Patent ID: 8684139

Claim:
A step stool comprising: two front leg tubes; two rear leg tubes, the two rear leg tubes joining the two front leg tubes pivotally, the two rear leg tubes having a rail therebetween; a bottom footplate attached between the two front leg tubes; a top footplate having a front end and a back end, the front end of the top footplate pivotably coupled to the two front leg tubes, the top footplate having two holes proximate to the back end, the back end of the footplate resting on the rail; a latch device located at the back end of the top footplate, the latch device comprising: a middle plate with two connecting ears, the two connecting ears passing through the holes of the top footplate and emerging from a bottom side of the top footplate; an axle passing through the two connecting ears; a latch having a base with a lower portion, the lower portion forming a handle; two lugs extending from the base, the two lugs defining a space and an inclined plane therebetween, the two lugs fixedly connected to the axle, the handle and an inner side of the base forming a hook rabbet for receiving the rail connecting the two rear leg tubes, the hook rabbet extending the entire width of the base; and a torsion spring having a first rest end and a second rest end, the axle passing through the torsion spring, the first rest end urging against the bottom side of the top footplate, the second rest end urging against the inclined surface so that a torque is provided on the latch.