The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 10, 2002
Filed:
May. 08, 2001
Edward R. Terris, East Lansing, MI (US);
Gasper J. Palazzolo, Williamston, MI (US);
Collins & Aikman Products Co., Troy, MI (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for removably securing an armrest to a mounting pin secured to a vehicle seat includes a housing, a user-actuated retaining member movably disposed within the housing, and a pair of diverging surfaces disposed within the housing. The retaining member includes a base portion and a pair of spaced-apart, resilient arms which extend outwardly from the base portion. Each arm includes an intermediate portion and a free end. The intermediate portion of each arm is configured to engage a respective portion of a groove that extends circumferentially around at least a portion of the mounting pin when the retaining member is in a relaxed configuration. An actuator is slidably disposed within the housing and is movable so as to engage, and apply a force to, the retaining member base portion. When the actuator applies a force to the retaining member base portion, the free end of each retaining member arm is caused to slide along respective diverging surfaces to urge the intermediate portions of the retaining member arms away from each other so that they become disengaged from the mounting pin groove.