GB2250430A

GB2250430A - Step-stool

Info

Publication number: GB2250430A
Application number: GB9026708A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Charles White
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-12-07
Filing date: 1990-12-07
Publication date: 1992-06-10
Anticipated expiration: 2010-12-07
Also published as: GB2250430B; GB9026708D0

Abstract

A step-stool (1) comprising one or more steps (2, 3) and a hand-holdable, user support (4), wherein the height of the support (4) above the step(s) (2, 3) is adjustable. A handle (8) may be provided at the top of a telescopically adjustable support shaft (4) and may be locatable in a recess (12) in a seat (11) also provided at the top of the shaft (4), to form a flush fitting therebetween. <IMAGE>

Description

STEP-STOOL DESCRIPTION This invention relates to a step-stool of the type comprising at least one step and a stool seat, the step or steps providing extra height for a user in, say, a domestic environment, such as, a kitchen, or in other, working environments, for instance, retail outlets, warehouses, libraries and offices. The seat enables a user to take up a sitting position thereon for relaxation or other purposes.

Existing step-stools tend to be cumbersome, in that they are either stored away after use, thereby taking-up storage space which could be used for other purposes, and, also, rendering the step-stools not immediately available for subsequent use. Moreover, these known types of step-stool tend to be dangerous to use, particularly when located away from a suitable support, such as, a wall, which can be used by a user to maintain his or her balance whilst employing the step-stool as a step or set of steps.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a step-stool which overcomes, or at least substantial reduces, the disadvantages associated with know types of step-stool, as described above.

Accordingly, the invention provides a step-stool comprising one or more steps and a hand-holdable, user support, wherein the height of the support above the step(s) is adjustable.

Preferably, the hand-holdable support is in the form of a rigid, vertically-extending shaft located generally centrally of the step(s), which shaft may be provided with a handle at the top end thereof.

In a preferred embodiment of step-stool, the height of the shaft is adjustable telescopically, although such height adjustment may be provided by any other suitable means.

Also in the preferred embodiment, part of the support acts as a column for an associated stool seat which can be lowered when not in use, such that the seat effectively forms the tread of the step or upper step, as the case may be.

When a handle is provided at the top end of the height-adjustable support, it can also serve as a carrying handle for the step stool. Also, and when a stool seat is fitted to the support, the seat may be provided with a recess in the top surface thereof, for receiving the handle therein, to provide a flush fitting therebetween.

The interior of the step(s) may be used for storage purposes, in which case, a suitable closable, access opening can be provided.

As indicated above, the step-stool may be provided with one or more steps and, when two or more steps are employed, the upper step(s) may be stored in the lower step(s), also in telescopic fashion.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, a step-stool in accordance therewith will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a step-stool; and Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the stepstool shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, a step-stool, indicated generally at 1, comprises a base 2, constituting a bottom step, and an upper step 3. An elongate handholdable support, in the form of a telescopicallyextensible shaft 4, is located generally centrally of the bottom and upper steps 2, 3.

The bottom end 5 of the outer, lower part 6 of the telescopically-adjustable shaft 4 is securely connected to the base wall of the bottom step 2 by any suitable means, whilst the top end of the lower part 6 of the shaft 4 projects vertically beyond the upper step 3.

The inner, upper part 7 of the telescopicallyadjustable shaft 4 is provided at its top end with a handle 8.

A seat 11 is positioned upon the top of the upper step 3. In this lower position, the seat 11 constitutes the tread of the upper step 3.

The seat 11 can be raised to its upper position, as shown in chain dotted line at 11', with respect to the support shaft 4, such that it is detachably connected to the top of the lower part 6 thereof, such that the step-stool can act as a stool.

The top surface of the seat 11 is provided with a recess 12, as shown in dashed line in Figure 2, whose shape corresponds with that of the handle 8, so that the latter can be received therein when the seat 11 is in its upper position, to provide a flush fitting.

The base or bottom step 2 is provided with a hinged lid 14 at its front, so that its interior may be used for storage purposes.

When the step-stool I is used as a set of steps, the seat Ii is in its lower position upon the upper step 3 and the upper part 7 of the central support shaft 4 is located and locked in its lowermost position corresponding to the upper position of the seat 11', as shown in Figure 2. This lowermost position of the upper part 7 of the height-adjustable shaft 4 is generally most convenient for a user standing on the bottom step 2 or, indeed, for carrying the step-stool 1.

If the user then steps onto the upper step 3, using the seat 11 as the tread thereof, the upper part 7 of the shaft 4 can then be unlocked and raised to a suitably convenient height, to provide any necessary support for the user standing on the upper step 3.

The continuous adjustability of the height of the central support shaft 4 by way of the telescopic arrangement between the lower and upper parts 6, 7 thereof, provides a suitable support for any height of user employing the step-stool as a set of steps.

When the step-stool 1 is used as a stool, the seat 11 is raised to its upper position 11', with the upper part 7 of the shaft 4 in its lowermost position and the handle 8 located snugly in the recess 12.

It is to be understood that any suitable means may be used to maintain the seat 11' in its upper position and the upper part 7 of the central support shaft 4 at any height with respect to the lower part 6 thereof.

Also, and in a modification of the preferred embodiment of inventive step-stool described above, more than two steps can be employed. Indeed, in a further modification of such an embodiment, the upper step(s) 3 can be lowered into the bottom step 2 in telescopic fashion for convenient storage purposes.

Further, it is to be appreciated that, although the preferred embodiment described above in relation to the accompanying drawing has the lower part 6 of the height-adjustable shaft 4 remaining upstanding from the steps 2, 3 when the step-stool 1 is used as a set of steps, such lower part 6, or any other corresponding part of an associated hand-holdable support, can be retracted downwardly into the confines of the steps 2, 3. With this modified arrangement, none of the handholdable support remains upstanding from the steps 2, 3 when the step-stool is used as a set of steps. Any associated handle, such as that illustrated at 8 in the accompanying drawing, may of course be located within any correspondingly-shaped recess in the stool seat.

Claims

1. A step-stool comprising one or more steps and a hand-holdable, user support, wherein the height of the support above the step(s) is adjustable.

2. A step-stool according to claim 1, wherein the hand-holdable support is in the form of a rigid, vertically-extending shaft located generally centrally of the step(s).

3. A step-stool according to claim 2, wherein the shaft is provided with a handle at the top end thereof.

4. A step-stool according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the height of the shaft is adjustable.

5. A step-stool according to claim 4, wherein the height of the shaft is adjustable telescopically.

6. A step-stool according to any preceding claim, wherein part of the support acts as a column for an associated stool seat which can be lowered when not in use, such that the seat effectively forms the tread of the step or upper step, as the case may be.

7. A step-stool according to claim 6 when dependent upon claim 3 or upon claim 4 or 5, when either claim 4 or 5 is dependent upon claim 3, wherein the seat is provided with a recess in the top surface thereof for receiving the handle therein, to provide a flush fitting therebetween.

8. A step-stool according to any preceding claim, wherein the interior of the step(s) is usable for storage purposes.

9. A step-stool according to claim 8, wherein a closable access opening is provided.

10. A step-stool according to any preceding claim including two or more steps, the upper step(s) be storable in the lower step(s) in telescopic fashion.

11. A step-stool substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.