Patent Publication Number: US-11027849-B1

Title: Portable leg lift device for an airplane seat

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
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     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
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     DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to the field of portable seating accessories and more specifically to a portable leg lift device for an airplane seat. 
     Commercial airplanes passengers are often required to sit in a relatively upright position with lower legs, below the knee at approximately ninety degrees in relation to the upper legs above the knee. This is especially true for short people whose feet may not touch the ground while seated. Sitting in this position for extended periods of time can feel restricting and can also lead to deep vein thrombosis, or blood clots in the legs. 
     Some business class and first-class airplane seats include a built-in leg lifting panel that can lift the passenger&#39;s lower legs so that they are at a more comfortable angle while lowering the risk of blood clots or deep vein thrombosis. 
     Passenger in airplane seat that does not have such a built-in leg lifting panel have no choice but to sit with his or her lower legs at a ninety-degree angle. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INSTANT INVENTION 
     The primary object of the instant invention is to provide a portable leg lift device for an airplane seat that allows the user to have his or her lower legs supported at an angle. 
     Another object of the instant invention is to provide a portable leg lift device for an airplane seat that can provide an adjustable leg rest angle depending on the degree of inflation of an inflatable air chamber. 
     Another object of the instant invention is to provide a portable leg lift device for an airplane seat that can fold relatively flat when not in use. 
     Other objects and advantages of the instant invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the instant invention is disclosed. 
     In accordance with a preferred embodiment, there is disclosed a portable leg lift device for an airplane seat comprising: a seat panel, a movable leg lift panel, a stationary panel, an inflatable chamber, an inflation tube, a large foldable over panel, a small foldable over panel, said large foldable over panel fixedly attached to said seat panel and said movable leg lift panel, said small foldable over panel fixedly attached to said stationary panel, said small foldable over panel also fixedly attached at one end to the center folding area of said large foldable panel, said inflatable chamber attached on its front surface to the inner wall of said movable leg lift panel and on its rear surface to said stationary panel, said inflation tube attached to an orifice in said inflatable chamber, said inflation tube&#39;s distal end removably covered by an air tight cap, said seat panel capable of resting on the surface of an airplane seat, said stationary panel capable of being in close contact with the front surface of a standard airplane seat, and said inflation chamber capable of being blown up creating a pushing means to rotatably lift said movable leg panel thereby raising the lower legs of a person sitting on said seat panel. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the instant invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the instant embodiments may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the instant embodiment. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the instant embodiment in the closed position. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the instant embodiment in the open position. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the instant embodiment mounted to an airplane seat. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the instant embodiment mounted to an airplane seat. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the instant embodiment with the air chamber inflated. 
         FIG. 6  is a partial perspective view of the instant embodiment with the air chamber inflated with air tube stored. 
         FIG. 7  is perspective view of the instant embodiment with the air tube extended for user inflation. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment of the portable leg lift device are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the instant embodiment may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the instant embodiment in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1  we see a perspective view of the present embodiment of the leg lifting device  100  in the closed position. The device  100  folds like a book. The leg lift panel  2  is the leg lift panel. The semi-rigid seat panel  6  is the panel that is placed on an airplane seat. Both the leg lift panel  2  and the seat panel  6  have a layer of resilient material mounted on them to increase the comfort level of the user, as implemented in the current embodiment. The inflatable chamber  4  is trapped between the leg lift panel  2  and a second, non-moving panel  12 . A handle  10  on the outer foldable panel  8  portion of the instant embodiment  100  allows a user to easily carry the device  100  while traveling. The outer foldable panel portion  8  includes a sheet of flexible material that acts as a hinge connecting leg lift panel  2 , outer foldable panel  8  and seat panel  6 . 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the instant embodiment  100  with the semi-rigid seat panel  6  in the use position. Non-moving panel  12  is designed to abut the front portion of an airplane seat. An inner foldable panel  16  attaches to the leg lift panel at location  18 . The front most portion of the inflatable chamber  4  is fixedly attached to the interior side of leg lift panel  2 . Flexible inflation tube  14  is stored in its curled closed position. To inflate the inflatable chamber  4  the user can pull up on the inflation tube  14  to inflate the chamber  4  and then cap the tube with an airtight closure cap. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an airplane seat  20  with the instant embodiment  100  mounted to the seat portion  22  of the airplane seat  20 . The inflatable chamber  4  is trapped between the front of the airplane seat and the rear of the leg lift panel  2 . 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the airplane seat with the instant embodiment  100  installed. The user&#39;s lower legs are meant to abut the exterior surface of the leg lift panel  2 . 
       FIG. 5  us a perspective view showing the inflatable chamber  4  in the inflated position. The user can decide how much air to introduce into the chamber  4  which will affect the degree of lift of leg lift panel  2 . In the present embodiment, the inflatable chamber  4  has an accordion or bellows design that allows the chamber to expand forward to a greater degree as opposed to a simple pillow shaped chamber. However, it should be noted that a pillow shaped chamber can also be used in an alternate embodiment. 
       FIG. 6  is a partial perspective view of the instant embodiment  100  that clearly shows the bellows chamber  4  as well as the curled-up inflation tube  14  with additional optional rubber air pump  24  that can inflate the chamber  4  without the need to physically inflate the chamber  4  with the user&#39;s mouth. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the instant embodiment  100  installed on an airplane seat  20  with the inflation tube  14  lifted to the height needed for a person to inflate the chamber  4  by mouth. 
     While the instant embodiment has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the instant embodiment to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the embodiment as defined by the appended claims. 
     Definition 
     Proximal end and proximal surface being the end or the surface closer to the airplane seat; 
     Distal end and distal surface being the end or the surface farther from the airplane seat; 
     Airplane seat refers to an airplane&#39;s equipment provided to accommodate a passenger in a seated position; 
     Lower leg refers to a human passenger&#39;s leg segment below the passenger&#39;s knee.