DECORATIVE STEP STOOL COVER
A decorative step stool cover is provided, comprising: a body having a substantially flat top surface, the top surface configured to cover a planar step surface of a single step stool and the body configured to overhang sides of the step stool; four legs attached to respective corners of the body, each leg comprising a compartment configured to enclose a leg of the step stool; and means for removably securing the step stool cover to the step stool.
The present application is a continuation-in-part application of commonly-owned and co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 14/527,751 filed on Oct. 29, 2014, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention relates generally to step stools and, in particular, to a removable, decorative cover for a step stool, such as a child's single-step stool.
BACKGROUND ARTStep stools are commonly used throughout homes by toddlers and young children to reach items that are normally unreachable and to gain access to commonly used household utilities that are inaccessible without the help of an adult. Accessing sinks, countertops, toilets, shelves, cabinets, dresser drawers or closets are a few of the most common uses for step stools by children.
Traditional single-step step stools exist in multiple shapes, including animal shapes designed for children. These stools are predominantly constructed of hard materials such as wood, metal, plastic, or other polymeric materials. Such materials not only limit the decorative character of the stools, but also their comfort. For example, children with bare, cold feet due to cold weather or wet feet resulting from a bath, shower or swimming, can experience moderate discomfort standing on a hard stool. Many molded stools made of plastic or other polymeric materials incorporate a raised, slip-resistant pattern on the planar step surface to help feet grip the surface, however several of these stools are still potentially hazardous, particularly for children with wet feet, which can easily slip off of step stool's planar surface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a decorative step stool cover. The cover comprises: a body having a substantially flat top surface, the top surface configured to cover a planar step surface of a single step stool and the body configured to overhang sides of the step stool; four legs attached to respective corners of the body, each leg comprising a compartment configured to enclose a leg of the step stool; and means for removably securing the step stool cover to the step stool.
The present invention also provides a decorative step stool cover, comprising a substantially flat top surface configured to cover a planar step surface of a step stool; a body hanging from the top surface configured to surround sides of the step stool; four legs or other representations extending from respective corners of the body; and a head attached to a first end of the body.
In other embodiments, the step stool cover may have any combination of legs, head, and tail, or may not have any legs, head, or tail.
The described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.
One possible sequence of how the decorative step stool cover (100) is constructed to enclose and fit snugly around the legs, feet, sides, planar step surface, and bottom surface of a step stool (200) appears in
As illustrated in
Turning to
The process by which the decorative cover (100) is secured over and around the step stool (200) is also illustrated in the front view shown in
These joined fasteners (8A, 8B), along with those below the neck to secure the cover front, form a complete closure in the form of a partially fastenable and partially unfastenable seam (10, 7), which is shown fully fastened in the side perspective in
A separate collar with nametag holder or sewn-in collar with a nametag holder and/or a customizable nametag, encircling the neck area of the cover (100), that can be written on, colored, painted or otherwise decorated, may serve as an alternative nametag device for the user to personally customize. A decorative nameplate made of plastic, metal or other hard materials or made of materials that can be stamped, written on, colored, painted or otherwise decorated may also be attached to the cover and serve as an alternative to nametag holder (11) described and illustrated herein. The nametag holder may also be secured in such a way as to allow for a nametag to be received from the any side.
The one-piece cover (100) with partially fastenable and partially unfastenable seams (10, 7), including the top cover flap (6) with a stuffed head (1) and tail (4) configuration, allows for easy removal and interchangeability of the plush decorative cover. In an alternative embodiment, the step stool cover (100) may be permanently secured around the step stool (200). Thus, embodiments of the decorative step stool cover (100) of the present invention offer a novel, comfortable, personalizable children's step stool with interchangeable plush animal or other character designs.
The combination provides many characteristics offered by a traditional stuffed animal toy, including companionship, playfulness, emotional comfort, friendship and security, along with practical characteristics offered by a traditional step stool, including the ability of a child to gain access to items that are otherwise out of reach. Custom animal and character covers may be original works of sculpture in the visual arts protected by copyright, and the trade names given to the decorative step stool cover (200), such as Step Up Pets™, may be protected by trademark.
Other examples of variations of the step stool cover of the present invention are illustrated in
The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention, the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Referring back to
Claims
1. A decorative step stool cover, comprising:
- a body having a substantially flat top section, the top section configured to cover a planar step surface of a single step stool and the body configured to overhang sides of the step stool;
- four legs attached to respective corners of the body, each leg comprising a compartment configured to enclose a leg of the step stool and an outside bottom of each leg comprising a skid-resistant material; and
- means for removably securing the step stool cover to the step stool.
2. The step stool cover of claim 1, wherein:
- the body comprises: a top cover flap; a cover bottom; and an unfastenable seam securing one end of the top cover flap to a corresponding end of the cover bottom; and
- the means for removably securing the step stool cover to the step stool comprises: a first fastener secured to an inside perimeter of the top cover flap; and a second fastener secured to an outside perimeter of the cover bottom and matable to the first fastener.
3. The step stool cover of claim 2, wherein the first and second fasteners comprise strips of hook and loop fastener material.
4. The step stool cover of claim 2, wherein the means for removably securing the step stool cover to the step stool comprises a fastener selected from the group consisting of hook and loop material, snaps, zipper, and clips.
5. The step stool cover of claim 1, wherein at least the top cover flap is an absorptive plush material selected from the group consisting of chenille, silk, rayon, and cotton.
6. The step stool cover of claim 1, further comprising a head attached to a first end of the body.
7. The step stool cover of claim 1, further comprising a tail attached to a second end of the body.
8. The step stool cover of claim 1, further comprising graphics printed on a top surface of the top section.
9. A decorative step stool cover, comprising:
- a substantially flat top surface configured to cover a planar step surface of a step stool;
- a body hanging from the top surface configured to surround sides of the step stool;
- four legs extending from respective corners of the body;
- a head attached to a first end of the body; and
- a tail attached to a second end of the body, opposite the first end.
10. The step stool cover of claim 9, wherein the step stool cover has the appearance of an animal lying down.
11. The step stool cover of claim 9, wherein at least the top surface is an absorptive plush material selected from the group consisting of chenille, silk, rayon, and cotton.
12. A decorative step stool cover, comprising:
- a body having a substantially flat top section, the top surface configured to cover a planar step surface of a single step stool and the body configured to overhang sides of the step stool, the body comprising: a top cover flap; a cover bottom; and an unfastenable seam securing one end of the top cover flap to a corresponding end of the cover bottom; and
- means for removably securing the step stool cover to the step stool, comprising: a first fastener secured to an inside perimeter of the top cover flap; and a second fastener secured to an outside perimeter of the cover bottom and matable to the first fastener.
13. The step stool cover of claim 12, wherein an outside bottom of each leg comprises a skid-resistant material.
14. The step stool cover of claim 12, further comprising a head attached to a first end of the body.
15. The step stool cover of claim 12, further comprising a tail attached to a second end of the body.
16. The step stool cover of claim 12, further comprising graphics printed on a top surface of the top section.
17. The step stool cover of claim 12, wherein at least the top surface is an absorptive plush material selected from the group consisting of chenille, silk, rayon, and cotton.
18. The step stool cover of claim 12, further comprising:
- a head attached to a first end of the body; and
- legs extending from at least two corners of the body.
19. The step stool cover of claim 18, further comprising a tail attached to a second end of the body, wherein the step stool cover has the appearance of an animal lying down.
20. The step stool cover of claim 12, further comprising graphics printed on a top surface of the top section.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 19, 2016
Publication Date: Dec 8, 2016
Inventor: Adam Gey Schechtman (Seven Valleys, PA)
Application Number: 15/242,460