Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6361105
-
Patent Number
6,361,105
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, February 13, 200123 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, March 26, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Cuomo; Peter M.
- White; Rodney B.
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 297 162
- 297 23
- 297 35
- 297 40
- 297 55
- 297 58
- 297 18814
- 297 18815
- 297 18816
- 297 18817
- 297 18819
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A chair includes a chair arm (20) coupled to a frame (22, 28) and a cup holder (24) mounted to chair arm (20) for movement between a retracted position lying underneath chair arm (20) to an opened position lying away from the underside of chair arm (20) to hold a cup (26) therein. Cup holder (24) includes first and second arms (40, 42) mounted for pivotable movement about a pivot axis (44) relative to chair arm (20) and one another. When moved to the opened position, first and second arms (40, 42) cooperate to define a circular cup-receiving opening therebetween. Cup holder (24) also includes an interlock (90) to guide relative movement of first and second arms (40, 42) as those arms are moved between retracted and opened positions.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an arm chair and, in particular, an arm chair including a cup holder. More particularly, the present invention relates to a retractable cup holder for a folding chair.
Chairs, especially folding chairs, are frequently placed in groups or set arrangements in both large and small rooms for receptions or other activities. In certain cases, it is inconvenient to place a table next to every chair to provide a place for persons seated in the chairs to place beverage cups or the like.
According to the invention, a chair includes a chair arm coupled to a frame and a cup holder mounted to the chair arm for movement between a retracted position lying underneath the chair arm to an opened position lying away from the underside of the chair arm. A person seated in such a chair can move the cup holder relative to the chair arm to the opened position and place a cup therein whenever the need for such a cup holder arises.
In preferred embodiments, the cup holder includes first and second arms mounted for pivotable movement about a pivot axis relative to the chair arm and to one another. Outer ends of the first and second arms mate with one another and cooperate to define an interlock for guiding relative movement of the first and second arms as those arms are moved by a user between the retracted and opened positions. Each of the first and second arms include a curved serrated edge and these edges cooperate to define a circular cup-receiving opening when the cup holder is moved to its opened position so that a person seated in the chair can place a beverage cup therein.
Additional features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:
FIGS. 1
is a perspective view of a foldable chair in accordance with the present invention showing a foldable frame, a seat and back mounted on the foldable frame, and right and left arms coupled to the foldable frame and showing a pivotable cup holder in a retraced position underneath the right arm of the foldable chair;
FIG. 2
a
is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the chair of
FIG. 1
showing the position of the cup holder relative to the right arm after a cup-receiving portion of the cup holder has been moved away from the underside of the right arm so that it is ready to receive a cup placed in it by a person seated in the chair,
FIG. 2
b
is an enlarged perspective assembly view of first and second arms included in the retractable cup holder below a portion of the right arm of the chair;
FIG. 3
is a view of the underside of the right arm of the chair taken along line
3
—
3
of
FIG. 1
showing the cup holder in its retracted position underneath the right arm of the chair and showing movement of two pivotable arms of the cup holder toward one another to define a somewhat football-shaped space therebetween to enable the cup holder to be reduced in size so that it fits substantially under the right arm of the chair when it is in its retracted position;
FIG. 4
is a view similar to
FIG. 3
showing the position of the cup holder after it has been pivoted from its retracted position to an exposed position but before movement of the cup holder arms away from one another to establish a cup-receiving configuration;
FIG. 5
is a view similar to
FIGS. 3 and 4
showing the cup holder in its cup-receiving configuration after pivoting movement of one cup holder arm relative to another cup holder arm to define a somewhat circular cup-receiving opening therebetween;
FIG. 6
is a sectional elevational view taken along lines
6
—
6
of
FIG. 2
showing the cup holder in the opened position (also shown in
FIG. 5
) and showing a phantom cup placed in the cup holder;
FIG. 6
a
is an enlarged perspective view of a portion, of the cup holder arms looking on the cup holder when it is in the exposed position shown in
FIG. 4
;
FIG. 6
b
is a view similar to
FIG. 6
a
but showing a portion of the cup holder when in the opened position shown in
FIG. 5
;
FIG. 7
is an enlarged perspective view of the left arm of the chair of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 8
is a top plan view of the chair arm of
FIG. 7
;
FIG. 9
is a bottom view of the chair arm of
FIG. 7
;
FIG. 10
is a perspective view of a portion of a folding chair similar to the chair illustrated in
FIG. 1
showing another embodiment of a cup holder in accordance with the present invention wherein the cup holder is positioned to lie in a retracted position within a space provided in the right arm of the chair;
FIG. 11
is a perspective view similar to
FIG. 10
showing movement of the cup holder ay from the chair arm to an opened cup-receiving position and showing a phantom large-diameter cup placed in the opened cup holder;
FIG. 12
is a view of a portion of the chair and the chair arm taken along line
12
—
12
of
FIG. 11
showing phantom large-diameter and small-diameter cups placed in the opened cup holder;
FIG. 13
is a sectional view similar to
FIG. 12
showing the cup holder after it has been moved to the left to its retracted position inside the right arm of the chair (as also shown in FIG.
10
);
FIG. 13
a
is a transverse sectional view taken along line
13
a
—
13
a
of
FIG. 13
showing placement of two laterally spaced-apart guides between two rear cup supports provided on a slidable cup holder plate;
FIG. 14
is a sectional elevational view of the folding chair of
FIG. 1
taken along line
14
—
14
of
FIG. 1
showing the left arm and a portion of a U-shaped seat support frame coupled to the left arm and the seat;
FIG. 15
is an enlarged view of the folding chair of
FIG. 14
(still shown in section) after it has been collapsed to its folded position;
FIG. 16
a
sectional view taken along lines
16
—
16
of
FIG. 14
showing the U-shaped seat-support frame used to couple the seat to the chair arms to enable folding of the chair;
FIG. 17
is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the U-shaped seat-support frame shown in
FIG. 16
showing a system configured to couple one portion of the U-shaped-seat-support frame to another portion thereof; and
FIG. 18
is a perspective view of a frame bracket coupled to a lower surface of the seat as shown in
FIG. 16
to support the U-shaped seat-support frame.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A foldable arm chair is shown in FIG.
1
. Chair
10
includes a frame
12
, seat
14
, back
16
, left arm
18
, right arm
20
, seat-support frame
22
, and retractable cup holder
24
mounted to lie in a retracted position underneath right arm
20
as shown, for example, in FIG.
1
. It is within the scope of this disclosure to append retractable cup holder
24
to the arm of a non-folding chair (not shown).
Any bystander can move cup holder
24
relative to right arm
20
from the retracted position shown in
FIG. 1
to the exposed position shown, for example, in
FIG. 2
to enable a person seated in or standing alongside chair
10
to place a cup
26
in cup holder
24
as shown in FIG.
6
. Although cup holder
24
is mounted under right arm
20
in the embodiment illustrated in
FIGS. 1-6
, it is within the scope of this disclosure to mount cup holder in right arm
20
, in left arm
22
, and/or under left arm
22
.
Frame
12
includes a U-shaped tall section
28
carrying back
16
and providing front legs
30
,
32
and a pair of rear legs
34
,
36
. Each of rear legs
34
,
36
is pivotably coupled to tall section
28
by pivot links
38
as shown, for example, in
FIGS. 1
,
2
, and
14
. Frame
12
can be collapsed manually in a controlled way so that it is folded from the opened position shown in
FIGS. 1 and 14
to the collapsed position shown in FIG.
15
.
Referring to
FIGS. 2-5
, cup holder
24
includes a first arm
40
and a second arm
42
that is movable relative to first arm
40
as cup holder
24
moves from its retracted position to its opened position. The first and second arms
40
,
42
are coupled to right arm
20
for pivotable movement about a vertical pivot axis
44
. Arms
40
,
42
cooperate to define a somewhat football-shaped opening upon movement of the arms
40
,
42
relative to right arm
20
to the exposed position shown in FIG.
4
. Arms
40
,
42
cooperate to define a somewhat circular cup-receiving opening
46
upon movement of the arms
40
,
42
relative to right arm
20
to the opened position shown in
FIGS. 2 and 5
.
Referring to
FIGS. 2
b
,
5
, and
6
, first arm
40
includes a base
48
, a first-arm pivot post
50
appended to base
48
, and a first cup support
52
appended to base
48
and configured to define about one-half of the boundary of cup-receiving opening
46
. Second arm
42
includes a base
54
, a second-arm pivot post
56
appended to base
54
and configured to include a post-receiving channel
58
(for receiving first-arm pivot post
50
therein), and a second cup support
60
appended to base
54
and configured to define the remaining one-half of the boundary of cup-receiving opening
46
.
A stop member
49
is appended to base
48
of first arm
40
and arranged to lie adjacent to first-arm pivot post
50
as shown, for example, in
FIG. 2
b
. Stop member
49
is arranged to disengage right arm
20
when cup holder
24
lies in its retracted position as shown in FIG.
4
. Stop member
49
is arranged to engage a wall
51
in right arm
20
as shown, for example, in
FIGS. 4 and 5
to limit pivoting movement of first arm
40
relative to right arm
20
about axis
44
during movement of cup holder
24
to its opened position shown in FIG.
5
.
To enable pivoting movement of first and second arms
40
,
42
about pivot axis
44
relative to right arm
20
as shown in FIG.
4
and relative to one another as shown in FIG.
4
and relative to one another as shown in
FIG. 5
, the second-arm pivot post
56
is mounted for rotation about pivot axis
44
in a chamber formed in a post support sleeve
62
formed on the underside of right arm
20
, the first-arm pivot post
50
is mounted for rotation in the post-receiving channel
58
formed in second-arm pivot post
56
, and a bolt
64
is coupled to a foundation
66
provided in post support sleeve
62
to retain posts
50
,
56
in their assembled but rotatable positions relative to right arm
20
as shown in FIG.
6
.
First-arm pivot post
50
includes a cylinder-shaped trunk
68
appended to base
48
and formed to include a cavity
70
for receiving the head of bolt
64
as shown, for example, in
FIGS. 2
b
and
6
. First-arm pivot post
50
further includes a cylinder-shaped branch
72
appended to a distal end of trunk
68
and formed to include a passageway
73
receiving a portion of the shank
65
of bolt
64
.
Second-arm pivot post
56
includes a cylinder-shaped trunk
74
appended to base
54
and formed to include the post-receiving channel
58
as shown, for example, in
FIGS. 2
b
and
6
. Second-arm pivot post
56
further includes a cylinder-shaped branch
76
appended to a distal end of trunk
74
and formed to include a cavity at one end receiving branch
72
of first-arm pivot post
50
therein, a cavity at an opposite end receiving foundation
66
appended to right arm
20
therein, and a partition wall positioned to lie between those two cavities and formed to include an aperture receiving a portion of the shank of bolt
64
. As shown in
FIG. 6
, a tip of the shank of bolt
64
is anchored in a bolt-receiving aperture formed in foundation
66
.
First cup support
52
includes a horizontal curved ledge
78
, a curved wall
80
depending from ledge
78
, and a serrated edge
82
appended to curved wall
80
and arranged to engage a cup placed in cup holder
24
upon movement of cup holder arms
40
,
42
to the opened positions shown in
FIGS. 2
,
5
, and
6
. Likewise, second cup support
60
includes a horizontal curved ledge
84
, a curved wall
86
depending from ledge
84
, and a serrated edge
88
.
An interlock
90
is provided to control and guide movement of the first and second arms
40
,
42
in cup holder
24
during movement of cup holder
24
relative to right arm
20
between, for example, the exposed position shown in FIG.
4
and the opened position shown in FIG.
5
. Interlock
90
includes a first portion on first cup support
52
that is arranged to mate with a second portion of interlock
90
on second cup support
60
.
The first portion of interlock
90
includes a second-arm slot
92
formed in a curved side wall
94
of first cup support
52
and a horizontal curved guide surface
96
included in first cup support
52
and arranged to border slot
92
as shown, for example, in
FIGS. 2
b
,
6
a
, and
6
b
. First cup support
52
further includes a tab stop
97
located at the outer end of first arm
40
and a tab slot
98
formed in curved guide surface
96
to communicate with second-arm slot
92
.
The second portion of interlock
90
includes a curved segment
110
at an outer end of second cup support
60
and a radially outwardly projecting, axially downwardly extending tab
112
as shown, for example, in
FIGS. 2
b
,
6
a
, and
6
b
. Curved segment
110
is arranged and sized to move back and forth in second-arm slot
92
during movement of second arm
42
relative to first arm
40
as cup holder
24
moves from an exposed position to an opened position as shown in
FIGS. 4 and 5
. Tab
112
on second arm
42
fits into tab slot
98
formed in first arm
40
to assist in establishing the opened position of the cup holder
24
as shown, for example, in
FIGS. 2 and 5
. Tab
112
is discharged from tab slot
98
during pivoting movement of first and second arms
40
,
42
as cup holder
24
is returned to its retracted position shown in FIG.
3
.
Several views of left arm
18
of chair
10
are shown in
FIGS. 7-9
. Left arm
18
includes an armrest
114
, a first connector
116
configured to be mounted for pivotable movement to the U-shaped tall section
28
of frame
12
, and a second connector
118
configured to be mounted for pivotable movement to seat-support frame
22
.
Referring now to
FIGS. 10-13
, a chair
110
includes a right arm
120
, a frame
12
, a seat-support frame
22
, and a retractable cup holder
124
in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Cup holder
124
is coupled to right arm
120
for sliding movement back and forth between a retracted position shown, for example, in FIG.
10
and an opened position shown, for example, in FIG.
11
. Chair
110
is similar in all other respects to chair
10
.
Cup holder
124
includes a plate
126
formed to include a cavity
128
configured to receive a small-diameter base of a cup
130
(shown in phantom) as shown in
FIG. 12 and a
space
132
bounded, in part, by cup supports
134
,
136
, and
138
and configured to receive a large-diameter base of a cup
140
(shown in phantom). Cup holder
124
also includes a front end
142
shaped to form a “false front” of right arm
120
when cup holder
124
is moved to its retracted position in right arm
120
as shown in
FIGS. 10 and 13
. Cup holder
124
further includes a rear end
144
configured to slide on glide plate
145
of right arm
120
in a channel
146
formed in right arm
120
. Front end
142
is also formed to include the front cup support
138
and rear end
144
is formed to include rear cup supports
134
and
136
.
A pair of spaced-apart guides
147
depend from an interior wall
149
in right arm
120
as shown in
FIGS. 11-13
to lie in a space provided between rear cup supports
134
,
136
on cup holder plate
126
. Side walls provided between rear cup supports
134
,
136
ride on the guides
147
during movement of cup holder
124
between its retracted and opened positions to guide cup holder
124
so that it moves along a straight line relative to right arm
120
.
A flexible tab
148
is appended to rear end
144
of plate
126
and arranged to engage a stop
150
provided on right arm
120
to limit outward sliding movement of cup holder
124
relative to right arm
120
as shown, for example, in FIG.
12
. Flexible tab
148
includes cam surface
152
and can be deflected in direction
154
relative to plate
126
upon engagement with edge
156
of right arm
120
during initial installation of cup holder
124
in channel
146
formed in right arm
120
.
Chair
10
(and
110
) is able to fold from an opened, use position shown in
FIG. 14
to a collapsed, storage position shown in FIG.
15
. Such controlled collapse of chair
10
,
110
is facilitated in part, by operation of seat-support frame
22
shown in
FIGS. 14-17
and frame brackets
160
coupled to seat
14
and seat-support frame
22
as shown, for example, in
FIGS. 1
,
14
-
16
, and
18
.
Referring to
FIG. 16
, seat-support frame
22
is a U-shaped member including a first leg
162
pivotably coupled to right arm
20
, a second leg
164
pivotably coupled to left arm
18
, and a bight rod
166
interconnecting lower ends of first and second legs
162
,
164
. Bight rod
166
passes under seat
14
and through frame brackets
160
mounted on the underside of seat
14
.
Bight rod
166
includes a first section
168
appended to first leg
162
and a second section
170
appended to second leg
164
. As shown in
FIG. 17
, second section
170
includes an arm
172
that is telescopically received in a sleeve
174
formed in first section
168
and a pin
176
passes through apertures
178
,
180
formed in arm
172
and sleeve
174
, respectively, to couple first section
168
to second section
170
to establish bight rod
166
.
Each frame bracket
160
includes a block
182
coupled to seat
14
and a plate
184
coupled to block
182
. Plate
184
is formed to include an aperture
184
sized to receive bight rod
166
of seat-support frame
22
therein and permit rotation of bight rod
166
in aperture
186
as chair
10
,
110
moves between its opened and collapsed positions.
Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.
Claims
- 1. A chair comprising:a frame, a seat coupled to the frame, a chair arm coupled to the frame and positioned to lie above the seat, and a cup holder mounted to the arm for movement between a retracted position lying underneath the chair arm to an opened position lying away from an underside of the chair arm to hold a cup therein, the cup holder including a first arm and a second arm that is movable relative to the first arm as the cup holder moves from the retracted position to the opened position and the first and second arms cooperate to define a single-cup receiving opening therebetween away from the chair arm upon movement of the first and second arms to the opened position, wherein the first and second arms are coupled to the chair arm for movement about a vertical pivot axis.
- 2. The chair of claim 1, wherein the first arm includes a first-arm base, a first-arm pivot post appended to the first-arm base and arranged to rotate about the vertical pivot axis, and a first cup support appended to the first-arm base and configured to define about one-half of a boundary of the cup-receiving opening.
- 3. The chair of claim 2, wherein the second arm includes a second-arm base, a second-arm pivot post appended to the second-arm base and arranged to rotate about the vertical pivot axis, and a second cup support appended to the second-arm base and configured to define a remaining one-half of the boundary of the cup-receiving opening.
- 4. The chair of claim 1, wherein the chair arm includes a border edge and an interior wall positioned to lie in a region defined by the border edge and the cup holder further includes a stop member coupled to the first arm and arranged to disengage the interior wall upon movement of the cup holder to the retracted position and to engage the interior wall to limit pivoting movement of the first arm relative to the chair arm about the vertical axis during movement of the cup holder to the opened position.
- 5. The chair of claim 4, wherein the first arm includes a first-arm base, a first-arm pivot post appended to the first-arm base and arranged to rotate about the vertical pivot axis, and a first cup support appended to the first-arm base and configured to define about one-half of a boundary of the cup-receiving opening and the stop member is appended to the first-arm base of the first arm and arranged to lie adjacent to the first-arm pivot post.
- 6. The chair of claim 1, wherein the chair arm is formed to include a post-receiving chamber having a downwardly facing opening, the second arm includes a second-arm pivot post mounted for rotation about the vertical pivot axis in the post-receiving chamber in the chair arm and formed to include a post-receiving channel, and the first arm includes a first-arm pivot post mounted for rotation about the vertical pivot axis in the post-receiving channel in the second-arm pivot post.
- 7. The chair of claim 6, wherein the chair further comprises a bolt coupled to a foundation provided in the post-receiving chamber and to the first arm to retain the first-arm and second-arm pivot posts in rotatable positions relative to the chair arm.
- 8. The chair of claim 7, wherein the first arm further includes a cup support and a first-arm base coupled to the cup support and to the first-arm pivot post, and the first-arm pivot post includes a cylinder-shaped trunk appended to the first-arm base and formed to include a cavity receiving a head included in the bolt and a cylinder-shaped branch appended to a distal end of the cylinder-shaped trunk and formed to include a passageway receiving a portion of a shank included in the bolt.
- 9. The chair of claim 7, wherein the second arm further includes a cup support and a second-arm base coupled to the cup support and to the second-arm pivot post, and the second-arm pivot post includes a cylinder-shaped trunk appended to the second-arm base and formed to include the post-receiving channel and a cylinder-shaped branch appended to a distal end of the cylinder-shaped trunk and formed to include a cavity at one end receiving a portion of the first-arm pivot post therein, another cavity at an opposite end receiving the foundation therein, and a partition wall positioned to lie between said cavities and formed to include an aperture receiving a portion of the shank of the bolt.
- 10. The chair of claim 1, wherein the first arm includes a first cup support, the second arm includes a second cup support, and the cup holder further includes an interlock arranged to control and guide movement of the first and second arms relative to one another during movement of the cup holder to the opened position, the interlock including a first portion on the first cup support and a second portion on the second cup support arranged to mate with the first portion on the cup support.
- 11. The chair of claim 10, wherein the first portion of the interlock includes a second-arm slot formed in a side wall of the first cup support and a horizontal guide surface included in the first cup support and arranged to border the second-arm slot.
- 12. The chair of claim 11, wherein the fist cup support further includes a tab stop located at an outer end of the first arm and a tab slot formed in the horizontal guide surface to communicate with the second-arm slot.
- 13. The chair of claim 12, wherein the second portion of the interlock includes a curved segment at an outer end of the second cup support and a radially outwardly projecting, axially downwardly extending tab, the cured segment is arranged and sized to move back and forth in the second-arm slot during movement of the second arm relative to the first arm as the cup holder moves to the opened position, and the tab on the second arm fits into the tab slot formed in the first arm to assist in establishing the opened position of the cup holder.
- 14. The chair of claim 11, wherein the second portion of the interlock includes a curved segment at an outer end of the second cup support and a radially outwardly projecting, axially downwardly extending tab, the curved segment is arranged and sized to move back and forth in the second-arm slot during movement of the second arm relative to the first arm as the cup holder moves to the opened position.
- 15. The chair of claim 10, wherein each cup support includes a horizontal curved ledge, a curved wall depending from the horizontal curved ledge, and a serrated edge appended to the curved wall and arranged to engage a cup placed in the cup holder upon movement of the first and second arms to the opened position.
- 16. The chair of claim 1, wherein each cup support includes a horizontal curved ledge, a curved wall depending from the horizontal curved ledge, and a serrated edge appended to the curved wall and arranged to engage a cup placed in the cup holder upon movement of the first and second arms to the opened position.
- 17. A chair comprisinga frame, a seat coupled to the frame, a chair arm coupled to the frame and positioned to lie above the seat, the chair arm having an underside facing toward the seat, a cup holder including first and second arms, each arm including a first end mounted for pivotable movement about a vertical axis and an opposite second end, the first and second arms being mounted for movement relative to the chair arm wherein one another from a retracted position underneath the underside of the chair arm wherein the first and second arms are positioned to intersect and the second ends of the first and second arms are positioned to lie in spaced-apart relation to one another to an opened position wherein the second ends of the first and second arms are positioned to lie away from the underside of the chair in engagement with one another to cause the first and second arms to cooperate to define a cup-receiving opening therebetween.
- 18. The chair of claim 17, wherein each of the first and second arms includes an edge adapted to engage a cup placed in the cup-receiving opening and the edges cooperate to define a football-shaped opening when the cup holder lies in the retracted position.
- 19. The chair of claim 18, wherein the edges of the first and second arms cooperate to define a football-shaped opening therebetween when the cup holder lies in the opened position and the second ends of the first an second arms are positioned to lie in spaced-apart relation to one another and the edges of the first and second arms cooperate to define a circular opening therebetween when the cup holder lies in the opened position and the second ends of the first and second arms are positioned to lie in engagement with one another.
- 20. The chair of claim 19, wherein the first arm is formed to include a second-arm slot and the second arm includes a segment arranged to lie between the first and second ends of the second arm and slide in the second-arm slot during movement of the second arm relative to the first arm.
- 21. The chair of claim 18, wherein each edge is serrated.
- 22. The chair of claim 18, wherein the second ends of the first and second arms are arranged to lie outside the football-shaped opening and under the chair arm when each of the first and second arms lie in the retracted position.
- 23. The chair of claim 17, wherein the chair arum includes a border edge and an interior wall positioned to lie in a region defined by the border edge and the cup holder flier includes a stop member coupled to the first arm and arranged to disengage the interior wall upon movement of the first and second arms to the retracted position and to engage the interior wall to limit pivoting movement of the first arm relative to the chair arm about the vertical axis during movement of the first and second arms to the opened position.
- 24. The chair of claim 17, wherein the chair arm is formed to include a post-receiving chamber having a downwardly facing opening, the second arm includes a second-arm pivot post mounted for rotation about the vertical pivot axis in the post-receiving chamber in the chair arm and formed to include a post-receiving channel, and the first arm includes a first-arm pivot post mounted for rotation about the vertical pivot axis in the post-receiving channel in the second-arm pivot post.
- 25. The chair of claim 17, wherein the chair further comprises a bolt coupled to a foundation provided in the post-receiving chamber and to the first arm to retain the first-arm and second-arm pivot posts in rotatable positions relative to the chair arm.
- 26. The chair of claim 25, wherein the first arm further includes a cup support and a first-arm base coupled to the cup support and to the first-arm pivot post, and the first-arm pivot post includes a cylinder-shaped trunk appended to the first-arm base and formed to include a cavity receiving a head included in the bolt and a cylinder-shaped branch appended to a distal end of the cylinder-shaped trunk and formed to include a passageway receiving a portion of a shank included in the bolt.
- 27. The chair of claim 25, wherein the second arm further includes a clip support and a second-arm base coupled to the cup support and to the second-arm pivot post, and the second-arm pivot post includes a cylinder-shaped appended to the second-arm base and formed to include the post-receiving channel and a cylinder-shaped branch appended to a distal end of the cylinder-shaped trunk and formed to include a cavity at one end receiving a portion of the first-arm pivot post therein, another cavity at an opposite end receiving the foundation therein, and a partition wall positioned to lie between said cavities and formed to include an aperture receiving a portion of the shank of the bolt.
- 28. The chair of claim 17, wherein the first arm includes a first cup support, the second arm includes a second cup support, and the cup holder further includes an interlock arranged to control and guide movement of the first and second arms relative to one another during movement of the cup holder to the opened position, the interlock including a first portion on the first cup support and a second portion on the second cup support arranged to mate with the first portion on the cup support.
- 29. A chair comprisinga frame, a seat coupled to the frame, a chair arm coupled to the frame and positioned to lie above the seat, and a cup holder including a first arm and a second arm movable relative to the first arm to define a cup-receiving opening therebetween, the second arm being coupled to an underside of the chair arm for pivotable movement about a vertical pivot axis relative to the chair a the first arm being coupled to the second arm for pivotable movement about the vertical pivot axis relative to the chair arm and to the second arm.
- 30. The chair of claim 29, wherein the cup holder further includes an interlock arranged to control and guide movement of the first and second arms relative to one another during pivotable movement of the first and second arms relative to the chair arm and to one another from a retracted position underneath the chair arm to an opened position wherein the cup-receiving opening defined by the first and second arms is positioned to lie away from the underside of the chair arm to receive a cup therein.
- 31. The chair of claim 30, wherein the interlock includes a first interlock portion on the first arm and a second interlock portion on the second arm and the second interlock portion is arranged to mate with the first interlock portion.
- 32. The chair of claim 31, wherein the first arm includes a first-arm base, a first-arm pivot post appended to the first-arm base and arranged to rotate about the vertical pivot axis, and a first cup support appended to the first-arm base and configured to define a first portion of the cup-receiving opening and the first interlock portion includes a second-arm slot formed in the first cup support and arranged to receive the second interlock portion therein.
- 33. The chair of claim 29, wherein the chair arm is formed to include a post-receiving chamber having a downwardly facing opening, the second arm includes a second-arm pivot post mounted for rotation about the vertical pivot axis in the post-receiving chamber in the chair arm and formed to include a post-receiving channel, and the fist arm includes a first-arm pivot post mounted for rotation about the vertical pivot axis in the post-receiving channel in the second-arm pivot post.
- 34. The chair of claim 33, wherein the chair further comprises a bolt coupled to a foundation provided in the post- receiving chamber and to the first arm to retain the first-arm and second-arm pivot posts in rotatable positions relative to the chair arm.
- 35. The chair of claim 34, wherein the first arm further includes a cup support and a first-arm base coupled to the cup support and to the first-arm pivot post, and the first-arm pivot post includes a cylinder shaped trunk appended to the first-arm base and formed to include a cavity receiving a head included in the bolt and a cylinder-shaped branch appended to a distal end of the cylinder-shaped trunk and formed to include a passageway receiving a portion of a shank included in the bolt.
- 36. The chair of claim 34, wherein the second arm further includes a cup support and a second-arm base coupled to the cup support and to the second-arm pivot post, and the second-arm pivot post includes a cylinder-shaped trunk appended to the second-arm base and formed to include the post-receiving channel and a cylinder-shaped branch appended to a distal end of the cylinder-shaped trunk and formed to include a cavity at one end receiving a portion of the first-arm pivot post therein, another cavity at an opposite end receiving the foundation therein, and a partition wall positioned to lie between said cavities and formed to include an aperture receiving a portion of the shank of the bolt.
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
PCT/US99/18460 |
|
WO |
00 |
Publishing Document |
Publishing Date |
Country |
Kind |
WO00/08978 |
2/24/2000 |
WO |
A |
US Referenced Citations (9)