Easy storing three position step stool

• US 5,176,596 A
• Filed: 05/31/1991
• Issued: 01/05/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boardman Molded Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Boardman Molded Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Ullman, Myron
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Connor, Cary E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TSO, LAURA K
• Application Number:
  US07/708,563
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 108/11, 108/12, 108/19, 108/157, 248/188, 248/188.2, 248/346, 248/911, 297/438, 297/439, 211/207, 211/208, 482/51, 482/52
• US Class Current: 482/52
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0458 Step exercisers without moving parts with movable steps A63B22/04

Abstract

Adjustable step stool for exercise purposes includes an inverted cup-shaped top section and a generally annular bottom section. The bottom section is provided with a series of vertical posts or ribs integrally molded therewith along its interior wall, these ribs having support ledges on both their tops and bottoms for alternatively supporting the bottom edge of the top section at different heights. When the top section is used alone, a lowest height step is provided. When the top section is supported in the bottom section in a first attitude of the bottom section, a step of intermediate height is provided. And when the bottom section is flapped over and the top section is supported in the bottom section in this inverted position, a step stool of third and greatest height is provided.

Claims

1. A step stool convertible to different heights and useful for stepping exercises, comprising:

a top section of generally inverted cup-shaped configuration having an upper wall of size sufficient to support two feet, and a sidewall depending downwardly therefrom, said sidewall terminating in a bottom edge; and

a bottom section having a wall defining a generally annular configuration, said wall of said bottom section having support means for supporting the bottom edge of said top section, said support means comprising an upper ledge and a lower ledge, said upper ledge being located closer to the top of said bottom section than said lower ledge is to the bottom of said bottom section, said bottom section being adapted in a first attitude to support said top section on said upper ledge to provide a higher stepping stool, and being adapted in a second attitude to support said top section on said lower ledge to provide a shorter stepping stool.

2. A step stool according to claim 1 wherein said support means comprise a plurality of vertically disposed and horizontally spaced ribs molded off-center along the interior of said wall on said bottom section.

3. A step stool comprising an open bottom box-like top section having inner ribs, and an optionally used open top and bottom spacer section having off center with respect to the height, inner ribs wherein said ribs in said top section can correspondingly engage with said ribs in said lower section;

whereby a stool of minimum height is created when said top section is used alone, a stool of medium height is created when said top section is placed over said lower section such that said lower section is in a position with its ribs closer to the grounds such that the ribs in the top section engage with the ribs in the lower section, and a highest height stool is created when the top section engages with the lower section, the lower section having its ribs further away from the ground such that the ribs in the top section engage with those in the lower section.

4. The stool of claim 3, wherein the top section has a planar top large enough to support at least one foot wearing a shoe.

5. The stool of claim 4, wherein said top section is approximately 13 inches by 37 inches and said top section is approximately five and one-half inches high.

6. The stool of claim 3, wherein said top section and said bottom section can be nested together and multiple units can be stacked for storage purposes.

7. The stool of claim 6 wherein a ledge is provided in said top section such that when said top section and said lower section are nested together for storage, the ribs of the lower section rest on said ledge.

8. The stool of claim 3, wherein said top section has slightly angled sidewalls whereby nesting for storage as well as an increase in stability are achieved.

9. The stool of claim 3, wherein both said inner ribs in said top section and said lower spacer section constitute means for providing added strength to the stool.

10. The stool of claim 3, further comprising bumpers added to any surface which touches the floor during any configuration.

11. The stool of claim 3, wherein both said top section and said lower spacer section have handles to aid in transport of the step stool.

12. The stool of claim 3 wherein said top section and said lower spacer section are injection molded.

13. A step stool convertible to different heights and useful for stepping exercises, comprising:

a top section of generally inverted cup-shaped configuration having an upper wall means for supporting two feet, and a side wall depending downwardly therefrom, said side wall terminating in a bottom edge;

a bottom section having a wall defining a generally annular configuration, and support means for supporting said bottom edge of said side wall of said top section, said support means extending inwardly from said wall of generally annular configuration at a location such that said bottom section is adapted in a first attitude to support said top section to provide a higher stepping stool, and in a second inverted attitude to support said top section to provide a shorter stepping stool.

14. A step stool according to claim 13 wherein said support means comprises a plurality of vertically disposed and horizontally spaced ribs molded off-center along the interior of said wall on said bottom section.

15. A step stool in accordance with claim 13 wherein said top section and said bottom section are injection molded.

16. A step stool according to claim 13 wherein said support means comprises a ledge integrally molded with said generally annular wall of said bottom section.

17. A step stool according to claim 13 consisting of said top section and said bottom section, each of said top section and said bottom section being molded of a plastic material with said support means comprising a plurality of vertically disposed and horizontally spaced ribs molded off center along the interior of said wall on said bottom section, each of said top section and said bottom section being of generally rectangular configuration and having a hand-grip opening extending therethrough.

18. A step stool according to claim 13, wherein said upper wall means and said side wall of said top section merge in a rounded corner.

19. The stool of claim 18, wherein said bottom section is approximately five and one-half inches high.

20. The stool of claim 19, wherein said ribs and said bottom section have a top which is approximately one-half inch away from a top edge of the bottom section a bottom which is approximately two and one-half inches from a bottom edge of the bottom section.