Abstract:
A collapsible stool with foldable legs as well as a foldable seat is disclosed herein. The stool collapses to greatly reduce its size thereby enabling it to fit within many common carrying articles, such as purses. The legs and support members fold flat against the seat of the stool, which itself is in two pieces and folds in half.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/589,874 filed on Aug. 20, 2012, which in turn claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/525,916 filed on Aug. 22, 2011, the entireties of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    This invention was not federally sponsored. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
       [0003]    This invention relates to the general field of stools, and more specifically toward a collapsible stool with foldable legs as well as a foldable seat. The stool collapses to greatly reduce its size thereby enabling it to fit within many common carrying articles, such as purses. 
         [0004]    Stools have been around for thousands of years. They are a convenient place to sit as well as a handy tool when trying to obtain objects normally out of one&#39;s reach. Stools come in various sizes, from just a few inches high to many feet high, depending upon the stool&#39;s intended use. Some stools are intended more for sitting, while others are intended more for standing upon. In fact, the size of the user can also determine the best use of a particularly sized stool. For example, a smaller user, such as a child, may have an easier time sitting on a short stool, while a taller user, such as an adult, would find it uncomfortable to sit on the same stool. Likewise, a tall user may find it easy to sit on a tall stool, while a smaller user would have to climb up to sit on that same stool. 
         [0005]    Many different materials are used to manufacture stools. Plastic, wood, and metal are the most common materials used for manufacturing stools known to the inventor, though other materials may be used. The seat of the stool often includes a cushion to make sitting on a stool more comfortable, when the stool is intended to be a seat. However, if one of the intended uses of the stool is to be stepped on, then it is preferable that the seat has a hard, non-cushioned surface as a stable stepping platform. 
         [0006]    The prior art does have examples of stools that collapse. These stools often reduce the footprint of the stool (the width or depth of the stool) while increasing the height of the stool. This allows for more convenient storage within a house, but fails to reduce the height of the stool, making it impracticable to carry on a person, such as in a purse. 
         [0007]    Carrying a stool can have significant benefits to parents. Children often have a difficult time reaching sinks, toilets, counters, and other common public areas because of their shorter size. Having a readily available stool would enable them to access these items without having to be held or relying on otherwise unstable platforms. Furthermore, adults themselves may benefit from having a readily available stool. The stool could be used to sit down when waiting in long lines. It could also be used as a lap tray, computer stand, desk, or footrest when such an article is otherwise unavailable. 
         [0008]    Thus there has existed a long-felt need for a stool that easily collapses down such that the height and width of the stool are less than before, and the depth of the stool does not increase. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The current invention provides just such a solution by having a collapsible stool with foldable legs as well as a foldable seat. The stool collapses to greatly reduce its size thereby enabling it to fit within many common carrying articles, such as purses. 
         [0010]    It is a principal object of the invention to provide a stool that easily collapses. 
         [0011]    It is another object of the invention to provide a stool that provides a sufficiently high surface for a small person, such as a child, to gain access to objects otherwise out of reach. 
         [0012]    It is a further object of this invention to provide a usable stool that also collapses to a size small enough to fit into a purse, handbag, or similarly sized article. 
         [0013]    In a particular embodiment, the current invention is a collapsible stool comprising two seats, two legs, and two support members, where one seat is secured to the other seat by two seat hinges, where each seat hinge rotates about the same axis, where each seat has one of the two legs secured thereto, where each leg is secured to the seat by a leg hinge, where the leg hinge rotates about an axis that is parallel to the axis of rotation of the seat hinges; where the leg hinge is located on an opposite end of the seat from the seat hinge, where each seat has one of the two support members secured thereto, where each support member is secured to the seat by a support member hinge, where the support member hinge rotates about an axis that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the leg hinge, where each support member can rotate up to ninety degrees, where one support member cannot rotate passed the other, where one of the two support members comprises a spring and a latch, where the spring and latch are used to create a spring mounted latch, where the spring mounted latch can prevent the two support members from rotating away from each other, where the latch slides along an axis that is parallel to the axis of rotation of the support member hinge. 
         [0014]    In another embodiment, the current invention is a collapsible stool comprising two seats, two legs, and two support members, where one seat is secured to the other seat by two seat hinges, where each seat hinge rotates about the same axis, where each seat has one of the two legs secured thereto, where each leg is secured to the seat by a leg hinge, where each seat has one of the two support members secured thereto, where each support member is secured to the seat by a support member hinge, where the support member hinge rotates about an axis that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the leg hinge. 
         [0015]    In yet another embodiment, the current invention is a method of using a stool comprising the steps of: obtaining a stool, where the stool comprises two seats, two legs, and two support members, where one seat is secured to the other seat by two seat hinges, where each seat hinge rotates about the same axis, where each seat has one of the two legs secured thereto, where each leg is secured to the seat by a leg hinge, where each seat has one of the two support members secured thereto, where each support member is secured to the seat by a support member hinge, where the support member hinge rotates about an axis that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the leg hinge; rotating the two seats about the seat hinges such that the two seats are substantially coplanar; rotating each leg about the leg hinges such that the legs are substantially perpendicular to the seats; rotating each support member about the support member hinges such that the support members are substantially perpendicular to both the legs and the seats. 
         [0016]    An additional embodiment of the current invention is a collapsible stool comprising two seats, two outer legs, an inner leg, and two support members, where each seat is secured to the inner leg by two seat hinges, where the two seat hinges have parallel rotational axes; where each seat has one of the two legs outer legs secured thereto, where each outer leg is secured to the seat by a leg hinge, where the leg hinge rotates about an axis that is parallel to the axis of rotation of the seat hinges, where the leg hinge is located on an opposite end of the seat from the seat hinge; where each seat has one of the two support members secured thereto, where each support member is secured to the seat by a support member hinge, where the support member hinge rotates about an axis that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the leg hinge; where each support member comprises a latch, where each latch restrict the rotational movement of its respective support member when engaged. Each latch slides along an axis that is parallel to the axis of rotation of the support member hinge of its respective support member. The inner leg has a top surface, where the top surface of the inner leg is flush with a face of each seat when the collapsible stool is in an expanded configuration. The latch of each support member engages the inner leg. Each seat comprises a pattern and a logo. The latch of each support member comprises a spring. 
         [0017]    A further embodiment of the current invention provides for a collapsible stool comprising two seats, two outer legs, an inner leg and two support members, where each seat is secured to the inner leg by two seat hinges, where each seat hinge has an axis of rotation; where each seat has one of the two outer legs secured thereto, where each outer leg is secured to the seat by a leg hinge, where the leg hinge has an axis of rotation; where each seat has one of the two support members secured thereto, where each support member is secured to the seat by a support member hinge, where the support member hinge rotates about an axis that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the leg hinge; and where each support member comprises a latch, where each latch restricts the rotational movement of its respective support member when the latch is engaged. The collapsible stool according to claim  7 , where the latch slides along an axis that is parallel to the axis of rotation of the support member hinge. Each leg hinge rotates about an axis that is parallel to the axis of rotation of one of the seat hinges; where each leg hinge is located on an opposite end of the corresponding seat from the seat hinge. The two seat hinges have parallel rotational axes. The latch of each support member engages the inner leg. The inner leg has a top surface, where the top surface of the inner leg is flush with a face of each seat when the collapsible stool is in an expanded configuration. The latch of each support member comprises a spring. Each seat comprises a pattern and a logo. The axis of rotation of each seat hinge is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of each leg hinge and the axis of rotation of each support member hinge. 
         [0018]    Another embodiment of the current invention is a method of using a stool comprising the steps of: obtaining a stool, where the stool comprises two seats, two outer legs, an inner leg and two support members, where each seat is secured to the inner leg by a seat hinge, where each seat hinge rotates about the same axis, where each seat has one of the two outer legs secured thereto, where each outer leg is secured to the seat by a leg hinge, where each seat has one of the two support members secured thereto, where each support member is secured to the seat by a support member hinge, where the support member hinge rotates about an axis that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the leg hinge; rotating the two seats about the seat hinges such that the two seats are substantially coplanar and perpendicular to the inner leg; rotating each outer leg about the leg hinges such that the legs are substantially perpendicular to the seats; rotating each support member about the support member hinges such that the support members are substantially perpendicular to both the outer legs and the seats. Each support member comprises a latch, where each latch is releasable and restricts the rotational movement of its respective support member. The latch slides along an axis that is parallel to the axis of rotation of the support member hinge. The method further comprises the step of sliding the latch. The method further comprises the steps of: rotating each support member about the support member hinges such that the support members are in a substantially parallel plane to the seats; rotating each outer leg about the leg hinges such that the legs are in a substantially parallel plane to the seats; rotating the two seats about the seat hinges such that the two seats are in substantially parallel planes. 
         [0019]    As used herein, the term “substantially” means a majority of, for example, “substantially parallel” would mean that the axes or plans have a relative angle to each other of less than 45 degrees. 
         [0020]    Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” should be read as meaning “including, without limitation” or the like; the term “example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; the terms “a” or “an” should be read as meaning “at least one,” “one or more” or the like; and adjectives such as “conventional,” “traditional,” “normal,” “standard,” “known” and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompass conventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that may be available or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, where this document refers to technologies that would be apparent or known to one of ordinary skill in the art, such technologies encompass those apparent or known to the skilled artisan now or at any time in the future. 
         [0021]    The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “at least,” “but not limited to” or other like phrases in some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases may be absent. Additionally, the various embodiments set forth herein are described in terms of exemplary block diagrams, flow charts and other illustrations. As will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after reading this document, the illustrated embodiments and their various alternatives can be implemented without confinement to the illustrated examples. For example, block diagrams and their accompanying description should not be construed as mandating a particular architecture or configuration. 
         [0022]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. The features listed herein and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0023]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  is a bottom perspective view of a stool according to selected embodiments of the current disclosure. 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of a partially collapsed stool according to selected embodiments of the current disclosure. 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a top view of a fully collapsed stool according to selected embodiments of the current disclosure. 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a stool according to selected embodiments of the current disclosure. 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view of a stool according to selected embodiments of the current disclosure. 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is a front view of a stool according to selected embodiments of the current disclosure. 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  is a top view of a stool according to selected embodiments of the current disclosure. 
           [0031]      FIG. 8  is a side view of a collapsed stool with three legs according to selected embodiments of the current disclosure. 
           [0032]      FIG. 9  is a side view of a stool with three legs according to selected embodiments of the current disclosure. 
           [0033]      FIG. 10  is a bottom view of a partially collapsed stool with three legs according to selected embodiments of the current disclosure. 
           [0034]      FIG. 11  is a bottom perspective view of a stool with three legs according to selected embodiments of the current disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0035]    Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with the references made to the drawings below. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Instead, emphasis is placed upon clearly illustrating the components of the present invention. Moreover, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts through the several views in the drawings. 
         [0036]      FIG. 1  is a bottom perspective view of a stool according to selected embodiments of the current disclosure. The stool  10  includes two seats  13  that are connected to each other by a seat hinge  20 . The seat hinge  20  includes two hinge members  31  that enable the seats  13  to rotate towards and away from each other. Each seat  13  has a leg  11  attached thereto by means of a leg hinge  21 . The leg  11  rotates about the leg hinge  21  towards the seat  13  when in a collapsed configuration, and away from the seat to a perpendicular orientation when in use. The stool  10  also includes two support members  12 . These support members  12  rotate about support member hinges  22  that enable each support member  12  to rotate towards and away from the seat  13 . 
         [0037]    The stool  10  in  FIG. 1  is configured for use. The legs  11  are substantially perpendicular to the seat, as are the support members  12 , and the legs  11  are prevented from rotating towards the seats by the support members  12 . In fact, when in use, the legs are perpendicular to both the support members  12  and the seats  13 . To collapse the stool  10 , the support members  12  are released by sliding a latch  17  (discussed in more detail below) and are rotated about the support member hinges  22  towards the seats  13 . A user may grasp depressions  26  in the support member  12  to rotate them towards the seat  13 . The ends of the support member  12  that are closest to the seat hinge  20  fold into cutouts  32  in the hinge members  31 . In this fashion, each support member  12  folds in an opposite direction. After the support members  12  are laid flat (parallel) to the seats  13 , the legs  11  may fold towards the seat  13  about the leg hinges  21 . Finally, the two seats  13  are rotated about the seat hinges  20  from being coplanar to residing adjacent to each other in parallel planes. Configuring the stool for use from a collapsed configuration follows the same steps as above, but in reverse. 
         [0038]    The seats  13  are rotated about the seat hinge  20  until they are substantially coplanar. The legs  11  are unfolded away from the seats  13  and then the support members  12  are folded away from the seats  13  and locked into place. The ends of the support members meet at a support member meeting point  25 . In a particular embodiment, each end of the support member is “L” shaped, whereby the two ends of the support members  12  mate together. In an alternative embodiment, each end of the support member has a diagonally angled end. A receiver tab  23  in each leg  11  is used to removably lock its corresponding support members  12 . In an alternative embodiment, the receiver tab is not incorporated into the design; rather, the support members are restrained simply using the latch described in more detail below. Since each leg folds flat against its corresponding seat part, the height and width of each leg should be less than the length and width of each seat portion. 
         [0039]    Each seat hinge  20  may include a metal shaft (not shown) about which the hinge members  31  of each seat rotate. While the metal shaft is preferably made from a metallic material such as steel or aluminum, the hinge members are preferably made from the same material as the rest of the seat  13 , such that it may be molded as one continuous piece. Each seat hinge rotates about the same axis, and would be one continues hinge if the two hinges were not separated in the middle. As used herein, the description of a hinge rotating about a particular axis is equivalent to saying that each member secured to the hinge rotates about that particular axis. 
         [0040]    The support members  12  may each rotate to one side only, where each of the two support members rotate to an opposite side. As shown in the drawings, the meeting point  25  allows each member to rotate toward the other when unfolding the stool for use, but each support member  12  cannot rotate past the other. In this manner, each support member only rotates a maximum of ninety degrees. One of the two support members  12  is provided with a spring-mounted latch that includes a spring  16  and a latch  17 . The latch  17  acts to prevent the opposing support member  12  from rotating away from the first support member  12 . However, a user may slide the latch  17  against the force of the spring  16  to allow the opposing support member  12  to rotate away from the first support member  12  to collapse the stool  10  as described above. In an alternative embodiment, both support members include such a spring-mounted latch, whereby a user must slide both latches to release the support members from each other. 
         [0041]      FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of a partially collapsed stool according to selected embodiments of the current disclosure. The legs  11  are shown collapsed, whereby they have been folded towards the seats  13  around leg hinges  21 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 3  is a top view of a fully collapsed stool according to selected embodiments of the current disclosure. The seats  13  are folded together about seat hinge  20 . As shown in this figure, the seat  13  includes patterns  40  and a logo  41 . The pattern  40  is used to create a textured surface on the seat, which provides a sufficiently frictional surface for standing and/or sitting. The logo  41  may also aid in providing a textured surface, but may also including distinguishing marks or other information. While a user may push the two seats together to complete the collapse of the stool, grasping cutouts  27  may be used to aid the user in pulling apart the seats when unfolding the stool. 
         [0043]    The stool  10  may also include a means of securing to the two seats  13  together when in a folded positions, such as that shown in  FIG. 3 . For example, mating snaps may be used such that when the two seats  13  are pushed together, the snaps bias the seats  13  to remain in a collapsed configuration. At the same time, the user may use the grasping cutouts  27  to pull the two seats  13  apart and overcome the biasing forces provided by the snaps. 
         [0044]    As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , the fully collapsed stool is greatly reduced in size. Its height has been greatly decreased, as the legs and support members are collapsed such that the seats, legs, and support members are substantially coplanar. Furthermore, the width of the stool is also cut in half, since the seats  13  fold about the seat hinge to mate with one another. 
         [0045]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a stool according to selected embodiments of the current disclosure. The legs  11  are extended and provide support to the seats  13 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view of a stool according to selected embodiments of the current disclosure. The support members  12  are unfolded and meet each other at the support member meeting point  25 . Latch  17  prevents support members  12  from rotating away from each other. However, a user may slide latch  17  on an axis that is parallel to the length of the support member  12  to which it is affixed to release the opposing support member thereby allowing each support member to rotate away from the other. 
         [0047]      FIG. 6  is a front view of a stool according to selected embodiments of the current disclosure. The stool  10  is configured for use, with the legs  11  and support members  12  extended. As a force is applied to the seats  13  (such as when standing or sitting upon the stool  10 ), these forces are transferred to the support members  12  and to the legs  11 , whereby the legs provide the vertical support for the stool  10 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 7  is a top view of a stool according to selected embodiments of the current disclosure. The pattern  40  preferably extends across the majority of the top surface of the seats  13 . The logos  41  are also preferably rotated 180° from the other, whereby one of the logos  41  is oriented in a proper reading direction when viewed by a user from either side of the stool  10 . Alternatively, the logos  41  may be oriented in the same direction, whereby there is a clearer front and back to the stool  10 . 
         [0049]    A honeycomb structure may be used in the various components of the stool. The honeycomb structure provides sufficient structural integrity to components such as the legs and support members while at the same time reducing the amount of material required and overall weight of the stool. This is particularly useful when the components are made of plastic, as the molds used to create the parts may incorporate such a design at relatively little additional cost. Furthermore, non-skid pads may be incorporated into the bottom of the legs. These non-skid pads are preferably made from rubber or some other material with a high coefficient of friction thereby providing a more stable platform from which a person may step or sit. 
         [0050]      FIG. 8  is a side view of a collapsed stool with three legs according to selected embodiments of the current disclosure. The stool includes two seats  68  that are each connected to an inner leg  62  by seat hinges  63 . When in a collapsed configuration, the seats  68  cover both faces of the inner leg  62 , leaving the top surface  67  of the inner leg  62  exposed between the two seat hinges  63 . Portions of the sides of the inner leg  62  are also left exposed between the two seats  68 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 9  is a side view of a stool with three legs according to selected embodiments of the current disclosure. The stool in this figure is shown in an expanded configuration and is ready for use, specifically ready for an individual to step on the stool and have the stool support the weight of the individual. The two seats  68  are each connected by a seat hinge  63  to the inner leg  62 . The two seat hinges  63  enable the seats  68  to rotate relative to the inner leg  62 . Each seat  68  is also secured to an outer leg  61  by a leg hinge (not shown in this figure). The outer leg  61  is connected to the seat on an end that is opposite from where the seat  68  is secured to the inner leg  62 . When in the expanded configuration, the outer legs  61  and inner leg  62  are parallel. The top surface  67  of leg  62  is adjacent to and flush with the faces of each seat  68  thereby forming a flat and even surface on the top of the stool. Each seat  68  has a support member  64  secured thereto, which rotates toward and away from the seat  68  about a hinge (not shown in this figure). When the stool is in the expanded configuration, the support members  64  prevent the outer legs  61  from rotating towards the seat  68 . Further, in this expanded configuration, the support members  64  are perpendicular to the outer legs  61  and the seats  68 . Each support member  64  includes a latch  65  that is releasable and able to engage with inner leg  62 . The latch  65  locks the support members  64  in place in the expanded configuration such that the support members  64  cannot rotate towards their respectively connected seats  68 . By disengaging the latch  65  from inner leg  62 , the support member  64  can be rotated toward its respectively connected seat  68 . As discussed above, the latch  65  can be a spring-mounted latch, whereby a user disengages the latch  65  by applying a force that overcomes the spring force to retract the latch  65 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 10  is a bottom view of a partially collapsed stool with three legs according to selected embodiments of the current disclosure. Each seat  68  is shown perpendicular to the inner leg  62 . The outer legs  61  are folded about leg hinges  66  towards and parallel to seats  68 . Also folded towards and parallel with the seat  68  are support members  64 , with latches  65  disengaged from inner seat  62 . Each support member  64 , when in a collapsed configuration, is between seat  68  and outer leg  61 . The stool is now ready to be fully collapsed, whereby a user can rotate seats  68  about seat hinges  63  to collapse the seats towards inner leg  62 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 11  is a bottom perspective view of a stool with three legs according to selected embodiments of the current disclosure. In this expanded configuration, the two outer legs  61  and the inner leg  62  are parallel to each other, and perpendicular to the seats  68 . Outer legs  61  are secured to their respective seats  68  by leg hinges  66 . Inner leg  62  is secured to each of the seats  68  by seat hinges  63 . Support members  64 , which are perpendicular to both the legs and the seats, restrict the rotational movement of the outer legs  61  relative to the seats  68 . Latches  65 , when engaged with inner leg  62 , restrict the rotational movement of support members  64  to lock the support members in place in the expanded configuration such that the support members  64  cannot rotate towards their respectively connected seats  68 . 
         [0054]    To collapse a stool from an expanded configuration, a user can disengage latch  65  from inner leg  62 , and rotate support member  64  towards seat  68 , and then repeat this process for the other support member  64  on the other side of the stool. Then, each outer leg  61  is rotated towards its respectively attached seat  68  about leg hinge  66 . Finally, each seat  68  is rotated about seat hinge  63  towards inner leg  62 , thereby fully collapsing the stool. Latches, clips, hook and loop fasteners, magnets and other types of restraints and/or fasteners can be used to keep the stool in a collapsed configuration. 
         [0055]    To expand the stool from a collapsed configuration, a user rotates seats  68  away from inner leg  62  about seat hinge  63 . Outer legs  61  are then rotated about leg hinges  66  away from their respectively attached seats  68 . Support members  64  are rotated away from seats  68 . Latches  65  of the support members  64  engage inner leg  62  to restrict rotational movement of the seat hinges  64 . The stool is now in an expanded configuration, whereby outer legs  61  and inner leg  62  are perpendicular to both support members  64  and seats  68 . 
         [0056]    It should be understood that while the preferred embodiments of the invention are described in some detail herein, the present disclosure is made by way of example only and that variations and changes thereto are possible without departing from the subject matter coming within the scope of the following claims, and a reasonable equivalency thereof, which claims I regard as my invention.