FOLDING PORTABLE FOOTSTOOL WITH PLATFORM ADJUSTABLE TO MULTIPLE HEIGHTS AND ANGLES
Disclosed is a folding portable footstool that is lightweight, portable, and easy to handle. The folding portable footstool includes a base, a first leg member, a second leg member, and a platform which, when engaged by one or both of the leg members, is adjustable to one of a plurality of possible angles and one of a plurality of possible heights. The folding portable footstool may also comprise a platform with a plurality of slits, stability members extending on both sides from a bottom surface of the second leg member, extension members on each top surface of both leg members to engage slits in the platform, a structural member connecting both leg members, a lock house assembly housed within the structural member, a pull strap mechanism attached to the first leg member, and a backstop mechanism attached to the bottom surface of the platform.
This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. Patent Application 61/271,069, filed on Jul. 16, 2009, titled “FOLDING PORTABLE FOOTSTOOL WITH PLATFORM ADJUSTABLE TO MULTIPLE HEIGHTS AND ANGLES,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
FIELDThe field of the disclosure relates to folding portable footstools, and more specifically, to a folding portable footstool with a platform adjustable to multiple heights and angles.
BACKGROUNDBreastfeeding (i.e., nursing) is an important contributor to the health of both mother and child. These findings have been confirmed by many studies over the past decades. In addition, nursing deepens the bonds between the child and the mother. There are many factors which contribute to successful nursing. Foremost among these is the ability of the mother to find a comfortable, relaxing position in which to nurse. Stress and discomfort can make it difficult for milk to flow, making breastfeeding painful for mothers and ultimately discouraging mothers from nursing.
In order to nurse comfortably when seated without neck, arm, leg, back and shoulder strain, mothers need to elevate their feet. Without a footrest for nursing, many mothers strain, hunch over, and lift their heels to elevate laps to a suitable height. Many mothers give up nursing away from home or nursing altogether because they cannot easily achieve a comfortable position. A similar predicament often arises for parents during bottle feeding. When cradling the child during bottle feeding, a head of the child is raised at an angle often causing discomfort.
Conventionally, nursing foot supports may include ottomans or nursing stools which do not fold, making them difficult to store and transport. Conventional folding footstools, which are not intended specifically for caring for a baby, do not provide an angled surface to absorb a downward pressure from legs of a user while being adjustable to multiple positions to best accommodate the needs of the user.
SUMMARYProvided is a folding portable footstool for nursing mothers to facilitate breastfeeding or bottle feeding while away from home.
Generally, the folding portable footstool of the present disclosure may comprise a platform, a base assembly, and first and second leg members.
The folding portable footstool described herein may provide the possibility of adjusting the platform to necessary angles to achieve a comfortable position.
The folding portable footstool may have several possible embodiments.
In some embodiments, the folding portable footstool may have a plurality of indentations on a bottom surface of the platform. When the first leg member engages one of a plurality of indentations, the platform may elevate at one of a plurality of angles, thus allowing modifying an angle of inclination of the folding portable footstool. The position of the folding portable footstool with the first leg member engaging one of a plurality of indentations may be referred to as a first position. Furthermore, the second leg member may engage one of the plurality of indentations together with the first leg member. This allows to further modify the angle on inclination and/or height of the platform of the folding portable footstool.
In some embodiments, the second leg member may have stability members engaging the floor or ground to ensure a stable position of the folding portable footstool. Each top surface of both leg members may have an extension member for engaging a slit or indentation on the platform. A platform may have a plurality of slits or indentations to adjust the platform to different angles.
In other embodiments, both leg members may be connected with a structural member by a pivot mechanism. The structural member may unify an operation of both leg members enabling operating the folding portable footstool with one hand.
In other embodiments, the structural member may house a lock house assembly comprising a lock pin assembly. When the lock pin assembly is not engaged, the structural member may move along leg channels of the second leg member, thus allowing the first leg member to be engaged without engaging the second leg member. When the lock pin assembly is engaged, both leg members may operate simultaneously, thus facilitating one-handed operation.
In various embodiments, the one-handed operation may also be facilitated by a pull strap mechanism attached to the first leg member. Additionally, ease of operation may be provided by a backstop mechanism attached to the bottom surface of the platform. The backstop mechanism comprising nubs may prevent the first leg member from moving beyond an engaged indentation on the bottom surface of the platform.
The folding portable footstool may be easily foldable (or collapsible) to provide portability and to facilitate storage.
Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:
The following detailed description includes references to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the detailed description. Present example embodiments relate to a folding portable footstool.
In some example embodiments, the folding portable footstool or a folding support apparatus may comprise at least three surfaces. The surfaces, when configured together, may create a planar (or substantially planar) support surface capable of elevating and supporting the feet of a user without the need for any additional or external means of structural support. The folding portable footstool may comprise a base assembly, a first leg member, and a platform for resting feet at an incline to a floor or other surface. The platform may be attached to the base assembly with a hinging mechanism and provide a primary support surface where a nursing mother places her feet during nursing or bottle feeding. The first leg member may be coupled to the base assembly with a hinging mechanism, and when the first leg member is rotated, a top of the first leg member may engage an indentation on a bottom of the platform, thereby elevating the platform at a first angle and creating a first position. The folding portable footstool may also comprise a second leg member disposed within the base assembly with a pivot mechanism, which when engaged along with the first leg member, enables the folding portable footstool to create an elevated support surface at a second angle which is parallel (or substantially parallel), thereby creating a second position.
It should be apparent for those skilled in the art that the platform may have a plurality of indentations, and depending on indentations engaged by the first leg member or both by the first and second leg members, the platform may be elevated at different angles, thereby creating different positions.
The first and second positions of the folding portable footstool with the platform inclined at the first and second angles are disclosed hereinafter by way of example for different embodiments.
The ergonomic features disclosed above may improve overall comfort during nursing, which, in turn, may increase the likelihood of nursing occurring away from or throughout the home.
In some embodiments, the folding portable footstool may comprise a base assembly, a first leg member disposed within the base assembly, and a platform for resting feet at an incline to a floor or other surface. The first leg member may be coupled to the base assembly with a hinging mechanism and have notches cut from an engaging end. These notches may create an extension member. The platform may be attached to the base assembly with a hinging mechanism and may have a plurality of slits. When the first leg member is rotated, the extension member on the end of the first leg member may engage a slit in the platform, thereby elevating the platform. When the first leg member engages alternate slits in the platform, the platform may be set at different angles, which, in turn, may allow adjusting the incline of a support surface. The folding portable footstool may also comprise a second leg member disposed within the base assembly with a pivot mechanism. The second leg member may have notches cut from an engaging end. These notches may create a second extension member. When the second leg member is rotated, the second extension member may engage one of the slits in the platform. When engaged along with the first leg member, the second leg member may enable the folding portable footstool to create an elevated support surface which is parallel (or substantially parallel) to a floor.
In some embodiments, the folding portable footstool may comprise a base assembly, first and second leg members disposed within the base assembly, a structural member connecting the first and second leg members, and a platform for resting feet at an incline to a floor or other surface. The platform may be attached to the base assembly with a hinging mechanism. The first leg member may be coupled to the base assembly with a hinging mechanism, and the second leg member may be coupled to the base assembly with a pivot mechanism. To ensure the relative stability and comfort of the user, the second leg member may also have stability members, which may extend orthogonally from each side, thereby engaging a floor and creating a wider foot. This helps ensure that the folding portable footstool does not easily tip over. The first and second leg members may support the platform. The structural member may be flexible or rigid. The structural member may connect the first and second leg members to each other, thereby causing both leg members to operate simultaneously and helping a user to operate the folding portable footstool with one hand.
In some embodiments, the folding portable footstool may comprise a base assembly, first and second leg members disposed within the base assembly, a structural member connecting both leg members, a lock assembly housed within the structural member, and a platform for resting feet at an incline to a floor or other surface. The platform may be attached to the base assembly with a hinging mechanism and provide a primary support surface for a user. The first leg member may be coupled to the base assembly with a hinging mechanism, and the second leg member may be coupled to the base assembly with a pivot mechanism. The first and second leg members may support the platform. To ensure the relative stability and comfort of the user, the second leg member may also have stability members, which extend orthogonally from each side to engage a floor and create a wider foot. This helps ensure that the folding portable footstool does not easily tip over. The first and second leg members may have openings allowing the structural member to move in a pivot motion. The structural member may include a lock house assembly and outwardly extending cylindrical protrusions to connect the structural member to the second leg member. These outwardly extending cylindrical protrusions may create a pivot mechanism connecting the second leg member and the structural member. The second leg member further may comprise leg channels, wherein the outwardly extending cylindrical protrusions slide along the leg channels to allow the folding portable footstool to be operated with the first leg member without the structural member engaging the second leg member (in other words, to be put in a first position). The lock house assembly may be housed in a recess of the structural member and contain a lock pin assembly. When the lock pin assembly is engaged, the structural member may no longer be able to slide along the leg channels of the second leg member and instead rotates in a pivot motion. When the lock pin assembly is engaged, operating the first leg member may cause the structural member to also operate the second leg member ( ).
Those who have cared for infants may acknowledge that ease of use is often critical for tools for infant care or else they will not be readily used. As such, an important feature of the folding portable footstool is that it may be easily engaged by a person (e.g., nursing mother) attempting to prepare herself and her surroundings for a nursing operation. Additional features may help operate the folding portable footstool with one hand. For example, a pull strap mechanism attached to the first leg member may help operate the first leg member when the lock pin assembly is not engaged and may help operate both leg members when the lock pin assembly is engaged.
The pull strap mechanism may be used in various embodiments of the folding portable footstool. Additionally, various embodiments of the folding portable footstool may have a backstop mechanism to provide ease of operation.
To provide improved comfort and security during nursing, the support surface of the platform may be substantially non-slip. This non-slip aspect may be provided by one or more of grooves, slits, bumps, polymeric material, or the like. A specific configuration of the platform is not believed to be critical to non-slip properties of the folding portable footstool. The platform may also have slits or grooves to decrease an overall weight of the folding portable footstool as well as to increase traction and aeration.
Additional improvement and security during nursing may be provided when one or more parts of the folding portable footstools which are in contact with a floor exhibit a non-skid property. A suitable way to provide such non-skid property is coating or otherwise applying a polymeric material to some or all of those parts of the folding portable footstool that are in contact with the floor. For example, rubber feet or appliques, or a polymeric coating may be applied. As would be recognized by those skilled in the art, such material may increase a coefficient of friction of the folding portable footstool so as to make it less likely to slide or move across the floor when a user places pressure on it during use.
The folding portable footstool may comprise, in whole or in part, plywood (veneer, softwood, or hardwood), solid hardwood, solid softwood, bamboo, rubberwood, metal, or plastic. Other materials may also be suitable as long as the features of the folding portable footstool may be achieved without diminishing an ability to use the folding portable footstool comfortably or reducing a desirable portability of the folding portable footstool. Specifically, a material may exhibit a fairly low thermal conductivity, long life (i.e., be durable), and be able to be made into a smooth surface. In order to successfully achieve a balance of comfort, portability, and strength for the folding portable footstool, various components may be mixed and matched. Additionally, the support surface of the platform may comprise canvas, fabric, leather, nylon, or another material combined with other materials to further improve the portability by taking weight out of a final product.
The folding portable footstool should be configured so as to reduce a possibility that opening or closing the folding portable footstool may result in pinching.
In contrast to currently available footstools, which may or may not be intended for nursing mothers, the folding portable footstool is lightweight and portable so that it may be easily moved within and outside of the home. Moreover, the folding portable footstool is compact and may be folded for ease of storage and portability (e.g., it may suitably be carried in a diaper bag and easily stored).
In use, the folding portable footstool will allow a mother (or other person) to elevate her feet with a device, which does not need any external support and may be folded for easy portability and storage. In this way, back, shoulder, neck, and lower leg strain may be alleviated. While the folding portable footstool is intended for nursing and bottle feeding mothers, it should be understood that the folding portable footstool may be useful in other situations where a portable way to provide a foot support is desirable. Such situations include, but are not limited to, pregnancy, guitar playing, air travel, knitting or other activities, reading, watching television, or numerous other situations.
Referring now to the drawings,
As shown in
As shown in
Referring to
Different shapes and dimensions of the base assembly 204, platform 202, support surface 310, and the leg members 206 and 208 may be used, and different configurations and attachment mechanisms may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. For example, the platform 202 could have multiple indentations for engaging the first leg member 206, thereby enabling a user to place the platform 202 in additional positions and define additional angles with the horizontal.
As shown in
Referring to
The lock pin assembly 2120 is received by the lock house assembly 1902 described above with reference to
When the lock pin assembly 2120 is not engaged, the outwardly extending cylindrical protrusions 2102 and 2104 described above with reference to
The lock house assembly 1902 described above with reference to
Various materials may be used to manufacture the folding portable footstool in various embodiments. For example, a material may be a laminate of bamboo or another hardwood, which is aesthetically pleasing and also provides a safe supporting structure capable of supporting a downward pressure from a foot and leg of a user. A choice of bamboo laminate is not critical, but a material should be resilient with a sufficient rigidity to hold the downward pressure exerted by the user.
An exact arrangement and configuration of a leg security mechanism may be varied. The embodiments described herein are not to be limited by a particular aspect of configuration disclosed above. Specifically, variations, changes, modifications, and departures from the configuration disclosed above may be adopted without departure from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.
The present disclosure involves a folding portable footstool adjustable to multiple heights and multiple angles to assist during nursing of an infant. Principles of the present disclosure, however, are not limited to collapsible footstools and, in light of the present disclosure, the folding portable footstool may be successfully used in connection with other types of stools and supports.
While the present disclosure describes various embodiments of the folding portable footstool, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications, additions, and deletions may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and its equivalents as set forth in the following claims.
Claims
1. A folding support apparatus comprising:
- a platform including a support surface, a first front edge, a first back edge, a first side edge, a second side edge, a first top surface, and a first bottom surface, the first bottom surface having a plurality of indentations;
- a base assembly including a second top surface, a second bottom surface, a second front edge, a second back edge, a third side edge, and a fourth side edge, the base assembly being attached to the platform with a hinging mechanism;
- a first leg member including a third top surface, a third bottom surface, a third front edge, a third back edge, a fifth side edge, and a sixth side edge, wherein the first leg member is disposed within a base opening in the base assembly, the base opening being configured to receive the first leg member; and
- wherein the first leg member is coupled to the base assembly with a hinging mechanism so that the first leg member is configured to rotate and the third front edge of the first leg is configured to engage one of a plurality of indentations of the first bottom surface of the platform causing the platform to be elevated above a ground surface at one of a plurality of angles;
- a second leg member including a fourth top surface, a fourth bottom surface, a seventh side edge, an eighth side edge, a fourth front edge, and a fourth back edge, wherein the second leg member is disposed within a base opening in the base assembly, the base opening being configured to receive the second leg member; and
- wherein the second leg member is pivotally mounted within the base assembly so that the second leg member is configured to rotate and the fourth front edge of the second leg member is configured to engage one of the plurality of indentations of the first bottom surface of the platform causing the platform to be elevated at one of the plurality of angles; and
- at least two stability members extending outward orthogonally from the seventh side edge and the eight side edge of the second leg member.
2. The folding support apparatus of claim 1, further comprising
- a non-skid member coupled to the fourth back edge of the second leg member and the second bottom surface of the base assembly.
3. The folding support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support surface is made of non-slip using one or more of the following: slits, grooves, and a polymeric material.
4. The folding support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the platform includes a plurality of slits.
5. The folding support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the third front edge of the first leg member includes a first extension member, and the fourth front edge of the second leg member includes a second extension member, the platform includes a plurality of slits, and a first slit is to engage the first extension member of the first leg member and a second slit is to engage the second extension member of the second leg member.
6. A folding support apparatus comprising:
- a platform including a support surface, first front edge, a first back edge, a first side edge, a second side edge, a first top surface, and a first bottom surface, the first bottom surface having a plurality of indentations;
- a base assembly including a second top surface, a second bottom surface, a second front edge, a second back edge, a third side edge, and a fourth side edge, the base assembly being attached to the platform with a hinging mechanism;
- a first leg member with a third top surface, a third bottom surface, a third front edge, a third back edge, a fifth side edge, and a sixth side edge, wherein the first leg member is disposed within a base opening in the base assembly, the base opening being configured to receive the first leg member; and
- wherein the first leg member is coupled to the base assembly with a hinging mechanism so that the first leg member is configured to rotate and the third front edge of the first leg member is configured to engage one of a plurality of indentations of the first bottom surface of the platform causing the platform to be elevated above a ground surface at one of a plurality of angles;
- a second leg member including a fourth top surface, a fourth bottom surface, a seventh side edge, an eighth side edge, a fourth front edge, and a fourth back edge, wherein the second leg member is disposed within a base opening in the base assembly, the base opening being configured to receive the second leg member; and
- wherein the second leg member is pivotally mounted within the base assembly so that the second leg member is configured to rotate and the fourth front edge of the second leg member is configured to engage one of the plurality of indentations of the first bottom surface of the platform causing the platform to be elevated at one of the plurality of angles;
- at least two stability members extending outward orthogonally from the seventh side edge and the eight side edge of the second leg member; and
- a structural member connecting the first and second leg members to each other, the structural member including a fifth top surface, a fifth bottom surface, a first front surface, a first back surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface.
7. The folding support apparatus of claim 6, further comprising
- a non-skid member coupled to the fourth back edge of the second leg member and the second bottom surface of the base assembly.
8. The folding support apparatus of claim 6, wherein the support surface is made of non-slip using one or more of the following: slits, grooves, and a polymeric material.
9. The folding support apparatus of claim 6, wherein the structural member is attached to the first and second leg members with a pivot mechanism and the structural member unifies the operation of the leg members causing the folding support apparatus to achieve the second position when operated.
10. The folding support apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first leg member has a first opening proximate to the third front edge, the first opening having a third inside edge and a fourth inside edge.
11. The folding support apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second leg member has a second opening proximate to the fourth front edge, the second opening having a fifth inside edge and a sixth inside edge, and wherein the fifth and sixth inside edges of the second leg member house a first leg channel and a second leg channel, the fifth and sixth inside edges include leg apertures, and the sixth inside edge includes an extended cylindrical barrel aperture.
12. The folding support apparatus of claim 6, wherein the structural member includes first and second attachment mechanisms, the attachment mechanisms connect the structural member to the second leg member, the structural member rotates in a pivot motion, when received by the leg apertures of the second leg member, and slides along the leg channels of the second leg member.
13. The folding support apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a backstop mechanism for the first leg member, wherein the first leg member engages the backstop mechanism to fix the first leg member in an open position relative to the platform so that the first leg member is unable to splay unintentionally, and the third back edge of the first leg member includes an opening enabling a free passage of the backstop mechanism through the first leg member of the folding support apparatus in a closed position.
14. The folding support apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a pull strap mechanism attached to the first leg member.
15. The folding support apparatus of claim 6, wherein the structural member is connected to the first leg member by a pivot mechanism, the structural member including a recess, the recess housing a lock house assembly.
16. The folding support apparatus of claim 15, wherein the lock house assembly includes a raised nub with arcuate protrusions and first, second, third, and fourth lock house channels.
17. The folding support apparatus of claim 15, wherein the lock house assembly includes a lock pin assembly including first and second lock pin members, the first and second lock pin members defining locked and unlocked positions, the first lock pin member being located within the lock house assembly.
18. The folding support apparatus of claim 17, wherein the unlocked position is achieved when the lock pin assembly is not engaged and outwardly extending cylindrical protrusions move along leg channels of a second leg member allowing a first leg member to be engaged without engaging the second leg member and thereby causing a platform to achieve a first position.
19. The folding support apparatus of claim 17, wherein the locked position is achieved when the second lock pin member is raised in a vertical position and moved along a first lock house channel so that the first lock pin member moves through a tubular aperture in an outwardly extending cylindrical protrusion, and when the first lock pin member rests in an extended cylindrical barrel aperture in a sixth inside edge of a second leg member, the second lock pin member is lowered in a horizontal position in a second lock house channel, thereby creating a lock means and causing first and second leg members to operate substantially simultaneously so that a platform achieves a second position.
20. A folding support apparatus for elevating feet of nursing mothers to facilitate breastfeeding or bottle feeding, the apparatus comprising:
- a platform for elevating feet;
- a base assembly attached to the platform with a hinging mechanism;
- first and second leg members for elevating the platform when one or both leg members are engaged by indentations and slits of the platform;
- a structural member connecting the first and second leg members to each other, thereby helping to facilitate one-handed operation of the folding support apparatus;
- a lock house assembly housed within the structural member and containing a lock pin assembly causing the structural member to rotate in a pivot motion;
- a pull strap mechanism attached to the first leg member for operating the first leg member when the lock pin assembly is not engaged and for operating both leg members when the lock pin assembly is engaged; and
- a backstop mechanism preventing the first leg member from splaying unintentionally and moving beyond an engaged indentation of the platform.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 17, 2012
Publication Date: Feb 20, 2014
Inventor: Julie Appiah Finn (Dunwoody, GA)
Application Number: 13/587,932