Angle-adjustable footrest

Abstract

An angle-adjustable footrest includes a support member, a stator, a rotor, and a footplate. The stator is fixedly coupled to a supporting member and is rotatably coupled to a rotor. The stator and rotor have at least one pin and a plurality of pin receptacles. The rotor is capable of being coupled to the stator in a plurality of discrete angular positions for rotation about an axis, with each angular position corresponding to the at least one pin being selectively positioned in one of the plurality of pin receptacles.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from provisional patent application No. 60/621,383, filed Oct. 22, 2004.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to chairs having footrests, and especially to footrests provided on wheelchairs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to provide wheelchairs with footrests which are rotatable relative to a remainder of the wheelchair. For example, U.S. Pats. No. 5,393,082 (Fenley); U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,644 (Peek); and U.S. Pat. No. 6,217,050 (Dickie et al.) all disclose footrests having footplates which are rotatable relative to a remainder of the wheelchair such that the user's foot is supported at varying tilt angles. Various mechanisms have been used to permit rotation of the footplates. Fenley discloses a footplate rotatably mounted to a pivot bolt. The pivot bolt is mounted in a block, and the shaft is pulled into engagement with the block by a wingnut. Peek discloses a footplate rotatably mounted to a support member via a splined shaft and mating splined sleeve connection. Dickie et al. discloses a footplate rotatably mounted to a support shaft by a clamp. It is believed that an invention providing a new simple and reliable positively-engaging mechanism to allow adjustment of an angular tilt position of a wheelchair footrest would be desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, the invention is an angle-adjustable footrest comprising a support member. At least one pin is coupled to the support member. A rotor is rotatably coupled to the support member and has a plurality of pin receptacles, each pin receptacle being sized and shaped to releasably and selectively receive the at least one pin. A footplate is coupled to the rotor. The rotor is capable of being coupled to the support member in a plurality of discrete angular positions, each angular position corresponding to the at least one pin being selectively positioned in one of the plurality of pin receptacles.

In a further aspect, the invention is an angle-adjustable footrest comprising a support member. A stator is fixedly coupled to the support member and has at least one pin. A rotor is rotatably coupled to the stator and has a plurality of pin receptacles, each pin receptacle being sized and shaped to releasably and selectively receive the at least one pin. A footplate is coupled to the rotor. The rotor is capable of being coupled to the stator in a plurality of discrete angular positions for rotation about a first axis, each angular position corresponding to the at least one pin being selectively positioned in one of the plurality of pin receptacles.

In one embodiment, the stator has a plurality of pin receptacles and the rotor has at least one pin, such that when the rotor is coupled with the stator, the at least one rotor pin is received in one of the plurality of stator pin receptacles and the at least one stator pin is received in one of the plurality of rotor pin receptacles. The stator and the rotor may further each comprise two pins, with each pin having a first and a second set of pin receptacles.

In a further embodiment, the stator and the rotor each further include an insert portion having the plurality of pin receptacles and the at least one pin formed therein. The insert portion may be fabricated using powder metallurgy techniques.

In a still further aspect, the invention is an angle-adjustable footrest comprising a support member. A stator is fixedly coupled to the support member and has a plurality of pin receptacles. A rotor is rotatably coupled to the stator and has at least one pin sized and shaped to be releasably and selectively received within the pin receptacle. A footplate is coupled to the rotor. The rotor is capable of being coupled to the stator in a plurality of discrete angular positions for rotation about a first axis, each angular position corresponding to the at least one pin being selectively positioned in one of the plurality of pin receptacles.

In yet another aspect, the invention is an angle-adjustable footrest comprising a support member. A stator has at least one pin and is fixedly coupled to the supporting member. A rotor has a rotor socket sized and shaped to receive the stator and has a plurality of pin receptacles, each pin receptacle being sized and shaped to releasably and selectively receive the at least one pin. A footplate is coupled to the rotor. The rotor is capable of being coupled to the socket in a plurality of discrete angular positions for rotation about a first axis, each angular position corresponding to the at least one pin being selectively positioned in one of the plurality of pin receptacles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings forms of the invention which are presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a footrest in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the footrest of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective, exploded assembly view of the footrest of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a stator of the footrest of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a rotor of the footrest of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view an insert portion capable of being incorporated into the stator of FIG. 4 and the rotor of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-3, a footrest assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10. The footrest assembly 10 includes and is attachable to a support member 12, for example, a tubular member which is part of and which extends from a forward end of a wheelchair frame. The footrest assembly 10 comprises a stator 20 fixedly coupled to the support member 12. The footrest 10 further includes a rotor 40 rotatably coupled to the stator 20. A footplate 80 is coupled to the rotor 40. The footplate 80 is rotatable relative to the support member 12 and stator 20 about a first axis 64 into a plurality of discrete angular positions, for example a first angular position 100a and a second angular position 100b. Preferably, the footplate 80 is also rotatable relative to the support member 12 and stator 20 about a second axis 90.

With reference now to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the stator 20 has a generally circular cylindrical shape, having a first end face 22 and a second end face 24. The stator 20 includes a cavity or socket 26 which is sized and shaped to releasably receive the support member 12. The stator 20 further includes a hole 28 though which a fastener 60 may be installed to couple the stator 20 and the rotor 40 to the support member 12, as described further herein below.

The stator 20 includes at least one, and preferably two, pins 30. The pins 30 are sized and shaped to fit within a corresponding plurality of rotor pin receptacles 52 when the stator 20 and the rotor 40 are brought into operative engagement, as described further herein below. Preferably, the stator 20 also is provided with a plurality of pin receptacles 32.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 5, the rotor 40 has a socket 50 sized and shaped to releasably receive the stator 20. The rotor 40 has a first face 42. An opening in the first face 42 allows the socket 20 to be installed into the rotor socket 50. A rotor fastener hole 56 extends through the rotor 40. The fastener 60 may be inserted through the socket fastener hole 28, one or more support member holes 14, and the rotor fastener hole 56 to connect the stator 20, support member 12 and rotor 40 together with the fastener 60 and a fastener nut 62.

The rotor 40 further includes a footplate mount 44, sized and shaped to fit within a footplate mounting bracket 82. A footplate fastener hole 46 extends through the footplate mount 44. The footplate mounting bracket 82 includes bracket holes 84, which allow a footplate fastener 86 and nut 88 to couple the footplate 80 to the rotor 40. The second axis of rotation 90 is coincident with a longitudinal axis of the footplate fastener 86.

The rotor 40 includes the plurality of pin receptacles 52, which releasably receive the at least one stator pin 30 when the second stator face 24 and at least one stator pin 30 are moved into operative engagement with the rotor 40. The rotor 40 also may include at least one, and preferably two, rotor pins 54. If rotor pins 54 are provided, when the stator 20 and rotor 40 are operatively engaged, the rotor pins 54 are received in the plurality of pin receptacles 32 preferably provided in the stator 20. Alternatively, the rotor 40 could be provided only with at least one pin 54, and the stator provided only with a corresponding plurality of pin receptacles 32.

With reference now to FIGS. 4-6, the stator and rotor pins 30, 54, respectively, and plurality of pin receptacles 32, 52, respectively, are preferably formed in separate insert portions 70 incorporated into the stator 20 and rotor 40, respectively. The inserts 70 have a first face 72 on which pins 74 and/or pin receptacles 76 are formed. If two stator or rotor pins 74 are provided, then preferably two sets of pin receptacles 76 (a first set 76A and a second set 76B) are also provided. Each set of pin receptacles 76 extends over a sector having an angle of a degrees. Preferably, the angle α is approximately 30 degrees. The angle α corresponds to the total angle through which the footplate 80 may be adjusted.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4-6, the inserts 70 are provided with both pins 74 and pin receptacles 76. Therefore, the stator 20 into which the insert 70 is incorporated will have both at least one stator pin 30 and a plurality of stator receptacles 32. Likewise, the rotor 40 into which the insert 70 is incorporated will have both at least one rotor pin 54 and a plurality of rotor pin receptacles 52. Thus, when the rotor 40 is coupled with the stator 20, the at least one rotor pin 54 is received in one of the plurality of stator pin receptacles 32 and the at least one stator pin 30 is received in one of the plurality of rotor pin receptacles 52.

The inserts 70 are formed individually, separately from the stator 20 and rotor 40. A first insert 70 is subsequently joined with a stator body 36 to form the unitary, integral operative stator 20. Likewise, an identical second insert 70 is joined with a rotor body 58 to form the unitary, integral operative rotor 40. Preferably, the inserts 70 are formed using conventional powder metallurgy techniques. The stator body 36 and the rotor body 58 are preferably formed from conventional polymeric materials. The inserts 70 are joined to the stator and rotor bodies 36, 58, respectively, using conventional co-molding techniques. Alternatively, the stator 20 and rotor 40, complete with stator and rotor pins 30, 54 and stator and rotor pin receptacles 32, 52, respectively, could be formed from metal or polymeric materials using conventional casting or machining techniques.

In operation, a user may adjust the angular tilt position of the footplate 80, relative to the wheelchair, by first unfastening the rotor 40 from the stator 20 by loosening the fastener nut 62 from the fastener 60. The rotor 40 and footplate 80 may then be disengaged from the stator 20. More particularly, the stator pins 30 (and/or rotor pins 54) may be disengaged from the rotor pin receptacles 52 (and/or stator pin receptacles 32), allowing the rotor 40 and footplate 80 to be rotated into the desired angular position relative to the stator 20 and support member 12. The rotor 40 is then moved back into operative engagement with the stator 20, and the fastener 60 and fastener nut 62 reinstalled to secure the rotor 40 and footrest 80 to the stator 20 and support member 12 in the desired position. In the embodiment shown, the rotor 40 does not need to be fully withdrawn from about the stator 20 to allow rotation of the rotor 40 relative to the stator 20. The rotor 40 and footrest 80 are thus capable of being coupled to the support member 12 in a plurality of discrete angular positions, each angular position corresponding to the at least one stator pin 30 (and/or rotor pin 54) being selectively positioned in one of the plurality of rotor pin receptacles 52 (and/or stator pin receptacles 32, respectively). Preferably, the footplate 80 and rotor 40 are rotatable relative to the stator 20 through a total angle of approximately 30 degrees, corresponding to and determined by the angle α.

Further preferably, a plurality of rotor angular position indicia 48 are disposed on the rotor first face 42. The total number of the plurality of rotor angular position indicia 48 preferably corresponds to the total number of discrete angular positions into which the rotor 40 and footrest 80 may be selectively positioned relative to the stator 20. A stator position mark 34 is preferably provided on the stator first face 22. When the stator 20 and rotor 40 are operatively coupled, position of the plurality of rotor angular position indicia 48 relative to the stator position mark 34 thus provides the user with an indication of in which one of the plurality of discrete angular positions the footrest 80 is positioned.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention. For example, it will be understood that the stator 20 need not be provided. Rather, the at least one stator pin 30 could be provided by a spring-loaded pin (not illustrated), coupled directly to the support member 12 for translation into and out of engagement with the rotor 40. The rotor 40 could be directly pivotally coupled to the support member 12, with the spring-loaded pin biased into selective engagement with one of the plurality of rotor pin receptacles 52.

An angle-adjustable footrest is thus disclosed, providing a particularly simple and reliable mechanism allowing a footplate to be positively coupled to a support member.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to the exemplary embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and various other changes, omissions and additions may be made therein and thereto, without parting from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An angle-adjustable footrest comprising:

a support member;

at least one pin coupled to the support member;

a rotor rotatably coupled to the support member and having a plurality of pin receptacles, each pin receptacle being sized and shaped to releasably and selectively receive the at least one pin; and

a footplate coupled to the rotor,

wherein the rotor is capable of being coupled to the support member in a plurality of discrete angular positions, each angular position corresponding to the at least one pin being selectively positioned in one of the plurality of pin receptacles.

2. The angle-adjustable footrest of claim 1, further comprising a stator fixedly coupled to the support member;

wherein the at least one pin is disposed on the stator.

3. The angle-adjustable footrest of claim 1, wherein the footplate is pivotally coupled to the rotor for rotation about a second axis generally perpendicular to the first axis.

4. An angle-adjustable footrest comprising:

a support member;

a hub fixedly coupled to the support member and having at least one of a retaining pin or a plurality of pin receptacles;

a footplate mount removably and rotatably coupled to the hub and having the other of the one retaining pin and the plurality of pin receptacles; and

a footplate coupled to the footplate mount;

wherein each pin receptacle is sized and shaped to releasably and selectively receive the at least one retaining pin; and

wherein the footplate mount is capable of being coupled to the hub in a plurality of discrete angular positions for rotation about a first axis, each angular position corresponding to the at least one pin being selectively positioned in one of the plurality of pin receptacles.

5. The angle-adjustable footrest of claim 4, wherein the first axis extends through both of the hub and footplate mount.

6. The angle-adjustable footrest of claim 5, wherein the footplate is pivotally coupled to the footplate mount for rotation about a second axis generally perpendicular to the first axis.

7. An angle-adjustable footrest comprising:

a support member;

a stator fixedly coupled to the support member and having a plurality of pin receptacles;

a rotor rotatably coupled to the stator and having at least one pin sized and shaped to be releasably and selectively received within the pin receptacle; and

a footplate coupled to the rotor,

wherein the rotor is capable of being coupled to the stator in a plurality of discrete angular positions for rotation about a first axis, each angular position corresponding to the at least one pin being selectively positioned in one of the plurality of pin receptacles.

8. The angle-adjustable footrest of claim 7, the stator further having a at least one pin and the rotor further having a plurality of pin receptacles, such that when the rotor is coupled with the stator, the at least one rotor pin is received in one of the plurality of stator pin receptacles and the at least one stator pin is received in one of the plurality of rotor pin receptacles.

9. An angle-adjustable footrest comprising:

a support member;

a stator having at least one pin and being fixedly coupled to the supporting member;

a rotor having a rotor sized socket and shaped to receive the stator and having a plurality of pin receptacles, each pin receptacle being sized and shaped to releasably and selectively receive the at least one pin; and

a footplate coupled to the rotor,

wherein the rotor is capable of being coupled to the socket in a plurality of discrete angular positions for rotation about a first axis, each angular position corresponding to the at least one pin being selectively positioned in one of the plurality of pin receptacles.

10. The angle-adjustable footrest of claim 9, the stator further having a plurality of pin receptacles and the rotor further having at least one pin, such that when the rotor is coupled with the stator, the at least one rotor pin is received in one of the plurality of stator pin receptacles and the at least one stator pin is received in one of the plurality of rotor pin receptacles.

11. An angle-adjustable footrest comprising:

a support member;

a stator fixedly coupled to the supporting member having at least one of a pin or a plurality of pin receptacles;

a rotor having the other of the pin and pin receptacle and shaped to releasably receive the stator;

each pin receptacle being sized and shaped to releasably and selectively receive the at least one pin; and

a footplate coupled to the rotor;

wherein the rotor is capable of being coupled to the socket in a plurality of discrete angular positions for rotation about a first axis, each angular position corresponding to the at least one pin being selectively positioned in one of the plurality of pin receptacles.

12. The angle-adjustable footrest of claim 11, the support member, stator, and rotor each further having a fastener hole sized and shaped to receive a fastener extending through the stator, rotor and support member to secure the stator and the rotor to the support member.

13. The angle-adjustable footrest of claim 11, wherein the footplate is pivotally coupled to the rotor for rotation about a second axis generally perpendicular to the first axis.

14. The angle-adjustable footrest of claim 11, wherein the footplate and rotor are rotatable relative to the stator through a total angle of approximately 30 degrees.

15. The angle-adjustable footrest of claim 11, the stator comprising at least a pin and a plurality of pin receptacles and the rotor comprising at least a pin and a plurality of pin receptacles, such that when the rotor is coupled with the stator, the at least one rotor pin is received in one of the plurality of stator pin receptacles and the at least one stator pin is received in one of the plurality of rotor pin receptacles.

16. The angle-adjustable footrest of claim 15, the stator and the rotor each further comprising two pins and each having a first and a second set of pin receptacles.

17. The angle-adjustable footrest of claim 11, wherein the stator and the rotor each further include an insert portion having the plurality of pin receptacles and the at least one pin formed therein.

18. The angle-adjustable footrest of claim 11, wherein at least one of the stator and rotor further comprise an insert portion having at least one of the at least one pin and the plurality of pin receptacles.

19. The angle-adjustable footrest of claim 18, wherein the insert portion is fabricated using powder metallurgy techniques.