US3396413A - Footrest - Google Patents

Description

W. KAUFMAN Aug. 13, 1968 FOOTRES'I' Filed May 10, 1965 INVENTOR.

WILL 1AM KA UFMAN Mk3- United States Patent 3,396,413 FOOTREST William Kaufman, 3 Adelphi Court, Edison, NJ. Filed May 10, 1965, Ser. No. 454,484 1 Claim. (Cl. 4-185) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A footrest for use while showering made of rubber or other suitable material and having an angular shape so as to fit in a shower comer. The rest has a cover, a curved outer wall, and two slightly conical side walls, the side walls forming an angle of about ninety degrees with each other. The outer wall and the side walls have upwardly extending grooves and ridges while the top cover has radially extending grooves and ridges extending from an inner soap-carrying recess.

This invention relates to a footrest and refers more particularly to a footrest adapted for use while showering in bathrooms and showers.

It is a matter of general knowledge that accidents in bathrooms constitute a large proportion of the total number of accidents in this country and elsewhere. Many of these accidents occur while a person is taking a shower, since it is quite difiicult to maintain proper balance while standing under a jet of water and at the same time applying soap to the body or washing off the soap. Particular difiiculty is experienced when legs, feet and toes are being washed since in many instances the person has to stand on one foot while washing the other.

An object of the present invention is to avoid such accidents through the provision of a footrest which may be conveniently used while showering and which will permit its user to wash his or her feet easily and conveniently and without the danger of losing ones balance.

Another object is the provision of a shower footrest which is so constructed that it will not slide or shift during use.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in the course of the following specification.

In the accomplishment of the objectives of the present invention it was found desirable to provide a hollow shower footrest made of rubber, synthetic rubber, plastics or other suitable material and having an angular shape so that it can fit conveniently in any comer which may be available in the shower space, and so that it will not slide on the wet and soapy floor when the user places his or her foot thereon. The side surfaces of the footrest are of r wave-like configuration so that it is not slippery in use. The top surface of the foot rest has a recessed corner section which can be used as a soap dish and which may be provided with holes for draining water. Obviously, the footrest may be also used as a seat.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing showing by way of example, a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of a footrest constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top view of the footrest.

FIGURE 3 is a transverse section along the line III-III of FIG. 1.

The footstool shown in the drawing may be made of any suitable material which resists moisture, including rubber, synthetic rubber, plastic materials and many others. It includes two walls 11 and a circularly curved outer wall 13. The walls 11 and 13 enclose a hollow space 14 which is closed on top by the cover 15 having an angular 3,396,413 Patented Aug. 13, 1968 "ice recess 16 for use as a soap dish. The recess 16 is provided with bore holes 17 for draining water. Other portions of the cover 15 are slightly tapered to facilitate drainage.

Obviously, other parts of the cover 15 may be also provided wih drainage holes, if desired.

Three short legs 18 are located at the bottom of the sides of the foot stool in the areas where the walls join each other. These legs assure stability regardless of the unevenness of floors.

The outer and inner surfaces of the walls 11 and 11 are wave-like in section, being provided with curved grooves 20 and alternating rounded projections 19 which preferably extend from top to bottom. The cover 15 is provided with similar grooves 21 and projections or ridges 2.2 which, however, extend radially in the direction toward the angle formed by the walls 11 and 13.

The entire foot stool may be conveniently cast or molded as a single piece. Alternately, the sections may be made separately and then permanently joined by any suitable means well known in the art.

Preferably, the footstool of the present invention is slightly wider at the bottom than at the top so as to facilitate the removal of water. This is accomplished by shaping the outer wall 13 so that is slightly conical. By way of example, if the height of the footstool is 16 inches, the outer radius of the bottom of the curved wall 13 may be 12 inches, while the outer radius of the top of the wall 13 may be 10 inches. In a footstool of that size the recessed portion 16 may be 1 /2 inches in depth and limited by a curved side having a radius of 4 /2 inches at the top and somewhat less at the bottom of the recess. Obviously, these dimensions may be changed at will.

It is apparent that the user can convniently place his foot on the described footstool while showering so that he does not have to balance himself precariously while washing his feet. The angular shape of the footstool makes it possible to place it against or close to any corner available in the showering space so as to prevent it from sliding or limiting its possible sliding movement. Furthermore, the angular shape of the footstool and its wider taper at the bottom, makes it very convenient for, storage and shipping purposes. The provision of a dish for soap makes it unnecessary to hunt for the soap or to try to pick up soap which has been dropped, these being inconveniences to which practically every person taking a shower has been subjected occasionally. The grooved and inclined shape of the footstool avoids the possibility of accumulation of water thereon. In the unlikely event that the user should fall, the soft rubber-like material of the footstool and its flexibility will soften the impact.

It is apparent that the example described above has been given solely by way of illustration and not by way limitation and that it is subject to many variations and modifications within the scope of the present invention. All such variations and modifications are to be included within the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

.1. A shower footrest, comprising in combination, two side walls extending at right angles to each other and having tops which are smaller than the bottoms, a cricularly curved outer wall having side edges joining the side edges of said side walls, the bottoms of said side walls and said outer wall having three legs located at their junctures, said side walls and said outer wall having substantially uniformly spaced vertically directed rounded projections and curved grooves located between said projections, and a cover upon said side walls and said outer wall and having side edges joining the tops of said side walls and said outer wall, the shape of said cover being substantially that of a quarter circle, the inner space of the footrest between said cover, said side walls and said outer wall being hollow, said cover having a recessed soap-dish portion, said portion having two edges joining each other at an angle of substantially ninety degrees and a third curved edge joining said two edges, whereby the shape of said portion is also that of a quarter circle, said portion having curved projections extending substantially concentrically to said third edge, and grooves between the last-mentioned projections, said grooves having draining holes extending through said portion, said cover having rounded projections extending radially between said third edge and the outer side of the cover and curved grooves extending between the last-mentioned projections.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,272,936 7/1918 Frazzano 4-185 1,345,568 7/1920 Ward 4182 3,023,050 2/1962 Jensen 297462 FOREIGN PATENTS 339,233 4/1936 Italy.

10 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

D. MASSENBERG, Assistant Examiner.

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