Cushioned elbow support attachment for chair armrests

Abstract

A cushioned elbow support attachment for chair armrests. The attachment comprises a cushion made of material having elastic properties and filled with a plurality of smooth edge rounded oblong pellets and attachment means for attaching the cushion to an armrest. The cushion may be covered by an outer material to protect it, to provide decorative colors and patterns, and to provide points of attachment for the attachment means, which may be straps, hook and loop fasteners, or clips. The cushion may include a rigid adapter plate adapted to serve as an interface with the tubular armrest of a chair.

1 . A cushioned support attachment for placement upon a secondary surface, comprising:
 an elongated sack-like cushion made of material having elastic properties and having a bottom surface;   a plurality of smooth edge rounded pellets contained in said cushion; and   attachment means for securing said cushion in place on said secondary surface with said bottom surface of said cushion in juxtaposition with said upper surface of the armrest, wherein said sack-like cushion, including materials having elastic properties and together with said plurality of smooth edge rounded pellets contained therein, conforms to a shape of the seat armrest while providing arm support.   
     
     
         2 . The cushioned support attachment of  claim 1  wherein said elongated sack-like cushion comprises a top piece and a bottom piece joined together at their respective edges to form a cushion seam, and wherein the attachment means comprises a plurality of spaced straps attached to said cushion and adapted to be passed around said secondary surface and secured thereto. 
     
     
         3 . The cushioned support attachment of  claim 1  wherein said attachment means comprises:
 a hook and loop fastening system wherein one of the components of said hook and loop fastening system is mounted on said bottom surface of said cushion; and 
 a plurality of straps adapted to be passed around said secondary surface and secured thereto, said straps having the other of the components of said hook and loop fastening system mounted thereon. 
 
     
     
         4 . The cushioned elbow support attachment of  claim 1  wherein said attachment means comprises:
 a hook and loop fastening system wherein one of the components of said hook and loop fastening system is mounted on said bottom surface of said cushion; 
 a plurality of first straps adapted to be passed around said secondary surface and secured thereto in spaced relationship to one another, said straps having the other of the components of said hook and loop fastening system mounted thereon; and 
 a connecting strap spanning the space between said plurality of first straps and attaching said plurality of first straps to one another, said connecting strap also having said other of the components of said hook and loop fastening system mounted thereon. 
 
     
     
         5 . The cushioned elbow support attachment of  claim 1  wherein said attachment means comprises:
 a hook and loop fastening system wherein one of the components of said hook and loop fastening system is mounted on said bottom surface of said cushion; and 
 a panel attachable to said secondary surface, said panel having the other of the components of said hook and loop fastening system mounted thereon. 
 
     
     
         6 . The cushioned elbow support attachment of  claim 1  wherein said attachment means comprises:
 a pair of tension loaded arms extending from said bottom surface of said cushion in U-shaped relationship to one another, said arms being attachable to said secondary surface. 
 
     
     
         7 . The cushioned support attachment of  claim 1  wherein said attachment means comprises:
 a hard base panel supporting said bottom surface of said cushion; and 
 a pair of tension-loaded arms extending from said hard base panel in U-shaped relationship to one another, said arms being attachable to said secondary surface. 
 
     
     
         8 . The cushioned support attachment of  claim 1  wherein said smooth edge rounded pellets are oblong in shape and have a mid-point diameter in the range of one-sixteenth to three-sixteenths of an inch and a length in the range of one-eighth to three-sixteenths of an inch. 
     
     
         9 . The cushioned support attachment of  claim 1  wherein said attachment means comprises:
 a clip comprising first and second pairs of spring loaded arms extending in U-shaped relationship to one another, said first and second pairs of spring loaded arms being oriented in substantially opposite directions, said first set of spring loaded arms being attachable to said cushion and said second set of spring loaded arms being attachable to said secondary surface. 
 
     
     
         10 . A cushioned support attachment for placement upon the upper surface of a secondary surface, comprising:
 an elongated sack-like cushion made of material having elastic properties;   a plurality of smooth edge rounded pellets contained within said cushion;   an outer covering of material covering said cushion and having a bottom surface; and   attachment means for removably attaching the cushion and the outer covering in place on the armrest with the bottom surface of the outer covering in juxtaposition with the upper surface of the armrest, wherein said sack-like cushion, including materials having elastic properties and together with said plurality of smooth edge rounded pellets contained therein, conforms to a shape of the seat armrest while providing arm support.   
     
     
         11 . The cushioned support attachment of  claim 10  wherein said attachment means comprises a plurality of spaced straps attached to said outer cover and adapted to be passed around said secondary surface and secured thereto. 
     
     
         12 . The cushioned support attachment of  claim 10  wherein said attachment means comprises:
 a hook and loop fastening system wherein one of the components of said hook and loop fastening system is mounted on said bottom surface of said outer cover; and 
 a plurality of straps adapted to be passed around said secondary surface and secured thereto, said straps having the other of the components of said hook and loop fastening system mounted thereon. 
 
     
     
         13 . The cushioned support attachment of  claim 10  wherein said attachment means comprises:
 a hook and loop fastening system wherein one of the components of said hook and loop fastening system is mounted on said bottom surface of said outer cover; and 
 a panel attachable to said secondary surface, said panel having the other of the components of said hook and loop fastening system mounted thereon. 
 
     
     
         14 . The cushioned support attachment of  claim 10  further comprising at least one wing attached to said cushion. 
     
     
         15 . The cushioned support attachment of  claim 10  wherein said attachment means comprises:
 a hard base panel attached to said bottom surface of said cushion; and 
 a pair of tension loaded arms attached to said hard base panel and extending from said hard base panel in U-shaped relationship to one another, said arms being attachable to said armrest. 
 
     
     
         16 . The cushioned elbow support attachment of  claim 10  wherein said smooth edge rounded pellets are oblong in shape and have a mid-point diameter in the range of one-sixteenth to three-sixteenths of an inch and a length in the range of one-eighth to three-sixteenths of an inch. 
     
     
         17 . The cushioned support attachment of  claim 10  wherein said attachment means comprises:
 a clip comprising first and second pairs of spring loaded arms extending in U-shaped relationship to one another, said first and second pairs of spring loaded arms being oriented in substantially opposite directions, said first set of spring loaded arms being attachable to said cushion and said second set of spring loaded arms being attachable to said secondary surface. 
 
     
     
         18 . A cushioned elbow support attachment for placement upon the upper surface of the armrest of a chair, comprising:
 an elongated sack-like cushion made of material having elastic properties;   a plurality of smooth edge rounded pellets contained within said cushion;   an outer cover of material covering said cushion, said outer cover comprising a top piece and a bottom piece attached together at a side edge seam extending around said cushion, wherein said sack-like cushion, including materials having elastic properties and together with said plurality of smooth edge rounded pellets contained therein, conforms to the shape of a seat armrest while providing arm support;   a hook and loop fastening system wherein one of the components of said hook and loop fastening system is mounted on said bottom surface of said elbow cushion support; and   a panel attachable to said armrest, said panel having the other of the components of said hook and loop fastening system mounted thereon.   
     
     
         19 . The cushioned elbow support attachment of  claim 10 , further comprising an adapter plate which may serve as an interface between the cushion and a tubular armrest of a chair, wherein the adapter plate comprises an upwardly facing surface which
 is considerably greater in width along its length than the armrest, which extends laterally along the cushion,   presents a generally flat, planar surface for receiving the forearm of the user when installed to the armrest,   bears an attachment element disposed to releasably engage the cushion, and comprises a fastener capable of securing the adapter plate to the armrest.   
     
     
         20 . The cushioned elbow support attachment of  claim 19 , wherein the cushion comprises an underside bearing hook and loop fastening material, and the adapter plate comprises an upwardly facing surface bearing complementing hook and loop fastening material.