CHAIR WITH PIVOTABLE TABLET HAVING SELECTIVELY EXPANDABLE PIVOT RANGE

Abstract

A tablet assembly for a chair includes a mounting portion configured to mount at an arm rest of the chair, a tablet pivotally mounted at the mounting portion about a pivot axis, and a pivot limiting mechanism that selectively limits pivotal movement of the tablet about the pivot axis. The pivot limiting mechanism, when in a first state, limits pivotal movement of the tablet between a use position and a non-use position. Pivotal movement of the tablet is stopped at the non-use position by the pivot limiting mechanism when the pivot limiting mechanism is in the first state. The pivot limiting mechanism, when in a second state, allows for pivotal movement of the tablet further from the use position and beyond the non-use position to move the tablet further toward a side of the chair. The pivot limiting mechanism is selectively adjusted from the first state to the second state.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a chair or seat for stadium or theater or auditorium seating and, more particularly, to a chair having a pivotable tablet at an arm of the chair.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to provide a pivotable tablet at an arm of a chair to provide a working surface or the like to a person seated in the chair. The tablet is pivotable from a non-use position, where the tablet is pivoted away from the seat to allow a person to sit down at the seat, to a use position, where the tablet is pivoted so as to be positioned in front of the person sitting in the chair. The pivotal range of the tablet is limited to be about 90 degrees so that the tablet cannot be pivoted 180 degrees whereby the tablet may be positioned at or in front of an adjacent chair and would then be in the way of a person sitting in the adjacent chair.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a pivotable tablet assembly that mounts at a chair, such as at a chair of a row of chairs arranged at an auditorium or theater or stadium. The tablet assembly comprises a mounting base that mounts at the chair (such as at an arm of the chair) and a tablet that is pivotally mounted at the base and is pivotable between a non-use position, where the tablet is pivoted away from the seat of the chair to allow a person to sit down at the seat, and a use position, where the tablet is pivoted so as to be positioned in front of the person sitting in the chair. The pivotal movement of the tablet relative to the base is controlled or selectively limited by a pivot mechanism having a pivot limiting element (such as a pin adjustably positioned in an arcuate slot having different width portions) that, when in a pivot limiting position or orientation, limits pivotal movement of the tablet to about 90 degrees (such that the tablet, when in the non-use position, is pivoted about 90 degrees from the use position). When the pivot limiting element is positioned or oriented to a non-limiting position or orientation, the tablet may pivot beyond the 90 degree limit to about 180 degrees (or other suitable range) from the use position. Thus, the tablet assembly allows for limited pivotal movement of the tablet (such as over a range of about 90 degrees) during normal use, in order to keep the tablet from interfering with the adjacent chair, and allows for selective increase of the pivot range of the tablet, such as to allow for pivoting the tablet more than 90 degrees (such as up to about 180 degrees) away from the seat to allow for fully raising the seat for cleaning and/or to allow for maintenance of the chair or the like.

These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-C are views of a chair with a tablet assembly mounted at an arm of the chair, shown with the tablet pivoted to its non-use position, which is about 90 degrees from a use position;

FIGS. 2A-C are views of the chair and tablet assembly, with the tablet pivoted to its use position achieved by pivoting the tablet about 90 degrees from its non-use position;

FIGS. 3A-C are views of the chair and tablet assembly, with the tablet pivoted to another use position achieved by pivoting the base portion of the tablet assembly relative to the chair;

FIGS. 4A-C are views of the chair and tablet assembly, with the tablet pivoted to another use position achieved by further pivoting the base portion of the tablet assembly relative to the chair;

FIGS. 5A-C are views of the chair and tablet assembly, with the tablet pivoted beyond the pivot stop at the non-use position to a maintenance position where the tablet is pivoted about 180 degrees from the use position;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are views of the tablet assembly, with the tablet pivoted to the non-use position of FIGS. 1A-C;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are underside views of the tablet assembly of FIGS. 6A and 6B, showing the pivot limiting element in its stop position to limit the pivotal range of the tablet at about 90 degrees from the use position;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are underside views of the tablet assembly of FIGS. 6A and 6B, showing the pivot limiting element as it moves along the arcuate channel to allow for pivotal movement of the tablet between the use position and the non-use position;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are underside views of the tablet assembly of FIGS. 6A and 6B, showing the pivot limiting element in its non-limiting position to allow for pivotal movement of the tablet beyond the non-use position;

FIGS. 10A and 10B are underside views of the tablet assembly of FIGS. 6A and 6B, showing the pivot limiting element in its non-limiting position as it moves along the arcuate channel to allow for pivotal movement of the tablet beyond the non-use position toward its maintenance position shown in FIGS. 5A-C;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the tablet assembly showing the pivot limiting element in its limiting position where the element limits pivoting of the tablet between the use position and non-use position; and

FIG. 12 is another sectional view of the tablet assembly showing the pivot limiting element in its non-limiting position where the element allows for pivoting of the tablet beyond the non-use position to the maintenance position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depicted therein, a tablet assembly 10 is configured to mount at an individual seat or chair 12 (FIGS. 1A-5C). The chair may be part of a stadium or theater or auditorium seating configuration, which comprises a plurality of chairs arranged in rows (although only one chair is shown in FIGS. 1A-5C). The individual chairs of the seating configuration may be arranged one next to another, with an arm rest 14 at each side of the chair 12. The seating configuration may utilize aspects of the seating configurations described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,256,835 and/or 6,652,030, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. In the illustrated embodiment, the tablet assembly 10 is mounted to a reclinable chair that has an arm rest at each side, with the tablet assembly mounted at the right-side arm rest (although a “left-handed” tablet assembly could instead be mounted at the left-side arm rest). Optionally, each arm rest between adjacent chairs of the row of chairs may be shared by the adjacent chairs.

The tablet assembly 10 comprises a tablet 16 that is pivotally mounted at a base portion 18, which is configured to mount at the chair 12 (such as at the arm rest of the chair as shown). The base portion 18 comprises a mounting post or structure 20 (that attaches at the chair) and a bracket or arm 22 that extends radially outward from the mounting structure 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting structure 20 is pivotally mounted at the chair and is pivotable (within a range of about 90 degrees) about a generally vertical pivot axis to allow the tablet to have multiple use positions (see, for example, FIGS. 2C, 3C and 4C). Thus, the mounting structure 20 is pivotally mounted at the chair 12 and rotates about a vertical axis to position the bracket 22 at positions along a 90 degree rotational arc, such as a position where the bracket 22 is aligned with the arm 14 of the chair and the tablet pivots 90 degrees relative to the bracket when in the use position (FIG. 2C), a position where the bracket 22 is in front of the chair 12 and the tablet is in line with the bracket when in the use position (FIG. 4C), and intermediary positions with intermediate pivoting of the tablet 16 relative to the bracket (e.g., the bracket may be angled at 45 degrees relative to the arm of the chair and the tablet may be angled at 45 degrees relative to the bracket to position the tablet at 90 degrees relative to the arm of the chair) to position the tablet in the use position (FIG. 3C).

Optionally, the tablet assembly may be mounted at a fixed base portion that does not pivot relative to the chair. In embodiments where the base portion does not pivot relative to the chair, the non-use position and use position may be what is shown in FIGS. 1A-C and 2A-C, where pivotal movement of the tablet is only enabled by a pivotable relationship between the tablet and the base portion, not a pivotable relationship between the base portion and the chair.

The tablet 16 is pivotally mounted at the bracket 22 via a pivot pin 24 and is pivotable relative to the bracket about a generally vertical pivot axis of the pivot pin 24. The pivot pin 24 mounts the tablet at a plate portion 26 of the bracket 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the pivot pin 24 is attached at the underside of the tablet via an attaching element or plate 24a, and the pivot pin extends downward through a spacer or bushing 24b and through an aperture in the plate portion 26 and is retained at the underside of the plate portion 26 via a fastener 24c. The tablet pivots about the pivot pin 24 and the pivotal range of the tablet relative to the bracket is limited or controlled by a pivot limiting mechanism or element 28. The pivot limiting mechanism 28 comprises a pin 29 that extends from the underside of the tablet 16 and that is movably or slidably received in an arcuate slot 27 of the plate portion 26 to limit or control pivotal movement of the tablet relative to the bracket, as discussed below.

The tablet 16 pivots relative to the mounting structure about 90 degrees during typical pivoting of the tablet between its non-use position (FIGS. 1A-C) and its use position (FIGS. 2A-C) when the mounting structure 20 is not pivoted relative to the chair. In situations where the mounting structure 20 is pivoted relative to the chair, the tablet 16 can be pivoted from the non-use position (FIGS. 1A-C) to a use position without pivoting the tablet relative to the bracket 22 (FIGS. 4A-C) or with reduced pivoting of the tablet (FIGS. 3A-C) that is less than the 90 degree pivot range. This allows the tablet to be pivoted to different use positions that can be varied as to how close the tablet is to the person sitting in the chair.

The range of pivotal movement of the tablet 16 relative to the bracket 22 is limited by the pin 29 and the arcuate slot or channel 27 of the plate portion 26 of the bracket 22. The pin 29 is selectively positionable relative to the plate portion 26 in either a pivot limiting position or orientation, where the pin limits the pivotal range of the tablet to about 90 degrees relative to the bracket 22, or an expanded pivot position or orientation, where the pin allows for further pivoting of the tablet beyond the 90 degree range relative to the bracket.

In the illustrated embodiment, and as best shown in FIGS. 7B, 8B, 9B, 10B, 11 and 12, the pin 29 of the pivot limiting mechanism 28 comprises a spring-loaded or spring-biased pin (such as a metal pin or strong or engineering plastic pin or the like) that has a larger diameter portion 29a and a smaller diameter portion 29b. The pin 29 is biased toward a first state or an extended position relative to the underside of the tablet 16 via a coil spring 30 or the like. The arcuate slot 27 of the plate portion 26 (which may comprise a metal plate or engineering plastic plate or the like) comprises a slot that extends about 180 degrees around the pivot axis of the pivot pin 24 and has a wider portion 27a and a narrower portion 27b. The pin 29 is received through the slot 27 and adjustably positioned relative to the slot to set or adjust the pivot range of the tablet. The narrower portion 27b of the slot is too narrow to accept the larger diameter portion 29a of the pin, so that when the pin is in the wider portion 27a of the slot and biased so that larger diameter portion 29a of the pin is in the slot, the pin is precluded from entering the narrower portion 27b of the slot. In other words, a cross dimension of the narrower portion 27b of the slot is less than a corresponding cross dimension or diameter of the larger diameter portion of the pin.

For example, and such as can be seen with reference to FIGS. 7A-8B and 11, during normal pivoting of the tablet between the use and non-use positions, the pin is extended such that its larger diameter portion 29a is received in the wider portion 27a of the slot and thus the tablet can pivot between the end of the wider portion of the slot and the junction of the wider portion of the slot and the narrower portion of the slot (see FIG. 7B). If an attempt is made to pivot the tablet beyond the point where the pin is at the junction of the wider portion of the slot and the narrower portion of the slot with the pin biased so that the larger diameter portion of the pin is in the slot, the pin will be precluded from entering the narrower portion of the slot and the tablet will be precluded from pivoting beyond that position. Thus, the tablet is limited to the approximately 90 degree pivot range relative to the bracket so as to pivot between the use position and the non-use position.

When it is desired to pivot the tablet beyond the non-use position so as to pivot the tablet away from in front of the chair, such as to allow for raising the seat of the chair for cleaning or for maintenance of the chair, the pin 29 is pushed upward against the spring 30 to a second state so that the smaller diameter portion 29b of the pin is within the slot 27 of the plate portion 26 of the bracket 22, which allows the pin to move from the wider slot portion 27a into and along the narrower slot portion 27b (see FIGS. 9B, 10B and 12). This allows the tablet to pivot to the position shown in FIGS. 5A-C so that the tablet is moved away from in front of the chair beyond the non-use position, such as for cleaning and/or maintenance of the chair. Thus, with the pin in the second state, with the smaller diameter portion of the pin within the slot, the tablet is allowed to pivot relative to the bracket an additional approximately 90 degrees beyond the non-use position, since the smaller diameter portion of the pin fits within and moves along the narrower portion of the slot when the tablet is pivoted further away from the use position and beyond the non-use position. If the tablet is pivoted from a position beyond the non-use position (with the smaller diameter portion of the pin disposed in the narrower portion of the slot) back toward the use position and at least to the non-use position, the spring 30 will bias the pin back to an extended position as it enters the wider portion 27a of the slot so that the larger diameter portion 29a is disposed within the wider portion 27a of the slot and the tablet is again precluded from pivoting back beyond the non-use position.

As shown in FIGS. 7B, 8B, 9B, 10B, 11 and 12, the lower end 29c of the pin 29 may have a larger diameter and/or may be rounded (and optionally may have a rubber or soft material end element) to provide a user friendly end of the pin for a person to push at to move the pin upward for pivoting the tablet beyond the non-use position. Additionally, and as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the spring 30 disposed at an end of the pin and biasing the pin towards the extended position may be received in a recess at the underside of the tablet such that when a user pushes the pin upward against the spring to the second state, the compressed spring and at least a portion of the larger diameter portion 29a of the pin are received into the recess so that the smaller diameter portion 29b of the pin may be received into the narrower portion 27b of the slot. As the smaller diameter portion of the pin travels along the narrower portion of the slot, the shoulder of the pin where the pin transitions between the smaller diameter portion and the larger diameter portion engages the plate 26 to limit extension of the pin until the pin is again located at the wider portion of the slot.

Although shown and described as having the arcuate slot at the mounting structure and the pin at the tablet, it is envisioned that the arcuate slot may be at the underside of the tablet and the pin may be adjustably positioned at the mounting structure, where vertical movement of the pin relative to the mounting structure adjusts the pin relative to the arcuate slot of the tablet in a similar manner as discussed above. Also, although shown and described as having a 90 degree pivot range during normal use and an additional 90 degree pivot range when the pin is moved along the narrower slot portion, it is envisioned that the arcuate slot may be formed with a different length narrower portion and/or a different length wider portion to provide various pivot ranges for the tablet relative to the mounting structure and the chair.

Thus, the pin is movable between a first state and a second state to adjust the pin relative to the arcuate slot. The mounting plate and the arcuate slot are formed to allow for movement of the pin along a first portion of the arcuate slot when the pin is in the first state and to allow for movement of the pin along a second portion of the arcuate slot when the pin is in the second state. The pin does not move along the second portion of the arcuate slot when the pin is in the first state, such that, in order to move the pin along the second portion of the slot, the pin is manually adjusted to the second state, whereby the further movement is allowed.

The pin may be spring-biased toward an extended state, whereby the user presses upward on the pin against the spring to move the pin to the retracted state. Optionally, the pin may be otherwise adjusted or vertically moved, such as via rotating the pin a quarter or half turn, with a threaded end of the pin engages a threaded portion of the tablet to move the pin upward or downward depending on the direction of rotation of the pin. In such an embodiment, the outer end of the pin may have a tab or lever whereby the user can readily grasp it to urge it in either direction to position the desired diameter portion of the pin at the arcuate slot. Although positioning the desired diameter portion of the pin in the arcuate slot has been shown and described with the pin having distinct smaller diameter and larger diameter portions (such as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12), it is conceived that the desired diameter portion of the pin may be positioned in the arcuate slot in other manners. For example, the pin may have an oval cross-sectional shape with a wider or elongated dimension and a narrower or shorter dimension, where turning the pin (such as via a threaded engagement with the tablet or via a rotatable engagement of the pin at the tablet) to align the narrower dimension of the pin with the narrower portion of the slot allows the pin to enter the narrower portion of the slot.

Although shown and described as having the pin comprise a spring-loaded pin that extends and retracts to position a different diameter portion of the pin within the slot (which has different width portions), other means for adjusting a pin or guide element of the pivot limiting mechanism relative to the arcuate slot or receiving portion of the pivot limiting mechanism may be implemented. For example, the arcuate slot may have a first arcuate portion (having a first radius of curvature relative to the pivot axis) and a second arcuate portion (having a second radius of curvature relative to the pivot axis) with a connecting or transition portion of the slot between the first and second portions, and the pin or guide element may be radially moved or shifted by a user to selectively position the pin at the appropriate location for traveling along the arcuate slot. For example, the pin may be shifted radially outward at the transition portion by the user when the pin is at the end of the first arcuate portion to position the pin at the second arcuate portion, whereby the tablet may be further pivoted for service/cleaning. The pin may be biased toward its first position or the slot may be formed (such as with a non-curved end of the first arcuate portion) to stop the travel of the pin when the tablet is pivoted from its use position to position the pin at the end of the first arcuate portion (the end that is at the transition portion before or at the start of the second arcuate portion), and the slot may be formed to guide the pin back toward its first position (such as via a radially outward curved wall of the transition portion of the slot transitioning from the second radius of curvature to the first radius of curvature) when the tablet is pivoted back toward the use position.

Thus, the pin, in its first state, may be movable along the first arcuate portion having a first radius of curvature circumscribing the pivot axis as the tablet pivots about the pivot axis between a use and a non-use position. When the tablet is pivoted from the use position to the non-use position, with the pin moving along the first arcuate portion, the pin may contact the end of the first arcuate portion (such as at a non-curved end forming the beginning of the transition portion between the first and second arcuate portions) and thus the tablet may be precluded from pivoting beyond the non-use position. A user may adjust the pin to its second state, such as by shifting the pin radially outward (or radially inward) along the transition portion to the beginning of the second arcuate portion of the slot, so that the tablet may be pivoted beyond the non-use position. When the pin is in the second state (located within the second portion of the arcuate slot having a second radius of curvature circumscribing the pivot axis), the tablet may be pivoted beyond the non-use position with the pin moving along the second arcuate portion. If the tablet is pivoted from a position beyond the non-use position toward the use position and at least to the non-use position (such as to the transition portion of the slot), the pin may be biased or guided toward the first state to preclude the tablet from pivoting back beyond the non-use position without user intervention.

In these embodiments, the pin may be located at the underside of the tablet and shiftable at the underside of the tablet (to adjust the pin from the first state to the second state) such as within a linear slot formed in the underside of the tablet. When the pin is located at a first end of the slot, the pin is located at a first length from the pivot axis equal to the radius of curvature of the first arcuate portion of the slot and when the pin is located at a second end of the slot, the pin is located at a second length from the pivot axis equal to the radius of curvature of the second arcuate portion of the slot. Thus, when the pin is in the first state (at the first end of the slot), the tablet is pivotable between the use and non-use position with the pin travelling along the first arcuate portion, and when the pin is in the second state (at the second end of the slot), the tablet is pivotable beyond the non-use position with the pin travelling along the second arcuate portion.

Therefore, the tablet assembly of the present invention provides for controlled or limited pivoting of the tablet relative to the chair during normal use (such as use by a person that approaches and sits in the chair and pivots the tablet to be in front of them for a work surface), while allowing for selected expanded pivot range for cleaning or maintenance of the chair and/or its surroundings. Thus, during normal use (with the pin extended), pivotal movement of the tablet is limited or stopped at the extended or non-use position, where the tablet allows a user to sit in the chair, but does not allow the tablet to be pivoted beyond that position where the tablet would interfere with an adjacent chair at the side of the chair at which the tablet assembly is mounted. When cleaning or maintenance is needed at the chair, an operator can readily press the pin upward (or shift the pin radially inward or outward) to allow for increased pivot range to allow the tablet to be pivoted further away at the side of the chair. When the cleaning or maintenance is completed, the tablet can be pivoted back toward the use position and the pin will automatically extend to the extended position (via the spring) once the pin is again positioned in and moved along the wider channel portion of the arcuate slot or channel (or can be guided to the different radius of curvature portion of the arcuate slot).

Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments can be carried out without departing from the principles of the invention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims, as interpreted according to the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents.

Claims

1. A tablet assembly for a chair, the tablet assembly comprising: a mounting portion configured to mount at an arm rest of the chair;a tablet pivotally mounted at the mounting portion about a pivot axis;a pivot limiting mechanism that selectively limits pivotal movement of the tablet about the pivot axis;wherein the pivot limiting mechanism, when in a first state, limits pivotal movement of the tablet between a use position, where the tablet is disposed in front of the chair for use by a person sitting in the chair, and a non-use position, where the tablet is pivoted away from in front of the chair;wherein pivotal movement of the tablet is stopped at the non-use position by the pivot limiting mechanism when the pivot limiting mechanism is in the first state;wherein the pivot limiting mechanism, when in a second state, allows for pivotal movement of the tablet further from the use position and beyond the non-use position to move the tablet further away toward a side of the chair; andwherein the pivot limiting mechanism is selectively adjusted from the first state to the second state.

2. The tablet assembly of claim 1, wherein the pivot limiting mechanism comprises a pin and an arcuate slot, and wherein the pin moves along the arcuate slot as the tablet is pivoted relative to the mounting portion, and wherein the pin has a larger diameter portion and a smaller diameter portion, and wherein the arcuate slot has a wider portion and a narrower portion, and wherein pivotal movement of the tablet is limited between the use and non-use positions when the larger diameter portion of the pin is disposed in the arcuate slot.

3. The tablet assembly of claim 2, wherein the pivot limiting mechanism is in the first state when the larger diameter portion of the pin is disposed in the arcuate slot and is movable along only the wider portion of the arcuate slot.

4. The tablet assembly of claim 3, wherein the pivot limiting mechanism is in the second state when the smaller diameter portion of the pin is disposed in the arcuate slot and moves along the narrower portion of the arcuate slot.

5. The tablet assembly of claim 4, wherein the pin is biased toward the position where the larger diameter portion of the pin is disposed in the arcuate slot.

6. The tablet assembly of claim 5, wherein, when the tablet is moved from a position beyond the non-use position toward the use position and at least to the non-use position, the pin is moved to position the larger diameter portion of the pin in the arcuate slot.

7. The tablet assembly of claim 4, wherein the pin is adjustably disposed at an underside of the tablet and the mounting portion comprises a plate having the arcuate slot disposed thereat.

8. The tablet assembly of claim 7, wherein the arcuate slot partially circumscribes the pivot axis.

9. The tablet assembly of claim 4, wherein the pin is movably disposed at an underside of the tablet and is biased toward an extended position that disposes the larger diameter portion of the pin in the arcuate slot, and wherein the pin is upwardly movable by a user to dispose the smaller diameter portion of the pin in the arcuate slot.

10. The tablet assembly of claim 4, wherein the wider portion of the arcuate slot provides for 90 degrees of pivotal movement of the tablet between the use position and the non-use position when the larger diameter portion of the pin is disposed in the arcuate slot.

11. The tablet assembly of claim 10, wherein the narrower portion of the arcuate slot provides for 90 degrees of pivotal movement of the tablet beyond the non-use position when the smaller diameter portion of the pin is disposed in the arcuate slot.

12. The tablet assembly of claim 1, wherein the mounting portion is configured to pivotally mount at the arm rest of the chair.

13. The tablet assembly of claim 12, wherein the mounting portion comprises a pivotal mounting portion that pivotally mounts at the arm rest of the chair and a mounting plate that extends radially from the pivotal mounting portion, and wherein the tablet is pivotally mounted at the mounting plate.

14. The tablet assembly of claim 13, wherein a portion of the pivot limiting mechanism is disposed at the mounting plate and another portion of the pivot limiting mechanism is disposed at an underside of the tablet.

15. The tablet assembly of claim 14, wherein the portion of the pivot limiting mechanism that is disposed at the mounting plate comprises an arcuate slot that partially circumscribes the pivot axis, and wherein the other portion of the pivot limiting mechanism that is disposed at the underside of the tablet comprises a pin that is movably disposed in the arcuate slot and that moves along the arcuate slot as the tablet pivots about the pivot axis.

16. The tablet assembly of claim 1, wherein the mounting portion is configured to fixedly mount at the arm rest of the chair.

17. A tablet assembly for a chair, the tablet assembly comprising: a mounting portion comprising a mounting plate and configured to mount at an arm rest of the chair;a tablet pivotally mounted at the mounting plate of the mounting portion about a pivot axis;a pivot limiting mechanism comprising a pin adjustably disposed at an underside of the tablet and an arcuate slot formed at least partially through the mounting plate, the arcuate slot at least partially circumscribing the pivot axis;wherein the pin is movably disposed in the arcuate slot and moves along the arcuate slot as the tablet is pivoted relative to the mounting plate;wherein the pivot limiting mechanism, when the pin is in a first state, limits pivotal movement of the tablet between a use position, where the tablet is disposed in front of the chair for use by a person sitting in the chair, and a non-use position, where the tablet is pivoted away from in front of the chair;wherein pivotal movement of the tablet is stopped at the non-use position by the pivot limiting mechanism when the pin is in the first state;wherein the pivot limiting mechanism, when the pin is in a second state, allows for pivotal movement of the tablet further from the use position and beyond the non-use position to move the tablet further away toward a side of the chair; andwherein the pin is selectively adjusted from the first state to the second state.

18. The tablet assembly of claim 17, wherein the pin has a larger diameter portion and a smaller diameter portion, and wherein the arcuate slot has a wider portion and a narrower portion, and wherein a cross dimension of the narrower portion of the arcuate slot is less than a corresponding cross dimension of the larger diameter portion of the pin.

19. The tablet assembly of claim 18, wherein the pin is in the first state when the larger diameter portion of the pin is disposed in the wider portion of the arcuate slot and is movable along only the wider portion of the arcuate slot, and wherein the pin is in the second state when the smaller diameter portion of the pin is disposed in the arcuate slot and is movable along the narrower portion of the arcuate slot.

20. The tablet assembly of claim 19, wherein the pin is biased toward the first state.

21. The tablet assembly of claim 20, wherein, when the tablet is moved from a position beyond the non-use position toward the use position and at least to the non-use position, the pin is biased to move to the first state to position the larger diameter portion of the pin in the wider portion of the arcuate slot.

22. The tablet assembly of claim 20, wherein the first state of the pin is an extended position of the pin, and wherein the pin is upwardly movable by a user to move the pin to the second state.

23. The tablet assembly of claim 19, wherein the wider portion of the arcuate slot provides for 90 degrees of pivotal movement of the tablet between the use position and the non-use position when the pin is in the first state and the larger diameter portion of the pin is disposed in the arcuate slot, and wherein the narrower portion of the arcuate slot provides for 90 degrees of pivotal movement of the tablet beyond the non-use position when the pin is in the second state and the smaller diameter portion of the pin is disposed in the arcuate slot.

24. The tablet assembly of claim 17, wherein the mounting portion comprises a pivotal mounting portion that pivotally mounts at the arm rest of the chair and the mounting plate extends radially from the pivotal mounting portion.

25. The tablet assembly of claim 17, wherein the mounting portion is configured to fixedly mount at the arm rest of the chair.

26. The tablet assembly of claim 17, wherein the pin is movable between the first state and the second state to adjust the pin relative to the arcuate slot, and wherein the arcuate slot is formed to allow for movement of the pin along a first portion of the arcuate slot when the pin is in the first state and to allow for movement of the pin along a second portion of the arcuate slot when the pin is in the second state.

27. The tablet assembly of claim 26, wherein the pin does not move along the second portion of the arcuate slot when the pin is in the first state.