US3713180A

US3713180A - Foot support for shower baths

Info

Publication number: US3713180A
Application number: US00099581A
Authority: US
Inventors: P Martin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-12-18
Filing date: 1970-12-18
Publication date: 1973-01-30
Anticipated expiration: 1990-01-30

Abstract

Herein is described a foot support device adapted for mounting to the wall of a shower to facilitate the washing and drying of feet and legs. The disclosed embodiment comprises a mounting plate and hinge assembly with a support bar pivotally connected to the hinge assembly for rotational movement between a position of use and a storage position. A foot rest member, having an arched upper surface of resilient material, is pivotally connected to the outer end of the support bar.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 Martin Jan.30, 1973 [54] FOOT SUPPORT FOR SHOWER BATHS [76] Inventor: Peter Martin, 20800 Roscoe Bend,

Canoga Park, Calif. 91304 [22] Filed: Dec. 18, 1970 21 App]. No.2 99,581

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS D190,624 6/1961 Morrison et a1. ..D4/4 R7,582 3/1877 Stevens ..49/52 508,690 11/1893 Fauber ..297/314 649,382 5/1900 Wilckc ..297/68 1,741,505 12/1929 Dalton ..248/308 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 10,025 2/1903 Great Britain ..248/240.4 281,170 12/1927 Great Britain ..248/240 1,104,776 2/1968 Great Britain ..248/308 Primary ExaminerHouston S. Bell, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Donald B. Massenberg Att0rneyLawrence V. Link, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT Herein is described a foot support device adapted for mounting to the wall of a shower to facilitate the washing and drying of feet and legs. The disclosed embodiment comprises a mounting plate and hinge assembly with a support bar pivotally connected to the hinge assembly for rotational movement between a position of use and a storage position. A foot rest member, having an arched upper surface of resilient material, is pivotally connected to the outer end of the support bar.

6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAN 30 1925 SHEET 1 [IF 2 P575? Mswr/A/ INVENTOR.

W W /Mk 9+ ATTORNEY FOOT SUPPORT FOR SHOWER BATI-IS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a foot support device adapted to be mounted in a shower bath to facilitate the washing and drying of feet and legs.

While showering, the washing and drying of a persons feet and legs presents a problem of maintaining ones balance. Depending upon the physical agility of a person, the standing on one foot while washing and drying the other causes a greater or lesser degree of inconvenience, and can result in serious injuries from falls induced therefrom.

Prior foot support devices which have attempted to resolve this problem have not proven successful for a number of functional and economic reasons. In particular some of these prior art devices have been cumbersome to use and/or were in the way when not in use. A significant aspect of the subject invention is the recognition of the need for a foot support device which may be permanently installed in a shower such that it is convenient to use; and which although readily available for use is easily pivoted to an out of the way storage position. Also the value of such a device is enhanced if the foot rest member automatically assumes the angular position most convenient for each of various conditions of use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the subject invention to provide a new and improved foot support device for shower baths.

Another object is to provide a foot support device for showers which may be permanently installed to a wall of the shower in a position convenient for washing, rinsing and drying feet and legs, and which may be pivoted to an out of the way storage position when not in use.

Yet another object is to provide a foot support device for showers wherein the foot rest member is pivotal so that it may assume different angular positions required for each one of various conditions of use.

Still another object is to provide a foot support device for showers which has sufficient structural strength to support a large part of the weight of a person, and yet is simple and economical to manufacture and install.

In accordance with one preferred embodiment, the subject invention comprises a mounting plate and hinge assembly adapted to be mounted to the wall of a shower in a location convenient for the washing and rinsing of the feet and legs. A support bar is pivotally connected to the hinge assembly so as to be rotatable between a horizontal position of use and an approximately vertical position of storage. A foot rest member is pivotally connected to the outer end of the support bar such that it may assume any number of positions between horizontal and a selected maximum inclination angle, such as 45, for example. The upper surface of the foot rest member has an arched section of resilient material, such as rubber, and the face thereof may have a corrugated pattern.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The novel features which are characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of construction and operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which the illustrative embodiment of the invention is disclosed and wherein like reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the subject invention shown in a position for use, with a shower wall to which it is mounted shown in section;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the foot support device shown in a position for out of the way storage;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are front plan and side views, respectively, of the mounting plate and hinge assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are side and front views, respectively, of the support bar shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are side and end views, respectively, of the foot rest member shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 9 is a side view of an assembly pin and O-ring for mounting the support bar to the hinge assembly.

DESCRIPTIONOF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, one preferred embodiment of the subject invention is there shown as comprising a mounting plate-hinge assembly 10, a support bar 12 and a foot rest member 14.

Mounting plate-hinge assembly 10, shown in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4, includes a rectangular mounting plate 16 with hinge plate members 18 and 20 mounted normally thereto by welding or bronzing, for example. A plurality of holes 22 are formed in plate 16 to allow for mounting to a shower wall 24 (FIG. 1

I-Iinge members 18 and 20 are positioned on the plate 16 with sufficient separation therebetween to allow for the insertion of support bar 12. The members 18 and 20 are identical, each having a hole 26 formed therein, and a diagonal slot 28 in its lower surface.

A hole 30 in support bar 12 is so located that when aligned with hole 26, bar 12 may be rotatably mounted between plates 18 and 20 i.e., end 32 of bar 12 clears plate 16. A pin 34 protrudes from both sides of bar 12, and vertical post 36 (FIG. 5) is integrally formed on the outer end of the bar. As shown in FIG. 6, a slot 38 in post 36 forms a yoke 40, and a hole 42 is formed through both legs thereof. 7

Foot rest member 14 (FIGS. 7 and 8) includes a bracket 44 comprising a foot support plate 46, and a leg 48 with a heel portion 50. A resilient rubber arched pad 47 is bonded to the upper face of plate 46 and may have a corrugated pattern to provide a non-slip surface.

In the assembly of the foot support device, an assembly pin 52 (FIG. 9) is inserted through

holes

26 and 30 in hinge members 18 and 20 and support bar 12. The pin is retained in position by O-rings or snap rings 54 in annular grooves 56 on the ends of pin52. Foot rest member 14 is rotatably mounted on yoke 40 by a pin 58 through hole 42 and a hole 60 in plate bracket The foot support device of the subject invention may be mounted to the wall 24 of a shower bath by means of molly bolts 62, for example. The mounting location on wall 24 is preferably selected such that the foot rest member 14 is in the path of the main stream of the shower spray to facilitate the rinsing of the legs and feet.

In use, the support bar 12 is rotated to the position shown in FIG. 1 and is firmly retained in a horizontal position by the engagement of pin 34 in the slots 28 of hinge plates 18 and 20. Under some conditions of use such as the washingof feet by a person standing rather close to the device, the foot rest member 14 is firmly positioned by the engagement of the heel portion 50 and the upper surface of support bar 12. For the washing of legs and/or when the user is further removed from the device, the member 14 is free to pivot on pin 58 to assume the inclination angle which is most convenient. The maximum inclination angle of foot rest member 14, such as 45, for example, is determined by the engagement of the front face 64 of leg 48 with the central surface 66 of yoke 40 (FIG. 6).

An important aspect of the subject invention is that when the foot support device is not being used it may be rotated to an out of the way storage position as shown in FIG. 2. In the storage position the center of gravity of the support bar 10 and foot rest 14 combination, is in back of the hinge pin 52, thereby providing positive storage positioning.

Another important feature of the invention is that the device is sturdy enough to support a large portion of a persons weight, and yet is compact and economical to manufacture. For example, in the illustrated embodiment shown approximately to scale, the overall length of support bar 12 is approximately 6.5 inches and is formed from 58-inch steel stock; hinge plates 18 and 20 are about 3.5 inches in length; and plate 46 of the foot rest member is 2 /4 by 2 34 inches.

Having thus described a novel and improved foot support device for showers which is efficient, convenient and economical, what is claimed is:

l. A foot support device adapted for mounting to the wall of a shower, said device comprising:

a mounting plate having a pair of hinge plate members mounted thereon, with said hinge plate members each having a diagonal slot formed in the lower edge thereof;

a support bar pivotally mounted between said hinge plate members, said support bar having a post formed on one end thereof with said post being slotted to form a yoke having two legs;

position stop means for preventing the rotation of said support bar past a selected position of use, said position stop means including a pin protruding through'said support bar and positioned thereon so as to engagesaid hinge plates at the end of said slots when said support bar is in said position of use, whereby said support bar may be rotated between said selected position of use and a position of storage;

a foot rest member comprising a bracket of a T- shaped cross section having a foot support plate and a leg; and I connecting means for pivotably connecting said footrest member to said support bar, said connecting means including a pin inserted through holes in the le s of said yoke and in the leg of said bracket. 2. A foo support device adapted for mounting to the wall of a shower, said device comprising:

a mounting plate having a pair of hinge plate members mounted thereon, with said hinge plate members each having a hole formed therein;

a support bar having a hole formed therein;

mounting means for pivotally mounting said support bar between said hinge plate members, said mounting means including a pair of O-rings, and an assembly pin inserted through said holes in said support bar and said hinge plate members, said assembly pin having an annular groove formed on each end and being retained in place by said 0- rings disposed within said grooves;

position stop means for preventing the rotation of said support bar past a selected position of use; and

a foot rest member connected to said support bar at one end thereof;

whereby said support bar may be rotated between said selected position of use and a position of storage.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said bracket leg has a heel portion adapted for engagement with an upper surface of said support bar, thereby defining a maximum position of rotation of said foot rest member in one direction.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the front edge of said bracket leg is adapted for engagement with a portion of said yoke adjacent to the bottom of said slot, thereby defining the maximum position of rotation of said foot'rest member in the other direction.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said foot rest member includes a resilient pad, having a corrugated pattern formed on its upper surface, bonded to the upper surface of said foot support plate.

6. The device of claim 2 wherein said selected position of use is approximately horizontal, said position of storage is above the position of use by more than and said support bar and foot rest member are configured such that when the support bar is in the position of storage, the center of gravity of said support bar and foot rest member combination is behind the location of said assembly pin.

Claims

1. A foot support device adapted for mounting to the wall of a shower, said device comprising: a mounting plate having a pair of hinge plate members mounted thereon, with said hinge plate members each having a diagonal slot formed in the lower edge thereof; a support bar pivotally mounted between said hinge plate members, said support bar having a post formed on one end thereof with said post being slotted to form a yoke having two legs; position stop means for preventing the rotation of said support bar past a selected position of use, said position stop means including a pin protruding through said support bar and positioned thereon so as to engage said hinge plates at the end of said slots when said support bar is in said position of use, whereby said support bar may be rotated between said selected position of use and a position of storage; a foot rest member comprising a bracket of a T-shaped cross section having a foot support plate and a leg; and connecting means for pivotably connecting said footrest member to said support bar, said connecting means including a pin inserted through holes in the legs of said yoke and in the leg of said bracket.

2. A foot support device adapted for mounting to the wall of a shower, said device comprising: a mounting plate having a pair of hinge plate members mounted thereon, with said hinge plate members each having a hole formed therein; a support bar having a hole formed therein; mounting means for pivotally mounting said support bar between said hinge plate members, said mounting means including a pair of O-rings, and an assembly pin inserted through said holes in said support bar and said hinge plate members, said assembly pin having an annular groove formed on each end and being retained in place by said O-rings disposed within said grooves; position stop means for preventing the rotation of said support bar past a selected position of use; and a foot rest member connected to said support bar at one end thereof; whereby said support bar may be rotated between said selected position of use and a position of storage.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the front edge of said bracket leg is adapted for engagement with a portion of said yoke adjacent to the bottom of said slot, thereby defining the maximum position of rotation of said foot rest member in the other direction.