Armrest device

Abstract

An armrest device includes an armrest mount, an armrest member coupled to and rotatable relative to the armrest mount about a pivot axis, a latch member that extends through the armrest member and into the armrest mount and that is movable in a direction parallel to the pivot axis between locking and unlocking positions, and an armrest button mounted movably on the armrest member and operable to move along a button axis transverse to the pivot axis for driving movement of the latch member from the locking position to the unlocking position. The latch member engages the armrest mount to arrest rotation of the armrest member relative to the armrest mount when in the locking position, and is disengaged from the armrest mount to permit rotation of the armrest member relative to the armrest mount when in the unlocking position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary schematic side view of the preferred embodiment of an armrest device according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary schematic side view to illustrate a pair of latch members, an urging unit and an armrest button of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating a locking position of the latch members;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary schematic side view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating one of the latch members at the locking position;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but illustrating an unlocking position of the latch members; and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but illustrating an armrest member pivoted to a raised position.

Claims

1. An armrest device comprising: an armrest mount including a parallel pair of first limiting plates, and an aligned pair of non-circular first latch holes formed through said first limiting plates, respectively;an armrest member extending between said first limiting plates;a pair of latch members, each of which extends through said armrest member and into a respective one of said first latch holes, said latch members being movable toward each other from a locking position, where each of said latch members engages a hole periphery of the respective one of said first latch holes to arrest movement of said armrest member relative to said armrest mount, to an unlocking position, where each of said latch members is disengaged from said hole periphery of the respective one of said first latch holes to permit movement of said armrest member relative to said armrest mount; andan urging unit disposed between said latch members for biasing said latch members away from each other to the locking position.

2. The armrest device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said armrest member includes an armrest body having one end formed with a parallel pair of second limiting plates, said second limiting plates being disposed between said first limiting plates, said armrest body further including an aligned pair of non-circular second latch holes formed through said second limiting plates, respectively, said second latch holes having hole peripheries that correspond in shape to said hole peripheries of said first latch holes, each of said latch members extending through a respective one of said second latch holes and into the respective one of said first latch holes.

3. The armrest device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an armrest button mounted movably on said armrest member and operable to move along a button axis for driving movement of said latch members from the locking position to the unlocking position against urging action of said urging unit.

4. The armrest device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said armrest button includes a press portion that projects outwardly of said armrest member, and a latch driving portion that is connected to said press portion and that engages said latch members such that said latch members are driven to move to the unlocking position when a pressing force is applied on said press portion.

5. The armrest device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said latch driving portion of said armrest button includes a parallel pair of guide walls that define a passage for said latch members therebetween, each of said guide walls having a generally inverted V-shaped notch with a notch-defining periphery, said latch members being in contact with said guide walls at said notch-defining peripheries.

6. The armrest device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said notch-defining periphery includes a first peripheral part and a second peripheral part, said first peripheral part including a lower straight segment and an upper inclined segment that extends from said lower straight segment and that is inclined relative to said lower straight segment, said second peripheral part including an upper straight segment that extends from said upper inclined segment, and a lower inclined segment that extends from said upper straight segment and that is inclined relative to said upper straight segment, each of said lower and upper straight segments extending parallel to the button axis.

7. The armrest device as claimed in claim 6, wherein: one of said latch members is formed with a pair of first guide blocks that abut against said first peripheral parts of said notch-defining peripheries of said guide walls, respectively; andthe other of said latch members is formed with a pair of second guide blocks that abut against said second peripheral parts of said notch-defining peripheries of said guide walls, respectively.

8. The armrest device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hole periphery of each of said first latch holes has a latching notch indented therefrom, each of said latch members having a latch part to engage said latching notch in the respective one of said first limiting plates when said latch members are at the locking position.

9. The armrest device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a pair of side covers to cover outer sides of said first limiting plates, respectively.

10. The armrest device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising an armrest button mounted movably on said armrest body and operable to move along a button axis for driving movement of said latch members from the locking position to the unlocking position against urging action of said urging unit; said armrest body including a lower body part and an upper body part coupled to said lower body part, said lower body part having one end formed with said second limiting plates, said upper body part being formed with a button hole to enable said armrest button to project outwardly of said armrest body.

11. An armrest device comprising: an armrest mount;an armrest member coupled to and rotatable relative to said armrest mount about a pivot axis;at least one latch member that extends through said armrest member and into said armrest mount and that is movable in a direction parallel to the pivot axis from a locking position, where said latch member engages said armrest mount to arrest rotation of said armrest member relative to said armrest mount, to an unlocking position, where said latch member is disengaged from said armrest mount to permit rotation of said armrest member relative to said armrest mount; andan armrest button mounted movably on said armrest member, and operable to move along a button axis transverse to the pivot axis for driving movement of said latch member from the locking position to the unlocking position.

12. The armrest device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said armrest mount includes a parallel pair of first limiting plates.

13. The armrest device as claimed in claim 11, comprising a pair of said latch members that extend through said armrest member and into said armrest mount, and that are driven by said armrest button to move toward each other from the locking position to the unlocking position, said armrest device further comprising an urging unit disposed between said latch members for biasing said latch members away from each other to the locking position.

14. The armrest device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said armrest button includes a press portion that projects outwardly of said armrest member, and a latch driving portion that is connected to said press portion and that engages said latch members such that said latch members are driven to move to the unlocking position when a pressing force is applied on said press portion.

15. The armrest device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said latch driving portion of said armrest button includes a parallel pair of guide walls that define a passage for said latch members therebetween, each of said guide walls having a generally inverted V-shaped notch with a notch-defining periphery, each of said latch members being formed with a pair of guide blocks that abut against said notch-defining peripheries of said guide walls, respectively.

16. An armrest member adapted for mounting on an armrest mount, the armrest mount including a parallel pair of first limiting plates, and an aligned pair of non-circular first latch holes formed through the first limiting plates, respectively, said armrest member comprising:an armrest body having one end adapted to be disposed between the first limiting plates; anda pair of latch members, each of which extends through said armrest body and is adapted to be inserted into a respective one of the first latch holes, said latch members being movable toward each other from a locking position, where each of said latch members is adapted to engage a hole periphery of the respective one of the first latch holes to arrest movement of said armrest member relative to the armrest mount, to an unlocking position, where each of said latch members is disengaged from the hole periphery of the respective one of the first latch holes to permit rotation of said armrest member relative to the armrest mount about a pivot axis defined by said latch members.

17. The armrest member as claimed in claim 16, further comprising an urging unit disposed between said latch members for biasing said latch members away from each other to the locking position.

18. The armrest member as claimed in claim 16, wherein each of said latch members includes a central axle part that is adapted to be inserted into the respective one of the first latch holes, and a latch part that is adapted to engage the hole periphery of the respective one of the first latch holes when said latch members are at the locking position, said latch members being movable from said locking position to said unlocking position where each of said latch parts is disengaged from the hole periphery of the respective one of the first latch holes to permit rotation of said armrest member relative to the armrest mount about said central axle parts of said latch members.

19. The armrest member as claimed in claim 17, further comprising an armrest button mounted movably on said armrest body, disposed between said second limiting plates, and operable to move along a button axis for driving movement of said latch members from the locking position to the unlocking position against urging action of said urging unit.