GB2211400A - Step device - Google Patents

Abstract

A step-up box which provides a standing platform has a top (10) and four sides (12, 14). The sides are movable, in opposed pairs, between an erected position and a folded-down position in which they lie substantially parallel to the underside of the top (10). Latching means are provided between the respective sides so that when the sides are moved into their erected positions they cannot be folded down without a positive unlatching movement. <IMAGE>

Description

STEP DEVICE SPECIFICATION This invention relates generally to step devices, particularly in the form of a step-up box. The step device of the present invention is particularly appropriate for use around the house, and is designed to serve as a replacement for the conventional folding step stool.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a step-up box which provides a standing platform and which alternates between a collapsed state in which the device is essentially flat, and an erected state in which the step device provides a rigid and safe platform.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a step device of generally box shape, comprising a top and four sides, each of the sides being movable between an erected position perpendicular to the top and a folded-down position substantially parallel to the top, and wherein latching means are provided between the respective sides such that when the sides are moved into their erected positions the latching means will prevent the sides from being folded down without a positive unlatching movement.

Preferably, the latching means are provided at the junction between pairs of adjacent sides.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the four sides are each arranged to be hingeable about an axis parallel to the corresponding edge of the step top.

Preferably, the step device is such that one pair of opposed sides is arranged first to be folded down from the erected position to the collapsed position, with the other pair of opposed sides being arranged to be folded down thereafter in such a manner that each side when folded down lies substantially parallel to the top.

In one preferred embodiment, the sides are enabled to be folded down truly flat and parallel to the top by virtue of each side being connected to the top by coupling means which is fixedly secured at one end to the top and which is held at the other end by the side, with the coupling means being flexible to enable the side to adopt either a first position in contact with the top or a second position spaced from and parallel to the top.

Preferably, the coupling means comprises a pair of flexible ties for each side of the step device, one positioned adjacent to each edge of each side, with each tie having its said other end captive in the side.

The step device of the present invention has a number of advantages. Firstly, it provides a rigid and safe step-up platform. Secondly, it is easily converted between the assembled and collapsed states.

Moreover, in the erected state, if inverted, it then constitutes a container into which items such as tools and decorating materials for example can be placed.

Furthermore, the box-like structure of the step device means that a plurality of step devices can be used in combination, in various different configurations, in order to make a longer and/or higher platform from which ta work. Preferably, the top surface of each step device is provided with keying means by which two or more boxes when placed one above another are keyed together to prevent any sideways sliding movement therebetween.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, a number of embodiments of step device in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an external view of a first, simple embodiment of step device in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 shows the step device of Fig. 1, from below, and after the four sides have been folded down to create a flat" pack; Fig. 3 shows part of a second embodiment of step device in accordance with the invention, viewed from inside the device and looking towards two adjacent side panels to illustrate one form of latching mechanism; Figs. 4 and 5 show two side panels for the step device, these side panels being adjacent panels and the panel shown in Fig. 5 incorporating a modified form of latch mechanism;; Fig. 6 is a partial sectional view through one embodiment of latch mechanism suitable for use with the step device of the present invention; Fig. 7 shows an alternative mechanism for the securement of a side panel to the top; and, Figs. 7A, 7B and 7C are partial sectional views illustrating the folding of the side panels using the mechanism of Fig. 7.

Fig. 1 shows the basic structure of the step device of the present invention. The device comprises a boxlike step which has a top 10 and four sides, two of which are indicated in Fig. 1 at 12 and 14 respectively. Each of the sides 12, 14 is provided with a recess 16 in its lower margin. This helps to prevent the device from tilting on uneven floors and serves as a passageway for cables, wires and the like. The top 10 of the step device is provided with four square raised portions 18 which act as locating members for when a plurality of these box-like step devices are put together to increase the size of the platform.For example, two such step devices can be placed side by side, with a third step device positioned above them to bridge the two lower units, in which case two of the raised areas 18 of each of the lower units will act to prevent the upper unit from sliding on the lower units.

Similarly, if four such units are placed in a square array on the ground, then a fifth unit can be placed centrally on top of them, using one raised area 18 from each of the lower units to locate the upper unit safely. Other combinations can readily be envisaged, using the units in a larger array on the ground or to build up a higher platform by using multiple layers of the units.

The step device of the present invention is not limited to the use of any particular materials, although it is preferred that the devices are made from wood and/or cardboard and/or metal and/or plastics materials, in order to provide adequate strength and rigidity.

As will be apparent from Fig. 2, the four sides 12, 14 of the step device are arranged to be foldable about respective horizontal axes adjacent to the top 10 of the unit so that when the step device is in its fully folded down state the four sides nest neatly upon each other in order to create a compact unit which can readily be stored away. As shown in Fig. 2, where the top 10 of the step device has a relatively deep marginal rib 15 at the underside, the four sides of the device are folded down within the overall depth of the top 10. Alternatively, depending upon the relative thicknesses of the top and the sides, the sides may lie upon one another to a depth greater than that of the top, but still making a compact folded unit.

Reference is now made to Fig. 3 which shows further details of one embodiment of step device, in particular the side walls. This embodiment is particularly suited to a step device made from cardboard and/or plastics material or from pressed steel. The top 10 of the step device is shown in Fig. 3 with its underside uppermost.

The two illustrated side walls 12 and 14 are secured to adjacent edges of the top, the manner of securing being dependent upon the materials used. Side wall 12 is hingeable about a hinge line 20, whereas side wall 14 is hingeable about a hinge line 22 which is substantially further from the top 10. This is because side wall 12 and its opposing side wall are intended to be folded down first, and side wall 14 and its counterpart are arranged to be folded down thereafter. This is so that the four side walls will lie neatly one upon the other. Each of the side walls 12 and 14 is provided with a pair of rectangular holes 24 to facilitate handling of the device and in particular to make it easier to pick it up. The one side wall 12 is provided with pairs of slots 26 therethrough adjacent to its side margins. The other side wall 14 is provided with corresponding pairs of tabs or lugs 28 at its side margins which are positioned and dimensioned to engage through the slots 26 when the side walls are erected.

The step device shown in Fig. 3 includes a simple latch mechanism which comes into operation automatically when the side walls are erected. Side wall 14 is provided with a pair of flaps 30, each of which comprises a rectangular plate formed in two halves with the two halves set at a slight angle so that when one half lies flush against the side wall the other half projects out from the plane of the side wall. Each of these latch plates 30 is mounted on a hinge pin 32, the ends of which are secured by retaining blocks 34. The hinge pins 32 are provided with a bias so that the latch plates tend to adopt a position in which the half which is nearer to the side margin of the side wall 14 normally projects out from the plane of the side wall.

Thus, when the side walls 12 and 14 are erected and the tabs 28 engage through the slots 26, these outer portions of the latch plates 30 automatically spring into position against the face of the other side walls 12 and hold the side walls firmly in the erected state.

Behind the inward half of each latch plate 30 there is a hole 36 formed through the side wall 14. Thus, in order to release the latches, it is simply necessary to push fingers through the holes 36 and against the inward halves of the latch plates 30, thus pivoting them about their hinge pins 32 and moving the projecting outer halves of the latch plates flush against the side wall 14 and out of contact with the other side walls 12 to free the walls to be folded down.

In order to provide a firm base upon which the boxlike step device can stand, the bottom edges of each of the side walls 12 and 14 have inturned portions 40, formed as flanges at the lower edges of each side wall.

In order to accommodate these flanges 40 when the side walls are folded down against the top 10, the underside of the top of the step device is provided with corresponding recesses 42 to receive the flanges 40 of the pair of side walls 12. These are the side walls which are folded down first against the top 10.

Figs. 4 and 5 show alternative forms of side wall 12 and 14. Here the side walls are formed as panel members, made for example from wood or blockboard and faced with metal or plastics facings 43. As can be seen from Fig. 5, the side wall 14 is here provided with a slightly different form of latch mechanism 44 which comprises a latch plate which is recessed into the thickness of the side wall and which is arranged to project out from its recess in the latching state.

Suitable biasing means, for example spring means, may be provided in order to ensure the functioning of the latch. In the arrangement shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the side walls 12 and 14 are provided with a modified hinging mechanism to permit the side walls to be folded down into a compact folded state. The one side wall 12 is provided with a pair of pivot plates 46 which function as levers and which have two hinge points, one secured to the side wall 12 and the other to the marginal rib 15 of the top 10 of the step device. The other side wall 14 has a pair of fastening plates 48, each of which carries a pivot pin 50 about which the panel can be rotated. The main advantage of this arrangement is that it does not matter which side wall is folded down first, in order to achieve a flat nested array.

Fig. 6 shows in more detail the latch mechanism of Fig. 5 recessed into the thickness of the side wall 14.

This Figure illustrates a corner interlock feature where the facing plate 43 on side wall 12 is interengageable with a corresponding facing plate 45 on side wall 14. This provides greater strength and rigidity for the erected step device. It is achieved by having the facings 43, 45 extending out beyond the edges of the side panels and being flanged to enable the flanges to overlap. In the latch mechanism shown in Fig. 7 the latch member 52 incorporates a flexible rod 53 of plastics material which is subject to the bias of a spring 54. The flexible rod 53 acts as a latching tongue.

Figs. 7, 7A, 7B and 7C illustrate an alternative method of securing the sides 12 and 14 to the top 10 of the step device. With this arrangement the sides 12 and 14 can be folded down truly flat on one another and on the other side of the top 10. In this embodiment, each of the sides 12, 14 is provided with a pair of recesses 60 at the margin adjacent to the rib 15 and respectively adjacent to the corners of the sides.

Each recess 60 comprises a substantially T-shaped surface slot where the leg of the T is bounded on each side by a flange 62 in order to define a chamber 64 within the side panel in which a rod 66 of a tie 68 is held captive. The rod 66 is detachable from the recess 60, as necessary, but in normal use is held captive within the chamber 64. The tie 68 is a flexible length of plastics material for example which has a width equal to the spacing between the flanges 62 and which extends down the leg of the T. The other end of the tie 68 terminates in a further rod-shaped portion 70 which is fixedly held between the top 10 and the marginal rib 15.

In use, with the side 12 or 14 erected, the arrangement is as shown in Fig. 7A. Then, if side 12 is folded down first into contact with the underside of the top 10, one has the position shown in Fig. 7B where the marginal edge of the side 12 is spaced from the rib 15. The sides 14 on the other hand are pivotable about different,hinge lines and when folded down take up the position illustrated in Fig. 7C. It will be seen that the sides here lie truly parallel to the top 10. The flexibility of the ties 68 enables this to be achieved.

Although various designs and configurations of side wall and latch mechanism have been described above it should be understood that the invention is not limited to any particular design or configuration and that other methods of putting the invention into practice can be envisaged, within the scope of the invention.

Claims (13)

CLAIMS:

1. A step device of generally box shape, comprising a top and four sides, each of the sides being movable between an erected position perpendicular to the top and a folded-down position substantially parallel to the top, and wherein latching means are provided between the respective sides such that when the sides are moved into their erected positions the latching means will prevent the sides from being folded down without a positive unlatching movement.

2. A step device according to claim 1, in which the latching means are provided at the junction between pairs of adjacent sides.

3. A step device according to claim 1 or 2, in which the four sides are each arranged to be hingeable about an axis parallel to the corresponding edge of the step top.

4. A step device according to any preceding claim, in which one pair of opposed sides is arranged first to be folded down from the erected position to a collapsed position, with the other pair of opposed sides being arranged to be folded down thereafter in such a manner that each side when folded down lies substantially parallel to the top.

5. A step device according to claim 4, in which the sides are enabled to be folded down truly flat and parallel to the top by each side being connected to the top by coupling means fixedly secured at one end to the top and held at the other end by the side, with the coupling means being flexible to enable the sides to adopt either a first position in contact with the top or a second position spaced from and parallel to the top.

6. A step device according to claim 5, in which the coupling means comprises a pair of flexible ties for each side of the step device, one positioned adjacent to each edge of each side, with each tie having its said other end captive in the side.

7. A step device according to claim 6, in which each tie comprises an elongate member having its said other end enlarged and detachably mounted captively in a recess in the surface of the side.

8. A step device according to claim 7, in which the recess is generally T-shaped.

9. A step device according to any preceding claim, in which the latching means comprises biassed, hinged latching plates mounted on the inside surface of each side, each side having apertures therethrough in alignment with the latching plates to enable said plates to be manually unlatched from the outside of the step device.

10. A step device according to any of claims 1 to 8, in which the latching means comprises latching plates recessed into the sides and arranged to project proud of the surface of the sides in the latching state.

11. A step device according to any preceding claim, in which the sides are each provided with means which project beyond the edges of the sides and which are positioned and dimensioned so that said means on neighbouring sides can interlock with each other when the sides are erected.

12. A step device according to any preceding claim, in which the top outer surface is provided with keying means by which two or more such step devices when placed one above another are keyed together to prevent any sideways sliding movement therebetween.

13. A step device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.