US530859A

US530859A - Self-adjusting foot-rest

Info

Publication number: US530859A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1894-12-11
Anticipated expiration: 1911-12-11

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

in, Model.) G. J. SHULTS.

SELPADJUSTING FOOT REST.

Nd. 530,859. Patented Dec. 11, 1894.

THE uomus mans nov mmuuma, wnsnmorow n c (No Model.) 2 Sheets- Sheet 2.

G.- J. SHULTS, SELF ADJUSTING F001 REST.

No. 530.859. PatentedDec. 11,1894.

NITED STATES .ATENT Enron.

SELF-ADJUSTING FOOT-REST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 530,859, dated. December 11, 1 894.

7 Application filed April 24, 1894- Serial No. 508,837. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. SHULTs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dansville, in the county of Livingston and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Self-Adjusting Foot-Rests, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention has for its objects to provide a new and improved foot-rest particularly designed to be portable and stand on the floor in proximity to a chair or other seat; and to provide an article of this character havinga heel-supporting roll or bar, and a rest frame or section normally standing in an inclined plane, and so pivotally mounted that its upper end will ascend and its lower end descend when pressure is appliedin juxtaposition to the heel-supporting roll or bar, for the purpose of increasing the angle of inclination relatively to a horizontal plane'and causing the rest frame or section to accommodate itself to the feet, whether the legs are bent or retracted, or are stretched out full length.

To accomplish these objects my invention consists in the features of construction and the combination or arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in

Which- 1 Figure 1 is a perspective view of a footrest constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view, omitting the pivotally mounted rest-frame or section; and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention,I will now describe the same in detail, referring to the drawings, Wherein- The numeral lindicates the side pieces of the supporting frame which are rigidly secured together at a sufficient distance apart to receive between them and permit the rocking motions of a foot-rest frame or section 2, which is preferably composed of a rectangular or square board upholstered on its upper side in any suitable manner, but preferably covered with a plush fabric extending over a suitable stuffing or filling to make the frame or section soft and comfortable. The side portingframe,

pieces gradually increase in height from the front to the rear end, so that their rear end portions are elevated and constitute upward extensions 3, which are connected by a roll or cross-bar 4, also upholstered exterior-1y in any suitable manner, but preferablycovered with a plush fabric. The lower front end portions of the side pieces are rigidly connected by a heel-supporting roll or cross-bar 5 which is preferably upholstered with plush fabric and rises some distance above the surface of the foot-rest frame or section 2, so that when the feet rest upon the latter the heels can bear against and be supported by the heel-supporting roll or cross-bar.

The dimensions of the foot-rest frame or section 2 are coextensive with the distance between the side pieces and the rolls or

cross bars

4 and 5, and this rest-frame or section is pivotally mounted near its center in the supso that it is susceptible of rocking or oscillating in a vertical plane.

The rest-frame or section can be centrally pivoted or hinged within the supporting frame through the medium of any suitable devices, but, as herein illustrated, it is pivotally mounted through the medium of metallic plates, as at 6, secured to the under side of the rest-frame or section centrallybetween the upper and lower ends thereof and having projecting pivots 7 engaged with pivot bearings inthe side-pieces 1. The pivots project from the opposite edges of the rest-frame or section at or near the center thereof, and the rest-frame or section normally stands in an inclined plane and at its lower portion it is sustained by an elastic arm 8, one or more, coiled around a laterally projecting pin 9, and having an extension 10 secured to one of the side pieces. The elastic arm, with its coiled portion and extension 10, constitutes a very simple and economical spring by which the rest-frame or section is rendered spring yielding. In practice asingle spring, in juxtaposition to one of the side pieces, is sufficient, but obviously a spring of the character referred to may be arranged in juxtaposition to each side piece, or the spring may be otherwise constructed and arranged to yieldingly support the lower portion of the pivotally mounted rest-frame or section. The depression of the upper end portion of the rest-frame or section is limited by a rigid stoppin 12, projecting inwardly from one of the side pieces 1, so that the power of the spring pressing the lower portion of the rest-frame or section in an upward direction will hold the upper end portion of the rest-frame or section against the rigid stop-pin, and thus preserve the rest-frame or section in an inclined position.

If the feet be placed upon the rest-frame or section and the foot-rest, as a whole, is pushed in a direction away from the chair or seat occupied by the user the rest frame or section will rock or oscillate approximately 011 its center and accommodate itself to the position of the feet. In this operation the lower portion of the rest-frame or section will descend and the upper portion will ascend, but the heelsupporting roll or crossbar 5 affords aperfect rest for the heels, and consequently the feet are supported in the most comfortable position.

The side pieces are provided with projecting feet-like

portions

13 and 14, designed to rest upon the floor, and preferably the feet 14 are provided with rubber or other elastic or flexible pads 15 which serve to prevent the foot-rest sliding on the floor when pressure is applied on the pivotally mounted rest-frame or section to vary its angle of inclination.

In foot-rests already manufactured by me I have provided the rolls or cross-bars and the rest-frame or section with plush fabrics of contrasting colors, and the whole presents avery handsome and ornamental appearance, but obviously the character of the upholstering maybe variously modified, or for a cheaper grade of article the upholstering may be entirely omitted.

The roll or crossbar 4: at the upper end of the inclined rest-frame or section not only imparts an ornamental finished appearance to the foot-rest, but it may be utilized as a bearing or rest for the toes in pushing the foot-rest in a direction away from the chair or seat occupied by the user for the purpose of securing the most comfortable position of the feet, and to place the legs in the desired position.

The structure, as a whole, is practically rigid, except as to the rocking or oscillating rest-frame or section, and it is readily portable, so that it can be moved from place to place and arranged in any desired position to suit the wishes of the user.

My invention provides avery novel, simple, efficient and economical foot-rest, which is self-adjusting and very satisfactory and desirable in practical use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A foot-rest, consisting of a supporting frame composed of side pieces, a heel-supporting roll or bar at its lower portion, and a roll or cross-bar at its upper portion, a rest-frame or section pivoted between its upper and lower ends to the side pieces of the supporting frame, normally standing in an inclined position and rising at its upper end when its lower end is depressed below the heel-supporting roll or bar, a laterally projecting stop-pin secured to a side piece of the supporting frame for limiting the depression of the upper end of the rest frame or section, and a spring arranged to swing the lower end of the pivoted rest frame in an upward direction against the heel-supporting roll, substantially as described.

2. A foot-rest, consisting of a supporting frame composed of side pieces, a heel-supporting roll or bar at its lower portion, and a roll or cross-bar at its upper portion, a restframe or section pivoted between its upper and lower ends to the side pieces of the supporting frame, normally standing in an inclined position and rising at its upper end when its lower end is depressed below the heel-supporting roll or bar, a laterally projecting stop-pin securedto a side piece of the supporting frame for limiting the depression of the upper end of the rest-frameor section, and a spring secured to a side piece of the supporting frame and acting to swing the lower end of the pivoted rest-frame in an upward direction against the heel-supporting roll and normally holding the upper end of the rest-frame or section against said stoppin, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE J. SHULTS. [L.