Patent Application
20080093167
Referring to the drawings, the assembled step stool of the present disclosure is indicated generally at 10 in
Referring to
Alternatively, the shell 12 may have other configurations such as, for example, round, oval, polygonal, elliptical, square or triangular.
In the presently disclosed embodiment, the shell 12 has a relatively thin wall with respect to the transverse dimension thereof; and, therefore suitable reinforcing ribs 13 may be provided on the undersurface of the closed end. If desired, the ribs 13 and shell 12 may be formed integrally as a one piece member.
In order to facilitate user handling of the assembled step stool, gripping surfaces may be provided in the region of the closed or upper end; and, in the illustrated and disclosed embodiment described herein, at least one such surface in the form of a recess 16 may be provided adjacent the edge of the step surface as denoted by reference numeral 16.
Referring to
Referring to
It is contemplated that the caster mounting posts 28 may be received in the apertures in spring loaded sliding arrangement and retained therein to prevent the posts from dropping out when the stool is raised. As is known, the caster posts 28 may have springs disposed thereover (not shown) for biasing the casters outwardly of shell 12 to permit user rolling of the step stool.
It will be understood however that the attachment surfaces 18 formed in the interior of the shell for the platform member 20 may in the alternative, include suitable apertures for receiving the posts 28 of the caster directly thereby eliminating the platform member 20. However, such an arrangement requires that the mounting surfaces extend inwardly to a greater extent than the wall of the shell in the disclosed embodiment which will have the effect of increasing somewhat the stack height of the step stools. Nevertheless, such alternative arrangement is contemplated within the scope of the appended claims.
Referring to
The container with the platform members and caster wheels therein is then closed and releasably attached to the undersurface of the closed end of the shell as shown in
The arrangement of the shell with the caster wheel mounting hardware attached in container 28 thus enables a plurality of the step stools to be stacked in a nested configuration as shown in
The step stool of the present disclosure thus permits stacking in a nested configuration with the complete caster wheel hardware for each individual step stool attached thereto yet provides an arrangement which substantially reduces the volume of the container required for bulk transport or shipment of a plurality of the step stools.
If the step stools 10 are to be sold as individual consumer products, they may be packaged in individual plastic bags. The bags can be printed with distributor information, assembly instructions, UPC markings and still retain substantial transparent areas, allowing a consumer to view the product. The bags are sized to follow the interior and exterior contours of the step stool 10, allowing nesting in the packaged state. The bags not only provide the finished package, but also protect the surfaces of the step stool during shipment. Alternatively, the step stools may be sold with plastic sheets lightly adhered to the outer steel surfaces. The plastic sheets carry distributor information and UPC markings. The plastic sheets protect the exterior surface of the step stool 10 during shipment and are removable by the consumer.
Although the step stool of the present disclosure has herein above been described with respect to the illustrated embodiments, it will be understood that modification, variations and other embodiments may be made within the scope of the following claims.
