DESC:
FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENT RULES, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10 and Rule 13)

TITLE
UNIVERSAL FOOTREST ASSEMBLY

APPLICANT:
(a) BEML Limited.
(b) A Govt. of India Undertaking,
(c) BemlSoudha, 23/1, 4th Main,
Sampangirama Nagar, Bengaluru,
Karnataka - 560 027, India

PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a universal footrest assembly. Particularly this invention relates to an universal footrest assembly for use with a rolling stock of a train.
STATE OF THE ART IN THE FIELD
Footrest assembly/devices are used in the vehicle wherein the driver/ passengers have to travel long distances for a long time and sometimes the whole night. Also, footrest assembly is an important device in the railway industry as the operator/driver and passenger have to travel long distances. The footrest assembly helps the train operator to sit comfortably and operate the train for long hours. The train operator can sit comfortably by adjusting the footrest according to his ergonomics/height. The footrest has crucial part in driver ergonomics and it should be adjustable to use all percentile of population globally.
Different types of adjustable footrests are known in the art and mainly comprise Ratchet & Pawl's mechanism for adjusting the height of the footrest. The height adjustment depends on spring tension used to lock the pawl against ratchet at that a particular height. Hence the conventional mechanisms some time fail to hold the footrest at a particular height when the spring loses its tension or when the spring fails. Also, these footrests are bulky and use many parts in the assembly, which inturn increases the cost of the product.
A footrest disclosed in the US patent no. US 2747924 for use in the automobile and other vehicles. The footrest comprises a footrest and means for mounting said footrest for reciprocating movement. A member is movable in one direction only. Means constantly restraining movement of a said member except in said one direction, and means connecting said footrest and member to provide reciprocating movement of said footrest upon movement of said member in said one direction. But the height adjustment of the footrest disclosed in this patent, cannot be done.
A footrest for use in the vehicle chair is disclosed in the US patent no. 2591598 which rocking footrest for connection to the lower rear of a vehicle chair and adapted to rock from a position beneath the chair to an elevated position to the rear of the chair; having in combination, a helical torsion spring adapted to urge the footrest upward, the said torsion spring counter balancing the footrest when the latter is in the depressed position but allowing a slow downward movement of the footrest when the latter is in the horizontal position, and means including a gear segment and spring operated pawl for arresting the downward movement of the footrest in a plurality of positions of elevation, the pawl constructed and arranged to bear with increased spring compression upon the gear segment when the footrest is in the depressed position restraining the same from rocking aimlessly.
Another footrest for use with the vehicle seat is disclosed in the European patent no. EP0751038A2, which comprises a pivoting arm rotatably mounted at one end to a support fixing the unit to the bottom structure of the seat, below the same, and at the rear of such seat, whereas the free end of said arm is rotatably fitted with a transversely elongate part constituting the means for resting the feet, such part rotating between two limiting positions in accordance with the active position of the unit, and the latter being capable of taking up two extreme positions, namely a top or inactive and a bottom or active position, and otherwise moreover taking up intermediate active positions between the said two positions, characterized in that the rotating end of the arm is cam-shaped with a cogged sector that maybe complemented with a pawl cog, thereby to allow such pivoting arm to be interlocked in intermediate active positions between the top or inactive and bottom or active positions; the bottom of the support securing or fixing the unit under the vehicle seat being provided to be fitted with an abutment to limit the rotation of the pivoting arm to the extreme bottom or active position, the top portion of such support having an elastic abutment for the top or inactive limiting position of the actual pivoting arm.
There are disadvantages associated with the prior art. One of the disadvantages is that conventional assembly depends on a spring that loses its tension or fails very often.
Another disadvantage associated with the prior art is that conventional assembly is bulky and uses many components.
Yet another disadvantage associated with the prior art is that conventional assembly moves in only one direction.
Still another disadvantage associated with the prior art is that conventional assembly loosens its functionality over the period of time.
A further disadvantage associated with the prior art is that conventional assembly is based on Ratchet & Pawl’s mechanism which is very complicated.
Therefore, there is a need to improve the conventional footrest assembly to obviate the disadvantages associated with the mechanism known in the prior arts.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Therefore an object of the present invention is to provide an universal footrest assembly that obviates the disadvantages associated with the prior art.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an footrest assembly which eliminates complicated mechanisms.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an footrest assembly which is light in weight.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an footrest assembly that is capable to move in both directions.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an footrest assembly which reduces the overall cost of the device.
Another object of the present invention is to provide positive locking at particular height even if lever spring loses its tension or fails.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an footrest assembly which is capable of adjusting the footrest according to ergonomics/height of a person.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to this invention, there is provided a universal footrest assembly comprising a main structure having a pair of plate secured at one end thereof such that to hold gear profile link pivotally so as to adjust the height of the foot resting plate, one end of the foot resting plate being secured with free end of gear profile link, other end of foot resting plate being secured at the free end of side link adapted to be secured with the main structure, a spring being provided between side link and the main structure for holding side link adjustably, a supporting lever adapted to be secured with the side plate being provided for operating gear profile link provided for adjusting height of the foot resting plate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A universal footrest assembly according to a preferred embodiment of this invention is herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein;
Figure 1, Illustrates the isometric view of the footrest.
Figure 2, Illustrates the side view of the novel gear profile.
Figure 3, Illustrates the isometric view of the locating pin.
Figure 4 Illustrates the isometric view of the locking lever.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A universal footrest assembly is herein described with numerous specific details so as to provide a complete understanding of the invention. However, these specific details are exemplary details and should not be treated as the limitation to the scope of the invention. Throughout this specification the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises or comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusions of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusions of any other element, integer or step or group of elements, integers or steps.
Referring to the drawing, figures 1, isometric view of holding plate structure/main structure (1) of the invention is shown. The universal footrest assembly comprises a holding plate structure/main structure (1) adapted to be mounted on the driver’s console or to any footrest support structure, which holds all the other mechanisms or parts. An adjustable gear profile link (2) (See figure 2) adapted to slide between a pair of guide plates (3, & 4) secured at one end of the holding plate structure/main structure (1) by hinge pin (5) (See figure 3) and on the other end of the main structure, a foot resting plate (6) is mounted. A locking lever arrangement (a disengaging mechanism) (See figure 4) is mounted on the holding plate structure/main structure (1), adjacent to the guide plate (3, & 4), with the help of pins (7, & 8).
The disengaging mechanism comprises locking pin (9), holding pipe (10), supporting lever (11), press plate (12) and spring holder (13). The whole assembly oscillates at side guide plates (14, & 15), which are fixed to the main structure (1). The disengaging mechanism is pulled back by a helical extension spring (16), one end of the spring is connected to supporting lever (11), the supporting lever (11) have U shaped bracket pivotally secured with a side plate (3) and another end of the spring is connected to the main structure (1). One end of a left side link (17) is hinged to the main structure (1) with the help of a hinge pin (18) and another end of the link is connected to foot resting plate (6).
When the foot resting plate (6) is lifted with the operator’s feet, the foot resting plate (6) locks at different heights, where the operator can adjust the height according to his/her ergonomics or height.
According to an embodiment of this invention, the two levels of heights are provided, and these levels can be varied by just modifying the gear profile (22) in the link (2). During the movement of the foot resting plate (6) at designated heights the locking pin (9) locks the foot resting plate (6) at that location and this happens only at the designated heights. The foot resting plate (6) is allowed to move in upward direction only, but on disengagement of locking pin (9) the foot resting plate (6) moves down to its initial position. The disengagement of the locking pin (9) is done by just pressing the press plate (12) with the operator’s feet. Once the operator removes his feet from the press plate (12), the locking pin (9) again locks the foot resting plate (6) at the designated heights.
At the other end, the left side link (17) supported with the help of low tension helical extension spring (19) from the main structure (1). The spring (19) avoids the sudden falling of foot resting plate (6) to its initial position on disengaging of locking pin (9).
Another locating pin (20) is used to hold the disengaging lever assembly from over oscillation. A footrest holding rod (21) is provided to connect links (2) & (17) and holds the foot resting plate (6).
Certain features of the invention have been described with reference to the exemplary embodiments. However, the description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the exemplary embodiments as well as other embodiments of the invention, which are apparent to the persons skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, are deemed to lie within the spirit and scope of the invention.
,CLAIMS:WE CLAIM:
1. A universal footrest assembly comprising a main structure (1) having a pair of plate (3 & 4) secured at one end thereof such that to hold gear profile link (2) pivotally so as to adjust the height of the foot resting plate (6), one end of the foot resting plate (6) being secured with free end of gear profile link (2), other end of foot resting plate (6) being secured at the free end of side link (17) adapted to be secured with the main structure (1), a spring (19) being provided between the side link (17) and the main structure (1) for holding side link adjustably, a supporting lever (11) adapted to be secured with the side plate (3) being provided for operating gear profile link (2) provided for adjusting height of the foot resting plate (6).
2. The universal footrest assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gear profile link (2) have a gear profile (22) provided at the inner end at the gear profile link (2) such that to adjust the height of the foot resting plate (6) by operating supporting lever (11).
3. The universal footrest assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein side link (17) being secured with main structure (1) pivotally such that to move up and down so as to adjust the height of the foot resting plate (6).
4. The universal footrest assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein supporting lever (11) have U shaped bracket pivotally secured with a side plate (3).
5. The universal footrest assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a spring (16) being provided between side plate (3) and supporting lever (11) such that to keep the supporting lever (11) in its position after operating the supporting lever (11).
Dated this 19th day of February, 2020

R. P. Yadav
IN/PA – 954
of sr4ipr Partners
Applicant’s Attorney