Armrest for use with a vehicle seat

1. An armrest arrangement ( 1 ) for a construction equipment operator seat, wherein the armrest arrangement is configured for lateral adjustment in order to accommodate operators of different size, said armrest arrangement ( 1 ) comprising:

a unit ( 3 ) for supporting an arm of an operator of a vehicle seated in the seat; and

a first fixing element ( 4 ) connected to the unit ( 3 ) and a second fixing element ( 5 ), which can be fastened to the seat ( 2 ) on the vehicle, wherein the first and the second fixing elements can be adjusted and locked in relation to one another by means of a device ( 6 ) for adjusting the position of the unit ( 3 ) in relation to the seat when using the armrest so that when using the armrest, the adjusting and locking device ( 6 ), which connects the first fixing element ( 4 ) to the second fixing element ( 5 ) at at least two different positions ( 35 , 36 ), is useable to set the unit ( 3 ) to different positions by moving the unit laterally in a direction having a component in a horizontal plane so that the position of the unit is laterally variable in relation to the seat ( 2 );

wherein the adjusting and locking device ( 6 ) comprises a first ball joint ( 13 ) for adjusting reciprocal positions of the first and second fixing elements ( 4 , 5 ) and for adjusting the lateral position of the unit ( 3 ) in relation to the seat ( 2 ) and a second ball joint ( 14 ) arranged along the same geometric axis ( 17 ) as the first ball joint ( 13 );

wherein the first ball joint ( 13 ) comprises a first part ( 18 ) having a convex surface ( 19 ) and a second part ( 20 ) interacting with the first part and having a corresponding concave surface ( 21 ), the first and second parts being arranged between the first and second fixing elements ( 4 , 5 ); and

wherein the second ball joint ( 14 ) comprises a first part ( 18 ) having a convex surface ( 19 ) and a second part ( 20 ) interacting with the first part and having a corresponding concave surface ( 21 ), the first and second parts of said second ball joint ( 14 ) being arranged on a first shaft ( 22 ) on the opposite side of the first or the second fixing element ( 4 , 5 ) to the first and second part of the first ball joint ( 13 ).

2. The construction equipment operator seat armrest arrangement ( 1 ) as recited in claim 1 , wherein the adjusting and locking device ( 6 ) is useable to rotate the first and second fixing element ( 4 , 5 ) in relation to one another about a geometric axis of rotation ( 8 ) for adjusting reciprocal positions of the first and second fixing element and the lateral position of the unit ( 3 ) in relation to the seat ( 2 ).

3. The construction equipment operator seat armrest arrangement ( 1 ) as recited in claim 2 , wherein the adjusting and locking device ( 6 ) is useable to rotate the first and second fixing element ( 4 , 5 ) in relation to one another in an angular interval of at least five degrees.

4. The construction equipment operator seat armrest arrangement ( 1 ) as recited in claim 2 , wherein the adjusting and locking device ( 6 ) comprises a second shaft ( 29 ) which is essentially parallel to the first shaft ( 22 ) and which extends from the first fixing element ( 4 ) to the second fixing element ( 5 ), wherein the first and second shafts ( 22 , 29 ) are offset in relation to one another essentially at right angles to the direction in which the first and second shafts extend; shafts and in relation to the geometric axis of rotation ( 8 ) of the first and second fixing elements ( 4 , 5 ).

5. The construction equipment operator seat armrest arrangement ( 1 ) as recited in claim 4 , wherein the second shaft ( 29 ) is fastened at a first end ( 30 ) to either the first or the second fixing element ( 4 , 5 ) and is designed to extend through a through-hole ( 31 ) in the other of the fixing elements ( 4 , 5 ).

6. The construction equipment operator seat armrest arrangement ( 1 ) as recited in claim 1 , wherein the adjusting and locking device ( 6 ) is useable for continuous adjustment of the first and second fixing element ( 4 , 5 ) in relation to one another.

7. The construction equipment operator seat armrest arrangement ( 1 ) as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first shaft ( 22 ) extends from the first fixing element ( 4 ) to the second fixing element ( 5 ).

8. The construction equipment operator seat armrest arrangement ( 1 ) as recited in claim 7 , wherein the first shaft ( 22 ) is fastened to one of the first fixing element ( 4 ) and the second fixing element ( 5 ) and the first shaft ( 22 ) is configured to extend through a throughhole ( 24 ) in the other of the fixing elements ( 4 or 5 ).

9. The construction equipment operator seat armrest arrangement ( 1 ) as recited in claim 8 , wherein the adjusting and locking device ( 6 ) comprises a first means ( 26 ) arranged at another end ( 25 ) of said first shaft ( 22 ) for locking reciprocal positions of the first and second fixing elements ( 4 , 5 ).

10. The construction equipment operator seat armrest arrangement ( 1 ) as recited in claim 1 , wherein the adjusting and locking device ( 6 ) comprises a third ball joint ( 15 ).

11. The construction equipment operator seat armrest as recited in claim 10 , wherein the third ball joint ( 15 ) comprises a first part ( 18 ) having a convex surface ( 19 ) and a second part ( 20 ) interacting with the first part and having a corresponding concave surface ( 21 ), and the first and second parts ( 18 , 20 ) are arranged between the first and second fixing elements ( 4 , 5 ).

12. The construction equipment operator seat armrest arrangement ( 1 ) as recited in claim 10 , wherein a first part ( 18 ) and a second part ( 20 ) of the third ball joint ( 15 ) are designed as washers arranged on a second shaft ( 29 ).

13. The construction equipment operator seat armrest arrangement ( 1 ) as recited in claim 5 , wherein the adjusting and locking device ( 6 ) comprises a second means ( 32 ) arranged at another end ( 33 ) of said second shaft ( 29 ) for locking reciprocal positions of the first and second fixing elements ( 4 , 5 ).

14. The construction equipment operator seat armrest arrangement ( 1 ) as recited in claim 1 , wherein the unit ( 3 ) is provided with a member ( 12 ) for controlling the vehicle.

15. The construction equipment operator seat armrest arrangement ( 1 ) as recited in claim 1 , wherein the control member is a control lever ( 12 ).

16. A construction equipment operator seat ( 2 ) having a construction equipment operator seat armrest that is laterally adjustable in order to accommodate operators of different sizes, said construction equipment operator seat comprising:

a backrest; and

an armrest arrangement according to claim 1 that is attached to said backrest.

17. A construction machine including a construction equipment operator seat ( 2 ) having a construction equipment operator seat armrest that is laterally adjustable in order to accommodate operators of different sizes, said construction machine comprising:

a motorized wheeled chassis;

a construction equipment operator seat according to claim 16 mounted on said motorized wheeled chassis.

18. An armrest arrangement ( 1 ) for a construction equipment operator seat, wherein the armrest arrangement is configured for lateral adjustment in order to accommodate operators of different size, said armrest arrangement ( 1 ) comprising:

a unit ( 3 ) for supporting an arm of a vehicle operator seated in the seat; and

a first fixing element ( 4 ) connected to the unit ( 3 ) and a second fixing element ( 5 ), which can be fastened to the seat ( 2 ) on the vehicle, wherein the first and the second fixing elements can be adjusted and locked in relation to one another by means of a device ( 6 ) for adjusting the position of the unit ( 3 ) in relation to the seat when using the armrest so that when using the armrest, the adjusting and locking device ( 6 ), which connects the first fixing element ( 4 ) to the second fixing element ( 5 ) at at least two different positions ( 35 , 36 ), is useable to set the unit ( 3 ) to different positions by moving the unit laterally in a direction having a component in a horizontal plane so that the position of the unit is laterally variable in relation to the seat ( 2 );

wherein the adjusting and locking device ( 6 ) comprises a first ball joint ( 13 ) for adjusting reciprocal positions of the first and second fixing elements ( 4 , 5 ) and for adjusting the lateral position of the unit ( 3 ) in relation to the seat ( 2 );

wherein the adjusting and locking device ( 6 ) comprises a third ball joint ( 15 ) with a first part ( 18 ) and a second part ( 20 ) of the third ball joint ( 15 ) being designed as washers arranged on a second shaft ( 29 ); and

wherein the adjusting and locking device ( 6 ) comprises a further ball joint ( 16 ) with a first part ( 18 ) having a convex surface ( 19 ) and a second part ( 20 ) interacting with the first part and having a corresponding concave surface ( 21 ), wherein the first and second parts of said further ball joint ( 16 ) are arranged on and second shaft ( 29 ) on the opposite side of an first or the second fixing element ( 4 , 5 ) to the first and the second part of the third ball joint ( 15 ).

19. The armrest arrangement ( 1 ) as recited in claim 18 , wherein the unit ( 3 ) is provided with a control member ( 12 ) for controlling the vehicle.

20. The armrest arrangement ( 1 ) as recited in claim 19 , wherein the control member ( 12 ) is a control lever.