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Tablet arm for nesting chairTablet arm for nesting chair description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070284920, Tablet arm for nesting chair. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND [0001]1. Field [0002]Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to office furniture, and more particularly to swiveling, rotating tablet arms for nesting chairs. [0003]2. Description of Related Art [0004]Current chairs featuring tablet arms are often unable to be nested or stacked together to efficiently save space, because the tablet arms are often immovable. Some current nesting chairs featuring movable tablet arms often require complex mechanical joints to permit rotation of tablet arm components about a series of closely-connected axes. Tablet rotation with such closely-spaced and complex joints detracts from the durability of the tablet rotation mechanism and increases manufacturing costs. In addition, current tablet arms for nesting chairs are unable to permit horizontal translation of the tablet in the tablet arm's operable position. Therefore, there is a need in the art for a tablet arm for a nesting chair which swivels in a horizontal plane, slides in a horizontal plane, and/or rotates between an operable position and a nested position to more efficiently save space while maintaining a durable tablet arm construction. BRIEF SUMMARY [0005]A tablet arm for a nesting chair is described, according to embodiments of the present invention. Tablet arms according to such embodiments include a first rigid support member affixed to a nesting chair, a second rigid support member swivelably coupled to the first rigid support member, a tablet rotatably and slidably coupled to the second rigid support member by a collar, and first and second stops coupled with the rigid support member. The first stop may be configured to contact one end of the collar in a forward operable position of the tablet, and the second stop may be configured to contact another end of the collar in a rearward operable position of the tablet. According to some embodiments, the second rigid support member swivels along a substantially horizontal plane. The first and/or second rigid support members may be tubular, and in some cases, the first rigid support member may be affixed to the nesting chair via welding. [0006]According to some embodiments of the present invention, the first stop and the second stop may be formed by a U-shaped bracket attached to the second rigid support member in a manner such as welding, and the tablet may be configured to rest against the U-shaped bracket in an operable position. According to some embodiments, the U-shaped bracket includes a crossbar piece substantially parallel to the second rigid support member, such that the top of the crossbar piece and the top of the collar form a substantially horizontal plane on which the tablet rests in an operable position. In some cases, the tablet arm may be coupled with the second support member via one collar; in other cases, the tablet arm may be coupled with the second support member via two or more collars, such that the second collar is separated from the first collar by either the first stop or the second stop. A third stop may be coupled with the second rigid support member and configured to halt the rotation of the tablet about the second rigid support member at a predetermined rotation angle. [0007]According to some embodiments of the present invention, a swivel joint couples the first support member with the second support member, and includes a means for halting swiveling of the second support member away from the chair at a predetermined angle. According to additional embodiments, the nesting chair includes a seatback over which the tablet arm is configured to locate the tablet in the nested position. According to some instances of the embodiments, the nesting chair and the tablet arm occupy a substantially similar amount of horizontal side space in the nested position as in the operable position. [0008]A nesting chair system according to embodiments of the present invention may include a plurality of nesting chairs having swiveling rotatable tablets, the swiveling rotatable tablets movable from an operable position to a nested position, the swiveling rotatable tablets positioned over seatbacks of the plurality of nesting chairs in the nested position and configured to slide horizontally in the operable position. The swiveling rotatable tablets may be further configured to slide horizontally toward and away from the seatbacks in the operable position such as, for example, along a substantially straight support member. The swiveling rotatable tablets are movable from the operable position to the nested position by swiveling the tablets toward the seatbacks and rotating them from a substantially horizontal orientation to a non-substantially horizontal orientation, according to various embodiments of the present invention. [0009]A tablet arm for a nesting chair according to some embodiments of the present invention may include a tablet, a nesting chair, a mounting arm coupled to the nesting chair, a means for coupling the tablet to the mounting arm, a means for swiveling the tablet substantially horizontally about the mounting arm, a means for pivoting the tablet between a substantially horizontal position and a non-substantially horizontal position, and a means for sliding the tablet in a direction towards or away from the mounting arm. In some cases, the means for coupling, the means for pivoting, and the means for sliding may be the same means. [0010]This summary provides only a general outline of some embodiments of the present invention. Many other objects, features, advantages and other embodiments of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0011]A further understanding of the various embodiments of the present invention may be realized by reference to the figures which are described in remaining portions of the specification. [0012]FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a nesting chair with a tablet arm in an operable position according to embodiments of the present invention. [0013]FIG. 2 illustrates a front elevation view of the nesting chair of FIG. 1 with tablet arm in an operable position, according to embodiments of the present invention. [0014]FIG. 3 illustrates a side elevation view of the nesting chair of FIGS. 1 and 2 with tablet arm in an operable position, according to embodiments of the present invention. [0015]FIG. 4 illustrates a top elevation view of the nesting chair of FIGS. 1-3 with tablet arm in an operable position according to embodiments of the present invention. [0016]FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the nesting chair of FIGS. 1-4 with a tablet arm in a nested position, according to embodiments of the present invention. [0017]FIG. 6 illustrates a front elevation view of the nesting chair of FIGS. 1-5 with a tablet arm in a nested position, according to embodiments of the present invention [0018]FIG. 7 illustrates a side elevation view of the nesting chair of FIGS. 1-6 with a tablet arm in a nested position, according to embodiments of the present invention. [0019]FIG. 8 illustrates a top elevation view of the nesting chair of FIGS. 1-7 with a tablet arm in a nested position, according to embodiments of the present invention. [0020]FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of two nesting chairs nested with tablet arms in nested positions, according to embodiments of the present invention. [0021]FIG. 10 illustrates a side elevation view of the two nesting chairs of FIG. 9 with tablet arms in nested positions, according to embodiments of the present invention. Continue reading about Tablet arm for nesting chair... Full patent description for Tablet arm for nesting chair Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Tablet arm for nesting chair patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Tablet arm for nesting chair or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Vehicle seat with pivotable flap Next Patent Application: Device for the articulated linking of handles to infant seats, carrycots and the like Industry Class: Chairs and seats ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Tablet arm for nesting chair patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.28804 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Qualcomm , Schering-Plough , Schlumberger , Seagate , Siemens , Texas Instruments , 174 |
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