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Breakaway arm for seat

  • US 4,270,798 A
  • Filed: 07/10/1979
  • Issued: 06/02/1981
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1979
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. In a seat having an occupant-supporting portion, a back and rigid frame, a breakaway armrest unit comprising:

  • a link member;

    means mounting said link member for pivotal movement relative to said rigid seat frame, through a vertical first plane, between horizontal and vertical dispositions of the link member;

    an armrest;

    means connecting said armrest to said link member for unitary movement of the armrest with the link member about the pivotal axis of the link member;

    said connecting means also comprising means mounting said armrest for arcuate movement through a second plane, transverse to said first plane, and about a pivotal axis transverse to the pivotal axis of said link member, between a first position, in which said armrest constitutes an extension of said link member, and a second position in which the armrest is folded back alongside said link member;

    said armrest comprising gravity means for urging said link member toward its horizontal disposition when the armrest is in its first position and for urging the link member toward its vertical disposition when the armrest is in its second position;

    a bearing element on said link member, adjacent said armrest;

    said bearing element having an arcuate bearing race corresponding to the arc of movement of said armrest as it pivots between its first and second positions, said arcuate bearing race having a pair of opposite ends;

    a bearing ball associated with said armrest;

    means on said armrest for urging said bearing ball against said arcuate bearing race;

    a first socket on said bearing element, at one end of said arcuate bearing race, for receiving said ball when the armrest is in its first position;

    a second socket on the bearing element, at the other end of the arcuate bearing race, for receiving said ball when the armrest is in its second position;

    and groove means on said bearing race, between said first and second sockets, for guiding said bearing ball between said sockets;

    said urging means comprising means normally holding said bearing ball in a socket and for permitting said bearing ball to be displaced from said socket in response to a predetermined unlocking force in the direction of said arcuate movement.

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