Effective riser reducer step device

• US 5,131,494 A
• Filed: 08/26/1991
• Issued: 07/21/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Milton M. Heifetz
• Original Assignee: Milton M. Heifetz
• Inventors: Heifetz, Milton M.
• Primary Examiner(s): MACHADO, REINALDO
• Application Number:
  US07/749,682
• Time in Patent Office: 330 Days
• Field of Search: 182/106, 182/46, 182/113
• US Class Current: 182/106
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2003/001 on steps or stairways
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/00 Appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about apparatus for helping babies to walk A47D13/04 ; applying electrical currents by contact electrodes for stimulating motor muscles, e.g. walking assistance A61N1/36003
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 1/26 in one piece

Abstract

An effective riser reducer step device is provided, which consists of a mechanism placed upon a tread of a step of a staircase for reducing the height of a riser of the step. Another mechanism is for moving the riser height reducing mechanism to the tread of each successive step of the staircase, so that a physically impaired person suffering from atrophy, back and leg problems can ascend and descend the steps of the staircase.

Claims

1. An effective riser reducer step device which comprises:

a) means placed upon a tread of a step of a staircase for reducing the height of a riser of the step, said means is a portable platform having uninterrupted upper surface and a height of approximately half the height of the riser of each step of the staircase, said portable platform is a unitary box-shaped member; and

b) means for moving said riser height reducing means to the tread of each successive step of the staircase so that a physically impaired person suffering from atrophy back and leg problems can ascend and descend the steps of the staircase, said moving means is a rigid elongated handle extending upwardly from said uninterrupted upper surface.

2. An effective riser reducer step device as recited in claim 1, wherein said box-shaped member includes:

a) a pair of spaced apart short end walls;

b) a pair of spaced apart long side walls affixed to said end walls;

c) a bottom wall; and

d) a top wall, thereby forming a hollow chamber within said box-shaped member, to make said box-shaped member light in weight, so that it can be easily moved from place to place.

3. An effective riser reducer step device as recited in claim 2, wherein said box-shaped member further includes:

a first non-skid pad affixed to the underside of said bottom wall, so as to prevent said box shaped member from sliding off the tread of each of the steps of the staircase, while at the same time it will not mar carpeting and delicate surfaces; and

b) a second non-skid pad affixed to the upper side of said top wall, so as to prevent a foot of the physically impaired person from slipping off of the top wall of said box-shaped member.

4. An effective riser reducer step device as recited in claim 3, wherein said top wall of said box-shaped member includes an inwardly facing overhang edge about the perimeter thereof, with said inwardly facing overhang edge having an undercut slot, so that the edges of said second non-skid pad can be inserted into said undercut slot to be better retained to the upper side of said top wall.

5. An effective riser reducer step device as recited in claim 4, wherein said box-shaped member is fabricated out of a strong durable and stable plastic material, so that it can properly support the weight of the physically impaired person.

6. An effective riser reducer step device as recited in claim 5, wherein said first non-skid pad and said second non-skid pad are fabricated out of a rubber material to reduce sliding and slipping.

7. An effective riser reducer step device as recited in claim 6, wherein said moving means is an elongated handle extending upwardly form said top wall of said box-shaped member adjacent one said end wall thereof, so that the physically impaired person can grip the handle and place said box-shaped member upon each tread of each successive step of the staircase to step upon said box-shaped member when ascending and descending the staircase.

8. An effective riser reducer step device as recited in claim 7, wherein said elongated handle further includes a hand grip affixed to an upper end so that a hand of the physically impaired person can better hold said elongated handle.

9. An effective riser reducer step device as recited in claim 8, wherein said elongated handle further includes means for attaching said elongated handle to and detaching said elongated handle from said top wall of said box-shaped member, so that said device can be set up for use and broken down for storage and traveling.

10. An effective riser reducer step device as recited in claim 9, wherein said attaching and detaching means includes:

a) said elongated handle having an externally threaded lower end; and

b) said top wall of said box-shaped member having an internally threaded aperture, so that said externally threaded lower end of said elongated handle can be threaded into said internally threaded aperture.

11. An effective riser reducer step device as recited in claim 10, wherein said attaching and detaching means includes:

a) a boss member having an internally threaded bore, being adjacent to said end wall, with said internally threaded bore in alignment with said internally threaded aperture in said top wall, so that when said externally threaded lower end of said elongated handle is threaded into said internally threaded aperture in said top wall, said externally threaded lower end of said elongated handle will also thread into said internally threaded bore in said boss member to be better retained; and

b) a plurality of brace members radially affixed to the side of said boss member and said bottom wall for added strength thereto.

12. An effective riser reducer step device as recited in claim 11, further including means for adjusting the height of said elongated handle for different sized physically impaired people.

13. An effective riser reducer step device as recited in claim 12, wherein said height adjusting means includes:

a) a pair of telescopic members that fit into each other; and

b) means for locking said telescopic members together in an adjusted height position.

14. An effective riser r step device as recited in claim 13, wherein said locking means includes:

a) said first telescopic member having a plurality of spaced apart small threaded transverse holes along its side;

b) said second telescopic member having one small threaded transverse hole in its side; and

c) a set screw to thread into said one small threaded transverse hole in said second telescopic member and into any one threaded transverse hole in said first telescopic member, so that said set screw will lock said first telescopic member within said second telescopic member at any adjusted height position.

15. An effective riser reducer step device as recited in claim 14, wherein said box-shaped member further includes an x-shaped bracing structure therein to add strength and support to the interior of said box-shaped member.