Abstract:
The lift assembly eliminates the need for unsightly items such as step ladders, stools etc. in the personal kitchen area. It provides safe, easy access to upper areas that are difficult to reach. The lift assembly has a step that extends automatically by a convenient and simple toe tap to the cabinet kick panel located at the bottom of all standard kitchen cabinets. Upon extension, the step raises to a height of up to ten inches. Once a person has stepped off the step a load sensor first triggers the automatic lowering of the step and then urges the front movable section of the telescoping frame to retract back under the cabinet where it is out of sight and ready for use again. No unsightly ladders, no tripping over step stools.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/310,895 filed on Mar. 5, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to collapsible steps and more specifically relates to a collapsible step assembly for storing in the unused space under a kitchen cabinet. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    The use of collapsible steps is known in the prior art. More specifically, by way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,017,708 to Lynn discloses a portable unit that allows the user to have an additional step. The device is in the shape of a hollow, rectangular box with a piece of wood with a hole in the middle. This piece of wood rotates up and down and provides the additional step. The hole in the center of the piece allows the owner to carry the device from location to location with relative ease. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,439,342 to Boykin discloses an apparatus having one or two steps which is stored under a counter. When in its single step configuration the apparatus has a front wall, side walls, a rear wall, and a top wall that provides a first step. A folding line formed in the top wall enables the structure to be rotated to provide a second step. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,425,457 to Lundry discloses a collapsible step assembly for storing in a drawer of a cabinet. An end of the staircase is pivotally coupled to the drawer between an extended position and a retracted position. In the extended position the staircase extends out through an opening in the drawer. In the retracted position the staircase is in the interior of the drawer. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,498 to Cutler discloses a pull out step for a bathroom vanity wherein a child may stand on the step. The step slidably projects out from under a floor of a vanity cabinet. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,470 to Carle discloses a ladder with integral housing, hinges, and axle for use in conjunction with independent support structures. The device can be used to extend a users reach height, and then stowed away within the housing. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,897 to Gross discloses a collapsible and retractable step apparatus having first and second steps. The steps extend from a shelf above a floor. A support and suspension leg unit is free at a first end and is rotationally secured at a second end to the second step. The leg unit positions and supports the first and second steps in a contiguous plane. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,492 to Caminiti, et al. discloses a collapsible folding step-stool which is mountable to a cabinet door. The step stool has a platform which is movable between a lowered horizontal position and a raised vertical inoperative position. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,667 to Anderson discloses a retractable step assembly for a floor cabinet having an open rectangular base slidably mounted in an interior space at the bottom of the cabinet immediately above the floor and is located in the cabinet or in front of the cabinet. A step which fits inside the base can be raised up from the base when the base is extended in front of the cabinet. 
         [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,304 to Rasmussen discloses a collapsible step apparatus for use in combination with a kitchen cabinet shelf. The step is secured to the underside of the kitchen cabinet shelf and can be extended or retracted relative to the cabinet shelf. 
         [0014]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,481,429 to Gaede discloses a draw step for mounting in a kitchen cabinet and having legs which slid and fold for storable within the frame 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is disclosed a lift assembly for extending the upward reach of a person comprising: 
         [0016]    a non-movable section of a telescoping frame located in the unused space under a kitchen cabinet, 
         [0017]    a movable section of the telescoping frame movably coupled to the non-movable section between an extended position and a retracted position wherein the non-movable section is located outside the unused space under the kitchen cabinet when in the extended position and is located under the kitchen cabinet when in the retracted position; 
         [0018]    a gear rack attached to the non-movable section of the telescoping frame; 
         [0019]    a gear coupled to the movable section and positioned to engage the gear rack; 
         [0020]    a motor coupled to the gear to urge the movable section to its extended position or its retracted position; 
         [0021]    a step having a rear edge facing the back of the kitchen cabinet and a front edge facing away from the back of the kitchen cabinet; 
         [0022]    a first pair of support legs for supporting the rear edge of the step and a second pair of support legs for supporting the front edge of the step; and 
         [0023]    step height controlling means located between the step and the movable section for raising the step to its elevated position or retracting the step to lying flat within the interior of the movable section. 
         [0024]    The more important features of the invention have thus been outlined in order that the more detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may better be appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter and will form the subject matter of the claims that follow. 
         [0025]    Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0026]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0027]    The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, the preferred feature of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiment as a basis for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention and that such other structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0028]    Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, the appended claim, and the accompanying drawings in which similar elements are given similar reference numerals. 
           [0029]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a step for extending the reach of a person to a high kitchen cabinet where the step is in front of its storage space under the base of a kitchen cabinet in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the step retracted to its storage condition under the base of a kitchen cabinet in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of the step fully retracted within a movable section of a telescoping support frame located in a non-movable section which normally resides under the base of a kitchen cabinet in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of the step fully retracted within the movable section of the telescoping support frame of  FIG. 3  where the movable section of the telescoping support frame is fully extended; 
           [0033]      FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of the step inside the movable section of the telescoping support frame partially raised; and 
           [0034]      FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of the fully raised step inside the movable section of the telescoping support frame. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is disclosed a side elevational view of the Assist Lift here disclosed in its retracted storage position. The step, when elevated, allows a person to extend his/her reach to a high kitchen floor cabinet where the step is in front of the floor cabinet and its storage space in accordance with the principles of the invention. While the invention disclosed is described as being used in a kitchen, it is understood that the invention may be used in any room of the house. 
         [0036]    A kitchen  10  has a counter top  12  mounted on top of a floor kitchen cabinet  14  which has a base  16  that is normally elevated about three and one half inches above the kitchen floor to provide an enclosed unused space  18 . Located above the floor cabinet is a wall mounted cabinet  20  which normally includes shelves for storing breakfast, lunch and dinner plates, glasses, cups, saucers, etc. The Assist Lift  22  includes a retractable step  24  which is stored in a collapsed or retracted condition in the unused space  18  under the floor cabinet when not in use and, when in use is located in front of the floor cabinet and is fully raised to allow a person to extend their reach to place and/or retrieve plates, glasses, cups, etc. located in the wall mounted cabinet by stepping on the elevated step. 
         [0037]    The Assist Lift is stored in the unused space between the kitchen floor and the bottom of the kitchen floor cabinet and, when in use, a movable section  26  of a telescoping support frame, which is movably connected to a non-movable section  30  (see  FIG. 3 ) of the telescoping support frame which normally resides under the base of the kitchen floor cabinet. The movable section can extend beyond the front of the floor cabinet and includes a step which can be elevated to a desired height of between four inches and ten inches, more or less, for a person to step on. 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a front elevational view of the Assist Lift which provides a step for extending the reach of a person to a high kitchen cabinet where the front movable section  26  of the telescoping support frame step  24  is in front of its storage space under the base of the kitchen floor cabinet and the step is elevated. 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a top perspective view of the step collapsed inside the not extended movable section of a telescoping support frame having a non-movable section which normally resides under the base of a kitchen cabinet. 
         [0040]    The Assist Lift includes a telescoping frame  32  that has two sides  34 ,  36  and may have a back which makes up the non-movable section that supports the front movable section  26  which in turn supports the retractable step  24  and its height controlling structure. The front of the movable section is the face of the cabinet base kick. The size of the height controlling structure can vary to fit different applications. In the embodiment here disclosed the size of the non-movable section of the telescoping support frame is about 22 inches wide, approximately 18 inches deep and 3.5 inches high. 
         [0041]    Located within the front movable section of the telescoping support frame are two acme lead screws  40 ,  42  (see  FIG. 6 ) which are used to raise and lower the step  24 . Four polyurethane rollers (not shown) are rotatably attached to the front movable section of the telescoping support frame to allow the front movable section  26  of the telescoping frame to easily roll in and out. 
         [0042]    Located in the front movable section  26  of the telescoping frame is a mechanism that includes a first small drive motor and gearing for moving the front movable section  26  in and out of the non-movable section of the telescoping support frame and a second small drive motor and lift mechanism for raising and lowering the retractable step  24 . An electronic control module which controls and monitors the in and out motion of the movable section of the telescoping support frame, controls and monitors the up and down motion of the retractable step and is connected to safety sensors via associated electronic i.e.: switches, motors, sensing etc. A person with ordinary skill in the art can provide the electronic control module for performing the various noted functions and, therefore, the electronic control module is not shown or described. 
         [0043]    Located on the front wall  26  of the movable section of the telescoping support frame is a spring loaded switch plate (not shown) that initiates the sequence of events of urging the movable section of the telescoping support frame to move out from under the kitchen counter and activates the lift mechanism to safely and efficiently raise the retractable step to a desired height. 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6  where  FIG. 4  shows a top perspective view of the step fully retracted within the fully extended movable section of the telescoping support frame;  FIG. 5  shows a top perspective view of the partially raised step inside the movable section of the telescoping support frame; and  FIG. 6  shows a top perspective view of the fully raised step inside the movable section of the telescoping support frame. 
         [0045]    A first drive motor  44  is coupled to a shaft  46  which drives twin gears that are coupled to the front movable section  26  of the telescoping frame. The twin gears engage rack races  51  located on each side wall  48 ,  50  on the non-movable rear section of the telescoping frame. The first drive motor  44  drives the twin gears against the fixed gear races  51  to cause the front movable section of the telescoping frame to move in and out of the non-movable section of the telescoping frame. 
         [0046]    A second drive motor  49  (see  FIG. 6 ) is coupled to a gear box that turns acme screws  40 ,  42  which engage drive nuts  47 ,  50  that are attached to the rear legs  52  and front legs  54  of the retractable step. More specifically, as acme screws  40  and  42  turn in one direction such as clockwise, the bottom ends of the rear legs  52  and front legs  54  of the retractable step move away from each other and the step rises. In a similar manner, as acme screws  40  and  42  turn in the other direction, counter-clockwise, the bottom ends of the rear legs  52  and the bottom ends of the front legs  54  of the retractable step move toward each other and the retractable step retracts into the front movable section of the telescoping frame. 
         [0047]    The Acme screws are perpendicularly mounted to the drive motor and are housed in the front movable section of the telescoping frame. The motor and drive assembly can be mounted inside or outside the front movable section of the telescoping frame. Four free wheeling polyurethane rollers are rotatably mounted to the front movable section of the telescoping frame to allow the front movable section of the telescoping frame to freely move in and out of the non-movable section of the telescoping frame. 
         [0048]    The retractable step  24  can have a length of 15 inches and a depth of 12 inches more or less. Switches (not shown) that act as limit or position indicators for the front movable section of the telescoping frame and the retractable step, and a load sensing system for monitoring the lift mechanism are provided. Located on the front wall of the front movable section of the telescoping frame is a spring loaded kick plate that causes a contact switch to activate the in/out drive motor  44 . Also located on the front wall of the movable section of the telescoping frame are locations which are allocated for mounting a false front that matches the surrounding cabinetry wood species or other material. 
         [0049]    To operate the Assist Lift disclosed, a person upon approaching the cabinet simply taps his/her toe against the spring-loaded kick plate mounted on the front of the movable section of the telescoping frame. The control electronics recognizes that the faceplate switch has been activated and sends a signal to the drive electronics which first activates the first drive motor  44  to drive the movable section of the telescoping frame out from under the floor mounted kitchen cabinet until the drive position switch is triggered to tell the motor control to stop driving and begin activating the second drive motor  49  until an upper lift position sensor detects that the retractable step is at its desired height. At this time the Assist Lift is ready to use. The retractable step is coupled to a sensor that tells the electronics that there is a load on the step when a person has stepped onto the step  24  and is using the device. After use, when the person steps off the retractable step, the sensor no longer senses a load and the electronics is triggered to begin lowering the retractable step. Once the retractable step is lowered and is located in the movable section of the telescoping frame, the electronics tells the first drive motor  44  to reverse direction and urge the movable section of the telescoping frame into the non-movable section of the telescoping frame. A position switch acknowledges that the front movable section has been fully retracted and shuts off the drive current and resets the system for further use. This entire process can also be controlled with a manual control pad mounted in a desired location. A remote control with a parental lockout feature can also be provided to prevent possible child injuries. 
         [0050]    The telescoping frame can be made using prefabricated sides, front, back and, if desired a bottom which provides support for the drive components and associated electronics. Rollers can be attached to the movable section of the telescoping frame and a spring-load faceplate can be attached to the front wall of the movable section. The motors and gearing can be located within the telescoping frame and carefully positioned for non-interruption of movement. The telescoping frame can be a simple two-sided/single backed surround structure that can quickly and easily be mounted under the floor of a kitchen cabinet. 
         [0051]    Any one of several embodiments can be used to drive the front movable section of the telescoping frame in and out of the non-movable section. For example, in one embodiment the first motor can be located in the movable section of the telescoping frame and a drive screw that contacts the back of the movable unit can be provided for moving the front movable section. In another embodiment the drive motor can be mounted outside the front movable section and the drive screw length can be used to drive the assembly. Single motor applications can also be used. In another embodiment optical sensing or discrete sensing, capacitive technology, solid state and/or mechanical switching/sensing, pneumatic drive or even possibly hydraulic drive can be used. In another embodiment slide guides which are mounted to the sides of the telescoping frame can be used instead of rollers. This can also serve as a way to remove the telescoping frame assembly from the surround for easy access and maintenance. 
         [0052]    This system can be installed inside a cabinet with a false bottom to drive a shelve out and raise it up to allow better access. It can be used in any lift process desired that fits within the physical, mechanical, electrical, etc, limitations of the design. 
         [0053]    While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention and not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments discussed were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are entitled.