Active foot support

Abstract

The invention relates to an active foot support (10) with a base element (12) on which a first and a second foot support (20, 22) are arranged to be movable linearly relative to the base element (12), wherein the first and second foot support (20, 22) are coupled in their movement.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an active footrest with a base element and a first and second foot support.

[0002] More and more people spend a large part of their working time sitting at a desk or in front of a computer. This is accompanied by a significant lack of movement. Progress has already been made with the creation of ergonomic office chairs that encourage users to frequently change their sitting position. However, these changes have no effect on the cardiovascular system.

[0003] Pedal trainers and steppers are well-known in the fitness sector. However, these are not suitable for use while working, as they require considerable coordination and physical exertion, preventing the user from fully concentrating on their work.

[0004] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a device with which the lack of movement in the workplace can be counteracted.

[0005] This problem is solved according to the invention by an active footrest with a base element on which a first and a second footrest are arranged to be linearly movable relative to the base element, wherein the first and second footrests are coupled in their movement. This coupling enables a synchronous walking motion to be performed by a user. A rhythmic walking motion is simulated. The active footrest operates passively, i.e., without a drive. No drive, particularly an electric drive, is present. The footrests can only be moved by a user. Since the movement of the footrests mimics a walking motion, this movement can be performed by a user without special concentration on the movement, i.e., automatically, and without being distracted from their work. No particularly high effort or coordination is required.Such an active footrest can effectively counteract conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, and obesity. It can also strengthen the user's cardiovascular system. In an alternative design, the footrests could be electrically powered. Optionally, the effort required to move the footrests could be adjusted.

[0006] The movement coupling automatically moves the first footrest in the opposite direction to the second footrest. Because the footrests move linearly, only straight-line movement of the feet is required. In particular, no rotational movements are necessary, which would require increased effort and coordination.

[0007] A particularly simple movement coupling can be achieved if the footrests are coupled via a cable system. Such a coupling is inexpensive to implement and easy to maintain or replace. Furthermore, this type of movement coupling is particularly quiet.

[0008] Preferably, at least two deflections are provided for the cable pull. It has been shown that particular advantages arise when four deflections are provided for the cable pull. The deflections can be designed as pulleys.

[0009] The footrests can be guided on the base element, in particular by means of glides. Glides allow for particularly quiet guidance of the footrests on the base element. The glides can be arranged on a retaining element for each footrest, which will be described later. The footrests can be guided on the top of the base element, on a rear side of the base element, or along a through-opening, in particular a slot-like or elongated opening in the base element.

[0010] In principle, it is conceivable to execute the linear movements of the two footrests at an angle to each other. However, it is particularly preferred if the footrests can be moved along parallel straight paths.

[0011] To prevent a user's feet from slipping off the footrests, these can have a friction-enhancing structure or surface. The user's feet or shoes thus remain almost automatically in contact with the footrests and do not slip. It has proven particularly advantageous if the base element comprises a base element body with an elongated slot for each footrest, with the footrests being connected to a retaining element through their respective slots. An active footrest designed in this way is visually appealing, as only the top of the base element and the footrests are visible from above. Due to this arrangement, the retaining elements and the guides for the footrests can be positioned on the back of the base element or base element body. Thus, they are not visible and are also protected from dirt.

[0012] The retaining elements can each have at least one glider guided in a rail, in particular an undercut rail, on the rear of the base element body. One rail can be provided for each retaining element. However, it is particularly preferred if two rails are provided for each retaining element. In particular, two rails and four gliders can be provided for each retaining element. This results in a particularly smooth-running and quiet design of the active footrest.

[0013] It is particularly advantageous if a retaining element is X-shaped or cross-shaped. Such a retaining element can, in particular, have four sliders, with two sliders sliding in each rail. With such a retaining element, a footrest can be held captive on the base element, and the footrest can simultaneously be guided along the base element. Due to the X-shaped design, tilting and jamming of the footrest are prevented. The footrests can be attached at the intersection of the arms of the X-shaped or cross-shaped retaining elements. This point exhibits the greatest stability of the retaining element. Therefore, it is advantageous to attach the footrests at this point.

[0014] A further advantageous embodiment arises when buffered stops, i.e., stops with a damper, are provided to limit the movement of the footrests. The buffered stops dampen the movement of the footrests, thereby reducing noise. The stops can be arranged on the underside of the base element or the base element body. In particular, they can interact with the retaining element.

[0015] The surface of the base element can have an angle in the range 0 ≤ α ≤ 60° to the horizontal. Thus, the surface can, for example, be aligned parallel to a floor. However, improved ergonomics can result if the surface of the base element has an angle of inclination to the horizontal.

[0016] According to a further development, the angle o can be adjustable. This can be achieved by adjusting the angle α in steps, for example, by arranging lockable feet at one end of the base element body in different positions. Alternatively, stepless adjustment can be provided.

[0017] The footrests can be spaced away from a surface of the base element, particularly the base element body. This minimizes friction between the footrests and the base element. It also helps to reduce noise generation.

[0018] The base element and / or the footrest can be made of plastic, particularly as an injection-molded part. This makes the active footrest particularly easy and cost-effective to manufacture.

[0019] Advantageously, at least one sensor can be provided to detect the movement of at least one footrest. This allows the user's activity to be recorded. The sensor can be connected to a control and / or evaluation unit. Furthermore, data transmission to a mobile device is conceivable, so that the user can be shown the activity, and the activity can be recorded and monitored.

[0020] The footrests can be powered, particularly by an electric motor. This reduces the effort required from the user. In this case, the active footrest can be used especially for rehabilitation purposes.

[0021] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, with reference to the figures in the drawing, which shows details essential to the invention, and from the claims. The features shown therein are not necessarily to scale and are depicted in such a way that the inventive features are clearly visible. The various features can be implemented individually or in any combination in variants of the invention.

[0022] The schematic drawing shows exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are explained in more detail in the following description.

[0023] They show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of an active footrest; Fig. 2 a side view of the active footrest; Fig. 3 a view from below of the active footrest; Fig. 4 an exploded view of the active footrest.

[0024] The Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows an active footrest 10 with a base element 12, which has a base element body 14 and a support 16, such that the surface 18 of the base element 12 is at an angle to the horizontal. The base element 12 thus creates an inclined plane.

[0025] The active footrest 10 further comprises a first and a second foot support 20, 22, which are linearly movable, i.e., along a straight path, relative to the base element 12. The foot supports 20, 22 are movable in opposite directions. In particular, they are movable along parallel paths. The foot supports 20, 22 are coupled in their movement, as will be explained later.

[0026] The Fig. 2 Figure 1 shows a side view of the active footrest 10. It can be seen that the footrest 22 is positioned at a distance from the surface 18 of the base element body 14. Due to the lack of a large contact area between the footrest 22 and the surface 18, the footrest 22 can be moved with low friction relative to the base element body 14.

[0027] The Fig. 3 Figure 1 shows a view from below of the active footrest 10. A retaining element 24, 26 is provided for each footrest 20, 22. The footrests 20, 22 are connected to a retaining element 24, 26 by means of fasteners, in particular screws. In particular, they are connected to the retaining elements 24, 26 at the intersection areas 28, 30 of the arms of the X-shaped retaining elements 24, 26.

[0028] The retaining elements 24, 26 have sliders at their free ends, which guide them in rails 32, 34, 36, 38. Two sliders are arranged in each rail 32, 34, 36, 38. The rails 32, 34, 36, 38 are designed as undercut rails or guides. Thus, the sliders are secured against falling out, and the retaining elements 24, 26 are attached to the base element 12 via the sliders and the rails 32, 34, 36, 38.

[0029] The retaining elements 24, 26, and thus the footrests 20, 22, are coupled to each other via a cable 40, the cable 40 being deflected by 90° at each deflection by pulleys 42, 44, 46, 48. The pulleys 42, 44, 46, 48 are designed as deflection pulleys. Therefore, due to the coupling by the cable 40, a movement of one footrest 20, 22 always results in a counter-movement of the other footrest 20, 22.

[0030] In the end regions of the rails 32, 38, i.e., in this embodiment the outer rails 32, 38, buffered stops 50, 52, 54, 56 are arranged against which the retaining elements 24, 26 can abut. This limits and dampens the movement of the foot supports 20, 22 in both directions. The damping effect is achieved because the stops 50, 52, 54, 56 are buffered.

[0031] The Fig. 4 Figure 1 shows an exploded view of the active footrest 10. The footrests 20, 22 have fastening projections 60, 62 on their underside, with which they can project through or at least into elongated holes 64, 66 in the base element body.

[0032] Fastening elements 68, 70, 72, 74, designed as screws, are arranged on the fastening projections 60, 62, and these fasteners can in turn engage the retaining elements 24, 26. Nuts 76, 78, 80, 82 can then be screwed onto the fastening elements 68, 70, 72, 74. This brings the fastening projections 60, 62 into contact with the retaining elements 24, 26.

[0033] It can also be seen that the two-part cable pull 40 is attached to the fastening elements 68, 70, 72, 74. The aforementioned sliders 84 are attached to the free ends of the retaining elements 24, 26, with only one slider 84 being identified by a reference number. The sliders 84 are guided in the undercut rails 32, 34, 36, 38. This determines the position of the retaining elements 24, 26 in a direction perpendicular to the surface 18 with respect to the base element 12. This also determines the position of the foot supports 20, 22, which is spaced apart from the retaining elements 24, 26 by the fastening projections 60, 62. The fastening projections 60, 62 are dimensioned such that the distance between the retaining elements 24, 26 and the foot supports 20, 22 is greater than the material thickness of the base element body 14 (in the area of ​​the slot-like through-openings, also referred to as elongated holes 64, 66). The reference numerals of the previously described elements are also given in the Fig. 4 registered.

Claims

1. Active foot support (10) with a base element (12) on which a first and a second foot support (20, 22) are arranged to be movable linearly relative to the base element (12), wherein the first and second foot support (20, 22) are coupled in movement.

2. Active foot support according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the footrests (20, 22) are coupled via a cable pull (40).

3. Active foot support according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that at least two deflections (42, 44, 46, 48) are provided for the cable pull (40).

4. Active foot support according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the footrests (20, 22) are guided on the base element (12), in particular by means of gliders (84).

5. Active footrests according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the footrests (20, 22) are movable along parallel tracks.

6. Active foot support according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact thatthe footrests (20, 22) have a friction-enhancing structure or a friction-enhancing coating.

7. Active foot support according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the base element (12) comprises a base element body (14) which has an elongated hole (64, 66) for each foot support (20, 22), wherein the foot supports (20, 22) are each connected to a retaining element (24, 26) through the associated elongated hole (64, 66).

8. Active foot support according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the retaining elements (24, 26) each have at least one slider (84) which is guided in a rail (32, 34, 36, 38), in particular an undercut rail, on the rear side of the base element body (14).

9. Active foot support according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the retaining elements (24, 26) are X-shaped.

10. Active foot support according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact thatthe footrests (20, 22) are attached in the intersection area (28, 30) of the arms of the x-shaped retaining elements (24, 26).

11. Active foot support according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that Buffered stops (50, 52, 54, 56) are provided to limit the movement of the foot supports (20, 22).

12. Active foot support according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the surface (18) of the base element (12) has an angle in the range 0 ≤ α ≤ 60° to the horizontal.

13. Active foot support according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that The angle α is adjustable.

14. Active foot support according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the foot supports (20, 22) are spaced apart from the surface (18) of the base element (12), in particular the base element body (14).

15. Active foot support according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact thatthe base element (12) and / or the footrests (20, 22) are made of plastic, in particular as an injection-molded part.

16. Active foot support according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that at least one sensor is provided to detect the movement of at least one footrest.

17. Active foot support according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the footrests (20, 22) are driven, in particular by means of an electric motor.

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