Armrest System For Holding Monitors In An Operator Cab

• US 20180257521A1
• Filed: 03/13/2017
• Published: 09/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blue Leaf IP Incorporated (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: Bittner, Roy A., Winkel, Steven N.
• Granted Patent: US 10,434,914 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/64 Back-rests or cushions B60N2/2222 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/79 Adaptations for additional use of the arm-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/797 for use as electrical control means, e.g. switches
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0229 for displays, e.g. cathodic tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0264 for control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0014 Arm-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/008 Adjustable or movable supports

Abstract

The armrest of an operator'"'"'s chair in a cab of an agricultural machine is configured to include a support attachment for enabling multiple touchscreens to be supported by and oriented with the chair. The support attachment allows multiple arms supporting the touchscreens to be joined below the armrest. The multiple arms can advantageously rotate around an axis defined by the support attachment, and the touchscreens can advantageously move to face multiple directions and lock in a desired position. As a result, when an operator adjusts the seat in the cab for optimum driving conditions, the touchscreens can better adjust with the operator accordingly.

Claims

1. An armrest system for an agricultural machine comprising:

an armrest;

a support attachment connected to the armrest; and

an arm in communication with the support attachment, the arm having an upper end providing a support assembly for holding a monitor,

wherein the support assembly provides movement for allowing a monitor to face a plurality of directions, and

wherein the support assembly includes a support assembly lock for inhibiting the movement when the support assembly lock is engaged.

2. The armrest system of claim 1, wherein the arm includes a lower end joined to the support attachment, the lower end being configured to provide rotation around an axis defined by the support attachment.

3. The armrest system of claim 2, further comprising a fastener aligned with the axis, the fastener being configured to join the lower end to the support attachment.

4. The armrest system of claim 2, further comprising a rotation lock joined to the lower end, the rotation lock being configured to stop the rotation around the axis when the rotation lock is engaged.

5. The armrest system of claim 4, wherein the lower end comprises a collar and a lobe extending from the collar.

6. The armrest system of claim 5, wherein the lobe includes a plurality of apertures with the rotation lock connected to at least one of the plurality of apertures.

7. The armrest system of claim 4, wherein the rotation lock comprises a hydraulic cylinder, and wherein the support assembly comprises a ball and a socket.

8. The armrest system of claim 1, further comprising an instrument panel coupled to the armrest, wherein the instrument panel includes a plurality of controls.

9. The armrest system of claim 1, wherein the arm is a first arm, and further comprising a second arm in communication with the support attachment, the second arm having an upper end providing a support assembly for holding a monitor,

wherein the support assembly provides movement for allowing a monitor to face a plurality of directions, and

wherein the support assembly includes a support assembly lock for inhibiting the movement when the support assembly lock is engaged.

10. The armrest system of claim 9, wherein the first and second arms include lower ends joined to the support attachment, the lower ends being configured to independently provide rotation around an axis defined by the support attachment.

11. The armrest system of claim 10, further comprising a first polymeric washer disposed between the lower end of the first arm and the lower end of the second arm and a second polymeric washer disposed between the support attachment and the lower ends of the first and second arms.

12. An armchair for an agricultural machine comprising:

a seat;

a backrest connected to the seat; and

an armrest system connected to the seat, the armrest system including;

(a) an armrest;

(b) a support attachment connected to the armrest; and

(c) an arm in communication with the support attachment, the arm having an upper end providing a support assembly for holding a monitor,

wherein the support assembly provides movement for allowing a monitor to face a plurality of directions, and

wherein the support assembly includes a support assembly lock for inhibiting the movement when the support assembly lock is engaged.

13. The armchair of claim 12, wherein the arm includes a lower end joined to the support attachment, the lower end being configured to provide rotation around an axis defined by the support attachment.

14. The armchair of claim 13, further comprising a fastener aligned with the axis, the fastener being configured to join the lower end to the support attachment.

15. The armchair of claim 13, further comprising a rotation lock joined to the lower end, the rotation lock being configured to stop the rotation around the axis when the rotation lock is engaged.

16. The armrest system of claim 15, further comprising an instrument panel coupled to the armrest, wherein the instrument panel includes a plurality of controls.

17. An armchair for an agricultural machine comprising:

a seat;

a backrest connected to the seat; and

an armrest system connected to the seat, the armrest system including;

(a) an armrest;

(b) a support attachment connected to the armrest;

(c) a first arm in communication with the support attachment, the first arm having an upper end providing a support assembly holding a first monitor; and

(d) a second arm in communication with the support attachment, the second arm having an upper end proving a support assembly holding a second monitor,

wherein the support assemblies of the first and second arms each provide movement for allowing the first and second monitors, respectively, to face a plurality of directions, and

wherein the support assemblies of the first and second arms each include a support assembly lock for inhibiting the movement when the support assembly lock is engaged.

18. The armchair of claim 17, wherein the first and second arms include first and second lower ends, respectively, the first and second lower ends being joined to the support attachment and being configured to provide independent rotation around an axis defined by the support attachment.

19. The armchair of claim 18, further comprising a fastener aligned with the axis, the fastener being configured to join the first and second lower ends to the support attachment.

20. The armchair of claim 19, further comprising first and second rotation locks joined to the first and second lower ends, respectively, the first and second rotation locks being configured to stop the rotation of the first and second lower ends when the first and second rotation locks are engaged, respectively.