Ergonomic leg stands

Abstract

The present invention in one embodiment is a device to provide a comfortable or restful stance or both for a standing person. The invention in this embodiment includes a sole plate upon which the user places his or her foot. The sole plate is substantially planar and is oriented at an angle from the floor. The invention also includes a leg contacting member that is oriented at an angle from vertical. The user places his or her foot on the sole plate and leans forward so that the front part of their lower leg contacts the leg contacting member. The leg contacting member supports the user. In another embodiment, the invention is a method to provide comfort or rest or both to a standing person.

1 . A leg stand comprising:
 a base having a lower side, an upper side, a base front end and base opposed sides wherein the lower side contacts the floor;   a sole plate having a sole plate front end, a sole plate back end and sole plate opposed sides, the sole plate connected to the base;   a leg contacting member support attached to and extending upward from the base; and   a leg contacting member attached to the leg contacting member support so that the leg contacting member is oriented at an angle from the vertical, the leg contacting member having an inside surface and a length such that the inside surface contacts a user's lower leg;   whereby the leg contacting member support positions and supports the leg contacting member and transfers any forces applied by contact between the user's leg and the leg contacting member to the base.   
   
   
       2 . The leg stand of  claim 1  wherein the lower side has a high friction surface whereby the lower side, when in contact with the floor, is retained in a selected position on the floor by friction between the friction surface on the lower side and the floor. 
   
   
       3 . The leg stand of  claim 1  wherein the sole plate is sized to allow substantially the entire sole of the user's shoe to be supported by the sole plate. 
   
   
       4 . The leg stand of  claim 1  wherein the sole plate is substantially planar. 
   
   
       5 . The leg stand of  claim 1  wherein the sole plate front end is closer to the base than the sole plate back end. 
   
   
       6 . The leg stand of  claim 5  wherein the sole plate is itself wedge shaped and rests on the upper side of the base. 
   
   
       7 . The leg stand of  claim 5  further comprising a wedge that is attached to the upper side of the base and also to the sole plate so that the sole plate front end is closer to the base than the sole plate back end. 
   
   
       8 . The leg stand of  claim 5  wherein the sole plate has an angular displacement from the base of between about 10 and 30 degrees. 
   
   
       9 . The leg stand of  claim 5  wherein the sole plate has a variable angular displacement with respect to the base of between about 10 and 30 degrees. 
   
   
       10 . The leg stand of  claim 9  further comprising:
 a pivot connecting the sole plate at the sole plate front end to the base around which the sole plate rotates; and   means for locking the sole plate in a fixed and desired angular configuration with respect to the base.   
   
   
       11 . The leg stand of  claim 10  wherein the means for locking comprises:
 an elevation track attached substantially vertically between the upper side of the base and the sole plate back end, the elevation track having an elongated slot;   at least one fastening screw having a head larger than the width of the slot, the fastening screw capable of passing through the elongated slot;   whereby the at least one fastening screw passes through the slot and is screwed into the sole plate so that as the at least one fastening screw is loosened, the sole plate may be moved upward or downwards around the pivot to a most desirable angular configuration and thereafter, the at least one fastening screw is screwed into the sole plate so that compressive and frictional contact between the head and the elevation track holds the sole plate in the fixed configuration with respect to the base.   
   
   
       12 . The leg stand of  claim 1  further comprising means for moving the sole plate toward or away from the base front end in order to provide a comfortable position of the sole plate for the user. 
   
   
       13 . The leg stand of  claim 12  wherein the means for moving the sole plate toward or away from the base front end comprises:
 a linear movement track functionally connected to the sole plate, the linear movement track having an elongated linear motion track slot;   at least one fastening screw having a head larger than the width of the linear motion track slot;   whereby, the at least one fastening screw passes through the linear motion track slot and is screwed into the upper side of the base so that as the at least one fastening screw is loosened, the sole plate may be moved forward or backwards on the base to a most desirable position and thereafter, the at least one fastening screws is screwed into the base so that compressive and frictional contact between the head and the linear movement track holds the linear movement track, and by extension the sole plate, in the fixed configuration on the base.   
   
   
       14 . The leg stand of  claim 1  wherein the sole plate has a high friction surface in order to prevent the user's shoe from unintentionally moving once in contact with the sole plate. 
   
   
       15 . The leg stand of  claim 1  wherein the leg contacting member support comprises two side panels attached to opposed sides of the base and extending upward from the base. 
   
   
       16 . The leg stand of  claim 1  wherein the leg contacting member extends around the user's lower leg so that the user's lower leg is cradled in the leg contacting member. 
   
   
       17 . The leg stand of  claim 1  wherein the leg contacting member is rigidly attached to the leg contacting member support. 
   
   
       18 . The leg stand of  claim 17  wherein the leg contacting member support comprises two side panels attached to opposed sides of the base and extending upward from the base and wherein the leg contacting member is placed between the two side panels at a desired angle and then secured to the side panels. 
   
   
       19 . The leg stand of  claim 17  wherein the leg contacting member and leg contacting member support are formed in a single integral piece producing the desired angle for the leg contacting member. 
   
   
       20 . The leg stand of  claim 17  wherein the leg contacting member, leg contacting member support and base are all formed in a single integral piece. 
   
   
       21 . The leg stand of  claim 17  wherein the leg contacting member is attached to the leg contacting member support at an angle so that the leg contacting member has an angular displacement from the vertical of between about 10 and 30 degrees. 
   
   
       22 . The leg stand of  claim 1  wherein the leg contacting member is attached to the leg contacting member support through means whereby the angle the leg contacting member makes with the vertical is adjustable. 
   
   
       23 . The leg stand of  claim 22  wherein the leg contacting member support comprises two side panels attached to opposed sides of the base and extending upward from the base and further comprising:
 a pivot extending between the side panels and attaching the leg contacting member to the side panels so that the leg contacting member pivots around the pivot to assume a wide variety of angles with respect to the vertical; and   means for securing the leg contacting member is a configuration producing a desired angle for the leg contacting member with respect to the vertical.   
   
   
       24 . The leg stand of  claim 23  wherein the means for securing comprises:
 a securing slot formed in at least one of the side panels, the securing slot being curved;   at least one securing screw having a head placed through the securing slot into the material of the leg contacting member;   wherein the curvature of the securing slot corresponds to the arc made by rotating the securing screw around the pivot as the leg contacting member rotates around the pivot; and   wherein once the leg contacting member is moved into the desired configuration thereby forming the desired angle with respect to the vertical, the securing screw is tightened so that frictional and compressive contact between the head of the securing screw and a side panel retains the leg contacting member in this desired angular configuration.   
   
   
       25 . The leg stand of  claim 1  wherein the leg contacting member, leg contacting member support, base, sole plate and wedge are all formed in a single integral piece. 
   
   
       26 . The leg stand of  claim 1  wherein the leg contacting member support comprises two side panels attached to opposed sides of the base and extending upward from the base and wherein the base has a width sufficient to allow the sole plate to be placed between the two side panels so that the sole of the user's shoe may be comfortably placed on the sole plate between the two side panels. 
   
   
       27 . The leg stand of  claim 1  wherein the base has a length such that the base extends forward beyond the center of gravity produced in a user by contact between the user's leg and the leg contacting member. 
   
   
       28 . The leg stand of  claim 1  further comprising a padded surface attached to the inside surface of the leg contacting member. 
   
   
       29 . The leg stand of  claim 1  wherein the leg contacting member support comprises two side panels attached to opposed sides of the base and extending upward from the base and further comprising a handle placed between the side panels in order to allow the user to grasp the handle and thereby move the leg stand from place to place. 
   
   
       30 . The leg stand of  claim 1  further comprising a handle formed as a slot in the leg contacting member, side panel, sole plate or base. 
   
   
       31 . The leg stand of  claim 1  further comprising a binding attached to the sole plate to removably attach the user's foot to the sole plate. 
   
   
       32 . The leg stand of  claim 1  wherein two leg stands are joined together to accommodate both legs of a user at the same time. 
   
   
       33 . A leg stand comprising:
 a leg contacting member support attached to a stationary object; and   a leg contacting member attached to the leg contacting member support so that the leg contacting member is oriented at an angle from the vertical, the leg contacting member having an inside surface and a length such that the inside surface contacts a user's lower leg;   whereby the leg contacting member support positions and supports the leg contacting member and transfers any forces applied by contact between the user's leg and the leg contacting member to stationary object.   
   
   
       34 . The leg stand of  claim 33  further comprising a sole place attached directly to the stationary object. 
   
   
       35 . The leg stand of  claim 33  further comprising a sole plate attached directly to the floor at a position so that the user, when placing his or her shoe on the sole plate, may then comfortably lean forward into contact with the leg contacting member. 
   
   
       36 . A method of providing support to a standing user comprising the steps of:
 (a) supporting the sole of a user's shoe at an angle with respect to the floor; and   (b) supporting, at an angle with respect to the vertical, the front of a user's leg when the user is supported in step (a).   
   
   
       37 . A method of providing support to a standing user comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a base contacting a floor;   (b) providing a support for the sole of a user's shoe that is attached to the base of step (a) which support forms an angle with respect to the floor; and   (c) providing a leg contacting member forming an angle with respect to the vertical, the leg contacting member capable of being in contact with the front of a users leg when the user is standing on the support of step (a) and transferring the force of the user's weight from the leg contacting member to the base when the front of a user's leg is in contact with the leg contacting member.