Retractable Step Stool

Abstract

A retractable step stool includes an enclosure, a lower step and an upper step. The steps are slidably attached to opposing side interior walls of the enclosure; each step has a front surface and a tread surface adjacent to a top edge thereof. A mechanism at the rear of the lower step includes an extension spring secured the enclosure and levers connected to the extension spring. The spring is under tension while the step stool is closed, and when released causes both the lower and upper steps to move outward from the enclosure. In the closed position, the upper and lower steps are housed inside the enclosure while the upper step front surface and lower step front surface are flush with each other; in the open position, the steps extend outward from the enclosure, the lower step extending further from the upper step so that the tread surfaces are exposed.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates to a step stool suitable for installation in public places. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a step stool that is convenient and retractable while being adapted for permanent installation.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Small children often need assistance reaching items on or above a standard countertop. For example, at a lavatory in a public restroom a child may have to lean against the countertop and stretch to reach the water taps, and very often needs assistance reaching the soap dispenser. It is desirable to instill in a child the habit of washing hands, particularly when using a public restroom, to prevent the spread of communicable diseases (e.g. swine flu). However, it is difficult and sometimes impossible for a child to properly use the lavatory unaided.

Step stools, including step stools for children's use, are well known but typically are not adapted for use in public places. It is desirable to implement a step stool that is rugged, easy to use and fully retractable when not in use.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure provides a retractable step stool suitable for installation in public places, such as under the countertop in a public restroom.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, a retractable step stool includes an enclosure, a lower step and an upper step. The enclosure has a substantially cubical shape and one open side. The lower step is slidably attached to opposing side interior walls of the enclosure, and has a front surface and a first tread surface adjacent to a top edge of that front surface. The upper step is slidably attached to the opposing side interior walls of the enclosure above the lower step, and has a front surface and a second tread surface adjacent to a top edge of its front surface. The front surfaces of the lower and upper steps substantially cover the open side of the enclosure when the step stool is in a closed position. A mechanism, effective to cause the lower step to move outward from the enclosure, includes an extension spring secured to a rear interior wall of the enclosure and levers connected to the extension spring and secured to the lower step. The spring, which is under tension while the step stool is closed, relaxes when a latch is opened; in an embodiment, the latch is opened by pressure on the front of the lower step.

The lower step may have a protrusion extending upward therefrom, configured to contact the upper step during outward movement of the lower step to thereby cause the lower step to move outward from the enclosure.

The step stool has a closed position in which the upper and lower steps are housed inside the enclosure while the upper step front surface and lower step front surface are flush with each other at the open end of the enclosure; and an open position in which the upper and lower steps extend outward from the enclosure, the lower step extending further from the upper step so that the first tread surface and the second tread surface are exposed.

The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, the preferred features of the present disclosure so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the disclosure that follows. Additional features of the disclosure will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiment as a basis for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure and that such other structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the disclosure in its broadest form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a step stool according to an embodiment of the disclosure in a closed or retracted position.

FIG. 2 illustrates the step stool of FIG. 1 in an open or extended condition.

FIG. 3 shows in cross-section view a step stool according to an embodiment of the disclosure, schematically illustrating mechanisms for extending and retracting the steps.

FIGS. 4A and 4B schematically illustrate a lower step of a step stool according to an embodiment of the disclosure in its closed and open positions respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A step stool 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, in its closed position, is shown in FIG. 1. Step stool 1 includes an enclosure 10 which houses steps 11 and 12 when in the closed position, so that the front faces of steps 11 and 12 are flush with each other and with the front edge 13 of the enclosure. Enclosure 10 is provided with fittings (plates, straps, bolts, etc.) for securing the step stool to the floor. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, plates 15 with bolt holes therein are secured to the bottom of enclosure 10.

FIG. 2 shows step stool 1 in its open position, with steps 11 and 12 both fully extended from enclosure 10. The tread surfaces 21, 22 of the upper and lower steps may be provided with a non-skid coating 25. A user would normally stand on tread surface 21, but not on top of enclosure 10. All components of step stool 1 preferably are ruggedly constructed to be suitable for use in public places.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a step stool according to an embodiment of the disclosure in its open position. In this embodiment, steps 11 and 12 are mounted to the interior side walls of enclosure 10 with slide assemblies 31, 32 respectively. As shown in FIG. 3, when lower step 12 is caused to slide forward, a protrusion 33 contacts the lower edge of the front of step 11 and causes step 11 to slide forward also. In an embodiment, steps 11 and 12 are made of wood and protrusion 33 comprises a wood block on the upper surface of step 12. Steps 11 and 12 need not have complete top, bottom and rear sides; for example, only portions of the top sides of the steps (that is, tread surfaces 21, 22) are exposed when the step stool is in use.

A mechanism for opening the step stool, by causing step 12 to slide forward, is shown schematically at 35. In general, mechanism 35 is secured to the rear interior wall of enclosure 10 and exerts force against the rear portion of step 12. Suitable mechanisms include (for example) clock-springs, extension springs with levers, and gas springs (also called gas charged shocks). In other embodiments, an electric motor may be used in combination with a shaft or cable secured to step 12.

Step 12 may be held in the closed position using a latch (not shown) which releases when the step is forced slightly inward (for example, by foot pressure on the front surface of the step). In operation, pressing on the front surface of step 12 releases the latch, so that mechanism 35 causes step 12 to move forward on slide arrangement 32; once tread surface 22 is exposed, further forward motion of step 12 causes protrusion 33 (a wood block, in this embodiment) to contact step 11 and cause step 11 to move forward, thereby exposing tread surface 21. The step stool may be returned to its closed position by pressing on the front surface of step 12, thereby moving step 12 rearward into enclosure 10. When the front surfaces of steps 11 and 12 become flush with each other, the upper rear edge of step 12 engages a downward protrusion 36 at the rear of step 11; protrusion 36 may be a metal plate, a wood block, etc. Further rearward movement of step 12 thus causes step 11 to also move rearward into enclosure 10. When step 12 returns to its closed position, the latch is re-engaged; both steps are thus held inside enclosure 10.

In an embodiment, a spring 41 is connected to lever 42, which in turn is coupled to lever 43 attached to step 12 (see FIGS. 4A and 4B). In the closed position of the step stool, spring 41 is extended, and levers 42, 43 are retracted toward the rear of enclosure 10 (FIG. 4A). When the latch holding step 12 is released, spring 41 relaxes and forces levers 42, 43 to push step 12 forward. In the open position of the step stool, spring 41 is at least partially relaxed and levers 42, 43 are extended (FIG. 4B).

Enclosure 10 and steps 11, 12 may be made of a variety of materials. In a preferred embodiment, these components are made of a durable plastic material.

Step stool 1 may advantageously be bolted to the floor under the counter-top in a public restroom (as all public restrooms have open areas under the counter to permit access to the plumbing pipes). Step stool 1 may be situated so that it is out of the way when not in use, but can be opened and used by children that require it.

While the disclosure has been described in terms of specific embodiments, it is evident in view of the foregoing description that numerous alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the disclosure is intended to encompass all such alternatives, modifications and variations which fall within the scope and spirit of the disclosure and the following claims.

Claims

1. A retractable step stool comprising: wherein

an enclosure with one open side;

a plurality of steps configured to move outward from the open side of the enclosure; and

a mechanism for causing the lowest step to move outward,

the mechanism when actuated causes the lowest step to move outward from the enclosure, and

each step other than the uppermost step is coupled to the step above at least during a portion of outward movement of said step other than the uppermost step,

so that outward movement of the lowest step causes each other step to move outward, thereby exposing a tread surface of each step.

2. A retractable step stool according to claim 1, wherein the enclosure is adapted to be secured to a floor.

3. A retractable step stool according to claim 2, further comprising a plurality of plates secured to the enclosure, each plate having a hole therein for receiving a fastening effective to fasten the enclosure to the floor.

4. A retractable step stool according to claim 1, wherein each step other than the lowest step is coupled to the step below at least during a portion of inward movement of said step other than the lowest step into the enclosure,

so that inward movement of the lowest step causes each other step to move inward, thereby retracting each step.

5. A retractable step stool according to claim 1, wherein the steps are slidably attached to interior walls of the enclosure.

6. A retractable step stool according to claim 1, wherein the tread surface of each step has a non-skid portion.

7. A retractable step stool according to claim 1, wherein said mechanism comprises an extension spring secured to a rear interior wall of the enclosure.

8. A retractable step stool according to claim 1, wherein said mechanism comprises a gas spring secured to a rear interior wall of the enclosure.

9. A retractable step stool according to claim 1, further comprising a releasable latch effective to prevent outward movement of the lowest step when said step stool is in a closed position.

10. A retractable step stool according to claim 1, wherein the enclosure and the steps are of a plastic material.

11. A retractable step stool comprising:

an enclosure having a substantially cubical shape and one open side;

a lower step slidably attached to opposing side interior walls of the enclosure and having a lower step front surface and a first tread surface adjacent to a top edge of said lower step front surface;

an upper step slidably attached to the opposing side interior walls of the enclosure above the lower step, and having an upper step front surface and a second tread surface adjacent to a top edge of said upper step front surface, the lower step front surface and the upper step front surface substantially covering the open side of the enclosure when said step stool is in a closed position; and

a mechanism effective to cause the lower step to move outward from the enclosure, the mechanism comprising an extension spring secured to a rear interior wall of the enclosure, a first lever connected to the extension spring, and a second lever connected to the first lever and secured to the lower step;

wherein the lower step has a protrusion extending upward therefrom, configured to contact the upper step during outward movement of the lower step to thereby cause the lower step to move outward from the enclosure.

12. A retractable step stool according to claim 11, wherein the step stool is configured to have

a closed position in which the upper and lower steps are housed inside the enclosure while the upper step front surface and lower step front surface are flush with each other at the open end of the enclosure, and

an open position in which the upper and lower steps extend outward from the enclosure, the lower step extending further from the upper step so that the first tread surface and the second tread surface are exposed.

13. A retractable step stool according to claim 11, wherein the enclosure, the lower step and the upper step are of a plastic material.

14. A retractable step stool according to claim 11, further comprising a plurality of plates secured to a bottom edge of the enclosure, each plate having a hole therein for receiving a fastening effective to fasten the enclosure to the floor.