Apparatus and armrest for adjusting height of resting plate

Abstract

Various embodiments relate to an apparatus for adjusting a height of a resting plate comprising: a hydraulic means configured to support the resting plate, and configured to move along an axis to adjust the height of the resting plate; and an activator connected to the hydraulic means, and configured to activate and control the hydraulic means to move along the axis to adjust the height of the resting plate, or deactivate the hydraulic means to stop at the adjusted height, based on first external force on the activator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for adjusting a height of a resting plate comprising:
 a hydraulic means configured to support the resting plate, and configured to move along an axis to adjust the height of the resting plate; and   an activator connected to the hydraulic means, and configured to activate and control the hydraulic means to move along the axis to adjust the height of the resting plate, or deactivate the hydraulic means to stop at the adjusted height, based on first external force on the activator.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a height adjuster connected to the hydraulic means, and configured to displace the hydraulic means along the axis to adjust the height of the resting plate, based on second external force on the height adjuster. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising an indicator configured to indicate the adjusted height of the resting plate. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the hydraulic means comprises:
 a fluid cylinder filled with compressed fluid; and   a piston configured to move along the axis in the fluid cylinder, based on the control of the activator.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the height adjuster comprises a knob connected to the fluid cylinder through an interconnecting part, and configured to displace the hydraulic means along the axis to adjust the height of the resting plate based on the second external force on the knob. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein when the hydraulic means is activated by the activator, the activator is configured to control the gas piston to move to a first direction, or allow a load exerted on the resting plate to oppose the movement of gas piston in a second direction, the second direction opposite the first direction. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the hydraulic means further comprises a lock, and
 when the hydraulic means is deactivated by the activator, the lock is configured to fix the gas piston not to move.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 an inner tube disposed under the resting plate, and disposed adjacent to the hydraulic means; and   an outer tube surrounding at least a part of the hydraulic means and at least a part of the inner tube, configured to support the resting plate, and configured to move according to the movement of the hydraulic means.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the indicator is further configured to measure the adjusted height of the resting plate, to indicate the adjusted height of the resting plate. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the indicator comprises:
 a linear track connected to the inner tube;   a sensor connected to the outer tube; and   a display configured to display the adjusted height of the resting plate,   wherein the sensor is configured to detect a position of the linear track relative to the sensor, and measure the adjusted height of the resting plate based on the detection.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , further comprising a zero function button disposed on the outer tube, and configured to calibrate the resting plate to a reference point. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the indicator further comprises a main circuit board housing at least one of a battery, a light source, and the sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the light source is configured to emit light based on whether the display is on or off. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the indicator comprises:
 a linear potentiometer comprising:
 a track connected to the outer tube; and 
 a slider connected to the inner tube, and movably disposed on the track; and 
   a display configured to display the adjusted height of the resting plate,   wherein a position of the slider on the track is changed according to the movement of the outer tube, and   the linear potentiometer is configured to detect a resistance depending on the changed position of the slider on the track, and measure the adjusted height of the resting plate based on the detection.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the indicator comprises:
 a linear rack connected to the inner tube, and comprising a plurality of teeth; and   a pinion gear comprising a pinion gear body connected to the outer tube and an indicating element connected to the pinion gear body,   wherein the pinion gear body, along with the indicating element, is configured to move along the linear rack according to the movement of the outer tube and engage with one of the plurality of teeth, and   the indicating element is configured to show a relative position change between the indicating element and the plurality of teeth according to the movements of the outer tube and the pinion gear body, as the adjusted height of the resting plate.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the indicator comprises:
 an opening window on the outer tube;   a first gear and a second gear connected to the outer tube;   a belt connected to the inner tube, looped on the first gear and the second gear, and configured to move according to rotations of the first gear and the second gear by the movement of the outer tube; and   a measurement tape attached to the belt,   wherein a plurality of dimension indicators are indicated on the measurement tape, and   the opening window is configured to show at least one dimension indicator among the plurality of dimension indicators indicated on the measurement tape, as the adjusted height of the resting plate.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the indicator comprises:
 an opening window on the outer tube,   wherein a fixed indicator is indicated on the outer tube,   a plurality of dimension indicators are indicated on the inner tube and visible through the opening window, and   the opening window is configured to show a relative position change between the fixed indicator and the plurality of dimension indicators according to the movement of the outer tube, as the adjusted height of the resting plate.   
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for indicating a height of a resting plate supported by a first supporting means and a second supporting means comprising:
 a variable resistor comprising:
 a track connected to the first supporting means; and 
 a slider connected to the second supporting means, and movably disposed on the track; and 
   a display electrically connected to the variable resistor,   wherein a position of the slider on the track is changed according to a movement of the first supporting means,   the variable resistor is configured to detect a resistance depending on the changed position of the slider on the track, and measure the height of the resting plate based on the detection, and   the display is configured to display the measured height of the resting plate.   
     
     
         19 . An armrest comprising:
 a resting plate configured to rest an object thereon; and   an apparatus for adjusting a height of the resting plate comprising:
 a hydraulic means configured to support the resting plate, and configured to move along an axis to adjust the height of the resting plate; and 
   an activator connected to the hydraulic means, and configured to activate and control the hydraulic means to move along the axis to adjust the height of the resting plate, or deactivate the hydraulic means to stop at the adjusted height, based on first external force on the activator.   
     
     
         20 . The armrest according to  claim 19 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a height adjuster connected to the hydraulic means, and configured to displace the hydraulic means along the axis to adjust the height of the resting plate, based on second external force on the height adjuster.