Patent Publication Number: US-2017370148-A1

Title: Drawer-Integrated Step Stool

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     The disclosure relates to step stools and more particularly pertains to a new step stool for selective extension from a drawer. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a box that is substantially complementary to a recess of a cabinet. The box is configured to slidably couple to the cabinet, such that the box is extensible from the recess. The box has an upper face, which is open. Stairs, positioned in the box, have a bottom that is pivotally coupled to opposing sides of the box proximate to a front. A lift, coupled to and positioned in the box, is operationally coupled to a top of the stairs. An actuator, coupled to the box, is operationally coupled to the lift. The actuator is configured for activation by a foot of a user to compel the box to extend from the recess and to signal the lift to elevate the stairs through the upper face, wherein the stairs are configured for ascension by the user. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric perspective view of a drawer-integrated step stool according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 5  thereof, a new step stool embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the drawer-integrated step stool  10  generally comprises a box  12 . The box  12  is substantially complementary to a recess of a cabinet. The box  12  is configured to slidably couple to the cabinet, such that the box  12  is extensible from the recess. The box  12  has an upper face  14 , which is open. 
     Stairs  16  are positioned in the box  12 . The stairs  16  have a bottom  18 . The bottom  18  is pivotally coupled to each opposing side  20  of the box  12  proximate to a front  22  of the box  12 . The stairs  16  comprise a pair of side rails  24  and a plurality of planks  26 . Each plank  26  is coupled to and extends between the side rails  24 . The planks  26  are coupled to the side rails  24  such that the planks  26  are substantially perpendicular to a lower face  28  of the box  12  when the side rails  24  are substantially parallel to the lower face  28 . Additionally, the planks  26  are coupled to the side rails  24  such that the planks  26  are substantially parallel to the lower face  28  when the side rails  24  are positioned substantially forty five degrees from the lower face  28 . 
     In one embodiment, the plurality of planks  26  comprises from one to five planks  26 . In another embodiment, the plurality of planks  26  comprises from two to four planks  26 . In yet another embodiment, the plurality of planks  26  comprises three planks  26 . 
     A lift  30  is coupled to and positioned in the box  12 . The lift  30  is operationally coupled to a top  60  of the stairs  16 . The lift  30  comprises a pair of drives  32 . Each drive  32  is coupled to and positioned in the box  12  proximate to a respective opposing side  20 . Each drive  32  is operationally coupled to the top  60  of the stairs  16 . The drives  32  are positioned to elevate the stairs  16  through the upper face  14 . 
     In one embodiment, each drive  32  comprises a motor  34 , a shaft  36  and a support  38 . The motor  34  is positioned proximate to a back  40  of the box  12 . The shaft  36  is coupled to and extends from the motor  34  in parallel to the respective opposing side  20 . The shaft  36  is threaded. The shaft  36  is rotationally coupled to the front  22  of the box  12 . The support  38  is pivotally coupled by a first end  42  to a respective side rail  24  proximate to the top  60  of the stairs  16 . The support  38  has a second end  44  that is threadedly coupled to the shaft  36 . The shaft  36  is coupled to the motor  34  such that the motor  34  is positioned to rotate the shaft  36 . The second end  44  of the support  38  is compelled from proximate to the front  22  of the box  12  to proximate to the motor  34 , such that the support  38  is compelled from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position. Concurrently, the stairs  16  are extended from the box  12 . The motor  34  also is positioned to reverse rotation of the shaft  36  to compel the support  38  from the substantially vertical position to the substantially horizontal position to retract the stairs  16  into the box  12 . 
     An actuator  46  is coupled to the front  22  of the box  12 . The actuator  46  is operationally coupled to the lift  30 . The actuator  46  is substantially centrally positioned on the front  22  of the box  12 . 
     A controller  48  is coupled to the back  40  and positioned in the box  12 . The controller  48  is operationally coupled to the motors  34  and the actuator  46 . The actuator  46  is positioned to signal the controller  48  to compel the motors  34  to raise and lower the stairs  16 . The controller  48  comprises a coupler  50 . The coupler  50  is configured to couple the controller  48  to a power source. 
     A cable carrier  52  is coupled to the back  40  of the box  12 . The cable carrier  52  is positioned on the box  12  such that the cable carrier  52  is configured to house and protect a power cord coupled to the coupler  50  of the controller  48 . 
     Each of a pair of tracks  54  is coupled to a respective opposing side  20  of the box  12  proximate to the upper face  14 . The tracks  54  are positioned on the opposing sides  20  of the box  12  such that the tracks  54  are configured to rollably couple to rotatable discs coupled to the cabinet within the recess. 
     A pair of rollers  56  is rotationally coupled to the lower face  28  of the box  12  proximate to the front  22  of the box  12 . The rollers  56  are positioned on the box  12  such that the rollers  56  are configured to support the box  12  as the box  12  is extended from the recess in the cabinet. In one embodiment, the rollers  56  comprise wheels  58 . The wheels  58  comprise rubber. 
     In use, the actuator  46  is configured for activation by a foot of a user to compel the box  12  to extend from the recess in the cabinet and to signal the lift  30  to elevate the stairs  16  through the upper face  14 , such that the stairs  16  are configured for ascension by the user. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.