Chair tablet arm apparatus

• US 6,375,257 B1
• Filed: 06/12/2000
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jofco, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jofco, Inc.
• Inventors: Blackgrave, Mark, Wooding, Peter, Burgasser, Joan, Saul, Gregory, Stutsman, John
• Primary Examiner(s): BARFIELD, ANTHONY DERRELL
• Application Number:
  US09/592,136
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 297/160, 297/161, 297/162, 297/170, 297/171, 297/172, 297/173, 248/218.4, 248/227.3, 248/278.1, 248/284.1, 248/183.2
• US Class Current: 297/162
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/70 of foldable type

Abstract

A tablet arm apparatus providing a re-positionable and stowable tablet work surface which is easily mounted on a chair or integrated into a chair design is described in which movement in each axis is independent and is accomplished by an articulating arm assembly or a single inexpensive two-axis hub.

Claims

1. A tablet arm apparatus for supporting a work surface on an article of furniture, the apparatus comprising:

a mounting bar having a first arm and a substantially perpendicularly disposed second arm;

a clamp having a portion attached to said second arm and configured to engage a member of the article of furniture to support said tablet arm apparatus thereon;

a pivot hub rotatably mounted on said first arm of said mounting bar;

a tablet plate configured for supporting the work surface and including at least one mounting ear; and

means for pivotably attaching said at least one mounting ear to said pivot hub to permit pivoting of said tablet plate relative to said pivot hub, whereby said tablet plate is also rotatable with said pivot hub relative to said mounting bar.

2. The tablet arm apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said tablet plate includes two mounting ears defining a U-shape opening to receive said pivot hub therebetween; and

said means for pivotably attaching includes;

a pair of pin bores defined in said pivot hub at opposite sides thereof; and

a pair of pins, one each projecting from a corresponding one of said two mounting ears and pivotably disposed within a corresponding one of said pair of pin bores.

3. The tablet arm apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

said pivot hub defines a central opening therethrough for rotatably mounting said pivot hub on said first arm;

said pin bores intersect said central opening;

said first arm of said mounting bar defines at least a pair of oppositely disposed detents; and

said pins are spring pins configured for spring biased engagement within a corresponding one of said detents when said tablet plate and pivot hub are rotated to a position in which said pins are aligned with said detents.

4. The tablet arm apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said clamp includes:

a first C-clamp portion attached to said second arm and defining a first cylinder portion;

a second C-clamp portion defining a second cylinder portion, whereby said first and second cylinder portions can be juxtaposed about the member of the article of furniture; and

a number of fasteners for clamping said first and second C-clamp portions together with said first and second cylinder portions engaged about the member of the article of furniture.

5. The tablet arm apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a rest bracket mounted on said first arm adjacent said pivot hub, said rest bracket defining a surface for supporting said tablet plate when said plate is in a deployed position.

6. The tablet arm apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pivot hub is composed of a low-friction material.

7. A tablet arm apparatus for supporting a work surface on an article of furniture, the apparatus comprising:

a first arm having a first end and an opposite second end, said second end defining means for pivotably mounting said first arm to the article of furniture;

a second arm having a first end and an opposite second end;

a tablet plate mounted to said second end of said second arm;

a pivot rod assembly including a pivot sleeve and a pivot rod rotatably disposed within said pivot sleeve,

wherein the first end of one of said first arm and said second arm is connected to said pivot sleeve, and the first end of the other of said first arm and said second arm is connected to said pivot rod;

wherein at least one notch is defined at one end of said pivot sleeve; and

wherein a locking pin is mounted on said pivot rod and is configured to be received within said at least one notch to prevent relative rotation between said pivot rod and said pivot sleeve.

8. The tablet arm apparatus according to claim 7, wherein:

said pivot rod has a first and an opposite second end, with said locking pin disposed adjacent to said first end of said pivot rod and said one end of said pivot sleeve;

said pivot rod being rotatably and slidably disposed within said pivot sleeve; and

said pivot rod assembly further includes a biasing spring acting between said second end of said pivot rod and an end of said pivot sleeve opposite said one end and operable to bias said locking pin into said at least one notch when said pivot rod is rotated relative to said pivot sleeve to a position in which said locking pin is aligned with said at least one notch.

9. A tablet arm apparatus for supporting a work surface on an article of furniture, the apparatus comprising:

a first arm having a first end and an opposite second end, said second end defining means for pivotably mounting said first arm to the article of furniture;

a second arm having a first end and an opposite second end;

a tablet plate mounted to said second end of said second arm;

a pivot rod assembly including a pivot sleeve and a pivot rod rotatably disposed within said pivot sleeve,

wherein the first end of one of said first arm and said second arm is connected to said pivot sleeve, and the first end of the other of said first arm and said second arm is connected to said pivot rod;

a washer affixed to said second end of said second arm, said washer defining an arcuate slot therein;

means for rotatably fastening said tablet plate to said second end of said second arm; and

a stop pin projecting from said tablet plate and into said arcuate slot, whereby said arcuate slot limits the range of rotation of said tablet plate relative to said second arm.