Step stool with elevated tray
First Claim
1. A step stool comprisinga 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, anda 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.
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Citations
15 Claims
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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.
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10. 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, wherein the tray includes a shelf portion pivotably coupled to the top cross member and to the first tray-mover link and arranged to extend in a first direction from the tray pivot axis toward the upper link pivot axis and remain in substantially parallel relation to the top step during movement of the rear leg unit between the opened and closed positions and the tray further includes an overhang portion appended to the shelf portion and arranged to extend away from the shelf portion in a second direction opposite to the first direction to overlie the leg pivot axis, wherein the top cross member of the U-shaped front leg unit is arranged to lie above the leg pivot axis and below the upper link pivot axis upon movement of the rear leg unit to the closed position.
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11. 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, wherein the tray includes a shelf portion pivotably coupled to the top cross member and to the first tray-mover link and arranged to extend in a first direction from the tray pivot axis toward the upper link pivot axis and remain in substantially parallel relation to the top step during movement of the rear leg unit between the opened and closed positions and the tray further includes an overhang portion appended to the shelf portion and arranged to extend away from the shelf portion in a second direction opposite to the first direction to overlie the leg pivot axis, wherein the shelf portion includes a top shelf surface and a tray retainer coupled to the top cross member and the tray retainer includes a fixed portion coupled to the underside of the top shelf surface and arranged to engage the top cross member, a movable clamp portion arranged to engage the top cross member, and a fastener arranged to retain the clamp portion in a selected position relative to the fixed portion to allow rotary movement of the top cross member in a space between the fixed and clamp portions during pivoting movement of the tray relative to the front leg unit about the tray pivot axis.
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13. 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, wherein the top cross member of the U-shaped front leg unit is arranged to lie above the leg pivot axis and below the upper link pivot axis upon movement of the rear leg unit to the closed position.
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14. 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, wherein the tray includes a top shelf surface and a tray retainer coupled to the top cross member and the tray retainer includes a fixed portion coupled to the underside of the top shelf surface and arranged to engage the top cross member, a movable clamp portion arranged to engage the top cross member, and a fastener arranged to retain the clamp portion in a selected position relative to the fixed portion to allow rotary movement of the top cross member in a space between the fixed and clamp portion during pivoting movement of the tray relative to the front leg unit about the tray pivot axis.
Specification