US3462194A - Adjustable footrest assembly - Google Patents

Description

7 Aug. 19, 1969 I a. F. GIELOW ETAL. 3,462,194

ADJUSTABLE FO'OTREST ASSEMBLY Filed Sept. 26, 1967 2 Sheets-Shet 1 .2225 i INvENToRs GEORGE E G/ELOW ROBERT. L. EDWARDS Aug. 19, 1969 G. F. GIELOW, ETAL 3,462,194

ADJUSTABLE FOOIREST ASSEMBLY Filed Sept. 2G, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ill INVENTORS GEORG'E F G/ELOW ROBERT L. EDWARDS BY 0 3MMW2M {4M ATTORNEYS 3,462,194 ADIUSTABLE FOOTREST ASSEMBLY George F. Gielow and Robert I... Edwards, Mansfield, Ohio, assignors to Artnell Company, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 26, 1967, Ser. No. 670,613 Int. Cl. A474: 7/50 US. Cl. 297-425 14 Claims ABSTRACT UP THE DISCLOSURE An adjustable footrest for vehicle seating and the like using a treadle pivoted between hangers with a toggle linkage connected to the treadle holding the hangers in different positions of elevation in response to pivotal movement of the treadle.

DISCLOSURE In transportation vehicles of the type mentioned, the passengers frequently remain in their seats for relatively long periods of time before reaching their destination. As a result, the comfort and convenience of the passenger while seated is an important design consideration in the manufacture of seats for transportation vehicles.

It is, of course, highly desirable to provide a footrest unit which can be adjusted for people of different size or length. One such device very adequately serving as an adjustable footrest is that shown in the aforementioned copending application. However, the treadle which swings on the hangers contains two spaced foot support pads and is relatively bulky, this creating problems in seat access and cleaning of the vehicle. A larger swing radius for the treadle makes it more difficult to operate. In such prior footrest, the hanger remains stationary in operating position and the treadle is pivoted to obtain two alternate footrest elevations. With the present invention a more compact treadle is provided which pivots the hanger to different elevations in response to pivoting of the treadle. The entire somewhat smaller assembly can readily be elevated against the back of the seat ahead for cleaning and access.

It is accordingly a principal object of the present invention to provide an adjustable footrest of a compact nature which is easy to operate.

Another important object is the provision of such footrest which will firmly support the weight of a persons feet and legs in alternate positions of elevation.

A further object is the provision of a treadle operated adjustable footrest which includes a toggle mechanism firmly holding the treadle in different elevations.

Yet another object is the provision of a lightweight compact adjustable footrest which can readily be pivoted upwardly flush against the seat ahead to clear the floor.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail a certain illustrative embodiment of the invention, this being indicative, however, of

BAfiZJM Patented Aug. 19, 1369 but one of the various ways in Which the principles of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the footrest assembly of the invention, with the same shown operatively mounted at the bottom and rear of a vehicle seat, shown fragmentarily in this figure. The footrest assembly is shown in solid lines in its lowermost position, with the intermediate and non-operational positions thereof being shown in dashed lines;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation, partially broken away, taken in the direction of line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a similar section taken substantially on the line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is, a section taken on line 55 of FIG. 1 in a plane normal to that of FIGS. 3 and 4; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged vertical fragmentary section taken substantially on the line 66 of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the annexed drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a vehicle seat shown generally at 1 to the back lower end of which the present invention is secured. The seat includes in usual manner a back rest section 2 and a seat portion 3, the details of which form no part of the present invention. The seat includes a cross frame member 4 extending between the side frame members 5 and 6. Pairs of channel-shaped supporting brackets indicated at 8, 9 and 10, 11 are secured to the cross frame member 4. Pivot pins 12 and 13 extend through thhe lower ends of each pair of bracket members and such pins are accommodated each in bushings 14 and 15 which are aligned and secured to the interior of the bracket members as shown for such bracket members 10 and 11 in FIG. 6.

Such pins 12 and 13 pivotally support hangers seen generally at 16 and 17, each of which is comprised of mating dog-leg channel- shape hanger members 18 and 19, and 20 and 21, respectively. Such hanger members may be provided with circular side wall apertures as indicated at 22. in FIG. 1 to reduce the weight thereof.

A treadle assembly 24 is pivotally mounted between the hangers 16 and 17 near the distal or lower end thereof and the details of such pivotal mounting are seen more clearly in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. The rectangular end walls 25 of the treadle assembly 24 are provided with outwardly projecting hexagonal pins 26 which fit within apertures of similar section within sleeves 27, the outer surface of which is cylindrical and which fits through aligned apertures in the hanger members as indicated at 28 and 29 in FIG. 4. Each pin is held to the sleeve in the respective hanger by means of the fastener 30 and washer 31 illustrated.

Each sleeve 27 includes a pair of projecting lugs seen at 33 and 34 in FIGS. 3 and 5 between which extends removable roll pin 35 and on which the offset end 36 of link 37 is pivoted. The opposite end of the link 37 is pivoted in similar fashion at 38 to the bifurcated distal end of stop arm 39, the proximal end of which is secured to the pivot pin 13 by set screw 44]. It is noted, as seen in FIG. 1, that the stop arm 39 is provided with an offset projection as indicated at 41 which engages stop member 42 secured to the bracket members 10 and 11 precluding the stop arm from pivoting further in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 than the full line position shown. Pivotal movement in a clockwise direction as viewed in such figure is, however, uninhibited except for friction created by the washer springs 43 and 44. seen in FIG. 6.

A helper spring 45 is connected betwen lug 46 on the link 37 and lug 47 on the stop arm 39' and the tension force of the spring tends to pivot the link in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 about the distal end of the stop arm 39 or the pivot 38.

Each hanger assembly is provided with stops for the pivotal movement of the treadle assembly 24 and as seen in FIG. 1 clockwise pivoting of the treadle assembly 24, is limited by the stop 49 while counterclockwise movement is limited by the stop 50, the latter being interior of the hanger assembly and engaging the lugs 33 and 34 with the offset portion 36 of the link 37 therebetween, such lugs, of course, rotating with the treadle assembly being mounted on the hex shafts 26.

OPERATION Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, there is illustrated in full lines the lowermost position for the footrest and in phantom lines at 52 the intermediate operational position of the footrest. A third non-operational position is shown in phantom lines at 53 and in this storage position, the footrest may be positioned substantially flush against the back of the seat 1 to clear the space between the seats as well as the floor. The footrest will be held in the storage position by the friction creating spring washers 43 and 44.

When the person occupying the seat to the rear of the seat 1 decides to use the footrest it may be pulled down to the full line position until the projection 41 engages the down stop 42. In this position the treadle assembly 24 will be pivoted against the stop 49. If in such lowermost position the footrest is too low or too far from the seat for the user, it may readily be positioned in the intermediate elevation 52 by pivoting the treadle assembly 24 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1. As soon as the center of the hex pins 26 pass over the line between the centers of the roll pins 35 and 38, the helper spring 45 will assist in pivoting the footrest structure to the intermediate position 52. As the treadle assembly 24 is pivoted, the center of pin 35 orbits about the center of hex pin 26 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 lengthening the required distance between the center of hex pin 26 and the center of the pivot pin 38, the latter being fixed because of the engagement of the offset portion 41 of the stop arm 39 against the down stop 42 precluding pivotal movement of the stop arm in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1. This then requires that the hanger assemblies 16 and 17 pivot upwardly. The hanger assemblies will actually move up and then begin to move down as the pin 35 passes over center between the pins 26 and 38. Such down movement will be stopped by engagement with the stop 50 and this will hold the footrest in the intermediate position. The normal weight of a persons foot will be in the direction of the arrow 55 which is offset from the hex pin 26 and this tends to pivot the treadle assembly 24 in a counterclockwise direction urging the arms 33 and 34 against the stop 50. In such intermediate position, the link 37 becomes a brace holding the footrest.

To place the footrest from the intermediate to the lowermost position, the treadle assembly 24 is pivoted in a clockwise direction opposite the direction of the arrow 56 and this again causes the pivot 35 to orbit about the hex pin pivot 26 shortening the required distance between the pivots 3 8 and 26 causing the hangers 16 and 17 to descend. Continued pivotal movement will move the center of hex pin 26 over center between the pins 35 and 38 and with the treadle against the stop 49, the footrest will be locked in its lower position. It is noted that the treadle assembly is provided with opposite substantially parallel feet engaging surfaces and that such surfaces will be at approximately the same angle of inclination in both the lowermost and intermediate positions. However, it can be appreciated that the treadle assembly swings more than 180 about the pivot 26 to obtain this parallelism because of the change in the angle of inclination of the hangers. The footrest assembly can readily be elevated to the storage position 53 simply by manually raising the same and it will be frictionally held in such position until required for use.

It can now be seen that there is provided a compact simplified footrest assembly which can readily be adjusted to obtain different elevations and which can readily be placed in storage to clear the area between the seats.

We, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as our invention:

1. A footrest for vehicle seating and the like comprising a hanger pivotally mounted to extend downwardly and toward the user, a treadle pivotally mounted near the distal end of said hanger, and toggle link means interconnecting said treadle and the proximal end of said hanger operative to change the elevation of said hanger in response to pivotal movement of said treadle.

2. A footrest as set forth in claim 1 wherein said toggle link means includes an arm extending from the proximal end of said hanger, an arm extending from the pivot of said treadle, and a link interconnecting said arms.

3. A footrest as set forth in claim 2 including a helper spring interconnecting said first mentioned arm and said link.

4. A footrest as set forth in claim 3 including an offset in said link adapted to clear the pivot of said treadle.

5. A footrest as set forth in claim 4 including stop means limiting pivotal movement of said treadle to position the latter in inverted positions at different elevations.

6. A footrest as set forth in claim 5 wherein the treadle includes feet engaging portions, said feet engaging portions being substantially parallel to each other in the inverted positions of said treadle at different elevations thereof.

7. A footrest as set forth in claim 1 including means operative to pivot said hanger to a storage position, and friction means operative to maintain said hanger in said storage position.

8. A footrest assembly for vehicle seating comprising a pair of pivotally mounted hangers, a treadle pivoted between the distal ends thereof, and means responsive to the pivotal position of said treadle operative to lock said hangers and thus said treadle in alternate elevations.

9. A footrest assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said means comprises a toggle linkage having an arm extending from the proximal end of at least one of said hangers, an arm extending from the pivot of the treadle, and a link interconnecting said arms.

16. A footrest assembly as set forth in claim 9 including stop means precluding said first mentioned arm from rotation in one direction about the proximal end of the hanger.

11. A footrest assembly as set forth in claim 9 including a helper spring interconnecting said first arm and said link operative to assist in the movement of said assembly to the position of higher elevation.

12. A footrest assembly as set forth in claim 9 including an offset in said link adapted to clear the pivot of said treadle.

13. A footrest assembly as set forth in claim 9 including stop means limiting pivotal movement of said treadle to position the latter in inverted positions at different elevations, said stop means precluding pivotal movement of said treadle in normal conditions of use.

14. A footrest assembly as set forth in claim 9 including means operative to pivot said assembly to a storage position, and friction means operative to hold said assembly in such storage position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,116,955 1/1964 Siegal 297436 3,188,140 6/1965 Hahnlein 297--426 3,375,039 3/1968 Gielow et al. 297425 CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner

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