GB2455985A

GB2455985A - A Footstool

Info

Publication number: GB2455985A
Application number: GB0725221A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mohamed Hosny Abolkheir
Original assignee: Abolkheir Group UK Ltd
Current assignee: Abolkheir Group UK Ltd
Priority date: 2007-12-24
Filing date: 2007-12-24
Publication date: 2009-07-01
Anticipated expiration: 2027-12-24
Also published as: EP2242399B1; US20110018327A1; CA2766020A1; EP2242399A1; GB0725221D0; CN102006802A; PL2242399T3; AU2008339632A1; GB2455985B; DK2242399T3; WO2009081173A1

Abstract

A displacement-resistant footstool 1 comprising a sole-supporting surface 2, a ground-supported base 3 and connecting means 4 that connects the sole-supporting surface 2 to the base 3 and substantially redirects the sole-released forces, which are generated by the weight of the feet and a proportion of the weight of the legs plus any additional foot-pushing forces from a substantially horizontal direction that points away from the person to a substantially vertically downward direction towards and pressing onto the floor. In effect substantially converting the sole-released forces from being displacement forces to being displacement-resistant forces.

Description

A Footstool The present invention relates to a displacement-resistant sole-supporting footstool.

A footstool is normally used by a person to support the feet by using the back of the heels andoranareaallthewayuptothebackofthecalvesasapointorpointsofcontactwiththe supporting surface of the footstool. Although this is traditionally regarded as a comfortable form of seating, it can encourage slouching.

An alternative way of supporting the feet is to use the soles as the point or points of contact with a supporting surface, which -especially if slightly angled so that the toes are higher than the heels -can help to minimize slouching. However, unless the supporting surface that the soles are being pushed against is of considerable stability, for example it is fixed to the floor or a wall, is of an abnonnaily heavy weight or is connected to the seat that the person is sitting on, the forces that are generated by the weight of the feet and a proportion of the weight of the legs plus any additional foot-pushing forces will displace the supporting surface away from the person and resulting in the soles losing contact with the supporting surface.

An object of the invention is to provide a free-standing footstool of normal weight which can be used to support the soles of the feet.

The invention provides a displacement-resistant footstool as claimed in Claim I. Figure 1 is a perspective view of one possible way of constructing the invention, comprising a footstool 1 that consists of a rotationally unstable sole-supporting surfce 2 that consists of an upholstered panel 2a and lever arms 2b; a ground-supported base 3 that consists of a platform 3a and rubber feet 3b; and connecting means 4 that is hidden underneath a safety guard 4c that has slots 4d for lever arms 2b to move freely through.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic section of the same footstool as in Figure 1, and illustrates the connecting means 4 that consists of a limited-travel hinge 4a that only allows a travel of approxunately 300 as indicated by reference number 5a, and compression springing means 4b. Also illustrated in Figure 2 is the angle at which the bottoms of lever arms 2b are bent (permanently) which is approximately 30°, as illustrated by reference number 2b'. The initial angle of the sole-supporting surface in relation to the floor is approximately 600 by reference number 5b, which is the angle at which the soles touch the sole-supporting surface on first contact.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic section of the same footstool as in Figures 1 and 2, but with the person's feet 6 in contact with the sole-supporting surface 2 that is shown at its downward resting angle, which is approximately 30° in relation to the floor, as indicated by reference number 5c. * S.

*..* When the soles come into contact with the sole-supporting surface 2, the weight of the feet *5SS s. and a proportion of the weight of the legs plus any additional foot-pushing forces will cause the sole-supporting surface -as a result of its rotational instability -to drop downwards t2king the feet along with it until the resting angle is reached. At this point, although the sole-supporting surface 2 will be at a 30° angle in the relation to the floor -as illustrated by S...

reference number 5c in Figure 3 -the bottoms of lever arms 2b will be pressing onto the :: hinge 4a in a vertical direction. This means that the sole-released forces, which originated at a substantially horizontal direction that points away from the person have been redirected to a substantially vertically downward direction towards -and pressing onto -the floor. In effect, the sole-released forces will have been substantially converted from being displacement forces to being displacement-resistant forces.

The invention can also be manufactured using a variety of manufacturing techniques including muM-segment/function moulded plastics, foam or rubber.

Claims

Claims I. A displacement-resistant footstool comprising a sole-supporting surface, a ground-supported base and connecting means that connects the sole-supporting surface to the base so that when the soles touch the sole-supporting surface the connecting means substantially redirects the sole-released forces downwards and thus converting them into displacement-resistant forces.
2. A displacement-resistant footstool according to Claim 1, in which the connecting means rebounds to its initial position when the footstool is not in use.
3. A displacement-resistant footstool comprising a partially-unstable sole-supporting surface, a ground-supported base and connecting means that connects the sole-supporting surface to the base and allows the sole-supporting surface to move until it is supported by the base, then triggers its upward rebounding when the footstool is not in use.
4. A displacement-resistant footstool comprising a substantially horizontally unstable sole-supporting surface, a ground-supported base and connecting means that connects the sole-supporting surface to the base and allows the sole-supporting surface to move until it is supported by the base, then triggers its rebounding when the footstool is not in use.
5. A displacement-resistant footstool comprising a substantially vertically unstable sole-supporting surface, a ground-supported base and connecting means that connects the sole-supporting surface to the base and allows the sole-supporting surface to move downwards until it is supported by the base then triggers its upward rebounding when the footstool is not in use.
6. A displacement-resistant footstool as claimed in claim 5, in which the substantially vertical instability is rotational instability.
7. A displacement-resistant footstool as claimed in claim I, in which the connecting means is a springing means.
8. A displacement-resistant footstool as claimed in claim 7, in which the connecting means is a nested springing means.
9. A displacement-resistant footstool as claimed in claim 7, in which the connecting means is springing means on a sloped platform.
10. A displacement-resistant footstool as claimed in claim 9, in which the connecting means is compression springing means on a sloped platform.
11. A displacement-resistant footstool as claimed in claim 6, in which the connecting means is a combination of hinging means and springing means.
12. A displacement-resistant footstool as claimed in claim 11, in which the connecting means is a combination of hinging means and torsion springing means.
13. A displacement-resistant footstool as claimed in claim ii, in which the connecting means is a combination of hinging means and compression springing means.
14. A displacement-resistant footstool as claimed in claim 11, in which the connecting means is a combination of hinging means and suspension springing means.
15. A displacement-resistant footstool as claimed in claim 6, in which the connecting means is a combination of shafling meais and clock springing means.
16. A displacement-resistant footstool as claimed in claim 1, in which the connecting means is a gas cylinder means.
17. A displacement-resistant footstool as claimed in claim 1, in which the distance between the sole-supporting surface and the floor is adjustable.
18. A displacement-resistant footstool as claimed in claim I, in which the sole-supporting surface is wide enough for at least 2 persons to use it.
19. A displacement-resjsant footstool as claimed in claim I, in which there are at least 2 separate sole-supporting surfaces for at least 2 persons to use separately.
20. A displacement-resistant footstool as claimed in claim 1, in which the resistance of the connecting means is adjustable.
21. A displacement-resistant footstool as claimed in claim 6, in which the downward travel of the sole-supporting surfce is adjustable.
22. A footstool substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.