Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to a step stool, and particularly to a folding step stool including legs that fold between an opened, use position and a collapsed, folded position. The present disclosure also relates to a tray assembly that moves relative to the legs and is used for storing or holding articles associated with use of the step stool. The step stool includes a mechanism to coordinate the movement of the tray assembly and a step of the step stool when the step stool is moved between the opened and collapsed positions.

Description:
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/804,161, filed Jun. 7, 2006, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to a step stool, and particularly to a folding step stool including legs that fold between an opened use position and a collapsed storage position. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a tray assembly that moves relative to the legs and is used for storing or holding articles associated with use of the step stool. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with the present disclosure, a step stool includes a front leg unit, a rear leg unit coupled to the front leg unit, a tray mounted for pivotable movement on the front leg unit, a step pivotably coupled to the front leg unit, and a tray-step controller coupled to the tray and to the step such that when the step stool is folded, the step moves in a first rotational direction and the tray folds in a second rotational direction to a retracted, storage position. In an illustrative embodiment, the step-controller includes a bar configured to push a first portion of the tray upward thereby causing a second portion of the tray to move downward when the first step pivots in a first rotational direction toward a retracted, folded position. 
     In another illustrative embodiment, the step-controller includes a slider, a tray-mover and a step-mover. The slider is arranged to move slidably relative to and along the front leg unit, the tray-mover is pivotably coupled at a first end to the tray and pivotably coupled at a second end to the slider, and the step-mover pivotably is coupled at one end to the slider and pivotably coupled at another end to the step such that when the step pivots in a first rotational direction, the step-mover, the slider and the tray-mover cooperate to move a free end of the tray in a downward direction toward the front leg unit between an extended, use position and a retracted, storage position. 
     Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a step stool including a front leg unit, a rear leg unit coupled to the front leg unit, a tray mounted for pivotable movement on the front leg unit, and a tray-step controller coupled to the tray and to the front leg unit, and showing the step stool in an opened, use position and the tray in an extended, use position; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the components included in the step stool of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of the step stool of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a right-side elevation view of the step stool of  FIGS. 1 and 3  showing the tray in the extended, use position; 
         FIG. 5  is a right-side elevation view similar to  FIG. 4  after movement of the front and rear leg units to the collapsed, storage position showing the tray in a retracted, storage position; 
         FIG. 6  is a front elevation view of the step stool shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged sectional view taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 3  of a portion of the step stool shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 , and  4 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a sectional view similar to  FIG. 7  showing use of the tray-mover to move the tray from the extended, use position shown in  FIG. 7  to the retracted, storage position shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view similar to  FIGS. 7 and 8  showing the tray in the retracted storage position as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a right-side elevational view of another embodiment of a step stool, according to the present disclosure, with portions broken away exposing a tray-step controller pivotably coupled to a tray and to a step, and showing portions of right and left leg units of the step stool; and 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a drawer slidably mountable to a tray of the step stools of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In accordance with the present disclosure, an embodiment of a step stool  10  is shown in  FIGS. 1-9 . In the illustrated embodiment, a tray  16  is mounted for pivotable movement on a front leg unit  12 . A tray-step controller  13  includes a tray-mover  24  pivotably coupled to the tray  16  and a slider  26  mounted on the front leg unit  12 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  7  and  9 . Also included in tray-step controller  13  is a step-mover  28  coupled to a first step  18  and to slider  26 . When first step  18  is rotated about a first front pivot axis  58  and is lifted, as suggested in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , step-mover  28  causes slider  26  to move upward along the front leg unit  12  causing tray-mover  24  to rotate about a slider pivot axis  36  and move a rear or connected portion of tray  16  upwardly which causes the rest of the tray  16  to pivot downwardly at a first tray pivot axis  30  toward a retracted, storage position, as suggested in  FIGS. 7-9 . The upward movement of first step  18  brings step stool  10  to a folded, collapsed position and tray  16  to the retracted, storage position in a single folding motion, as shown in  FIGS. 7-9 . 
     Step stool  10  includes front leg unit  12 , rear leg unit  14 , tray  16 , first step  18 , and second and third steps  20 ,  22  as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Step stool  10  also includes tray-step controller  13  comprising tray-mover  24 , slider  26 , and a step-mover  28 , as also shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     In an illustrated embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1 , tray  16  is coupled to front leg unit  12  at the first tray pivot axis  30 . Each tray-mover  24  is coupled at a first end  32  to tray  16  for pivotable movement about a second tray pivot axis  34 . Slider  26  is mounted for sliding movement on front leg unit  12  and is coupled to a second end  38  of tray-mover  24  for pivotable movement about slider pivot axis  36 . Step-mover  28  is coupled at one end to slider  26  for pivotable movement at slider pivot axis  36  and at an opposite end to first step  18  for pivotable movement at a first central pivot axis  40 . A step-connector  42  interconnects first, second and third steps  18 ,  20  and  22 , respectively, and is connected to first step  18  at a first rear pivot axis  41 , to second step  20  at a second rear pivot axis  44 , and to third step  22  at a third rear pivot axis  46 . A rear leg bar or connector  48  is coupled to step-connector  42  for pivotable movement about the second rear pivot axis  44  and coupled to rear leg unit  14  for pivotable movement at a first leg pivot axis  50 . Although rear leg bar  48  is shown pivotably connected at the second rear axis  44  with step  20  and step-connector  42 , this connection may be at any point on step-connector  42  or at any point on steps  18 ,  20  and  22 . 
     Front and rear leg units  12 ,  14  cooperate to define a foldable step stool frame  52  that is configured to support tray  16  and steps  18 ,  20 ,  22  as frame  52  is folded and unfolded. Rear leg unit  14  is coupled to front leg unit  12  by leg hinges  54  for pivotable movement at leg pivot points or first leg pivot axes  56  between an unfolded, use position of step stool  10  shown, for example, in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 ,  4 , and  7  and a folded, collapsed position of step stool  10  shown, for example, in  FIGS. 5 ,  6 , and  9 . Steps  18 ,  20 , and  22  are coupled to front leg unit  12  for pivotable movement at step pivot points or first front, second front and third front pivot axes  58 ,  60 , and  62 , respectively. 
     As suggested in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , front leg unit  12  comprises a left leg  64  having a lower end  66 , a right leg  68  having a lower end  70 , and a bottom cross-member  72  interconnecting legs  64  and  68 . Each of the lower ends  66 ,  70  and cross-member  72  are adapted to contact ground  74  underlying frame  52 . In illustrative embodiments, feet  76  are mounted on lower ends  66 ,  70 . In illustrative embodiments, front leg unit  12  is U-shaped, as suggested in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     As suggested in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , and best seen in  FIG. 2 , rear leg unit  14  comprises a left leg  78  having a lower end  80  and an upper end  82 , a right leg  84  having a lower end  86  and an upper end  88 , a lower cross-member  90  interconnecting lower ends  80 ,  86 , and an upper cross-member  92  interconnecting upper ends  82 ,  88 . In illustrative embodiments, lower ends  80 ,  86  are angled outwardly at a point at or below lower cross-member  90 , as suggested in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In illustrative embodiments, feet  94  are mounted on lower ends  80 ,  86 , as suggested in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     Upper ends  82 ,  88  of left and right legs  78 ,  84  of rear leg unit  14  are coupled, respectively, to left and right legs  64 ,  68  of front leg unit  12  at first leg pivot axis  56  of leg hinge  54  so that rear leg unit  14  is able to pivot relative to front leg unit  12  between an opened position away from left and right legs  64 ,  68  as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 1 ,  4 , and  7  and a folded, collapsed position alongside left and right legs  64 ,  68 , as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 5 and 9 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  4 ,  8 , and  9 , first leg pivot axis  56  is located above first central pivot axis  40  and below first tray pivot axis  30 . 
     Front leg unit  12  includes a lower section  96  comprising lower portions of left and right legs  64 ,  68  and an upper section  98  comprising upper portions of left and right legs  64 ,  68 , as suggested in  FIG. 1 . Lower section  96  is arranged to extend downwardly from leg hinge  54  in direction D 1  and adapted to contact ground  74  underlying frame  52 . Upper section  98  extends upwardly away from lower section  96  in direction D 2 . Left and right legs  64 ,  68  include upper ends  100 ,  102  on which handles  104  are mounted for grasping by a user, for example, when ascending or descending step stool  10 . Steps  18 ,  20 , and  22  are coupled to lower section  96 . 
     Tray  16  is mounted on a distal portion of upper section  98  and on upper ends  100 ,  102  of left and right legs  64 ,  68 , respectively, of front leg unit  12  for pivotable movement about first tray pivot axis  30 , as suggested in  FIGS. 1 ,  4 ,  7 , and  8 . Tray  16  is also coupled to tray-mover  24  for pivotable movement about second tray pivot axis  34  and tray-mover  24  is coupled to slider  26  for pivotable movement about slider pivot axis  36 . 
     Tray-mover  24  is configured to control pivoting movement of tray  16  relative to front leg unit  12  about first and second tray pivot axes  30 ,  34 , respectively, during folding and unfolding of step stool  10 . Tray-mover  24  is coupled to tray  16  for pivotable movement at first tray pivot axis  30  and to slider  26  for pivotable movement at slider pivot axis  36 . Step-mover  28  is coupled at one end to slider  26  at slider pivot axis  36  and to first step  18  at first central pivot axis  40 . Step-mover  28 , slider  26 , and tray-mover  24  comprise or are configured, for example, as tray-step controller  13 , to cooperate to move tray  16  in a downward direction D 3  relative to front leg unit  12  between an extended, use position and a retracted, storage position when step  18  is moved in an upward direction D 4  relative to front leg unit  12 , as suggested by the movement of step  18  in the direction of movement or rotation arrow M 1 , the movement of slider  26  in the direction of movement arrow M 2 , and the movement of tray  16  in the direction of movement or rotation arrow M 3 , as suggested in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . The retracted, storage position of tray  16  is shown, for example, in  FIGS. 6 and 9 . 
     As suggested in  FIGS. 1 ,  4 , and  7 , tray  16  includes a connected end  106  and a free end  108 . Connected end  106  is coupled to front leg unit  12  for pivotable movement at first tray pivot axis  30 . Connected end  106  is coupled to tray-mover  24  for pivotable movement at second tray pivot axis  34 . Second tray pivot axis  34  is located on a rear overhang portion  110  of connected end  106  of tray  16 . Connected end  106  is arranged to extend in a first direction from first tray pivot axis  30  and toward second tray pivot axis  34  when tray  16  is in an extended, use position, as suggested in  FIGS. 1 ,  4 , and  7 . 
     Free end  108  is arranged to extend in a second direction from first tray pivot axis  34 , opposite to the first direction, to overlie rear leg unit  14  when the step stool  10  is in the unfolded, use position, as suggested in  FIGS. 4 and 7 . Free end  108  and connected end  106  are arranged to extend along and lie essentially between left and right legs  64 ,  68  of U-shaped front leg unit  12  upon upward movement of step  18  relative to front leg unit  12  to the folded, collapsed position of step stool  10 , as suggested in  FIGS. 7-9 . The upward movement of step  18  causes an upward movement of connected end  106  and a downward movement of free end  108  resulting in a side-by-side relation of tray  16  and front leg unit  12  and a compact step stool  10  in the folded, collapsed position, such that tray  16  does not extend vertically above frame  52  or handles  104  of step stool  10 , and tray  16  is in a protected position essentially within the confines of the folded and collapsed step stool  10 , as suggested in  FIGS. 3 ,  5 ,  6 , and  9 . 
     Tray  16  also includes a drawer  17 , as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  6  and  10 , slidably mounted to an underside  19  of tray  16 . As shown, for example, in  FIG. 11 , drawer  17  includes a rail  21  coupled to tray  16  via, for example, screws  23  to provide a slideway for drawer  17 . Drawer  17  is configured to extend to an opened position in a direction D 3  from first tray pivot axis  30 , which is in a direction away from a user standing on the step  18 ,  20 ,  22  of step stool  10  and step stool  200  (discussed later herein) in the use position. Drawer  17  also includes a lock or latch mechanism  25  including, for example, a tongue  27  on drawer  17 , a notch  29  on tray  16  and an actuator  31  on tongue  27  that cooperate to secure drawer  17  in an unopened or closed position and to release drawer  17  for movement to an opened position, as shown, for example, in phantom in  FIG. 10 . 
     Second step  20  is arranged to lie under first step  18  and between left and right legs  64 ,  68  of front leg unit  12 , as suggested in  FIG. 1 . Second step  20  is coupled at mid-sections  112 ,  114  of left and right legs  64 ,  68  at a second front pivot axis  60  on each of legs  64 ,  68  for pivotable movement about second front pivot axis  60 . Second step  20  is also coupled to step-connector  42  and rear leg bar  48  at second rear pivot axis  44  for pivotable movement about second rear pivot axis  44 . Pivot bar  42  is coupled to left and right legs  78 ,  84  of rear leg unit  14  via rear leg bar  48  at second leg pivot axis  50  for pivotable movement about pivot axis  50 , as suggested in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
     Third step  22  is arranged to lie under second step  20  and between left and right legs  64 ,  68  of front leg unit  12 , as suggested in  FIG. 1 . Third step  20  is coupled to mid-sections  112 ,  114  of left and right legs  64 ,  68  at a third front pivot axis  62  on each of left and right legs  64 ,  68  for pivotable movement about third front pivot axis  62 . Third step  22  is also coupled to pivot bar  42  at third rear pivot axis  46  for pivotable movement about third rear pivot axis  46 . 
     Step-connector  42  interconnects steps  18 ,  20  and  22  at first, second, and third rear pivot axes  41 ,  44 , and  46 , respectively. When step  18  is lifted, step-connector  42  permits steps  20  and  22  to follow the pivotable movement of step  18  toward the folded, collapsed position of step stool  10 , as suggested in  FIGS. 7-9 . 
     Tray-mover  24  is coupled to tray  16  for pivotable movement at second tray pivot axis  34  and coupled to slider  26  and step-connector  28  for pivotable movement at slider pivot axis  36 . Step-connector  42  is coupled to step  18  for pivotable movement at first rear pivot axis  41 . Step-connector  42  interconnects steps  18 ,  20 ,  22  at first, second, and third rear pivot axes  41 ,  44 ,  46 , respectively. With the step stool  10  in the unfolded, use position as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 1 ,  4 , and  7 , when step  18  is lifted to move step stool  10  to the folded, collapsed position, step  18 , step-connector  42 , step-mover  28 , slider  26 , and tray-mover  24  cooperate automatically, in a single operation, to move tray  16  downwardly in a first rotational direction and steps  18 ,  20 ,  22  upwardly in a second, opposite rotational direction such that tray  16  lies in side-by-side relation to front leg unit  12 , and rear leg unit  14  pivots inwardly to lie in side-by-side relation to front leg unit  12 . The step stool  10  is thus in the folded, collapsed position with tray  16  stored within the confines of the step stool  10  and not extending upwardly above frame  52  or beyond handles  104 , as suggested in  FIGS. 3 ,  6 , and  9 . 
     To move the step stool  10  from the folded, collapsed position, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 9 , to the unfolded, use position, as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  4 , and  7 , rear leg unit  12  is pulled apart from front leg unit  14  and pivots about front leg pivot axis  56  on leg hinge  54 , causing rear leg bar  48  to pivot about second leg pivot axis  50  on rear leg unit  14 . That pivoting action causes step-connector  42  to move downward permitting steps  18 ,  20 ,  22  to pivot downward about first, second, and third rear pivot axes  41 ,  44 , and  46 , respectively, toward step positions that are essentially parallel to ground  74 , as suggested in  FIG. 1 . When step  18  pivots downwardly, step-mover  28  pivots about first central pivot axis  40  on step  18  and pivot about slider pivot axis  36  on slider  26 , thereby pulling slider  26  down along legs  64 ,  68  of front leg unit  14 . As slider  26  moves downwardly, tray-mover  24  pivots about slider pivot axis  36  and pulls rear overhang position  110  of connected end  106  tray  16  downwardly, causing connected end  106  of tray  16  to pivot about first tray pivot axis  30  thereby moving free end  108  of tray  16  upwardly and bringing tray  16  to the extended, use position, as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  4 , and  7 . The extended, use position of tray  16  is able to be located at a relatively high position on step stool  10  because when step stool  10  is moved to the folded, collapsed position, tray  16  is rotated downwardly to the retracted, storage position within the confines of step stool  10 . 
     In accordance with the present disclosure, another embodiment, step stool  200 , is shown in  FIG. 10 . The elements of step stool  200  are configured and arranged essentially the same as the embodiment of step stool  10  except for the following. A tray-step controller  213  includes a single connector or bar  215  pivotably coupled to the connected end  106  of tray  16  and pivotably coupled to first step  18 , as shown in  FIG. 11 . Also, when step  18  is lifted, bar  215  causes the rear portion or connected end  106  of tray  16  to move upwardly causing free end  108  of tray  16  to move downwardly and step stool  200  to move to a folded, collapsed position in a single folding motion (not shown, but see  FIGS. 7-9  for similar movement of step stool  10 ).