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US4228745A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Variably-oriented footstool

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1978-08-23
•
Granted: 1980-10-21
•
Expires: 1998-08-23
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Abstract

Abstract A footstool is disclosed which is variable in both its height and its slope to accommodate the varying needs of individuals who are required to hold a leg in an elevated position for extended periods of time and are, therefore, prone to fatigue of the leg, back and other portions of the body. The stool includes a main body portion having adjustable legs at each end and which may be hinged to the main body portion for convenience in transport and storage. Each of the legs is formed of a base portion and a portion fixed to the main body of the stool with an infinitely-variable adjustment member such as a screw anchored in one of the leg portions and a mating nut mounted in the other of the leg portions. Preferably, the legs extend downwardly from the main body at diverging angles, in their use position, to enhance the longitudinal stability of the stool. Lateral stability and overall stability are provided by widely separated guides in each leg which provide both lateral and longitudinal guidance and bracing on both sides of each of the leg adjusters. The leg portions which are fixed with respect to the main body portion may be latched in their use position to provide an essentially rigid joint between the main body and that portion of the leg.

Inventors

  • 👤 Vernon M. Gale

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 18:35
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47C; A47C16/00; A47C16/02; A47C16/025; A47C9/00; A47C9/08

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 141 words
A variable footstool comprising: (a) a main body position, (b) a leg at each end of said main body portion, each leg including, (c) a first leg portion secured to said main body portion and having a longitudinal bore therein and a slot therethrough, the slot being perpendicular to the bore; and (d) a second leg portion longitudinally movably mounted with respect to said first leg portion, with (e) adjusting means for infinite variation of the relative positions of said first and second leg portions, and (f) at least one longitudinal guide means on said first and second leg portions parallel to the longitudinal bore, (g) said adjusting means comprising a member slidably located within the bore and having one end secured to said second portion, and a means for engaging the member located within the slot and engaging the member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 141 words
A variable footstool comprising: (a) a main body position, (b) a leg at each end of said main body portion, each leg including, (c) a first leg portion secured to said main body portion and having a longitudinal bore therein and a slot therethrough, the slot being perpendicular to the bore; and (d) a second leg portion longitudinally movably mounted with respect to said first leg portion, with (e) adjusting means for infinite variation of the relative positions of said first and second leg portions, and (f) at least one longitudinal guide means on said first and second leg portions parallel to the longitudinal bore, (g) said adjusting means comprising a member slidably located within the bore and having one end secured to said second portion, and a means for engaging the member located within the slot and engaging the member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 21 words
The footstool of claim 1 in which said first leg portion is secured to said main body portion by hinge means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 28 words
The footstool of claim 1 in which said member is comprised of an adjusting screw and said means for engaging is a nut threadably engaging the adjusting screw.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 52 words
The footstool of claim 1 in which one of said first and second leg portions is generally U-shaped and receives the other of said leg portions in a sliding relationship and said guide means includes a pair of guides, each positioned along adjacent sliding portions of said first and second leg portions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 20 words
The footstool of claim 4 in which said guides include a groove and a guide member received in said groove.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 21 words
The footstool of claim 5 in which said groove and said guide members each have a pair of adjacent bearing surfaces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 14 words
The footstool of claim 5 in which said guides are generally dovetail-shaped in cross-section.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 26 words
The footstool of claim 5 including hinge means for providing a divergent relationship of said legs with respect to said body portion in a use position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 23 words
The footstool of claim 8 in which each leg includes an angular surface bearing against the main body portion in its use position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 17 words
The footstool of claim 9 and including a lock for securing each leg in its use position.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US172674A Cited
US331297A Cited
US789813A Cited
GB190920671A Cited
US1116091A Cited
US1573691A Cited
AT132269B Cited
US2528331A Cited
US2621992A Cited
US3580634A Cited
US3859930A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1983-10-21 1984-04-21 1984-10-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1987-10-21 1988-04-21 1988-10-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1991-10-21 1992-04-21 1992-10-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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