The height-adjusting stool is a seat, which may change height between a minimum height and a maximum height by activating a motor to move a scissor jack located beneath the seat. The motor may be battery-operated. A plurality of wheels may allow the height-adjusting stool to be repositioned by rolling to one side or the other. One or more wheel locks may prevent the plurality of wheels from rolling when stationary positioning is desired. A three-position switch may allow the user to move the seat up or down or to cease motion of the seat.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of stools, more specifically, a height-adjusting stool.

Some tasks may require that an individual kneel to reach very low items. Non-limiting examples of such tasks include stocking shelves, cleaning, and gardening. For individuals with mobility issues, joint problems, or back injuries kneeling and rising from a kneeling position may be difficult or painful.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The height-adjusting stool is a seat, which may change height between a minimum height and a maximum height by activating a motor to move a scissor jack located beneath the seat. The motor may be battery-operated. A plurality of wheels may allow the height-adjusting stool to be repositioned by rolling to one side or the other. One or more wheel locks may prevent the plurality of wheels from rolling when stationary positioning is desired. A three-position switch may allow the user to move the seat up or down or to cease motion of the seat.

An object of the invention is to provide a stool having an adjustable height seat.

Another object of the invention is to adjust the height of the seat using a scissor jack mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide wheels to move the seat laterally.

Yet another object of the invention is to operate the scissor jack from a battery-operated motor controlled by a user-accessible switch.

In this respect, before explaining the current embodiments of the height-adjusting stool in detail, it is to be understood that the height-adjusting stool is not limited in its applications to the details of construction and arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustration. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept of this disclosure may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the height-adjusting stool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

The height-adjusting stool100(hereinafter invention) comprises a seat base200, a seat210, a plurality of wheels220, one or more wheel locks228, a scissor jack230, a plurality of struts260, a motor270, a switch275, and one or more batteries280. The invention100may change height between a minimum height290and a maximum height291by activating the motor270to move the scissor jack230located beneath the seat210. The motor270may be battery-operated. The plurality of wheels220may allow the invention100to be repositioned by rolling to one side or the other. The one or more wheel locks228may prevent the plurality of wheels220from rolling when stationary positioning is desired.

The seat base200may be a horizontally-oriented plate which the plurality of wheels220, the scissor jack230, the one or more batteries280, and the plurality of struts260are mounted upon. The seat base200may be elevated above ground level900by the plurality of wheels220.

The seat210may be a horizontally-oriented surface for sitting upon. The top of the seat210may comprise padding212for comfort. The padding212may be protected and concealed by a covering214. As non-limiting examples, the covering214may be vinyl or fabric.

The plurality of wheels220may be coupled to the seat base200via their axles224. The plurality of wheels220may be configured to allow the invention100to roll to one side or the other. As a non-limiting example, there may be two of the wheels mounted on the front of the seat base200and two of the wheels mounted on the back of the seat base200with the axis of rotation of the plurality of wheels220aligned from front to back. In some embodiments, the diameter of an individual wheel selected from the plurality of wheels220may be greater than or equal to 3 inches such that the plurality of wheels220roll over outdoor terrain.

The one or more wheel locks228may prevent the individual wheels from turning when the one or more wheel locks228are engaged and may permit turning when disengaged. The one or more wheel locks228may be engaged and disengaged manually. As non-limiting examples, the one or more wheel locks228may be sliding pins that interfere with rotation of the individual wheels or friction pads that brake the individual wheels.

The scissor jack230may comprise a jack base240, a jack top242, a jack screw250, a pair of upper arms236, a pair of lower arms238, a slip joint232, a screw joint234, a pair of top hinges244, a pair of center hinges246, and a pair of bottom hinges248. The scissor jack230may raise and lower the jack top242relative to the jack base240due to a scissoring action of the pair of upper arms236and the pair of lower arms238as the jack screw250forces the slip joint232and the screw joint234to move laterally. The tops of the pair of upper arms236may be hingedly coupled to the jack top242via the pair of top hinges244. The bottoms of the pair of upper arms236may be hingedly coupled to the slip joint232and to the screw joint234via the pair of center hinges246. The slip joint232may be located on one side of the scissor jack230and the screw joint234may be located at the opposing side of the scissor jack230. The bottoms of the pair of lower arms238may be hingedly coupled to the jack base240via the pair of center hinges246. The tops of the pair of lower arms238may be hingedly coupled to the slip joint232and to the screw joint234via the pair of center hinges246. The jack screw250may pass laterally through the scissor jack230from the slip joint232to the screw joint234. The jack screw250may be threaded along 75 percent or more of its length. The threaded end of the jack screw250may pass through the screw joint234. The non-threaded end of the jack screw250may pass through the slip joint232. The jack screw250may be free to rotate in both the slip joint232and the screw joint234. The jack screw250may be prevented from moving laterally through the slip joint232. Rotation of the jack screw250within the screw joint234may cause the screw joint234to move laterally along the jack screw250. Rotation of the jack screw250may cause the screw joint234to move towards the slip joint232or away from the slip joint232, depending upon the direction of rotation. As the slip joint232and the screw joint234are pulled together, the jack top242may be elevated above the jack base240. As the slip joint232and the screw joint234are pushed apart, the jack top242may be lowered towards the jack base240.

The top of the jack top242may be coupled to the underside of the seat210. The bottom of the jack base240may be coupled to the top surface of the seat base200. The seat210may achieve the maximum height291when the jack top242and the jack base240are at maximum separation. The seat210may achieve the minimum height290when the jack top242and the jack base240are at minimum separation.

The plurality of struts260may support and guide vertical motion of the seat210. The tops of the plurality of struts260may couple to the underside of the seat210. The bottoms of the plurality of struts260may couple to the top of the seat base200. An individual strut selected from the plurality of struts260may be a telescoping support that tends to level the seat210. In some embodiments, the plurality of struts260may be pneumatic or hydraulic shock absorbers.

The motor270may be coupled to the side of the scissor jack230adjacent the slip joint232. The motor270may convert electrical energy into mechanical energy. The motor270may cause rotation of the jack screw250when electrical energy is applied to the motor270. The electrical energy applied to the motor270may be controlled by the switch275. The motor270may be energized by an electrical potential having a first polarity which may cause the motor270to rotate the jack screw250in a first direction. Rotation of the jack screw250in the first direction may cause the slip joint232and the screw joint234to pull together thus raising the seat210. The motor270may be energized by an electrical potential having a second polarity which may cause the motor270to rotate the jack screw250in a second direction. Rotation of the jack screw250in the second direction may cause the slip joint232and the screw joint234to push apart thus lowering the seat210.

The switch275may be an electrical component comprising one or more sets of electrical contacts. The switch275may start and stop the flow of electricity through an electric circuit touching or separating the electrical contacts, thus completing or interrupting an electric circuit. In some embodiments, the switch275may be mounted on a motor housing272. in some embodiments, the switch275may have three positions. In a first switch position276, an electrical potential having the first polarity may be applied to the motor270thus causing the seat210to be raised. In a second switch position277, no electrical potential may be applied to the motor270thus stopping rotation of the jack screw250. In a third switch position278, an electrical potential having the second polarity may be applied to the motor270thus causing the seat210to be lowered. In some embodiments, the first switch position276and the third switch position278may be momentary contact such that when released the switch275may return to the second switch position277may de-energize the motor270.

The one or more batteries280may comprise one or more energy-storage devices. The one or more batteries280may be a source of electrical energy to operate the motor270. The one or more batteries280may be replaceable or rechargeable.

In use, a user may sit on the seat210while the seat210is at the maximum height291, which places less stress on their knees and back. The user may then place the switch275into the third switch position278to lower the seat210. When the seat210reaches the minimum height290, or before that if desired, the user may release the switch275and the switch275may return to the second switch position277, stopping movement of the seat210.

The user may move laterally by disengaging the one or more wheel locks228and push to one side or the other. When in a desired location, the one or more wheel locks228may be engaged to hold that location.

To get up, the user may then place the switch275into the first switch position276to raise the seat210. When the seat210reaches the maximum height291, or before that if desired, the user may release the switch275and the switch275may return to the second switch position277, stopping movement of the seat210. The user may then stand.

Definitions

As used in this disclosure, an “axle” is a cylindrical shaft that is inserted through the center of an object such that the center axis of the object and the center axis of the axle are aligned and the object can rotate using the axle as an axis of rotation.

Throughout this document the terms “battery”, “battery pack”, and “batteries” may be used interchangeably to refer to one or more wet or dry cells or batteries of cells in which chemical energy is converted into electricity and used as a source of DC power. References to recharging or replacing batteries may refer to recharging or replacing individual cells, individual batteries of cells, or a package of multiple battery cells as is appropriate for any given battery technology that may be used. The battery may require electrical contacts which may not be illustrated in the figures.

As used in this disclosure, a “brake” is a device that is used to slow or stop the motion of a machine or a vehicle.

As used herein, the words “couple”, “couples”, “coupled” or “coupling”, refer to connecting, either directly or indirectly, and does not necessarily imply a mechanical connection.

As used herein, the word “desired” refers to a specific value or action within a range of supported values or action. A “desired” value or action indicates that a range of values or actions is enabled by the invention and that a user of the invention may select a specific value or action within the supported range of values or action based upon their own personal preference. As a non-limiting example, for a fan that supports operational speed settings of low, medium, or high, a user may select a desired fan speed, meaning that the user may select low, medium, or high speed based upon their needs and preferences at the time of the selection.

As used in this disclosure, a “diameter” of an object is a straight line segment that passes through the center (or center axis) of an object. The line segment of the diameter is terminated at the perimeter or boundary of the object through which the line segment of the diameter runs.

As used herein, “energize” and/or “energization” refer to the application of an electrical potential to a system or subsystem.

As used in this disclosure, “horizontal” is a directional term that refers to a direction that is perpendicular to the local force of gravity. Unless specifically noted in this disclosure, the horizontal direction is always perpendicular to the vertical direction.

As used in this disclosure, a “housing” is a rigid casing that encloses and protects one or more devices.

As used in this disclosure, the word “lateral” refers to the sides of an object or movement towards a side. Lateral directions are generally perpendicular to longitudinal directions. “Laterally” refers to movement in a lateral direction.

As used in this disclosure, a “motor” refers to a device that transforms energy from an external power source into mechanical energy.

As used in this disclosure, a “plate” is a flat, rigid object having at least one dimension that is of uniform thickness and is thinner than the other dimensions of the object. Plates often have a rectangular or disk like appearance. Plates may be made of any material, but are commonly made of metal.

As used in this disclosure, a “switch” is an electrical device that starts and stops the flow of electricity through an electric circuit by completing or interrupting an electric circuit. The act of completing or interrupting the electrical circuit may be called actuation. Completing or interrupting an electric circuit with a switch is often referred to as closing or opening a switch, respectively. Completing or interrupting an electric circuit is also referred to as making or breaking the circuit, respectively.

As used in this disclosure, “telescopic”, “telescoping”, and “telescopically” refer to an object made of sections that fit or slide into each other such that the object can be made longer or shorter by adjusting the relative positions of the sections.

As used in this disclosure, “vertical” refers to a direction that is parallel to the local force of gravity. Unless specifically noted in this disclosure, the vertical direction is always perpendicular to horizontal.

As used in this disclosure, a “wheel” is a circular object that revolves around an axle or an axis and is fixed below an object to enable it to move easily over the ground.