Patent Publication Number: US-10779657-B1

Title: Adjustable foot stool

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
     Not Applicable 
     REFERENCE TO APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the field of foot care, more specifically, an adjustable foot stool. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The adjustable foot stool comprises a platform, a pad, a plurality of lighting elements, and a pair of adjustable legs. The platform may be adapted to elevate and tilt a foot of a user. An inclination angle of the platform may be changed using the pair of adjustable legs. The pad may cushion the foot. The plurality of lighting elements may be adapted to provide illumination of the foot. As a non-limiting example, illumination may be provided for grooming the foot. The plurality of lighting elements may be powered by one or more batteries housed within the platform and may be turned on or off using an on/off switch located on the platform. 
     An object of the invention is to elevate and tilt a user&#39;s foot. 
     Another object of the invention is to cushion the foot while the foot is resting on the top of the foot stool. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a pair of adjustable legs to adjust the height of the front of the foot stool and thereby change the inclination angle of the foot stool. 
     Yet another object of the invention is to provide a plurality of lighting elements along the sides of the foot to illuminate the foot when an on/off switch is activated. 
     These together with additional objects, features and advantages of the adjustable foot stool will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     In this respect, before explaining the current embodiments of the adjustable foot stool in detail, it is to be understood that the adjustable foot stool is not limited in its applications to the details of construction and arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustration. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept of this disclosure may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the adjustable foot stool. 
     It is therefore important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the adjustable foot stool. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. They are meant to be exemplary illustrations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments of the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. As used herein, the word “or” is intended to be inclusive. 
     Detailed reference will now be made to a first potential embodiment of the disclosure, which is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 5 . 
     The adjustable foot stool  100  (hereinafter invention) comprises a platform  200 , a pad  220 , a plurality of lighting elements  240 , and a pair of adjustable legs  260 . The platform  200  may be adapted to elevate and tilt a foot  910  of a user. An inclination angle  280  of the platform  200  may be changed using the pair of adjustable legs  260 . The pad  220  may cushion the foot  910 . The plurality of lighting elements  240  may be adapted to provide illumination of the foot  910 . As a non-limiting example, illumination may be provided for grooming the foot  910 . 
     The platform  200  may be an enclosure that is adapted to lift the foot  910  of the user by a height determined by a platform thickness  210 . A platform length  212  may be adapted to be at least as long as a human foot. A platform width  214  may be adapted to be at least as wide as the human foot. One or more fixed supports  205  may be coupled to the bottom surface of the platform  200  on a proximal end  290 . The pair of adjustable legs  260  may be coupled to the bottom surface of the platform  200  on a distal end  292 . The pad  220  may be coupled to the top surface of the platform  200 . 
     The pad  220  may be coupled to the center of the top surface of the platform  200 . A pad length  224  may be adapted to be at least as long as the human foot and no longer than the platform length  212 . A pad width  226  may be adapted to be at least as wide as the human foot and no wider than the platform width  214 . 
     The plurality of lighting elements  240  may be coupled to the top surface of the platform  200 . The plurality of lighting elements  240  may be aligned into two rows—one on the left side of the platform  200  and one on the right side of the platform  200 . The plurality of lighting elements  240  may be turned on or off via an on/off switch  242 . Each individual light  250  selected from the plurality of lighting elements  240  may be covered by a shroud  252  that may direct the illumination from the individual light  250  laterally towards the center of the platform  200  and may prevent the illumination from shining upwards. This may prevent the plurality of lighting elements from shining in the user&#39;s eyes. 
     The pair of adjustable legs  260  may comprise a left adjustable leg  262  and a right adjustable leg  264 . The pair of adjustable legs  260  may be extended to increase the height of the distal end  292  of the platform  200  to increase the elevation of the top surface of the platform  200  and to provide a more comfortable the inclination angle  280 . The left adjustable leg  262  may be located on the left side of the platform  200  and the right adjustable leg  264  may be located on the right side of the platform  200 . 
     The height of an individual adjustable leg  270  selected from the pair of adjustable legs  260  may be changed by disengaging a lock  276  on the individual adjustable leg  270 , extending or retracting the individual adjustable leg  270 , and engaging the lock  276 . The individual adjustable leg  270  may comprise an upper leg portion  266  and a lower leg portion  268 . The lower leg portion  268  may be free to slide within the upper leg portion  266  when the lock  276  is disengaged which may allow extension or retraction of the individual adjustable leg  270 . In some embodiments, the lock  276  may be disengaged by pressing the lock  276  and may be engaged by releasing the lock  276 . 
     The individual adjustable leg  270  may comprise a base  272 . The base  272  may pivot at a pivot point  274  such that the bottom of the base  272  remains in flat contact with a floor  940  as the inclination angle  280  of the platform  200  changes. 
     The platform  200  may house one or more batteries  244  in a battery compartment  246  that is accessible via a battery compartment door  248  located on the bottom surface of the platform  200 . The one or more batteries  244  may comprise one or more energy-storage devices. The one or more batteries  244  may be a source of electrical energy to operate the plurality of lighting elements  240 . The one or more batteries  244  may be replaceable or rechargeable. 
     In use, the platform  200  may be placed in front of the user and the inclination angle  280  may be adjusted by extending the pair of adjustable legs  260  on the distal end  292  of the platform  200 . The user may place the foot  910  onto the pad  220  and the pad  220  may cushion the foot  910 . If the user wishes to groom the foot  910 , they may turn the plurality of lighting elements  240  on using the on/off switch  242 . 
     Definitions 
     Unless otherwise stated, the words “up”, “down”, “top”, “bottom”, “upper”, and “lower” should be interpreted within a gravitational framework. “Down” is the direction that gravity would pull an object. “Up” is the opposite of “down”. “Bottom” is the part of an object that is down farther than any other part of the object. “Top” is the part of an object that is up farther than any other part of the object. “Upper” refers to top and “lower” refers to the bottom. As a non-limiting example, the upper end of a vertical shaft is the top end of the vertical shaft. 
     Throughout this document the terms “battery”, “battery pack”, and “batteries” may be used interchangeably to refer to one or more wet or dry cells or batteries of cells in which chemical energy is converted into electricity and used as a source of DC power. References to recharging or replacing batteries may refer to recharging or replacing individual cells, individual batteries of cells, or a package of multiple battery cells as is appropriate for any given battery technology that may be used. The battery may require electrical contacts which may not be illustrated in the figures. 
     As used herein, the words “couple”, “couples”, “coupled” or “coupling”, refer to connecting, either directly or indirectly, and does not necessarily imply a mechanical connection. 
     As used in this disclosure, the terms “distal” and “proximal” may be used to describe relative positions. Distal refers to the object, or the end of an object, that is situated away from the point of origin, point of reference, or point of attachment. Proximal refers to the object, or end of an object, that is situated towards the point of origin, point of reference, or point of attachment. Distal implies ‘farther away from’ and proximal implies ‘closer to’. In some instances, the point of attachment may be the where an operator or user of the object makes contact with the object. In some instances, the point of origin or point of reference may be a center point or a central axis of an object and the direction of comparison may be in a radial or lateral direction. 
     As used herein, “front” indicates the side of an object that is closest to a forward direction of travel under normal use of the object or the side or part of an object that normally presents itself to view or that is normally used first. “Rear” or “back” refers to the side that is opposite the front. 
     As used in this disclosure, the word “lateral” refers to the sides of an object or movement towards a side. Lateral directions are generally perpendicular to longitudinal directions. “Laterally” refers to movement in a lateral direction. 
     As used herein, the word “pivot” is intended to include any mechanical arrangement that allows for rotational motion. Non-limiting examples of pivots may include hinges, holes, posts, dowels, pins, points, rods, shafts, balls, and sockets, either individually or in combination. 
     As used in this disclosure, a “switch” is an electrical device that starts and stops the flow of electricity through an electric circuit by completing or interrupting an electric circuit. The act of completing or interrupting the electrical circuit may be called actuation. Completing or interrupting an electric circuit with a switch is often referred to as closing or opening a switch, respectively. Completing or interrupting an electric circuit is also referred to as making or breaking the circuit, respectively. 
     With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationship for the various components of the invention described above and in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the invention. 
     It shall be noted that those skilled in the art will readily recognize numerous adaptations and modifications which can be made to the various embodiments of the present invention which will result in an improved invention, yet all of which will fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims. Accordingly, the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.