US3188141A

US3188141A - Leg and foot rest

Info

Publication number: US3188141A
Application number: US277848A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wright Raymond Peter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-05-07
Filing date: 1963-05-03
Publication date: 1965-06-08
Anticipated expiration: 1982-06-08
Also published as: FR1354736A; GB939562A; DE1939259U

Description

June 8, 1965 R. P. WRIGHT LEG.AND FOOT REST Filed May 5, 1963 2 Shee ts-Sheet 1 FIG.3

FIG.2'

June 8,1965 R. P. WRIGHT 3,138,141

' LEG AND FOOT REST Filed May 3, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F|G.6 I FIG] United States Patent 3,188,141 LEG AND F601 REST Raymond Peter Wright, Nithsdale, Brockenliurst, England Filed May 3, 1963, Ser. No. 277,848 Claims priority, application Great Britain, May 7, 1962, 17,3fl2/ 62 1t) Qlaims. (Cl. 297-439) The present invention relates to an improved leg and foot rest and has for its object to provide a tiltable spring-mounted rest, for the legs and/ or feet of a person,

which is such as to enable the user to adjust the angularv position of the rest automatically to suit his or her own individual requirements.

According to my invention there is provided a leg and/or foot rest comprising a base, a pair offlexible springs secured at their respective lower ends to the base, and a supporting pad mounted on the upper ends of the springs, the arrangement being such that the springs can be easily flexed in parallel planes so that the pad can be easily tilted on the springs.

Preferably the base isin the form of a tube having the major part of its length bent to lie in a horizontal plane and having its ends directed upwardly, the lower ends of the springs being fixed to the upright ends respectively.

A preferred form of the invention will 'now be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

FIGURES 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are respectively a plan, underplan, front elevation, side elevation and perspective view of a rest,

FIGURES 6 and 7 are sections showing how the upper and lower ends of helical springs are attached to a supporting pad and a base respectively, and

FIGURES 8 and 9 are a front and side elevation respectively, of a modification.

The rest illustrated in FIGURES l to 7 consists essentially of a base 10, made preferably of tubular metal, a pair of helically coiled

springs

11 and 12, and a rectangular-shaped cushion or pad 13.

The base 10 has the major part of its length bent to Z-shape so as to lie in a horizontal plane. The ends 14 and of the tube are bent upwardly so as to be spaced and substantially vertical. The parallel axes of the two ends lie in a vertical plane A, B (FIGURES 2 and 3) which is oifset a little with respect to the transverse centre-line C, D of the base. This offset is not essential and if desired the uprights may lie on the centre-line of the base.

l i l i The

helical springs

11 and 12 are attached to the

ends

14 and 15 respectively merely by forcing five or six turns of each spring over the tube end, pips on the tube being used to retain the springs in position.

The rectangular pad or cushion 13 is mounted upon a rigid board 16 and the springs are attached to the board with the aid of a pair of similar fasteners one of which is shown in FIGURE 6. The spring 14 is forced over, and is in tension upon, a sleeve 17 held to the board with the aid of a bolt 18,

washers

19, 20 and 21, and a nut 22.

ural position of the pad is tilted a little as shown in FIGURE 3. [But as indicated above this is not essential and the springs may be strong enough to keep the pad In order that the rest may be used also as a seat, a

pair of

U-shaped legs

23 and 24 may be pivotally attached to the underside of the board 16 as shown in FIGURES 8 and 9. Here the springs are symmetrically placed with respect to both the pad and base. It will be seen that the legs are attached to the pad one on either side of the line joining the points of attachment of the springs to the pad. Furthermore the shape and size of each leg is such that, when the leg is down, it extends downwardly and outwardly with respect to the said line and its lower end can be fitted inside the end loops of the base. It follows that the greater the weight upon the pad, the more firmly do the ends of the legs press against the base, making a very strong seat. Owing to the flexing of the springs the legs can be easily fitted inside and against the loops of the base.

In the claims which follow the word foot rest is to be construed as including any piece of furniture of height such that a foot or leg can be conveniently rested upon it and includes a stool or low seat.

Also the word tube is to be construed as including i any rigid or stiff elongate member such as a rod.

The springs flex most easily in spaced parallel planes .7

which are perpendicular to the paper with respect to FIGURE 4. v

The longitudinal and transverse axes of the rectangular supporting pad 13 are shown at E, F and G, H respectively in FIGURE 1. It will be seen that the axes base and the pad so that the springs can be easily flexed in parallel planes which lie normal to the plane in which the springs lie enabling the pad to be easily tilted on the springs.

2. A foot rest as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base is in the form of a tube having an intermediate major part of its length bent to lie in a horizontal plane and having its ends directed upwardly, the lower ends of the springs being fixed to the uprights.

3. A foot rest as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base is in the form of a tube having an intermediate major part of its length bent to Z-shape in a horizontal plane and having its ends directed upwardly, the lower ends of the springs being fixed to the upright ends respectively.

4. A foot rest as claimed in claim 1, wherein the springs are helically coiled springs having their longitudinal axes spaced apart in a plane transverse to those in which the spring can be most easily flexed.

5. A foot rest as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pad is elongate in a substantially horizontal direction normal to the plane containing the springs and the springs are attached to the pad at points in a transverse line ofliset with respect to the centre of gravity of the pad.

6. A foot rest comprising a base in the form of a tube having an intermediate major part of its length bent to lie in a horizontal plane and having its ends directed upwardly, a pair of helically coiled springs secured at their lower ends to the upwardly turned ends of the base,

.and a supporting pad mounted on the upper ends of the springs, the arrangement being such that the springs are normally substantially parallel and can be easily flexed Patented June 8, 1965 31 in spaced parallel planes so that the pad can be easily tilted on the springs.

7. A foot rest as claimed in claim 6, wherein the pad is elongate in a substantially horizontal direction normal to the plane containing the springs and the springs are attached to the pad at points in a transverse line offset with respect to the centre of gravity of the pad.

8. A foot rest as claimed in claim 6., wherein the plane containing the axes of the springs is offset with respect to the transverse centre-line of the; base.

9. A foot rest as claimed in claim 6, and including a pair of legs pivotally attached to the pad at positions one on either side of the line joining the points of attachment of the springs to the pad.

10. A foot rest as claimed in claim 1, and including a pair of legs pivotally attached to the pad at positions the points of at- References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 421,045 2/90 Caldwell 248379 2,245,713 6/41 Redmond 248-395 2,914,116 11/59 Gohmann 297439 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A FOOT REST COMPRISING A BASE, A PAIR OF FLEXIBLE SPRINGS SECURED AT THEIR LOWER ENDS TO THE BASE SO THAT THEY ARE DISPOSED AT LEAST APPROXIMATELY PARALLEL, AND A SUPPORTING PAD MOUNTED ON THE UPPER ENDS OF THE SPRINGS, THERE BEING NO OTHER SUPPORTING CONNECTION BETWEEN THE BASE AND THE PAD SO THAT THE SPRINGS CAN BE EASILY FLEXED IN PARALLEL PLANES WHILE LIE NORMAL TO THE PLANE IN WHICH THE SPRINGS LIE ENABLING THE PAD TO BE EASILY TILTED ON THE SPRINGS.