The present invention relates to foot means for an article and a method of use thereof.

Although the following description refers almost exclusively to foot means for a vice, clamp and/or a foot operated clamp, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the foot means of the present invention can be used as a base support for any article, such as for example, a ladder, workbench and/or the like.

It is a recognised problem when using articles such as clamps, workbenches, ladders and/or the like that the same can sink into the ground and/or slip on a floor surface in use. This is a particular problem associated with many different articles which use legs as a base support because if a leg or legs of the articles slip and/or sinks into the ground in use, the article can become dangerously unbalanced. This situation frequently occurs when using articles on uneven surfaces, outside and/or on soft ground.

Conventionally, in an attempt to overcome these problems articles are provided with rubber feet to prevent them slipping and/or are placed on planks of wood to increase the surface area in contact with the ground to prevent them sinking. However, the rubber feet are not required in all situations and the planks of wood are often mislaid. Also, wood can become slippery when wet and so is not particularly suitable to place articles on.

An example of a floor supported clamp device is disclosed in EP2060366. The clamp device has a tripod type of leg arrangement for supporting the clamp device on a floor surface in use; a central leg is provided at a rear of the device and two spaced apart side legs are provided at a front of the device. The leg arrangement can be collapsed with respect to the device body to allow the device to be moved between an "in-use" position, wherein the leg arrangement is substantially erect, and a "transportation" position, wherein the leg arrangement is substantially folded to reduce the size of the device for transportation. Support feet are provided at the base of the side legs for contact with a floor surface in use. The support feet have a larger surface area compared to the surface area of the base of the side legs alone, thereby increasing the surface area of the base of the device that can be in contact with a floor surface in use. This provides the device with greater stability when in the in-use position on a floor surface. However a problem associated with the support feet is that they protrude outwardly from the side legs and increase the size of the folded device.

It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide foot means for use on an article which addresses the abovementioned problems.

It is a further aim of the present invention to provide an article including foot means.

It is a yet further aim o f the present invention to provide a method of using foot means on an article.

It is yet a further aim to provide a method of using an article including foot means.

In a first aspect of the invention there is provided foot means for supporting an article on a surface in use, said foot means arranged so as to be selectively movable relative to the article when fitted, between a first position and at least a second position. Preferably the first position is an out of use, storage and/or transport position and the at least second position is an in-use position.

Typically, when the foot means are in the first position, one or more parts of the article and/or one or more base parts of the article, are in contact or can be contactable with a ground, floor and/or surface. It is to be noted that the article can be in an in- use position or an out-of-use position when the foot means are in the first out of use position.

Preferably the foot means are a spaced distance apart from the ground, floor and/or surface in the first position.

Movement of the foot means to the at least second in-use position ensures that at least part of the foot means is locatable or located substantially between said one or more parts and/or base parts of the article which were in contact with the ground, floor and/or surface in the first position.

Preferably the foot means are in contact with the ground, floor and/or surface in the at least second position.

The foot means, when in the at least second in-use position, typically increases the spread of load of the article and/or increases the effective surface area of the article in contact with the ground, floor and/or surface in use. This is typically as a result of the at least part of the foot means in contact with the floor, ground or surface in the second in-use position having a larger surface area than the part of the article that would have contacted or be contactable with the floor, ground or surface in use in the first position. The foot means and/or at least part of the foot means can be slidingly, rotatably and/or pivotally moved relative to the article between the first position and the at least second position.

In a preferred embodiment the foot means are pivotally or slidably attached or attachable to the article.

In one embodiment the one or more parts or base parts of the article that are contactable with the floor, ground and/or surface in the first position are in the form of one or more support legs. Further preferably the foot means are movably attached to, or mountable on, at least one of the support legs, base parts or parts of the article.

In one embodiment the foot means includes at least one base portion and at least one arm member. Preferably the at least one base portion contacts or is contactable with a ground, floor and/or surface in the at least second position. Further preferably the at least one base portion has a larger surface area contactable with a ground, floor and/or surface in use compared to that of a part, base part and/or support leg contactable with a ground, floor and/or surface in use.

Preferably the at least one arm member of the foot means is slidingly, rotatably and/or pivotally engaged with, or mountable on, one or more parts, base parts and/or support legs of the article.

In one embodiment the at least one base portion is slidingly, rotatably and/or pivotally engaged with, or mountable on, the at least one arm member.

Preferably the arm member has a first end and at least a second end. In one embodiment the first end of the arm member is slidingly, rotatably and/or pivotally engaged with, or mounted on, the article and the at least second end of the arm member is slidingly, rotatably and/or pivotally engaged with, or mountable on the base portion. Typically having the base portion and the arm member engaged in such an arrangement allows the foot means to be easily and selectively moved by a user between one or more different positions.

In one embodiment the arm member is substantially linear or straight in shape or form.

In one embodiment one of the foot means or article has at least one channel, aperture or slot formed therein and the other of the foot means or article has protrusion means which are slidably, pivotablly and/or rotatably mounted therein. This arrangement typically allows the foot means to be movable relative to the article. Further preferably any one or any combination of the size, position and/or shape of the slot and/or protrusion means substantially determines the amount and/or direction of movement of the foot means relative to the article.

In a preferred embodiment the at least one slot, aperture or channel is defined on the foot means and further preferably on the at least one arm member of the foot means. The protrusion means is preferably provided on the article and further preferably adjacent a base of the article and/or on one of the support legs of the article.

In one embodiment the protrusion means is resiliently biased outwardly with respect to the surface to which it protrudes. In one embodiment the foot means includes two arm members . Typically the arm members are attached or movably mounted to substantially opposite sides of the base portion.

In one embodiment the two arm members are positioned substantially parallel with respect to each other. Preferably the arm members are a spaced distance apart and further preferably are provided either side of a base part and/or support leg of the article.

In one embodiment the base portion of the foot means and/or a base part and/or support leg of the article is located between the arm members in use. This can be in the first position and/or the at least second position.

In one embodiment the base portion provides a surface on which a part and/or a distal end of a support leg of an article can be positioned in use when the foot means is in the second position.

In one embodiment the surface area of the foot means or base portion of the foot means in contact or contactable with the ground, floor and/or surface when in the second position is larger than the surface area of the distal leg portion or the part of the article which would be in contact with the ground, floor and/or surface in use of the article with the foot means in a first position. Thus, the foot means provides a larger surface area for supporting the article on a surface in the second in-use position than when the foot means is in a first position. This prevents legs or parts of the article in contact with a surface sinking into a surface and/or provides greater stability for the article when placed on uneven or slippery surfaces. This is a particular advantage with articles having two or more legs because an article can become dangerously unbalanced if one of the legs sinks into soft ground, slips and/or is placed on uneven ground.

In one embodiment the base portion is in the form of a base plate having a substantially flat or planar base surface contactable with a floor, ground and/or surface in use in the second position.

In one embodiment an upper surface of the base plate or base portion has location means for allowing location of a part of the article or distal end of a leg support in the second position. The location means can include one or more recesses, apertures, sleeves, channels and/or the like. The location means can be integral with, attached to or detachably attached to the base member. For example the location means can be in the form of a bracket attached to an upper surface of the base portion.

In one embodiment the foot means and/or base portion has one or more surfaces which include gripping means. The gripping means can include any or any combination of a serrated surface, surface with protrusion, a rubber surface and/or a surface with any other means which increase grip and/or traction between said surface and a further surface on which it is placed in use. For example, gripping means can be provided on an upper or lower surface of the base portion.

The gripping means can be located between a part of an article and/or distal end of a support leg of the article and the base portion, and/or between the foot means or base portion and the ground, floor and/or surface which the foot means contacts or is contactable with when in the second in-use position. In one embodiment the distal end of a leg of the article includes gripping means.

In one embodiment the part of the article contactable with the foot means or distal end of the support leg of the article and the foot means are substantially orthogonally aligned when in the second in-use position. In an alternative embodiment the article contactable with the foot means or distal end of the support leg of the article and the foot means are arranged so that an acute angle is formed between the same in the second in use position.

Preferably the foot means includes an abutting or stop member or means against which the part of the article or distal end of the support leg of the article engages against when in the second in-use position. This stop member or means is preferably associated with an upper surface of the base portion and further preferably is associated with the location means of the base portion.

In one embodiment the foot means includes one or more engagement means to substantially secure the foot means relative to the article in at least one of the first and/or at least second positions in use. Preferably engagement means are provided to secure the foot means in the first position and the at least second position.

In one embodiment the foot means includes engagement means or further engagement means to secure the base portion relative to the arm member and/or the arm member relative to the base portion in use.

Typically the engagement means or further engagement means includes any or any combination of one or more screws, fasteners, nuts, bolts, detents, sprung detents, resiliently biased members, snap fit arrangement, apertures, grooves, ridges, springs, inter-engaging members and/or the like.

In one embodiment the article is a vice and/or clamp means, such as for example a foot operated clamp and/or the like. In a further embodiment the article includes at least three legs. Preferably at least one of the legs includes a foot means.

In a preferred embodiment the article includes three legs arranged in a tripod type arrangement, with a first leg located at one end of the article in a substantially central position and two legs located at an opposite end of the article and preferably adjacent the sides of the article at said opposite end.

In one embodiment the article is a workbench. In an alternative embodiment the article is a ladder.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an article including foot means.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of using foot means on an article, said method including the steps of moving foot means relative to the article between a first position and at least a second position.

Preferably the foot means are attached to or movably mounted to the article prior to movement of the foot means relative to said article.

Typically the foot means is moved by a user moving at least part of the foot means relative to the article and/or at least part of the foot means relative to a further part of the foot means. With the foot means in the at least first position with respect to the article, the foot means is typically substantially parallel to a part of the article, the outer edge of the foot means does not substantially extend beyond the other edge of the article and/or the like. In this manner, the foot means is located in a relatively compact position with respect to the article when in the first storage position.

Preferably a base portion of the foot means and further preferably a base plate of the foot means is substantially parallel and adjacent a part of the article or longitudinal axis of a support leg of the article in the first storage position.

By moving the foot means between a first and second position, the surface area of the part of the article which is in contact with a floor surface in use is increased.

In one embodiment the foot means is moved to the second position before the article is used.

Preferably the foot means are arranged to undergo at least two stages of movement in moving from the first position to the at least second position; a first substantially linear motion, followed by at least a second substantially rotational motion. Alternatively, the two stages of movement could include a first substantially rotational motion, followed by a second substantially linear motion. Thus, in one embodiment two stages of motion can take place; one stage being a substantially rotational movement and one stage being a substantially linear movement.

Specific embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figures l a- l c show a foot means for an article in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

Figures 2a-2d and 3 show a foot means for an article in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

The following description gives specific examples of foot means attached to a part of an article which can be selectively moved between at least a first out of use position and a second in-use position relative to the article. In the second in-use position the foot means is located between the article and the ground, floor and/or surface on which the article is located. The foot means increases the surface area of the article which is in contact with the ground when in use relative to when the foot means is not in use with the article. The increased surface area in contact with the ground spreads the load of the article over a larger area and can prevent the article from sinking into, and/or slipping on the ground, floor and/or surface in use. This is important when an article is relatively heavy and/or is used to support relatively heavy loads because sinking and/or slipping could dangerously unbalance the article and could cause the article to topple over.

Turning firstly to figures l a-l c, there is shown a lower part of a leg 4 of an article. Attached to the lower part of the leg is a foot means 2, according to one embodiment of the invention, shown in a first storage position in figure l a. The foot means 2 is pivotally movable with respect to the base of leg 4 to allow the foot means to move between the storage position shown in figure l a, to a second in-use position shown in figure l c.

It can be seen that the leg 4 has a distal end with a rubber portion 14 attached thereto. The rubber portion is provided to attempt to act as a gripping means to prevent the article associated with the leg from slipping when the foot means is not in use. However, in certain circumstances, such as when the leg 4 is to be located on a slippery or uneven surface, a base having a larger surface area is required to provide greater stability for the article. This is often a requirement when the article is to be located outside on relatively soft and/or uneven ground, such as on soil, earth and/or the like. In these circumstances, the user has the option of moving the foot means 2 from the first storage position to the second in-use position.

Having a first out of use position is an advantage as, when it is not required or when the article is to be stored, the foot means 2 can be folded out of the way to make the article more compact. In addition, other objects, such as clothing and the like, are unlikely to be caught or snag on the same.

The foot means 2 comprises a base portion or plate 8 and two arm members 10, 10'. Base portion 8 has a base surface 7 and an upper surface 9. The base surface 7 is substantially flat and has a larger surface area than the distal end of leg 4 which is normally locatable on a floor surface when the foot means 2 is in the first storage position. With the foot means 2 in the second in use position, the distal end of leg 4 is located against upper surface 9 of the foot means. In this example, the bottommost surface of the rubber grip portion 14 of the leg engages with upper surface 9 of foot means 2.

The arm members 10, 10' are elongate members located either side of base portion 8. Each arm member 10, 10' has an elongate channel 12, 12' formed therein and the longitudinal axis of each channel is typically substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of each arm member. An outwardly protruding pin 6 is provided on either side of leg 4 and the pins 6 are slidably mounted in said channels. This arrangement allows the foot means to be slidingly moved from the first position, wherein the base portion 8 is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of leg and adjacent the same, to the second position, wherein the base portion is at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the leg. The arm members 10, 10' are substantially parallel and adjacent the leg in the second position and are provided at an acute angle to the leg in the first position.

In moving the foot means from the first position to the second position, the end 13 of the arm member joined or integral to base portion 8 is moved away from pin 6 and leg 4 so that base portion 8 moves outwardly and away from leg 4. End 11 of the arm member is moved towards pin 6 and towards the distal end of the leg. The arm member is then rotated or pivoted relative to pin 6 to bring base portion 8 underneath the distal end of leg 4 so that end 14 engages with upper surface 7 of base portion 8. In this way the entire foot means 2 is rotated between a storage position and an in use position relative to the leg 4.

The foot means 2 is secured in this first storage position by engagement means, in this example a pair of 'snap-fit' clips 16 located on inner surfaces of the arm members 10, 10' that engage with the leg 4. The arm members are resiliently biased to the second in use position (i.e. towards a position where they are substantially parallel and adjacent to the leg 4) and thus the snap fit clips can be relatively easily disengaged by a user from the leg 4 in order that the foot means can be moved to the second in-use position.

Base portion 8 of the foot means lies substantially adjacent to the side of the leg 4 in the storage position. Furthermore, notches or recesses 5, 5' provided along the front and rear edges of the base portion 8 allow at least part of the article to be located therein so that upper surface 1 1 of the base portion 8 is adjacent with and securely engaged with the leg 4 of the article in the storage position and the extent of protrusion of the foot means 2 from the leg is minimised.

Figure l b shows the direction A of the channel 10, 10' along which the foot means 2 can slide when moving between the first position shown in figure l a and the second in-use position shown in figure l c. Essentially the foot means is slid outwardly from the leg 4 in direction A and in respect to the pin 6 until the base portion 8 is clear of the distal end of the leg and free to move around the same. This motion is typically substantially linear in direction and equates to a first stage of motion of the foot means. The foot means is then rotated about the pin 6 in direction B to bring the base portion 8 under the distal end of the leg 4. This motion is typically non-linear or rotatable and can be between 0-360 degrees and equates to a second stage of motion. The leg of the article is then placed on the upper surface 1 1 of the base portion 8, and the foot means is secured in a second in use position, as shown in figure l c.

In figure l c it can be seen that the foot means 2 lies between the ground on which the article is situated and the leg 4 of the article. The base portion 8 serves to increase the surface area of the distal end of the leg, thereby spreading the load of the article and preventing the same from sinking into soft ground and/or slipping on a work-surface or the like. The foot means in this embodiment is constructed from a single piece of plastics material, although it could also be formed from metal, wood or other suitable material. The end of the leg 4 and the base portion 8 are situated such that an acute angle 'C is formed between the two.

Figure 2a shows another embodiment of the current invention. The function of this embodiment is the same as the previous example in that the base portion 8 provides an increased surface area on which the base or lowest support means of an article sits in-use. The foot means 2 in this example also comprises two arm members 10, 10' which are secured on either side of a leg 4. The difference lies in that the base portion 8 is pivotally attached to the arm members 10, 10'. As in the embodiment in figure 1 , the arm members are pivotally attached to the leg 4.

The arm members 10, 10' are attached to the leg via engagement means in the form of a screw threaded knob 18. The knob 18 passes through a smaller aperture in the arm member in this embodiment when compared to that in figure 1. This is because the foot means does not have to be slid as far away from the bottom of the leg when being moved past the same, because the base portion can rotate relative to the arm in this example and effectively turn past the bottom of the leg. It can be seen that the base portion 8 is attached to the arm members 10, 10' via a hinge 20.

Figures 2a-2d show the movement of the foot means from the in-use position in figure 2a to the storage position in figure 2d. In the first storage position, base portion 8 is substantially parallel to and adjacent leg 4. Arm portions are also substantially parallel to and adjacent leg 4 in the first storage position. This provides a more compact position than the embodiment shown in figure 1. In the second in use position, the arm members are rotated substantially through 180 degrees so that they are substantially parallel to and adjacent leg 4 but base portion 8 now engages end 14 of leg 4 and is at an acute angle to leg 4.

In order to move the foot means from the second position to the first position, the knob 18 is first loosened and the foot means are moved towards the ground or distal end 14 of leg 4. This disengages engagement means which, in this example, are in the form of a spring detent 22 provided on leg 4 that engages in a corresponding shaped slot defined in the arm members 10, 10'. More particularly, spring detent 22 is in the form of a pin that is resiliently biased to protrude outwardly of leg 4. To substantially disengage the detent 22 from the arm member slot 23, the detent 22 is pressed inwardly in respect of the outer surface of leg 4, allowing the arm members to be slid over the same. This movement in one example is typically a substantially linear motion and equates to a first stage of motion. Once the arm members are slid over and past the detents (i.e. after a second stage of motion or rotational movement) , the detents return to their original protruding position because they are biased to that position by one or more springs (not shown) . The position of the foot means 2 when disengaged from the spring detent is shown in figure 2b.

Once the foot means is disengaged it is rotated about knob 18 so that base portion 8 is moved from a lower position, shown in figure 2a, where base portion 8 is between the floor and distal end 14 of leg 3, to an upper position in figure 2d, where base portion 8 is a spaced distance apart from the distal end 14 of leg 4 and parallel to and adjacent the longitudinal axis of leg 4. This rotational movement equates to a second stage of motion.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the foot means could undergo a single sliding, rotational or pivotable motion in moving between the first and second positions or could include more than two stages of motion in moving between the first and second positions.

The foot means is rotated until the base portion 8 lies substantially parallel with the leg 4 and the arm members 10, 10' are engaged with a second sprung detent 24 to retain the foot means 2 in the first storage condition. Second sprung detent 24 works in a similar manner to first sprung detent 22. In this example the foot means abuts the outer profile of the leg portion 4 thereby reducing the chances of any other object from catching on the foot means and potentially pulling the article over when it is not being used. This is also an advantage when storing or transporting the article as the foot means does not protrude from the article to any great extent.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention wherein the two sprung protrusions or detents 22, 24 are shown. The first detent 22 is shown engaged with an aperture in the arm member 10' thereby locking the foot means 2 in the second in-use position. The foot means has the advantages that it folds up to be compact for easy storage and it is easy and quick to deploy using a screw fastener and detent. Furthermore, the article or product can be used without this feature which does not impair normal operation but provides an advantage over other products in the market where one or more of the legs may sink into soft ground to render the product unbalanced and dangerous to use. The upper surface of the base portion 8 includes location means in the form of a recess in which the distal end 14 of the leg 4 sits in the in-use position. The recess includes stop means against which a front edge of the leg abuts when in the second position. The stop means prevents the leg from slipping out of engagement with the recess and potentially the base portion. It also acts to limit movement of the base of the leg with respect to the base portion 8.

The use of movable foot means is a particular advantage when relatively heavy objects, work-pieces and/or loads or the like are located on the article in use, as the force transmitted to the bottom of the leg 4 can be relatively large. It can be seen that without the surface area increasing properties of the foot means this force would be transmitted to a relatively small area at the bottom of the leg, increasing the chances of the leg 4 sinking and/or slipping on the surface on which it is located in use.