Abstract:
A step-up stool comprising a platform and at least three legs extending downwardly from the platform, wherein the length of each leg is individually and/or separately adjustable, and wherein the stool is collapsible to a substantially flat state. The step-up stool, therefore, provides a safe platform on which a tradesman can stand particularly on uneven ground, whilst also being easily collapsible, thereby being easy to carry around and to store.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a step-up stool with extendible legs, and in particular to a step-up stool that is collapsible such that it can be flat-packed, while maintaining its rigidity when in use. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     The majority of tradesman such as painters, plasterers, decorators, electricians, plumbers, bricklayers, carpenters and the like, often need to reach up to, and work at, places that are high off the ground. Commonly, these tradesman use step ladders which they either need to carry around with them, or which have to be borrowed at the site at which they are working. Step ladders are, however, very cumbersome and awkward to use, particularly on uneven surfaces. 
     Alternatively, the tradesman will use a simple hop-up of some sort, such as a milk crate or a wooden horse, examples of which can be seen in FIG.  1 . Such hop-ups are similarly awkward to use, requiring good balance and little movement when being stood upon. 
     UK Patent Application No. 9723169.0 discloses a step-up stool with extendible legs. The stool providing a safe platform, due to the fact that each leg is individually extendible, for a tradesman to step onto and work from, even when the ground below is uneven. The stool disclosed, however, is not collapsible and is, therefore, quite awkward to carry around and store with the rest of the tradesman&#39;s tools. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention seeks to alleviate the aforementioned disadvantages by providing a step-up stool comprising a platform, and at least three legs extending downwardly from the platform, wherein the length of each leg is individually and/or separately adjustable, and wherein the stool is collapsible to a substantially flat state. 
     Advantageously, the platform is generally rectangular, and there are four legs positioned respectively adjacent to the comers of the platform. 
     Preferably, the step-up stool has at least two elongate members extending between two of the legs, each elongate member being hingedly attached to at least one of the legs. 
     It is preferred that the platform is hingedly attached to at least one leg. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying Figures in which: 
     FIGS.  1 ( a ) and  1 ( b ) show examples of prior art items used as step-up stools; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first form of a step-up stool constructed in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the step-up stool of FIG. 2, illustrating its  15  collapsibility; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the step-up stool of FIG. 2 in its collapsed form; 
     FIGS.  5 ( a ),  5 ( b ) and  5 ( c ) illustrate how legs of the step-up stool can be extended; 
     FIGS.  6 ( a ),  6 ( b ) and  6 ( c ) show the step-up stool of FIGS.  1 ( a ) and ( b ) used in conjunction with an adjustably attachable board; 
     FIGS.  7 ( a ),  7 ( b ),  7 ( c ),  7 ( d ),  7 ( e ),  7 ( f ) illustrate how the step-up stool can be used in various trades; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a second form of step-up stool constructed in  25  accordance with the invention; 
     FIGS.  9 ( a ) and  9 ( b ) are a perspective view of the step-up stool of FIG. 8 illustrating its collapsibility; 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a third form of step-up stool constructed in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 11 illustrates the collapsible feature of the step-up stool of FIG. 10; and 
     FIGS.  12 ( a ) and  12 ( b ) are perspective views of the step-up stool of FIG. 10 in its collapsed form. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIG. 2, a step-up stool comprises a rectangular platform  2 , from the comer regions of which four legs  4   a ,  4   b ,  4   c  and  4   d  downwardly extend. Each leg  4   a ,  4   b ,  4   c ,  4   d  is hingedly attached, at one end, to the platform  2 . The platform  2  has an aperture  3 , across a diameter of which extends a rod-like member to form a handle  6  in the platform. A pair of slats  8  are fixed between the legs  4   a  and  4   c , a second pair of slats  8  being fixed between the other two legs  4   b  and  4   d . The slats  8  constitute steps for facilitating step up access to the platform  2 . 
     Referring now to FIGS.  5 ( a-c ), each individual leg  4   a ,  4   b ,  4   c ,  4   d  comprises a first tubular structure  26  formed slidable within a second tubular structure  28 . Each second tubular structure  28  has a plurality of apertures  30  formed in its surface (see FIG.  5 ( a ), and each first tubular structure  26  has a resilient V-shaped spring clip  32  (see FIG.  5 ( b ) located within its upper end  35 . Each spring clip  32  has two resilient ball-ended arms  34  formed integral therewith. Each spring clip  32  is located in the upper end of the respective first tubular structure  26 , the V-shaped portion of the clip extending within the first tubular structure and fixed thereto by friction between the V-shaped portion and the inner surface of the tubular structure. The ball-ended arms  34  of each clip  32  extend across the respective upper end  35  of the first tubular structure  26 . 
     The first tubular structure  26  of each leg  4   a ,  4   b ,  4   c ,  4   d  is mounted telescopically within the second tubular structure  28  of that leg, and is locked into position by means of the ball-ended arms  34  of the associated clip  32 , which arms protrude through the apertures  30  of that second tubular structure such that that first tubular structure extends beyond that second tubular structure to maintain that leg at the required length to provide sufficient height off the ground for the tradesman to work at (see FIG.  5 ( c ). The ball-ended arms  34  of each clip  32  can be pushed back through the respective apertures  30  in order to allow telescopic movement of the associated first tubular structure  26  relative to the corresponding second tubular structure  28 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, which illustrates a side view of the step-up stool of FIG. 2, showing legs  4   a  and  4   b . A first elongate member  14  extends between the legs  4   a ,  4   b . The leg  4   a  has bracket  16  at is distal end, which bracket extends towards the other leg  4   b . The bracket  16  has an aperture at its distal end. The first elongate member  14  has, at one of its ends, an aperture, the aperture having the same diameter as the aperture in the bracket  16 . Thus, the first elongate member  14  is hingedly attachable to the leg  4   a  by a nut-and-bolt arrangement wherein the bolt is received through both the apertures in the first elongate member and the bracket  16 . The first elongate member  14  is detachably  4  attached to the other leg  4   b  by means of an indent (not shown) formed within the first elongate member which receives an outwardly-extending protrusion (also not shown) formed on, and about half way up, the leg  4   b . The first elongate member  14  can, therefore, be detached from the leg  4   b  by is releasing the protrusion from the indent. The first elongate member  14  has a closed-ended slot  18  formed along part of its length. 
     A second elongate member  20  is hingedly attached, at one of its ends, to the top proximal end of the leg  4   a .The other end of the second elongate member  20  has an indent so as to form a claw  22 . The claw end  22  of the second elongate member  20  receives a pin  24  that is located within the slot  18  of the first elongate member, and which is slidable along the entire length of that slot. As can be seen clearly in FIG. 3, the first elongate member  14  is angled upwardly when extending from leg the  4   a  to the leg  4   b , whereas the second elongate member  20  is angled downwardly when extending from the leg  4   a  to the leg  4   b . The combination of the first and second elongate members  14 ,  20 , extending between each legs  4   a  and  4   b  at differing angles provides extremely good rigidity to the stool frame which is an important requirement when the stool is stood on for work purposes. 
     First and second elongate members are similarly attached to, and extend between, the other two legs  4   c  and  4   d , not shown in FIG.  3 . 
     When not in use, the stool can be collapsed flat by releasing the first elongate members  14  from the leg  4   b  and  4   d  and lifting the first elongate members, which pivot on the hinged bracket arrangements  16 , until the first elongate members lie adjacent to, and parallel with the legs  4   a  and  4   c . As the first elongate members  14  are lifted, the second elongate members  20  slide down within the slots  18  formed in the first elongate members, thus collapsing the entire stool. Once the ends of the slots  18  are reached, the clawed ends of the second elongate members  20  can be detached from the pins  24  such the second elongate members can be moved to a position adjacent to, and parallel with the legs  4   a  and  4   c . In this position, the stool is collapsed flat, with legs  4   a ,  4   b  and legs  4   c  and  4   d  lying adjacent to, and substantially parallel with, one another respectively, and the platform  2  having pivoted to an axis substantially perpendicular that which it is when the stool is in use. The stool is its collapsed form can be clearly seen in FIG.  4 . 
     Each leg  4   a ,  4   b ,  4   c ,  4   d  of the stool has, at its distal end, a rubber or plastics cap  25  to prevent damage to the ground on which the stool is placed. 
     With reference to FIG. 6, the platform  2  on which the tradesman stands can be increased by the addition of a board  36  placed thereon, extending across the top of two or more stools (see FIGS.  6 ( a ) and ( b )). In this case, the board  36  may be attached to the, or each, stool, using a standard tradesman&#39;s clamp  38 , as can be seen in FIG.  6 ( c ). Further support might be required for the board  36 , in the form of a further extendible leg  39  with a elongate member  39   a  attached to, and extending between, the leg and the board. 
     FIGS.  7 ( a-f ) illustrate some of the many uses of the step-up stool including, amongst others, fencing, painting and decorating, carpentry, plastering, plasterboard tacking and electrical and plumbing work. Furthermore, due to the individual extendibility of each leg  4 , the stool can be used for work on uneven ground and even stairs. 
     FIGS. 8,  9 ( a ) and  9 ( b ) show a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the four legs  40  are formed from first and second tubular upturned substantially “U-shaped” members  42 ,  44 . Each U-shaped member  42 ,  44  has two steps  45  extending between its two legs  40 . 
     Two pairs of two elongate members  46 ,  48 , hingedly attached together, extend between the tops and bottoms of the leg  40  of the two U-shaped members  42  and  44 . The elongate members  46 ,  48  of each pair are attached to each other by means of a pin  50  that is received through apertures in the ends of each elongate member (see FIG.  9 ). A platform  52  is hingedly attached to the top of U-shaped member  42 , and has a clip portion  54  with which to receive and connect to the other U-shaped member  44 . 
     After use, the stool can be collapsed by unclipping the clip  54  of the platform  52  from the U-shaped member  44  and pushing the U-shaped members  42 ,  44  towards each other such that each elongate member  46 ,  48  moves to a position substantially parallel with its respective pair. The platform  52  may be connected to the U-shaped member  42  by means of a two-way hinge thereby allowing the platform to move to a position adjacent to, and parallel with, the U-shaped member  42  once it has been unclipped. 
     One of the elongate members  46  of each pair has a stop block  56  in order to prevent the hinge of that pair from working in the opposite direction to that which provides the  10  stools collapsibility. This is more clearly shown in FIG.  9 ( b ). 
     FIGS. 10 to  12 ( a-b ) illustrate a third embodiment of the present invention. Here, the step-up stool comprises a platform  60 , from which four extendible legs  62  downwardly extend, the legs being made up of two parallel pairs. Each leg  62  is attached to the platform  60  by means of tubular structures  64  formed integral with the platform, on the underside comers thereof, within which the legs  62  can slide. Each leg  62  has resilient spring members (not shown) protruding from the outside top region of the leg, the resilient members being received through apertures in the tubular structures  64  to attach the legs to the platform and lock them in place. Steps  66 ,  68 , in the form of a slats, are located between opposite pairs of parallel legs  62 . Each step  66  has two spaced-apart, tubular members  70  formed integral therewith. The ends of the tubular U-shaped members  72  are received within respective tubular members  70  formed on the steps  66 . Each tubular U-shaped member  72  has resilient spring members (not shown) protruding from the outside of the end of both arms, the resilient members being received through apertures in the tubular structures  70  to attach the U-shaped tubular member  72  to the legs  62  and lock them in place (see FIGS.  10  and  11 ). 
     Once used, the stool can be collapsed by uncipping the platform  60  from the legs  62 , and by unclipping the U-shaped tubular members  72  from the tubular structures  70  formed on the steps  66 . The stool, in its collapsed form can be seen clearly in FIG.  12 ( a ). 
     It will be appreciated that each further embodiment utilizes the extendible legs described previously with reference to the first embodiment. 
     The stools of each embodiment may be made from a number of materials, preferably those which are lightweight and strong, such as aluminum, hardened plastic, steel, UPVC, carbon fibre, fibre glass or graphite.