Convertable step stool

A stool with two major parts is disclosed. One way of fastening the parts together yields a rigid free-standing stool. In the alternate configuration a folding stool is formed, which can be fastened to the interior of a base cabinet so that the platform part can be pulled out and used by a child.

This invention relates to furniture. In particular, it relates to small 
step stools convertible to more than one configuration. 
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Small step stools are commonly needed in households, most of which contain 
at least a few storage areas located too high from the floor for easy 
access. In particular, when there are small children present in the home, 
such stools may be needed in areas such as bathrooms and other sink or 
counter facilities to render such facilities accessible while the children 
are growing up. Such a stool should ideally be able to be moved easily to 
and from the floor in front of a sink so that the area can also be used by 
the persons of normal height. In addition, it must of course be entirely 
stable against sidewise motion while in use. 
An ordinary short stool, with its legs cut to the necessary height, may be 
employed. It must, however, be transported to and from the site of use, 
and may not be stable enough for a very young child. One kick stool, of 
known design, is easy to transport because it rolls readily across the 
floor with a kick and becomes stable when stepped upon. However, it 
occupies space on another area of the floor, which can be a problem in 
small quarters such as a bathroom. 
The present invention obviates these difficulties. It is a stool which has 
two major parts. By reassembling the parts it can be used either as a 
free-standing stool of traditional design and useful height, or instead, 
as a folding stool. When in the folding stool configuration, one part is 
fastened to the lowest shelf in the typical sink cabinet while the other 
part, pivoting outward from the first part, can be pulled out by a child 
for temporary use as a stool. The vertical relationship between the parts 
is adjustable for adapting the device to the cabinet shelf height. When 
the child has grown to the point that the folding stool is unnecessary at 
the sink or counter, it may be removed altogether from its mounting in the 
cabinet, and reassembled easily into the free-standing configuration for 
general household use, or for the child's use in reaching high shelves. 
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a supporting stool 
for lifting a small child to the necessary level for use of a sink or 
countertop atop a base cabinet. 
A further object of the invention is to provide such a stool which is 
stably mounted against sidewise motion but which can easily be moved away 
from the standing site so the area can be used by others. 
Another object of the invention is to provide such a stool which may be 
converted into a single free-standing step stool when no longer needed at 
the cabinet.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
FIGS. 1 and 2 show in perspective the two ways of configuring the parts of 
the present invention. In FIG. 1, a free-standing stool is shown, and in 
FIG. 2 a folding stool which has a supporting member attached to a step or 
the lowest shelf of a cabinet. 
The free-standing stool of FIG. 1 as also seen in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 9a 
comprises two essential parts. As best seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 9a, a 
platform member 10 is supported by an interlocking supporting member 20, 
by means of four 1/4 inch machine screws 31, 32, 33 and 34. The fastening 
means could of course be any similar means such as bolts, or could 
comprise instead two long fasteners extending through the platform member 
10. Screw 31 is inserted through hole 11 in platform member 10 and hole 21 
in supporting member 20, screw 32 through holes 12 and 24, and similarly 
on the other side, not shown. As best seen in FIGS. 8, 9a, 9b and 9c, 
supporting member 21 is provided with recesses 25, 26 and 27 to permit 
interlocking and enable it to be fastened to a shelf by screws. 
The folding stool configuration shown in FIG. 2 is shown in more detail in 
FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9c. In this configuration the supporting member 20 has 
been inverted with respect to platform member 10, and rotated through 
ninety degrees. It has been fastened to a shelf 40, and then screwed to 
platform member 10 through hole 12 and the corresponding hole on the other 
side. FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate two versions of this configuration, 
differing only by the choice of which of holes 21, 22, 23 or 24 on 
supporting member 20 is selected for assembly to platform member 10. This 
choice will be determined by the height of shelf 40 from the floor. 
This reconfiguration is best seen in FIGS. 9a through 9c. The conversion to 
a folding stool is easily effected by removing the four screws 31 through 
34 and separating the members as shown in FIG. 9a. The supporting member 
20 is inverted and its desired position on the base counter shelf marked 
with a pencil through holes in its outer wall. These holes may be provided 
in the supporting member at manufacture, but it is preferred to mold 
indents into the member, which indents are used to located holes drilled 
just before installation. Generally a clearance of 1/2 inch between the 
edge of shelf 40 suffices to permit closing of the cabinet door, but this 
will be adapted according to the cabinet itself in an obvious manner. 
When supporting member 20 is screwed to shelf 40, the one of holes 21, 22, 
23 or 24 is chosen which best levels platform member 10 with the floor. It 
has been found that holes about 1/2 inch apart will suffice for adequate 
leveling in the preferred embodiment. Each side is fastened with one 
screw, tightened enough to hold securely but just loose enough to permit 
pivoting of the members 10 and 20 with respect to each other. FIG. 8 shows 
the step stool in the closed position. 
In the preferred embodiment, the members are blowmolded plastic with an 
average wall thickness of 0.08" to 0.10". The height of the platform 
member, which is slightly domed on top for strength, is 8.7 inches from 
the floor. A 3 3/4 inch space between the legs on each member provides a 
convenient handle area for easy lifting of the stool, or pivoting of the 
platform member when in the second configuration. A rubber foot is 
securely screwed to the bottom of each leg to help prevent slipping when 
the stool is in the free-standing form. As seen best in FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 
9b, recesses are provided for easy clearance during the marking, drilling 
and mounting operations. In the preferred embodiment, screw holes 21 
through 24, and their counterparts on the other side of the supporting 
member, are contained in a separate insertable molded plastic member 
provided with an integral plastic flap or "living hinge" for best 
appearance. 
The principal use for the folding step stool will be as described, for 
supporting a child at a convenient height from the floor in front of a 
base cabinet. It will of course be recognized, however, that the same kind 
of arrangement will suffice to hold any object away from a first 
horizontal surface, where there is a second surface present to which the 
supporting member may be fastened. The essential point of the invention is 
its re-configurability between the free-standing and the fastened down, 
but folding, forms of the stool. 
The invention has been described in detail with particular emphasis on the 
preferred embodiments thereof, but it should be understood that variations 
and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention may occur 
to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.