FOLDING STEP STOOL

Abstract

A step stool having a step and a handle pivotably connected to the step. The step has a top surface and a wall extending therefrom, the top surface and the wall defining a cavity. A pair of slots is formed through the step, each slot extending from a first end formed through the top surface to a second end formed through the wall. The handle is generally U-shaped and has a pair of arms, a middle section connected between the pair of arms, a first leg extending from an end of one of the pair of arms, and a second leg extending from an end of the other of the pair of arms. Each arm extends through one of the pair of slots formed in the step.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/057,530, filed May 30, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to step stools, and more particularly to folding step stools.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a step stool comprises a step and a handle pivotably connected to the step. The step comprises a top surface and a wall extending therefrom, the top surface and the wall defining a cavity. A pair of slots is formed through the step, each slot extending from a first end formed through the top surface to a second end formed through the wall. The handle is generally U-shaped and comprises a pair of arms, a middle section connected between the pair of arms, a first leg extending from an end of one of the pair of arms, and a second leg extending from an end of the other of the pair of arms. Each arm extends through one of the pair of slots formed in the step.

In another example, a step stool comprises a step and a handle connected to the step. The step comprising a pair of slots formed therethrough and the handle extends through the pair of slots. The handle is pivotable between an open position and a closed position and comprises a pair of legs. The pair of legs are positioned within a cavity formed in the step and the handle is coplanar with the step with the handle in the closed position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Certain embodiments of the presently claimed invention are illustrated by the accompanying figures. It should be understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale and that details which are not necessary for an understanding of the invention or which render other details difficult to perceive may be omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of one example of a step stool;

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the step stool shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the step stool shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the step stool shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the step stool shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the step stool shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the step stool shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view of the step stool shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an example of a step stool in a folded position;

FIG. 10 is a bottom perspective view of an example of a step;

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the step stool shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a top view of the step shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a rear view of the step stool shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an example of a set of foldable legs;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an example of a set of foldable legs and integral handle;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an example of a pad;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an example of a grip;

FIG. 18 is a side view of the grip shown in FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of an example of a foot; and

FIG. 20 is a top perspective view of another example of a step stool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1-2, one example of a step stool 10 is shown. Generally, the step stool 10 includes a step 12, having an upper surface 14, a front wall 16, a rear wall 18, and side walls 20, 22, the front wall 16, rear wall 18 and side walls 20, 22 being formed integrally with the upper surface 14 defining a cavity 24 on the underside of the step 12, as seen in FIG. 2. The step 12 includes two slots 26 therein, each slot 26 having a first end 28 formed in the upper surface 14 and a second end 30 formed in the rear wall 18, as seen best in FIGS. 10-13.

Step stool 10 further includes two front legs 32, 34, two rear legs 36, 38, and a handle 40. The two front legs 32, 34 may be connected to each other and are rotatably mounted to the step 12 such that they can be folded entirely within the cavity 24 on the underside of the step 12. In this example, the two front legs 32, 34 are connected to form a U-shape leg assembly 35, as shown in FIG. 14. The leg assembly 35 is rotatably mounted on the underside of step 12. As seen in FIG. 10, the underside of step 12 includes protrusions 41 extending therefrom, each protrusion 41 being formed with an indentation to receive the leg assembly 35 therein. In this example, two of the protrusions 41 include bore holes 42 for receiving screws or the like therein. A bracket 44 is placed over the leg assembly 35 and attached to the protrusions 41 via screws or the like thereby securing the leg assembly 35 to the step 12 as shown in FIG. 7.

Referring to FIG. 7, a first support brace 46 is pivotably connected to each of the front legs 32, 34 and to an extension 48 extending from the underside of step 12 in order to allow front legs 32, 34 to be pivoted between an open position, as shown in FIGS. 1-8, and a folded, closed position, as depicted in FIG. 9, with front legs 32, 34 folded entirely within the cavity 24 on the underside of step 12. The support brace 46 is preferably provided with an inverted Y-shape including an upper portion 50 and a lower portion 52. The upper portion 50 includes a first end 54 and a second end 56, and the lower portion 52 includes two lower arms 58 and 60. The first end 54 of upper portion 50 is pivotably connected to the extension 48 extending from the underside of step 12 in a conventional manner such as by rivets or similar means. The second end 56 of upper portion 50 extends between the two lower arms 58 and 60 of the lower portion 52 of the support brace 46. The second end 56 of upper portion 50 is pivotably mounted between the upper ends 62 and 64 of the lower arms 58 and 60, respectively, in a conventional manner such as by rivets or similar means that prevent the pivoting of front legs 32 and 34 outwardly from their open position. Lower ends 66 and 68 of lower arms 58 and 60, respectively, are pivotably mounted to front legs 32 and 34, respectively, in a conventional manner such as by rivets or similar means.

Handle 40 includes a middle portion 70 and two arms 72, 74 extending from either end of the middle portion 70 and generally perpendicular thereto as best seen in FIG. 15. The rear legs 36, 38 may be formed integrally with the distal ends of the two arms 72, 74 respectively or may be attached by any other well known means. The rear legs 36, 38 flare slightly outwardly from the two arms 72, 74 respectively. A grip 76 may also be included on the middle portion 70 of the handle 40 as seen in FIGS. 1-8.

Referring to FIGS. 1-8, the two arms 72, 74 of the handle 40 each extend through one of the slots 26 in the step 12 and terminate at the rear legs 36 and 38 respectively. The two arms 72, 74 are pivotably connected to the step 12 in a conventional manner such as by rivets or similar means such that the handle 40 can be rotated from an open position, as shown in FIGS. 1-8 to a closed position as shown in FIG. 9. In the open position, each arm 72, 74 of handle 40 extends primarily through the first end 28 of a slot 26 in the upper surface 14 of step 12 and is generally perpendicular to the upper surface 14. When the handle 40 is rotated to the closed position, each arm 72, 74 passes from the first end 28 of a slot 26 in the upper surface 14 to the second end 30 of the slot 26 in the rear wall 18. In the closed position, the handle 40 is generally coplanar with the step 12 and the rear legs 36, 38 are contained entirely within the cavity 24 on the underside of the step 12. Having the front legs 32, 34 and rear legs 36, 38 fold entirely into cavity 24 of step 12 and having handle 40 fold coplanar with the step 12 allows step stool 10 to have a smaller profile when in the closed position. This allows for easier storage and for more step stools to be store and racks or other merchandising setups for display and sale.

A second support brace 78 is pivotably connected to each of the rear legs 36, 38 and to the extension 48 extending from the underside of step 12 in the same manner as the first support brace 46 is connected to the front legs 32, 34 and the extension 48. The second support brace 78 is essentially the same as the first support brace 46 in design and operation and allows rear legs 36, 38 and handle 40 to be pivoted between an open position, as shown in FIGS. 1-8, and a folded, closed position with rear legs 36, 38 folded entirely within the cavity 24 on the underside of step 12.

Step stool 10 further includes pad 80 positioned on top of and attached to upper surface 14, as seen in FIG. 1. Pad 80 may be made of rubber or other suitable material and may have a raised or recessed pattern formed therein to provide a non-slip surface on the upper surface 14 of step stool 10.

Referring to FIGS. 1-8 and 19, step stool 10 further includes feet 82 on the ends of front legs 32, 34 and rear legs 36, 38. The feet 82 may be made of rubber or other suitable material to provide a non-slip gripping surface to prevent step stool 10 from moving when in use.

Referring to FIG. 20, step stool 10 may also include card 84 for providing text or pictures thereon. Card 84 may be made of cardboard or other suitable material and includes flaps 86 which are adapted to fit around arms 72, 74 of handle 40.

Variations, modifications and other implementations of what is described herein will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is in no way limited by the preceding illustrative description.

Claims

1. A step stool, comprising:

a step comprising a top surface and a wall extending therefrom, the top surface and the wall defining a cavity and having a pair of slots formed therethrough, each slot extending from a first end formed through the top surface to a second end formed through the wall; and

a handle pivotably connected to the step, the handle being generally U-shaped and comprising a pair of arms, a middle section connected between the pair of arms, a first leg extending from an end of one of the pair of arms, and a second leg extending from an end of the other of the pair of arms; wherein

each arm extends through one of the pair of slots formed in the step.

2. The step stool of claim 1, wherein the handle is pivotable between an open position, with the pair of arms extending through the first ends of the pair of slots in the top surface, and a closed position, with the pair of arms extending through the second ends of the pair of slots in the wall.

3. The step stool of claim 2, wherein the first leg and the second leg are positioned within the cavity with the handle in the closed position.

4. The step stool of claim 2, wherein the handle is coplanar with the step with the handle in the closed position.

5. The step stool of claim 2, further comprising a support brace rotatably connected to the first leg and to the step.

6. The step stool of claim 5, wherein the support brace is rotatably connected to the second leg.

7. The step stool of claim 1, further comprising a leg assembly rotatably mounted to the step, the leg assembly being generally U-shaped and having a pair of legs.

8. The step stool of claim 7, wherein the leg assembly is rotatable between an open position, with the pair of legs extending generally away from the top surface, and a closed position, with the pair of legs extending generally parallel to the top surface.

9. The step stool of claim 8, wherein the pair of legs are coplanar with the step with the leg assembly in the closed position.

10. The step stool of claim 9, wherein the pair of legs are positioned within the cavity with the leg assembly in the closed position.

11. The step stool of claim 8, further comprising a support brace rotatably connected to one of the pair of legs and the step.

12. A step stool, comprising:

a step comprising a pair of slots formed therethrough; and

a handle pivotably connected to the step such that the handle extends through the pair of slots, the handle being pivotable between an open position and a closed position; wherein

the handle comprises a pair of legs and the pair of legs are positioned within a cavity formed in the step and the handle is coplanar with the step with the handle in the closed position.

13. The step stool of claim 12, wherein the pair of legs extend generally away from the step with the handle in the open position.

14. The step stool of claim 12, further comprising a support brace rotatably connected to the handle and to the step.

15. The step stool of claim 12, further comprising a generally U-shaped leg assembly rotatably mounted to the step.

16. The step stool of claim 15, wherein the leg assembly is rotatable between an open position and a closed position and the leg assembly is positioned within the cavity formed in the step with the leg assembly in the closed position.

17. The step stool of claim 12, further comprising a support brace rotatably connected to the leg assembly and to the step.