Improvements in Foot Rests.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 12th May, 1896-Accepted, 20th June. 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Foot Rests.
1, RUFUS DAY BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at 65 Cherry
Street, of Gardner, in the County of Worcester, and State of Massachusetts,
U.S.A., Dentist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
This invention relates to foot rests such as are usually employed in barber shops,
in connection with barber chairs; and the object thereof, is to provide an
improved device of this class which is simple in construction and operation and
which in addition to being provided with a stationary roll or support for the
feet, is also provided with a vertically adjustable rest or support which may be
adjusted vertically and also held at an angle to the main portion of the
frame thereof; a further object being to provide a foot rest which is adapted
for use in any desired place or locality, as well as in barber shops and similar
places.
The invention is fully disclosed in the following Specification, of which the
accompanying drawing forms a part, in which :-
Fig. 1, is a front view of my improved foot rest;
Fig. 2, a central vertical section of the frame thereof, and of the stationary
support or rest; and,
Fig. 3, a back view thereof.
In the practice of my invention, I provide a frame which consists of side plates A,
and a back plate a, which is preferably open, as shown at a 2, or the back may
consist simply of longitudinal plates or bars by which the sides or side plates are
connected; and the side plates are preferably inclined from the upper back portion
thereof downwardly and outwardly, and also connected at the front by a plate a 3,
which is curved in cross-section as shown in Fig. 2, and at the upper part of which
is arranged a transverse roller B, which constitutes the stationary support, and the
roller B, may be composed of any desired material, and at each of the forward
corners of the foot rest is placed a roller C, and at each of the rear corners a
rubber foot or similar device C 2.
Mounted transversely of the casing and revoluble in the sides A. thereof, is a
shaft D, one end of which projects through one of the sides, and is provided with
a bolt d, which is rigidly secured thereto, and secured to or connected with said
shaft in each end thereof, and inside of the side plates is a curved or segmental
arm E, the outer end of which is slotted as shown at E 2, by means of which two
similar jaws E 3, are formed.
Pivotally connected with the upper inner sides of each of the sides plates A, is
a lever F, the lower end of which is pivotally connected with a rack bar G, and
the lower ends of the racks bars G, are connected by a rod or shaft g, which
extends transversely of the casing and which is free to work in the slots E 2,
between the jaws E3, of the arms E, and said rod or shaft g, is connected with the
shaft D, by two strong spiral springs g 2.
I also provide an adjustable foot rest H, which consists of a plate h, which is
pivotally connected at each end and centrally thereof, with the levers F, and the
rack bar G, at the point where said lever and rack bar are pivotally connected, as
shown at h 2, and mounted on or secured to the rack bar G, is a spring K, the
ends of which bear upon the bottom surface of the plate or board h, and said plate
or board is upholstered on its outer surface or side as shown at 3.

page_text: The springs K, are connected with the rack bars G, by a pin or bolt k, and it
will be understood that the arrangement of the springs K, the levers F, and the
rack bar G, are the same at each side, and secured to each of the side plates A,
are inwardly directed pins L, which are adapted to support the lower edge of the
adjustable foot rest, and said side plates A, are also provided with inwardly
directed pins M, in connection with which the rack bars G, operate, and the
operation will be readily understood from the foregoing description when taken in
connection with the accompanying drawing, and the following statement thereof.
In order to raise the adjustable foot rest, it is only necessary to bear downwardly,
on the heel of the pedal d, and this operation will turn the shaft D, and force the
inner ends of the jaws E 3, of the armis E, upwardly, and this operation will raise
the foot rest as will be readily understood, at the same time the springs 92, are
constantly pulling outwardly on the rod g, and also on the lower ends of the rack
bar G, so as to hold said rack bars in connection with the pins M, and said rack
bars will thus be locked or supported at any desired point, and the springs K, will
hold the adjustable foot rest in any desired position, and when said rack bars are
at their highest point, the foot rest will be held approximately in a horizontal
position or with the outer surface or side thereof, directly upwardly. The
adjustable foot rest may be lowered by compressing on the toe of the pedal d,
which operation will lower the arms E, and force the lower ends of the rack
bars G, outwardly and downwardly, as will be readily understood.
It will thus be seen that I provide a foot rest which is novel in construction and
operation, and which is provided with a stationary and also with an adjustable
support or rest for the feet, and in which the adjustable support or rest is adapted
to be operated, by means of a pedal. It will also be apparent that changes in, and
modifications of the construction herein described, may be made without departing
from the spirit of my invention, or sacrificing its advantages, and I reserve the right
to make all such alterations therein, and modifications thereof, as fairly come within
the scope of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A foot rest provided with a stationary and with an adjustable support or rest
for the feet, substantially as shown and described.
2. A foot rest provided with a stationary and with an adjustable support or rest
for the feet, and which comprises a frame or casing which is provided with two side
plates between which the adjustable support or rest is mounted, substantially as
shown and described.
3. A foot rest provided with a stationary and with an adjustable support or rest
for the feet, and which comprises a frame or casing which is provided with two side
plates between which the adjustable support or rest is mounted, said adjustable
support or rest being pivotally connected with levers and rack bars, said levers
being pivotally connected with said side plates, and the lower ends of said rack
bars being connected by a transverse rod or shaft, and said side plates being
also provided with a shaft which is mounted therein, and which is provided with
backwardly directed curved or segmental arms in which the rod or shaft by
which the rack bars are connected, moves, substantially as shown and described.
4. A foot rest provided with a stationary and with an adjustable support or rest
for the feet, and which comprises a frame or casing which is provided with two
side plates between which the adjustable support or rest is mounted, said adjustable
support or rest being pivotally connected with levers and rack bars, said levers
being pivotally connected with said side plates, and the lower ends of said rack
bars being connected by a transverse rod or shaft and said side plates being also
provided with a shaft which is mounted therein, and which is provided with back-
wardly directed curved or segmental arms in which the rod or shaft by which the
rack bars are connected, moves and said rod or shaft by which the rack bars are

page_text: connected being also provided with spiral springs which are also connected with the
rod or shaft on which the curved or segmental arms are mounted, substantially as
shown and described.
5. A foot rest provided with a stationary and with an adjustable support or rest
for the feet, and which comprises a frame or casing which is provided with two-
side plates between which the adjustable support or rest is mounted, said adjustable
support or rest being pivotally connected with levers and rack bars, said levers
being pivotally connected with said side plates, and the lower ends of said rack
bars being connected by a transverse rod or shaft, and said side plates being
also provided with a shaft which is mounted therein, and which is provided
with backwardly directed, curved or segmental arms in which the rod or shaft
by which the rack bars are connected, moves, and said rod or shaft by which
the rack bars are connected being also provided with spiral springs which are
also connected with the rod or shaft on which the curved or segmental arms are
mounted, and said shaft on which said arms are mounted, being provided with a
pedal by which the adjustable rest or support is operated, substantially as shown
and described.
6. A foot rest comprising a frame in which is mounted an adjustable support or
rest for the feet, said adjustable support or rest, being pivotally connected with
levers and rack bars, said levers being pivotally connected with the sides of the
frame, and said rack bars being connected with a transverse rod or shaft, and said
sides of the frame being also provided with a shaft which is mounted therein, and
which is provided with backwardly directed, curved or segmental arms in which the
rod or shaft by which the rack bars are connected, moves, substantially as shown
and described.
7. A foot rest or support comprising a suitable frame in which is mounted a
vertically movable or adjustable rest or support for the feet, and means connected
with said frame, and with said rest or support by which the latter may be adjusted,
substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 12th day of May 1896.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.