Abstract:
Method and apparatus providing a rest member having a support surface and a stand for the rest member, with the rest member having a plural multiplicity of apertures therein to permit the adjustment in height thereof with respect to the stand, which can take the form of an expandable member associated with the rest member and being contractable as well as expandable inwardly and outwardly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to an adjustable support and, more particularly, to a foot rest support which can be adjusted in both height and width. 
     2. Description of the Need for the Invention 
     Many persons, particularly elderly and disabled persons, often desire to have an accessory, such as a foot rest, which can be used in a variety of ways. In one usage, a person might wish to elevate the foot or both feet in order to alleviate a physical condition, such as pain that is occasioned by having the foot occupy a restrained position for a prolonged period of time. In other usages, the foot rest can provide a suitable support when the person is seated or is in a position where such support is desired. 
     Various solutions have been proposed which typically are complex and costly. 
     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a support that is inexpensive and simple to construct and can meet the requirements of persons who wish to support body appendages such as legs in order to satisfy a physical or exercise requirement. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accomplishing the foregoing and related objects, the invention provides a rest member having a support surface, and a stand for the rest member which has a plural multiplicity of apertures in the support surface for receiving the stand to permit the adjustment in height of the support surface with respect to the stand. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the stand is an expandable and contractable member associated with the rest member. The expansion and contraction of the stand can take place inwardly and outwardly. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an object to be supported can be positioned on the rest member which is slidably adjustable for one setting of the rest member with respect to the stand and is slidably adjustable at a different elevation of the rest member for another setting of tile rest member with respect to the stand. 
     In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the stand is formed by a plurality of tubular members which are movable relative to one another. Each tubular member has a leg extending to an upwardly disposed connector that forms an acute angle with respect to the leg. The upwardly disposed connector extends to a downwardly disposed connector attached to another leg. A rod is inserted into aligned legs permits relative movement between the connected legs. 
     In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, the rest member includes multiple pairs of elongated apertures of different lengths into which the stand is inserted. 
     In accordance with the method of the invention for supporting an object, the steps include (a) providing a rest member having a support surface; (b) forming a plurality of apertures of different lengths in the support surface; and (c) positioning the rest member on a stand therefor with respect to the apertures; thereby to permit the adjustment in height of the rest member with respect to the stand. 
     The method further includes the step of expanding or contracting the stand associated with the rest member, with the contraction possible after expansion or vice versa. 
     The method also includes the step of expanding the stand inwardly and outwardly and the step of positioning an object on the rest member. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the method includes the step of forming the stand by a plurality of tubular members which are movable relative to one another. Each tubular member can have a leg extending to an upwardly disposed connector that forms an acute angle with respect to the leg. The upward connector can be extended to a downwardly disposed connector attached to a leg. 
     The method also includes the step of inserting a rod into a leg of the stand to permit connection to another leg, and relative movement between the connected legs. The rest member can be provided with a plurality of elongated apertures of different lengths into which the stand is insertable. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other aspects of the invention will become apparent after considering several illustrative embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an adjustable support in accordance with the invention that its forward and backward movement of its support surface; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the support for the embodiment of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the support of FIG. 1 for which the support surface has been lowered by being moved to the outermost support position of the stand; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the support of FIG. 3 which has been positioned for possible side-to-side movement of an object placed on the support surface; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment in which the elongated support surface of FIG. 4 has been positioned for possible forward and backward movement; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing separation of the tubular members forming the stand and indicating the rod that is used to permit adjustment of the tubular members relative to one another. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 1, an adjustable support  10  in accordance with the invention is formed by a support member  20  having a support surface  22  and a plurality of pairs P 1  and P 2  of elongated apertures in the support surface  22 . In the embodiment of FIG. 1 there are two pairs of apertures P 1  and P 2 , with the first pair P 1  formed by elongated apertures P 1 - 1  and P 1 - 2  and the second, shorter pair P 2  formed by elongated apertures P 2 - 1  and P 2 - 2 . The longer pair P 2  accompanies the shorter pair P 1  in order to permit adjustment in height of the support surface  22  with respect to a stand  30 . The support member  20  is positioned at its aperture positions over apex portions  31 - 1  and  31 - 2  of the stand  30 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 1, the support member  20  has its apertures P 2 - 1  and P 2 - 2  on the apex members  31 - 1  and  31 - 2  so that the support surface is in its lower position. When the stand  30  is adjusted so that the apex members  31 - 1  and  31 - 2  respectively occupy the apertures P 1 - 1  and P 1 - 2 , the support surface is in an elevated position. 
     Whether the stand occupies the first pair of apertures P 1  or the second pair of apertures P 2 , the support  10  permits forward movement as indicated by the arrow F, and backward movement as indicated by the arrow B of the support surface  22 . 
     As shown in FIG. 2, which is a perspective view of the support  10  for the embodiment of FIG. 1, the stand  30  is formed by a pair of tubular members  32 - 1  and  32 - 2 . The members  32 - 1  and  32 - 2  are adjustable inwardly and outwardly by virtue of rods  33  which are inserted between adjoining legs of the tubular members  32 - 1  and  32 - 2 . Each tubular member  32 - 1  or  32 - 2  has a leg  34 - 1  or  34 - 2  extending to an upwardly disposed connector  35 - 1  that forms an acute angle A with respect to the leg  34 - 1  or  34 - 2 . The upward connector  35 - 1  or  35 - 2  can be extended to a downwardly disposed connector  36 - 1  or  36 - 2  attached to a leg  37 - 1  or  37 - 2 . 
     Insertion of the rod  33  into a leg  34 - 1  of the stand  30  permits connection to an opposite leg  34 - 2 , and relative movement between the connected legs  34 - 1  and  34 - 2 . Similarly, insertion of the rod  33  into a leg  37 - 1  permits connection to an opposite leg  37 - 2 . Because of the adjustability of the stand  30 , the support member  20  is provided, as discussed above with a plurality of elongated apertures P 1  and P 2  of different lengths into which the stand  30  is insertable. As in the case of FIG. 1, the support surface  22  can be moved forwardly in the direction of the arrow F or backwardly in the direction of the arrow B. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, which is a perspective view of the support of FIG. 1, the support surface  22  has been lowered by being moved to the outermost support position provided by the apertures P 2  of the stand  30 . By contrast, with FIG. 3, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the support of FIG. 3, which has been positioned for possible side-to-side movement indicated by the arrows S of an object placed on the support surface  22 . 
     In the alternative embodiment of FIG. 5, the elongated support surface  22  of FIG. 4 has been positioned for possible forward and backward movement, again indicated by the arrows F and B by the use of an elongated pair of apertures P 3 - 1  and P 3 - 2 . In addition, a further set of shorter apertures P 4 - 1  and P 4 - 2  are positioned near the respective elongated edges  35 - 1  and  35 - 2  to permit forward and backward movement of the support surface  22  in the position of maximum elevation for the support  10 . 
     To clarify the relationship of the rods  33  to the stand members  32 - 1  and  32 - 2 , the portion  32 - 1  is shown separated from the portion  32 - 2 , with one rod  33  removed and the other rod  33  retained in only one leg. 
     It will be understood that the foregoing detailed description is illustrative only and that modifications may be made without the departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.