Seating unit with accessories

• US 7,530,632 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2005
• Issued: 05/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
• Original Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cornell, Paul Thomas, Plant, Russell, Kaloustian, John M., Stewart, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barfield; Anthony D
• Application Number:
  US11/142,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20060273634A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,441 Days
• Field of Search: 297/188.14, 297/188.15, 297/188.2, 297/170, 297/161, 297/162, 297/173
• US Class Current: 297/188.14
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/624 located on side of seat, e.g. on armrest
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/68 Arm-rest tables ; or back-rest tables

Abstract

A seating unit includes a tubular support extending upwardly from a chair frame, a retainer telescopingly engaging an upright open end of the support, and an armrest mounted on the retainer. The retainer is keyed at both ends to prevent undesired rotation of the armrest. Accessories are mounted to the retainer, and are positionable at use and non-use positions relative to a seated user. The accessories include a cup holder, a container, a hook for hanging items under the cup holder or container, and different tablets. One tablet includes a wheeled leg that extends downwardly from a center of gravity of the tablet, the leg supporting the tablet and reducing cantilever forces on the retainer. The back and seat comprise a flexible member co-molded onto a supportive partial-perimeter frame member and includes back and seat sections that matably engage corresponding surfaces of the frame member.

Claims

1. An armrest apparatus comprising:

an upright support;

an armrest supported atop the upright support; and

an accessory rotatably attached to the upright support for adjustment between different positions relative to the armrest, wherein the upright support includes a retainer that extends upwardly and that includes a first mounting structure for supporting the armrest and a second mounting structure for supporting the accessory, and wherein the second mounting structure includes a circumferentially-extending structure for rotatably supporting the accessory.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the upright support provides cantilevered support to the armrest at a location generally at a front of the armrest.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 2, wherein the upright support is a sole support for the armrest.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the first mounting structure is located at a top of the retainer and includes a keyed connection to prevent rotation of the armrest.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the support includes a tubular section with an open end, and wherein the retainer includes a bottom that is configured to non-rotatably engage the open end.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the support includes a tubular section, and wherein the retainer removably engages the tubular section.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the support includes a tubular section, and wherein the retainer telescopingly engages the tubular section at a lower end and also telescopingly engages the armrest at an upper end.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the accessory is selected from a group consisting of one of a tablet, a container, and a cup holder.

9. The apparatus defined in claim 8, wherein the accessory includes at least the cup holder.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the accessory includes a tablet and an accessory-supporting leg extending downward from the tablet for engaging a floor surface.

11. The apparatus defined in claim 10, wherein the accessory leg includes a floor-engaging bottom part located generally below a center of gravity of the tablet.

12. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the support includes a lower end configured and adapted to be removably attached to a chair frame.

13. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the armrest is removably attached to the support.