An actuating footrest that is operable by a seated user, the footrest comprising:
- (a.) a footboard configured to receive a plurality of forces applied by the user's feet, the footboard having a length, width, and thickness, the footboard further having a top and bottom surface, the user's feet positioned at the top surface;
- (b.) a flexible frame configured to resist and return at least one of the applied forces, the flexible frame attached to the footboard via a connecting plate, the flexible frame comprising:
- (i.) a pair of lower hinge mechanisms, each hinge mechanism comprising a joint with a pin about which one or more springs are coiled;
- (ii.) an upper hinge mechanism having a rod spanning a substantial portion of the length of the footboard, the connecting plate having a pair of hooks that hook the rod;
- (iii.) a pair of lever arms extending away from the connecting plate at a shared distance, the lever arms being connected to each other via a central crossbar spanning a substantial portion of the length of the footboard and running parallel with the rod while running orthogonally to the lever arms, each lever arm terminating in one of said lower hinge mechanisms, each lever arm having an angled elbow positioned closer to the upper hinge mechanism than the lower hinge mechanism, each lever arm comprising a terminal hook that hooks the pin of the lower hinge mechanism, the lever arm crossbar comprising a pair of hooks that hook the rod of the upper hinge mechanism, the lever arm crossbar further comprising a protruding plate that angularly projects away from the footboard and toward the lower hinge mechanisms, each lever arm further comprising a spring cover configured to retain a portion of the coiled spring;
- (iv.) a stationary base configured to keep the footrest stationary while operated by the user, each lever arm transitioning to the stationary base at an angle formed by the lower hinge mechanism, the stationary base comprising a pair of base arms that are connected to each other via another central crossbar running parallel and having a substantially similar length to the lever arm crossbar, each base arm terminating in one of said lower hinge mechanisms, each base arm comprising a pair of terminal hooks that hook the pin of the lower hinge mechanism, each base hook pair flanking a lever arm's pin hook, each base arm further comprising a spring cover configured to retain a portion of the coiled spring;
- and,
- wherein the footboard is configured to pivot at the upper hinge mechanism in response to one or more of the applied forces, wherein the resistance and return of one of the applied forces causes the flexible frame to flex and extend, respectively, at the lower hinge mechanisms, wherein the resistance and return of said flexion force causes an altered distance between the footboard and the stationary base, along with an altered size of the lower hinge mechanisms' angles, the altered angle sizes remaining constantly equal to each other during flexion and extension, and wherein the protruding plate and angled elbows are configured to be stopping points for the footboard as it pivots within a full range of rotation, such that the protruding plate and angled elbows oppose each other and each alternatingly make contact with the bottom surface of the footboard as it pivots back and forth within the full range of rotation, the contact made with the angled elbows being simultaneous with both elbows.