US3005662A - Leg rests - Google Patents

Description

W. M. EMERY Oct. 24, 1961 LEG RESTS Filed Aug. 3, 1960 IN V EN TOR.

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United States Patentiiiice 3,005,662 Patented Oct. 24, 1961 3,005,662 LEG RESTS William M. Emery, 44 Pittsford Way, New Providence, NJ.

Filed Aug. 3, 1960, Ser. No. 47,215 4 Claims. (Cl. 297-438) My present invention refers to a leg rest to raise the feet and support the legs in a particularly relaxing way when sitting on a conventional and comfortable chair suitable for resting or lounging.

Since such chairs are of various heights I feel it is essential that a leg rest should be adjustable for at least two diierent heights or angles. An object of my invention is to do this, other objects are to provide a substantially one piece construction of simple and inexpensive construction, light of weight that may be folded substantially dat for storage and shipping. Since it is particularly comfortable and relaxing to also support the leg above calf a further object is to contour or raise the top of my leg rest to con-form with the calf line in a particularly ingenious manner. This leaves a hollow space when Viewed from the under side. A further object is not only to contour the top but also to utilize the hollow space thereunder to optionally nest one of the supporting members so as to provide a low height position. An additional object is to provide a rocking fulcrum support which permits its use not only with -a rocking chair but at many different angles and to provide nonskid pads for said fulcrum. These and other objects will be apparent from the following specication, claims and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a stretch out of my substantially one piece frame,

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of my leg elevator showing its two optional heights,

FIG. 3 is an end elevation viewed from the position of the user,

FIG. 4 is an isometric View from an angle inbetween those of FIGS. 2 and 3,

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is a small detail section taken along line 6--6 of lFIG. 5, and

FIG. 7 is an isometric view showing my lleg rest folded compactly when not in use.

FIG. 1 shows one piece of Tri-wall synthetic board 10 extending from the large end 11 to the small end 12. Reference should be made to FIGS. 2 and 5 to appreciate the extent of this one piece construction. Tri-wall is a paper product composed of four flat sheets of Very heavy paper and 3 sheets of corrugated paper glued together and about 1/2 inch thick and commercially rated at 1100 lbs. It is stiff and light of Weight being mostly air cells. However I have found that when this material is crushed and creased under heavy pressure it can be conveniently folded for many unusual applications of which this is one.

I have numbered the nine creases or folds or articulations Zil to 28.

The direction and the purpose of the folds is more apparent from reference to the drawings than a belabored description thereof. I have also numbered the ten panels 30 to 39 which are defined by said creases.

Board in FIG. 1 is viewed from the under or inside and it shows two strips of plywood 13 to which panel 39 is stapled and cemented. When these strips 13 are turned back on board lil and panel 34 is cemented and stapled to it, then panels 35, 36 and 37 become arched to contour the top of my leg rest. Panel 33 between folds 23 and 22 allows suicient space for the fold-away position of FIG. 7. It should also be noted that creasing allows only a maximum fold o-f 90 so that when it is necessary to obtain a fold two creases are necessary such as at creases y20, 21, 22, 23, 27 and 28.

The two optional heights of my leg rest are obtained by bringing end 12 to a stop 40 for the highest position as shown in FIG. 2 or letting it rest against the under side of panel 36 in the hollow of the knee lift section or the elevation contoured to t above the calf for the lower position.

To hold end 12 against stop 4t) or panel 36 an elastic 41 is provided which is stapled and cemented to panel 3i) and which passes through a hole 42 and is stapled or cemented to board 10 in the area of panel 36. Thus elastic 41 holds end 12 against stop '40v and acts as a stop itself when 12 is resting near panel 36. Optionally elastic 41 may pass through panel 36 to be stapled to its upper side.

Non-skid pads 45 are attached to panel 31. The top consisting of panels 33 tol 33 is covered with suitable padding 46 and the top including said panels 33 to 39 and strips 13 are all covered with vinyl, beaded along the seams such as 47 and stapled around and to strips 13 to provide a very comfortable and pleasing finish and completely rounding and hiding all folds, creases and stapling etc., in the top panels.

In use either of the heights shown in FIG. 2 may be selected. Your legs are positioned on the padded top with panels 3S, 36 and 37 under your knees or above the calf. In this position the heels may overhang panel 33. This is Very relaxing for most people.

When not in use, end 12 may be folded towards panel 33 so that panel 30 is positioned between panel 32 and the top panels 34 and 37 in which position it may be conveniently stored. Elastic means may be further supplied to hold the leg rest in this collapsed position as I have shown in my co-pending patent application Ser. No. 4,7/ 2l 8, of identical date.

Accordingly I claim as my invention:

l. A leg rest comprising a series of panels articulated out of one integral board to form relatively stid sections and relatively dlexible articulated hinge like sections, one end of said series of panels being folded to form a top portion having an arch therein designed to t in the curve or hollow of an adult leg above the calf, a pedestal portion formed from the other end of said sections, and means to vary the height of said top by contacting an end of said pedestal portion optionally either against the under side of the top normally directly beneath the calf for the highest position of said top or against the underside of said arch for the lowest position of said top.

2r. A leg rest comprising a top section contoured to support the leg and substantially conform to the curve of the calf including an elevated hollow section especially contoured to fit under the hollow of the calf, and a V shaped support therefor, one of the points of said V being articulated to said top and the other point of the V contacting the under side of the part of said top normally directly beneath the calf of the user to provide maximum elevation of said top or to optionally contact with the under side of said elevated hollow section to provide a lesser elevation for said top.

3. A leg rest comprising a more or less horizontal top section and a V shaped support therefor consisting of an articulated fulcrum and two arms, one of said arms being articulated to said top and the other of said arms being mounted to optionally contact the underside of said top at various locations, and elastic means to maintain said contact and positioning means to define said locations, said top, said arms and saidelastic being so proportioned and so articulated as to allow said arms to be folded substantially together adjacent to said top with the second mentioned arm positioned between the rst mentioned arm and said top forV compact storing and portability.

4. A leg rest comprising a top section contoured to support the leg and substantially conform to the curve of the calf including a ysubstantially Hat area and an elevated hollow section designed to t under the hollow of the calf and a V shaped support therefor, one of the sides -of said V being articulated to said top near one end thereof and the other side of said V being arranged to contact the underside of said at area to provide mam'- murn elevation of said top and also to optionally Contact the underside of said elevated hollow section to provide a lesser elevation for said top.

References ied in 'the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,452,915 Kennedy Apr. 24, 1923 2,856,614 OLeary Oct. 21, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 710,466 Great Britain June 16, 1954

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