US3520572A - Footrest with adjustable height standards - Google Patents

Description

July 1-4,, 1970 F. M. 'FLAUGH FOQTREST WITH ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT STANDARDS Filed Aug. 29, 1968 n iii alia 'l' 2" I? I lull! I Anew/ax F150 M A24aax/ United States Patent 3,520,572 FOOTREST WITH ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT STANDARDS Fred M. Flaugh, 11881 Palmwood Drive, Garden Grove, Calif. 92640 Filed Aug. 29, 1968, Ser. No. 756,196 Int. Cl. A47c 9/12 US. Cl. 297-439 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The rest has a top surface especially useful as a footrest or footstool. At least one upstanding standard sup ports the rest portion above a base. The standard is telescopic, preferably with three tubes and with latches which lock the three tube telescoping structure at the desired height. Limiting means prevents overextension of the telescoping members.

BACKGROUND This invention is directed to a footstool, and particularly to a footstool having adjustable height between the footrest structure and the floor engaging base.

Footrests are well known, and have been used for centuries as means for obtaining rest and relaxation, for the human body appears to be more susceptible to rest and thoughtful repose when the feet are elevated. This is borne out by the large number of hassocks, chaise lounges and reclining chairs with foot elevators available on the market. Additionally, many executives do their best thinking when their feet are disposed on the edge of one of the lower desk drawers.

However, these prior methods are not fully satisfactory. While they point to the need for and desirability of elevating the feet during the resting condition, they do not provide for the adjustability of height which is help ful to obtain different modes or moods of rest.

A SUMMARY In order to aid in the understanding of this invention it can be stated in essentially summary form that is directed to a footrest with adjustable height standards. The footrest has a footrest portion above a base. Adjustable height standards extend between the footrest portion and the base so as to support the upper, foot supporting surface of the footrest portion at a selectable distance above the base. The adjustable height structures include at least one three tube telescoping structure with a latch between the inner and intermediate tubes, and a latch between the outer and intermediate tubes. By such a structure, the footrest surface in its lower position is at a conveniently comfortable low height, while through the use of three telescoping members, at its fully extended or raised position it is at a maximum comfortable height.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a footrest with adjustable height standards so that footresting can be accomplished at a convenient desired foorest height. Another object of this invention is to provide a footrest portion having an upper footrest surface, which portion is supported above a base by means of a lockable telescopic structure so that the footrest surface can be adjusted to and locked at the desired height. It is a further object to provide a three tube telescoping height standard, with latches between the outer tube and the intermediate tube, as well as between the inner tube and the intermediate tube, so that the foot supporting surface can be locked at the desired height, and the ratio of height between a maximum height and a minimum height can be greater than two to one. It is a further object ice to provide two adjustable height supporting standards, each telescoping and each with its height adjustment lock, with the height adjustment locks connected together so that both may be released at one time to permit height adjustment, and locked at one time to prevent cocking. Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the study of the following portion of the specification, the claims and the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the footrest with ad justable height standards in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section taken generally along the line 22 of FIG. 1, with parts broken away;

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged section taken generally along the center line of one of the standards, showing the locking structure between the telescoping tubes; and

FIG. 4 is an upwardly looking view under the foot supporting structure showing a portion of the tube latch release structure.

DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings, the footrest with adjustable height standards is generally indicated at 10. The footrest includes a base 12, foot supporting structure 14 and adjustable height standards 16 and 18.

Foot supporting structure 14 comprises panel 20 over which appropriate upholstery cushion 22 and appropriate upholstery surfacing material, such as fabric 24, is secured. These define a footresting top surface 26 upon which the user may comfortably place his feet when he is in the sedentary position. Standards 16 and 18 are secured to the bottom of foot supporting structure 14 by means of any convenient construction, such as flanges 28.

Base 12 is of suitable dimension to fairly firmly support foot supporting structure 14 above the floor. It may be of any desired size or shape, consistent with this requirement, and as illustrated in the drawings it preferably includes base ring 30. Base ring 30 is a tube arranged in circular form. The circle is of sufficient diameter to provide the necessary support and the circle is chosen for its esthetic value. Additionally, tubular construction provides for a rigid base.

While one standard is all that is necessary for support of the foot supporting structure in some configurations, two standards 16 and 18 are illustrated as being preferred. The standards are identical in construction, so only one need be described in detail. The nearest standard 16 in FIG. 1 is shown in partial elevation and partial section in FIG. 2, and is shown in further enlarged section in FIG. 3, and thus it will be the standard 16 that is described here below, it being understood that the standard 18 is of identical construction.

Standard 16 comprises telescoping tubes 32, 34 and 36. As is seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, tube 32 is the smallest and is secured to flange 28. Accordingly, it moves with panel 20 to which the flange is secured. Additionally, tube 36 is the largest and is preferably integrally formed with base ring 30, as is best illustrated in FIG. 2. By this construction, the upstanding, larger telescopic tube 36 is rigidly mounted with respect to the base in order to properly, ultimately, rigidly support foot supporting structure 14. As is seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, tube 34 is of such dimension to be slidably mounted over the exterior of tube 32 and within the interior of tube 36. This triple telescoping construction with three tubes provides for additional height adjustability of the top surface 26.

Locking of tube 34 with respect to tube 32 is accom plished by latch 38. Latch 38 is resilient hook-shaped unitary structure which has one end thereof secured to the interior of tube 32 by means of rivets 40. The end of latch 38 which is riveted is substantially rigid, and is connected to the hook-shaped portion 42, which carries latch end 44 by means of thin, resilient section 46. The resiliency of section 46 is such that in the undeflected position, the latch end 44 extends through a clearance opening in tube 32, and into any one of a plurality of latch openings 48 in tube 34. A plurality of such latch openings 48 are spaced along the length of tube 34 so as to provide for latching between tubes 32 and 34 at any one of a plurality of spaced positions.

In order to provide adjustment, latch 38 is provided with line 50. Line 50 extends upward through an opening in fiange 28, and through an appropriate slot in panel 20 to extend around wheel 52, see FIG. 4. Lines extend from the upper latch in each of the standards 16 and 18 and extend around wheel 52 so that when Wheel 52 is pulled by ring 54, the line tension is equalized and both of the latches are disengaged.

A similar latch 56 is externally secured to tube 36 by means of rivets 58. Latch 56 has a hook portion with a latch end 60 which in the unstressed position of resilient latch 56 engages in any one of a plurality of holes 62 in tube 34. As indicated with respect to latch 38, latch 56 has a thin portion 64 which permits the latch end 60 to be resiliently moved out of engagement in its hole 62 so that telescoping of tube 34 within tube 36 can be accommodated. When the new position has been reached, latch 56 is released to again lock tubes 34 and 36 with respect to each other. Line 66 extends downward, into base ring 30. It is joined to a similar line extending from the other standard, and both lines are connected to an exterior ring 68 so that upon operation of the ring, the lower latch on each of the standards is disengaged for vertical adjustment and locking.

As an additional feature, in order to prevent the telescoping tubes from coming apart due to improper efforts, a stop structure is provided. This stop structure includes a cross pin 70 extending into holes across the bottom of tube 32, cross pin 72 extending into holes across the bottom of tube 34, and anchor ring 74 in base 12. Chain 76 is connected between pins 70 and 72, while chain 78 is connected between pin 72 and anchor ring 74. These chains are of such length that they become tight at the maximum telescopic extension, when there is still sufficient overlap to maintain rigidity. Accordingly, once assembled the structure remains in proper condition for instant adjustment and use. Guards 80 are positioned over each of the standards. The guards protect and beautify the structure of the standards. They are formed of tubular flexible material and are secured at each end so that they extend as necessary to cover the standards.

This invention having been described in its preferred embodiment, it is clear that it is susceptible to numerous modifications and embodiments within the ability of those skilled in the art and without the exercise of the inventive faculty. Accordingly, the scope of this invention is defined by the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A foot rest, said foot rest comprising a base, a footsupporting structure and two standards interconnected between said base and said foot-supporting structure to adjust the height of said foot-supporting structure with respect to said base;

each of said standards comprising at least first, second and third telescoping members, said second and third telescoping members being tubular with said first telescoping member entering within said second telescoping member, and said second telescoping member entering within said third telescoping member, said telescoping members being axially slidable with respect to each other so that said footsupporting structure can be adjusted with respect to said base; latch means between said first and second telescoping members, and additional latch means between said second and third telescoping members so that said first and second telescoping members can be locked with respect to each other and said second and third telescoping members can be locked with respect to each other independently of the latch means between said first and second telescoping members, at least one of said latch means comprising a unitary latch having a fixed end and a latching end, and a resilient section therebetween, said fixed end being secured to one of said telescoping members and said latching end extending through an opening in another of said telescoping members so as to axially secure said telescoping members with respect to each other; connecting means connected to said latch means in each of said first and second standards so that upon operation of said connecting means, said latch means in both of said first and second standards is disconnected so that the height of said foot-supporting structure can be adjusted with respect to said base. 2. A foot rest, said foot rest comprising a base, a footsupporting structure and at least one standard interconnected between said base and said foot-supporting structure to adjust the height of said foot-supporting structure with respect to said base;

said standard comprising at least first, second and third telescoping members, and second and third telescoping members being tubular with said first telescoping member entering within said second telescoping member, and said second telescoping member entering within said third telescoping member, said telescoping members being axially slidable with respect to each other so that asid foot-supporting structure can be adjusted with respect to said base; latch means between said first and second telescoping members, and additional latch means between said second and third telescoping members so that said first and second telescoping members can be locked with respect to each other and said second and third telescoping members can be locked with respect to each other independently of the latch means between said first and second telescoping members, at least one of said latch means comprising a unitary latch having a fixed end and a latching end, and a resilient section therebetween, said fixed end being secured to one of said telescoping members and said latching end extending through an opening in another of said telescoping members so as to axially secure said telescoping members with respect to each other; stop means connected between said telescoping members, said stop means being connected to prevent said first telescoping member from disengaging from said second telescoping member and to prevent said second telescoping member from disengaging from said third telescoping member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,184,455 5/1916 Hough 248-409 X 2,016,132 10/1935 Bengslien 248-409 2,248,369 7/1941 Ludersen 297439 X 3,188,141 6/1965 Wright 297439 CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner U .S. Cl. X.R. 297-461

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