Retractable step for a piece of furniture and piece of furniture equipped with such a step

Abstract

The invention relates to a retractable step stool (22) which has at least one first step (24) and which is intended to be fitted to a piece of furniture (10), the step stool (22) being designed to be mounted movably longitudinally on said furniture (10) between a retracted position in the furniture (10) and an extended position in which said step (24) of the step stool (22) is arranged in projection in front of the front face (14) of the furniture (10), characterized in that it has a guardrail (40) which is articulated on the step stool (22) between a first position in which the guardrail (40) is retracted and a second position in which the guardrail (40) is deployed on a first longitudinal edge of said step (24), in order to limit the risk of accidental fall of the user from said step (24) by preventing untimely closure of the step stool (22).

Description

Scope of the invention

[0001] This patent application relates to the field of footstools; the object of the present invention relates more particularly to a retractable footstool intended to equip a piece of furniture such as a kitchen unit or bathroom unit. State of the art

[0002] Young children are generally not tall enough to reach the sink arranged on top of a kitchen or bathroom cabinet.

[0003] Therefore, many families use a portable step stool that is stored in the kitchen or bathroom to allow children to access the sink.

[0004] This type of step stool poses a storage problem when not in use.

[0005] Indeed, when the step stool is not in use, it is usually left on the ground where it takes up space and obstructs traffic.

[0006] To overcome this problem, we know of retractable step stools which are mounted movably on a piece of furniture between a retracted position in which the step stool is arranged inside a housing delimited by the furniture, and an extended position in which the step stool is arranged protruding in front of the front face of the furniture to allow access to the sink which equips the furniture, for example.

[0007] Such a retractable step stool is described and illustrated in document US20170370148.

[0008] Although the step stool described in document US20170370148 addresses the problem of its storage when not in use, it presents a lack of safety.

[0009] Indeed, according to document US20170370148, nothing is planned to prevent the risk of accidental falls of the user when standing on the footboard.

[0010] Furthermore, nothing is in place to prevent the step from closing unexpectedly when a user is on a step of the step. Description of the invention

[0011] The aim of the present invention is to solve the problems mentioned above, by eliminating the disadvantages of the prior art cited.

[0012] To this end, the object of the present invention is to provide a retractable step stool which is equipped with a guardrail designed in particular to limit the risk of accidental falls by the user.

[0013] This objective, as well as others which will appear upon reading the description that follows, is achieved with a retractable step stool which includes at least one first step and which is intended to equip a piece of furniture, said furniture delimiting an internal housing which is arranged behind a transverse front face of the furniture and comprising a shelf, .

[0014] According to the invention, the step stool is designed to be mounted mobilously longitudinally on said furniture between a retracted position in which said step stool is arranged in said housing delimited by the furniture and an extended position in which said step stool is arranged in projection in front of the front face of the furniture so that said first step is able to accommodate a user, characterized in that it includes a guardrail which is articulated on the step stool between a first position, called retracted, in which the guardrail is retracted and a second position, called deployed, in which the guardrail is deployed on a first longitudinal edge of said step when the step stool is in its extended position, in order to limit the risk of accidental fall of the user from said step stool by preventing untimely closure of the step stool.

[0015] Depending on other optional features of the invention, taken alone or in combination: The step stool includes a drawer-like frame designed to slide onto the furniture and supporting the step. This frame is adapted to allow the step stool to slide between its retracted and extended positions. This feature contributes to the seamless integration of the step stool into the associated furniture. The handrail includes a stop section designed to rest longitudinally against the front face of the furniture or the edge of the tabletop when the handrail is in its second extended position, preventing the step stool from accidentally closing from its extended to its retracted position.This feature allows for safe use of the step stool; the first step extends transversely from the first longitudinal edge to a second longitudinal edge, and the handrail is pivotally mounted on said first longitudinal edge of the first step, between its first retracted position and its second extended position; the handrail is flush against the first step when it is in its first retracted position. The handrail extends perpendicularly to the first step when it is in its second extended position; the step stool is equipped with a transverse front panel designed to be flush with the front of the furniture when the step stool is in its retracted position.This feature contributes to a perfect integration of the step stool into the associated furniture; the step stool has a second step which forms a staircase with the first step so that the step stool successively comprises, following a transverse direction, the second step, the first step and then the handrail.

[0016] The invention also relates to a piece of furniture equipped with a footstool of the type described above, the piece of furniture having a transverse front face which delimits an internal housing. Brief description of the drawings

[0017] Other features, purposes and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description that follows, for understanding of which reference should be made to the accompanying drawings in which: [ Fig.1 ] is a perspective view illustrating a piece of furniture equipped with a footrest in its retracted position, according to the invention; [ Fig. 2] is a perspective view illustrating the piece of furniture equipped with the footstool of the figure 1 , with the step in the extended position and the guardrail in its first retracted position; Fig. 3 ] is a perspective view illustrating the piece of furniture equipped with the footstool of the figure 1 , with the step in the extended position and the guardrail in its second deployed position.

[0018] In the description and claims, the longitudinal, vertical and transverse terminology will be adopted without limitation with reference to the L, V, T trihedron shown in the figures, considering that the furniture extends vertically from a horizontal floor.

[0019] Therefore, the expressions "superior" and "inferior" will be used, without limitation, to refer to the upper and lower parts respectively of the figure 1 .

[0020] Throughout all these figures, identical or similar elements are identified by identical or similar reference symbols. Detailed description of embodiments of the invention

[0021] We represented at the figure 1 a kitchen unit 10 which includes a horizontal upper shelf 12 and a transverse front face 14.

[0022] The front face 14 of the unit 10 extends vertically, that is to say perpendicular to the floor 16. The top 12 includes a sink 18 and a tap 20.

[0023] Also, the unit 10 is equipped with a retractable step stool 22 which is intended to facilitate access for a small person, such as a child, to the platform 12 of the unit 10.

[0024] To that end, as can be seen on the figure 3 , the step stool 22 has a first upper step 24 and a second lower step 26 which are arranged in a staircase.

[0025] The first step 24 extends transversely from a first longitudinal edge 28 to a second longitudinal edge 30.

[0026] In addition, the footboard 22 has a movable frame 32 which carries the first step 24 and the second step 26.

[0027] To visually integrate the step stool 22 into the furniture 10, the step stool 22 is equipped with a transverse front panel 34 which is attached to the frame 32.

[0028] This front panel 34 includes a gripping handle 36.

[0029] The frame 32 forms a drawer, so that the footrest 22 is mounted to slide longitudinally on the unit 10 between a retracted position illustrated in the figure 1 and an illustrated exit position at figures 2 And 3 .

[0030] When the step stool 22 is in its retracted position, the front face 34 of the step stool 22 is flush with the front face 14 of the unit 10 and the steps 24, 26 of the step stool 22 are arranged in an internal housing 38 delimited by the unit 10.

[0031] Apartment 38, visible at the figure 3 , is arranged behind the front face 14 of the unit 10, inside the unit 10 and directly above the sink 18.

[0032] Conversely, when the step 22 is in its extended position, the steps 24, 26 are arranged to protrude in front of the front face 14 of the furniture 10, so that the steps 24, 26 are able to accommodate a user.

[0033] According to the invention, the step 22 includes a guardrail 40 which has the shape of a plate, for example a plate made of plywood.

[0034] With reference to the figure 3, the guardrail 40 is delimited by a first longitudinal edge 42, a second longitudinal edge 44 opposite, a third transverse edge 46 rear and a fourth transverse edge 48 front.

[0035] The first longitudinal edge 42 of the guardrail 40 is mounted freely by pivoting on the second edge 30 of the first step 24 by means of a hinge 50.

[0036] Also, the third transverse edge 46 of the guardrail 40 forms an outgrowth which delimits a portion forming a stop 52.

[0037] The guardrail 40 is arranged so that the step 22 includes successively, in a transverse direction, the second step 26, the first step 24 and then the guardrail 40.

[0038] More specifically, the guardrail 40 is pivotally mounted on the second longitudinal edge 30 of the first step 24 by means of the hinge 50 provided for this purpose, between a first position illustrated in the figure 2in which the guardrail 40 is retracted, and a second position illustrated at the figure 3 in which the guardrail 40 is deployed on one side of the first step 24, in order to limit the risk of accidental fall of the user from the first step 24.

[0039] As can be seen at the figure 2 In its first retracted position, the guardrail 40 lies on the first step 24 to allow the footrest 22 to slide between its retracted position and its extended position.

[0040] With reference to the figure 3 In its second deployed position, the guardrail 40 extends perpendicularly to the first step 24.

[0041] Also, the stop 52 of the guardrail 40 rests longitudinally on the edge of the platform 12 to prevent the step 22 from closing unexpectedly from its extended to its retracted position. It is understood here that, in this example, the edge of the platform 12 is the most forward part of the unit; the edge of the platform is offset forward relative to the front of the unit.

[0042] Thus, the step stool 22 according to the invention allows a user to reach an elevated position in which he is standing, or even kneeling, on the first step 24, in a safe manner.

[0043] Indeed, the guardrail 40 both limits the risk of the user falling and prevents the frame 30, which supports the steps 24 and 26 of the footrest 22, from closing unexpectedly. Naturally, the invention is described above by way of example. It is understood that a person skilled in the art is capable of implementing various embodiments of the invention without departing from its scope.

[0044] For example, step stool 22 may have more or fewer than two steps.

Claims

1. Retractable step stool (22) comprising at least one first step (24) and intended to be fitted to a piece of furniture (10), said furniture (10) defining an internal compartment (38) arranged behind a transverse front face (14) of the furniture (10) and comprising a platform (12), the step stool (22) being designed to be mounted longitudinally on said furniture (10) between a retracted position in which said step (24) of the step stool (22) is arranged in said compartment (38) defined by the furniture (10) and an extended position in which said step (24) of the step stool (22) is arranged projecting in front of the front face (14) of the furniture (10) so that said first step (24) is able to accommodate a user, characterized in thatIt includes a guardrail (40) which is hinged on the step (22) between a first position in which the guardrail (40) is retracted and a second position in which the guardrail (40) is deployed on a first longitudinal edge (42) of said step (24), in order to limit the risk of accidental fall of the user from said step (24) by preventing untimely closure of the step (22).

2. Retractable step (22) according to claim 1, characterized in that It includes a frame (32) forming a drawer which is designed to be mounted sliding on the furniture (10) and which carries said step (24), the frame (32) being adapted to allow the sliding of the step (22) between its retracted position and its extended position.

3. Retractable step (22) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe guardrail (40) includes a portion forming a stop (52) which is intended to bear longitudinally on the front face (14) of the furniture (10) or on the edge of the tabletop (12) when the guardrail (40) is in its second deployed position, to prevent the footrest (22) from closing unexpectedly from its extended position to its retracted position.

4. Retractable step (22) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first step (24) extends transversely from the first longitudinal edge (42) to a second longitudinal edge (44) and the guardrail (40) is pivotally mounted on said first longitudinal edge (42) of the first step (24), between its first retracted position and its second deployed position.

5. Retractable step (22) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe guardrail (40) is lying on the first step (24) when it occupies its first retracted position.

6. Retractable step (22) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guardrail (40) extends perpendicularly to the first step (24) when it occupies its second deployed position.

7. Retractable step (22) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that It is equipped with a transverse front panel (34) which is designed to be flush with the front face (14) of the furniture (10) when the footrest (22) is in its retracted position.

8. Retractable step (22) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatIt includes a second step (26) which forms a staircase with the first step (24) so ​​that the footboard (22) includes successively, following a transverse direction, the second step (26), the first step (24) then the handrail (40).

9. Furniture (10) equipped with a footstool (22) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the furniture (10) having a transverse front face (14) which delimits an internal housing (38).

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