Dynamic Foot Support

Description

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/723,696, filed on Nov. 22, 2024, titled “System For Preparing Screen Frame Latch Notches”, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to the field of devices promoting active sitting and, more particularly, to a dynamic foot support.

BACKGROUND

Extended periods of sitting (and standing) have been associated with various health issues. Recent research has highlighted the benefits of promoting movement and muscle activation in the lower limbs, even while seated. The soleus muscle in particular has been identified as an important target for activation. However, existing solutions for encouraging lower limb movement while seated are limited.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

A dynamic foot support device includes a base having a top side and a bottom surface configured to rest on a floor surface, a plurality of cross members, each having a top side and a bottom side, and a plurality of mounts, each of the plurality of mounts connecting a respective one of the plurality of cross members to the top side of the base. Each of the plurality of mounts allow multi-directional movement of respective ones of the plurality of cross members with respect to the base and partially independent of adjacent ones of the plurality of cross members when a foot of a seated user is supported by the top side of at least a subset of the plurality of cross members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the disclosure, the drawings show aspects of one or more embodiments of the disclosure. However, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a dynamic foot support device in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the dynamic foot support device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the dynamic foot support device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partially exploded view of a portion of the dynamic foot support device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the dynamic foot support device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the dynamic foot support device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the dynamic foot support device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the dynamic foot support device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of a dynamic foot support device in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a bottom perspective view of the dynamic foot support device of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a top exploded view of the dynamic foot support device of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a bottom exploded view of the dynamic foot support device of FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a top view of the dynamic foot support device of FIG. 9;

FIG. 14 is a front view of the dynamic foot support device of FIG. 9;

FIG. 15 is a side view of the dynamic foot support device of FIG. 9;

FIG. 16 is a bottom view of the dynamic foot support device of FIG. 9;

FIG. 17 is a front view of the dynamic foot support device of FIG. 9 in which a cross member engages an edge of the base; and

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the dynamic foot support device in which some of the cross members are tipped.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A dynamic foot support allows movement and exercise of the lower limbs while a user is seated or standing in one place. The foot support includes multiple parallel cross members connected to a base via mounts that allow multi-directional movement of the cross members, including side-to-side rocking, front-to-back rocking, and opposing tipping motions, when subject to forces applied when a user places their feet on the cross members. The foot support promotes lower limb muscle activation, particularly of the soleus muscle, when a user is seated at a desk or in other sedentary positions with their feet on the foot support.

Referring to FIGS. 1-8, a dynamic foot support 100 includes a base 104 and a plurality of cross members 108 (e.g., 108a) attached to the base 104 via mounts 112 (e.g., 112a in FIG. 3), such as vibration isolation mounts. The plurality of cross members 108 pivot largely independent of each other and a top surface 102 for supporting a user's feet. In addition, base 104 may include a rocker 116 and a motion dampener/limiter 120.

Base 104 may be made of any suitable material, such as wood, metal, or plastic, and is sized to fit in a space near a chair having a length sufficient to accommodate a user's feet (e.g., 1-3 feet in length). Base 104 has a width sized to partially support cross members 108 while also allowing rocking motion of the cross members via mounts 112 about the lengthwise axis of base 104. Rocker 116 may be included on a bottom portion of base 104 such that rocker 116 contacts the floor/ground surface and promotes front-to-back rocking of base 104 when a user's feet are on support 100. As shown in the example in FIG. 2, rocker 116 may comprise two pieces, one on each side of base 104, each oriented to promote rocking motion in a direction perpendicular to the pivoting action of cross members 108. The rocker may be removable and may have various shapes, e.g., different degrees of curvature, and may be configured to promote asymmetric motion, e.g., have a steeper curve in the forward direction compared to the backward direction. In an alternative without a rocker under the base, either front-to-back or side-to-side rocking can be emphasized by changing the orientation of the device under the user's feet by 90 degrees. With the long axis of the undercarriage of the device parallel to the feet, front-to-back rocking is emphasized, while with the feet perpendicular to the long axis of the undercarriage of the device, side-to-side rocking is emphasized.

Cross members 108 are attached to base 104 so that cross members 108 are preferably substantially perpendicular to the lengthwise axis of base 104 and substantially parallel to each other. Preferably, each cross member 108 is attached to base 104 by one mount 112, although other attachment arrangements may be used that allow for a degree of pivoting around base 104. Mounts 112 are configured to secure cross members 108 to base 104 such that cross members 108 remain attached to base 104 when subject to forces typically asserted when supporting feet of users, and preferably seated users, while allowing at least semi-independent, multi-direction movement of each cross member 108, e.g., rocking back and forth, side to side, and rotational with respect to base 104. Such motion, and in particular the rocking back and forth motion, may also partially depend on the motion of adjacent cross members if the cross members are positioned sufficiently close together. For example, facing side edges of adjacent cross members may be between about 1/16^th inch and about 1/32^nd inch apart such that the various motions noted can result in interactions of adjacent cross members, which will tend to result in a smoother, “rolling” motion of the cross members as the user's feet apply pressure at different locations along surface 102.

Mounts 112 may be vibration isolation mounts, also known as vibration isolation bobbins or motor-mounts that are typically include a cylindrical rubber portion surrounding the attaching portion and may preferably be approximately ¾ inches in diameter and ¾ inches in height. Other suitable attachment mechanisms may be used that allow the attached cross members to move as described above.

In a preferred embodiment, a motion dampener 120 may be included and positioned between a top surface of base 104 and bottom surfaces of cross members 108, and may be made of closed cell foam or similar material that absorbs and cushions forces exerted by cross member 108 when a portion of a cross member tips sufficiently to begin to compress dampener 120 into base 104. Dampener 120 may be shaped to cover the top surface of base 104 and include holes 121 (e.g., 121a as can be seen in FIG. 4) to accommodate mounts 112.

Cross members 108 have a first end and a second end and are preferably attached to base 104 at a midpoint between the first end and the second end. The ends may also be rounded and the cross members may be of different lengths so as to collectively create a perimeter shape of surface 102, such as a smooth oval shape.

In another embodiment, referring to FIGS. 9-18, a dynamic foot support 200 includes a base 204 and a plurality of cross members 208 (e.g., 208a-208f) attached to the base 204 via mounts 212 (e.g., 212a), such as vibration isolation mounts. The plurality of cross members 208 pivot largely independent of each other and a top surface 202 for supporting a user's feet. In addition, base 204 may be sized and shaped to act as dampener/limiter to motion of the plurality of cross members, such as a circular shape that extends outwardly toward the edges of cross members as can be seen in FIG. 16 such that cross members will engage the base after a certain degree of tipping or pivoting as shown for example in FIG. 17. Base 204 may also include a wobble mechanism such as hemisphere 216 attached to the bottom of base 204 to introduce addition motion to support 200.

Base 204 may be made of any suitable material, such as wood, metal, or plastic, and is sized to fit in a space near a chair having a length sufficient to accommodate a user's feet (e.g., 1-3 feet in length). Base 204 has a diameter or minor axis sized to partially support cross members 208 while also allowing rocking motion of the cross members via mounts 212 about the major axis of base 204. As shown in the example in FIG. 16, hemisphere 216 may be removably attached to the center of the bottom of base 204 and promotes motion in all directions in the plane of surface 202.

Cross members 208 are attached to base 204 so that cross members 208 are preferably substantially perpendicular to a diameter or major axis of base 204 and substantially parallel to each other. Preferably, each cross member 208 is attached to base 204 by one mount 212, although other attachment arrangements may be used that allow for a degree of pivoting around base 204. Mounts 212 are configured to secure cross members 208 to base 204 such that cross members 208 remain attached to base 204 when subject to forces typically asserted when supporting feet of users, and preferably seated users, while allowing at least semi-independent, multi-direction movement of each cross member 208, e.g., rocking back and forth, side to side, and rotational with respect to base 204 (FIG. 18). Such motion, and in particular the rocking back and forth motion, may also partially depend on the motion of adjacent cross members if the cross members are positioned sufficiently close together. For example, facing side edges of adjacent cross members may be between about 1/16^th inch and about 1/32^nd inch apart such that the various motions noted can result in interactions of adjacent cross members, which will tend to result in a smoother, “rolling” motion of the cross members as the user's feet apply pressure at different locations along surface 202.

Mounts 212 may be vibration isolation mounts, also known as vibration isolation bobbins or motor-mounts that are typically include a cylindrical rubber portion surrounding the attaching portion and may preferably be approximately ¾ inches in diameter and ¾ inches in height. Other suitable attachment mechanisms may be used that allow the attached cross members to move as described above.

Cross members 208 have a first end and a second end and are preferably attached to base 204 at a midpoint between the first end and the second end. The ends may also be rounded and the cross members may be of different lengths so as to collectively create a perimeter shape of surface 202, such as a smooth oval shape. As noted, base 204 may be circular or similar such that base 204 extends partially out underneath each cross member, thereby allowing rocking motion but also providing a limit to that motion when a cross member tips sufficiently to contact the outer edges of base 204.

For any of the above embodiments, in operation, for example, when a seated user places their feet on the upper surface collectively formed by the cross members, sufficient forces are conveyed such that the following motions may occur: cross members rock side-to-side from the first and second long edges; cross members rock front-to-back across the base, cross members twist about the mounts, and the base itself rocks back and forth from side to side or rotates about the rocker on the bottom.

These movements promoted by the dynamic foot supports can activate muscles throughout the lower legs, with particular emphasis on the soleus muscle. The dynamic foot support devices disclosed herein may be used with active sitting chairs to further increase the benefits of maintaining bodily motion while seated.

In any of the above embodiments, one or more straps (not shown) may be used to loosely connect the cross members such that their motion is partially interdependent and/or to prevent splaying of endmost cross members. Straps may be attached, for example, to one of the end cross members and then woven over and under each cross member until reaching the opposite end cross member. As second strap may be attached to an end cross member and then woven under and over each cross member such that each cross member has a strap running under and over it. A similar arrangement of straps may be included on cross members on both sides of the base.

In addition, optionally, holes 222 (e.g., 222a) in one or more cross members may be included for ease of carrying and hanging for storage.

The term “about” when used with a corresponding numeric value refers to ±20% of the numeric value, typically ±10% of the numeric value, often ±5% of the numeric value, and most often ±2% of the numeric value. In some embodiments, the term “about” can be taken as exactly indicating the actual numerical value.

Various modifications and additions can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. Features of each of the various embodiments described above may be combined with features of other described embodiments as appropriate in order to provide a multiplicity of feature combinations in associated new embodiments. Furthermore, while the foregoing describes a number of separate embodiments, what has been described herein is merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the present disclosure. Additionally, although particular methods herein may be illustrated and/or described as being performed in a specific order, the ordering is highly variable within ordinary skill to achieve aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, this description is meant to be taken only by way of example, and not to otherwise limit the scope of this disclosure.

Exemplary embodiments have been disclosed above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, omissions and additions may be made to that which is specifically disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.