Chair arm transformable into a work surface

Abstract

A chair arm transformable into a work surface.

1 . A chair arm for a chair, said chair arm comprising an arm support member, a first pivot means, a first swing arm, a second pivot means, a second swing arm, a connector, and a platform;
 said arm support member comprising an attachment portion and an upright portion, said attachment portion connecting to said chair, said upright portion having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end attaching to said attachment portion and extending generally vertically therefrom, said distal end connecting to a first swing arm first end via said first pivot means;   said first pivot means pivotally connecting said first swing arm first end to said arm support member distal end;   said first swing arm having said first swing arm first end and a first swing arm second end, said first swing arm first end being pivotally attached to the distal end of said upright portion by said first pivot means, said first swing arm second end being pivotally attached to a second swing arm first end via said second pivot means;   said second pivot means pivotally connecting said first swing arm second end to said second swing arm first end;   said second swing arm having said second swing arm first end and a second swing arm second end defining a body there-between, said second swing arm first end being pivotally attached to the first swing arm second end by said second pivot means, said second swing arm second end connecting to said platform via said connector;   said connector connecting said platform to said second swing arm second end; and   said platform, said platform attached to the second end of said second swing arm via said connector, wherein said platform is configured for alternatively positioning in an active position where said platform is generally horizontal, and in a stowed position where said platform is generally vertical, wherein said platform can be moved from active position to stowed position by rotation of said connector.   
     
     
         2 . The chair arm of  claim 1 , wherein said first pivot means and said second pivot means have generally parallel axes of rotation. 
     
     
         3 . The chair arm of  claim 1 , wherein said first pivot means has a generally vertical axis of rotation. 
     
     
         4 . The chair arm of  claim 1 , wherein said second pivot means has a generally vertical axis of rotation. 
     
     
         5 . The chair arm of  claim 4 , wherein said second swing arm further comprises a third pivot means, said third pivot means having a generally horizontal axis of rotation, said horizontal axis of rotation generally perpendicular to the generally vertical axis of rotation of said second pivot means. 
     
     
         6 . The chair arm of  claim 1 , wherein said platform defines a generally planar surface capable of supporting a computer accessory. 
     
     
         7 . The chair arm of  claim 6 , wherein said platform comprises a computer mouse pad on said planar surface. 
     
     
         8 . The chair arm of  claim 6 , wherein said platform comprises a fastener for attaching a computer keyboard to said platform planar surface. 
     
     
         9 . The chair arm of  claim 1 , wherein said second swing arm body has an upper portion, and wherein said chair arm further comprises a padded portion attached to said upper portion. 
     
     
         10 . The chair arm of  claim 1 , wherein said attachment portion connects to said chair at a location selected from the group consisting of a seat portion of said chair, a back portion of said chair, and an attachment portion of said chair. 
     
     
         11 . The chair arm of  claim 1 , wherein said arm support member is generally L-shaped. 
     
     
         12 . The chair arm of  claim 1 , wherein said attachment portion attaches to said chair via at least one fastener. 
     
     
         13 . The chair arm of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said swing arms can be rotated at least one of said first and second pivot means to position the connector as desired by a user relative to said arm support member. 
     
     
         14 . The chair arm of  claim 1 , wherein said connector comprises at least one fourth pivot means pivotally connecting said platform to said second swing arm second end. 
     
     
         15 . The chair arm of  claim 14 , wherein said platform can be moved from said active position to said stowed position by rotation of at least one of said at least one fourth pivot means of said connector. 
     
     
         16 . The chair arm of  claim 1 , wherein said connector comprises a fourth pivot means having a generally vertical axis of rotation, said fourth pivot means pivotally connected to a first connector segment, said first connector segment having a fifth pivot means having a generally horizontal axis of rotation, said fifth pivot means pivotally connected to a second connector segment, said second connector segment having a sixth pivot means having an axis of rotation generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said fifth pivot means, said sixth pivot means pivotally connected to a platform bracket. 
     
     
         17 . The chair arm of  claim 16 , wherein said platform can be moved from said active position to said stowed position by rotation of one or more pivot means of said connector. 
     
     
         18 . The chair arm of  claim 16 , wherein said platform bracket defines a slot, and wherein said connector further comprises a fastener adapted for insertion through said slot and into said platform, thereby allowing the connector to be connected to said platform. 
     
     
         19 . The chair arm of  claim 1 , wherein when said platform is configured in said active position said platform is generally horizontal and extends generally away from said second end of said second swing arm and said first and second swing arms are not generally planar to one another. 
     
     
         20 . The chair arm of  claim 1 , wherein when said platform is configured in said stowed position said platform is generally vertical and is stowed below and adjacent to said second swing arm second end and said first and second swing arms are generally planar to one another.