Free standing step with user customizable height and flat expanding deck

• US 7,686,138 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2008
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Helene Schmidt
• Original Assignee: Helene Schmidt
• Inventors: Schmidt, Helene
• Primary Examiner(s): Brahan; Thomas J.
• Application Number:
  US12/106,293
• Publication Number:
  US 20080257650A1
• Time in Patent Office: 710 Days
• Field of Search: 187/201, 521/84
• US Class Current: 187/201
• 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; orthopaedic devices for correcting deformities of, or supporting, limbs A61F5/0102; exercising apparatus for the feet or toes A63B23/10; stairways or ramps E04F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 11/0201 Space-saving stairways, e.g. having half steps

Abstract

Disclosed in the present invention is a step assembly that facilitates stair climbing. This can aid a person with leg or back pain, decreased range of motion or limited physical strength, due to handicap, injury or infirmity. This free standing, user customizable height step with flat expanding deck surface. The disclosed present invention is a significant improvement over previous attempts to assist individuals by creating a fully adjustable and flat tread surface for the user. The present invention step also provides user customizable heights, by adding adjustment layers, so that the present invention can be used in a variety of step heights.

Claims

1. An adjustable stepping platform used on a stairway for ease of descending and ascending, the platform comprising:

an adjustable upper surface,

a slider mechanism including a frame portion and a slider portion, wherein the slider portion is selectively guided relative to the frame portion to permit the slider portion to move in a first direction relative to the frame portion, the frame portion is coupled to a first portion of the upper surface, the slider portion is coupled to a second portion of the upper surface, and wherein a dimension of the upper surface is selectively altered by the slider mechanism;

a lower surface positioned below the slider portion;

a height adjustable body portion; and

a lower gripper plate removably coupled to the lower surface of the platform, wherein the lower gripper plate includes a first side and an opposing second side, the first side includes a generally planar surface with a plurality of gripping portions extending therefrom, and wherein the gripper plate may be inverted such that either the first side or the second side contact the lower surface of the platform and the other of the first side or the second side contact a first stair tread.

2. The platform of claim 1, wherein the lower surface of the platform includes a plurality of apertures, and wherein at least a portion of the gripping portions of the lower gripper plate selectively extend into the apertures.

3. The platform of claim 1, further comprising a vertical brace for coupling the platform to a second stair tread, wherein the vertical brace is adjustable to bindingly contact the second stair tread.

4. The platform of claim 3, wherein the vertical brace is coupled directly to the slider portion.

5. The platform of claim 1, wherein the upper surface is defined by a plurality of deck portions, at least a portion of the deck portions include at least one alignment aperture.

6. The platform of claim 5, further comprising a covering portion for covering at least a portion of the upper surface.

7. The platform of claim 5, further comprising a travel limiting mechanism for selectively urging a plurality of deck portions to move when at least one of the other deck portions is moved and for providing a maximum spacing between adjacent deck portions.

8. The platform of claim 5, wherein the deck portions include a front deck portion, a rear deck portion, and a plurality of middle deck portions interposed between the front deck portion and the rear deck portion, the front deck portion is one of the first portion and the second portion of the upper surface, the rear portion is the other of the first portion and the second portion of the upper surface, the middle deck portions each include first alignment apertures and second alignment apertures, and wherein the platform includes a first alignment pin coupled to the front deck portion and a second alignment pin coupled to the rear deck portion, wherein the first alignment pin is interposed through a portion of the first alignment apertures and wherein the second alignment pin is interposed through a portion of the second alignment apertures.

9. The platform of claim 8, further comprising a third alignment pin coupled to the front deck portion and a fourth alignment pin coupled to the rear deck portion.

10. The platform of claim 1, further comprising a covering portion for covering the upper surface.

11. The platform of claim 1, further comprising a second slider portion coupled to the second portion of the upper surface and a fastening device for coupling the slider portion to the frame portion to resist relative movement therebetween.

12. The platform of claim 11, wherein the platform includes a center support interposed between the slider portion and the second slider portion.

13. The platform of claim 12, wherein the removable portion is selectively interposed between the lower surface and the slider portion.

14. The platform of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of removable portions.

15. The platform of claim 1, wherein the height adjustable body portion includes at least one removable portion of a predetermined thickness, and wherein the addition of the removable portion will increase the height of the platform by the predetermined thickness.

16. An adjustable platform comprising:

an adjustable upper surface,

a slider mechanism including a frame portion and a slider portion, wherein the slider portion is selectively guided relative to the frame portion to permit the slider portion to move in a first direction relative to the frame portion, the frame portion is coupled to a first portion of the upper surface, the slider portion is coupled to a second portion of the upper surface, and wherein a dimension of the upper surface is selectively altered by the slider mechanism;

a lower surface positioned below the slider portion; and

a lower gripper plate removably coupled to the lower surface of the platform, wherein the lower gripper plate includes a first side and an opposing second side, the first side includes a generally planar surface with a plurality of gripping portions extending therefrom, and wherein the gripper plate may be inverted such that either the first side or the second side contact the lower surface of the platform and the other of the first side or the second side contact a first stair tread, and wherein the platform is not attached to a railing.

17. The platform of claim 16, wherein the lower surface of the platform includes a plurality of apertures, and wherein at least a portion of the gripping portions of the lower gripper plate selectively extend into the apertures.

18. The platform of claim 16, further comprising a height adjustable body portion, wherein the height adjustable body portion includes at least one removable portion of a predetermined thickness, and wherein the addition of the removable portion will increase the height of the platform by the predetermined thickness.

19. The platform of claim 16, wherein the adjustable upper surface includes a front deck portion, a rear deck portion, and a plurality of middle deck portions interposed between the front deck portion and the rear deck portion, the front deck portion is one of the first portion and the second portion of the upper surface, the rear portion is the other of the first portion and the second portion of the upper surface, the middle deck portions each include first alignment apertures and second alignment apertures, and wherein the platform includes a first alignment pin coupled to the front deck portion and a second alignment pin coupled to the rear deck portion, wherein the first alignment pin is interposed through a portion of the first alignment apertures and wherein the second alignment pin is interposed through a portion of the second alignment apertures.

20. The platform of claim 16, further comprising a vertical brace for coupling the platform to a second stair tread, wherein the vertical brace is adjustable to bindingly contact the second stair tread.