Abstract
The invention relates to a footrest designed to support a squatting position during seated-position toilet use. The footrest is comprising two base sections B and B that are, under normal conditions of use, in contact with a supporting surface and two foot-support sections S and S adjacent to said base sections. S and S have an outer surface curved downwards in the longitudinal extension direction towards said base sections B and B.
Claims
1. A footrest designed to support a squatting position during seated-position toilet use comprising two base sections B and B that are, under normal conditions of use, in contact with a supporting surface and two foot-support sections S and S adjacent to said base sections characterized in that S and S have an outer surface that is at least partially inclined downwards in the longitudinal extension direction towards said base sections B and B.
2. The footrest according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface of foot-support sections S and S are entirely inclined downwards in the longitudinal extension direction towards said base sections B and B.
3. The footrest according to claim 1, wherein the downwards inclined surface of the foot-support sections S and S have independently from each other in the longitudinal extension direction towards the base sections B or B a maximal longitudinal inclination angle that is between 5 and 20, in particular between 8 and 16.
4. The footrest according to claim 1, wherein the downwards inclined outer surfaces of foot-support sections S and S are curved downwards in the longitudinal extension direction towards said base sections B and B.
5. The footrest according to claim 4, wherein the maximal curvature of the downwards curved outer surfaces of foot-support sections S and S in the longitudinal extension direction is characterized by an osculating circle with a radius of 0.1 cm to 12 cm, in particular 1 cm to 8 cm, more particular 2 cm to 7 cm.
6. The footrest according to claim 4, wherein the downwards curved outer surfaces of foot-support sections S and S in a longitudinal extension direction towards the base sections B or B are independently of each other defined by osculating circles with a decreasing radius with the smallest radius being at the transition from the foot support sections S and S to the base sections B or B.
7. The footrest according to claim 4, wherein the downwards curved surface of the foot-support sections S and S in a longitudinal extension direction towards the base sections B or B is independently from each other defined by a hyperbolic function curve.
8. The footrest according to claim 1, having in the transverse extension direction a maximal transverse inclination angle of up to 10, in particular 3 to 10, more particular 5 to 8.
9. The footrest according to claim 1, having a length at the end of the base sections that are under normal conditions of use in contact with a supporting surface that is shorter than a length at the end of said foot support section adjacent to said base sections.
10. The footrest according to claim 1, wherein the base sections B and B have an outer surface that is curved in the transverse extension direction.
11. The footrest according to claim 1, wherein the end of the base sections that are under normal conditions of use in contact with a supporting surface have a width smaller than the maximal width of said footrest.
12. The footrest according to claim 1, wherein under normal conditions of use the end of the base sections are not in contact with the support surface over the whole width of the base section, but only in two or three sections, in particular two sections.
13. The footrest according to claim 1, comprising an additional connecting section that links the foot-support sections S and S.
14. The footrest according to claim 1, wherein said footrest is in a two-part form, wherein the two parts are detachably connected along a division line in the longitudinal extension direction.
15. A method for using the footrest according to claim 1, comprising: supporting a subject in a squatting position during seated-position toilet use.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0082] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the footrest (100) with the outer surface of the foot support sections S (110) and S (111) inclined downwards symmetrically in the longitudinal extension (140) direction with a constant inclination angle. The base sections B (120) and B (121) are perpendicular to the plane of the supporting surface (130) and are under normal conditions of use in contact with the supporting surface at their lower ends (125, 126). The length (141) is identical to the length (142). The width (151) of the footrest is identical along the longitudinal extension direction (140).
[0083] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the footrest (100) wherein the outer surface of the foot support sections S (110) and S (111) are curved downwards. The maximal curvature is determined by the osculating circles A) with a radius of 8 cm (R8.0; right circle) or 3 cm (R3.0; left circle) or B) with a radius of 9 cm (R9.0; right circle) or 0.1 cm (R0.1; left circle).
[0084] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the (100) footrest with an outer surface of the foot support sections S (110) and S (111) in a downwards curved shape. The footrest is symmetrical across the center line (155). The base sections B (120) and B (121) are also curved inwards with a length (141) being smaller than the length (142).
[0085] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the footrest (100) with a downwards curved outer surface of the foot support sections S (110) and S (111). The nominal inclination angle is defined by the straight line (175) and the plane of the supporting surface (130). In this embodiment the nominal inclination angle is 14. An angle defined by the first tangent (170) and the plane of the supporting surface (130) is 6 in this embodiment. The second tangent (171) and the plane of the supporting surface (130) define an angle of 55 in this embodiment.
[0086] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the footrest (100) wherein A) the downwards curved outer surface of the foot support sections S (110) and S (111) are defined by osculating circles with decreasing radius along the longitudinal extension direction (140) towards the base sections. The osculating circle with the smallest radius signifies the transition from the foot support sections S (110) and S (111) to the base sections B (120) or B (121). B) The base sections B (120) and B (121) are curved inwards and are defined by osculating circles with increasing radius along the longitudinal extension direction (140) starting from the transition of the foot support sections to the base sections.
[0087] FIG. 6 shows examples of different curvatures of a hyperbolic function in dependence of variable b from formula (1).
[0088] FIG. 7 shows a cross section of different embodiments with the downward curved surface of the foot support sections S (110) and S (111) in the longitudinal extension direction (140) being defined by a hyperbolic function curve. The maximal inclination angle is measured at the vertex (115) of the hyperbolic function in relation to the support surface (130).
[0089] FIG. 8 shows different embodiments of the footrest with different curvatures of the base sections B (120) and B (121) with the length (141) being shorter than the length (142).
[0090] FIG. 9 shows the side view of an embodiment with a transverse inclination angle of 5.
[0091] FIG. 10 shows the top view of three different embodiments of the invention. The outer surfaces of the foot support sections S (110) and S (111) are curved in the transverse extension direction (150). The length (142) is not constant in certain embodiments along the transverse extension direction (150), with the length (142) decreasing from one side of the footrest to the other side in the transverse extension direction (150).
[0092] FIG. 11 shows an embodiment of the footrest (100) in A) frontal view and B) side view. The base sections (120, 121) of this embodiment are under normal conditions of use not in contact with the support surface (130) over the whole width of the base section, but only in two sections.
[0093] FIG. 12 shows an embodiment of the invention similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 made of wood in A) a perspective view and B) top view.
[0094] FIG. 13 shows an embodiment in the 90 tilted storage position around the base of a toilet seat. The footrest can be stored around A) the frontal base of the toilet seat or B) shifted to the side of the toilet base according to the space available.
[0095] FIG. 14 shows the seating position and placement of the feet using A) an embodiment of the invention and B) a footrest known in the art. Even in positions with an increasing angle of spread thighs, the footrest of the invention allows the user to place the feet comfortable on the foot support sections with the whole sole of the feet being in contact with the surface. In contrast, the footrest according to the prior art does not allow to place the feet with the whole sole being in contact on the foot support surface or without unphysiologically bend ankles.
[0096] FIG. 15 shows an embodiment of the footrest (100) wherein the base sections are oval shaped, and the foot support sections are curved downwards in both directions of the transverse extension direction (150), with the highest point of the foot support section being in the geometric centre.
[0097] FIG. 16 shows an embodiment of the footrest in A) frontal view and B) side view. This embodiment has a length (141) that is smaller than a length at the end of said foot support sections (142) adjacent to said base sections. The footrest is also inclined as well as curved in the transverse extension direction (150).
[0098] FIG. 17 shows an embodiment of a dividable footrest. In top view A), C) the undulating division line of the footrest is visible. The divided parts of the footrest can be stored within each other as shown in B) and D).
[0099] FIG. 18 shows an embodiment of a dividable footrest in perspective view. The divided parts of the footrest can be stored within each other.
[0100] FIG. 19 shows an embodiment of a dividable footrest with a joining mechanism comprising an overlapping section of both parts that is thinner than the material of the corresponding section of the footrest with an undulating cross-section. The overlapping section of the joining mechanism has a thicker part at the ending of the overlapping section and a thinner part at the start of the overlapping section. The thinner and the ticker part of the overlapping section fit into each other and achieve form-closure once the divided parts of the footrest are joined.
