U.S. patent application number 12/473540 was filed with the patent office on 2009-12-03 for folding step stool.
This patent application is currently assigned to QUICKIE MANUFACTURING CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Vince Cella, Peter S. Vosbikian, Jace Weaver.
Application Number | 20090294214 12/473540 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41378389 |
Filed Date | 2009-12-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090294214 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Vosbikian; Peter S. ; et
al. |
December 3, 2009 |
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.
Inventors: |
Vosbikian; Peter S.;
(Moorestown, NJ) ; Weaver; Jace; (Gilbertsville,
PA) ; Cella; Vince; (Medford, NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WILDMAN HARROLD ALLEN & DIXON LLP
225 WEST WACKER DRIVE, SUITE 2800
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Assignee: |
QUICKIE MANUFACTURING
CORPORATION
Cinnaminson
NJ
|
Family ID: |
41378389 |
Appl. No.: |
12/473540 |
Filed: |
May 28, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61057530 |
May 30, 2008 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
182/129 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 12/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
182/129 |
International
Class: |
A47C 12/00 20060101
A47C012/00 |
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.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] 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
[0002] This invention relates to step stools, and more particularly
to folding step stools.
SUMMARY
[0003] 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.
[0004] 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
[0005] 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.
[0006] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of one example of a step
stool;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the step stool shown
in FIG. 1;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a front view of the step stool shown in FIG.
1;
[0009] FIG. 4 is a side view of the step stool shown in FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 5 is a rear view of the step stool shown in FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 6 is a top view of the step stool shown in FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the step stool shown in FIG.
1;
[0013] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view of the step stool
shown in FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an example of a step stool
in a folded position;
[0015] FIG. 10 is a bottom perspective view of an example of a
step;
[0016] FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the step stool shown in FIG.
10;
[0017] FIG. 12 is a top view of the step shown in FIG. 10;
[0018] FIG. 13 is a rear view of the step stool shown in FIG.
10;
[0019] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an example of a set of
foldable legs;
[0020] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an example of a set of
foldable legs and integral handle;
[0021] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an example of a pad;
[0022] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an example of a grip;
[0023] FIG. 18 is a side view of the grip shown in FIG. 17;
[0024] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of an example of a foot;
and
[0025] FIG. 20 is a top perspective view of another example of a
step stool.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] 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.
[0027] 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.
[0028] 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.
[0029] 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.
[0030] 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.
[0031] 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.
[0032] 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.
[0033] 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.
[0034] 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.
[0035] 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.
* * * * *