Footrest Apparatus with Nested Leg Pivot for Compact Folding
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing footrest apparatuses have a limitation in reducing the size due to the protrusion of the leg portion ends, which increases the overall size when pivoted between folded and unfolded states.
Innovation Solution
The leg portion is designed to be accommodated between both ends of the base portion along the shaft, allowing it to pivot in a folded state within the base, reducing the overall size and ensuring stability and portability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the leg portion is designed to pivot between folded and unfolded states relative to the base portion, then the footrest apparatus can provide foot support functionality, but the size of the footrest apparatus is increased due to the protrusion of the leg portion ends beyond the base portion side walls
Solution Approach 1:
The leg portion is designed to be nested within the boundaries defined by the base portion side walls when in the folded state. The distal end of the leg portion is positioned at a location in the shaft direction that is closer to the distal end than the distal end of the base portion, ensuring the leg portion does not protrude beyond the base portion side walls. This nesting arrangement reduces the overall shaft-direction length of the footrest apparatus while maintaining the ability to pivot between folded and unfolded states for foot support functionality.
2Ease of operation
If the leg portion ends protrude outward of the shaft relative to the base portion side walls, then the leg portion can pivot between folded and unfolded states, but the size of the footrest apparatus is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by differentiating the positional relationship between the leg portion and base portion at different locations. At the distal end in the shaft direction, the leg portion is constrained to be within the base portion side wall boundaries. However, the leg portion maintains sufficient length and pivoting capability to extend outward when unfolded to provide foot support. This localized constraint at the distal end allows pivoting functionality while preventing overall size increase.
Data Source
AI summary
To downsize a footrest apparatus, the footrest apparatus includes: a base portion forming a footstool for a person to rest feet thereon; and a leg portion attached on a bottom surface side of the base portion and being pivotable about a shaft extending in a direction along a bottom surface of the base portion, between a folded state in which the leg portion extends along the bottom surface of the base portion, from one end on the shaft side to another end on a distal end side, and an unfolded state in which the leg portion extends so as to protrude outward from the bottom surface of the base portion, from the one end on the shaft side to the other end on the distal end side. The leg portion is provided so as to be accommodated between both ends of the base portion in a direction along the shaft.