Retractable Step Stool

Abstract

A retractable step stool includes an enclosure, a lower step and an upper step. The steps are slidably attached to opposing side interior walls of the enclosure; each step has a front surface and a tread surface adjacent to a top edge thereof. A mechanism at the rear of the lower step includes an extension spring secured the enclosure and levers connected to the extension spring. The spring is under tension while the step stool is closed, and when released causes both the lower and upper steps to move outward from the enclosure. In the closed position, the upper and lower steps are housed inside the enclosure while the upper step front surface and lower step front surface are flush with each other; in the open position, the steps extend outward from the enclosure, the lower step extending further from the upper step so that the tread surfaces are exposed.

1 . A retractable step stool comprising:
 an enclosure with one open side;   a plurality of steps configured to move outward from the open side of the enclosure; and   a mechanism for causing the lowest step to move outward,   
       wherein
 the mechanism when actuated causes the lowest step to move outward from the enclosure, and 
 each step other than the uppermost step is coupled to the step above at least during a portion of outward movement of said step other than the uppermost step, 
 so that outward movement of the lowest step causes each other step to move outward, thereby exposing a tread surface of each step. 
 
     
     
         2 . A retractable step stool according to  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is adapted to be secured to a floor. 
     
     
         3 . A retractable step stool according to  claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of plates secured to the enclosure, each plate having a hole therein for receiving a fastening effective to fasten the enclosure to the floor. 
     
     
         4 . A retractable step stool according to  claim 1 , wherein each step other than the lowest step is coupled to the step below at least during a portion of inward movement of said step other than the lowest step into the enclosure,
 so that inward movement of the lowest step causes each other step to move inward, thereby retracting each step.   
     
     
         5 . A retractable step stool according to  claim 1 , wherein the steps are slidably attached to interior walls of the enclosure. 
     
     
         6 . A retractable step stool according to  claim 1 , wherein the tread surface of each step has a non-skid portion. 
     
     
         7 . A retractable step stool according to  claim 1 , wherein said mechanism comprises an extension spring secured to a rear interior wall of the enclosure. 
     
     
         8 . A retractable step stool according to  claim 1 , wherein said mechanism comprises a gas spring secured to a rear interior wall of the enclosure. 
     
     
         9 . A retractable step stool according to  claim 1 , further comprising a releasable latch effective to prevent outward movement of the lowest step when said step stool is in a closed position. 
     
     
         10 . A retractable step stool according to  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure and the steps are of a plastic material. 
     
     
         11 . A retractable step stool comprising:
 an enclosure having a substantially cubical shape and one open side;   a lower step slidably attached to opposing side interior walls of the enclosure and having a lower step front surface and a first tread surface adjacent to a top edge of said lower step front surface;   an upper step slidably attached to the opposing side interior walls of the enclosure above the lower step, and having an upper step front surface and a second tread surface adjacent to a top edge of said upper step front surface,
 the lower step front surface and the upper step front surface substantially covering the open side of the enclosure when said step stool is in a closed position; and 
   a mechanism effective to cause the lower step to move outward from the enclosure, the mechanism comprising
 an extension spring secured to a rear interior wall of the enclosure, 
 a first lever connected to the extension spring, and 
 a second lever connected to the first lever and secured to the lower step; 
   wherein
 the lower step has a protrusion extending upward therefrom, configured to contact the upper step during outward movement of the lower step to thereby cause the lower step to move outward from the enclosure. 
   
     
     
         12 . A retractable step stool according to  claim 11 , wherein the step stool is configured to have
 a closed position in which the upper and lower steps are housed inside the enclosure while the upper step front surface and lower step front surface are flush with each other at the open end of the enclosure, and   an open position in which the upper and lower steps extend outward from the enclosure, the lower step extending further from the upper step so that the first tread surface and the second tread surface are exposed.   
     
     
         13 . A retractable step stool according to  claim 11 , wherein the enclosure, the lower step and the upper step are of a plastic material. 
     
     
         14 . A retractable step stool according to  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of plates secured to a bottom edge of the enclosure, each plate having a hole therein for receiving a fastening effective to fasten the enclosure to the floor.