Aircraft armrest rail roller linkage apparatus

Abstract

An aircraft armrest may incorporate a rail roller linkage. The roller linkage may include an armrest plate, a rail attached to an aircraft seat assembly, a top roller link, and a bottom roller link. The top roller link may have a threaded upper adjustment cylinder, a pivot joint, and a pair of grooved rollers diagonally disposed on either side of the pivot. The bottom roller link may have an unthreaded lower adjustment cylinder, a pivot joint, and a pair of grooved rollers diagonally disposed on either side of the pivot. The grooved rollers may mesh with the rail. The roller linkage may include a roller adjustment screw, having a threaded portion, and extending through both of the adjustment cylinders. A compression spring may bias the roller link around the rail and may be disposed between the top roller link and the bottom roller link and surrounding the roller adjustment screw.

Claims

1. An aircraft armrest rail roller linkage apparatus comprising: (a) an armrest plate for attaching to an armrest assembly; (b) a rail attached to an aircraft seat assembly; (c) a top roller link, attached to the armrest plate, having an upper adjustment cylinder that is threaded and also having a pivot joint and a pair of grooved rollers diagonally disposed on either side of the pivot, the grooves meshing with the rail; (d) a bottom roller link attached to the armrest plate, having a lower adjustment cylinder that is unthreaded and also having a pivot joint and a pair of grooved rollers diagonally disposed on either side of the pivot, the grooves meshing with the rail; (e) a roller adjustment screw, having a threaded portion, and extending through both the upper and the lower adjustment cylinders, the threaded portion of the roller adjustment screw meshing with the threaded portion of the upper adjustment cylinder; (f) a compression spring, biasing the top and bottom roller links around the rail, disposed between the top roller link and the bottom roller link and surrounding the roller adjustment screw; and (f) wherein the respective pivot joints of the top roller link and the bottom roller link are positioned on opposite sides of the rail.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Features, aspects and advantages of the present invention are understood when the following detailed description of the invention is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art rail and roller assembly having no adjustment means;

(3) FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a prior art rail and roller assembly having no adjustment means;

(4) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a prior art rail and roller assembly having multiple adjustment means;

(5) FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a prior art rail and roller assembly having multiple adjustment means integrated into an armrest assembly;

(6) FIG. 3 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention showing a cutaway view of the adjustment cylinder;

(7) FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention;

(8) FIG. 5 is a front side perspective view of an embodiment of the invention;

(9) FIG. 6 is a rear side perspective view of an embodiment of the invention;

(10) FIG. 7 is a front side perspective view of an embodiment of the invention showing the roller mechanism attached to the armrest assembly;

(11) FIG. 8 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the invention;

(12) FIG. 9 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the invention;

(13) FIG. 10 is a front side view of an embodiment of the invention;

(14) FIG. 10A is a sectional view taken along section A-A of FIG. 10;

(15) FIG. 10B is a sectional view taken along section B-B of FIG. 10;

(16) FIG. 10C is a sectional view taken along section C-C of FIG. 10;

(17) FIG. 11 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention showing a cutaway view of the adjustment cylinder and movement of the adjustment screw and pivots; and

(18) FIG. 12 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention showing movement of the adjustment screw and pivots.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Prior Art FIGS. 1, 1A, 2, and 2A

(19) Referring to the prior art figures, FIGS. 1, 1A, show a roller and rail assembly for an arm rest that does not include any adjustment means. Because there is no adjustment means, functionality of the prior art mechanism of FIG. 1 and FIG. 1A requires great deal of manufacturing accuracy. Further, as the rails and/or rollers wear over time, there is no means for adjustment and the roller swill wobble on the rails. Referring to the prior art FIGS. 2 and 2A, the roller and rail assembly of the prior art is shown with several adjustment means. In order to align the assembly of FIG. 2, pressure adjustment bolt and at least a pair of manual adjustment screws must be manipulated. Such adjustment may take as long as 15 minutes per armrest assembly. As shown in FIG. 2A, the armrest roller mechanism of the prior art is fully integrated into the armrest assembly. Adjustments require significant downtime in removing the entire assembly.

Preferred Embodiment and Best Mode FIGS. 3-12

(20) The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. However, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the representative embodiments set forth herein. The exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be both thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention and enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make, use and practice the invention. Like reference numbers refer to like elements throughout the various drawings.

(21) Referring to the FIGS. 3-12, provided herein are various embodiments of the rail roller linkage mechanism 10 of the present invention. The designed described below allows for armrest roller adjustment in as little as 3 minutes per side. The rail roller linkage mechanism 10 includes a rail 20 onto which grooved rollers 40 roll. The grooved rollers 40 are held by top roller link 22 and bottom roller link 24. The links 22, 24, respectively, includes upper 26 and lower 28 adjustment cylinders. Further, roller adjustment screw 50 extends through the cylinders 26, 28 and compression spring 52 resides between the cylinders and around portions of the screw 50. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, roller links 22 and 24 are preloaded by compression spring 52 and push apart in a direction parallel to the adjustment screw 50 and all rollers 40 make initial contact with rail 20.

(22) As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, an armrest plate 60 may be attached to the rail roller linkage mechanism 10.

(23) As shown in FIG. 7, the rail roller linkage mechanism 10 may be attached to an armrest 80 using screws 70.

(24) As shown in exploded FIGS. 8 and 9, the preferred embodiment may include an armrest plate 60, a plurality of reinforced spacers 62, a plurality of roller adjustment screws 50, a plurality of lower adjustment cylinders 28, a top roller link 22, a bottom roller link 24, a plurality of bolts 64, a plurality of retainer rings 54, a plurality of washers 66, a plurality of grooved rollers 40, a plurality of bolts 68, a plurality of nuts 69, a plurality of compression springs 52, a plurality of upper adjustment cylinders 26, and a plurality of rails 40.

(25) As shown in FIGS. 10, 10A, 10B, and 10C, bolt 64 attaches rollers 40 to top roller link 22 using spacers 62. Top roller link 22 attaches to armrest plate 60 via bolt 68 and nut 69. As especially shown in FIG. 10C, adjustment screw 50 passes through top roller link 22, upper adjustment cylinder 22, spring 52, washer 66, lower roller link 24, lower adjustment cylinder 28, and retainer ring 54.

(26) As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, increased roller pressure may be actuated by turning roller adjustment screw 50 direction 56. Turning roller adjustment screw 50 pushes lower adjustment cylinder 28 further downward. This movement pivots lower link 24 in an inward direction and rollers 40 towards an inward direction on the surface of rail 20. Once lower link rollers 40 bottom out on rail 40, further turning on adjustment roller adjustment screw 50 results in pushing top roller link 22 away.

(27) Combining result of above is turning of roller adjustment screw 50 in direction 56 brings all rollers 40 towards rail 20 and it is directly proportional. More turns in direction 56 applies more force of rollers 40 on rail 20. The reverse of this procedure applies less force.

(28) Compression spring 52 is also acting as anti-rotation force on roller adjustment screw 50 by applying constant pressure on both adjustment cylinders 26, 28 and avoids backing-off of roller adjustment screw 50 due to any vibration during normal mechanism operation.

(29) An aircraft armrest rail roller linkage 10 according to the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments and examples. Various details of the invention may be changed without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation, the invention being defined by the claims. It is envisioned that other embodiments may perform similar functions and/or achieve similar results. Any and all such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the scope of the present invention and are intended to be covered by the appended claims.