Footrest for chair

• US 20070001502A1
• Filed: 12/08/2005
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ShelterLogic Corp.
• Original Assignee: Rio Brands Incorporated
• Inventors: Miller, Nigel, Welsh, Kerry
• Granted Patent: US 7,374,247 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/423.400
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/52 of detachable type
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/62 Accessories for chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/68 Arm-rest tables ; or back-rest tables

Abstract

An apparatus including an elongate post having a first end and a second end; a clamp coupled to the first end of the post, the clamp including a dimension suitable to couple to a seat frame of a chair; a leg support frame including a first portion pivotally coupled to the second end of the post and a second portion; and a leg support coupled to the second portion of the leg support frame. A method including coupling a leg support assembly to a chair, the leg support assembly including a leg support frame, wherein in a coupled configuration with a chair on a surface, coupling includes coupling such that a first portion of the leg support frame is in contact with the surface.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an elongate post having a first end and a second end;

a clamp coupled to the first end of the post, the clamp comprising a dimension suitable to couple to a seat frame of a chair;

a leg support frame comprising a first portion coupled to the second end of the post and a second portion; and

a leg support coupled to the second portion of the leg support frame,

wherein in a configuration with a chair on a surface, the clamp may be coupled to a seat frame of a chair and the first portion of the leg support frame is in contact with the surface projecting the leg support away from the surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in the configuration, the post extends diagonally forward from a forward end of the seat frame toward the surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clamp at least partially surrounds a girth of a seat frame when the clamp is coupled to the seat frame.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the distance between the seat frame and the leg support frame may be modified at point of use.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the leg support frame is rotationally coupled to the second end of the post.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein from an axis defined by a length of the post, the leg support frame may be rotated less than 90°

may be locked at a certain angle to the elongate post.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein from an axis defined by a length of the post, the leg support frame may be fixed at an angle relative to the post.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the leg support frame comprises a U-shaped structure comprising a base and legs and the elongate post is coupled to the base of the U-shaped structure and the leg support is coupled to the legs of the U-shaped structure.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the U-shaped structure of the leg support frame comprises two directionally opposed L-shaped members connected by a lateral portion of a T-shaped sleeve insert, and the elongate post is connected to the base of the U-shaped structure by a longitudinal portion of the sleeve insert.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

an axle coupled between the legs of the leg support frame wherein the leg support is rotatably coupled to the axle.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clamp comprises a first clamp, the apparatus further comprising:

a seat attachment segment, coupled at a midsection to the first end of the post; and

a second clamp,

wherein the first clamp is coupled to the seat attachment segment at a point between a first end and the midsection, and

wherein the second clamp is coupled to the seat attachment segment at a point between a second end and the midsection.

10. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a lateral U-shaped cross-bar comprising legs extending between the legs of the U-shaped structure and a base; and

a link comprising a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the post and coupled to respective ones of the second end defining an opening, and the base of the cross-bar extends through the opening.

13. A method comprising:

coupling a leg support assembly to a chair, the leg support assembly comprising;

an elongate post having a first end and a second end;

a clamp coupled to the first end of the post, the clamp comprising a dimension suitable to detachably couple to a seat frame of the chair;

a leg support frame comprising a first portion pivotally coupled to the second end of the post and a second portion;

a leg support coupled to the second portion of the leg support frame,

wherein in a coupled configuration with a chair on a surface, coupling comprises coupling the clamp of the leg support assembly to the chair such that the first portion of the leg support frame is in contact with the surface.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

positioning the footrest assembly so that the leg support of the footrest assembly is positioned a distance from the surface such that a leg of a person seated in the chair may be supported by the leg support above the surface.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the coupled configuration comprises a first configuration and in a second configuration, the post, the leg support frame and the leg support lie flat on a seat of the chair.

16. An apparatus comprising:

an elongate post having a first end and a second end;

a clamp coupled to the first end of the post, the clamp comprising a dimension suitable to couple to a seat frame of a chair;

a leg support frame comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion pivotally coupled to the second end of the post; and

a leg support coupled to the second portion of the leg support frame.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein in a configuration with a chair on a surface, the clamp may be coupled to a seat frame of a chair and the first portion of the leg support frame is in contact with the surface.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein in the configuration, the post extends diagonally forward from a forward end of the seat frame of the chair toward the surface.