Stow away stool or stoop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Standard counter heights in kitchens and bathrooms pose accessibility challenges for children, leading to difficulties in self-care and participation in activities, increased risk of hazards, and inconvenient storage and setup of traditional step stools.
Innovation Solution
A stool or stoop device that can be easily transitioned between a stowed position within a cabinet and a deployed position outside, featuring a streamlined design with adjustable legs and a pivotable bracket for safe and convenient access, accommodating various cabinet designs and floor surfaces, and allowing independent deployment and stowage by children.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional step stools are used, then children can access counter height, but they cause trip hazards when not in use and require inconvenient storage and setup
Solution Approach 1:
The step stool is designed to nest within the cabinet space when not in use. The stool body incorporates storage compartments that can hold the stool's own components, and the overall structure is dimensioned to fit within standard cabinet interiors, eliminating trip hazards by completely concealing the stool when not needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The step stool employs a dynamic deployment mechanism that allows it to be quickly extended from a retracted position within the cabinet to a usable position outside. The mechanism includes movable legs and steps that can be rapidly deployed and locked into place, providing easy access while maintaining a hazard-free stored state.
2Ease of operation
If traditional step stools are used, then children can reach counter height, but they require storage in areas that are inconvenient to access and set up
Solution Approach 1:
The step stool is pre-positioned within the cabinet in a compact stored configuration. The design includes pre-assembled components that are permanently integrated into the cabinet structure, eliminating the need for separate storage and setup procedures. Children can simply pull the stool out when needed and push it back in when done.
3Ease of operation
If standard counter heights are used, then adult access is optimized, but children cannot safely or comfortably access the counter
Solution Approach 1:
The step stool features adjustable leg lengths and step heights that can be configured to provide the appropriate elevation for children of various sizes. The mechanism allows for height customization while maintaining a stable base, enabling the same stool to serve children from toddler through school age.
Solution Approach 2:
The step stool is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides elevation for children to reach the counter, includes storage compartments for children's items, and can be positioned at different locations within the cabinet to accommodate various kitchen layouts and child heights.
4Ease of operation
If children are seated on the counter to access it, then they can reach amenities, but supervised independence is prevented and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The step stool enables children to independently access the counter without adult assistance or supervision. The stable, self-supporting structure allows children to climb up and down safely on their own, retrieve items, and use counter amenities independently, fostering self-reliance while maintaining safety.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a stool or stoop device that is easily transitioned between a stowed position within a cabinet and a deployed or in-use position outside of a cabinet. The stool may have a streamlined design and high ease of use so that the stool may be stowed away, set up, and utilized by children, in an example. The stool can accommodate multiple cabinet designs, floor surfaces and under-cabinet structures, such as drain traps and plumbing. The stool may be flat-boxed shipped and easily assembled and installed into a cabinet structure with minimal tools or training. In an embodiment, the stool may comprise at least two legs, wherein each leg includes a concaved or recessed portion, at least one step between and connecting the at least two legs, and a pivotable bracket for facilitating the transition between a stowed and deployed positions. The stool may be mounted to an interior of a cabinet or may include a weighted base that is positionable within the interior of the cabinet. The stool may include a cantilevered design.