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The present invention relates generally to tables and more specifically to a table having a pull-out footrest.
Tables are used in a variety of areas or environments. Typically, tables are used to support objects that are placed thereon. Many tables are positioned on or near seating furniture, such as a sofa or chair. When an individual is residing within a piece of seating furniture, it may be convenient and/or comfortable to raise or elevate their feet. The proximity between the table and the seating furniture makes it convenient for an individual resting in the seating furniture to position their feet on top of the table. The table, however, may already have objects thereon that would interfere with the placing of the feet on top of the table. Furthermore, to provide comfort for the feet, a pillow may be positioned on the table top that would take up additional space and/or interfere with other objects on the table top. Moreover, placing feet on top of the table may soil the table top. Thus, it would be convenient to provide a table with a footrest that can be used by an individual to rest their feet thereon. It would be further advantageous if the footrest were movable between extended and retracted positions so as to be stored when not being used. Additionally, it would be advantageous if the footrest was padded to provide a comfortable support for a user's feet.
The present invention provides a table with a footrest that is movable between extended and retracted positions. The footrest is movable to the extended position to provide a support surface for an individual to rest their feet thereon. The footrest is movable to the retracted position to be stored out of the way and to provide a desired appearance for the table.
A table according to the principle of the present invention includes a frame and a stationary substantially planar top surface that is coupled to the frame. The top surface is operable to support objects placed thereon. There is a movable footrest that is coupled to the frame and movable between extended and retracted positions. The footrest forms a substantially horizontal supporting surface operable to support a foot when in the extended position. The footrest is inoperable to support a foot when in the retracted position. The top surface and the footrest can be used simultaneously when the footrest is in the extended position. The footrest can be used with and without a pad.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a table with a movable footrest according to the principles of the present invention, the footrest being shown in an extended position;
FIG. 2 is an end elevation view of the table of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the table of FIG. 1 with opposing footrests, one being fully extended, the other being partially extended;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmented side elevation view of the table of FIG. 1 showing the guide member used to guide movement of the footrest;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmented side elevation view of the table of FIG. 1 with a movable false drawer front operable to conceal the movable footrest when in the retracted position;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternate footrest for use with the table of FIG. 1, wherein the footrest has an integral padded and upholstered portion on the top surface thereof; and
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a first alternate embodiment of the table of FIG. 1 showing a pair of movable footrests adjacent one another and stowed within a common cavity.
The following description of the preferred embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.
Referring to FIGS. 1-5, a preferred embodiment of a table 20 according to the principles of the present invention is shown. Table 20 includes an opposing pair of movable footrests 22 that are disposed on opposing sides of table 20. Footrests 22 are movable between extended positions, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, and retracted or stowed positions, as shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5. Footrests 22 are operable to support a foot or feet placed thereon when in their extended position and are inoperable to support a foot or feet thereon when in their retracted position.
Table 20 includes a frame or support structure 24 that is operable to support components of table 20 in a spaced relation. In the embodiment shown, frame 24 includes a plurality of legs 26 that extend vertically and a plurality of horizontal members 28 that extend horizontally between legs 26. Legs 26 and horizontal members 28 can be contoured to provide a desired aesthetic appearance for table 20. Alternatively and/or additionally, panels 30 can be attached to horizontal members 28 to provide a desired aesthetic appearance for table 20. It should be appreciated that frame 24 may use a plinth base or equivalent in lieu of legs 26.
Frame 24 includes a plurality of cavities 32 for stowing footrests 22 when in their retracted positions. Cavities 32 are positioned between a stationary table top or top surface 34 of table 20 and a footrest support or panel 36. Footrest support 36 may be part of one or more horizontal members 28, depending on the design. Top surface 34 is stationary and operable to support objects placed thereon. Footrest support 36 is operable to support footrests 22 and to enclose the lower portion of cavities 32. A lower shelf 37 may extend between legs 26. Lower shelf 37 is stationary and operable to support objects placed thereon.
As shown in FIG. 4, footrests 22 include a sliding shelf 38 and may include a pillow 40. Pillow 40 is a loose pillow that can be removed from shelf 38. Optionally, pillow 40 can be selectively retained on shelf 38 through the use of fasteners, such as a hook-and-loop fastener, snaps and the like. Pillow 40 moves with the movement of shelf 38 between the extended and retracted positions to provide a padded and comfortable supporting surface for a foot or feet placed thereon. Pillow 40 extends only along a portion of shelf 38. Shelf 38 slides along footrest support 36 when moving between the extended and retracted positions. A fixed block 42 limits the vertical travel of shelf 38 and allows for the cantilevered support of a foot placed upon footrest 22. Block 42 is attached to table 20 by dowel pins or other fasteners 43. Shelf 38 has a stop 44 located at the end thereof. Stop 44 limits the distance footrest 22 can be extended from table 20. Specifically, as footrest 22 is slid out from cavity 32, stop 44 will eventually contact the end of block 42. The interaction between stop 44 and block 42 prevents further extension of footrest 22 from table 20. Stop 44 also prevents the inadvertent removal of footrest 22 from table 20.
The location of stop 44 determines the distance D that footrest 22 can extend outwardly from table 20. The inventors have found that the distance D needs to be at least about 2 inches to allow a foot to be placed on footrest 22. The inventors have also found that a maximum distance D of about 14 inches can be used before footrest 22 starts to reach seat depth and a user may be tempted to use footrest 22 as a seat. Thus, it is preferred that the extension of footrest 22 is limited to a distance D from a minimum of about 2 inches to a maximum of about 14 inches. Even more preferably, footrest 22 is limited to an extension distance D of between about 4-10 inches. These limitations of the extension of footrest 22 beyond table 20 prevent or discourage a user of table 20 from sitting their body on footrest 22 when extended. In other words, the limited distance D that footrest 22 can extend from table 20 is selected to make it uncomfortable for an individual to rest their entire body on footrest 22. As such, footrest 22 can be designed to support the anticipated load of a foot or feet of an individual while not being required to support the entire weight of an individual. Thus, block 42 in conjunction with footrest support 36 provide a guide which guides movement of shelf 38 and footrest 22 between the extended and retracted positions by limiting the range of movement of footrest 22.
In the preferred embodiment, footrests 22 are visible when in their retracted positions. That is, the front surface of cavities 32 are open so that when footrests 22 are in their retracted state, an individual viewing table 20 from the appropriate position can see footrest 22 residing within cavities 32. Optionally, as shown in FIG. 5, table 20 can be provided with a false drawer front 48 which is pivotally coupled to frame 24. Drawer front 48 is movable between a closed position (as shown in solid lines) wherein the entrance to cavity 32 is blocked and the footrest 22 residing therein is hidden from view and an open position (shown in broken lines) wherein the entrance to cavity 32 is exposed. When drawer front 48 is in its open position, footrest 22 is not hidden from view and can be moved between its extended and retracted positions.
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, footrest 22 can include an upholstered pad 50 which is fixedly attached to shelf 38 in lieu of pillow 40. Upholstered pad 50 includes a padding layer which is positioned on top of shelf 38 and an upholstery layer that encompasses the padding and is secured to shelf 38. The upholstery layer can be secured to shelf 38 in a variety of ways. For example, decorative tacks 54 can be used to secure upholstered pad 50 to shelf 38. Upholstered pad 50 is not intended to be removed from shelf 38.
Referring now to FIG. 7, a first alternate embodiment of table 20′ is shown. In this embodiment, a pair of footrests 22′ are disposed adjacent one another and move into and out of a common cavity 32′. This configuration is advantageous when table 20 is positioned in front of a piece of furniture that supports more than one occupant, thereby enabling each occupant to selectively choose to utilize one of footrests 22′ to rest their feet thereon.
Thus, the present invention provides for a table with pull-out footrests that can be selectively extended to allow a user to rest their feet thereon. The table can be configured with footrests that extend from opposing sides of the table or with footrests that are adjacent one another and extend from the same side. Furthermore, the travel of the footrest is limited to discourage its use as a seating position for a user to rest the weight of their entire body thereon. Additionally, the table can come in a variety of aesthetically-pleasing configurations as desired, including multiple supporting services for supporting objects placed thereon. Furthermore, the footrest can come with an integral pad or have a loose pillow positioned or selectively attached thereto. If desired, the footrest can be concealed from view or exposed when in the retracted position. Thus, a table according to the principle of the present invention provides a table that can be used to support objects thereon while also conveniently providing a retractable footrest for selectively supporting a foot or feet of individual(s) positioned in furniture adjacent the table.
While the preferred embodiments of a table with a pull-out footrest have been shown and described above by way of specific examples and illustrations, it should be appreciated that variations can be employed without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, while the movement of footrest 22 is shown as being controlled and coordinated by a guide member formed of footrest support 36 and block 42, other types of guide members can be employed. For example, drawer slides or telescoping drawer slides, such as those available from Hafele America Company, can be employed. Further, when using such hardware, the drawer slides may be hidden from view when in the extended position. Additionally, while footrest support 36 is disclosed as being a panel that encloses the bottom portion of cavity 32, footrest support 36 could be in the form of a pair of parallel runners that extend along the length of cavity 32 but do not enclose the bottom portion of cavity 32. Thus, the description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.