Armrest assembly

An armrest assembly for use with a chair having a seat with a lower side and an upper side which is engaged by a person sitting on the seat, said armrest assembly comprising an arm disposed beneath the seat and having a first end portion pivotally connected with the lower side of the seat at a location spaced from edge portions of the seat by a distance which is at least substantially as great as the length of said arm, said arm being pivotal about a first axis which extends transversely to a central axis of said arm to move said arm along the lower side of the seat, said arm having a second end portion which is disposed adjacent to one of the edge portions of the seat, said arm having a central portion which is disposed midway between said first and second end portions of said arm and which remains beneath the lower side of the seat throughout the entire range of pivotal movement of said arm relative to the seat, a support member connected with and extending upward from said second end portion of said arm, an armrest connected with said support member, said support member being pivotal relative to said arm about a second axis which extends transversely to the central axis of said arm to enable said armrest to be pivoted about the first and second axes, and slide means for supporting said armrest for movement relative to said support member along a linear path extending transversely to the first and second axes.

An armrest assembly for use with a chair having a seat with opposite side portions which extend between front and back portions of the seat, said armrest assembly comprising an armrest, and support means for supporting said armrest for pivotal movement relative to the seat about a plurality of axes and for supporting said armrest for movement along a linear path relative to the seat, said support means including means for supporting said armrest for rotation about a first vertical axis which extends adjacent to a side portion of the seat, said support means including a one-piece tubular support member having an upright lower portion, an upper portion which extends away from said upright lower portion, and a continuously curving arcuate bend portion which extends between said upright lower portion and said upper portion of said one-piece tubular support member, said Upright lower portion, arcuate bend portion and upper portion of said one-piece tubular support member being continuously fixedly interconnected, said continuous arcuate bend portion having an arcuate longitudinal central axis which extends between a longitudinal central axis of said upright lower portion and a longitudinal central axis of said upper portion of said one-piece tubular support member, said armrest being rotatable about the first axis between a first position in which the armrest is offset to one side of the seat and a second position in which at least a portion of the armrest is disposed directly above the seat, means for supporting said armrest for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis at a location which is directly above the seat when said armrest is in the second position, means for supporting said armrest for pivotal movement about a second vertical axis at a location which is directly above the seat when said armrest is in the second position, and means for supporting said armrest for movement along a linear path which is disposed above the horizontal axis and extends through the second vertical axis.

An armrest assembly for use with a chair having a seat with a lower side and an upper side which is engaged by a person sitting on the seat, said armrest assembly comprising an arm having a first end portion disposed beneath the seat and connected with the lower side of the seat, said arm having a second end portion which is disposed adjacent to an edge portion of the seat, a cylindrical tubular upright fixedly connected with said second end portion of said arm, said tubular upright including surface means for defining a slot in said tubular upright, a bearing member disposed within said tubular upright, a retainer member extending through the slot in said tubular upright and connected with said bearing member, said retainer member being movable along said slot in said tubular upright between any one of a plurality of positions relative to said tubular upright to move said bearing member to any one of a plurality of positions relative to said tubular upright, means for retaining said retainer member and said bearing member in a selected position relative to said tubular upright, a one-piece tubular support member having an upright lower portion and an upper portion which extends transversely to said upright lower portion, said upright lower portion of said tubular support member having a lower end portion which is telescopically received in said tubular upright and which engages said bearing member, a bearing sleeve at least partially disposed between an inner side surface of said tubular upright and an outer side surface of said lower end portion of said tubular support member, said bearing sleeve and bearing member cooperating with said tubular upright and said lower end portion of said tubular support member to support said tubular support member for rotation about a central axis of said lower portion of said tubular support member, said upright lower portion of said tubular support member being rotatable about its central axis between a position in which said upper portion of said tubular support member is offset to one side of the seat and extends away from said lower portion of said tubular support member in a direction away from the seat and a position in which an outer end portion of said upper portion of said tubular support member is disposed directly above the seat, and an armrest connected with an outer end portion of said upper portion of said tubular support member, said armrest being movable along a linear path relative to said upper portion of said tubular support member.

An armrest assembly for use with a chair having a seat with a lower side and an upper side which is engaged by a person sitting on the seat, said armrest assembly comprising a one-piece tubular support member having an upright lower portion, an upper portion at least a portion of which slopes upward and away from said upright lower portion, said support means including a one-piece tubular support member having an upright lower portion, an upper portion which extends away from said upright lower portion, and a continuously curving arcuate bend portion which extends between said upright lower portion and said upper portion of said one-piece tubular support member, said upright lower portion, arcuate bend portion and upper portion of said one-piece tubular support member being continuously fixedly interconnected, said continuous arcuate bend portion having an arcuate longitudinal central axis which extends between a longitudinal central axis of said upright lower portion and a longitudinal central axis of said upper portion of said one-piece tubular support member, support means engaging a lower end portion of said upright portion of said tubular support member for supporting said tubular support member for rotation about the longitudinal central axis of said upright portion of said tubular support member, an armrest connected with an outer end portion of said upper portion of said tubular support member, said armrest including a lower slide member, an upper slide member, said upper slide member being movable from an initial position relative to said lower slide member and said upper portion of said tubular support member along a linear path which is skewed at an acute angle to at least a portion of said upper portion of said tubular support member, said upper slide member having upper side surface means for engaging a portion of an arm of a person sitting on the seat of the chair and for transmitting force from the arm of a person sitting on the seat of the chair to said upper slide member, said upper side surface means being concave in a downward direction about an axis of curvature which extends generally parallel to the linear path along which said upper slide member is movable relative to said lower slide member, bearing means connected with at least one of said slide members for facilitating movement of said upper slide member relative to said lower slide member along the linear path under the influence of force transmitted to said upper side surface means from the arm of a person sitting on the seat of the chair and spring means connected with said upper slide member for urging said upper slide member back toward the initial position relative to said lower slide member upon movement of said upper slide member along the linear path, and connector means for connecting said lower slide member with said outer end portion of said tubular support member, said connector means including means for enabling said lower slide member to pivot about an axis extending through the linear path under the influence of force transmitted to said upper side surface means from the arm of the person sitting on the seat of the chair.

An armrest assembly for use with a chair having a seat with opposite side portions which extend between front and back portions of the seat, said armrest assembly comprising upper side surface means for engaging a portion of an arm of a person sitting on the seat of the chair, and support means for supporting said upper side surface means for pivotal movement relative to the seat about a plurality of axes under the influence of force transmitted from the arm of the person sitting on the seat of the chair to said upper side surface means and for supporting said upper side surface means for movement relative to the seat along a linear path under the influence of force transmitted from the arm of the person sitting on the seat of the chair to said upper side surface means, said support means including a one-piece tubular support member having an upright lower portion, an upper portion which extends transversely to said lower portion and is connected with said upper side surface means, and a continuously curving arcuate bend portion which extends between said upright lower portion and said upper portion of said one-piece tubular support member, said upright lower portion, arcuate bend portion and upper portion of said one-piece tubular support member being continuously fixedly interconnected, said continuous arcuate bend portion having an arcuate longitudinal central axis which extends between a longitudinal central axis of said upright lower portion and a longitudinal central axis of said upper portion of said one-piece tubular support member, means for supporting said tubular support member for rotation about the longitudinal central axis of said upright portion of said tubular support member under the influence of the force transmitted from the arm of the person sitting on the seat of the chair to said upper side surface means, means for supporting said upper side surface means for pivotal movement relative to said upper portion of said tubular support member about a second axis which extends transversely to the linear path under the influence of the force transmitted from the arm of the person sitting on the seat of the chair to said upper side surface means, and means for supporting said upper side surface means for movement along the linear path under the influence of force transmitted from the arm of the person sitting on the seat of the chair to said upper side surface means.

An armrest assembly for use with a chair having a seat with a lower side and an upper side which is engaged by a person sitting on the seat, said armrest assembly comprising a one-piece tubular support member having an upright lower portion, an upper portion at least a portion of which slopes upward and away from said upright lower portion, and a continuously curving arcuate bend portion which extends between said upright lower portion and said upper portion of said one-piece tubular support member, said upright lower portion, arcuate bend portion and upper portion of said one-piece tubular support member being continuously fixedly interconnected, said continuous arcuate bend portion having an arcuate longitudinal central axis which extends between a longitudinal central axis of said upright lower portion and a longitudinal central axis of said upper portion of said one-piece tubular support member, support means engaging a lower end portion of said upright portion of said tubular support member for supporting said tubular support member for rotation about the longitudinal central axis of said upright portion of said tubular support member under the influence of force transmitted from an arm of a person sitting on the seat of the chair, and an armrest connected with an outer end portion of said upper portion of said tubular support member, said armrest including a lower slide member, an upper slide member, said upper slide member being movable under the influence of force transmitted from an arm of a person sitting on the seat of the chair from an initial position relative to said lower slide member along a linear path which is skewed at an acute angle to at least the portion of said upper portion of said tubular support member which slopes upward away from said upright portion of said tubular support member, said upper slide member having upper side surface means for engaging a portion of an arm of a person sitting on the seat of the chair and for transmitting force from the arm of a person sitting on the seat of the chair to said upper slide member, said upper side surface means being concave in a downward direction about an axis of curvature which extends generally parallel to the linear path along which said upper slide member is movable relative to said lower slide member to facilitate the transmittal of force from an arm of a person sitting on seat of the chair to said upper slide member.

An armrest assembly for attachment to a chair having a pedestal assembly which supports a seat having opposite side portions which extend between front and back portions of the seat, said armrest assembly comprising a base plate, said base plate having a lower side surface for engaging an upper end portion of the pedestal assembly and an upper side surface for engaging a bottom of the seat, said base plate having first and second end portions which are spaced apart by a distance which is at least substantially as great as the distance between opposite side portions of the seat, said upper and lower side surfaces of said base plate extending between said first and second end portions of said base plate, a first support assembly connected with said base plate and extending upward from the first end portion of said base plate, a second support assembly connected with said base plate and extending upward from the second end portion of said base plate, a first armrest connected with an upper end portion of said first support assembly, and a second armrest connected with an upper end portion of said second support assembly, said first and second support assemblies and said first and second armrests being supported by said base plate when said base plate is disposed between the upper end portion of the pedestal and the bottom of the seat, each one of said first and second support assemblies includes an arm having a first end portion pivotally connected with said base plate at a location spaced from the first and second end portions of said base plate, said arm in each one of said support assemblies being pivotal about an axis which extends through said base plate and through a portion of the seat which is spaced from the side portions of the seat, said arm in each of said support assemblies extending along one of said upper and lower side surfaces of said base plate and having a second end portion disposed adjacent to one of said end portions of said base plate and one of the side portions of the seat, each one of said support assemblies having a support member connected with said second end portion of said arm, each one of said support assemblies includes a tubular upright fixedly connected to said second end portion of said arm and extending upwardly adjacent to one of the side portions of the seat, said support member in each one of said support assemblies having a lower end portion disposed in a telescopic relationship with and pivotally supported by said tubular upright for pivotal movement about a central axis of said tubular upright, one of said first and second armrests being connected with an upper portion of said support member in each one of said support assemblies.

An armrest assembly for attachment to a chair having a pedestal assembly which supports a seat having opposite side portions which extend between front and back portions of the seat, said armrest assembly comprising a base plate, said base plate having a lower side surface for engaging an upper end portion of the pedestal assembly and an upper side surface for engaging a bottom of the seat, said base plate having first and second end portions which are spaced apart by a distance which is at least substantially as great as the distance between opposite side portions of the seat, said upper and lower side surfaces of said base plate extending between said first and second end portions of said base plate, a first support assembly connected with said base plate and extending upward from the first end portion of said base plate, a second support assembly connected with said base plate and extending upward from the second end portion of said base plate, a first armrest connected with an upper end portion of said first support assembly, and a second armrest connected with an upper end portion of said second support assembly, said first and second support assemblies and said first and second armrests being supported by said base plate when said base plate is disposed between the upper end portion of the pedestal and the bottom of the seat, said first support assembly including a first arm having a first end portion pivotally connected with said base plate for pivotal movement about a first axis which extends through said base plate at a location spaced from the first end portion of said base plate by a distance which is at least substantially as great as the length of said first arm, a first one-piece support member having an upright lower portion connected with a second end portion of said first arm for movement therewith relative to said base plate, said first support member having an upper portion at least a portion of which slopes upward and away from said upright lower portion of said first support member, said first support member being rotatable relative to said first arm about a longitudinal central axis of said upright lower portion of said first support member to move said upper portion of said first support member between a position in which said upper portion of said first support member is offset to one side of said base plate and a position in which at least a portion of said upper portion of said first support member is disposed directly above said base plate, said first armrest being connected to said upper portion of said first support member for movement therewith relative to said base plate, said second support assembly including a second arm having a first end portion pivotally connected with said base plate for pivotal movement about a second axis which extends through said base plate at a location spaced from said second end portion of said base plate by a distance which is at least substantially as great as the length of said second arm, a second one-piece support member having an upright lower portion connected with a second end portion of said second arm for movement therewith relative to said base plate, said second support member having an upper portion at least a portion of which slopes upward and away from said upright lower portion of said second support member, said second support member being rotatable relative to said second arm about a longitudinal central axis of said upright lower portion of said second support member to move said upper portion of said second support member between a position in which said upper portion of said second support member is offset to one side of said base plate and a position in which at least a portion of said upper portion of said second support member is disposed directly above said base plate, said second armrest being connected to said upper portion of said second support member for movement therewith relative to said base plate, said first support assembly including a first tubular upright fixedly connected with the second end portion of said first arm, said lower end portion of said first support member being disposed in a telescopic relationship with said first tubular upright and being rotatable relative to said first tubular upright about a longitudinal central axis of said lower portion of said first support member, said second support assembly including a second tubular upright fixedly connected with the second end portion of said second arm, said lower end portion of said second support member being disposed in a telescopic relationship with said second tubular upright and being rotatable relative to said second tubular upright about a longitudinal central axis of said lower portion of said second support member.

An armrest assembly for use with a chair having a seat with a lower side and an upper side which is engaged by a person sitting on the seat, said armrest assembly comprising an arm disposed beneath the seat and having a first end portion pivotally connected with the lower side of the seat at a location spaced from edge portions of the seat by a distance which is at least substantially as great as the length of said arm, said arm being pivotal about a first axis which extends transversely to a central axis of said arm to move said arm along the lower side of the seat, said arm having a second end portion which is disposed adjacent to one of the edge portions of the seat, said arm having a central portion which is disposed midway between said first and second end portions of said arm and which remains beneath the lower side of the seat throughout the entire range of pivotal movement of said arm relative to the seat, a tubular upright fixedly connected with said second end portion of said arm, said tubular upright having a central axis which extends parallel to said first axis, a support member connected with and extending upward from said second end portion of said arm, an armrest connected with said support member, said support member being pivotal relative to said arm about a second axis which extends transversely to the central axis of said arm to enable said armrest to be pivoted about the first and second axes, said support member being telescopically received in said tubular upright with said second axis coincident with the central axis of said tubular upright, and slide means for supporting said armrest for movement relative to said support member along a linear path extending transversely to the first and second axes.

An armrest assembly for attachment to a chair having a pedestal assembly which supports a seat having opposite side portions which extend between front and back portions of the seat, said armrest assembly comprising a base plate, said base plate having a lower side surface for engaging an upper end portion of the pedestal assembly and an upper side surface for engaging a bottom of the seat, said base plate having first and second end portions which are spaced apart by a distance which is at least substantially as great as the distance between opposite side portions of the seat, said upper and lower side surfaces of said base plate extending between said first and second end portions of said base plate, a first support assembly connected with said base plate and extending upward from the first end portion of said base plate, a second support assembly connected with said base plate and extending upward from the second end portion of said base plate, a first armrest connected with an upper end portion of said first support assembly, and a second armrest connected with an upper end portion of said second support assembly, said first and second support assemblies and said first and second armrests being supported by said base plate when said base plate is disposed between the upper end portion of the pedestal and the bottom of the seat, each one of said first and second support assemblies includes an arm having a first end portion disposed beneath the seat, said arm having a second end portion which is disposed adjacent to an edge portion of the seat, a cylindrical tubular upright fixedly connected with said second end portion of said arm, said tubular upright including surface means for defining a slot in said tubular upright, a bearing member disposed within said tubular upright, a retainer member extending through the slot in said tubular upright and connected with said bearing member, said retainer member being movable along said slot in said tubular upright between any one of a plurality of positions relative to said tubular upright to move said bearing member to any one of a plurality of positions relative to said tubular upright, means for retaining said retainer member and said bearing member in a selected position relative to said tubular upright, a one-piece tubular support member having an upright lower portion and an upper portion which extends transversely to said upright lower portion, said upright lower portion of said tubular support member having a lower end portion which is telescopically received in said tubular upright and which engages said bearing member, a bearing sleeve at least partially disposed between an inner side surface of said tubular upright and an outer side surface of said lower end portion of said tubular support member, said bearing sleeve and bearing member cooperating with said tubular upright and said lower end portion of said tubular support member to support said tubular support member for rotation about a central axis of said lower portion of said tubular support member, said upright lower portion of said tubular support member being rotatable about its central axis between a position in which said upper portion of said tubular support member is offset to one side of the seat and extends away from said lower portion of said tubular support member in a direction away from the seat and a position in which an outer end portion of said upper portion of said tubular support member is disposed directly above the seat, each of said armrests being connected with an outer end portion of said upper portion of a tubular support member in one of said first and second support assemblies, each of said armrests being movable along a linear path relative to said upper portion of one of said tubular support members.

An armrest assembly for use with a chair having a seat with a lower side and an upper side which is engaged by a person sitting on the seat, said armrest assembly comprising an arm disposed beneath the seat and having a first end portion pivotally connected with the lower side of the seat at a location spaced from edge portions of the seat by a distance which is at least substantially as great as the length of said arm, said arm being pivotal about a first axis which extends transversely to a central axis of said arm to move said arm along the lower side of the seat, said arm having a second end portion which is disposed adjacent to one of the edge portions of the seat, said arm having a central portion which is disposed midway between said first and second end portions of said arm and which remains beneath the lower side of the seat throughout the entire range of pivotal movement of said arm relative to the seat, a support member connected with and extending upward from said second end portion of said arm, an armrest connected with said support member, said support member being pivotal relative to said arm about a second axis which extends transversely to the central axis of said arm to enable said armrest to be pivoted about the first and second axes, slide means for supporting said armrest for movement relative to said support member along a linear path extending transversely to the first and second axes, a cylindrical tubular upright fixedly connected with said second end portion of said arm, said tubular upright including surface means for defining a slot in said tubular upright, a bearing member disposed within said tubular upright, a retainer member extending through the slot in said tubular upright and connected with said bearing member, said retainer member being movable along said slot in said tubular upright between any one of a plurality of positions relative to said tubular upright to move said bearing member to any one of a plurality of positions relative to said tubular upright, means for retaining said retainer member and said bearing member in a selected position relative to said tubular upright, said support member having an upright lower portion and an upper portion which extends transversely to said upright lower portion, said upright lower portion of said support member having a lower end portion which is telescopically received in said tubular upright and which engages said bearing member, a bearing sleeve at least partially disposed between an inner side surface of said tubular upright and an outer side surface of said lower end portion of said support member, said bearing sleeve and bearing member cooperating with said tubular upright and said lower end portion of said support member to support said support member for rotation about a central axis of said lower portion of said support member, said upright lower portion of said support member being rotatable about its central axis between a position in which said upper portion of said support member is offset to one side of the seat and extends away from said lower portion of said support member in a direction away from the seat and a position in which an outer end portion of said upper portion of said support member is disposed directly above the seat, said armrest being connected with an outer end portion of said upper portion of said support member.

An armrest assembly for use with a chair having a seat with opposite side portions which extend between front and back portions of the seat, said armrest assembly comprising a support member having an upright lower portion and an upper portion, means for connecting said upright lower portion of said support member with the seat at a location adjacent to a side portion of the seat and for enabling said upright lower portion of said support member to rotate relative to the seat about a central axis of said upright lower portion of said support member, said upright lower portion of said support member being rotatable about its central axis between a position in which said upper portion of said support member is offset to one side of the seat and extends away from said lower portion of said support member in a direction away from the seat and a position in which at least an outer end portion of said upper portion of said support member is disposed directly above the seat, and an armrest connected with the outer end portion of said upper portion of said support member, said armrest being movable along a linear path relative to said upper portion of said support member, said means for connecting said upright lower portion of said support member with the seat includes an arm having a first end portion disposed beneath the seat and connected with a lower side of the seat, said arm having a second end portion which is disposed adjacent to the side portion of the seat, a cylindrical tubular upright fixedly connected with said second end portion of said arm, said tubular upright including surface means for defining a slot in said tubular upright, a bearing member disposed within said tubular upright, a retainer member extending through the slot in said tubular upright and connected with said bearing member, said retainer member being movable along said slot in said tubular upright between any one of a plurality of positions relative to said tubular upright to move said bearing member to anyone of a plurality of positions relative to said tubular upright, means for retaining said retainer member and said bearing member in a selected position relative to said tubular upright, said upright lower portion of said support member having a lower end portion which is telescopically received in said tubular upright and which engages said bearing member, a bearing sleeve at least partially disposed between an inner side surface of said tubular upright and an outer side surface of said lower end portion of said support member, said bearing sleeve and bearing member cooperating with said tubular upright and said lower end portion of said support member to support said support member for rotation about a central axis of said lower portion of said support member.

An armrest assembly for use with a chair having a seat with opposite side portions which extend between front and back portions of the seat, said armrest assembly comprising an armrest, and support means for supporting said armrest for pivotal movement relative to the seat about a plurality of axes and for supporting said armrest for movement along a linear path relative to the seat, said support means including means for supporting said armrest for rotation about a first vertical axis which extends adjacent to a side portion of the seat, said armrest being rotatable about the first axis between a first position in which the armrest is offset to one side of the seat and a second position in which at least a portion of the armrest is disposed directly above the seat, means for supporting said armrest for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis at a location which is directly above the seat when said armrest is in the second position, means for supporting said armrest for pivotal movement about a second vertical axis at a location which is directly above the seat when said armrest is in the second position, and means for supporting said armrest for movement along a linear path which is disposed above the horizontal axis and extends through the second vertical axis, said means for supporting said armrest for rotation about a first vertical axis includes an arm having a first end portion disposed beneath the seat, said arm having a second end portion which is disposed adjacent to a side portion of the seat, a cylindrical tubular upright fixedly connected with said second end portion of said arm, said tubular upright including surface means for defining a slot in said tubular upright, a bearing member disposed within said tubular upright, a retainer member extending through the slot in said tubular upright and connected with said bearing member, said retainer member being movable along said slot in said tubular upright between any one of a plurality of positions relative to said tubular upright to move said bearing member to anyone of a plurality of positions relative to said tubular upright, means for retaining said retainer member and said bearing member in a selected position relative to said tubular upright, a one-piece tubular support member having an upright lower portion and an upper portion which extends transversely to said upright lower portion, said upright lower portion of said tubular support member having a lower end portion which is telescopically received in said tubular upright and which engages said bearing member, a bearing sleeve at least partially disposed between an inner side surface of said tubular upright and an outer side surface of said lower end portion of said tubular support member, said bearing sleeve and bearing member cooperating with said tubular upright and said lower end portion of said tubular support member to support said support member for rotation about a central axis of said lower portion of said tubular support member, said upright lower portion of said tubular support member being rotatable about its central axis between a position in which said upper portion of said tubular support member is offset to one side of the seat and extends away from said lower portion of said tubular support member in a direction away from the seat and a position in which an outer end portion of said upper portion of said tubular support member is disposed directly above the seat, said armrest being connected with an outer end portion of said upper portion of said tubular support member.

An armrest assembly for use with a chair having a seat with a lower side and an upper side which is engaged by a person sitting on the seat, said armrest assembly comprising a one-piece tubular support member having an upright lower portion and an upper portion at least a portion of which slopes upward and away from said upright lower portion, support means engaging a lower end portion of said upright portion of said tubular support member for supporting said tubular support member for rotation about a central axis of said upright portion of said tubular support member, an armrest connected with an outer end portion of said upper portion of said tubular support member, said armrest including a lower slide member, an upper slide member, said upper slide member being movable from an initial position relative to said lower slide member and said upper portion of said tubular support member along a linear path which is skewed at an acute angle to at least the portion of said upper portion of said tubular support member, said upper slide member having upper side surface means for engaging a portion of an arm of a person sitting on the seat of the chair and for transmitting force from the arm of a person sitting on the seat of the chair to said upper slide member, said upper side surface means being concave in a downward direction about an axis of curvature which extends generally parallel to the linear path along which said upper slide member is movable relative to said lower slide member, bearing means connected with at least one of said slide members for facilitating movement of said upper slide member relative to said lower slide member along the linear path under the influence of force transmitted to said upper side surface means from the arm of a person sitting on the seat of the chair, and spring means connected with said upper slide member for urging said upper slide member back toward the initial position relative to said lower slide member upon movement of said upper slide member along the linear path, and connector means for connecting said lower slide member with said outer end portion of said tubular support member, said connector means including means for enabling said lower slide member to pivot about an axis extending through the linear path under the influence of force transmitted to said upper side surface means from the arm of the person sitting on the seat of the chair, said support means includes a cylindrical tubular upright, a bearing member disposed in said tubular upright, a retainer member connected with said bearing member, said retainer member being movable between any one of a plurality of positions relative to said tubular upright to move said bearing member to any one of a plurality of positions relative to said tubular upright, means for retaining said retainer member and said bearing member in a selected position relative to said tubular upright, said upright lower portion of said tubular support member having a lower end portion which is telescopically received in said tubular upright and which engages said bearing member, a bearing sleeve at least partially disposed between an inner side surface of said tubular upright and an outer side surface of said lower end portion of said tubular support member, said bearing sleeve and bearing member cooperating with said tubular upright and said lower end portion of said tubular support member to support said tubular support member for rotation about the central axis of said upright lower portion of said tubular support member, said upright lower portion of said tubular support member being rotatable about its central axis between a position in which said upper portion of said tubular support member is offset to one side of the seat and extends away from said lower portion of said tubular support member in a direction away from the seat and a position in which an outer end portion of said upper portion of said tubular support member is disposed directly above the seat.

An armrest assembly for use with a chair having a seat with opposite side portions which extend between front and back portions of the seat, said armrest assembly comprising upper side surface means for engaging a portion of an arm of a person sitting on the seat of the chair, and support means for supporting said upper side surface means for pivotal movement relative to the seat about a plurality of axes under the influence of force transmitted from the arm of the person sitting on the seat of the chair to said upper side surface means and for supporting said upper side surface means for movement relative to the seat along a linear path under the influence of force transmitted from the arm of the person sitting on the seat of the chair to said upper side surface means, said support means including a one-piece tubular support member having an upright lower portion and an upper portion which extends transversely to said lower portion and is connected with said upper side surface means, means for supporting said tubular support member for rotation about a central axis of said upright portion of said tubular support member under the influence of the force transmitted from the arm of the person sitting on the seat of the chair to said upper side surface means, means for supporting said upper side surface means for pivotal movement relative to said upper portion of said tubular support member about a second axis which extends transversely to the linear path under the influence of the force transmitted from the arm of the person sitting on the seat of the chair to said upper side surface means, and means for supporting said upper side surface means for movement along the linear path under the influence of force transmitted from the arm of the person sitting on the seat of the chair to said upper side surface means, said means for supporting said tubular support member for rotation includes a cylindrical tubular upright, a bearing member disposed in said tubular upright, a retainer member connected with said bearing member, said retainer member being movable between any one of a plurality of positions relative to said tubular upright to move said bearing member to any one of a plurality of positions relative to said tubular upright, means for retaining said retainer member and said bearing member in a selected position relative to said tubular upright, said upright lower portion of said tubular support member having a lower end portion which is telescopically received in said tubular upright and which engages said bearing member, said bearing member supporting said tubular support member for rotation about the central axis of said upright lower portion of said tubular support member, said upright lower portion of said tubular support member being rotatable about its central axis between a position in which said upper portion of said tubular support member is offset to one side of the seat and extends away from said lower portion of said tubular support member in a direction away from the seat and a position in which an outer end portion of said upper portion of said tubular support member is disposed directly above the seat.

An armrest assembly for use with a chair having a seat with a lower side and an upper side which is engaged by a person sitting on the seat, said armrest assembly comprising a one-piece tubular support member having an upright lower portion and an upper portion at least a portion of which slopes upward and away from said upright lower portion, support means engaging a lower end portion of said upright portion of said tubular support member for supporting said tubular support member for rotation about a central axis of said upright portion of said tubular support member under the influence of force transmitted from an arm of a person sitting on the seat of the chair, and an armrest connected with an outer end portion of said upper portion of said tubular support member, said armrest including a lower slide member, an upper slide member, said upper slide member being movable under the influence of force transmitted from an arm of a person sitting on the seat of the chair from an initial position relative to said lower slide member along a linear path which is skewed at an acute angle to at least the portion of said upper portion of said tubular support member which slopes upward away from said upright portion of said tubular support member, said upper slide member having upper side surface means for engaging a portion of an arm of a person sitting on the seat of the chair and for transmitting force from the arm of a person sitting on the seat of the chair to said upper slide member, said upper side surface means being concave in a downward direction about an axis of curvature which extends generally parallel to the linear path along which said upper slide member is movable relative to said lower slide member to facilitate the transmittal of force from an arm of a person sitting on seat of the chair to said upper slide member, said support means includes a cylindrical tubular upright, a bearing member disposed in said tubular upright, a retainer member connected with said bearing member, said retainer member being movable between any one of a plurality of positions relative to said tubular upright to move said bearing member to any one of a plurality of positions relative to said tubular upright, means for retaining said retainer member and said bearing member in a selected position relative to said tubular upright, said upright lower portion of Said tubular support member having a lower end portion which is telescopically received in said tubular upright and which engages said bearing member, said bearing member supporting said tubular support member for rotation about the central axis of said upright lower portion of said tubular support member, said upright lower portion of said tubular support member being rotatable about its central axis between a position in which said upper portion of said tubular support member is offset to one side of the seat and extends away from said lower portion of said tubular support member in a direction away from the seat and a position in which an outer end portion of said upper portion of said tubular support member is disposed directly above the seat.