US2433699A - Combination stool and stepladder - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 30, 1947. MPKEEN 2,433,699

COMBINATION S' IOOL AND STEPLADDER Filed Sept. 16,1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l Everett Morgana/z Dec. 30, 1947. E. M. KEEN 2,433,699

COMBINATION'STOOL AND STEfLADDER 7 Filed Sept. 16, 1944 ZSh eetS-Sheet 2 i Everett MIWKGQIZ/ w Maw-A.

Patented Dec. 30, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,433,699 'GOMBINA'TION STOOL AND sTEPL-ADDER Everett M. Keen, Vineland, N. J.

Application September 16, 1944, Serial'No. 554,168

8 Claims. (Cl. 155*42.)

1 The present invention relates to furniture and more particularly to a stool or chair adapted especially to household use. While a number of novel and useful features are provided by the invention, a preferred form of construction co nprises a device which combines the functions of a stool and a step ladder; in such complete realization of all the principal objects of the invention the structureis useful in households, and particularly in the kitchens thereof, as an ordinary stool on which a erson'ma'y sit at a table, sink or the like, and as a step ladder on which a person may stand high enough above the floor for suchvaried urposes as reaching the ceiling to wash or paint it, reaching the top shelf of a cupboard or cabinet, or reaching a ceiling lighting fix ture to change the bulb.

To accomplish these and other related objects, the construction in its preferred forms of embodiment comprises a generally rigid frame structure including a seat anda plurality of legs. Movably mounted in the frame is step means, comprising a single individual step or a pair or more of individual steps, which step means is normally maintained in retracted position be neath the seat of the stool but which can be project-ed forwardly to serve as the tread means of a step ladder. When, as is preferred, two or more of such individual steps are incorporated in the structure, they are made separately extensible to different limits; so that the lowermost step will project farther from the plan projection of the seat than the higher step or steps. The result is a more or less regular backward incline of the front edges of the extended steps and the seat, so that allthese elements cooperate in the manner of a step ladder to make ascent and descent very easy and safe.

An important object of the invention 'is to provide strong and stable support for the step means when extendedand to keep the center of gravity of all loads on-the seat or on any step" always Well within the polygonal outline which includes: the points of contact of the legs on the of them can project as far; as the extended legs.

of the lowermost step.

Further objects 1 are concerned with making, theappearanceot the structure neat and orna mental, making the constructionrugged and durah-1e, reducing the cost or manufacture, rendering all the moving parts easily operable and toolproof, and making" it possible to construct the entire device from standard gauge sheet metal With these and other objects in view, as will more clearly appear to those skilled in the art from a reading of the present specification, the invention comprises, apreferred form 'of embodiment 'which has been actually made and been found entirely satisfactory in service, the

construc ion illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing and described hereinafter.

But this construction is selected merely to illustrate the broad principles of the invention as defined the appended claims. Various details may be modified or eliminated, all within thespi-rit of the invention which is defined by the claims. Hence these claims are intended to be construed broadly and without limitation except as required by their express wording or bythe state of the prior art.

the drawing, in which the same reference character designates the'same part in the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the step means of the combination device extended so that the device willfun'ction as a step ladder;

Fig. '2 is a similar perspective view showing the step means retracted ifor use of the device a stool;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially midway between the front and rear legs of. the device, looking backward toward the rear legs;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional View taken through an upper step, along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, looking downwardly;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken through the lowermost step, along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, looking downwardly;

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially midway between the front and rear legmembers, along the line'6--B of Fig. 3, looking to the left in that figure and showing the step means extended;

The device comprises essentially-a rigid frame comprising 7 a plurality, of leg member-s surmounted by and supporting a seat. In the muse trated embodiment {our leg, members are used:

These comprise two rear legs l0, l0 and twoiront Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing aleg members ll, H. The elements l and II have rigidly secured to their upper ends, as by the nut and bolt means l2, or by spot welding or otherwise, a seat element l3 to which may be secured a conventional type of backrest l4 conveniently provided with a hand hold opening I?) by which the device may be lifted and carried.

While all these parts of the structure may assume any appropriate form, I find it convenient to make the leg elements of angle iron stock, or better still of sheet metal formed in angle shape, and to make the seat element from sheet metal, generally rectangular in plan but with rounded corners, and having a down turned peripheral flange It. This flange provides a convenient inner surface against which the side and front or rear flanges of the angle leg elements may be engaged and to which they may be secured by the nut and bolt means l2 or otherwise as has been explained.

The backrest I4 is best made of sheet metal, appropriately curved and trimmed, and bolted or otherwise secured at its bottom margin to the flange l6 of the seat member.

The rear legs Ill are of full length, extending from the floor level to their connection with the seat element, but each of the front legs ll is formed in two sections I la and. llb, for a purpose Which will presently appear.

The upper front leg sections Ila constitute parts of the rigid frame. They are connected to the rear legs l0 by upper side braces l1 and lower side braces l8 which perform the function of ordinary chair rounds. The upper side braces l'l' are connected together by a cross brace l9 and the lower side braces are connected together by a cross brace 29. The preferred forms of these several bracing members will now be explained.

In addition to their rigidifying function in the frame, the side braces l1 and I8 are required to serve as guideways for sliding steps, and each of them is therefore made of channelled stock, conveniently sheet metal formed with a central web 2i and top and bottom flanges 22. The channels face inwardly and they may be secured to the leg members by welding their webs to the leg member side flanges or, as is shown in the drawing, by striking portions of the channel flanges up and down respectively at the ends of the channels to form fastening ears 23 which are bolted or spot welded to the leg member front and rear flanges with which they are engaged.

The cross braces l9 are best made in the form of simple plates each having a central stiffening rib 24.

In the illustrated embodiment I have shown a single pair of upper side braces l1 and a singlev pair of lower side braces l8, but it will be understood that more may be provided, if desired, in any larger embodiment of the invention.

The upper sections lla of the front legs terminate at substantially the level of the upper flanges 22 of the lower side brace l8. These lower side brace terminate forwardly at about the line of the rear edge of the side flange of each of these upper leg sections lla. In order to secure the lower ends of the upper leg sections Ila, to the lower side braces l8, I may use gusset plates 2'5, each having an inturned lower flange 26 secured to the upper flange 22 of the adjacent side brace l8 and having its web secured to the side flange of the adjacent upper leg section lla, as is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. v r 7 The structure thus described provides a very rigid frame, even when made of comparatively light gauge sheet metal, as is preferred.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention two movable steps are provided. The lowermost of these, designated 21, will now be described. It comprises a flat tread portion made generally like the seat element l3, out of sheet metal provided with a downturned peripheral flange 28. This step 21 is arranged to slide in and out in the guideways formed by the facing channel shapes of the lower side braces l8. It is also provided with supporting means in the form of the lower front leg sections llb. Thus it may 'in Fig. 1, to adapt the structure for use as a step ladder. In the retracted position the leg sections I la and llb are vertically alined, while in the extended position, as shown in Fig. 1, the lower front leg sections llb are forwardly offset from the upper section 11a, thus providing good stable support for the structure and any load that may be imposed on it.

While the lower step can be made in a number of ways, I prefer to make it as shown in the drawings. This construction consists in making the tread portion substantially rectangular in plan, although its front edge may be somewhat rounded to enhance its appearance. Extending along each of the. right and left sides of the tread portion 27 and parallel to the flange 28 thereof is a runner 29 comprising a strip of sheet metal of specially formed shape. The rear end portion 30 of each of these runners is secured to the rear peripheral flange 28, and thence the runner extends outwardly a short distance beyond the tread portion of the step and is turned forwardly to extend along the side of the tread portion parallel to the side flange 28. Just short of the front edge of the tread portion the runner is turned right angularly inwardly to provide a shoulder 3| and meet the flange 28. The runner is then continued a short distance around the front of the step, in contact with the front flange 2'8 thereof, to terminate short of the center of the front flange in a portion which is bolted or otherwise secured thereto, as shown at 32. Some such spacing means as the element 33, best shown in Fig. 5, may, if desired or thought necessary, be secured between the side flange 28 and the runner 29 to stiffen the relation of the two members and keep them accurately parallel.

The upper end of each lower front leg section I lb is engaged with the shoulder 3| of the runner 29 and fixed thereto by bolting or otherwise. If desired or thought necessary, a small spacer plate 34, see particularly Fig. 5, may be inserted so that when the lower step assembly is in the retracted position shown in Fig. 2 the two front leg sections will be accurately alined.

As will be evident from the drawing, the lower step assembly slides in the channel guideways provided by the lower side braces l8. The side projections formed by the runners 29 fit in the channels with sufficient play to permit easy sliding but with enough penetration to prevent separation. To limit'the extent to which the lower step assembly may be slid forwardly from its 'guideways I provide a pair of registering perforations in the flanges 22 of each side brace member l8 and drop bolt 35 through them. This bolt becomes engaged by the outwardly extended rear portion 30 of the runner when theassaeee assembly. is slidfforward and. thus. limits. the extent ofwforward movement.

It will be evident from the. foregoing that the lower step. may be readily moved between its Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 positions to convert the structure. from step. ladder to. ordinary stool use. Any weight imposed on the lower. step when in extended. position. is borne by the. rear legs Ill and the front leg sections llb and is transmitted to thefloor, the center of gravity of the construe. tion being well within the outline which includes. the'points. of; contact of these legs and leg sections. on the floor. Thus the device is. perfectly stable,

Asecond step, or: a plurality. of steps, is best provided. In theillustrated embodiment. a. singleupper. step. is. shownmounted to. slide in the guideways. provided by the. single pair of upper. side braces ll. This upper step, designated 36. is made much. like the; lower step 21', being provided with. a similar runner 31 on each side, stiffened if. desired with relation; to the flange 38: by the element 39.. The runner 3115 turned in to. engage the flange 3.8. and. providea shoulder 4.0, but this. shoulder is spaced relatively far back along theside of the step.35 as compared with the position- OfzllhBShQllldGI, 3 l. of the lower-step 2.1. The result.

is. that. the. runner and the guideways provided the upper: side. braces l]; interfit. tov permit the upper stepto he slid in and out a distance which will belimitedby en a ement of theback of the.

step with the rear legs when the step is. in re.- tracted. position and: by engagement of the shoulder ii-with the. front flanges of the; front. e swhen; the. step. isinextended position. Since thechannel; guideways. provided by. theupper side braces. I]; are closed; attheir front by thefront;

flangeso the. upper sections Ila of the front legs itis unnecessaryv to, provide any. such slidea limiting. means. as .thebolts 3.5...

If; desired or thought necessary, the. front flan es-. of. the. upper leg. sections. Ha. may: be.

li ht y. no hed. as shown at 42. to. pass. the, for-. War e dportionsof the runner so. that these por ons; may, end along the front, of. the flange 3,8,,andu'be secured/t eretoin stiffening, relation, ike thepo ti ns 32;;of thelower steprunners. 2.9;.

'ifhatvi o. or more steps; areso. arranged that.

their. stops (thebolts siandthe; shoulders 40 p. 2 .11 th upper. St p; 9.5.1.110 be; extended only;

abouthalf asraras the, lowerstepZ'l. Thus.

the several steps, when extended, have; theirfront; edges arranged in, a, more or less regular backward incline towardthe front edge of the seat element 13. In this positionof the parts the structure provides a very useful step ladder, as

has been explained'hereinabove. When the steps..,

are all retracted, they are all out of "the way in the frame, substantially within the plan projection of the seat element, and the front leg sections arevertically alined, so'th-at the device may-- be-used asan ordin-arykitohen or other type of stool, with thestep ladder parts in no way interferingwith the'legs of-apersQnsitting on-the seat element. 7 v r r 'Fig. '7 shows a slight 'modifi'cation in which the forward end portions 32 =of-the runners 29 of the lower step assembly are fastened to the inside surface of the flange 28 ofthe lower step member- Z'Linstead ottothe outersurfacethereof asshown in Figs. 1 and 2. In the Fig. '7 form the flange 28 is slotted at 43 to pass the runner. This construction affords all the rigidity of the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and may by some designers be considered as producing a somewhat 6. neater appearance because it masks the front edges'of' the runners. Of course this same modification may be made inrespect of the upper step,v and Fig; 7 is therefore intended to serve as a view of a variation of Fig. 4 as. well as of Fig. 5.

Eigs. 8 and 9. show one type of further modification which can be employed if it be thought necessary or desirable to latch either or both of. the steps. in extendedposition to prevent their accidentally being moved back to retracted position and to. increase their sliding friction in the guideways so that they are not apt to fall forwardtoextended. position if the stool ispicked up and tilted forward. Such latches may take any one of a. number of forms, but I have found the one illustrated in Figs. Sand 9: to be simple, inexpensive and entirely practical and satisfactory. It. consists. of small spring finger riveted or otherwise secured at its lower end to the inner surface ofone: of the two runners 29 of the lower step (orto the: inner surface of one of the two runners ofrthe upper step). The upper end of this finger-is bent-inwardlyand provided with a button 4.6; preferably having a beveled face,

pressed by the'spring tension of the material of the finger into frictional engagement with the under surface of the: top flange 22 of the upper side brace l1 or ofthe lower side brace 18, as the: case may be. This surface is-provided' with the-apertureHintowhich the-button snaps when the. step. is; in fully extended position, so that the step: is: .thereby;-latche"d. Retraction of the stepr. requires. the: button to be pushed down throughtheaperture sufficiently for its beveled face-to cam the button entirelythrough-the aperturewhen the step is pushed back toward re When. in retracted position stops3-5= may be omitted or, if desired, both stepscan bereta-ined. In-suchcase, of course, the stopand the latch will be so located adjacent to. a.

single-runner 29fthat neitherwill interfere with the other.

It is thought that from the foregoing itv will. be evident to those skilled. in the art. that the present invention attains allithe. objects and purposes set'iorth in the introduction to this specifl cation of the, details of a. practical embodiment. which has been manufactured andhas given com-..

plete satisfaction inactual use.

It. will. be understoodv that. the construction.

readih lends. itself. to finishing by painting, enamelingor platingin the usual way for metal furniture. In this connection I wish to point out particularly that none of the parts which are in sliding contact (and-which. therefore would not very,long.main-tainunmarred a coating of paint. or thalike) isexposed to view'when the parts.

are retracted-- andthe; structure is in position for use as. a stoo1,.as shown in Fig- 2. For example,- theetread-portions of thejsteps are spaced by the: runners fiflgand-ill'. from the channel guideways; so,that-the; finish of these; tread portions is'.pro-.-.. The.

tested, from contact: with the guideways. runners may be left unfinished for good sliding contact with the guideways, particularly since they are entirely concealed in the normal position of the parts. I regard this as an important feature of the invention.

I claim:

1. A combination stool and step ladder comprising a plurality of leg members including two rear leg members and two front leg members, the front leg members being divided into upper sections and lower sections, means connecting the rear leg members and the upper sections of the front leg members to provide a rigid frame, a seat surmounting and supported by said frame, and a step slidable in the frame and secured to the lower sections of the front leg members and extensible from the frame with said lower sections so as to be supported thereby in extended position.

2. A combination stool and step ladder comprising two rear leg members and two front leg members, the front leg members being divided into upper sections and lower sections, means connecting the rear leg members and the upper sections of the front leg members to provide a rigid frame, a seat surmounting and supported by said frame, and means connecting the lower sections of the front leg members to the frame for movement from a retracted position aligned with the upper sections to an extended position forwardly offset therefrom, said means including a step secured to the lower sections and slidable in the frame.

3. A combination stool and step ladder comprising two rear leg members and two front leg members, the front leg members being divided into upper sections and lower sections, oppositely facing horizontal channel members connecting the rear leg members and the upper sections of the front leg memebrs to provide'a rigid frame having a pair of guideways formed by the channel members, a seat 'surmounting and supported by said frame, and means connecting the lower sections of the front leg members to the frame for movement froma retracted position aligned With the front sections to an extended position forwardly offset therefrom, said means including a step secured to the lower sections and slidable in said guideways.

4. In a combination stool and step ladder, a frame including a pair of front leg members divided into upper and lower sections and a pair of rear leg members, means mounted in the frame for sliding the lower sections forwardly to a limited extent from aligned relation with the upper sections, said means including oppositely facing channel guideways mounted in the frame and a tread member slidable in the guideways and connecting the lower sections of the front legs and adapted to act as a lower step supported by said lower sections when slid forwardly, an upper step slidable forwardly from the frame and adapted to transmit load down through the frame to points on saidguideways and thence to the rear legs and the lower sections of the front legs, and means limiting the forward sliding movement of the upper step to an extent less than the full forward position of said tread member.

5. A combination stool and step ladder comprising a plurality of leg members secured together so as to provide a rigid frame, a seat surmounting the frame and supported thereby, a pair of guide-,

ways in the frame below the level of the seat, a step mounted in the guideways for sliding movement between a retracted position substantially covered by the seat and an extended position be-,

yond the plan projection of the seat, and means ing a plurality of leg members secured together so as to provide a rigid frame, a seat surmounting the frame and supported thereby, a pair of guide- Ways in the frame below the level of the seat, a step mounted in the guideways for sliding movement between a retracted position substantially covered by the seat and an extended position beyond the plan projection of the seat, and means holding the step in either of said positions comprising a resilient finger moving with the step and frictionally rubbing one of the guideways when the step is being moved to retracted position and adapted to snap into an opening formed in the guideway when the step is in extended position. v

7. In a combination stool and step ladder, a pair of front leg'members divided into normally axially aligned upper and lower sections, a rigid frame including said upper sections and a rear support, a tread member rigidly connecting the lower sections and having its front portion supported thereby, and means slidably mounting the tread member in the frame for limited forward movement to a position in which the lower sections are forwardly offset from the upper sections and the rear portion of the tread member is held within the frame and is supported by said rear support.

8. In a combination stool and step ladder, a pair of front leg members divided into normally axially aligned upper and lower sections, a rigid frame including said upper sections and a rear support, a lower tread member rigidly connecting the lower sections and having its front portion supported thereby, means slidably mounting said tread member in the frame for limited forward movement to a position in which the lower sections are forwardly offset from the upper sections and the rear portion of the tread member is held within the frameand is supported by said rear support, an upper step forwardly slidably mounted in the frame between the upper sections, and n'eans limiting forward sliding movement of the upper step to an extent less than the full forward position of the lower tread member, said upper step being adapted to transmit load down through the frame to said rear support and said lower sections.

, EVERETT M. KEEN.

REFERENCES CI ED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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