Patent Application
20230218086
This invention relates to a collapsible kitchen step stool and, more particularly, to a collapsible kitchen step stool for use with children, including the ability to collapse the collapsible kitchen stool to a thin, non-bulky configuration with no pieces protruding beyond the collapsible kitchen stool's profile.
A collapsible kitchen step stool may include support legs with at least two collapsible frame sides, two static sides, and a hinged, foldable standing platform. The collapsible kitchen step stool allows a child to safely stand on an elevated surface, and in its stowed configuration, collapses into a streamlined, folded apparatus for storage.
Step stools are widely used in kitchens and other environments to provide an elevated surface for an individual to access items or locations that are not located within reach. Step stools are generally unsafe for young children who may fall from the elevated surface of a step stool. Therefore, there exists a need for a children's step stool that includes sides raised at least partially from the elevated standing surface in order to prevent a child falling from the elevated surface.
Similarly, a step stool with sides raised at least partially from the elevated standing surface would be a bulky household item and would be difficult to store when not in use and/or where it would be impractical to disassemble the apparatus for storage when not in use. Therefore, there exists a need for an easily collapsible, easily storable step stool that is both safe for children and is capable of being collapsed into a streamlined, folded apparatus with no edges protruding beyond the profile of the apparatus.
In accordance with one form of this invention, there is provided a collapsible kitchen step stool including two front support legs and two rear support legs; two side panel assemblies located between each respective front support leg and rear support leg, each side panel assembly including a plurality of side panels connected by at least one side panel hinge; a front platform support attached to and located between the front support legs; a rear platform support attached to and located between the rear support legs; a rear inset panel attached to and located between the rear support legs and positioned above the rear platform support; an elevated platform attached to the rear platform support and configured to pivot around the rear platform support, wherein in the deployed configuration, the elevated platform is substantially horizontal and supported by the front platform support; the elevated platform having an elevated platform depth; the rear inset panel having a rear inset panel depth; wherein the sum of the elevated platform depth and the rear inset panel depth is less than or substantially equal to the rear support leg depth; the collapsible kitchen step stool being selectively operable between a deployed configuration and a stowed configuration; the deployed configuration being defined as the elevated platform being in a substantially horizontal position and supported by the front platform support and the side panel assemblies being extended along a linear path; the stowed configuration being defined as the elevated platform being in a substantially vertical position and the side panel assemblies being folded along the at least one side panel hinge.
For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Like reference numerals refer to like reference parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
Referring to the several views of the drawings, the collapsible kitchen step stool 100 is shown and described herein.
Referring initially to
Referring initially to
The support legs 102 may be arranged in a square or rectangular configuration, and as illustrated in
The collapsible kitchen step stool 100 may include two side panel assemblies 106 each composed of at least two side panels 108, wherein one side panel assembly 106 is located between the front left support leg 140 and the rear left support leg 144, and the other side panel assembly 106 is located between the front right support leg 142 and the rear-right support leg 146. Each side panel assembly 106 is attached to the respective support legs 102 by, for example, one or more support leg hinges 118 that are attached to both a respective support leg 102 and a side panel assembly 106. The support leg hinges 118 permit the side panels 108 of the side panel assemblies 106 to fold inward when the collapsible kitchen step stool 100 transitions from the deployed configuration to the stowed configuration. Similarly, the support leg hinges 118 permit the side panels 108 of the side panel assemblies 106 to unfold into a linear alignment when the collapsible kitchen step stool 100 transitions from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration.
Each side panel assembly 106 may include a plurality of side panels 108 oriented adjacent to one another and between the support legs 102 that support the respective side panel assembly 106. The plurality of side panels 108 may be attached to one another via the use of one or more side panel hinges 120 that permit the side panels 108 to be folded inward and towards one another in a stowed configuration, as illustrated in
Referring now to
According to one embodiment, and as shown in
Referring now to
It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the collapsible kitchen step stool 100 may be arranged with the rear-left support leg 144 and rear-right support leg 146 positioned against a surface such as a kitchen counter, thus preventing egress or ingress through the space between the rear inset panel 114 and the rear platform support 126. In this arrangement, when a user, for example, a child, stands on the elevated platform 116, the user will be enclosed on all four sides for safety purposes.
It will be similarly appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the collapsible kitchen step stool 100 may be arranged with the front-left support leg 140 and front-right support leg 142 positioned against a surface such as a kitchen counter, thus allowing a user to enter and exit the collapsible kitchen step stool 100 when positioned against the counter. In this arrangement, a user, for example, a child, may enter or exit the collapsible kitchen stool through the space between the rear inset panel 114 and the rear platform support 126.
A front platform support 128 may be attached to or integrated with the front-left support leg 140 and the front-right support leg 142, such that the front platform support 128 provides a surface for supporting the elevated platform 116 when it is substantially horizontal in the deployed configuration. According to one embodiment, the front platform support 128 may be located at or near the bottommost portion of the front panel 110. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the front platform support 128 may be integrated with or be part of the front panel 110. The front platform support 128 may also include dampening pads located on the uppermost surface to provide a cushioned surface for receipt of the elevated platform 116 when it is transitioned from a vertically-oriented to a horizontally-oriented configuration. It will be appreciated that additionally, or alternatively, such dampening pads may be located on the lower surface of the elevated platform 116 for cushioning the contact between the elevated platform 116 and the front platform support 128 when transitioning between the stowed configuration and the deployed configuration.
According to one embodiment, the collapsible kitchen step stool 100 may include at least one front cross brace 124 located forward of and perpendicular to the side panel assemblies 106. The front cross brace 124 may be located beneath the front panel 110 and is attached to or integrated with the front-left support leg 140 and the front-right support leg 142, such that the front cross brace 110 connects the front-left support leg 140 and the front-right support leg 142.
Referring now to
The collapsible kitchen step stool 100 includes an elevated platform 116 that is attached to and supported by a rear platform support 126. The rear platform support 126 is located rearward of and perpendicular to the side panel assemblies 106 when in the deployed configuration, and the rear platform support 126 is attached to or integrated between the rear-left support leg 144 and the rear-right support leg 146. The rear platform support 126 may be located above the rear cross brace(s) 130. The elevated platform 116 may be attached to the uppermost surface of the rear platform support 126 via at least one platform hinge 122.
Referring now to
Referring now to
The collapsible kitchen step stool 100 includes a rear inset panel 114 that is positioned between and attached to the rear-left support leg 144 and the rear-right support leg 146. It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the rear inset panel 114 may be of varying heights to function as a rear safety surface for preventing a user from inadvertently falling outward through the rearward side of the collapsible kitchen step stool, while also allowing sufficient space between the rear inset panel 114 and the elevated platform 116 to permit a user to crawl under the rear inset panel 114 and onto the elevated platform 116.
In the stowed configuration, the elevated platform 116 is folded upward until it is in contact with the rear inset panel 114. The side panels 108 of the side panel assemblies 106 are then folded inward along the side panel hinges 120, wherein the front panel 110 moves towards the rear inset panel 114, the rear platform support 126, and the now vertically-oriented elevated platform 116. The stowed configuration of the collapsible kitchen step stool 100 thus retains the same height and width of the deployed configuration but with a reduced depth that allows for easy, more convenient storage options.
According to one embodiment, the rear-left support leg 144 and the rear-right support leg 146 have a rear support leg depth 152. The elevated platform 116 and the rear inset panel 114 each have a sufficient thickness such that the elevated platform 116 and rear inset panel 114 are fully or substantially recessed within the rear support leg depth 152 when the elevated platform 116 is vertically-oriented in the stowed configuration. This arrangement allows the side panel assemblies 106 to be completely folded inward without being obstructed by the elevated platform 116, where the elevated platform 116 is fully recessed within the rear-left support leg 144 and the rear-right support leg 146.
While the present invention has been shown and described in accordance with several preferred and practical embodiments, it is recognized that departures from the instant disclosure are contemplated within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this subject matter belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the specification and relevant art and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. For brevity and/or clarity, well-known functions or constructions may not be described in detail herein.
The term “exemplary” is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs. Similarly, examples are provided herein solely for purposes of clarity and understanding and are not meant to limit the subject innovation or portion thereof in any manner.
The terms “for example” and “such as” mean “by way of example and not of limitation.” The subject matter described herein is provided by way of illustration for the purposes of teaching, suggesting, and describing, and not limiting or restricting. Combinations and alternatives to the illustrated embodiments are contemplated, described herein, and set forth in the claims.
For convenience of discussion herein, when there is more than one of a component, that component may be referred to herein either collectively or singularly by the singular reference numeral unless expressly stated otherwise or the context clearly indicates otherwise. For example, components N (plural) or component N (singular) may be used unless a specific component is intended. Also, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless expressly stated otherwise or the context indicates otherwise.
It will be further understood that the terms “includes,” “comprises,” “including,” and/or “comprising” specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof unless explicitly stated otherwise or the context clearly requires otherwise. The terms “includes,” “has” or “having” or variations in form thereof are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprises” as that term is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
It will be understood that when a component is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another component, it can be directly connected or coupled or coupled by one or more intervening components unless expressly stated otherwise or the context clearly indicates otherwise.
The term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, phrases such as “between X and Y” and “between about X and Y” should be interpreted to include X and Y unless expressly stated otherwise or the context clearly indicates otherwise.
Terms such as “about”, “approximately”, and “substantially” are relative terms and indicate that, although two values may not be identical, their difference is such that the apparatus or method still provides the indicated or desired result, or that the operation of a device or method is not adversely affected to the point where it cannot perform its intended purpose. As an example, and not as a limitation, if a height of “approximately X inches” is recited, a lower or higher height is still “approximately X inches” if the desired function can still be performed or the desired result can still be achieved.
While the terms vertical, horizontal, upper, lower, bottom, top, and the like may be used herein, it is to be understood that these terms are used for ease in referencing the drawing and, unless otherwise indicated or required by context, does not denote a required orientation.
The different advantages and benefits disclosed and/or provided by the implementation(s) disclosed herein may be used individually or in combination with one, some or possibly even all of the other benefits. Furthermore, not every implementation, nor every component of an implementation, is necessarily required to obtain, or necessarily required to provide, one or more of the advantages and benefits of the implementation.
Conditional language, such as, among others, “can”, “could”, “might”, or “may”, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments preferably or optionally include certain features, elements and/or steps, while some other embodiments optionally do not include those certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language indicates, in general, that those features, elements and/or step may not be required for every implementation or embodiment.
The subject matter described herein is provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed as limiting the nature and scope of the subject invention. While examples of aspects of the subject invention have been provided above, it is not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for implementing the subject invention, and one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that further combinations and permutations of the subject invention are possible. Furthermore, the subject invention is not necessarily limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages which may have been noted in any part of this disclosure. Various modifications and changes may be made to the subject invention described herein without following, or departing from the spirit and scope of, the exemplary embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein. Although the subject matter presented herein has been described in language specific to components used therein, it is to be understood that the subject invention is not necessarily limited to the specific components or characteristics thereof described herein; rather, the specific components and characteristics thereof are disclosed as example forms of implementing the subject invention. Accordingly, the disclosed subject matter is intended to embrace all alterations, modifications, and variations, that fall within the scope and spirit of any claims that are written, or may be written, for the subject invention.
This application claims priority to and incorporates entirely by reference U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/297,527, filed Jan. 7, 2022.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63297527 | Jan 2022 | US |
