AU2003248418B2

AU2003248418B2 - Footstool

Info

Publication number: AU2003248418B2
Application number: AU2003248418A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Christina Gould
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-10-09
Filing date: 2003-09-29
Publication date: 2008-10-30
Anticipated expiration: 2023-09-29
Also published as: AU2003248418A1

Description

FOOTSTOOL

This invention relates to an improved footstool which may be used in a variety of indoor locations for resting a foot for the purpose of clipping toenails, painting toenails or cleaning the foot with a towel.

Conventional footstools are usually made from a horizontal panel or footrest which are supported by four legs. The footest is normally located 1-1 1/2 ft above the floor.

The footrest is usually rectangular with each corner of the rectangle being supported by an adjacent leg. While this conventional footstool is useful in operation it is normally not used in shower recesses becauses it is relatively difficult to fit within the confines of the shower recess which is of relatively restricted dimensions. The footrest may also be prone to being slippery and was not normally considered useful for storage of bathroom articles such as a razor soap and the like which made manual operations inside the shower recess relatively difficult because one had to turn from a position with the foot resting on the stool to reach for bathroom articles relevant to the manual operation being contemplated.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a footstool which may alleviate the abovementioned disadvantages of conventional footstools.

The footstool of the invention has a body panel which has a cross sectional shape which enables the footstool to be fitted with a corner of an indoor location whereby said body panel may be fitted flush with the corner in use. The footstool may also include a horizontal platform which has one or more storage surfaces located adjacent an elevated footrest.

The footrest in one embodiment may be provided with a single rear panel which is arcuate in shape so that the rear panel may be fitted flush with a curved wall of complementary shape which is sometimes used in a shower recess or bathroom.

More preferably there is provided a number of rear panels which may be fitted flush with a wall of corresponding or complementary shape. Most preferably there are provided a pair of rear panels which are oriented to reach other at 90 degrees so that the footstool may be fitted snugly or flush into a corner of the shower recess or bathroom.

The footstool may be located on one side of the horizontal platform with an adjoining storage surface located adjacent thereto. More preferably the footrest is located centrally of the horizontal platform and there are provided a pair of storage surfaces with each surface bounding a respective side of the footrest.

Reference may be made to a preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in the attached drawings in which FIG 1 is a front perspective view of the stool of the invention; FIG 2 is a rear perspective view of the stool shown in FIG 1; FIG 3 is a plan view from the top of the stool shown in FIG 1; FIG 4 is a front perspective view of the stool of FIG 1 in use in a shower recess; FIG 5 is a view of the stol of FIG 1 being used by a person having a shower; FIG 6 is a similar view to FIG 5 showing the stool being used outside of a shower recess and FIG 7 is a front perspective view of a modified form of the stool of the invention being used to support articles which are used in a shower recess in FIGS 1-3 As shown in FIGS 1-3 in the drawings the stool 10 includes a pair of rear panels 11 and 12 which meet at a common vertex on corner 13. There is also provided an elevated platform 14 having a central footrest 15. The platform 14 is supported by lower bracing numbers 16 and 17. The platform 14 is located below top edges 18 and 19 of panels 11 and 12 to thereby provided flanges 20 and 21. The footrest has a top surface which is flush with edges 18 and 19. There is also provided storage surfaces 22 and 23.

Fig 4 shows the footstool 10 located in a corner 24 of shower recess 25. Each of panels 11 and 12 are flush or fit snugly against walls 26 and 27 of recess 25 which also has a floor 28. The stool 10 has soap 29 and razor 30 located on storage surface 22 and shampoo 31 located on storage surface 23.

FIG 5 shows a person 32 having a shower in shower recess 25. The person 32 has a foot 33 resting on footrest 15 while she is shaving her leg 34. There is also shown showerhead 35 spraying water 36.

FIG 6 shows the stool 10 being used in a bathroom 37 with a foot 32 resting on footrest 15 which enables a person to be doing other tasks such as drying foot 32 with a towel (not shown). The stool has panels 11 and 12 flush with walls 38 and 39.

FIG 7 shows another embodiment of the invention wherein stool 10A is provided with an elevated storage shelf 40 which is attached to rear panel 41 which is of L shape as shown. Both soap 29 and hair conditioner 42 are supported on shelf It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that the footstool of the invention is convenient for use in a bathroom or shower recess for both storage or placing of articles while a manual operation is being carried out by a user of the footstool.

Claims

1. A footstool having an L shaped body panel which enables the footstool to be fitted flush with a corner of an indoor location such 00 5 as a shower recess in use, said L shaped body panel also having a horizontal shelf or platform extending outwardly from the body 00 0 panel.

2. A footstool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the horizontal shelf or platform is triangular in plan view having an outer edge which merges with each end of the L shaped body panel.

3. A footstool as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the horizontal platform or shelf has an elevated central portion, which functions as a footrest.