Abstract:
A collapsible footrest for universal use with similarly collapsible outdoor chairs comprising a fabric footrest panel supported vertically by a first pair of crossed support members and supported horizontally in relation to a chair by a second pair of crossed support members affixed to the chair at its base. The ends of the second crossed support members are joined by bi-directional couplings and hinged couplings that allow the footrest to fold into and collapse with the associated chair for storage while also limiting the motion of the footrest during use such that the foot rest panel is optimally positioned in an upright position to comfortably support a seated user&#39;s legs.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application derives priority from U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/070,115 filed Mar. 20, 2008. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention is generally directed to collapsible portable furniture and, more specifically, to a folding indoor/outdoor footrest accessory adapted to fold and collapse in multiple directions for universal use with folding indoor/outdoor chairs. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Background 
         [0005]    The portability and ease of storage of folding outdoor furniture makes its use popular in a wide variety of applications such as beaches, parks, camping and all manner of family picnics or outings. 
         [0006]    A variety of outdoor furniture pieces such as foldable tables, stools chairs and the like are available in a variety of designs. Folding chairs are known in the prior art that include a chair support assembly that folds in more than one direction resulting in a compact form that may be stored in an elongated bag. Such designs, often constructed of aluminum poles and canvas seating are lightweight yet sturdy and therefore suitable for use in a variety of settings and easy to transport. However, such chairs often have an upright back and inflexible design that prevents the user from fully relaxing while seated. Such designs similarly often lack a footrest on which the user can rest his or her feet while seated, further limiting the comfort of the user. 
         [0007]    Chair owners desiring a footrest for use with their bi-direction collapsible chair must carry with them a separate foot stool or the like and setup such a foot stool separately. The need to carry a separate footrest diminishes the portability and convenience of the chair. Alternately, the collapsible chair owner may discard his chair altogether and seek out a lounge type chair with an integral footrest. Such lounges are significantly larger and less portable than conventional chairs such that the user again suffers from diminished convenience from his chair and is further faced with additional clutter for having multiple chairs for use in varying situations. 
         [0008]    Additionally, where such collapsible lounge chairs of the prior art are equipped with a footrest they have generally employed a footrest design utilizing one or more rigid support members operatively tied to and supported by the main chair body itself via tension straps or cables. Such straps or cables interfere with the users ability to easily get into or out of the chair as they must be minded and stepped over each time to avoid tripping. 
         [0009]    Thus there exists a need in the art for a footrest adapted to be added to most any collapsible chair on the market and capable of folding in at least two directions so as to be integrated into the design of such chairs. Such a foot rest should integrally fold away when not in use and be stored together with the chair within the original form factor of the chair while adding little or no weight. There exists a further need in the art for a footrest that does not impede the ease and ability of the user in getting into or out of the chair and does not create tripping hazards or dangerous situations. Such a footrest would enhance the functionality of the existing chairs, increasing the users comfort and convenience while also increasing the value such chairs and diminishing clutter. 
         [0010]    The aforesaid and other advantages will become apparent to those skilled in he art as a more detailed description is set forth herein. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a collapsible footrest is provided comprising a canvas or polyester footrest panel supported vertically by a first pair of crossed support members and supported horizontally in relation to a chair by a second pair of crossed support members. The vertical and horizontal crossed support members are joined at their ends by a hinged coupling. The horizontal crossed support members are further joined to the chair by bi-directionally hinged couplings that are joined to the existing plastic foot pieces of the chair via an expandable post inserted into an existing hole on the foot piece and expanded to be secured by friction. The hinged and bidirectional couplings work in concert to allow the footrest device to fold into and collapse with the chair for storage and transport. The geometry of the vertical crossed support members and the design of the hinged coupling limit the rotation of the vertical crossed members during use such that the foot rest panel is optimally positioned in an upright position to comfortably support a seated user&#39;s legs. 
         [0012]    The hinged coupling joining the ends of the horizontal and vertical support members is comprised of a yoke affixed to the horizontal member and into which the end of the vertical member is inserted and rotatably fixed by a pin. The rotational range of the vertical support members is limited such that they are maintained, when fully deployed, in a near vertical alignment in order to engage the seated user&#39;s feet. The canvas or polyester foot rest panel supported by the vertical support members is provided to support the feet and to limit the lateral motion of the vertical crossed members. The vertical support members are maintained in their upright position by their geometry and by the limited rotational range of the hinged coupling such that no supplementary support straps are required. 
         [0013]    The bi-directional coupling is comprised of a yoke affixed to the foot piece of the chair and a spacer inserted into that yoke and rotatably fixed by a pin. The axis of rotation of the spacer pin is horizontally parallel to the plane of the front face if the chair. The horizontal crossed support member is rotatably affixed to the opposite end of the spacer by a pin whose axis of rotation is vertically parallel to the plane of the front face of the chair. 
         [0014]    In another aspect of the present invention, in order to stow the footrest the vertical crossed supports and footrest panel may be rotated about the hinged coupling to lie flat against the horizontal crossed supports. Due to a bend in each vertical crossed support member the vertical crossed support members lie, when folded, in parallel plane to the horizontal crossed support members and are arranged to nest together. The nested crossed member supports may then by further rotated about the bi-directional support at the chair foot pieces so the crossed support members are aligned with the crossed support legs of the chair. The bidirectional couplings allow the footrest to be further collapsed laterally in cooperation with the main body of the chair and stored with the chair in its bag or the like. 
         [0015]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0016]    Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment and certain modifications thereof when taken together with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is an exploded top and side view of one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in the deployed position. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in the deployed position dissociated from any chair. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in the stowed position. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in the stowed position further collapsed with the chair. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a detailed perspective view of the bi-directional coupling. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a detailed perspective view of the hinged coupling. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0024]    Referring now to the figures, and in particular to  FIG. 2 , a perspective view is shown illustrating a collapsible portable footrest according to one embodiment of the present invention in cooperation with a folding chair. The folding chair (not claimed) includes a main body Y having, for example, four legs and seating surface and a back. The four legs are comprised, in this example, of a frame assembly which includes a plurality of interconnected X-members. Each of the X members includes a pair of bars or rods pivotally joined to one another and together cooperating to form a structure for supporting the fabric seat and back. The lower end of one bar or rod from each of two adjacent sides of the chair meets at the lower corner of the chair to form a leg, being affixed together there by a footpad Z for interface with the ground surface on which the chair is set. U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,406 issued to Howard Lee on Nov. 16, 1999 for a Folding Chair is but one example of the many collapsible chairs of this and similar designs. However, the chair main body Y may have any structure that is foldable and allows attachment of the footrest structure as described herein. 
         [0025]    Referring collectively to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , the collapsible portable footrest according to the present invention includes a footrest panel  13  for providing a resting place for the feet of a user. The footrest panel is preferably made of flexible canvas, nylon or other flexible sheet material and may match the seat of the chair to which it is joined. One skilled in the art will recognize that footrest panel  13  may be made of any durable fabric material or, in some embodiments, rigid material such as wood or plastic. The footrest of the present invention includes means for operatively connecting the footrest panel to the folding chair as well as means for supporting the footrest panel in an elevated position relative to the ground on which the chair sits, and by extension, supporting the feet of a user in an elevated position as well. 
         [0026]    The footrest panel  13  of the present invention is supported in an elevated position by vertical cross member support assembly  30  which includes first and second footrest support bars  7  and  7 ′ which are pivotally connected to one another at a medial point by pin  10   b  or other similar conventional fastener. Each of footrest bars  7  and  7 ′ has an upper end which is operatively connected to the footrest panel  13  and a lower end in communication with the ground surface on which the chair and footrest are set. The operative connection of the upper end of the footrest bars with the fabric of the footrest panel is preferably by screws  11   c ,  11   d  and/or fabric pockets such that pivoting of bar  7  and  7 ′ about pin  10   b  is limited by fabric panel. 
         [0027]    Footrest panel  13  as supported by cross member support assembly  30  is positioned and held in relative horizontal proximity to the main body Y of the folding chair by horizontal cross member support assembly  20 . Horizontal support assembly  20  includes first and second footrest positioning bars  6  and  6 ′ which are pivotally connected to one another at a medial point by pin  10   a  or other similar conventional fastener. Members  6  and  6 ′ are preferably constructed of aluminum, steel or carbon fiber poles owing to their strength and weight characteristics although any similarly characterized material will be suitable. Each of positioning bars  6  and  6 ′ has an inner end which is operatively connected to the foot piece of one of the front legs of the main body Y of the chair, and an outer end operatively connected to a lower end of vertical support bar  7  or  7 ′. 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 ,  3 , and  7 , vertical support bars  7  and  7 ′ are connected to horizontal support bars  6  and  6 ′ by a joint  22  consisting of a hinged coupling. The yoke  4  and the vertical support members  7  and  7 ′ are pivotally affixed by pin  8   c  whose axis of rotation in yoke  4 , when deployed, is parallel to the front plane of the chair main body Y in order to allow the vertical crossed member support assembly  30  to rotate in toward the main body Y of the chair for storage. Vertical support members  7  and  7 ′ are formed with an approximately 90 degree bend at the lower end before meeting the yoke  4 . When deployed, the length of members  7  and  7 ′ below the bend engages the ground surface limiting the travel of the vertical cross member support assembly about pin  8   c  and  8   c ′ and maintaining it in a vertical or near vertical position to received the user&#39;s legs. The angle of the bend(s) in members  7  and  7 ′ is depicted as 90 degrees although this angle may be varied in production to maximize the comfort of the user. The angle at which vertical cross member support assembly  30  is deployed may be further modified by limiting the rotational range of the assembly  30  about pin  8   c,    8   c ′ at the hinged coupling. 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , horizontal support bars  6  and  6 ′ are connected to a front foot pieces Z of the main chair body by joint  21  in which the rotation of axis of the yoke  1  and  1 ′ and the horizontal cross member  6  and  6 ′ are perpendicular to one another and are offset laterally in one direction from one another by spacer  2 . Yoke  1  and spacer  2  are pivotally affixed by pin  8   a  whose axis of rotation is horizontally parallel to the front plane of the chair main body Y in order to allow the horizontal crossed member support assembly  20  to rotate upward and inward toward the main body Y of the chair for storage. The horizontal cross members  6  and  6 ′ are pivotally affixed to spacer  2  by pin  8   b  whose axis of rotation is vertically parallel to the front plane of the chair main body Y (when in the deployed position) such that the horizontal cross member support assembly  20  maintains the vertical assembly  30  in proper lateral relation to the chair main body. When stored, rotation of the horizontal cross members  6  and  6 ′ around pin  8   b  permits the assembly  20  to be collapsed with the chair. Yoke  1  is affixed to a front foot piece of the chair main body Y by any conventional means. In the depicted embodiment a split post at the bottom of yoke  1  is inserted into hole commonly available in the foot piece of such chairs and secured by friction. A set screw in the top center of the yoke (not visible under spacer  2 ) may be turned clockwise applying force to and increasing the diameter of the post by spreading the split post sections of the yoke  1  inside the foot piece of the chair. 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the chair is depicted in the stowed position in cooperation with the chair main body which remains in the deployed position. In  FIG. 5 , the chair main body has been further collapsed and it is seen that the footrest of the present invention is collapsed in accord with the chair main body for storage therewith. In operation, a footrest in the deployed position as depicted in  FIG. 2  is collapsed into the stowed position of  FIG. 4  by first lifting the footrest and rotating it about pins  8   a  and  8   a ′ at the chair main body front foot pieces Z. As assembly  20  approaches a vertical position assembly  30  will enter the main body of the chair through the upper opening of the front cross members of the chair support structure under the seat of the chair. Once footrest panel  13  enters the main body of the chair it is rotated down about pins  8   c  and  8   c ′ also into a vertical position, as seen in  FIG. 4 . In this position the crossed members of assemblies  20  and  30  are nested with the crossed members of the front of the chair main body with the chair main body crossed members between assembly  20  and assembly  30 . This is made possible by spacer  2  and the bent vertical support tubing of joints  21  and  22  respectively that provide sufficient space for this nesting position with respect to the chair legs. A slight bend in the ends of members  6  and  6 ′ may be provided to allow proper nesting of the members. 
         [0031]    Further collapsing of the chair main body from the position depicted in  FIG. 4  to the fully stowed position of  FIG. 5  is made possible by the joints  21 ,  22 . Specifically, rotation about pins  8   b,    8   b ′ and  8   c,    8   c ′ allows the footrest to collapse in concert with the chair. A stored chair and footrest may be operated into the deployed position by reversing this process. 
         [0032]    Other variations are within the spirit of the present invention. Thus, while the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, a certain illustrated embodiment thereof is shown in the drawings and has been described in detail. It should be understood that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form or forms disclosed. Rather, variations to the preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the forgoing disclosure and it is the intention of the inventor to cover all such modifications and alternate constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.