Step stool

Abstract

To allow the top part to be replaced.SOLUTION: A step stool 10, which includes a loading section 20 for a worker to stand on and a base 50 that is grounded to a floor surface, features that the height position of the loading section 20 can be changed and the loading section 20 has a body 41, and a top section 21 that can be detached from the body 41 and has a work surface F.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a step stool. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Stepping stools for working at heights have been known for some time. Patent Document 1 discloses a stepping stool whose top plate height can be changed in stages by folding and assembling. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2002-106165 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Since the top plate of such a step stool serves as the work surface, the top plate has been prone to melting and breaking during arc welding, etc. However, since the top plate is a main component of the step stool, if the top plate is broken, it is difficult to replace it. The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to replace the top part. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The present invention is a step stool that has a platform for a worker to stand on and a base that contacts a floor surface, and the height position of the above-mentioned platform can be changed, and is characterized in that the above-mentioned platform has a main body and a top part that is detachable from the main body and has a work surface. Effect of the Invention

[0006] According to the present invention, the top part can be replaced. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an example of a state in which the footstool is at a low height position. [Diagram 2] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an example of a state in which the footstool is positioned at a high height. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of the configuration of a step stool. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a right side view showing an example of the configuration of the step stool. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a front view showing an example of the configuration of a step stool. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a bottom view showing an example of the configuration of a step stool. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a right side view showing an example of a state in which the height position of the step stool is being changed. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an example of a state in which a plurality of steps are arranged adjacent to each other. [Figure 9] 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a state in which a top part is detached from a main body part. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Hereinafter, the platform 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The platform 10 according to this embodiment allows the height position of the platform 20 to be changed in at least two stages. FIG. 1(a) is a perspective view showing an example of the platform 20 of the step stool 10 in a low height position. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the platform 20 of the step stool 10 in a high height position. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of the configuration of the step stool 10. FIG. 4 is a right side view showing an example of the configuration of the step stool 10. FIG. 5 is a front view showing an example of the configuration of the step stool 10. FIG. 6 is a bottom view showing an example of the configuration of the step stool 10. For ease of explanation, in each figure, the front side is indicated as Fr, the rear side as Rr, the right side as R, and the left side as L, as necessary.

[0009] The step stool 10 of this embodiment comprises a platform 20, a base 50, and a height adjustment section 60. First, the mounting portion 20 will be described. The platform 20 is a portion on which a worker stands when working at height. The platform 20 has a top section 21 and a main body section 41, and is configured by dividing the platform 20 into the top section 21 and the main body section 41. The top section 21 and the main body section 41 are arranged one above the other, with the top section 21 located above the main body section 41 and the main body section 41 located below the top section 21. The top section 21 is removable from the main body section 41. The configuration in which the top section 21 can be removed from the main body section 41 will be described later with reference to FIG. 9.

[0010] The top part 21 has a top plate 22 and side walls 34a, 34b, 35a, and 35b. The top part 21 is surrounded by the top plate 22 and the four side walls 34a, 34b, 35a, and 35b, and has a space that is open downward. The top part 21 is made of synthetic resin and is molded as a single unit by injection molding, and is colored as a first color, for example, blue, by mixing a coloring agent into the top part 21.

[0011] The top board 22 is substantially square with each side measuring 400 mm to 600 mm (preferably approximately 500 mm) in plan view, and the upper surface functions as a work surface F. The top board 22 may be rectangular. The top plate 22 has connecting members 23a, 23b at the left and right ends. The connecting members 23a, 23b are members for connecting the step stool 10 to other step stools 10 adjacent to the left and right. The connecting members 23a, 23b are bar-shaped and bent into a U-shape. The connecting members 23a, 23b rotate about an axis along the front-rear direction from a state in which they are stored on the top plate 22, and are positioned beyond the outer periphery of the top plate 22, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 3. When the connecting members 23a, 23b are stored on the top plate 22, they are stored at a position lower than the work surface F so as not to interfere with work.

[0012] The top plate 22 has connecting portions 24a, 24b at the front and rear ends. The connecting portions 24a, 24b are for connecting the step stool 10 to the connecting members 23a, 23b of other step stools 10 adjacent to each other in the front and rear. The connecting portions 24a, 24b are formed in a concave shape facing downward from the work surface F. When the connecting members 23a, 23b are connected, the connecting portions 24a, 24b are connected at a position lower than the work surface F so as not to interfere with work.

[0013] Additionally, the top plate 22 has first positioning portions 25a, 25b at its left and right ends. The first positioning portions 25a, 25b are located in an area surrounded by the connecting members 23a, 23b. Additionally, the top plate 22 has second positioning portions 26a, 26b at its front and rear ends. The second positioning portions 26a, 26b are located in an area surrounded by the connected portions 24a, 24b. The first positioning portions 25a, 25b and the second positioning portions 26a, 26b are each formed concavely downward from the working surface F. Here, the depth dimension of the first positioning portions 25a, 25b from the working surface F is approximately the same as the depth dimension of the accommodation space in which the connecting members 23a, 23b are accommodated from the working surface F. In addition, the depth dimension of the second positioning portions 26a, 26b from the working surface F is approximately the same as the depth dimension of the connected portions 24a, 24b from the working surface F.

[0014] Here, when two steps 10 are connected in a front-rear direction, the first positioning parts 25a and 25b are fitted with the leg seats 56 of the legs 55 of the base 50 when the other steps 10 are stacked so as to straddle the two connected steps 10. When two steps 10 are connected in a left-right direction, the second positioning parts 26a and 26b are fitted with the leg seats 56 of the legs 55 of the base 50 when the other steps 10 are stacked so as to straddle the two connected steps 10. Therefore, the first positioning parts 25a and 25b and the second positioning parts 26a and 26b are each shaped so that the leg seats 56 of the legs 55 of the steps 10 can be fitted from above. The stacked steps 10 are positioned by the first positioning parts 25a and 25b or the second positioning parts 26a and 26b. Therefore, a worker can perform work by standing on the two linked platforms 10 or on the platform 10 that is stacked on top of each other.

[0015] Additionally, the top plate 22 has third positioning portions 27 at each of the four corners that are near the vertices of a square in plan view. In plan view, the shape of the third positioning portion 27 is partially circular. The third positioning portions 27 are each formed concavely downward from the work surface F. The depth dimension of the third positioning portion 27 from the work surface F is approximately the same as the depth dimension of the first positioning portions 25a, 25b and the second positioning portions 26a, 26b from the work surface F. Here, the third positioning portions 27 are fitted with the leg seats 56 of the legs 55 of the base 50 when one step stool 10 is stacked on top of another step stool 10 (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 2). Therefore, the third positioning portions 27 are shaped so that the leg seats 56 of the legs 55 of the steps 10 can be fitted into them from above. The stacked steps 10 are positioned by the four third positioning portions 27. Therefore, a worker can perform work by standing on one of the stacked steps 10 that are stacked on top of another step stool 10.

[0016] Furthermore, a plurality of protrusions 29 are formed at intervals over the entire surface of the working surface F of the top board 22. The protrusions 29 are substantially circular in plan view and have a diameter of, for example, 10 mm to 20 mm. The protrusions 29 are formed to protrude upward from the working surface F and, for example, the height dimension from the working surface F to the surface of the protrusions 29 is 1 mm to 2 mm.

[0017] Moreover, the top portion 21 has indicator portions 70a-70d on the working surface F. The indicator portions 70a-70d allow the worker to recognize the peripheral portion of the working surface F by visually recognizing them or by stepping on them, and encourage the worker to stand in the center of the working surface F. The indicator portions 70a-70d are removable from the top portion 21. The indicator portions 70a-70d are disposed adjacent to the four corners of the top board 22, respectively. The indicator portions 70a-70d are disposed adjacent to the peripheral portion of the top board 22. The configuration in which the indicator portions 70a-70d can be removed from the top portion 21 will be described later with reference to FIG. 9.

[0018] 1(b) is an enlarged view of the indicator portion 70c. Note that the indicator portions 70a to 70d have the same configuration, and therefore only the indicator portion 70c will be described here. The indicator portion 70c is generally V-shaped or L-shaped in a plan view, and has an inclined portion 71 and linear portions 75 extending continuously from both ends of the inclined portion 71. The indicator portion 70c is made of synthetic resin and is integrally molded by injection molding, and is colored as a whole in a second color different from the first color, for example, red, by mixing in a coloring agent.

[0019] The inclined portion 71 is disposed at an angle in the left-right and front-rear directions so as to avoid the third positioning portion 27 located at the corner of the top plate 22 when the indicator portions 70a to 70d are attached to the top plate 21. The upper surface of the inclined portion 71 has a protrusion 72 along the longitudinal direction of the inclined portion 71. The protrusion 72 has a height dimension that prevents the worker from tripping, but is also a height dimension that allows the worker to sense that he or she has stepped on it, for example, a height dimension that is equal to or greater than the height dimension of the protrusion 29 and is 10 mm or less or 5 mm or less. The inclined portion 71 also has two connecting holes 73 at positions spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the inclined portion 71. When the four indicator portions 70a to 70d are attached to the top plate 22, one connecting hole 73 of the indicator portion 70a and one connecting hole 73 of the indicator portion 70b are located close to each other in the longitudinal direction of the right end portion of the top plate 22. In addition, two connecting holes 73 of the indicator portion 70c and one connecting hole 73 of the indicator portion 70d are located at positions close to each other on the left end of the tabletop 22, separated in the front-rear direction. In addition, two connecting holes 73 of the indicator portion 70a and one connecting hole 73 of the indicator portion 70c are located at positions close to each other on the front end of the tabletop 22, separated in the left-right direction. In addition, two connecting holes 73 of the indicator portion 70b and one connecting hole 73 of the indicator portion 70d are located at positions close to each other on the rear end of the tabletop 22, separated in the left-right direction. The two connecting holes 73 located at positions close to each other on the front-rear direction or the left-right direction are connected to the connecting pins of the bridge when a plate-shaped bridge is spanned between the step 10 and another step 10 located at a distance to the front, rear, right or left side. In addition, the inclined portion 71 has an attachment hole 74a at a position approximately at the center of the inclined portion 71 in the longitudinal direction. When the indicator portion 70c is attached to the top portion 21, a mounting member 82 (described later) is inserted into the mounting hole 74a.

[0020] The straight portion 75 is disposed so as to extend continuously from the inclined portion 71 in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction, respectively, when the indicator portions 70a-70d are attached to the top portion 21. The straight portion 75 has two protrusions 76 on its upper surface along the longitudinal direction of the straight portion 75. The two protrusions 76 are positioned apart from each other. One of the two protrusions 76 is formed continuous with the protrusion 72 of the inclined portion 71. The straight portion 75 also has an attachment hole 74b at a position on the end side away from the inclined portion 71. An attachment member 82 is inserted into the attachment hole 74b when the indicator portion 70c is attached to the top portion 21.

[0021] The indicator parts 70a to 70d can be used to identify the user of the step stool 10. The step stool 10 used at the work site may be rented to a contractor by a construction company that determines the user for each contractor, or may be rented from a rental company by the contractor, resulting in multiple step stools 10 with different users being mixed at the same work site. In this case, by preparing step stools 10 with indicator parts 70a to 70d with a predetermined color for each user, the user of the step stool 10 can be identified at a glance. Specifically, the user A is asked to use the step stool 10 with indicator parts 70a to 70d with a second color (e.g., red), and the user B is asked to use the step stool 10 with indicator parts 70a to 70d with a third color (e.g., green). However, it is preferable that the indicator parts 70a to 70d are a color different from the first color (e.g., blue) so that the user can recognize the periphery of the work surface F.

[0022] Side wall 34a is formed to hang down downward from the right end of top plate 22, and side wall 34b is formed to hang down downward from the left end of top plate 22. Side wall 34a and side wall 34b have the same configuration, and here, only side wall 34a will be described. The side wall 34a has a height dimension of 50 mm to 150 mm (preferably about 80 mm), and the side surface serves as an exterior surface.

[0023] Furthermore, the side wall 34a has an opening 37 at approximately the center that communicates with the space inside the top portion 21. The opening 37 functions as a handle when the worker carries the step stool 10. Furthermore, when the above-mentioned bridge is spanned, a member for preventing the bridge from floating up is inserted into the opening 37, thereby preventing the bridge from floating up unintentionally.

[0024] Side wall 35a is formed to hang down downward from the front end of top plate 22, and side wall 35b is formed to hang down downward from the rear end of top plate 22. Side wall 35a and side wall 35b have the same configuration, and here, only side wall 35a will be described. The side wall 35a has a height dimension of 50 mm to 150 mm (preferably about 80 mm), and the side surface serves as an exterior surface.

[0025] Moreover, the side wall 35a has an opening 40 at approximately the center thereof, which communicates with the space within the ceiling portion 21. A bridge lift prevention member is inserted into the opening 40 when the above-mentioned bridge is laid across, thereby preventing the bridge from lifting up unintentionally.

[0026] The main body 41 has side walls 44a, 44b, 45a, and 45b. The main body 41 is surrounded by the four side walls 44a, 44b, 45a, and 45b, and has a space that opens in the vertical direction. That is, the main body 41 is substantially cylindrical. The mounting portion 20 has a space formed by connecting the internal space of the main body 41 and the internal space of the top portion 21. The main body 41 is made of synthetic resin and is molded as a single unit by injection molding, and is colored as a first color, for example, blue, by mixing a coloring agent into the main body 41.

[0027] The side wall 44a is formed to hang down from the side wall 34a of the top part 21 so that the side surfaces are continuously flat between the side wall 34a and the side wall 44b, and the side wall 44b is formed to hang down from the side wall 34b of the top part 21 so that the side surfaces are continuously flat between the side wall 34b and the side wall 44b. Note that the side walls 44a and 44b have the same configuration, and only the side wall 44a will be described here. The side wall 44a has a height of 50 mm to 150 mm (preferably about 70 mm), and the side surface serves as an exterior surface. The height of the side wall 44a is smaller than the height of the side wall 34a.

[0028] 4, the side wall 44a has a rotating shaft 36 as a rotating part for supporting the rotation of the support panel 61a of the height adjustment part 60. Here, the two rotating shafts 36 are fixed inside the side wall 44a or inside the side wall 44a at positions spaced apart in the front-rear direction so that their axes along the front-rear direction coincide with each other. The two rotating shafts 36 are disposed at positions offset upward from the center in the vertical direction of the side wall 44a. The number of rotating shafts 36 is not limited to two, and may be one or three or more. In addition, the side wall 44a has an engagement portion 38 extending downward from the lower end. The engagement portion 38 engages with an engaged portion 53 of the base 50 when the step stool 10 is adjusted so that the height position of the platform 20 is lowered.

[0029] Side wall 45a is formed to hang down from side wall 35a of top part 21 so that the side surfaces are continuously flat between side wall 35a and side wall 35a of top part 21, and side wall 45b is formed to hang down from side wall 35b of top part 21 so that the side surfaces are continuously flat between side wall 35b and side wall 35b of top part 21. Side wall 45a and side wall 45b have the same configuration, and only side wall 45a will be described here. The side wall 45a has a height of 50 mm to 150 mm (preferably about 70 mm), and the side surface serves as an exterior surface. The height of the side wall 45a is smaller than the height of the side wall 35a.

[0030] 5, the side wall 45a has a pivot shaft 39 for supporting the pivot of the folding panel 63a of the height adjustment unit 60. Here, the two pivot shafts 39 are fixed inside the side wall 45a or inside the side wall 45a at positions spaced apart in the left-right direction so that their axes along the left-right direction coincide with each other. The two rotating shafts 39 are disposed at approximately the center of the side wall 45a in the vertical direction or at a position offset downward from the center. However, the number of rotating shafts 39 is not limited to two, and may be only one or three or more.

[0031] At least one of the side walls 44a, 44b, 45a, and 45b has an identification display unit 49 on the side surface. In this embodiment, the identification display unit 49 is fixed by bonding or joining an individual identification plate to the side surface of the side wall. The identification display unit 49 has identification information for identifying the step stool 10 written thereon. The identification information is uniquely assigned to the step stool 10, and the same identification information is not assigned to other step stools 10. The identification information allows the step stool 10 to be uniquely identified. The identification information may be information consisting of letters and numbers, or may be information such as a QR code (registered trademark) or a barcode. The top part 21, which may be detached from the main body part 41, does not have the identification display unit 49. Furthermore, the side walls 44a, 44b, 45a, and 45b are not limited to having identification information written on the side surface, and may have the product name, manufacturer name, usage precautions, and the like written thereon.

[0032] Next, the base 50 will be described. The base 50 is a portion for contacting the floor surface. The base 50 has four side walls 51a, 51b, 52a, and 52b, four legs 55, and four auxiliary legs 57 and 58. The base 50 is surrounded by the four side walls 51a, 51b, 52a, and 52b, and has a space that opens in the vertical direction. The base 50 is made of synthetic resin and is integrally molded by injection molding, and is colored as a first color, for example, blue, by mixing a coloring agent into the base 50.

[0033] The base 50 is a substantially square with a side of 400 mm to 600 mm (preferably approximately 500 mm) in bottom view, which generally matches the shape of the mounting portion 20 in plan view. The height dimension of the base 50 is 50 mm to 100 mm (preferably approximately 75 mm), which is smaller than the height dimension of the mounting portion 20.

[0034] The side wall 51a is formed so as to cover the internal space of the base 50 from the right side, and the side wall 51b is formed so as to cover the internal space of the base 50 from the left side. Note that the side walls 51a and 51b have the same configuration, and the side wall 51a will be described here. As shown in FIG. 4, the side wall 51a has an engaged portion 53 with which the engaging portion 38 of the mounting portion 20 engages, approximately at the center in the front-rear direction.

[0035] The side wall 52a is formed so as to cover the internal space of the base 50 from the front side, and the side wall 52b is formed so as to cover the internal space of the base 50 from the rear side. Note that the side walls 52a and 52b have the same configuration, and the side wall 52a will be described here. 5, the side wall 52a has a pivot shaft 54 ​​for supporting the pivot of the folding panel 63a of the height adjustment unit 60. Here, the two pivot shafts 54 are fixed inside the side wall 52a or inside the side wall 52a at positions spaced apart in the left-right direction so that their axes along the left-right direction coincide with each other. However, the number of pivot shafts 54 is not limited to two, and may be only one or three or more.

[0036] The legs 55 protrude downward from the side walls 51a, 51b, 52a, and 52b in a convex manner. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 6, the legs 55 are formed at the four corners of the base 50 near the vertices of the square. When viewed from the bottom, the shape of the bottom surface of the leg 55 is such that it can fit into the first positioning portions 25a, 25b, the second positioning portions 26a, 26b, and the third positioning portion 27 of the top portion 21 described above. Therefore, when the base 50 is stacked on another step stool 10, the leg 55 fits into the first positioning portions 25a, 25b, the second positioning portions 26a, 26b, and the third positioning portion 27, allowing the step stools 10 to be stacked in a stable state.

[0037] Further, each leg 55 has a leg seat 56 on its bottom surface. The leg seat 56 comes into contact with the floor surface to prevent slipping between the floor surface and the leg 55. The leg seat 56 is joined to the bottom surface of the leg 55 and protrudes downward from the bottom surface. The leg seat 56 is an elastically deformable member such as rubber. As shown in FIG. 6, the leg seat 56 is disposed at each of the four corners of the base 50 near the vertices of a square. In bottom view, the leg seat 56 is substantially circular. The leg seat 56 protruding downward has a shape that can fit into the first positioning parts 25a, 25b, the second positioning parts 26a, 26b, and the third positioning part 27. Therefore, when the base 50 is stacked on another step stool 10, the leg seat 56 fits into the first positioning parts 25a, 25b, the second positioning parts 26a, 26b, and the third positioning part 27, and the step stools 10 can be stacked in a stable state.

[0038] The auxiliary legs 57, 58 are normally separated from the floor surface. When a load of a predetermined value or more is applied to the support 20 and the central portion between the legs 55 is bent downward, the auxiliary legs 57, 58 come into contact with the floor surface to suppress deformation of the base 50 and prevent damage to the base 50. The central portion between the legs 55 may bend downward when a load greater than the load capacity of the step stool 10 is applied to the support 20, or when a load equal to or less than the load capacity is applied. The two auxiliary legs 57 are located between the two legs 55 on the side wall 51a side and between the two legs 55 on the side wall 51b side. The auxiliary legs 57 are located more inward of the engaged portion 53 in the base 50 so as to avoid the engaged portion 53. The two auxiliary legs 58 are located between the two legs 55 on the side wall 52a side and between the two legs 55 on the side wall 52b side. Furthermore, since the auxiliary legs 57, 58 are spaced away from the floor surface, when the base 50 is stacked on top of another step 10, the auxiliary legs 57, 58 can be prevented from touching the work surface F of the support portion 20 before the footrest 56 engages with the first positioning portions 25a, 25b, the second positioning portions 26a, 26b, and the third positioning portion 27.

[0039] Next, the height adjustment unit 60 will be described. The height adjustment unit 60 is a part for changing the height position of the support unit 20. When the height position of the support unit 20 is low, the height adjustment unit 60 is located in a state where it is accommodated in the internal space of the support unit 20 (the internal space of the top part 21 and the main body part 41) and the internal space of the base part 50, and when the height position of the support unit 20 is high, the height adjustment unit 60 is located between the support unit 20 and the base part 50. The height adjustment unit 60 is connected to the main body part 41 and the base part 50 of the support unit 20, but is not connected to the top part 21 of the support unit 20. The height adjustment unit 60 has support panels 61a, 61b and folding panels 63a, 63b.

[0040] In the state shown in Fig. 5, where support panel 61a is located on the right side and support panel 61b is located on the left side, support panel 61a and support panel 61b face each other across the space within height adjustment unit 60. Note that support panels 61a and 61b are made of synthetic resin and molded integrally by injection molding, and are colored as a first color, for example, blue, by mixing in a coloring agent. Support panel 61a and support panel 61b have the same configuration, and only support panel 61a will be described here. The support panel 61a is a member that supports the folding panels 63a, 63b from the inside when they are folded inward. The support panel 61a supports the folding panels 63a, 63b, so that the height position of the platform 20 is maintained at a high position. The support panel 61a is bent slightly inward at the center in the vertical direction, and a rib 62 is formed along the vertical direction. The support panel 61a also has two connected parts 67 that are separated left and right at the center in the vertical direction and approximately the center in the horizontal direction. The connected parts 67 are parts for connecting the step 10 with the platform 20 at a high height position to the connecting members 23a, 23b of another step 10 with the platform 20 at a low height position adjacent to the front and rear. The connected parts 67 are formed in a concave shape facing downward so that the connecting members 23a, 23b can be connected from the upper side. The support panel 61a rotates around the rotating shaft 36 on the side wall 44a of the main body 41. Specifically, the support panel 61a rotates between a substantially vertical state in which the lower end abuts against the side wall 51a from the inside, and a substantially horizontal state in which the lower end is at the same height as the rotation shaft 36. In the substantially horizontal state, the support panel 61a is located in the space within the mounting portion 20. The support panel 61a has an opening 68 on the lower side in the up-down direction and in the center in the front-rear direction. A user can insert his or her fingers into the opening 68 to grip and rotate the support panel 61a.

[0041] In the state of FIG. 4, where folding panel 63a is located on the front side and folding panel 63b is located on the rear side, folding panel 63a and folding panel 63b face each other through a space in height adjustment unit 60. In folding panels 63a and 63b, upper panel 64 and lower panel 65 are rotatably connected by a rotating shaft 66. Upper panel 64 and lower panel 65 can be folded so as to overlap each other. Upper panel 64 and lower panel 65 are made of synthetic resin and are integrally molded by injection molding, and the entire panel is colored as a first color, for example, blue, by mixing a coloring agent. Folding panel 63a and folding panel 63b have the same configuration, and here, folding panel 63a will be described.

[0042] The folding panel 63a is supported by the support panels 61a and 61b so that the inner surface is not folded inward, and the height position of the mounting portion 20 is maintained in a high state. The upper panel 64 of the folding panel 63a is supported by the pivot shaft 39 so as to be rotatable relative to the side wall 45a of the main body portion 41. The lower panel 65 of the folding panel 63a is supported by the pivot shaft 54 ​​so as to be rotatable relative to the side wall 52a of the base portion 50. The folding panel 63a is always subjected to a force in a direction in which it is folded inward due to its own weight. Therefore, when the support by the support panels 61a and 61b is released, the folding panel 63a is folded so that the upper panel 64 and the lower panel 65 overlap each other. When the folding panel 63a is folded, the folding panel 63a is located in the space in the mounting portion 20 and the space in the base portion 50.

[0043] A case where the height position of the support portion 20 of the step stool 10 configured as described above is changed will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Here, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, from a state in which the height position of the support portion 20 is high, the worker rotates the support panels 61a, 61b via the rotating shafts 36 and positions them in the space within the support portion 20. At this time, the support panels 61a, 61b are overlapping each other in the space within the support portion 20. Next, as shown in Fig. 7, the folding panels 63a, 63b, which are released from the support panels 61a, 61b, are folded inward by their own weight. Therefore, the support portion 20 and the base portion 50 can be brought into contact with each other, and the height position of the support portion 20 can be made low, as shown in Fig. 1. At this time, the engaging portion 38 of the support portion 20 engages with the engaged portion 53 of the base portion 50, so that the height position of the support portion 20 can be maintained low. Conversely, to change the height position of the support portion 20 from the state shown in Fig. 1 to a higher position, the engagement portion 38 of the support portion 20 and the engaged portion 53 of the base portion 50 are disengaged, and the support portion 20 is lifted. By lifting the support portion 20, the folded folding panels 63a, 63b are unfolded. In addition, the support panels 61a, 61b rotate due to their own weight so as to be interposed between the folding panels 63a, 63b, and the lower ends come into contact with the side walls 51a, 51b of the base portion 50, thereby maintaining the height position of the support portion 20 in a higher state. In this way, the footstool 10 can change the height position of the base 20, i.e., the height position of the work surface F, in stages. Therefore, by changing the height position of the base 20 of the footstool 10 according to the height position at which the worker wishes to work, the work efficiency of the worker can be improved.

[0044] In addition, a plurality of steps 10 can be arranged adjacent to each other with the height positions of the platforms 20 being different, to form a staircase-like structure. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the step stools 10a and 10b arranged adjacent to each other. The step stools 10a and 10b have the same configuration as the step stool 10 described above in FIGS. 1 to 7. Here, the step stool 10a has the height position of the base 20 in a high state, and the step stool 10b has the height position of the base 20 in a low state. As shown in FIG. 8, the step stools 10a and 10b can be arranged adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction to form a staircase, so that the worker can easily go up and down the step stools 10a and 10b. At this time, the connecting member 23b of the step stool 10b with the base 20 in the low position can be rotated around an axis along the front-rear direction to connect to the connected portion 67 of the support panel 61a of the step stool 10a with the base 20 in the high position.

[0045] Next, a configuration in which the top section 21 can be removed from the main body section 41 will be described with reference to Fig. 9. Fig. 9 shows a state in which the top section 21 has been removed from the main body section 41. The main body 41 has reinforcing side walls 46a, 46b, 47a, 47b closer to the space inside the main body 41 than the side walls 44a, 44b, 45a, 45b. The reinforcing side walls 46a, 46b, 47a, 47b have a plurality of ribs to improve the rigidity of the main body 41. The reinforcing side walls 46a, 46b, 47a, 47b have gaps between them and the side walls 44a, 44b, 45a, 45b, and their lower ends are connected to the inner surfaces of the side walls 44a, 44b, 45a, 45b, respectively. The reinforcing side walls 46a, 46b, 47a, 47b have upper ends at a height position higher than the upper end of the side wall 44a. The reinforcing side walls 46a, 46b, 47a, 47b have mounting holes 48 at a position higher than the upper ends of the side walls 44a, 44b, 45a, 45b. The mounting holes 48 are formed at intervals in the front-rear direction of the reinforcing side walls 46a, 46b, and are also formed at intervals in the left-right direction of the reinforcing side walls 47a, 47b.

[0046] The top portion 21 has a thin plate-like restricting portion 42 that hangs down from the inner surface of the sidewalls 34a, 34b, 35a, 35b toward the lower side than the lower end of the sidewalls 34a, 34b, 35a, 35b. When the top portion 21 is attached to the main body portion 41, the restricting portion 42 is inserted into the gap between the reinforcing sidewalls 46a, 46b, 47a, 47b of the main body portion 41 and the sidewalls 44a, 44b, 45a, 45b. The top portion 21 is positioned relative to the main body portion 41 by inserting the restricting portion 42 into the gap between the reinforcing sidewalls 46a, 46b, 47a, 47b and the sidewalls 44a, 44b, 45a, 45b. Therefore, the side surfaces between the sidewalls 34a, 34b, 35a, 35b and the sidewalls 44a, 44b, 45a, 45b are continuously flat. In addition, the side walls 34a, 34b, 35a, and 35b have mounting holes 43 that communicate with the mounting holes 48 of the reinforcing side walls 46a, 46b, 47a, and 47b when the top portion 21 is attached to the main body portion 41. The mounting holes 43 are formed in the side walls 34a and 34b at intervals in the front-to-rear direction, and are also formed in the side walls 35a and 35b at intervals in the left-to-right direction. With the top portion 21 overlapped on the main body portion 41, the top portion 21 can be attached to the main body portion 41 by inserting and fixing an attachment member 81 into the communicating attachment holes 43 and 48. The attachment member 81 can be, for example, a screw or a rivet (including a blind rivet).

[0047] With the mounting portion 20 configured in this manner, if the top portion 21 is damaged, the mounting member 81 can be removed to remove the damaged top portion 21 from the main body portion 41. After removing the damaged top portion 21, the replacement top portion 21 can be attached to the main body portion 41 by overlapping the replacement top portion 21 on the main body portion 41 and inserting and fixing the mounting member 81 into the communicating mounting holes 43 and 48. In this manner, since the top portion 21 can be attached and detached to the main body portion 41, the top portion 21 can be replaced even if it is damaged.

[0048] Furthermore, since the main body 41 is connected to the height adjustment unit 60, even when replacing the top part 21, there is no need to disconnect the main body 41 from the height adjustment unit 60, so that the top part 21 can be easily replaced. Furthermore, since the main body 41 has an identification display section 49, even when replacing the top portion 21, there is no need to remove or attach the identification display section 49, so that the top portion 21 can be easily replaced.

[0049] Next, a configuration in which the indicator portions 70a to 70d are detachable from the mounting portion 20 will be described with reference to Fig. 9. Fig. 9 shows a state in which the indicator portions 70a to 70d are detached from the mounting portion 20 (top portion 21). The top portion 21 has recesses 31 into which the indicator portions 70a to 70d can be fitted at positions where the indicator portions 70a to 70d are to be disposed. The recesses 31 into which the indicator portions 70a to 70d are fitted have the same configuration, and here, only the recess 31 into which the indicator portion 70c is fitted will be described.

[0050] The recess 31 is formed so that when the indicator portion 70c is fitted, the upper surface of the indicator portion 70c and the work surface F are approximately flat. The recess 31 also has a connecting hole 32 that communicates with the connecting hole 73 of the indicator portion 70c. The recess 31 also has a mounting hole 33a that communicates with the mounting hole 74a of the indicator portion 70c, and a mounting hole 33b that communicates with the mounting hole 74b of the indicator portion 70c.

[0051] With the indicator portions 70a-70d fitted into the recesses 31 of the top plate 22, the indicator portions 70a-70d can be attached to the top plate 21 by inserting and fixing an attachment member 82 into the communicating attachment holes 74a, 74b and the attachment holes 33a, 33b. The attachment member 82 may be, for example, a screw or a rivet (including a blind rivet).

[0052] According to the top portion 21 configured in this manner, when the indicator portions 70a-70d are damaged or when they are to be replaced with indicator portions 70a-70d of a different color, the mounting member 82 can be removed to remove the indicator portions 70a-70d from the top portion 21. After removing the indicator portions 70a-70d, the replacement indicator portions 70a-70d can be attached to the top portion 21 by fitting the replacement indicator portions 70a-70d into the recesses 31 and inserting and fixing the mounting members 82 into the communicating mounting holes 74a, 74b and the mounting holes 33a, 33b. Since the indicator portions 70a-70d can be attached to and detached from the top portion 21 in this manner, when the indicator portions 70a-70d are damaged or when it is desired to change the color of the indicator portions 70a-70d, the indicator portions 70a-70d can be replaced.

[0053] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the above-mentioned embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and modifications and the like are possible within the scope of the present invention. In the above-described embodiment, the case where the mounting member 81 is used has been described, but this is not limited to this case, and the top portion 21 may be attached to and detached from the main body portion 41 without using the mounting member 81. In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the top portion 21 is removable from the main body portion 41, but this is not limited to this case, and the top portion 21 may be integral with the main body portion 41 and may not be removable from the main body portion 41.

[0054] In the above-described embodiment, the top portion 21 has four indicator portions 70a to 70d, but this is not limited to this case and may have one, two, or three indicator portions, or may be an indicator portion in which the four indicator portions 70a to 70d are integrated, or may be an indicator portion in which any two or any three of the four indicator portions 70a to 70d are integrated. In the above-described embodiment, the indicator portions 70a-70d have the connecting hole 73, but this is not limited to the case. As long as the indicator portions 70a-70d are positioned so as not to cover the connecting hole 32, the indicator portions 70a-70d do not need to have the connecting hole 73. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 10: Step stool 20: Standing portion 21: Top portion 41: Main body portion 60: Height adjustment portion 70a to 70d: Index portion 81: Mounting member (first mounting member) 82: Mounting member (second mounting member)

Claims

1. A step stool having a platform for a worker to stand on and a base that is in contact with a floor surface, the height of which can be changed, The mounting portion is A step stool comprising a main body and a top portion detachable from the main body and having a work surface.

2. a height adjustment unit connected to the base to change a height position of the unit; The main body portion is The step stool according to claim 1, further comprising a height adjustment portion connected thereto.

3. The main body portion is 3. The step stool according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that identification information for identifying the step stool is written on the step stool.

4. The heavenly part is: A step stool as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is fixed to the main body portion using a first mounting member and can be removed from the main body portion by removing the first mounting member.

5. The heavenly part is:

5. The step stool according to claim 1, further comprising an indicator portion for allowing a worker to recognize the peripheral portion of the work surface.

6. The indicator portion is The step stool according to claim 5, characterized in that it is removable from the top portion.

7. The indicator portion is 7. A step stool as claimed in claim 5 or 6, characterized in that it is of a different colour to the work surface.

8. The indicator portion is A step stool as described in any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that it is fixed to the top portion using a second mounting member and can be removed from the top portion by removing the second mounting member.

9. 9. The step stool according to claim 1, wherein the base portion has an auxiliary leg portion that comes into contact with the floor surface when a predetermined load is applied to the base portion.

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