Foot support device

The invention relates to a support device for support of a foot, preferably clad with footwear.

The object of the invention is to make everyday life easier for persons with back problems or who for other reasons find it difficult to bend their upper body to don or remove footwear. When using the invention, the body is kept in standing position, the user thus avoiding unnecessary bending of his upper body and the painful strains this causes. In addition to the invention being useful for donning and removing footwear, it can also be used for foot care or other activities related to a person's foot region.

From the patent literature, documents are known which describe different types of devices that can be used for support when footwear is to be donned or removed: FR 2857839, US 1232874, US 5636404, DE 102005015867, FR 1087342, FR 2898024, DE 3026287, US 5137240, DE 20 2004 008 884 Ul. The support device according to the invention comprises a mounting member for arranging to a suitable fastening area and a foot support member arranged height adjustable to the mounting member. Furthermore, the foot support member may comprise a support portion and a fastening portion, preferably arranged at an angle to each other. The support portion can be angularly adapted relative to a vertically oriented fastening portion, where the angle between the two can be determined so that the user obtains maximum comfort and minimum bending of his body when using the invention. The two portions can be constructed as a continuous piece, but it is also possible that the support portion and the fastening portion are joined together with the possibility of adjusting the angle between the two portions, for example, by using a lockable hinge.

The fastening portion of the support device may be provided with guide means, the guide means preferably comprising at least one guide element. The guide means or the at least one guide element may be arranged to cooperate with the mounting member and hold together the foot support member and the mounting member, while at the same time being provided for height displacement of the foot support member relative to the mounting member. The mounting member may comprise guide faces adapted for guiding the at least one guide element. The combination of the guide means arranged on the fastening portion of the support device and the configuration of the mounting member allows displacement of the support device in the vertical direction to take place in a stable and controlled manner. In one embodiment of the invention, the at least one guide element is a guide pin that is arranged in abutment with the guide faces of the mounting member.

The fastening portion of the support device may be provided with fastening means, the fastening means preferably comprising at least one fastening element.

Furthermore, the mounting member may comprise locking portions for releasable securement of the fastening means. The fastening means or the at least one fastening means may be arranged so as to be releasable from the locking portions on height displacement of the foot support member and brought into engagement with the locking portions when the height has been selected. The fastening means/fastening element may be provided in the form of a locking pin which passes to be received in locking portions. The locking portions may, for example, be provided as locking grooves, preferably formed in the side faces of the mounting member. In addition, the fastening portion may be configured with additional means that contribute to direction-stable guiding of the foot support member relative to the mounting member. To this end, the fastening portion of the mounting member may be provided with a guide portion, and the mounting member may comprise a guide opening for receiving this guide portion. The support device may be provided with a storage area for receiving another shoe aid such as a shoe horn or other aid that can be used when footwear is to be donned or removed, or optionally an aid that is to be used for performing foot care. This storage area may be provided on the foot support member or on the mounting member. In one embodiment of the invention, the storage area is arranged internally in the mounting member, this member being formed with a cavity that can also function as a storage area. The cavity may be defined by the side faces in which the locking grooves are configured, and by the guide faces and a fastening face. The fastening face is to be used for fastening the support device to a suitable surface where it is to be positioned so as to be accessible to the user. A person of skill in the art will understand that the storage area can be provided in different ways, as long as the storage area has the function of providing storage for additional aids in a position that the user can reach without having to bend his body whilst using the support device.

The invention will now be described by means of an example as shown in the figures, wherein

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a support device. Fig. 2 is an assembled perspective view of the support device. Fig. 3 is a side view of the support device in locked position. Fig. 4 is an exploded side view of the support device. Fig. 5 is a side view of the support device in unlocked position.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the foot support member of the support device. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the support device in use. Fig. 8 is a side view of the support device in use.

Figure 1 shows a support device 1 for support of shoes comprising a mounting member 2 and a foot support member 3. The foot support member 3 is arranged adjustable relative to the mounting member 2 so that the height of the foot support member 3 can be adjusted for use by the individual person. The mounting member 2 is configured with a fastening face 9 for arranging the mounting member 2 to a suitable fastening area such as an exterior or interior wall, a cupboard surface, a door surface or other suitable place where it may be desirable to fasten the support device 1. The foot support member 3 comprises a support portion 4 on which the foot, preferably clad with a shoe, is placed in order to come at the right height for donning/removing the shoe and optionally tying it. It is also conceivable that the support device may be useful for placing a foot without a shoe, for example, for performing foot care.

The support portion 4 may be provided with a non-slip surface to prevent the foot from slipping when placed on the support portion. The non-slip surface may, for instance, be provided in different ways, for example, by using a suitable coating on the face, or by surface treating it to provide the appropriate friction to keep the shoe/foot in place on the support portion. The foot support member 3 further has a fastening portion 5 that is equipped with at least one fastening element, here shown by a locking pin 8 which can be arranged to the fastening portion 5 in that the locking pin 8 is received in hole 6b and positioned such that each of the ends projects from each side of the hole 6b. The fastening portion 5 is further provided with a guide element, here in the form of a guide pin 7 which can be arranged to the fastening portion in that the guide pin is placed in the through hole 6a such that the guide pin ends project out on each side of the hole 6a. The fastening portion is also configured with a guide portion 6, here shown as a projection that extends along a substantial portion of the longitudinal direction of the fastening portion. The guide portion 6 passes for being received in a guide opening 12. See for example Figure 2, where the parts are assembled.

The mounting member 2 is configured with locking portions, here shown as a plurality of locking grooves 10 arranged in each of the opposite side faces of the mounting member 2. Pairs of locking grooves on each of the side faces are positioned at the same height and adapted for receiving each of the locking pin 8 ends. Guide faces 11 are further provided in the side of the mounting member 2 that faces the foot support member 3. The guide pin 7 of the foot support member is placed inside the cavity that is defined by the faces of the mounting member 2 in abutment with the guide faces 11. The guide portion 6 of the foot support member 3 will then be received in the mounting member guide opening 12 which extends in the longitudinal direction of the mounting member 2. The guide pin 7 ensures that the foot support member 3 is held in engagement with the mounting member 2, whilst it is possible to move the foot support member 3 relative to the mounting member in the vertical direction, here illustrated by the arrow H. The cooperation

between the mounting member 2 and the guide pin 7 and the guide portion 6 provides a direction-stable height displacement when the foot support member 3 is to be put in a new position. The locking pin 8 positioned in the locking groove ensures that the foot support member 3 is secured in the chosen height position. Figure 3 shows the foot support member 3 locked to the mounting member 2 at a chosen height. If it is desirable to change the height setting, the locking pin 8 is moved out of engagement with the locking groove 10, preferably by a pivoting movement as shown in Figure 5, where the guide pin 7 acts as pivot axis for the pivoting movement. The foot support member 3 is then free to be moved to a new height by moving the guide pin along the guide faces of the mounting member, the locking pin 8 being placed in engagement with a new locking groove 10 at the chosen height.

It is seen from the figures, in particular Figures 3-5, that the support portion 4 of the foot support member 3 is arranged at an angle or inclined relative to the fastening portion 5 of the foot support member 3. This angle can be varied depending on how inclined it is desired to arrange the support portion 4 in order that it should be comfortable for the user to place his foot on the support device 1.

It is further seen from the figures that the cavity defined by the side faces of the mounting member 2 can be used for storage of a shoe horn 13. The underside of the mounting member 2 can optionally be closed or open.

Figure 6 shows the foot support member 3 alone, here in an embodiment where the support portion 4 and the fastening portion 5 are shown made as a continuous unit. The support portion 4 and the fastening portion 5 may alternatively be made separately before being joined together if this is desirable. Figures 7 and 8 show the support device in use where the placing of a foot with or without a shoe on the support portion is shown illustrated by user person P.