Adjustable armrest

Abstract

An armrest includes a stem and a sleeve defining a cavity. At least a portion of the stem is received in the cavity, with the stem being moveable relative to the sleeve. The sleeve includes opposite side walls defining in part the cavity, wherein at least one of the side walls includes a plurality of vertically spaced recesses. A carrier is moveably coupled to the stem. At least one lock member is carried by the carrier and is moveable relative to the carrier between a locked position and an unlocked position as the carrier is moved. The at least one lock member is received in at least one of the vertically spaced recesses when moved to the locked position. The at least one lock member is displaced from the vertically spaced recesses when moved to the unlocked position. A method of adjusting the armrest is also provided, as well as an adjustable arm support supported by the stem and methods for the use thereof.

1 . An armrest comprising:
 a stem;   a sleeve having a cavity, wherein at least a portion of said stem is received in said cavity and is moveable relative to said sleeve, wherein said sleeve comprises opposite side walls defining in part said cavity, wherein at least one of said side walls comprises a plurality of vertically spaced recesses and a track forming a loop, wherein one side of said loop comprises a plurality of vertically spaced notches;   a pawl moveably coupled to said stem, wherein said pawl is moveable in said track between an engaged position wherein said pawl is engaged with at least one of said notches, and an disengaged position, wherein said pawl is disengaged from said notches;   a carrier moveably coupled to said stem, wherein said carrier is moveably engaged by said pawl and is moveable between first and second positions as said pawl is moved between said engaged and disengaged positions; and   at least one lock member carried by and moveable relative to said carrier moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position as said carrier is moved between said first and second positions, wherein said at least one lock member is received in at least one of said vertically spaced recesses when moved to said locked position, and wherein said at least one lock member is displaced from said at least one of said vertically spaced recesses when moved to said unlocked position.   
     
     
         2 . The armrest of  claim 1  wherein said carrier comprises a track, wherein said pawl comprises a portion disposed in said track, wherein said carrier is moved between said first and second positions as said pawl is moved in said track. 
     
     
         3 . The armrest of  claim 2  wherein said track in said carrier comprises an angled portion forming an oblique angle relative to a horizontal plane. 
     
     
         4 . The armrest of  claim 1  wherein said stem comprises a recess shaped to receive at least a portion of said at least one lock member when said lock member is moved to said locked position. 
     
     
         5 . The armrest of  claim 1  wherein said lock member is maintained in said unlocked position when said pawl is disposed in an opposite side of said loop in a locked-out position. 
     
     
         6 . The armrest of  claim 1  wherein said lock member comprises a pin. 
     
     
         7 . The armrest of  claim 1  wherein both of said side walls comprises said plurality of vertically spaced recesses, and wherein said at least one lock member comprises a pair of lock members disposed on opposite sides of said carrier member. 
     
     
         8 . The armrest of  claim 1  further comprising an arm support coupled to said stem above said sleeve, wherein said arm support is moveable relative to said stem. 
     
     
         9 . The armrest of  claim 8  wherein said arm support is rotatable relative to said stem, and is longitudinally and laterally translatable relative to said stem. 
     
     
         10 . An armrest comprising:
 a stem extending in a first direction;   a sleeve having a longitudinally extending cavity, wherein at least a portion of said stem is received in said cavity and wherein said stem is moveable relative to said sleeve, wherein said sleeve comprises opposite side walls defining in part said cavity, wherein at least one of said side walls comprises a plurality of vertically spaced recesses;   a carrier moveably coupled to said stem, wherein said carrier is reciprocally moveable in said first direction between first and second positions; and   at least one lock member carried by said carrier and moveable relative to said carrier in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction, wherein said at least one lock member is moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position as said carrier is moved between said first and second positions, wherein said at least one lock member is received in at least one of said vertically spaced recesses when moved to said locked position, and wherein said at least one lock member is displaced from said at last one of said vertically spaced recesses when moved to said unlocked position.   
     
     
         11 . The armrest of  claim 10  wherein said at least one lock member comprises a cylindrical component. 
     
     
         12 . The armrest of  claim 10  wherein said at least one lock member is moveably captured between said carrier and said sleeve, but is otherwise free of any attachment to said carrier or sleeve. 
     
     
         13 . The armrest of  claim 10  wherein both of said side walls comprises said plurality of vertically spaced recesses, and wherein said at least one lock member comprises a pair of lock members disposed on opposite sides of said carrier member. 
     
     
         14 . A method of vertically adjusting an armrest comprising:
 moving a stem upwardly relative to a sleeve;   moving a carrier member relative to said stem in a first direction in response to said stem moving upwardly; and   moving a lock member laterally inwardly away from at least one of a plurality of vertically spaced recesses formed in said sleeve in response to said carrier member moving relative to said stem.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising moving said carrier member relative to said stem in a second direction opposite said first direction and thereby moving said lock member laterally outwardly so as to be disposed in at least one of said recesses and thereby immobilizing said stem relative to said sleeve. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said moving said carrier member comprises moving a pawl from an engaged position wherein said pawl is engaged with at least one of a plurality of notches formed along an inner side wall of said sleeve to a disengaged position wherein said pawl is disposed in one side of a track loop. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising moving said stem to an uppermost position and thereby moving said pawl to an opposite side of said track loop, lowering said stem to a lowermost position, wherein said pawl is engaged with one of said plurality of said notches and said lock member is disposed in one of said recesses when said stem is moved to said lowermost position. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising moving an arm support relative to stem. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said moving said arm support comprises rotating said arm support relative to said stem. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said moving said arm support comprises translating said arm support relative to said stem. 
     
     
         21 . An armrest comprising:
 a stem;   a rotation limiter nonrotatably coupled to said stem;   a carrier rotationally coupled to said stem, wherein said rotation limiter is operably engaged with said carrier to limit the rotation of said carrier relative to said stem;   a base member longitudinally moveable relative to said carrier; and   a support member laterally moveable relative to said base member.   
     
     
         22 . The armrest of  claim 21  further comprising a detent disposed between said rotation limiter and said carrier, said detent comprising a first detent member and a second detent member, wherein said first and second detent members have different resiliencies. 
     
     
         23 . The armrest of  claim 21  further comprising a detent disposed between said carrier and said base member.