Abstract:
A corner-braced foot prop including a shelf and an angled support post resting on a base surface to support a load in an elevated position. The shelf includes a clearance hole through which the post is positioned and gripped by the clearance hole when the shelf rotates with respect to the post. The foot prop utilizes surrounding walls for lateral support while providing increasing stability when loaded by downward force.

Description:
The invention is a foot prop for assisting a user in positioning a foot in an elevated location, for example when washing the foot, tying a shoe, shaving a leg, and various other purposes. The foot prop can be utilized to rest the foot, leg, and other items while holding the foot, leg, and other items at a height spaced apart from a base surface such as a floor. The prop can contact surrounding surfaces, such as walls, to provide stability. The unique configuration of the foot prop can enable the prop to stabilize with the application of downward force, for example the downward force of the foot pressing on the foot prop. 
     The foot prop is lightweight and requires no hooks, adhesives or other anchors to provide stable, controlled-height support. The prop can be easily disassembled for storage and travel. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of the foot prop positioned in a corner. 
         FIG. 2  shows a top view of the embodiment in a corner. 
         FIG. 3  shows a side view of the embodiment of the foot prop. 
         FIG. 4  shows a user positioning a foot on the embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a side section view of a shelf with a clearance hole post connector. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a shelf. 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of the embodiment of the shelf. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The foot prop can have a shelf and a post, where the post supports the shelf spaced apart from the base surface. In use, the shelf can be wedged into a corner between two walls so that the walls limit prop movement towards the walls. Furthermore, in use the shelf can transmit downward force through the post to the base surface, and the unique configuration of the foot prop can provide increased stability against tipping when downward force is applied to the shelf. 
     In an embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-7 , the foot prop  10  can be positioned in a corner proximal an intersection  83  of two substantially vertical walls  82 . The intersection  83  can be a virtual intersection, such as when the vertical walls  82  are non-parallel but not in contact. The vertical walls can define a vertical post plane  314  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) where the post plane  314  is medial to the vertical walls  82  and where the post plane  314  coincides with the intersection  83 . 
     The foot prop  10  can contact each of the vertical walls so that the walls limit prop movement towards the walls. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the foot prop  10  can comprise a shelf  21  and a post  30 . The shelf  21  can support a foot  91  and can support tools, washing accessories, and various items. The post  30  can extend from the shelf  21  downwards and can rest on a base surface, for example on a floor  81  and on various substantially horizontal support surfaces. The post  30  can be operatively connected to the shelf  21  so that the post supports the shelf in spaced-apart orientation from the floor  81 . 
       FIG. 4  is a side view showing the foot prop  10  in use supporting a foot  91 . As the foot  91  rests on the foot prop  10 , the shelf  21  can be pressed against the walls  82  and pushed downwards towards the base  81 . In use, the configuration of the shelf  21  and the post  30  can cause the shelf  21  to wedge against the walls  82 , with the walls  82  limiting shelf motion towards the walls and the post  30  limiting shelf motion towards the floor  81 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the shelf  21  can have a substantially planar upper surface  24 . The shelf  21  can have pockets, cavities, protuberances and various features for holding and positioning items. 
     The shelf  21  can have two outward facing contact sites, such as the contact site  22 . The contact sites  22  can be positioned at distal edges of the shelf  21  and can be substantially perpendicular to the upper surface  25 . In use, with the foot prop  10  positioned between the vertical walls  82 , each contact site  22  can contact one of the vertical walls  82  to limit prop movement towards each vertical wall. 
     The shelf  21  can comprise a load-bearing edge  23 . The load-bearing edge  23  can extend between the two contact sites  22 . The load-bearing edge can be straight, can be angled, and can be curvilinear. The load-bearing edge can extend continuously between the contact sites. Alternatively, the load-bearing edge can be discontinuous. Alternatively, the load-bearing edge can have a plurality of load-bearing edge components. The load-bearing edge  23  can be distal and substantially opposite the intersection  83  when shelf is in use. A user can rest the foot  91  on the load-bearing edge  23  to utilize the foot prop  10 . 
     The shelf can have various shapes and sizes. The shelf can be substantially triangular, such as a right-triangular shape shown in  FIG. 1  with equal legs of the triangle being contact sites  22  and the hypotenuse of the triangle being the load-bearing edge  23 . Alternatively, the shelf can be curvilinear, as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . Alternatively, the shelf can combine linear and curvilinear shapes. 
     The contact sites can comprise linear edges along the shelf, for example the contact sites  22 . Alternatively, the contact sites can be discrete pads positioned along the shelf, such as the discrete pads  25  shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . The contact sites can be faced with secondary material having specific material properties such as coefficient of friction, durometer, surface finish, and various physical and material characteristics. 
     The foot prop  10  can comprise a post  30 . The post  30 , in use, can extend away from the shelf  21  opposite the upper surface  24 . The post can pass through the shelf and extend away from the shelf in two directions. The post  30  can be connected to the shelf  21  via a load-activated post connector. 
     The load-activated post connector can operatively connect the shelf  21  to the post  30  so that the shelf  21  is spaced apart from the floor  81 . The load-activated post connector can have a loose-fit mode and can have a gripping mode. In the loose-fit mode, the load-activated post connector can slide easily along the post to allow the shelf to be positioned at different heights from the floor  81 . In the gripping mode, the load-activated post connector can resist shelf movement along the post so that the shelf can support an applied load, such as the foot  91 , at a desired height from the floor  81 . The load-activated post connector can switch from the loose-fit mode to the gripping mode when the load is applied to the load-bearing edge  23  of the shelf  21 . 
     The foot prop  10  has a load-activated post connector  40  comprising an overlarge clearance hole defined by a circumferential surface  41  through the shelf  21 . The circumferential surface  41  is sized to enable the post  30  to slide loosely through the shelf  21 . “Circumferential surface” as used here and throughout this application, refers to the inner surface of the clearance hole and is not indicative of the shape of the clearance hole. The clearance hole can be round, rectangular, irregular, and a combination thereof and “circumferential surface” will apply equally to the inner surface of all shapes. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3-7 , the post connector  40  can switch from the loose-fitting mode to the gripping mode when a downward force F is applied to the load-bearing edge  23 . The downward force F on the load-bearing edge  23  can cause the shelf  21  to rotate about the post  30 . As the shelf  21  rotates, the opposite sides of the circumferential surface  41  contact the post  30  and grip the post  30  to prevent the shelf  21  slipping downwards along the post  30 . The post connector  40  can grip more tightly with increasing downward force, and facilitate increasing foot prop stability with increasing downward force. 
     The post  30 , when the foot prop  10  is in use, can extend to and rest upon a floor  81 . The post  30  can extend at a post angle  38  with respect to the upper surface  24 . The post angle  38  can be an acute angle. 
     The post can be height-wise adjustable. As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the post  30  comprises an outer section  31 , an inner section  32 , and a lock  35 . The outer section  31  and the inner section  32  can assemble telescopically to provide post length adjustment. The inner section  31  has a lock seat  37 . The outer section  32  has a plurality of lock apertures  39  where each lock aperture  39  is configured to enable the lock  35  to extend through the inner section  32  outwards through the lock seat  37  and through a lock aperture  39 . Aligning the lock seat  37  with each of the lock apertures  39  adjusts the post  30  height-wise. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , a user can place the foot prop  10  proximal to the intersection  83  with the contact sites  22  contacting the walls  82 . In use proximal to the intersection  83 , the post can rest on the floor  81  with the post  30  making the post angle  38  with the shelf  21 . In use, the user can rest the foot  91  on the load-bearing edge  23  and apply the downward force F to the shelf  21 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3-7 , the relative positions of the load-bearing edge  23 , the post connector  40 , and the post  30  where the post  30  contacts the floor  81 , causes a stabilizing wedge action when the foot applies downward force F to the foot prop. The post  30 , via the post angle  38  and where the post  30  contacts the floor  81 , can react to the force F by pushing the shelf  21  against the walls  82  while supporting the shelf  21  spaced-apart from the floor  81 . When the load-bearing edge  23  is positioned medial the intersection  83  and where the post  30  contacts the floor  81 , the force F on the load-bearing edge  23  can push the shelf  21  only towards the walls  82 , not away, so that stability increases when the force F is applied. 
     The post can have various features, components, and combinations thereof, which provide height-wise adjustability. For example, the post can have a cam-type connection between the outer section and the inner sections. Counter-rotating the outer section with respect to the inner section can actuate the cam-type connection and positionally fix the sections via friction. Similarly, the cam-type connection can utilize a separate collar to actuate the cam-type connection. 
     Alternatively, the post can have a threaded compression-type connection, wherein a cone-shaped component is moved by rotation to cause the inner section to expand and contact the outer section. 
     Alternatively, the outer section and the inner section can be threadedly engaged to each other, so that counter-rotating the sections causes the height-wise adjustment. 
     Alternatively, the post can adjust height-wise via various other connection types known to those familiar with the art of connecting telescoping sections. 
     Alternatively, the post can be non-height-wise adjustable, and height adjustments can be achieved via other means and methods, such as by moving the shelf along the pole. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3-7 , the post  30  can comprise a cap  33  and a tip  34  where the cap  33  and the tip  34  are positioned at a post top end  311  and a post bottom end  312 , respectively. The cap  33  and the tip  34  can capture the shelf  21  on the post  30 . The tip  34  can comprise non-marring and non-skid material, can be pointed and blunt, and can comprise various other shapes and materials. 
     The post  30  can further comprise shelf-positioning component. The shelf-positioning component can limit shelf movement along the post when the post connector is in the loose-fit mode. For example, the foot prop is easily portable and can be transported by hand from place to place. During transport there is typically no applied force acting on the shelf, so the post connector can enable the shelf to slide along the post. The shelf-positioning component can limit shelf movement to a particular region along the post during transport. Furthermore, the shelf-positioning component can provide height-adjustment when positioned along the post. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3-7 , the shelf-positioning component can comprise an O-ring  36 , where the O-ring  36  grips the post  30  proximal the cap  33 . The O-ring can slide along the post  30  to provide desired positioning. The O-ring  36  can be useful for situating the shelf  21  proximal the post top end  311 . The O-ring  36  can capture the shelf  21  between the O-ring  36  and the cap to prevent the shelf  21  from slipping down the post  30 . 
     When the O-Ring  36  used with a post that is not height-wise adjustable, the O-ring  36  can provide height-wise adjustability for the shelf  21 . Even when used with a height-wise adjustable post, the O-ring  36  can provide fine height-wise adjustability. 
     The foot prop  10  can comprise various other features, components, and combinations thereof, which prevent the shelf  21  from slipping down the post  30 . Similarly, the foot prop  10  can comprise various features, components, and combinations thereof, that provide fine height-wise adjustability and provide height-wise adjustability when the post is not height-wise adjustable.