US3650562A - Folding footstool - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a folding footstool which, when in its operative position, has a main box-like structure forming a foot supporting portion with a pair of pedestals supporting the main structure. In its inoperative position, the hingeable panels forming the main structure, are adapted to embrace the pedestals so that a neat and compact box is provided for carrying purposes.

Description

United States Patent Adler [4 1 Mar. 21, 1972 FOLDING FOOTSTOOL [72] Inventor: Louise Adler, 359 Clarke Ave., Montreal,

Quebec, Canada 22 Filed: July 7,1970

21 Appl.No.: 52,813

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 19, 1969 Canada ..O67,860

[52] [1.8. CI ..297/439, 297/17, 297/461, 312/195 [51] Int. Cl ..A47c 9/12, A47c 4/02, A47b 47/00 [58] Field otSearch ..108/35,36, 115, 132; 297/16,

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,259,145 10/1941 Waldo 1,798,472 3/1931 Kelly "297/439 X 3,438,345 4/1969 Lasaine et al.... 2,715,053 8/1955 Wiegel ..108/35 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 710,466 6/1954 Great Britain ..297/439 Primary Examiner-Casmir A. Nunberg Attorney-Spencer & Kaye ABSTRACT The invention relates to a folding footstool which, when in its operative position, has a main box-like structure forming a foot supporting portion with a pair of pedestals supporting the main structure. In its inoperative position, the hingeable panels forming the main structure, are adapted to embrace the pedestals so that a neat and compact box is provided for carrying purposes.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Patented Mmh 21, 1912 3,650,562

2 Shoots-Shut l INVENTOR.

Louise Adler ATTORNEYS Patented March 21, 1912 3,650,562

' 2 Shanta-Shut 2 H64 INVENTOR.

liouise Adler AT RNEYS.

FOLDING FOOTSTOOL This invention relates to footstools.

Many types of footstools are known. However, most of these suffer from the disadvantage that the supporting legs are in fixed relation to the foot-rest which renders them extremely awkward for carrying, transporting or storage purposes. Hence, the principal object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement which is of simple construction and which can, when not in use, be carried under the arm and which, when required to be operative, can be easily and quickly converted into a footstool or rest.

According to one broad aspect, the present invention relates to a folding footstool arrangement including a main boxlike structure and a pair of secondary box-like structures hingeably connected to opposite ends of said main structure and serving, when in operative position, as a pair of pedestals for the main structure which serves as a foot-rest, said main structure maintaining said secondary structures in said operative position.

According to another broad aspect, the present invention relates to a folding footstool arrangement including a primary panel, ultimately serving as a foot-supporting panel; a pair of secondary box-like structures hingeably connected to opposite ends ofsaid panel and ultimately serving, in their operative position, as a pair of pedestals; a first side wall panel hingeably connected to a marginal side edge of said primary panel; a secondary panel hingeably connected to the other marginal side edge of said first side wall panel; and a second side wall hingeably connected to the remaining marginal side edge of said secondary panel; said panels forming a main boxlike structure serving as a foot-rest and maintaining the pair of pedestals in operative position.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views showing two stages in converting the arrangement into an operative position where it will serve as a footstool;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the arrangement in operative position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the arrangement in inoperative condition.

Referring to the drawings, and in particular, to FIG. 1, the arrangement includes a primary panel 1 which, as will be described later, ultimately serves as the foot-supporting panel of a folding footstool. A pair of secondary box-like structures 2 are hingeably connected at 3 to opposite ends of the main panel 1 and these two structures ultimately serve as a pair of pedestals.

As will be seen more clearly from FIGS. 1 and 2, a first side wall panel 4 is hingeably connected at 5 to a marginal side edge of the primary panel 1, and a secondary panel 6 is hingeably connected at 7 to its other marginal side edge. A second side wall panel 8, is hingeably connected at 9 to the remaining marginal side edge of the secondary panel 6. In addition, panel 8 is provided with a catch 10 adapted to cooperate with any suitable latching means 11 on the primary panel 1. Moreover, panel 8, is also provided with a projecting finger-portion 12. As will also be seen from FIG. 2, the overall length of primary panel 1 is greater than the length of each of panels 4, 6 and 8. I

' When it is desired that the arrangement should assume operative position, i.e. whereby a footstool or rest will be provided, the catch 10 and latching means 11 are disconnected which enables the user, by employing finger-portion 12, to hinge panels 4, 6 and 8 to their position indicated in FIG. 1. The user then moves the pair of secondary box-like structures 2 about their hinges 3 so that they will assume the position indicated in FIG. 2, i.e. where they extend normal to the primary panel 1.

The panels 6 and 8 are then hinged about their respective hinges 7 and 9 whereby said panel 6 will be parallel with, but spaced from, the primary panel 1 and whereby the second side wall panel 8 will be parallel with, but spaced from, the first side wall panel 4. The catch 10 and latching means 11 are then re-engaged with one another. Hence, a footstool such as that shown in FIG. 3 will be provided whereby the panels 1, 4 6 and 8 form a main box-like structure with the pair of secondary box-like structures 2 being hingeably connected to opposite ends of the said main structure. In this position, the main boxlike structure serves as a foot-rest and maintains the pair of secondary box-like structures 2 apart and in operative position where they serve as a pair of supporting end pedestals for the foot-rest.

When it is desired to re-arrange the assembly whereby it can be easily carried or transported, the catch 10 and latching means 11 are disconnected which permits the panels 4, 6 and 8 to be hinged as to permit the secondary box-like structures 2 to be moved about their hinges 3 so that they will be in faceto-face relation with the primary panel 1. Thereafter the panels 4, 6 and 8 are caused to move about their respective hinges 5, 7 and 9 whereby the panel 6 are also brought into face-to-face relationship with the pair of secondary structures 2. The catch 10 and latching means 11 are then reengaged so that the arrangement will assume the position shown in FIG. 4 whereby it can be easily slipped under the users arm and carried.

The footstool arrangement can be manufactured from any suitable material.

Iclaim:

1. A foldable footstool having both a folded and an erected state, said footstool including a main box-like structure and a pair of secondary box'like structures hingeably connected adjacent opposite ends of said main box-like structure and serving, when in operative position in said erected state, as a pair of pedestals for said main box-like structure which serves as a foot-rest, said main box-like structure maintaining said secondary box-like structures in said operative position and embracing said pair of secondary box-like structures when the latter are hinged to their inoperative position in said folded state, and at least a portion of said secondary box-like structures being disposed beneath a portion of said main boxlike structure to support said main box-like structure insaid erected state.

2. A footstool according to claim 1 wherein said main boxlike structure is formed by a plurality of connected hingeable panels certain of which have cooperating catch and latching means for maintaining said main structure in both said folded and erected state.

3. A foldable footstool having both a folded and an erected state, said footstool including a primary panel, serving in said erected state as a foot-supporting panel; a pair of secondary box-like structures hingeably connected adjacent opposite ends of said panel and serving, in their operative position in said erected state, as a pair of pedestals; a first side-wall panel hingeably connected to a marginal side edge of said primary panel; a secondary panel hingeably connected to the other marginal side edge of said first side wall panel; and a second side wall panel hingeable connected to the remaining marginal side edge of said secondary panel; said panels forming a main box-like structure which serves as a foot-rest maintains the pair of pedestals in their operative position and embraces the secondary box-like structure when the latter are hinged to their inoperative position in said folded state.

4. A footstool according to claim 3 wherein the primary and secondary panels are provided with cooperating catch and latching means for maintaining said main box-like structure in both said erected and folded state.

Claims (4)

1. A foldable footstool having both a folded and an erected state, said footstool including a main box-like structure and a pair of secondary box-like structures hingeably connected adjacent opposite ends of said main box-like structure and serving, when in operative position in said erected state, as a pair of pedestals for said main box-like structure which serves as a foot-rest, said main box-like structure maintaining said secondary box-like structures in said operative position and embracing said pair of secondary box-like structures when the latter are hinged to their inoperative position in said folded state, and at least a portion of said secondary box-like structures being disposed beneath a portion of said main box-like structure to support said main box-like structure in said erected state.

2. A footstool according to claim 1 wherein said main box-like structure is formed by a plurality of connected hingeable panels certain of which have cooperating catch and latching means for maintaining said main structure in both said folded and erected state.

3. A foldable footstool having both a folded and an erected state, said footstool including a primary panel, serving in said erected state as a foot-supporting panel; a pair of secondary box-like structures hingeably connected adjacent opposite ends of said panel and serving, in their operative position in said erected state, as a pair of pedestals; a first side-wall panel hingeably connected to a marginal side edge of said primary panel; a secondary panel hingeably connected to the other marginal side edge of said first side wall panel; and a second side wall panel hingeable connected to the remaining marginal side edge of said secondary panel; said panels forming a main box-like structure which serves as a foot-rest maintains the pair of pedestals in their operative position and embraces the secondary box-like structure when the latter are hinged to their inoperative position in said folded state.

4. A footstool according to claim 3 wherein the primary and secondary panels are provided with cooperating catch and latching means for maintaining said main box-like structure in both said erected and folded state.

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