U.S. patent application number 12/924982 was filed with the patent office on 2012-04-12 for orthopedic foot support for salon chair.
Invention is credited to Allyson Wald.
Application Number | 20120086257 12/924982 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45924561 |
Filed Date | 2012-04-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120086257 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wald; Allyson |
April 12, 2012 |
Orthopedic foot support for salon chair
Abstract
A novel foot rest for a salon chair specifically designed to
allow a user to rest one of their feet on the step as they move
around a customer sitting in the chair. The orthopedic footrest is
attached to the base of the chair positioned far enough out from
the base to provide a support for the user to rest his/her feet but
not too far so as to impede the stylist movement about the chair.
Resting one foot on the elevated step puts relieves stress on the
user's feet, hips, back and joints thereby reducing pain and injury
to the same.
Inventors: |
Wald; Allyson; (Amagansett,
NY) |
Family ID: |
45924561 |
Appl. No.: |
12/924982 |
Filed: |
October 12, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/423.19 ;
297/423.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 7/5064 20180801;
A47C 7/506 20130101; A47C 1/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/423.19 ;
297/423.4 |
International
Class: |
A47C 7/50 20060101
A47C007/50 |
Claims
1. A footrest for a salon chair, comprising: a footrest having a
foot support portion, said footrest comprising a collar system that
is configured to attach to a pedestal of said salon chair so as to
secure said footrest to said pedestal at a predetermined height off
of the floor, said foot support portion being connected to a
plurality of spoke-like supports that are attached to said collar
system at one end and said foot support portion at the other.
2. The footrest of claim 1 wherein said foot support portion of
said footrest is configured so as to have at least two different
heights off of said floor.
3. The footrest of claim 2 wherein said support portion is a single
continuous foot support having portions of different heights, said
portions of different heights alternate from further from the floor
to closer to the floor as one moves about a circumference of said
foot support portion.
4. The footrest of claim 2 wherein said spoke-like supports further
comprise a translational guide mechanism that is configured to
extend and retract relative to said adjustable collar system.
5. The footrest of claim 1 wherein said collar system is configured
so as to be rotatable about the salon chair.
6. The footrest of claim 4 wherein said foot support portion
further comprises a plurality of separations that are configured to
separate as said translational guide mechanism extends away from
said pedestal.
7. The footrest of claim 1 wherein the collar system is configured
so that it removably attaches said footrest to said salon
chair.
8. The footrest of claim 7 wherein the collar system of the device
comprises a quick-release mechanism for attaching and removing said
footrest from a salon chair.
9. A footrest for a salon chair, comprising: a removable footrest
having a first and second foot support portions, said footrest
comprising an adjustable collar system that is configured to
removably attach to a pedestal of said salon chair so as to secure
said footrest to said pedestal at a predetermined height off of the
floor; said first foot support portion being connected to a
plurality of spoke-like supports that are attached to said
adjustable collar system at one end and said foot support portion
at the other and said second foot support portion being connected
to a plurality of spoke-like supports that are attached to said
adjustable collar system at one end and said foot support portion
at the other wherein said first foot support is positioned above
said second foot support so as to provide a multilevel foot support
system.
10. The footrest of claim 9 wherein the collar system is configured
so that it removably attaches said footrest to said salon
chair.
11. The footrest of claim 10 wherein the collar system of the
device comprises a quick-release mechanism for attaching and
removing said footrest from a salon chair.
12. A footrest for a salon chair, comprising: a footrest having a
foot support portion, a collar system attached to said footrest
configured to attach to said salon chair so as to secure said
footrest to said salon chair at a predetermined height off of the
floor, said collar system comprising a first portion having an
inner surface and an outer surface and a second portion having an
inner surface and an outer surface, said first portion configured
to attach to said salon chair and said second portion configured to
rotate about said first portion on a bearing mechanism disposed
there between so as to allow said second portion of said collar
system to rotate about said first portion of said salon chair as
said first portion remains attached to said salon chair; and said
foot support portion having a plurality of spoke-like supports
having two oppositely opposed ends, said spoke-like supports being
attached to said outer surface of said first portion of said collar
system at one end and said foot support portion at the other.
13. The footrest of claim 12 wherein said foot support portion has
a substantially circular shape and is configured to have a
continuous slope around a circumference of said foot support
portion.
14. The footrest of claim 12 wherein said collar system further
comprises a braking system that is activated in a first position
and released in a second position so as to allow the rotation of
said footrest about said collar system when in said second position
and locked in place when said footrest is positioned in a first
position.
15. The footrest of claim 12 wherein the collar system is
configured so that it removably attaches said footrest to said
salon chair.
16. The footrest of claim 12 wherein the collar system of the
device comprises a quick-release mechanism for attaching and
removing said footrest from a salon chair.
17. A salon chair comprising the footrest of claim 1 permanently
attached to a portion of said salon chair.
18. A salon chair comprising the footrest of claim 9 permanently
attached to a portion of said salon chair.
19. A salon chair comprising the footrest of claim 12 permanently
attached to a portion of said salon chair.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to removable or
permanent orthopedic foot rests for salon styling chairs. In
particular, an orthopedic foot rest system for salon styling chairs
configured to be adjustable in height and supported by a collar
system that eliminates the need for floor posts.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Any publications or references discussed herein are
presented to describe the background of the invention and to
provide additional detail regarding its practice. Nothing herein is
to be construed as an admission that the inventors are not entitled
to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention.
[0003] Salon chairs are widely used by stylists and other
individuals performing hairdressing services for patron seated in
such chairs. A typical salon chair has a rigid tubular U-shaped
footrest that is designed for use by the customer seated in the
chair and is positioned directly in front of the customer to allow
for its use. One footrest system available for salon chairs is
described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,334 to Zvonik. Zvonik describes an
improved footrest assembly for a salon chair that replaces a
standard one-piece U-shaped tubular footrest. By providing
pivotally mounted foot plates on a unique yet simple tubular frame
having spaced supports which connect to existing mounting holes of
a lower surface of the seat of the salon chair, a user, especially
an elderly person, may much more easily get to and from a seated
position in the salon chair with the foot plates pivoted up. After
being seated in the salon chair, the foot plates are easily pivoted
downward to a horizontal position for foot support. However, this
footrest is designed for the patron sitting in the chair and not
for the stylish. Other designs can be found in the filed for
footrest but most if not all are directed for use by the patron not
the stylist.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 4,995,670, to Rodas, which is incorporated in
its entirety herein by reference, however teaches a tubular
footrest unit that is supported by a plurality of upwardly and
outwardly extending legs that support the bar from the floor and
attach to the chair for use by the stylist. The legs in this system
rest on the floor in front of the base and cause a serious tripping
hazard for the hair stylist. Since the hair stylist moves around
the chair in order to cut the client's hair, the legs of the device
present a serious tripping hazard that far outweighs and benefit
provided by the system. In addition, Rodas is not adjustable in
height and therefore does not accommodate the varying heights of
different stylist.
[0005] Still further Rodas does not provide a multi-level footrest
that accommodates different stances that stylist may take when
performing different cosmetic procedures. For example, hair
coloring may require a different stance than cutting hair, where
eyebrow waxing may require yet another stance. Rodas fails to
provide such a device.
[0006] In view of the foregoing, what is needed in the market is a
removable orthopedic footrest for salon chairs that does not have
floor supports, can be adjusted both horizontally and/or vertically
to accommodate different stylist, and has a various step down
levels to accommodate different stances a stylist may use when
working on a customer. The present invention provides such a device
and is further described in the section and drawings discussed
below.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention is directed to an orthopedic footrest
configured to surround the pedestal of a salon chair so that a
stylist can rest his/her foot on it so as to reduce the amount of
pressure on the back and hip when standing for long periods of
time. This therefore reduces strain and many orthopedic medical
conditions that may occur.
[0008] Accordingly, among the principal objects of the present
invention is to provide a stationary or removable foot support unit
that extends horizontally and/or vertically for a salon chair so as
to aid in reducing medical conditions caused from standing and
reaching all day. In particular, an adjustable foot support system
that accommodates for different heights and stances used by a
stylist so as to assure proper alignment of the hip joint relative
to the floor. This assures maximum relief from a variety of medical
conditions caused from standing for long periods of time. That is,
this allows a person performing salon related services to work
comfortably and safely for longer periods of time.
[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a foot
support system described herein having a collar/bushing system that
attaches the unit to the center pedestal of a salon chair and does
not require legs to support the footrest off of the floor. This
reduces a serious potential tripping hazard for the salon workers
as they move around the chair to perform salon related
services.
[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a foot
support system described herein that can be permanently attached to
a salon chair or configured to be easily removed without the need
for tools. This allows a stylist that works at different chairs and
or at different salons to take the unit with them to use at their
next job. It also allows a stylist to retrofit existing chairs in a
salon that does not have this technology.
[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a foot
support system described herein in which the angle of the resting
part of the foot support unit can be adjusted so as to provide the
most comfortable position for the individual user.
[0012] Still yet another object of the present invention is to
provide a message/vibrating movement for the footrest portion of
the foot support unit in order to aid in providing better
circulation for the stylist using the chair.
[0013] In particular, the present invention is directed to a
footrest for a salon chair comprising a footrest having a foot
support portion configured to attach to the pedestal portion of a
salon chair. Once attached to the pedestal portion of the chair the
footrest extends outwardly form the pedestal portion of the salon
chair so as to provide a foot support portion that is positioned
off of the floor and does not have any support posts in contact
with the floor. The footrest instead uses an adjustable collar
system configured to be removably attached to the pedestal of the
salon chair so that the footrest portion can be positioned closer
to or farther from the floor.
[0014] Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a
salon chair having the footrest described herein permanently
attached to the chair. In yet another embodiment of the present
invention, the foot support portion of the footrest is connected to
an adjustable collar by a plurality of spoke-like supports and is
configured to have at least two different heights from the floor so
as to provide a multilevel foot support portion while the foot rest
is attached to the pedestal in a single position.
[0015] The footrest described herein can also be configured to
further comprise a guide mechanism having a translational guide
mechanism for translating the footrest support portions towards and
away from the pedestal of said salon chair.
[0016] In yet another embodiment of the present invention the foot
support portion of the footrest is configured as a single
continuous support alternating in heights from the floor around the
circumference of the foot support portion. That is, the foot
support portion is attached to the top of the collar at one end,
encircles around the collar and attaches to the collar below the
original attachment. This gives a foot support spaced at different
heights off of the floor.
[0017] In yet another embodiment of the present invention the
footrest is described herein is configured to spin around the
pedestal until locked into position by a braking system. In this
embodiment, the footrest having a gradual continuous raising slope
that can be adjusted by a person by releasing the braking system
with their foot and spinning the footrest around the pedestal until
a comfortable height is reached. This assures that the user can
rest his/her foot on the footrest to achieve the proper angle to
reduce stress on the hip and other joints associated with
standing.
[0018] The present invention is also directed to a kit having the
footrest of the present invention, additional attachments to fit
different sized salon chairs, cushions for the foot support,
removable roller rings of ball bearings in a carry bag for easy
transportation.
[0019] The present invention is also directed to a method for
preventing hip and back strain while performing salon services
around a salon chair by properly using any one of the footrest
embodiments described herein. The following sections and figures
describe the invention in greater detail and specificity.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0020] FIG. 1 is a part sectional front view of one embodiment of
the footrest of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of the
footrest of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of a removable ring of
ball bearings to be used in the removable embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0023] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the footrest of the present
invention attached to a salon chair.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] Hair stylists, as well as other professions, stand on their
feet hunched over a client sitting in a salon chair on a continuous
basis. This position over time often causes back, hip, joint and
feet problems. These problems are often caused by the worker's own
weight placed on his/her hips/joints as he/she stands to properly
perform the services required. The vertical support of the weight
is constantly shifting and tends to cause strains particularly in
the back muscles and hip joints. One way to alleviate these
problems is to reduce the amount of weight placed on the hip and
feet of the worker. By the worker placing his/her feet on a
footrest located at the base of a salon chair, less weight is being
supported on the feet and hip of the leg attached to the foot
resting on the foot rest.
[0025] However, the stylist resting his/her foot on the footrest at
just any angle or height from the floor is not enough. In fact,
resting the foot on the footrest at an incorrect height or position
unnaturally forces the hip, back and/or knee of the stylist in an
awkward position that could cause additional backache and joint
injury.
[0026] It has been found that in order to relieve stress on the
hip, back and knee, as well as, the feet of a person standing it is
essential that hip be aligned at approximately 45-degree angle.
Moving towards and away from the chair while performing the salon
services on the customer sitting in the chair makes it difficult to
maintain the proper resting angle with a single level footrest. In
fact, at least 2 different levels are necessary to achieve the
proper angle when moving about a customer in a chair while
performing salon services. These levels vary with the height of the
user and to be effective the footrest must be at the correct height
so as to achieve the correct angle defined by the leg and the waist
in order to enjoy the benefits of the present invention.
[0027] As with many salons many different stylist can use the same
chair in a week or even in the same day. Each stylist will most
likely be of a different height, size and may have different
pre-existing medical histories as it pertains to their joints, back
and hips. Therefore, taking into account the different number of
users that may use the footrest of the present invention, there is
a need for a model of the present invention that allows a person to
easily adjust the permanent height of the footrest as well as
provide a range of heights when permanently attached at a given
height. That is, once the footrest of the present invention is
attached to the pedestal of a salon chair, although it can be
released and reset, the easier thing to do is to be able to adjust
the height of the footrest without undoing the attachment to the
salon chair. As described below in connection with the figures, the
present invention can have different configurations depending on
the user's height and/or preference.
[0028] The present invention may be understood more readily by
reference to the following detailed description of the invention
taken in connection with the accompanying figures, which form a
part of this disclosure. It is to be understood that this invention
is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions or
parameters described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology
used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments
by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting of the
claimed invention.
[0029] While the invention is described in the context of a hair
salon, that is simply to assist the reader in understanding one
particular use of the present invention and in light of the
specification it will be clear that the invention can be used with
any profession were standing in a major part of the job. For
example, this can be used in a dentist office, an optometrist
office, even in connection with professions that do work around a
chair, i.e. a security guard. In these applications the footrest
would be attached to a stand, pole, sitting chair or other device.
All of these potential uses are considered to fall within the scope
of the invention.
[0030] Also, as used in the specification and including the
appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include
the plural, and reference to a particular numerical value includes
at least that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates
otherwise.
[0031] Ranges may be expressed herein as from "about" or
"approximately" one particular value and/or to "about" or
"approximately" another particular value. When such a range is
expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular
value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values
are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent "about,"
it will be understood that the particular value forms another
embodiment.
[0032] It is also understood that all spatial references, such as,
for example, horizontal, vertical, top, upper, lower, bottom, left
and right, are for illustrative purposes only and can be varied
within the scope of the disclosure. For example, the references
"upper" and "lower" are relative and used only in the context to
the other, and are not necessarily "superior" and "inferior".
[0033] All methods described herein may be performed in any
suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise
clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples,
or exemplary language (e.g., "such as") provided herein, is
intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not
pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise
claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as
indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of
the invention.
[0034] As used herein, "comprising," "including," "containing,"
"characterized by," and grammatical equivalents thereof are
inclusive or open-ended terms that do not exclude additional,
unrecited elements or method steps, but will also be understood to
include the more restrictive terms "consisting of" and "consisting
essentially of."
[0035] The following discussion includes a description of a
footrest of the present invention, related components and exemplary
methods of employing the footrest unit for salon chairs in
accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. As stated
above, alternate embodiments are also disclosed. Reference will now
be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments of the present
disclosure, which are illustrated in the accompanying figures.
Turning now to FIGS. 1-4, there are illustrated components of the
footrest unit for salon chairs in accordance with the principles of
the present disclosure.
[0036] FIG. 1 shows a footrest 05 for a salon chair that comprises
a footrest 05 having a foot support portion 15 and an adjustable
collar system 25 that is configured to be permanently or removably
attached to a pedestal of the salon chair. The adjustable collar
system 25 having a lumen 35 that extends latitudinally from one end
of the adjustable collar system 25 to the other end of the
adjustable collar system 25. The adjustable collar system 25 also
comprises a ball bearing sleeve 40 that is either attached to an
inside surface 50 of the collar system 25 or in direct contact with
the inside surface 50 of the collar system 25. This configuration
allows the adjustable collar system 25 to spin around the pedestal
of the salon chair. The ball bearing system 40 can have one or more
columns or rows of ball bearings and can be configured to rotate
90, 180, 270 or 360 degrees about the pedestal of the salon chair.
Other rotational systems can be used in place of the ball bearing
system 40 of the present invention as long as it allows the collar
to spin around the pedestal of the chair.
[0037] Attached to the outside surface 55 of the adjustable collar
system 25 is a plurality of spoke-like supports 20 that are
attached to the adjustable collar system 25 at one end and a foot
support member 15 at the other. The foot support member 15 is
configured to encircle the plurality of spoke-like supports 20. The
plurality of spoke-like supports 20 are configured to secure the
foot support member 15 at different heights to the outside surface
55 of the adjustable collar system 25. That is, the foot support 15
is attached to the outside surface 55 of the adjustable collar
system 25 at the top portion 10 of the collar system 25 at one end
and graduately cascades down so as to attach at the bottom portion
30 of the collar system 25 at about 360 degrees from the first
attachment. In between these two attachment points, the foot
support is attached to the collar system 25 by the plurality of
spoke-like supports 20 as described herein. This allows the foot
support to have different heights off of the floor as a user moves
around the circumference of the foot support member 15.
[0038] This configuration assures that a user can rest their foot
on the foot support 15 at the proper height when standing and
working on a customer sitting in the chair. As discussed herein, it
is essential that the footrest 05 be at the correct height so that
the user's hip is at approximately a 45 degrees angle with the
floor and the hip of the user so as to be most effective in
relieving stress on the joints from standing. This embodiment of
the present invention is designed so that a person of any height
can adjust the height of the footrest 05 to achieve the proper
angle. Spinning the foot support 15 about the adjustable collar
system 25 attached to the salon chair either decreases or increases
the height of the footrest 05 off of the floor depending on whether
the footrest 05 is being spun in the direction of the increasing
slope or decreasing slope of the footrest 05.
[0039] The footrest 05 of the present invention is also equipped
with a collar braking system that is released when a braking system
button 45 is pressed and locked when the braking system button 45
is pressed again. One continuous braking button 45 or several
braking system buttons 45 can be located on the underside of the
foot support 15. The braking buttons are attached to the collar
braking system so that a user can press the braking button 45 to
release the brake, spin the footrest 15 to the proper height and
lock the footrest 05 in place by activating the braking system by
pressing the braking system button 45 again. Once locked, the
braking system remains locked until unlocked once again. The collar
locking system can be a magnetic locking system, mechanical locking
system, a friction locking system or any other type of locking
system as long as it can be locked and unlocked with the push of
the brake locking system button 45.
[0040] FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In
this embodiment, the footrest 100 of the present invention is
equipped with alternating levels of different heights 105 and 135
instead of a gradual sloped foot support show in FIG. 1. The
alternating levels are like steps that are positioned at different
heights off of the ground. This allows the user to spin the collar
system 115 to the proper level step so as to assure the proper foot
resting height is used. As with the embodiment of the present
invention discussed above, the collar system has a lumen 125 and an
inside wall having a ball bearing system 130 either in direct
contact or attached. Each of the steps of the device is attached to
the outside surface 120 by spoke-like supports arranged so as to
secure the foot support 105/135 to the adjustable collar system
115.
[0041] As described in FIG. 1, the embodiment described in FIG. 2
is equipped with a collar braking system that is released when a
braking system button 165 is pressed and is locked when the braking
system button 165 is pressed again. Several braking system buttons
165 or one continuous button are located on the underside of the
foot support 105/135 and are attached to the collar braking system
(not shown) so that a user can release the brake, spin the footrest
105/135 to the proper step height and lock the footrest 105/135 in
place by pressing the braking button 165 once again. The collar
locking system can be a magnetic locking system, mechanical locking
system, a friction locking system or any other type of locking
system as long as it can lock and unlocked with the push of the
brake-locking button 165.
[0042] This, as well as the embodiment described in FIG. 1, can be
made so that it can be removed from a salon chair for transport to
another salon or placed on another salon chair in the same salon.
That is, the foot support 100 has a break at two points each
located about 180 degrees away from each other. Each break has a
male portion and a mating female portion that is configured to
receive the male portion. Both the male and female portions have a
bore 170 that goes through them in an aligned configuration. A pin
155 having a head at one end and a securing mechanism (such as a
carter pin) at the other end is used to secure both the male and
the female portions together once the footrest 100 is installed
about the salon pedestal.
[0043] Similarly, the collar system 115 and the ball bearing system
130 are configured to have at least one break point 140 that allow
the separate ball bearing collar (shown in FIG. 4) to open so that
it can be wrapped about the pedestal prior to the footrest 100
being placed on top of said ball bearing system. On the outside and
inside surfaces of the collar system 115 is a locking system that
is configured to lock and unlock the ball bearing system 130 and
the collar 115 together. Once closed, the locking system keeps the
collar system/ball bearing system secured together as a single unit
and attached to the pedestal.
[0044] As shown in FIG. 3, a ball bearing collar 400 is configured
as a separate unit that removably attaches to the pedestal of the
salon chair. The ball bearing system has a top rim 435 and a bottom
rim 420 that are in-line and spaced apart from one another. The top
435 and bottom 420 rims are configured to define a first and a
second opening that are joined together by a lumen 445 that is
configured to fit about the pedestal of a salon chair. Attached to
the top 435 and bottom 420 rims are strands of ball bearings 415
that are configured to have multiple ball bearings 410 spaced apart
from one another and positioned on the strands 415 in such a way
that each of the ball bearings 410 can rotate about the strands
415. Above and below each of the ball bearings 410 is a stop 440
that holds each ball bearing 410 in place but allows the ball
bearings 410 to rotate about the strand 415. Multiple strands 415
of ball bearings 410 are attached to and positioned about the first
435 and second 420 rims so as to create a circular
configuration.
[0045] The top 435 rim is configured to have a breaking point 430
that is line with a breaking point 430 on the bottom rim 420. These
breaking points are designed to open so that the ball bearing
system 400 can be placed about the pedestal of the salon chair.
Each of the rims can be flexible so that they can bend and provide
enough lead way so that the ball bearing system 400 can be opened
and wrapped about the pedestal. The flexible first 435 and second
420 rims will then return back to their original circular
configuration so as to hug closely to the pedestal surface. Once in
place the two breaking points 430 can be adhered together either
with a pin or a screw that also functions to hold the ball bearing
system 400 in place. The fastening member can also be a clasp,
clip, pin, Velcro.RTM., or the like. Alternative locking members
and hinges can be used and fall within the scope of the present
invention.
[0046] In a configuration where the top rim 435 and bottom rim 420
are made from rigid material each rim will be equipped with a hinge
member 425 that diametrically opposes the each breaking point. This
allows the rigid frame to open so that it can be placed in position
about the salon chair and closed once it is in place. As with the
flexible system, once the ball bearing system 400 is in place, the
two breaking points 430 can be adhered together either with a pin
or a screw that also functions to hold the ball bearing system 400
to the salon pedestal. Once in place the two breaking points 430
can be adhered together either with a pin or a screw that also
functions to hold the ball bearing collar system 400 in place.
Alternative locking members and hinges can be used and fall within
the scope of the present invention.
[0047] Once the ball bearing collar system 400 is attached to the
pedestal of the salon chair, the footrest is attached to the
pedestal of the chair directly on top of the ball bearing collar
400 so that the footrest is allowed to spin about the pedestal as
discussed herein. That is, in this configuration the footrest
discussed herein sandwiches the ball bearing collar 400 against the
surface of the pedestal to allow the footrests of the present
invention to rotate on the ball bearings 410 about the
pedestal.
[0048] In this configuration, the ball bearings rotate about the
axis of the connecting strands 415 and allow the footrest that is
connected to the salon chair on top of the ball bearing collar 400,
to rotate freely about the pedestal of the salon chair.
[0049] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the footrest of the
present invention attached to a salon chair 200. The salon chair
200 has a seat 265, a base 205 and a footrest 270 for the customer
sitting in the chair 265. The base 205 of the chair 200 is attached
to a pedestal 235 that terminates with a floor stand 220 that
supports the chair 200 on the floor 225. Fitted about the pedestal
235 is a footrest 280 having a foot support 230 that is attached to
a collar system 210 by a plurality of spoke-like supports 240.
Between the pedestal 235 and the inside surface of the collar
system 210 is a ball bearing system 130 that allows the collar
system to spin about the pedestal 235. As with the embodiments
described herein, the footrest 280 is equipped with a braking
button 45 that when pressed activates and deactivates a braking
system. Pressed once, the braking system is released to allow the
footrest to spin about the pedestal 235. Pressed again, the braking
system is activated and the footrest is locked in place. Either of
the footrests described herein can be used as described in FIG.
4.
[0050] It will be understood that various modifications may be made
to the embodiments disclosed herein. Therefore, the above
description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as
exemplification of the various embodiments. Those skilled in the
art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit
of the claims appended hereto.
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