US2706237A - Electric foot-warming hassock - Google Patents

Description

April 12, 1955 J. l.. HARE ETAL ELECTRIC FOOT-WARMING HASSOCK Filed Oct. l5, 1952 QN mm QNl United States Patent O ELECTRIC FOOT-WARMING HASSOCK Jack L. Hare, Los Angeles, and Kathryn E. Hare, Long Beach, Calif.

Application October 13, 1952, Serial No. 314,514 4 Claims. (Cl. 219-19) The present invention relates generally to the iield of foot-warming devices, and more particularly to a novel electrically heated foot-warming hassock.

There have been heretofore proposed many types of foot-warming devices adapted to provide heat to human feet. Certain of such foot-warming devices have taken the form of foot stools or hassocks whereby they might be utilized in a dwelling much in the same manner as a conventional foot stool or hassock. Such heretofore proposed devices have failed to gain wide acceptance, however, primarily because of their unattractive appearance whereby their use in a dwelling would detract from the appearance thereof.

It is a major object of the present invention to provide an electric foot-warming hassock having the external configuration of a conventional hassock when not in use. By reason of this feature the electric foot-warming hassock of the present invention may have an attractive appearance and may be utilized to perform the function of a conventional hassock when it is not in use.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an electric foot-warming hassock which is adapted to support a users feet at a comfortable angle while it is being used to provide warmth therefor.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an electric foot-warming hassock which will provide adequate warmth to both the feet and the ankles of the user without exposing the users feet or ankles alone to excessive heat.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an electric foot-warming hassock incorporating means for automatically connecting the heating unit thereof to a source of electric current when the hassock is placed in use, which means will also automatically disconnect such electric current when the hassock is not being used in its foot-warming capacity.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an electric foot-warming hassock which is simple of design and rugged of construction whereby it may be sold at a comparatively low price and may have along troublefree service life.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof when taken in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a general perspective view of an electric foot-warming hassock embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional View taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1; and,

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the preferred form of electric foot-warming hassock embodying the present invention broadly comprises a main body generally designated formed with an opening 12; a door generally designated 14 mounted in the opening 12, which door incorporates electric heater means 16; and switch means, generally designated 18, for automatically connecting the heater unit 16 with a source of electric current (not shown) when the door 14 is moved into the interior of the main body 10 by a users feet 20.

More particularly, the main body 10 may be fabricated from a generally rectangular metallic frame 21 to which are rigidly secured flat plate members 22 of wooden or metallic material. A flexible external covering 24 is shown disposed over the plate members 22. Conveniently, this external covering 24 may take the form of natural ICC or artificial leather. It is desirable to till the space between the plates 22 and the covering 24 with a tireproof and heat-insulating padding material 26, such as asbestos or the like.

The door 14 will preferably be made up of a flat plate 28 over which is secured a exible external covering 30. The heating element 16 is shown rigidly secured to the plate element 28, and the space between the heating unit 16 and the external covering 30 is shown filled by lireproof padding 32 similar to that designated 26 utilized in lilling the space between plate elements 22 and covering 24 of the main body 10.

The lower portion of the door 14 is shown pivotally mounted to the main body 10 whereby it may be rotated from its normal position shown in Figure 1 to its inclined position shown in Figure 3. Preferably, the means for mounting the door to the body will comprise a pair of hinges 34. The pin elements 36 of these hinges are seen to mount helical coil springs 38. It is the function of these springs 38 to normally bias the door 14 to an upright 2position wherein it will substantially cover the opening 1 A stop member, generally designated 40, is shown mounted by the base of the main body 10. Preferably, this stop member will be of metallic construction and will include a base 41 which is shown secured to the bottom plate 22 by a pair of bolt and nut combinations 42. The upper portion of the stop member 40 is seen to be formed with a at surface 43 disposed at an angle to the vertical adapted to abut the underside of the door 14 when the latter is urged into the interior of the main body 10 by a users feet. This surface 43 should be so arranged as to hold the door 14 at an angle which will provide maximum comfort to the users feet when the door is in its inner position.

The switch 18 may conveniently be of the plunger type having a plunger 44 which is in an on position wherein it forms an electric contact when depressed into the body of the switch. The switch is shown mounted by the upper portion of the stop member 40 whereby the plunger 44 will be depressed by the door 14 when the latter is moved to its inner position. The plunger 44 is normally biased to its off position by spring means (not shown). With this arrangement, when the hassock is not being used as a foot-warming device the door 14 will be in an upright position and the switch will be in its ofi position. At such time as the door 14 is moved to its inner position by a users feet, however, the switch will be automatically urged to its on position whereby the heater unit 16 will be connected to a source of electric current.

The connection of the switch 18 and the heater unit 16 with a source of electric current may take place through the medium of conductor wires 46 and 46', which wires merge in a cord 47. Preferably, the main body 10 will mount an adjustable thermostat 48 whereby the temperature of the heater unit may be controlled so as to provide maximum comfort to the user of the hassock. This thermostat 48 is shown connected to the switch 18 and to the heater unit 16 by conductor wires 50 and 50.

The preferred form of heater unit 16 will comprise a generally U-shaped metallic film-pack type electrical resistance heating element, as shown in Figure 2. The opposite legs of this element are seen to mount binding posts and nuts 52 for receiving conductor wires 46' and 50. The film-pack type heating unit shown in the drawings is inexpensive and also very sturdy whereby it offers decided advantages over other types of electric heating means.

In the interest of safety, the major constituents of the preferred form of electric foot-warming hassock will be non-combustible. It should additionally be noted that the ankles of a user as well as his feet will be warmed when the hassock is utilized in its foot-warming capacity. This is true inasmuch as the interior of the main body will retain the major portion of the heat created by the heater unit because of the heat-insulating qualities of the padding 26, and as' seen in Figure 3, the users ankles as well as his feet are encompassed by the main body.

Although there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be apparent that modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. An electric foot-warming hassock, comprising: a main body which includes a generally rectangular metal frame to which are secured ilat plate members, a flexible covering material disposed over said plate member, and reproof, heat-insulating padding disposed between said plates and said covering material; a rectangular opening formed in one side wall of said main body; a door for covering said opening which includes a flat plate member, exible covering material disposed over said plate mernber, and reproof padding disposed between said plate member and said covering material; a at electric heater unit secured to the ilat plate member of said door; hinge means interconnecting the lower portion of said door to said main body permitting said door to be pivotally urged into the interior of said body by a users feet; spring means carried by said hinge means normally biasing said door to an upright position wherein it covers said opening; a stop member mounted by the lower portion of said main body, the upper portion of said stop member being formed with a flat surface disposed at an angle to the vertical adapted to abut the underside of said door so as to restrain its inward movement past an angle which will provide maximum comfort to a users feet; an electric switch mounted by the upper portion of said stop member, said switch having a plunger adapted to be depressed by contact with the underside of said door when it is moved against said at surface, the depression of said plunger urging said switch to its on position, said plunger normally being biased outwardly whereby said switch will be in an off position when said door is in its normal upright position; an adjustable electric thermostat mounted in the interior of said main body; and conductor wires interconnecting said heater unit and said thermostat with an electric cord adapted to be connected to a source of electric current.

2. An electric foot-warming hassock, comprising: a main body which includes a generally rectangular metal frame to which are secured tlat plate members, a flexible covering material disposed over said plate member, and ireproof, heat-insulating padding disposed between said plates and said covering material; a rectangular opening formed in one side wall of said main body; a door for covering said opening which includes a flat plate member, flexible covering material disposed over said plate member, and tireproof padding disposed between said plate member and said covering material; a generally U-shaped film-pack type electric resistance heater unit secured to the at plate member of said door; hinge means interconnecting the lower portion of said door to said main body permitting said door to be pivotally urged into the interior of said body by a users feet; spring means carried by said hinge means normally biasing said door to an upright position wherein it covers said opening; a stop member mounted by the lower portion of said main body, the upper portion of said stop member being formed with a flat surface disposed at an angle to the vertical adapted to abut the underside of said door so as to restrain its inward movement past an angle which will provide maximum comfort to a users feet; an electric switch mounted by the upper portion of said stop member, said switch having a plunger adapted to be depressed by contact with the underside of said door when it is moved against said flat surface, the depression of said plunger urging said switch to its on position, said plunger normally being biased outwardly whereby said switch will be in an off position when said door is in its normal upright position; an adjustable electric thermostat mounted in the interior of said main body; and conductor wires interconnecting said heater unit and said thermostat with an electric cord adapted to be connected to a source of electric current.

3. An electric foot-warming hassock, comprising: a main body which includes a generally rectangular metal frame to which are secured flat plate members, a flexible covering material disposed over said plate member, and reproof, heat-insulating padding disposed between said plates and said covering material; a rectangular opening formed in one side wall of said main body; a door for covering said opening which includes a at plate member, exible covering material disposed over said plate member, and iireproof padding disposed between said plate member and said covering material; a at electric heater unit secured to the at plate member of said door; hinge means interconnecting the lower portion of said door to said main body permitting said door to be pivotally urged intov the interior of said body by a users feet; spring means carried by said hinge means normally biasing said door to an upright position wherein it covers said openings; a stop member mounted by the lower portion of said main body, the upper portion of said stop member being formed with a llat surface disposed at an angle to the vertical, adapted to abut the underside of said door so as to restrain its inward movement past an angle which will provide maximum comfort to a users feet; an electric switch mounted by the upper portion of said stop member, said switch having a plunger adapted to be depressed by contact with the underside of said door when it is moved against said at surface, the depression of said plunger urging said switch to its on position, said plunger normally being biased outwardly whereby said switch will be in an off position when said door is in its normal upright position; and, conductor wires interconnecting said heater unit with an electric cord adapted to be connected to a source of electric current.

4. An electric foot-warming hassock, comprising: a main body; an opening formed in one side wall of said main body; a door for covering said opening which includes a at plate member; a at electric heater unit secured to the at plate member of said door; hinge means interconnecting the lower portion of said door to said main body permitting said door to be pivotally urged into 4the interior of said body by a users feet; spring means carried by said hinge means normally biasing said door to an upright position wherein it covers said opening; a stop member mounted by the lower portion of said main body, the upper portion of said stop member being formed with a iiat surface disposed at an angle to the vertical adapted to abut the underside of said door so as to restrain its inward movement past an angle which will provide maximum comfort to a users feet; an electric switch mounted by the upper portion of said stop member, said switch having a plunger adapted to be depressed by contact with the underside of said door when it is moved against said at surface, the depression of said plunger urging said switch to its on position, said plunger normally being biased outwardly whereby said switch will be in an off position when said door is in its normal upright position; an adjustable electric thermostat mounted in the interior of said main body; and conductor wires interconnecting said heater unit and said thermostat with an electric cord adapted to be connected to a source of electric current.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,443,036 Panza Jan. 23, 1923 1,566,986 Simmons Dec. 22, 1925 2,004,937 Fletcher June 18, 1935 2,184,858 Goodman Dec. 26, 1939 2,471,221 Lindstrom May 24, 1949 2,513,733 Morris July 4, 1950 2,617,005 Jorgensen Nov. 4, 1952

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