US2576883A - Footrest - Google Patents

Description

E. V. KOSKI Nov. 2'7, 1951 FOOTREST 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed July 5, 1946 R 0 7. N W N l 1 TTO R NE Y5 E V. KOSKI FOOTREST Nov, 27, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed July 3, 1946 ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOOTREST Eino V. Koski, West New Brighton, N. Y.

Application July 3, 1946, Serial No. 681,259

8 Claims. (Cl. 155-165) This invention relates to supports, particularly to a foot rest, and has for its principal object to provide an improved universally mountable device for pedicuring ones feet.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable foot rest that is of durable and economical construction.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a portable foot rest that may be readily atltached to and detached from a supporting mem- A further object of the invention is to provide an improved foot rest for a bath tub in which the angle of the supporting surface for the foot may be adjusted to suit the convenience of the user.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an universally supportable foot rest that is adaptable for removable disposition within a bathtub, i. e., upon a spigot or spigots, side or bottom thereof, upon some article of furniture, or upon the floor.

With the above objects in view, one embodiment of my invention discloses a foot plate carried upon a pair of rounded V-shaped leg members, formed out of a single rod or tube, the free ends of the rod, as well as intermediate portions thereof, being secured to respective ends of the plate with the looped end of the rod extending beyond the plate and formed in such a manner as to provide a third leg member for angularly supporting the plate on a flat surface or to the side of an article of furniture.

In another embodiment rounded V-shaped members support one end of the foot plate while the other end of the plate is provided with a telescopic plate member adiustably secured there- 'to for arranging the foot rest at a plurality of angles. The free end of the telescopic plate is provided with spaced apart suction cups for facilitating attachment to the sides of a bathtub.

In still another embodiment two of the leg members are telescopically coupled to tubular elements rigidly attached to the foot plate.

A more complete understanding of the invention will be obtained from the following description of the preferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a foot rest which is adapted for disposition upon a horizontal or vertical surface;

' Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing attachment of the free ends of the leg members to the foot plate;

Fig. 3 is a view, taken along line 33 of Fig. 1, showing attachment of one of the leg members to the foot plate;

Fig. 4 is a modification of the extended, looped end of Fig. l, in which a reverse curve is formed for supporting the foot rest upon a knob or protuberance of an article of furniture;

Fig. 5 is a view partly in section, of the foot rest of Fig. 1 disposed in a bathtub;

Figs. 6 and '7 are views of the foot rest mounted upon articles of furniture;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of another embodiment of foot rest in which the resting angle of the foot plate is adapted to be varied;

Figs. 9, 10, and 11 are sectional views taken along lines 99, |0-lt, and ll-l l, respectively, of Fig. 8 showing details of construction;

Fig. 12 is a View, partly in section, of the foot rest of Fig. 8 secured to the side of a bathtub by vacuum cups; and

Fig. 13 is a partial View of a telescopic leg mem ber adjustably secured to the foot plate.

Referring now to the drawings, particularly to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, there is shown one embodiment of a foot rest It] for supporting a persons foot during a cleaning or pedicuring operation. The foot rest Ii] comprises essentially two parts, a foot plate [2 carried upon a skeleton supporting element It formed preferably from a single tube or rod of suitable material, such as brass, in such a manner as to support the plate l2 at a predetermined angle with a horizontal or vertical surface, as will hereinafter appear. The plate I 2 is preferably made of fiat metallic material, although plastic material may also be used, and is shown with arcuately shaped ends l6, l8, longitudinal ribs 2Q, consisting of depressions in the plate (Fig. 2), being formed along the sides thereof to increase the rigidity of the plate. Adjacent the ends of the ribs 29 and along the inner edges thereof are shown suitable attaching means 22, preferably four in number, for the skeleton supporting element i l, each of said attaching means 22 being shown as a hook punched out of the plate material and formed into an arcuate shape, as seen more clearly in Fig. 3.

The skeleton supporting element M is preferably formed, as shown, into a pair of rounded V-shaped leg members 24, 2% having the upper portions 28, 39, 32, and 35 thereof removably secured to the hooks 22 of the plate [2. To further increase the rigidity of the foot rest ID the free ends 28, 30 of the leg members 24, 26, respectively, are bent transversely, preferably at 3 right angles thereto, and seated within the hooks 22 in such manner that, as shown in Fig. 2, the heels of the transverse ends 28, 30 are in bearing engagement with the convex sides of the ribs 20. From the upper portions 32, 34 the skeleton supporting element I4 is extended and formed, as shown in Fig. 1, to provide an additional supporting leg 36 for the plate l2, which leg is preferably one-half the projected vertical length of the V-shaped legs 24', 26, so that the plate I2 is adapted to be disposed at an angle of substantially 45 when resting on a horizontal surface.-. It is, of course, understood that the plate is not to be limited to an angle of 45, as any desired angle may be provided. The leg- 36- ispreferably.

formed, adjacent portions 32, 34, with U-shaped bends 38, #30, respectively, after which straightportions 42, M, respectively, interconnect the same with a looped portion 45, which is also bent transversely to the straight portions 42, 44, thereby affording a suitable resting surface therefor, as illustrated clearly in Fig. 5, which shows a foot rest it disposed in a bathtub 41.-

The looped portion it is also adapted for supporting the foot rest lb upon a verticalsurfac'e, such as to the side of a bed 48 (Fig. 6)- or to the side of a pulled-out drawer 59 (Fig. '7) of an article of furniture. To further adapt the foot rest l6 for attachment to spigots (not shown) of the bathtub 4'! or to knobs 52 of an article of furniture the looped portion a6 is modified by forming a reverse bend it therein, as shown in Fig. 4. Itis thus readily apparent that the reverse bend 48- will embracingly engage the upper arcuate surface of a knob 52 or spigot and support the foot rest it at an angle substantially 45 with the vertical surface of the article of furniture or bathtub. To increase frictional resistance, that is, to minimize slippage, as Well as to prevent marring furniture, the surface a:

bearing portions of the skeleton supporting element [4' are encased, as shown, with insulating sleeves 54 of any suitable material; such as rubber, etc. It will be noted-that when the foot rest I is placed on a horizontal surface the end [8 of plate IE will be in the elevated position while when attached to a vertical surface the other end l6 of plate 12' will be in the elevated position.

Referring now to Figs. 8, 9, 1'0, 11, and 12, another embodiment of the invention is shown in which an adjustable foot rest 60 comprising a foot plate 62 carried upon a skeleton supporting element 84 and an adjustable member 66 for varying the angle at which the foot rest 60' may be disposed with respect to either a horizontal or vertical surface. The plate 62 is similar to plate 52 of the hereinbefore described embodiment and is provided with longitudinal stiffening ribs 68 and hooks disposed and formed as shown for removable attachment of the element 64 to the plate 52. A ribbed rubber mat H is shown on plate 52 for minimizing slippage of a persons foot therefrom. The skeleton supporting element 64 is preferably made from a single length of metallic tubular or rod-like material and is formed so as to provide a pair of rounded V-shaped legs 12, i4 interconnected by a straight portion 16 at one side and provided at the other side with free ends 18, 80 bent inwardly and transversely of legs 12, 14, respectively. The element 64 is pretensioned longitudinally, so that by compressing both sides of the respective legs 12, 14 the element 64 may be disengaged from the hooks 10, the open ends of which, it will be observed in Figs. 9 and 10, face toward each other. Similarly during assembly, the element 64 may be compressed and snapped into engagement with the hooks 10.

The adjustable feature of the foot rest 60 resides in a plate 82 having a guide or slot 84, longitudinally disposed therein, through which a stem 86 of a screw 88 threadedly engageable withplate 6,2. ispassed. Screw 88 ispreferably provided with anenlarged knurled head 90 and shoulder 92' to facilitate ready adjustment of the foot rest 60 to the desired length. To the free end of the adjustable plate 82 is secured a bifurcated rod-like or tubular element 94, such as by extensions 96 bent over and around an inner arcua'te portion thereof, as shown, while the free ends of; theelement 94 are secured to vacuum cups 98in any suitable manner, such as by looping them around grooves provided thereon. The free ends of the bifurcated element 94 are also shown bent at an angle to provide proper inclination of the vacuum cups 98 when disposed upon a horizontal or vertical surface. An illustration of an adjustable foot rest 60' is shown in Fig. 12 wherein the vacuum cups 98 arein suction gripping engagement with the side of a bathtub. It is readily apparent from this figure that the angle ofthe-plate 62 may b'evaried as desired byloosening the screw andthen either increasing or decreasing the distance of the vacuum cups 98 from the plate 62, after which the screw 86 is retightened,

In-Fig. i3 is shown a further modification in which a tubular member 99, one for each supporting leg, is rigidly secured to a plate member 30, such as by a welding, soldering, or brazing operation. Within said tubular member 99 is telescopically mounted a straight leg member I02, which is shown provided at its bearing end with a-cushionedinsulating element I641, the leg member I02 being retained in afixed position by a set-screw I86 threadedly engageable with an embossment I08 providedin tubular element- 99. It is thus readily seen that the leg members m2 may be adjusted insuch manner as tomaintain the plate I09 at-the' required angle with or distance from the resting surface.

While this invention has" been shown and described as embodying certain features merely for the purpose of illustration, it is, of course, understood that various' mo'difications may be made in the details thereof without departingv from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed. is:

1. A foot rest comprising, in combination, an elongate member for supporting-a persons foot, and means for supporting said member in spaced relationship with a supporting surface, said means including a pair of spaced, rounded V- shaped elements formed out of a unitary rod, the apex. of eachv of said V-shaped elementstb'eing adapted to rest upon the supporting surface and the end portions .thereof being. attached to said member, each ofsaid elements constituting a foot for said member and arranged parallel with the longitudinal axis of. said elongatemem her, a third foot adaptedfor supporting said member at an acute angle with respect to the supporting surface, means for securing said feet to said member, and means on said third foot for supporting said. foot:rest upon a. horizontal surface, said preceding foot rest .means beingalso adapted to be attached to a vertical member.

2. A foot rest comprising; in combination, a

substantially fiat, elongate member for supporting a persons foot, and means for supporting said member in spaced relationship with a supporting surface, said means including a pair of spaced, rounded V-shaped elements formed out of a unitary rod, the apex of each of said V- shaped elements being adapted to rest upon the supporting surface and the end portions thereof being attached to said member, each of said elements constituting a foot for said member and arranged parallel with the longitudinal axis of said elongate member, a third foot of shorter length than said two feet for supporting said fiat member at an acute angle with respect to the supporting surface, means for securing said feet to said flat member, and a crook at the free end of said third foot for supporting said foot rest upon a horizontal surface, said crook being also adapted to be attached to a vertical member.

3. A foot rest comprising, in combination, asubstantially fiat, elongate member for supporting a persons foot, and a skeleton framework for supporting said member in spaced relationship with a. supporting surface, said framework including a pair of spaced, rounded V-shaped elements removably attached to said member, each of said elements constituting a foot for said member and arranged parallel with the longitudinal axis of said elongate member, a third element constituting a third foot of shorter length than said two feet for supporting said flat member at an acute angle with respect to the supporting surface, said three elements comprising a unitary rod, and means for removably securing said feet to said fiat member, said third foot at its bearing end being provided with a transversely bent loop either for resting upon a horizontal surface or for being attached to a vertical member, said loop having an arcuately shaped bend for attachment to a protuberance l on an article of furniture, and insulating means at the bearing surfaces of said feet.

4. A foot rest comprising, in combination, elongate means for supporting a person's foot, a

pair of V-shaped, integral leg members of predetermined equal lengths disposed parallel with the longitudinal axis of said elongate means, means for securing the end portions of said members to said first means, the apices of said members being adapted to rest upon a supporting surface, a third leg member of shorter length than said first leg members, and means for securing said third leg member to said first means, said leg members being of such dimensions as to carry said first means at a predetermined acute angle with respect to the supporting surface, said third leg member being adapted either to rest upon a horizontal surface or to be' secured to a vertical member.

5. A foot rest comprising, Fin combination, elongate means for supporting a persons foot, a pair of V-shaped, integral leg members of predetermined equal lengths disposed parallel with the longitudinal axis of said elongate means, means for securing the end portions of said members to said first means, the apices of said members being adapted to rest upon a supporting surface, a third leg member of shorter length than said first leg member, and means for securing said third leg member to said first means, said leg members being of such dimensions as to carry said first means at a predetermined acute angle with respect to the supporting surface, said third leg member having an inwardly turned foot that is adapted either to rest upon a horizontal surface or to be hooked to a vertical member.

6. A foot rest comprising, in combination, elongate means for supporting a persons foot, a pair of V-shaped leg members of predetermined equal lengths disposed parallel with the longitudinal axis of said elongate means, means for securing the end portions of said members to said first means, the apices of said members being adapted to rest upon a supporting surface, a third leg member of shorter length than said first leg members, said three leg members comprising a unitary rod, and means for securing said third leg member to said first means, said leg members being of such dimensions as to carry said first means at an angle of substantially 45 with respect to a supporting surface, said third leg member having an inwardly turned foot adapted either to rest upon the horizontal surface or to be hooked over the top of a vertical member, said foot having an arcuately shaped bend adapted to embracingly engage a protuberance on an article of furniture.

7. A foot rest comprising, in combination a substantially flat, elongate plate for supporting a person's foot, a pair of rounded V-shaped leg members of predetermined equal lengths adapted to rest upon a supporting surface and disposed parallel with the longitudinal axis of said elongate plate, means for securing the end portions of said members to said plate, a third leg member of shorter length than said first leg members, means for securing said third leg member to said plate, said leg members being of such dimensions as to carry said plate at an angle of substantially 45 with respect to the supporting surface. said third leg member having an inwardly turned foot adapted to rest either upon a horizontal surface or to be hooked over the top of a vertical member, said foot having an arcuately shaped bend adapted to embracingly engage a protuberance for supporting said foot rest to an article of furniture, and insulating means on the bearing portions of said leg members.

8. A portable foot rest comprising, in combination, a substantially fiat, elongate plate for supporting a persons foot, and a skeleton framework of a single length of rod for supporting said plate at an acute angle with a supporting surface, said framework including a pair of spaced V- shaped elements disposed parallel with the longitudinal axis of said elongate plate and secured at the upper portions thereof to the plate, each of said elements constituting a leg, a third leg of shorter dimension than said two legs formed as an extended loop of said V-shaped elements, said third leg having a transversely bent foot at the loop end thereof adapted to rest either upon the horizontal surface or to be hooked over the top of a vertical member.

EINO V. KOSKI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 331,057 Hendrix Nov. 24, 1885 601,021 Kennedy Mar. 22, 1898 1,223,272 Gurley Apr. 17, 1917 2,415,266 Temple Feb. 4, 1947 2,476,620 Nichols July 19, 1949

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