Patent ID: 8925682
Filing Date: 2015-01-06
Classification: A47C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A convertible step stool moveable between a single step mode and a double step mode, said convertible step stool comprising: a base housing having a first planar top surface coupled to a first plurality of walls, said first plurality of walls including a rectilinear front wall and a first pair of opposing rectilinear side walls, each opposing rectilinear side wall of said first pair of opposing rectilinear side walls respectively having a base housing bottom edge, a rearward edge, a base housing top edge coupled to said first planar top surface, and a front edge, wherein said front wall is coupled approximately perpendicularly to said first planar top surface and extends between said front edges; a moveable housing, rotatably coupled to said base housing, having a second planar top surface coupled to a second plurality of walls, said second plurality of walls including a rectilinear back wall and a second pair of opposing rectilinear side walls, each opposing rectilinear side wall of said second pair of rectilinear side walls respectively having a moveable housing bottom edge, a forward edge, a moveable housing top edge coupled to said second planar top surface, and a back edge, wherein said back wall is coupled approximately perpendicularly to said second planar top surface and extends between said back edges; wherein said front wall has a first major length extending between said front edges; wherein said back wall has a second major length extending between said back edges, said second major length being less than said first major length; wherein each opposing rectilinear side wall of said first pair of opposing rectilinear side walls respectively has a first height extending from respective said base housing bottom edges to respective said base housing top edges; wherein each opposing rectilinear side wall of said second pair of opposing rectilinear side walls respectively has a second height extending from respective said moveable housing bottom edges to respective said moveable housing top edges, said second height being equal to said first height; wherein each opposing rectilinear side wall of said first pair of opposing rectilinear side walls respectively includes a first pivot location disposed proximate to respective said base housing top edges and proximate to respective said rearward edges, said first pivot locations respectively having a first pivot height positioned a first pivot height distance above respective said base housing bottom edges; wherein each opposing rectilinear side wall of said second pair of opposing rectilinear side walls respectively includes a second pivot location disposed closer to respective said moveable housing top edges than respective said moveable housing bottom edges, the second pivot locations are respectively positioned between respective said back and forward edges, said second pivot locations respectively positioned a second pivot height distance above respective said moveable housing bottom edges, said second pivot height distance being equal to said first pivot height distance, said second pivot locations respectively positioned a lateral displacement distance from respective said forward edges, wherein said lateral displacement distance is generally equal to the second pivot height distance; wherein said base housing is molded of plastic and said moveable housing is molded of plastic; a first pivot coupler having a first spring loaded locking mechanism passing through a first one of the first pivot locations and a respective first one of the second pivot locations; a second pivot coupler having a second spring loaded locking mechanism passing through a second one of the first pivot locations and a respective second one of the second pivot locations, said first and second pivot couplers respectively configured to lock the stool in the single step mode and the double step mode; and wherein said first planar top surface forms a first plane, said second planar top surface forms a second plane, and said back wall forms a third plane, wherein said moveable housing is configured to rotate about said first and second pivot couplers to move said stool between said single step and double step modes, wherein the stool is positioned in the single step mode when said first plane is coplanar with said second plane to form a continuous planar surface while all of the bottom edges are aligned to rest on flat ground, wherein the stool is positioned in the double step mode when said first plane is generally perpendicular to said second plane while said first plane is generally parallel with said third plane while said forward edges are aligned with said base housing bottom edges to rest on flat ground, wherein the stool is configured to allow a user to walk directly on the first planar top surface, the second planar top surface and the back wall during use.