Elevating structure for armrests

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an elevating structure, and more particularly to an elevating structure for armrests that may facilitate height adjustment.

2. Description of the Prior Arts

Conventional armrests are provided to comfort a user as he sits on an armchair and puts his hands on the armrests. Thus, height adjustment based on different users is essential.

A conventional armrest includes an adjusting member and a rail member for retaining the adjusting member therein, both of which are assembled together in the armrest. The adjusting member includes a successive toothed groove formed therein, and the rail member includes a lock projection fixed thereon. Thus, when the adjusting member is moved upward, the toothed groove retains the lock projection, thereby positioning the armrest. However, while adjusting the adjusting member downward, a positioning element is moved with respect to the lock projection. Hence, the user has to pull the adjusting member toward the highest position and then to retain the lock projection in the tooth groove by using the positioning element. Thereafter, the adjusting member is pushed downward to the bottommost end so as to disengage the lock projection from the positioning element, thereby adjusting the armrest upward once more. Unfortunately, such a height adjustment is quite tedious.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an elevating structure for armrests that may facilitate height adjustment.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an elevating structure for armrests comprising:

an adjusting member and a rail member for retaining the adjusting member therein, both of which are assembled together in an armrest, with the adjusting member including a main part and an auxiliary part moveable relative to each other;

the adjusting member includes the main part having an engaging slot formed therein for engaging with a successive toothed groove mounted in the auxiliary part, with the auxiliary part including a push button attached on the top end thereof and extending therefrom for receiving a first spring therein, such that the first spring abuts against the main part and to push the auxiliary part downward, and in the toothed groove of the auxiliary part is provided with an inclined pushing surface in response to a plurality of locking recesses arranged in the engaging slot; and

the rail member is provided to receive the adjusting member and includes a lock member axially fixed thereon for being pressed by a second spring, with the rail member further including a lid for covering the lock member and further including a window arranged thereon so that the lock projection is inserted into the rail member through the window, such that the lock projection is biased to engage with one of the locking recesses.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustration only, the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the exploded components of an adjusting member and a rail member of an elevating structure for armrests according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the assembly of the adjusting member and the rail member of the elevating structure for armrests according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the adjusting member and the rail member being assembled together in an armrest;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view illustrating the operation of the elevating structure for armrests according to the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view illustrating the operation of the adjusting member of the elevating structure for armrests according to the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , an elevating structure for armrests in accordance with the present invention comprises an adjusting member 1 and a rail member 2 for retaining the adjusting member 1 therein, both of which are assembled together in an armrest 100 (as illustrated in FIG. 5 ). The adjusting member 1 includes a main part 11 and an auxiliary part 12 moveable relative to each other.

The main part 11 has an engaging slot 111 formed therein corresponding with a successive toothed groove 121 formed in the auxiliary part 12 . The auxiliary part 12 includes a push button 123 attached on the top end thereof and extending therefrom for receiving a first spring 124 therein. The first spring 124 abuts against the main part 11 so that the auxiliary part 12 is pushed downward. Each tooth of the toothed groove 121 of the auxiliary part 12 is provided with an inclined pushing surface 122 and corresponds to a locking recess 112 arranged in the engaging slot 111 .

The rail member 2 is provided to receive the adjusting member 1 and includes a lock projection 22 pivotally mounted thereon for being pressed by a second spring 23 . The rail member 2 includes a lid 24 for covering the look projection 22 . The rail member 2 further includes a window 21 arranged thereon so that the lock projection 22 is inserted into the rail member 2 through the window 21 . Thus, the lock projection 22 is biased to engage with one of the locking recesses 112 .

In assembly, the adjusting member 1 having the engaging slot 111 formed therein is inserted into the rail member 2 so that the lock projection 22 is correspondingly retained in the engaging slot 111 of the adjusting member 1 and the toothed groove 121 of the rail member 2 . Thereafter, the top end of the adjusting member 1 is disposed against a plate member 10 , and the rail member 2 is secured in a support member 20 such that the push button 123 extends out of an opening 201 provided in the support member 20 (as shown in FIG. 3 ).

In operation, since the lock projection 22 is pressed by the second spring 23 , the lock projection 22 is biased toward one of the locking recesses 112 so the lock projection 22 retained in one of the locking recesses 112 . Thus, the adjusting member 1 and the rail member 2 are positioned relative to each other (as shown in FIG. 4 ), to position the plate member 10 at a height. When desiring to adjust the height of the plate member 10 , the push button 123 is pulled upward to press the first spring 124 so that the auxiliary part 12 slides upward in relation to the main part 11 (as illustrated in FIG. 5 ). Hence, the lock projection 22 retained in the locking recess 112 is urged by the inclined pushing surface 122 of the auxiliary part 12 to be released from the engagement from the locking recess 112 , so that the adjusting member 1 can be adjusted vertically. Furthermore, after the adjusting member 1 is moved to a proper height, the push button 123 is released so that the auxiliary part 12 is biased by the first spring 124 to return the inclined pushing surface 122 of the auxiliary part 12 below the locking recess 112 . Thereafter, the lock projection 22 is pushed by the second spring 23 to be engaged in the corresponding locking recess 112 , thereby positioning the plate member 10 easily.

On the other hand, a fitting block 125 is correspondingly fitted onto the push button 123 for covering the opening 201 , thus enhancing an aesthetic appearance.

The invention is not limited to the above embodiment but various modifications thereof may be made. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.