US3556591A

US3556591A - Foot support

Info

Publication number: US3556591A
Application number: US766128A
Authority: US
Inventors: Glenn R Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1968-10-09
Filing date: 1968-10-09
Publication date: 1971-01-19
Anticipated expiration: 1988-01-19

Abstract

A DEVICE THAT INCLUDES AN ARCUATELY MOVABLE PLATFORM THAT MOVES INTO A STABILIZED POSITION TO CONCURRENTLY SUPPORT THE HEEL AND CALF OF A USER IN AN ELEVATED, SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL POSITION FOR HIS COMFORT.

Description

5mm. 19, 197i 6. R. SMITH FOOT SUPPORT Filed Oct. 9. 19s

I N VENTOR.

2NN A. Jar/7H firm/var United States Patent 3,556,591 FOOT SUPPORT Glenn R. Smith, Long Beach, Calif., assignor to Anna L. Medearis, Lakewood, Calif. Filed Oct. 9, 1968, Ser. No. 766,128 Int. Cl. A47c 9/12, 4/02 U.S. Cl. 297439 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device that includes an arcuately movable platform that moves into a stabilized position to concurrently support the heel and calf of a user in an elevated, substantially horizontal position for his comfort.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention A device for concurrently supporting both the heel and calf of a user in a horizontally disposed, elevated position.

Description of the prior art SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An angularly positioned platform that is capable of arcuate movement to a stabilized position in which the users feet and calf portions are fully and comfortably supported in an elevated, substantially horizontal position.

A major object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight, portable footrest of simple mechanical structure that automatically assumes a stabilized position to support both a users feet and calves in a comfortable, elevated position above a floor surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first form of the support;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the support;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the support;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the support showing a users leg resting thereon;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a second form of the support; and

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of a second form of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The first form A of the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 inclusive, is of relatively simple structure, and formed from three major components comprising a tubular frame B, a platform C, and a backboard D.

Platform C may be either of solid or upholstered structure, and is generally rectangular. The upper surface 10 of platform C is preferably defined by a longitudinally extending center ridge 10a and two oppositely disposed side portions 10b.

Frame B includes two parallel, upwardly extending,

3,556,591 Patented Jan. 19, 1971 "ice laterally spaced legs 12, the upper ends of which develop into two straight support members 14 that are secured by conventional means to the bottom of platform C. The rear ends of support members 14 develop into two upwardly extending second legs 16 that are connected at their top portions by a crosspiece 18. Second legs 16 and crosspiece 18: are secured to the rear surface 20 of backboard D (FIGS. 3 and 4) by conventional means and serve as a support therefor.

The lower ends of first legs 12 merge into two arcuate rockers 20 that are in the form of compound curves. The rear ends of runners 20 are connected by a cross bar 22 provided with a centrally disposed, downwardly extending stop 24 formed as an integral part thereof.

The length of the support members 14 and the weight of the platform C and backboard D are so selected that the center of gravity E of the upper portion of the first form A of the foot support is positioned rearwardly of the points of contact F of rockers 20 on a floor 26, as shown in FIG. 3. Due to this positioning of the center of gravity E the first form A of the foot support tends to pivot in a counterclockwise direction on floor 26 until further pivotal movement is arrested when the stop 24 contacts the floor. A vertically extending phantom line 28 in FIG. 3 shows the space relationship between center of gravity E and the points of contact F.

When the legs G of a user (not shown). rest on the platform C, the rockers 20 move to a position such as shown in FIG. 4 where there are new points of contact F. The weight of the calf of the leg G on the platform C shifts the center of gravity E of the upper portion of the first form A to a new center of gravity E. A vertical phantom line 28 extends downwardly through the center of gravity E to show the space relationship between E and points of contact F.

When the first form A is disposed as shown in FIG. 4, the feet 30 of the user G are positioned adjacent to the backboard D, and the claves 32 of the user are in contact with surface portions 10b. Because the center of gravity E is to the left of points of contact F in FIG. 4, the first form A of the foot support tends to pivot in a counterclockwise direction and afford concurrent support to both the feet 30 and calves 32 of the legs G of the user. The users heel portions 30a rest on the side surface portions 101) as illustrated in FIG. 4.

The second form H of the foot support shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is identical to the first form A, other than that the reverse curves 34 are included in the left-hand end portions of rockers 20 and serve the same functions as the stops 24. Components of the second form H common to the first form of foot support are identical in FIGS. 5 and 6, and the same identifying numerals and letters as used in the first form employed with form H, except that a prime has been added thereto.

In use, operation of the invention is extremely simple, and both forms A and H thereof operate in the same manner. The raised portion 10 serves to maintain the legs G of the user in spaced relationship when resting on the side surfaces 10b. When the legs G of the user rest on either the platform C, either of these platforms pivot into the stabilized position shown in FIG. 4 wherein both the feet 30 and calves 32 of the user (not shown) are concurrently supported to assure utmost comfort. When the user (not shown) removes his legs G from either the first or second form of the foot support, the foot support immediately pivots into the position shown in FIGS. 3 or 5.

What is claimed is:

1. A footrest of the type that includes a generally rectangular foot-supported platform, an elongated rectangular backboard, and a rockable frame for supporting said backboard substantially normal to said platform and rearwardly and upwardly therefrom, said frame being characterized by a single length of tubing that by bending is shaped to define:

(a) two laterally spaced parallel rockers of compound curvature; 5

(b) two first legs that extend upwardly from first forward ends of said rockers;

(c) two support members that extend rearwardly from upper ends of said first legs and have said platform mounted on the upper portions thereof; 10

((1) two second legs that extend upwardly from the rearward ends of said support members and substantially normal thereto;

(e) a crosspiece that connects the upper ends of said second legs, with said backboard secured to the for- 15 ward portions of said crosspiece and second legs; and

(f) a cross member that connects the rearward ends of said rockers, with said rockers of such curvature that when the latter rest on a smooth surface the 20 weight of said platform and support members is so distributed thereon that said footrest automatically 4 pivots to a position where said platform is disposed in an upwardly and forwardly extending position. 2. A footrest as defined in claim 1 which in addition includes:

(g) a stop formed as a part of said cross member that contacts said smooth surface to prevent further pivotal movement of said rockers after said footrest has pivoted to a position to dispose said platform at a desired upwardly and forwardly extending relationship relative to said smooth surface.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,281,119 4/1942 Smith '297439 2,854,062 9/1958 Hetchler 297270 3,162,486 12/1964 Emery 297439 CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner U.S. C1. X.R.