Patent ID: 7963369

Claim:
A folding step stool comprising: a front rail assembly; a rear rail assembly, pivotally connected to the front rail assembly, having a crossbar; a platform pivotally attached to the front rail assembly having notches which fit over the crossbar when the stool is in an open position, the platform has at least one slot on the side of the platform; a linkage assembly pivotally and fixedly attached to the step and pivotally and fixedly attached to the rear rail assembly, the linkage assembly compresses to allow the notches to fit over the crossbar and the linkage assembly exerting a force to maintain the crossbar in the notches when the stool is in the open position, the linkage assembly includes a link, a spring and a rivet, the rivet extending through the slot to connect the link and the spring, the linkage assembly includes a spring rod about which the spring is positioned, the platform includes an abutment and the spring bears against the abutment, the wring, rivet and link are free to slide relative to the platform a distance equal to the length of the slot, the spring biases the link toward the rear end of the slot; and an assist lever attached to the platform which when pushed, pushes against the crossbar causing the crossbar to move out of engagement with the notches.