US3132835A

US3132835A - Footrest

Info

Publication number: US3132835A
Application number: US241918A
Authority: US
Inventors: Drabert Fritz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-12-03
Filing date: 1962-12-03
Publication date: 1964-05-12
Anticipated expiration: 1981-05-12

Description

F. DRABERT'S May 12, 1964 FOOTREST 2 Sheets-Sheet i Filed Dec. 3, 1962 Fig. 2

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May 12, 1964 F. DRABERT 3,

FOOTREST Filed Dec. 3, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FRITZ bane m INVENTOR.

BY M M M K Ma/Lis United States Patent 3,132,835 FOOTREST Fritz Drahert, Marienstrasse 37, Minden,

- Westphalia, Germany Filed Dec. 3, 1962, Ser. No. 241,918 2 Claims. (Cl. 248-397) temporary preference of the user.

The invention is based on the recognition and elimination of this shortcoming. According to the invention, a foot support is pivotally connected to a framework with the aid of a pin or pivot provided on each side face of the support, so that the support is freely rotatable and usable on either side. When the user wishes to change his leg position, which requires a change in the rotational position of the foot support, then this occurs quite automatically according to this invention and without the expenditure of any special effort. Cramps and interruptions in blood circulation in the legs of the user due to faulty footrest positioning are thereby eliminated.

In a further embodiment of the invention, there is provided an arrangement in which the foot support can be locked in any of several different rotational positions. Advantageously, this arrangement comprises a springloaded locking pin or plug which can be manually operated by means of a knob or handle. The locking pin extends into one of the openings which are provided in the corresponding side surface of the foot support.

In practice there is often the need for adjusting the height of the footrest so as to fit it to the leg length of the user. The present invention meets this need by providing in the framework several holes adapted to receive pins or pivots with which the foot support is provided. In such an arrangement, the pin is connected with the foot support by means of a resilient member so that the foot support can be axially displaced and thus released from the frame. Advantageously, the resilient member can be a compression spring.

The invention is further described with reference to the attached drawing. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective representation of the novel footrest;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the footrest;

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged partial section through the locking mechanism of the footrest;

FIG. 4 shows a partial section through a further em' so as to be freely rotatable thereon and usable on either side.

In the preferred embodiment as shown in the drawing, the framework 3 is fashioned from a tube formed in a roof-like shape, the ends of the framework being provided with tips 4 or casters to grip but protect the floor.

The horizontal tube portion of framework 3 which Patented May 12, 1964 rests on the floor .may be coated with a protective cover 5 of plastic or rubber or the like. The foot support 1 is inade in such shape and size that in the case of high ladies shoes, the heel extends over foot support 1 so that it does not touch the foot support. In this fashion, the support of the legs by the entire shoe or by the sole as such is avoided.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of foot support 1 which is made of a resilient and abrasion resistant material such as rubber. The top and bottom foot supporting surfaces 6 and 7 of foot support 1 are constructed in different shapes. As shown in FIG. 2, the top surface 6 of the supportis convex or curved and the bottom surface 7 is more or less flat.- Since the support is freely pivotally mounted on the framework 3 by

pins

2 and 15 received in apertures 17, the support may be utilized with either the top 6 or bottom 7 surface contacting the foot. In this manner, the support may provide a surface that is comfortable'for users having shoes with either shaped or flat soles.

In actual use, there is sometimes a need for locking the foot support 1 in a specific position whereas the foot support otherwise pivots freely. This need is met by the locking mechanism shown in FIG. 3. This consists essentially of a locking pin 8 which is slidably positioned in a housing or cylinder 10 which is connected with frame 3, and can be operated by means of handle or knob 11. The locking pin is spring loaded by means of compression spring 9, the purpose of which is to urge the locking pin into a locked position in one of the offset bores 18 provided in the side or longitudinal end of the support memher.

When it is desired to release the lock, the locking pin 8 is pulled outward by means of knob 11. In order to block the effect of compression spring 9 and hold the pin in a retracted position, a holding pin 12 is provided. This holding pin is positioned in a longitudinal slot 13 in housing 10 and is connected to the locking pin 8. To hold the locking pin 8 in the retracted position, knob 11 is pulled outwardly and rotated from the position shown in FIG. 3, thereby seating the holding pin 12 on the face of housing 10.

In order to adjust the position of foot support 1 according to the length of the legs of the user, holes 14 are provided in frame 3 for the purpose of receiving

pins

2 and 15. In this arrangement one of the pins 15 is received in a central bore 19 of support member 1. This central bore 19 is further provided with a compression spring 16, in such a manner that foot support 1 can be released from frame 3 by moving it axially against the force of the spring, thus permitting a change in elevation of the foot support (FIGS. 4-6).

Following this, pin 15 is put in another hole 14 of frame 3 and the foot support moved axially against the force of the spring 16 until the other pin 2 is located opposite the appropriate hole of frame 3. Then the foot support 1 is released so that the force of the spring forces pin 2 into the proper hole of frame 3.

As is apparent, the locking pin mechanism, as shown in FIG. 3, may be advantageously utilized whether or not the footrest incorporates the vertical adjustment feature as shown in FIGS. 4-7.

Iclaim:

l. A footrest comprising a frame assembly, a support member having top and bottom faces positioned within Said frame assembly, said support member being pivotally connected to said frame assembly by connecting means so that either face of said support member may be positioned to support the feet of the user, said frame assembly comprising two inverted V-shaped end members each having an apex aperture near the apex thereof, said end members being connected together by a horizontally extending member, said connecting means including pin means to pivotally connect the support member to said V-shaped members by extending into said apex apertures therein, both of said end members being provided with a plurality of apertures therethrough below said apex apertures, said support member including a central bore in one longitudinal end thereof, a spring positioned within said central bore, said pin means including a pin assembly slidably positioned and retained in and projecting from said central bore, and said pin assembly being urged to a position projecting from said central bore by said spring whereby said support member may be axially displaced relative to said frame assembly to permit disconnection therefrom and repositioning thereon at another elevation.

2. A footrest according to claim 1 wherein said support member is further provided with at least one ofiset bore in one longitudinal end thereof, said bore being offset from the longitudinal axis of said support member, said connecting means including a locking pin assembly received in one of said plurality of apertures and extending into said offset bore in said support member to thereby lock the same in one rotational position relative to said frame assembly, a cylinder means positioned coaxially with said one of said plurality of apertures, a cylinder spring positioned in said cylinder means, said locking pin assembly being slidably positioned and retained in and projecting from said cylinder means, said locking pin assembly being urged toward said ofiset bore in said support member by said cylinder spring, said locking pin assembly including holding means to hold said assembly in a position retracted from said ofiset bore and thereby permit free rotation of the support member relative to the frame assembly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,035,470 Roberts Aug. 13, 1912 1,337,919 Kingsford Apr. 20, 1920 1,462,192 Clinton ..4 July 17, 1923 2,462,321 Holmes Feb. 22, 1949 2,541,664 Pollock Feb. 13, 1951 2,622,659 Stelmack Dec. 23, 1952 2,644,688 Roberge July 7, 1953

Claims

1. A FOOTREST COMPRISING A FRAME ASSEMBLY, A SUPPORT MEMBER HAVING TOP AND BOTTOM FACES POSITIONED WITHIN SAID FRAME ASSEMBLY, SAID SUPPORT MEMBER BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID FRAME ASSEMBLY BY CONNECTING MEANS SO THAT EITHER FACE OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER MAY BE POSITIONED TO SUPPORT THE FEET OF THE USER, SAID FRAME ASSEMBLY COMPRISING TWO INVERTED V-SHAPED END MEMBERS EACH HAVING AN APEX APERTURE NEAR THE APEX THEREOF, SAID END MEMBERS BEING CONNECTED TOGETHER BY A HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING MEMBER, SAID CONNECTING MEANS INCLUDING PIN MEANS TO PIVOTALLY CONNECT THE SUPPORT MEMBER TO SAID V-SHAPED MEMBERS BY EXTENDING INTO SAID APEX APERTURES THEREIN, BOTH OF SAID END MEMBERS BEING PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF APERTURES THERETHROUGH BELOW SAID APEX APERTURES, SAID SUPPORT MEMBER INCLUDING A CENTRAL BORE IN ONE LONGITUDINAL END THEREOF, A SPRING POSITIONED WITHIN SAID CENTRAL BORE, SAID PIN MEANS INCLUDING A PIN ASSEMBLY SLIDABLY POSITIONED AND RETAINED IN AND PROJECTING FROM SAID CENTRAL BORE, AND SAID PIN ASSEMBLY BEING URGED TO A POSITION PROJECTING FROM SAID CENTRAL BORE BY SAID SPRING WHEREBY SAID SUPPORT MEMBER MAY BE AXIALLY DISPLACED RELATIVE TO SAID FRAME ASSEMBLY TO PERMIT DISCONNECTION THEREFROM AND REPOSITIONING THEREON AT ANOTHER ELEVATION.