Abstract:
An extensible and retractable step assembly is provided that has a base and a first step. The step is attached to one end of the base and rotates up on the base. The step has first and second stepping surfaces for reaching different heights. The step assembly may be inserted before or after the cabinet is installed.

Description:
[0001]    The present invention relates to a retractable and extensible step assembly, and more particularly, to a retractable and extensible step assembly with minimal parts that can be stored under a cabinet without taking storage space from the cabinet.  
           [0002]    There are prior art steps including, for example, steps that are stored in a cabinet and complicated steps that are stored under the cabinet with many moving parts. U.S. Pat. No. 3,311,190, for example, is directed to a child aid for lavatories and the like. The invention is a rigid step unit having two steps in a base portion in the form of a drawer. However, the step unit must be pivoted upward and the supporting rails must be moved forward and into abutment with the drawer. This requires the user to bend over and physically move step up and into place. The user must also reverse the process and lower the step before closing the drawer.  
           [0003]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,481,429 also discloses a drawer step. The drawer step has a frame and a step, legs hingedly affixed to the step, and a foldable support structure secured to the frame. As with the previous step, this drawer step also requires that the user either bend down or use a foot to pull the step upward into usable position. If the folding legs of the step are not appropriately positioned, the step could collapse, possibly injuring the user.  
           [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,667 is directed to an extensible and retractable step assembly for a cabinet standing on a floor. The step assembly has an open rectangular base with a step therein. The step must be raised and pulled forward to engage cross pins on the lower ends of linkage arms in downwardly offset notches at the ends of slots in the base. However, if the cross pins come out of the notches through bumping the step or otherwise, the step will collapse, possibly injuring the user.  
           [0005]    Similarly, the collapsible and retractable step apparatus in U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,897 may also be prone to instability and requires considerable effort in setting up for use.  
           [0006]    Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a retractable and extensible step that substantially obviates one or more of the problems and disadvantages in the prior art. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description that follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the apparatus particularly pointed out in the written description and claims, as well as the appended drawings.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention is directed to a a retractable and extensible step assembly to be disposed within a cabinet on the floor, the step assembly includes a base, a step hingingly connected to a first end of the base, the step having a first stepping surface and a second stepping surface, the first stepping surface being disposed on a first side of the step and the second stepping surface being disposed on a second side of the first step, the first and second sides being opposite one another, and a cabinet engagement means disposed on the base to slidingly engage the cabinet.  
           [0008]    In another aspect, the invention provides for a retractable and extensible step assembly to be added to a cabinet after the cabinet has been installed at a location, the step assembly includes a sliding element to attach the step assembly in a hole in the cabinet, a retractable and extensible step assembly, the step assembly including a base, a step hingingly connected to the base, the step having a first stepping surface and a second stepping surface, the first stepping surface being disposed on a first side of the step and the second stepping surface being disposed on a second side of the first step, the first and second sides being opposite one another.  
           [0009]    It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.  
           [0010]    The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification. The drawings illustrate several embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a floor cabinet and a wall cabinet with one embodiment of a step assembly according to the present invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the step assembly with the cabinets of FIG. 1 in a second configuration;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the step assembly separated from the cabinets;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the step assembly separated from the cabinets and in the second configuration;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a front view of the of the step assembly of FIG. 4;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the step assembly along the line  6 - 6  in Fig. FIG. 3;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is a front, fragmentary view of the step assembly of FIG. 1 in the floor cabinet; and  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8 is perspective front view of the front face of another embodiment of a step assembly according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]    A step assembly  10  according to the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 in use with a floor cabinet  12  and upper cabinet  14 . The cabinets  12 , 14  could be of any configuration and type mounted in any location, including the kitchen, bathroom, storage/laundry room, or even the garage. As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the step assembly  10  has a step  16  connected to a first end  18  of a base  20  by hinges  22 . The step assembly  10  is typically stored under the floor cabinet  12  in kick space  24 . The step assembly  10  is shown in FIGS. 1 &amp; 3 in a first configuration. The step  16  has a first stepping surface  26  on a first side  28 . The first stepping surface  26  is positioned for use when the step assembly  10  is in the first configuration. The step assembly  10  has a first height H1 that generally corresponds to the height of the kick space  24  (typically about 4 inches), but the height H1 could also be less than the height of the kick space  24  is so desired. The step assembly  10  is shown to have a width that is about the width of one side of the floor cabinet  12 . However, the width of the step assembly  10  could be smaller or larger than shown, depending on a user&#39;s needs or desires. Similarly, while the step assembly  10  is shown in the middle of floor cabinet  12 , it could be positioned anywhere in the floor cabinet the user would like it.  
         [0020]    The step assembly  10  is shown in a second configuration in FIGS. 2 and 4. The step  16  is rotated about the hinges  22  to rest on top of the base  20 . The step  16  and base  20  are separated from one other along a plane P (see FIG. 6) that forms an angle α that is about 45° relative to the floor. The angle a may be greater or smaller, depending on a user&#39;s preference. With the angle α at about 45°, the side rails  30  are typically out of the way of the user if the user must step off or on to the step assembly  10  from either side. Also, the side rails  30  also present less of a tripping hazard to the user and others when the step assembly  10  is being used.  
         [0021]    In the second configuration, the step assembly  10  has a second stepping surface  32  on a second side  34  for the user to step on. The second stepping surface  32  is hidden from view and use when the step assembly  10  is in the first configuration. However, the second stepping surface  32  does assist in this configuration by providing rigidity to the step assembly  10 . In the second configuration, the step assembly  10  has height H2, which is about twice the height of the base  20  (height of H1, which is about 4 inches). While the height of the base  20  and the step  16  are illustrated to be the same, they may be of different heights, with either one being higher than the other. Obviously, they should be not larger than the kick space  24 .  
         [0022]    Two hinges  22  are shown, one on each of the side rails  30 . However, a single piano hinge may also be used to provide more stability and ruggedness if so desired. The support bar  36  may be moved forward to the plane P, where the step  16  and the base  20  are connected, to provide a surface for attaching the piano hinge. Similarly, the first stepping surface  26  may be extended backwards to allow the piano hinge to be mounted thereon.  
         [0023]    The step assembly  10  is preferably mounted in the kick space  24  below the storable space in the floor cabinet  12 . The step assembly  10  is preferably mounted in the floor cabinet  12  by drawer rails  38 , which allows the step assembly to be withdrawn from the floor cabinet  12  by a predetermined amount. Similarly, the step assembly  10  will only travel the predetermined distance so that the front face  40  of the step assembly is flush with the cabinet in the kick space  24 . While drawer rails  38  are shown, the step assembly  10  could be mounted to the cabinet with any appropriate mechanism, including for example, a tongue and groove system, or the step assembly  10  could be mounted on wheels to engage and roll along the floor to allow the step assembly to be rolled out from under the floor cabinet  12 .  
         [0024]    Also, while a handle  42  that extends outward from the front face of the step assembly  10  is illustrated in the figures, the handle could be integral with the drawer, not extending beyond the front face, thereby not being a tripping hazard or drawing attention to the step assembly. Additionally, a tab  44  could replace the handle  42 , as shown in FIG. 8. The tab  44  could be mounted on the top of the front face  40  as shown, or along one side of the front face  40 . If the tab  44  were mounted on a side edge of the front face, it would accessible to the user&#39;s foot, and the user could use their foot to pull the step assembly  10  out from the floor cabinet  12  and to rotate the step  16  around the hinges  22  and into the second configuration. Similarly, the user could use their foot and tab  44  to move the step  16  from the second configuration back to the first configuration without having to bend over.  
         [0025]    The step assembly  10  also has skid elements  46  mounted to the second stepping surface or the side rails  30  on the step  16 . Preferably the skid elements  46  assist in keeping the step  16  in the same plane as the base  20 . While the step  16  is held in position by the hinges  22  and by the engagement of the step  16  with the base  20  along the plane P, the skid elements  46  keep the step  16  from engaging the floor directly in front of the step assembly  10  and from also putting undue stress on the drawer rails  38  or other engagement elements  38  when the step assembly  10  is pulled out from the floor cabinet  12 .  
         [0026]    It should also be noted that the step assembly  10  can be attached to the cabinet during its manufacture or even mounted in the floor cabinet after the floor cabinet has been installed.  
         [0027]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the step assembly of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.