GB2171596A - Stand stool - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a stand stool on which a person can both sit and stand. It comprises a storage container (10) having a generally flat upper surface which preferably takes the form of a lift-up hinged lid (12). The lower portion of the stool is provided with three or more spring-loaded retractable wheels (20) which serve the same function as those in a kick step in that they retract upwards when a person sits or stands on the stool to permit the lower edges (26) of the container to rest on the floor. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Stand stool This invention relates to a stand stool.

So-called "kick steps" have been on the market four manyyearsandarefrequentlyfoundin librariesand in offices or homes where there are cupboards or shelves above the reach of the average person. They generally comprise a frusto-conical hollow body of metal or strong synthetic plastics material provided with three orfour spring-loaded retractable wheels on the lower portion of the hollow body. The flat upper surface of the hollow body is usually covered with a layer of non-slip material such a ribbed rubber.

A person can therefore stand on the kick step to reach objects on, say, a shelf which would otherwise be beyond his or her reach. The weight of the persons causes the wheels to retract upwards into the hollow body so that the lower edges of the latter rest on the floor, thereby preventing the kick step from moving while it is being used as a step. After a person has stepped offthe upper surface ofthe hollow body, the wheels are urged downwards by their respective springs so as to liftthe lower edges of the hollow body clear of the floor. The step can now therefore be pushed or "kicked" by the person's foot into a corner orsome other place on thefloorwhere itwill not be in the way.

The present invention constitutes a development of the kick step described above in that it applies certain ofthe features of a kick step to a stool in a novel and advantageous manner.

According to the invention, a stool comprises a hollow storage container provided with a generally flat upper surface on which a person can sit and on which he or she can stand when the person wishes to use the stool as a step, the lower portion of the stool being provided with three or more spring-loaded retractable wheels which serve the same function as those in a kick step in thatthey retract upwards when a person is sitting or standing on the stool to keep the stool stationary.

An example of a stand stool in accordance with the invention is shown in perspective view in the accompanying drawing.

The illustrated stand stool comprises a rectangular box 1 forming a storage container. The top of the box is formed by a lift-up iid 12 hinged at 14. The upper surface of the lid is covered with a layer of nonslip material such as a rubber mat 16. A person can sit on this mat when the box 10 is being used as a stool or can stand on the mat when the box is being used as a step to gain access two shelves or cupboards above the reach of the average person.

The lower portion of the box is provided, at its corners, with recesses 18 in which are mounted wheels or castors 20. Each wheel or castor is carried on a vertical carrier-rod 22 which is loaded by a respective spring 24 into a lower position where the wheels or castors 20 lift the lower edges 26 of the box clear of the floorfor example, by a distance of 23 cm. When, however, a person sits or stands on the rubber mat 16, his or her weigh causesthe carrierrods 22 and the wheels or castors 20 to be retracted upwards against the force of the springs 24 into a position where rubberstrips, pads or "feet" 28 on the lower edges 26 of the box 10 rest on the floor.This keeps the stool stationary until the person rises from, or stands down from, the stool, whereupon the springs24will return the carrier-rods 22 andthe wheels or castors 20 to their lower positions in which the lower edges 26 of the box are raised clear of the floor. The stand stool can then be pushed undera table or otherwise moved out of the way.

It will therefore been seen that the stand stool described above has the advantages of kick steps while serving also as a stool and as a container.

The container does not have to be in the form of a rectangular box. It could, for example, be in the form of an upright cylinder. Also, the upper surface ofthe container could be fixed with access to the inside of the container being gained by a hinged flap or door in one ofthe sides ofthe container.

1.Astand stool comprising a hollowstorage container having a generally flat upper surface on which a person can sit and on which he or she can stand when the person wishes to use the stool as a step, the lower portion of the stool being provided with three or more spaced-apart spring-loaded retractable wheels which normally maintain the bottom ofthe container and/or any legs thereon clear ofafloororother support surface on which thestand stool is located but which retract upwards againstthe loading of their respective springs when a person sits or stands on the stool so that the bottom of the stool and/or its legs then rest(s) in a stationary position on the floororothersupportsurface.

2.Astand stool according to claim 1, in which the container is in the form of a rectangular box or an upright cylinder.

3. A stand stool according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the uppersurface of the container isformed by a lift-up hinged lid to gain accesstothe insideofthe container.

4. A stand stool according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the upper surface of the container is a fixed surface and in which access to the inside ofthe container is gained by a hinged flap or door in a side or the side of the container.

5. A stand stool according to any preceding claim, in which the upper surface of the container comprises a rubber mat or a layer or other non-slip material.

6. A stand stool according to any preceding claim, in which the spring-loaded retractable wheels are located, at least partially, in recesses formed in the lower portion of the container, the said recesses being sufficiently large to accommodate the wheels when they are in their retracted positions.

7. Astand stool according to any preceding claim, in which each wheel is carried on a vertical carrierrod on which the respective spring acts.

8. Astand stool according to any preceding claim, in which the bottom ofthe container or any legs formed thereon is provided with rubber strips, pads or "feet"

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (9)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Stand stool This invention relates to a stand stool. So-called "kick steps" have been on the market four manyyearsandarefrequentlyfoundin librariesand in offices or homes where there are cupboards or shelves above the reach of the average person. They generally comprise a frusto-conical hollow body of metal or strong synthetic plastics material provided with three orfour spring-loaded retractable wheels on the lower portion of the hollow body. The flat upper surface of the hollow body is usually covered with a layer of non-slip material such a ribbed rubber. A person can therefore stand on the kick step to reach objects on, say, a shelf which would otherwise be beyond his or her reach. The weight of the persons causes the wheels to retract upwards into the hollow body so that the lower edges of the latter rest on the floor, thereby preventing the kick step from moving while it is being used as a step. After a person has stepped offthe upper surface ofthe hollow body, the wheels are urged downwards by their respective springs so as to liftthe lower edges of the hollow body clear of the floor. The step can now therefore be pushed or "kicked" by the person's foot into a corner orsome other place on thefloorwhere itwill not be in the way. The present invention constitutes a development of the kick step described above in that it applies certain ofthe features of a kick step to a stool in a novel and advantageous manner. According to the invention, a stool comprises a hollow storage container provided with a generally flat upper surface on which a person can sit and on which he or she can stand when the person wishes to use the stool as a step, the lower portion of the stool being provided with three or more spring-loaded retractable wheels which serve the same function as those in a kick step in thatthey retract upwards when a person is sitting or standing on the stool to keep the stool stationary. An example of a stand stool in accordance with the invention is shown in perspective view in the accompanying drawing. The illustrated stand stool comprises a rectangular box 1 forming a storage container. The top of the box is formed by a lift-up iid 12 hinged at 14. The upper surface of the lid is covered with a layer of nonslip material such as a rubber mat 16. A person can sit on this mat when the box 10 is being used as a stool or can stand on the mat when the box is being used as a step to gain access two shelves or cupboards above the reach of the average person. The lower portion of the box is provided, at its corners, with recesses 18 in which are mounted wheels or castors 20. Each wheel or castor is carried on a vertical carrier-rod 22 which is loaded by a respective spring 24 into a lower position where the wheels or castors 20 lift the lower edges 26 of the box clear of the floorfor example, by a distance of 23 cm. When, however, a person sits or stands on the rubber mat 16, his or her weigh causesthe carrierrods 22 and the wheels or castors 20 to be retracted upwards against the force of the springs 24 into a position where rubberstrips, pads or "feet" 28 on the lower edges 26 of the box 10 rest on the floor.This keeps the stool stationary until the person rises from, or stands down from, the stool, whereupon the springs24will return the carrier-rods 22 andthe wheels or castors 20 to their lower positions in which the lower edges 26 of the box are raised clear of the floor. The stand stool can then be pushed undera table or otherwise moved out of the way. It will therefore been seen that the stand stool described above has the advantages of kick steps while serving also as a stool and as a container. The container does not have to be in the form of a rectangular box. It could, for example, be in the form of an upright cylinder. Also, the upper surface ofthe container could be fixed with access to the inside of the container being gained by a hinged flap or door in one ofthe sides ofthe container. CLAIMS

1.Astand stool comprising a hollowstorage container having a generally flat upper surface on which a person can sit and on which he or she can stand when the person wishes to use the stool as a step, the lower portion of the stool being provided with three or more spaced-apart spring-loaded retractable wheels which normally maintain the bottom ofthe container and/or any legs thereon clear ofafloororother support surface on which thestand stool is located but which retract upwards againstthe loading of their respective springs when a person sits or stands on the stool so that the bottom of the stool and/or its legs then rest(s) in a stationary position on the floororothersupportsurface.

2.Astand stool according to claim 1, in which the container is in the form of a rectangular box or an upright cylinder.

3. A stand stool according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the uppersurface of the container isformed by a lift-up hinged lid to gain accesstothe insideofthe container.

4. A stand stool according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the upper surface of the container is a fixed surface and in which access to the inside ofthe container is gained by a hinged flap or door in a side or the side of the container.

5. A stand stool according to any preceding claim, in which the upper surface of the container comprises a rubber mat or a layer or other non-slip material.

6. A stand stool according to any preceding claim, in which the spring-loaded retractable wheels are located, at least partially, in recesses formed in the lower portion of the container, the said recesses being sufficiently large to accommodate the wheels when they are in their retracted positions.

7. Astand stool according to any preceding claim, in which each wheel is carried on a vertical carrierrod on which the respective spring acts.

8. Astand stool according to any preceding claim, in which the bottom ofthe container or any legs formed thereon is provided with rubber strips, pads or "feet" which rest on the floor or other support surface when a person is sitting orstanding on the stool.

9. A stand stool substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.