217) spaced apart from each other along the length of said overlapping
portion (212), and said at least one fixing member (24) includes two said fixing members
(24) extending through two of said fixing holes (217) in one of said connecting rods
(21) and selectively engaging two of said fixing holes (217) in the other one of said
connecting rods (21).
3. The armrest device as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that each of said armrest units (3) includes an angle fixing seat (33) mounted on said
armrest mounting portion (211) of a respective one of said connecting rods (21), an
armrest assembly (34) mounted on said armrest mounting portion (211) of the respective
one of said connecting rods (21) and pivotable relative to said angle fixing seat
(33), a first adjustment screw (37) threadedly and adjustably connected to said angle
fixing seat (33), and a second adjustment screw (38) threadedly and adjustably connected
to said armrest assembly (34), said angle fixing seat (33) having a first stopping
face (337) abuttable against said second adjustment screw (38), said armrest assembly
(34) having a second stopping face (345) abuttable against said first adjustment screw
(37).
4. The armrest device as claimed in Claim 3,
characterized in that:
said armrest mounting portion (211) of each of said connecting rods (21) includes
an inner sleeve section (213) connected to said overlapping portion (212), and an
outer sleeve section (214) connected to said inner sleeve section (213) opposite to
said overlapping portion (212), said inner sleeve section (213) having a notched part
(215) adjacent to a junction between said inner and outer sleeve sections (213, 214),
said angle fixing seat (33) is sleeved rotatably on said outer sleeve section (214)
and further has an axial hole (330) and a pivot limiting groove (334) surrounding
said axial hole (330), said pivot limiting groove (334) having a first groove end
(335) and a second groove end (336) opposite to said first groove end (335), and
each of said armrest units (3) further includes a pivot limiting seat (30) fixed to
said notched part (215) of said inner sleeve section (213) of the respective one of
said connecting rods (21), said pivot limiting seat (30) having a pivot limiting member
(303) movably extending into said pivot limiting groove (334) of said angle fixing
seat (33), each of said armrest units (3) being disposed in a horizontal arm-resting
position when said pivot limiting member (303) abuts against said first groove end
(335) of said pivot limiting groove (334), and being disposed in a vertical non-resting
position when said pivot limiting member (303) abuts against said second groove end
(336) of said pivot limiting groove (334).
5. The armrest device as claimed in Claim 4, characterized in that said armrest assembly (34) of each of said armrest units (3) includes an armrest
rod (340), and an armrest board (348) mounted on said armrest rod (340), said armrest
rod (340) having a pivot connection portion (342) mounted coaxially on said angle
fixing seat (33), each of said armrest units (3) further including an engaging ring
(39) sleeved engagingly on said inner sleeve section (213) of the respective one of
said connecting rods (21), at least one compressible ring (31) disposed between said
engaging ring (39) and said pivot limiting seat (30), and a wear-resistant piece (32)
sandwiched between said pivot limiting seat (30) and said angle fixing seat (33).
6. The armrest device as claimed in Claim 5, characterized in that said connecting mechanism (2) further includes two reinforcing plates (23), and a
plurality of fixing screws (22) fixing said reinforcing plates (23) on said overlapping
portions (212) of said connecting rods (21), respectively, said reinforcing plates
(23) being respectively proximate to said inner sleeve sections (213) of said armrest
mounting portions (211) of said connecting rods (21).
7. The armrest device as claimed in Claim 6, characterized in that each of said armrest units (3) further includes a mounting assembly (35) mounting
said armrest assembly (34) on the respective one of said connecting rods (21), said
mounting assembly (35) including a first cushion pad (351) sleeved non-rotatably on
said outer sleeve section (214) of said armrest mounting portion (211), a second cushion
pad (352) abutting against said first cushion pad (351), and a connecting screw (353)
extending through said first and second cushion pads (351, 352) and threadedly engaging
said outer sleeve section (214) of the respective one of said connecting rods (21)
.
8. The armrest device as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that said armrest mounting portion (211) of each of said connecting rods (21) includes
an outer sleeve section (214), and a connecting hole (216) extending axially and inwardly
from an outer end of said outer sleeve section (214), each of said armrest units (3)
further including an armrest assembly (34), and a mounting assembly (35) mounting
said armrest assembly (34) on the respective one of said connecting rods (21), said
mounting assembly (35) including a first cushion pad (351) sleeved non-rotatably on
said outer sleeve section (214) of said armrest mounting portion (211), a second cushion
pad (352) abutting against said first cushion pad (351), and a connecting screw (353)
extending through said first and second cushion pads (351, 352) and threadedly engaging
said connecting hole (216) in said outer sleeve section (214) of the respective one
of said connecting rods (21).