ARTICULATED CHAIR HAVING UNIVERSAL RECLINING ARMREST SYSTEM

• US 20110095587A1
• Filed: 12/30/2010
• Published: 04/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medical Technology Industries Incorporated (Medical Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Medical Technology Industries Incorporated (Medical Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Baker, Jeff, Bradfield, Mike, Baker, Brad
• Granted Patent: US 8,480,172 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/354.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/02 Reclining or easy chairs supports for parts of body A47C7/36, A47C7/50, A47C7/54
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/03 the parts being arm-rests conversion into a bed A47C17/12
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/54 Supports for the arms
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/543 movable to inoperative position
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 15/02 Chairs with means to adjust position of patient; Controls therefor

Abstract

A universal reclining armrest system for use with an articulated examination chair. The system includes an armrest adapter having a universal aperture for receiving a post portion of an armrest assembly. The armrest adapter further includes a splined peg for coupling to a pivoting mechanism of an articulated chair. The pivoting mechanism enables the chair to move throughout an operable range of motion while maintaining a fixed rotational position of an attached armrest adapter. The armrest assembly further includes an adjustable joint to provide 360° of rotational adjustment to the armrest relative to the fixed position of the armrest adapter.

Claims

1. An interchangeable armrest system comprising:

an articulated chair having a backrest hingedly coupled to a seat, wherein the backrest and the seat are adjustable over an operable range of motion; and

a first armrest interchangeably coupled to a first portion of the backrest at a first desired orientation relative to a horizontal plane, the first desired orientation of the first armrest being maintained throughout the operable range of motion of the articulated chair, the first armrest being selectively removable from the first portion of the backrest thereby enabling a second armrest to be interchangeably coupled to the first portion of the backrest at a second desired orientation relative to the horizontal plane, the second desired orientation of the second armrest being maintained throughout the operable range of motion of the articulated chair.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein a function of the first armrest is different than the function of the second armrest.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second armrests is an intravenous armrest having a planar surface for supporting an arm of a patient in an extended position.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a third armrest interchangeably coupled to a second portion of the chair at a desired orientation relative to the horizontal plane, the second portion being positioned opposite the first portion of the chair, wherein the desired orientation of the third armrest is maintained throughout the operable range of motion of the articulated chair, the third armrest being selectively removable from the second portion of the backrest thereby enabling an additional armrest to be interchangeably coupled to the second portion of the backrest.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the articulated chair is an examination chair.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the first, second, third and additional armrests comprise at least one function for assisting in the treatment of at least one of the following:

i) an intravenous infusion;

ii) an administration of an anesthesia;

iii) dialysis;

iv) chemotherapy;

v) phlebotomy;

vi) platelet or plasma apheresis;

vii) a surgical procedure;

viii) a cosmetic procedure; and

ix) an elective procedure.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first desired orientation is equal to the second desired orientation.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the backrest comprises a first side of the backrest, and the second portion of the backrest comprises a side of the backrest that is opposite the first side of the backrest.

9. A universal armrest system comprising:

an armrest adapter having a peg portion coupled to a clamp portion, the peg portion having a coupling end for interchangeable attachment to a first side and a second side of a chair, the clamp portion having an aperture;

an armrest assembly having an armrest and a post, wherein the armrest is coupled to the post, and the post is adjustably coupled to the aperture of the armrest adapter; and

a joint interposedly coupled between the armrest and the post of the armrest assembly.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the armrest is an intravenous armrest having a planar surface for supporting an arm of a patient in an extended position.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the coupling end further comprises a plurality of splines for interchangeably forming a splined connection with the first side and the second side of the chair.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the armrest adapter further comprises a retaining clip for interchangeably securing the armrest adapter to the first side and the second side of the chair.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the aperture further comprises an open end that is intersected by a clamp screw, the clamp screw being tightened or loosened to adjust a diameter of the aperture.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the joint is at least one of a weld, a ball joint, a ratchet, a screw, a swivel, a pivot, a hinge, a gimbal, a socket, a bearing, a roller, a set of gears, a clamp, a vise, a shock absorber, a piston, and a spring.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the joint comprises a base portion that is fixedly coupled to the post at a fixed position, and a top portion that is adjustably coupled to the base portion to provide 360°

of rotational adjustment to the armrest relative to the fixed position of the post and armrest adapter.

16. An armrest adapter comprising:

a peg portion having a first end and a second end, the first end including a plurality of splines to accommodate interchangeably attachment of the armrest adapter to a first side and a second side of a chair, the first side of the chair having a first receiver, and the second side of the chair having a second receiver, the first and second receivers each having a surface to compatibly receive the plurality of splines in any of a variety of orientations, thereby securing the armrest adapter to the chair; and

a clamp portion having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being coupled to the second end of the peg portion at a fixed position, and the distal end having an aperture, wherein the aperture includes an open end that is intersected by a clamp screw, the clamp screw being tightened or loosened to adjust a diameter of the aperture, the diameter of the aperture being selected to receive an armrest assembly.

17. The assembly of claim 16, further comprising a handle coupled to an end portion of the clamp screw, wherein the handle permits rotation of the clamp screw relative to the fixed position of the clamp portion.

18. The assembly of claim 16, further comprising a retaining clip pivotally coupled to the peg portion of the armrest adapter, wherein the retaining clip interlocks with the chair to secure the armrest adapter to the chair.

19. The assembly of claim 18, further comprising a compression spring interposed between the retaining clip and the peg portion, wherein the compression spring biases a lip portion of the retaining clip inwardly towards the feature of the peg portion.

20. The assembly of claim 16, wherein a selected orientation of the plurality of splines positions the armrest assembly at a desired angle that is maintained throughout an articulation of the chair.