Collapsible stool

• US 7,007,771 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2003
• Issued: 03/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bryan Rawlings, Shelley Rawlings
• Original Assignee: Bryan Rawlings, Shelley Rawlings
• Inventors: Rawlings, Shelley, Rawlings, Bryan
• Primary Examiner(s): CHIN SHUE, ALVIN C
• Application Number:
  US10/685,528
• Publication Number:
  US 20040084249A1
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 182/33, 182/222, 182/223, 248/431, 297/423.39, 108/129, 108/132, 108/133
• US Class Current: 182/33
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 12/02 requiring conversion between the step and seat functions
• CPC Class Codes: A47D 1/02 Foldable chairs foldable rocking-chairs A47D13/101

Abstract

A collapsible stool to provide additional height for small children undergoing toilet training, comprising: a substantially horizontal top plate of generally rectangular shape with an upper surface and a lower surface; four protrusions integral with the lower plate surface and each separately located proximal to the four corners of the top plate, wherein each protrusion is host to a hollow core to provide two pairs of female cores approximately cylindrical in shape; and two legs, each leg having two opposite facing male protrusions each adapted to fit the female cores to enable each leg to rotate through an arc between an open position and a closed position relative to the top plate, wherein at least one of each pair of female cores comprise an integral leg security mechanism adapted to maintain each leg in an open position relative to the top plate.

Claims

1. A collapsible stool to provide additional height for small children who require height assistance, comprising in combination,

a substantially horizontal top plate of generally rectangular shape with an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the upper surface defines a step surface, further wherein the top plate has a first and second opposite ends in contact with a first and second intervening sides to provide a first, second, third, and forth corners, the top plate having a central longitudinal axis;

four female protrusions integral with the lower surface and each separately located proximal to a respective first, second, third, and forth corners and aligned approximately perpendicular to the intervening sides, each protrusion comprising a distal and a proximal end, wherein the proximal end faces away from the central longitudinal axis and towards the nearest intervening side, wherein each protrusion is host to a female hollow core to provide two pairs of female cores approximately cylindrical in shape, wherein at least one of each pair of female cores comprises an internal groove that defines an arc; and

two legs of generally planar construction, each leg having a top and bottom part, wherein the top part defines two opposite facing male members, the male members are configured to fit the female cores, wherein at least one male member of each leg comprises a projection adapted to slide along the groove enabling each leg to rotate through an arc thereby defining a leg open position and a leg closed position relative to the top plate.

2. The collapsible stool according to claim 1, wherein the groove describes an arc of about 100°

.

3. The collapsible stool according to claim 1, wherein the groove describes an arc of between about 90°

and 95°

.

4. The collapsible stool according to claim 1, wherein the groove has a first end that corresponds to a leg open position, and a second end of the groove that corresponds to a leg closed position relative to the top plate.

5. The collapsible stool according to claim 1, wherein the groove defines a first end and a second end, wherein the first end corresponds to a leg open position, and the second end defines a backstop for the leg projection such that when the leg projection abuts against the backstop the attached leg is in the open position relative to the top plate and is unable to spray or collapse outwards when a child stands on the top plate of the stool.

6. The collapsible stool according to claim 1, wherein the legs are made from a moldable plastic.

7. The collapsible stool according to claim 1, wherein the legs are made of a material selected from the group consisting essentially of:

polyethylene, polypropylene, and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.

8. The collapsible stool according to claim 1, wherein the top plate is made from a moldable plastic.

9. The collapsible stool according to claim 1, wherein the top plate is made of a material selected from the group consisting essentially of:

polyethylene, polypropylene, and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.

10. The collapsible stool according to claim 1, wherein each leg in the open position makes an angle between about 90°

and 105°

with respect to the top plate.

11. The collapsible stool according to claim 1, wherein each leg is fitted with an attachment member, and the lower surface of the top plate is fitted with a complementary attachment members to attach the legs to the lower surface of the top plate when the stool is not in use.