Step stool with elevated tray
First Claim
1. A step stool comprising a frame including a U-shaped front leg unit comprising a left leg having an upper end, a right leg having an upper end and lying in spaced-apart relation to the left leg, and a top cross member interconnecting the upper ends of the left and right legs, each of the left and right legs including a lower end adapted to contact ground underlying the frame and a mid-section located between the lower and upper ends thereof, a top step arranged to lie between the left and right legs and coupled to the mid-sections of the left and right legs of the U-shaped front leg unit at a top step pivot point on each of the left and right legs for pivotable movement about a first step pivot axis, the frame further including a rear leg unit coupled to the mid-sections of the left and right legs at leg pivot points located above the top step pivot points and below the top cross member for pivotable movement about a leg pivot axis relative to the front leg unit between an opened position away from the left and right legs and a closed position alongside the left and right legs, a tray mounted for pivotable movement on the top cross member about a tray pivot axis, and a tray pivot controller comprising a tray-mover link pivotably coupled to the tray at an upper link pivot axis and to the top step at a first lower link pivot axis and configured to maintain the tray in substantially parallel relation to the top step during movement of the rear leg unit between the opened and closed positions.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A foldable step stool includes pivotable front and rear leg units and steps coupled to the front leg unit. A utility tray pivots relative to the front leg unit.
29 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A step stool comprising
a frame including a U-shaped front leg unit comprising a left leg having an upper end, a right leg having an upper end and lying in spaced-apart relation to the left leg, and a top cross member interconnecting the upper ends of the left and right legs, each of the left and right legs including a lower end adapted to contact ground underlying the frame and a mid-section located between the lower and upper ends thereof, a top step arranged to lie between the left and right legs and coupled to the mid-sections of the left and right legs of the U-shaped front leg unit at a top step pivot point on each of the left and right legs for pivotable movement about a first step pivot axis, the frame further including a rear leg unit coupled to the mid-sections of the left and right legs at leg pivot points located above the top step pivot points and below the top cross member for pivotable movement about a leg pivot axis relative to the front leg unit between an opened position away from the left and right legs and a closed position alongside the left and right legs, a tray mounted for pivotable movement on the top cross member about a tray pivot axis, and a tray pivot controller comprising a tray-mover link pivotably coupled to the tray at an upper link pivot axis and to the top step at a first lower link pivot axis and configured to maintain the tray in substantially parallel relation to the top step during movement of the rear leg unit between the opened and closed positions.
-
16. A step stool comprising
a frame including a front leg unit and a rear leg unit coupled to the front leg unit for pivotable movement about a leg pivot axis between an opened position away from the front leg unit and a closed position alongside the front leg unit, the front leg unit including a lower section arranged to extend downwardly from the leg pivot axis and adapted to contact ground underlying the frame, an upper section extending upwardly away from the lower section, and steps coupled to the lower section, a tray mounted on a distal portion of the upper section for pivotable movement about a tray pivot axis, and a tray pivot controller comprising a tray-mover link pivotably coupled to the tray at an upper link pivot axis and to a first of the steps at a first lower link pivot axis and configured to maintain the tray in parallel relation to the first of the steps during movement of the rear leg unit between the opened and closed positions.
-
18. A step stool comprising
a first leg unit, a second leg unit coupled to the first leg unit at a pivot to partition the first leg unit into a top portion located higher than the pivot and a bottom portion located lower than the pivot, the pivot being arranged to allow pivotable movement between the first and second leg units, the top portion including a top end, a tray coupled to the top end for pivotable movement relative thereto, and a tray pivot controller coupled to the first and second leg units and the tray and arranged to cause pivotable movement between the first and second leg units between opened and closed positions and to cause pivotable movement of the tray relative to the top end and the second leg unit between extended and retracted positions upon pivotable movement between the first and second leg units between the opened and closed positions.
-
19. A step stool comprising
a first leg unit including a pair of legs and a top cross member coupled to a top end of each leg, a second leg unit coupled to each leg at a pivot located lower than the top cross member for pivotable movement between the first and second leg units, a tray coupled to the top cross member for pivotable movement thereon, a step pivotably coupled to the legs, and a tray pivot controller coupled to the step, the second leg unit, and the tray to cause pivotable movement between the first and second leg units and pivotable movement of the tray on the top cross member upon pivotable movement of the step relative to the legs.
-
20. A step stool comprising
a first leg unit including a pair of legs and a top cross member coupled to a top end of each leg, a second leg unit coupled to each leg at a pivot located lower than the top cross member for pivotable movement between the first and second leg units, a tray coupled to the top cross member for pivotable movement thereon, a step pivotably coupled to the legs, and a tray pivot controller including a step-folder link coupled to the step and the second leg unit, and a tray-mover link coupled to the step and the tray to cause pivotable movement between the first and second leg units and pivotable movement of the tray on the top cross member upon pivotable movement of the step relative to the legs.
Specification