Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SEAT OR ARMREST ATTACHMENT
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a portable and/or removable tablet
arm or attachment for an armrest or seat. More particularly, the present
invention
relates to a tablet arm or attachment for use with a seat or armrest
cupholder.
Most modern theaters or large auditoriums provide seat or armrest
cupholders to hold a beverage container or cup. In many theaters or
auditoriums,
the seat cupholder is located on an armrest of the seating structure. Many
educational classes and seminars are now held in auditoriums and facilities
having
seat or armrest cupholders. The cupholders provide a place for an attendee or
student to put a drink or cup. However, the cupholders do not provide a place
to
support a book, notepad, a laptop computer or other items. Embodiments of the
present invention address these and other problems and provide advantages over
the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a seat attachment for an armrest or
seat cupholder. In embodiments disclosed, the seat attachment includes a
cupholder sized and/or configured to fit into the armrest or seat cupholder.
The
seat attachment is secured to the armrest by the cupholder. In embodiments
described, the seat attachment includes a tablet arm that can be used to
support a
book, a laptop computer, a notepad or other items.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a seat
attachment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a top view of the seat attachment of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a sectional view of the seat attachment of Figure 2 taken
along section line 3--3 in Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a side view of the seat attachment of Figure 1.
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Figure 5 is a perspective illustration of a seat attachment including
a tablet arm and tablet arm cupholder shown with the tablet arm cupholder
exploded from the tablet arm.
Figure 5A is a bottom view of the tablet arm of the seat attachment
of Figure 5.
Figure 6 is a side view of the tablet arm and tablet arm cupholder of
Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a sectional view of the tablet arm and tablet arm
cupholder of Figure 5 inserted into an armrest cupholder.
Figure 8 schematically illustrates a tablet arm attachment having a
standard sized receptacle and different size or shaped cupholders for
attachment to
different sized or shaped armrest or seat cupholders.
Figure 9 is a sectional view of an embodiment of a tablet arm taken
through latches connecting the tablet arm cupholder to the tablet arm.
Figure 9A is a diagrammatic view of the tablet arm cupholder
latched relative to an undersurface of the tablet arm.
Figure 10 is a flow chart illustrating steps for providing a cupholder
sized or shaped for a seat arm cupholder.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
An embodiment of seat or armrest attachment is generally
illustrated at 10 in Figure 1. As shown, the attachment 10 of Figure 1
includes a
tablet arm 12 having a utility or work surface 14 for writing, reading,
working on a
computer or other activities. The tablet arm 12 is removably secured to a seat
armrest having an armrest cupholder (not shown in Figure 1) by a tablet arm
cupholder 16 which as shown extends from the tablet arm 12.
In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the tablet arm 12
includes a tablet body 18 having a first end 20, second end 21 and opposed
sides
22, 23. Utility surface 14 is formed between the first and second ends 20, 21
and
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opposed sides 22, 23 of the body 18. The body of the tablet arm 12 is formed
in an
illustrative embodiment of a molded plastic unit. In the embodiment shown in
Figure 1, the tablet arm cupholder 16 and tablet arm 12 are formed as an
integral
one piece, molded plastic unit, which is capable of nesting or stacking in a
nesting
manner with a plurality of similarly configured tablet arms. Alternatively,
the
tablet arm can be fabricated of other materials such as composite particle
material,
paper pulp material or other formable particular material such as wood, flour
or
starch pulp molding materials.
As shown, the utility or work surface 14 of the tablet arm 12 is a
substantially flat surface onto which a tablet, loose leaf paper, a book or a
laptop
computer can be supported. The tablet arm 12 includes a lip 24 that extends
generally around a perimeter portion of the work or utility surface 14. The
lip 24
forms a raised surface which aids in retaining material, such as a book and/or
laptop computer on the work surface 14. In the embodiment shown, the tablet
arm
12 includes rounded edges.
In the embodiment shown, the tablet arm 12 is generally "L"
shaped to form a generally rectangular shaped main body and an arm portion or
extension. In the embodiment shown, the tablet arm 12 includes an arcuate or
contoured surface 26 between the main body and the arm portion on a back side
of
the tablet arm. Although an "L" shaped tablet arm 12 is shown, the shape of
the
tablet arm 12 is not limited the particular shape shown and the tablet arm 12
can
have other shapes such as a rectangular shape. The lip 24 extends about the
perimeter of the tablet arm 12 to ends 27, 28. As shown, lip 24 does not
extend
along a back side 30 of the arm portion of the tablet arm so that there is a
generally
smooth flat end surface upon which a forearm of the user or student can be
placed.
The tablet arm 12 illustrated in Figure 1 also includes a perimeter
skirt 32 extending downward from the lip 24 about the perimeter of the tablet
arm
12. In the illustrated embodiment, the perimeter skirt 32 includes a first end
side
wall 34, a left side wall 36, a right side wall 38, and a generally arcuate
second end
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side wall 39, which cooperatively define a continuous side wall about a
perimeter
of the tablet arm 12. The side walls 34, 36, 38, 39 or skirt provide
structural
integrity for the tablet arm 12 and prevent the tablet arm 12 from flexing as
pressure is applied to the substantially flat surface 14.
As shown in Figures 2 and 3 the tablet arm 12 is secured to an
armrest cupholder 40 of a seat arm or armrest 42 using the tablet arm
cupholder 16.
In the embodiment shown in Figure 2 the cupholder 16 is positioned closer to
the
first end 20 than the second end 21 and closer to the side 23 than side 22 so
that the
cupholder is not symmetric with respect to the first and second ends 20, 21
and the
opposed sides 22, 23. In particular, as shown in Figure 2, the tablet arm
cupholder
16 is positioned proximate to the right side wall 38 and surface 14 extends
from the
tablet arm cupholder 16 toward the left side wall 36. When assembled, the
tablet
cupholder 16 is supported relative to the seat armrest 42 and the main body
portion
of the tablet arm is cantilevered relative to the seat armrest 42.
As shown in Figure 2, the tablet arm cupholder 16 and armrest
cupholder 40 are for example cylindrically shaped or have a generally circular
cross-section so that the tablet arm cupholder 16 is rotatable within the
armrest
cupholder 40 as illustrated by arrow 44 to adjust an orientation or position
of the
tablet arm 12 relative to the armrest or seat. As shown in Figure 3, the
tablet arm
cupholder 16 has a stepped profile to form shoulder 50 defined by a stepped
surface formed between an upper cup portion 52 and a lower cup portion 54.
In the illustrated embodiment, when assembled, the shoulder 50 of
the tablet arm cupholder 16 abuts a surface 60 of the seat armrest 42 to
support the
tablet arm 12 relative to the armrest 42. A perimeter dimension of the lower
cup
portion 54 of the tablet arm cupholder 16 is sized to interface with the
armrest
cupholder 40 to hold or attach the tablet arm 12 relative to the armrest 42 of
the
seat.
In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, a depth of the upper cup
portion 52 of the tablet arm cupholder 16 is similar to a depth of the
perimeter skirt
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32 of the tablet arm 12 such that when the tablet arm cupholder 16 is
positioned
within a seat cupholder, there is sufficient clearance to rotate the tablet
arm
cupholder 16 to adjust the orientation or position of the tablet arm 12
relative to the
seat (not shown). Depending upon the configuration of the armrest or seat, the
tablet arm 12 may be rotatable 3600 about a central axis 68 of the armrest
cupholder 40.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, while functioning as an attachment
mechanism for the tablet arm 12 to the armrest or seat, the tablet arm
cupholder 16
can also be used to hold or contain a beverage container or other items (not
shown). As illustrated in the embodiment of Figure 2, a bottom surface 70 of
the
tablet arm cupholder 16 is slotted to allow liquid to drain even if the
beverage is
spilled in the cupholder.
As previously described, the tablet arm cupholder 16 is positioned
proximate the right side wall 38 or side 23 such that the right side wall 38
does not
protrude significantly beyond an outer edge 72 of the armrest 42. Positioning
the
tablet arm cupholder 16 proximate the right side wall 38 allows a person in
the seat
to effectively use the substantially flat top surface 14 for supporting a
laptop
computer, book or note paper while not disrupting the person in the adjacent
seat.
The generally concave arcuate configuration of the back side wall 39 provides
additional space for the person in the seat to move therein without having
his/her
movement impeded by the tablet arm 12.
Depending upon the needs of the person in the seat and the
positioning of others next to the person, the attendee or student can position
the
tablet arm cupholder 16 of the present invention in the seat or armrest
cupholder 40
to the left or to the right of the student or attendee. Additionally, the
student or
attendee can rotate the tablet arm cupholder 16 within the seat or armrest
cupholder
40 to position the substantially flat surface 14 towards or away from the
student or
attendee or to configure the substantially flat surface 14 to better support
books, a
notepad, a laptop computer or other material.
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The tablet arm attachment 10 illustrated in Figures 1-4 is portable
and removable and can be purchased and installed without significant capital
expense and labor. Classrooms or lecture halls are typically equipped with
fixed
tablet arms. However, fixed or permanent tablet arms are expensive and are
difficult to retrofit to another configuration or use. Provided seats have
cupholders,
a school or other facility can use the tablet arms described to provide
students
and/or attendees with a table or writing surface for class without incurring
the
expense required to install fixed tablet arms. Although Figures 2-3, show use
of
the tablet arm attachment 10 with respect to a particular armrest cupholder,
application is not limited to an armrest cupholder as shown and can be adapted
for
other seat cupholders.
The tablet arm illustrated in Figures 1-4 can be removed after use
by removing the tablet arm cupholder 16 from the seat cupholder. The removed
tablet arms or attachments 10 can be stored by nesting the tablet arms 12 one
on
top of another to efficiently stack the tablet arms in a convenient location
for the
next class or seminar. In the illustrated embodiment, the tablet arms or
attachments are stacked by inserting the tablet arm cupholders 16 into one
another.
In another embodiment the seat attachment includes a separate
cupholder which secures the seat attachment to the armrest cupholder 40. In
the
embodiment shown in Figure 5, the seat attachment 100 includes a tablet arm
102
and a tablet arm cupholder 104. The tablet arm 102 as shown includes a
receptacle
106 which is sized to have the cupholder 104 inserted therein to cooperatively
form
a tablet arm seat attachment.
For the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the tablet arm 102 includes
a tablet body having a planar work or utility surface 110 and a perimeter lip
112
which extends about a perimeter portion of the work or utility surface 110. In
the
embodiment shown the tablet body is shaped to form a main body portion and an
arm portion or extension that is designed to extend along the seat arm or
armrest 42
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when assembled. As shown in Figure 5, the main body portion and arm portion
form a generally "L" shaped tablet body.
The main body portion includes a first or forward end 114, a
second or aft end 116 and first and second sides 118, 119. In the embodiment
shown in Figure 5, the arm portion or extension extends along side 118 to form
the
generally "L" shaped tablet body. As shown the cupholder receptacle 106 is
positioned closer to the forward or first end 114 than the aft or second end
116 and
closer to the first side 118 than side 119. As shown, the first end 114
includes a
concave or arcuate shape to provide a contoured surface from the main body
portion to the arm portion or extension. The tablet arm 102 as shown includes
rounded edges and a perimeter skirt 120 about a perimeter of the tablet arm
102.
In the illustrated embodiment, the perimeter skirt 120 is formed of a first
end side
wall 124, left side wall 126, a right side wall 128 and a generally arcuate
second
end side wall 129 defining the arcuate shape between the main body portion and
the arm portion or extension.
In one embodiment, the tablet arm 102 includes a length dimension
of 16.5 inches between ends 114 and 116 and a cross dimension of 16 inches
between sides 118, 119. The tablet arm 102 has a length dimension of 26 inches
along the arm or extension portion and a width dimension of 5 inches along the
arm or extension portion.
As previously described, the tablet arm cupholder 104 is inserted
into tablet arm receptacle 106 to attach the tablet arm 102 to an armrest or
seat
cupholder 40. As shown, the tablet arm cupholder 104 includes a perimeter
flange
130. In the illustrated embodiment, the cupholder receptacle 106 on the tablet
arm
includes a stepped perimeter rim 132 and collar 134 about the receptacle
opening
106. The perimeter flange 130 of the cupholder 104 fits into the stepped
perimeter
rim 132 of the receptacle 106 so that an upper surface of the cupholder is
flush
with the upper or work surface 110 of the tablet arm 102. Application of the
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present invention however, is not limited to a tablet arm receptacle having a
stepped perimeter rim 132 and a flush interface as described.
The tablet arm 102 or tablet body includes an upper surface and a
lower or undersurface surface 135 as shown in Figure 5A. The utility surface
110
is formed on the upper surface. On the lower or undersurface 135, opposite to
the
utility surface, the tablet body includes a plurality of ribs as shown in
Figure SA to
provide structural rigidity for a cantilevered portion or portions of the
tablet body
or tablet arm 102. In the illustrated embodiment the ribs are formed relative
to
cupholder receptacle 106. As shown, the plurality of ribs includes a plurality
of
radially spaced ribs 140a extending from the receptacle 106 and a plurality
radial
rings 140b incrementally spaced from the cupholder receptacle 106. The ribs
140a
and 140b provide sufficient rigidity to support loads on the utility surface
110 at
locations spaced from cupholder receptacle 106. In an illustrated embodiment
the
tablet body includes twelve (12) longitudinal ribs 140a and three (3) radial
ribs
140b to support loads on the utility surface 110 of the tablet arm 102.
Figure 6 illustrates insertion of the cupholder 104 into the
receptacle 106. As shown, the cupholder 104 includes a plurality of
circumferential ribs 142 that extend about a circumference of a tablet arm
portion
144 of the cupholder 104 and when the cupholder 104 is inserted into the
cupholder receptable 106, the ribs 142 abut collar 134 on the tablet arm 102.
The tablet arm cupholder 104 secures the tablet arm relative to the
seat armrest 42 via the armrest cupholder 40 as shown in FIG. 7. When
inserted,
cupholder 104 abuts an end surface 146 of the armrest cupholder 40 to support
the
tablet arm cupholder 104 and tablet arm 102 relative to the seat arm or
armrest 42.
An outer dimension of the tablet arm cupholder 104 is sized or configured
relative
to the seat arm cupholder 40 to limit movement the tablet arm cupholder 104
and
tablet arm relative to the seat arm 42. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG.
7,
both the seat arm cupholder 40 and tablet arm cupholder 104 have a similar
stepped profile or configuration to provide a tight fit or interface between
the seat
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arm cupholder 40 and the tablet arm cupholder 104 for use. When assembled the
cupholder 104 can be used to store beverage cups, bottles or other items in
addition
to functioning as an attachment mechanism.
In the illustrated embodiment, the tablet arm cupholder 104 is
cylindrically shaped for rotation in the seat or armrest cupholder 40 to
adjust the
orientation of the tablet arm relative to the seat or armrest 42. The
cupholder 104
has sufficient length or height to provide clearance between the skirt 120 and
armrest 42 when tablet arm cupholder 104 is inserted into the seat arm
cupholder
40. In the illustrated embodiment, the tablet arm 102 and tablet arm cupholder
104
are both formed of a molded plastic material.
The tablet arm or attachment can be adapted for different seat arm
configurations having different seat arm cupholder dimensions. As illustrated
in
Figure 8, the seat or tablet arm attachment is adaptable for different seat or
armrest
cupholder sizes and/or configurations using a standard tablet arm 102 and
different
tablet arm cupholders 104-1, 104-2 sized or shaped for different seat
cupholders
40. The standard tablet arm 102 as shown in Figure 8 has a uniform or standard
size 150 cupholder receptacle 106.
Cupholders 104-1, 104-2 each has a uniform or standard size tablet
arm portion 144 and unique sized or shaped seat portion 155. The tablet arm
portion 144 has a standard dimension 154 to interface or mate with the
standard
size cupholder receptacle 106. Seat portions 155 of cupholders 104-1, 104-2
have
different shapes and dimensions 156-1, 156-2 to mate with different shaped
seat
arm cupholder 40. As described, the different size or shaped tablet arm
cupholders
104-1, 104-2 can be fabricated or molded for use with a standard tablet arm
102
having a standard cupholder receptacle 106.
As previously discussed, the cupholder 104, 104-1, 104-2 is
inserted into the seat armrest cupholder 40 to secure the tablet arm 102 to
the seat
armrest. In embodiments described, prior to insertion, the tablet arm
cupholder
104 is coupled or latched to the tablet arm 102. In the embodiment shown in
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Figures 9 and 9A, one or more latches 160 connect the cupholder 104 to the
tablet
arm 102. In the illustrated embodiment, the one or more latches 160 includes a
flexible latch member 162 which abuts a latch surface 166 to restrict
withdrawal of
the cupholder 104 from the receptacle 106 on the tablet arm 102. In the
embodiment shown, the latch member 162 is formed on the cupholder 104 and
includes a notched surface 168 that interfaces with latch surface 166 formed
on a
bottom surface of the stepped perimeter rim 132 of the tablet arm 102.
As shown in Figure 9A, collar 134 extends about a perimeter of the
cupholder receptacle 106 on the tablet arm 102. Collar 134 is aligned
relatively
upright along an upright axis of the cupholder. As shown, one or more latch
openings 170 are formed in or along collar 134 about a perimeter of the
receptacle
106. As shown in Figure 9A, three openings are cut or formed in the collar 134
about the circumference of the receptacle 106 to form the latch openings 170.
To
secure the cupholder 104, the latch members 162 are aligned with the latch
openings 170. Thereafter the cupholder is inserted into the receptacle 106 of
the
tablet arm 102. As inserted, a ramped surface 172 of the latch member 162
(shown
in Figure 9) contacts the rim 132 to flex the latch member 162 away from the
rim
132 so that the notched surface 168 clears rim 132 and snaps into place on an
underside of the rim 132. Once the latch member 162 is snapped into place, the
latch member 162 restricts withdrawal of the cupholder 104 from the tablet arm
102.
The cupholder 102 is withdrawn from the tablet arm 102 by
releasing the latch or latches 160 abutting the underside of the perimeter rim
132 so
that the tablet arm cupholder 104 can be withdrawn. The latches 160 are
released
by applying force to bias the latch member 162 inwardly until the notched
surface
168 clears perimeter rim 132 and can be withdrawn. As shown, rotation of the
cupholder 104 relative to the receptacle is restricted by contact between
latch
member 162 and collar 134. When assembled in seat arm cupholder 40, the tablet
arm cupholder 104 can rotate within the seat arm cupholder 40 to adjust an
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orientation of tablet arm 102 as previously described. Although in the
illustrated
embodiment latch member 162 is formed on the cupholder application is not
limited to the particular embodiment shown. For example, the latch member 162
can alternatively be fabricated on the tablet arm and/or cupholder 104. It
should be
noted that the latches and components of Figures 9 and 9A are not necessarily
drawn to scale.
As previously described with respect to Figure 10, the standard
tablet arms 102 can be prefabricated to provide a stock inventory for use with
different tablet arm cupholders 104-1, 104-2, Tablet arm cupholders 104-1, 104-
2
are fabricated based upon a customer order or projected demand. Since the
tablet
arm cupholders 104-1, 104-2 are manufactured separately, the number of
cupholders manufactured is determined separately from the tablet arm
inventory.
This reduces the cost or expense invested in a size specific product and
molds. As
previously described, the cupholders 104-1, 104-2 can have a slotted surface
to
allow fluid to drain.
FIG. 10 illustrates a flow chart of steps to provide a seat or armrest
attachment for different sized and shaped cupholders. As shown in step 180, a
standard tablet arm 102 is fabricated having a standard size receptacle 106.
The
tablet arm cupholder 104 size and/or configuration is determined as
illustrated by
block 182 based upon the seat cupholder size and/or configuration. The size
specific cupholder 104 is provided for insertion into the standard size
receptacle
106 of the tablet arm 102 as illustrated in step 184 to form the seat
attachment
assembly.
Although the present invention has been described with reference
to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that
changes
may be made in form and detail without departing from the scope of
the
invention. For example, instead of a right handed tablet arm as shown, a left
handed tablet arm can be used to form the tablet arm attachment for left
handed
users or writers.
