There is described a step comprising a single foot secured to the floor for supporting a hinge system and a board onto which a user can step. The foot has an inclination with respect to the floor, wherein the inclination is fixed and lies between 45 and 80. The hinge system installed on the foot provides a hinge with respect to the foot. The board extending in a plane is fixedly secured to the hinge system and hinges between a stowed position and a working position. The board is substantially horizontal when in the working position, and inclined at the inclination when in the stowed position. The board is adjacent to surfaces of the foot and of the cap onto the hinge system, and does not define any acute angle with these adjacent surfaces. The board has a recess that, upon hinging, always conforms to the cap.

A rotating retractable step system positioned within a cutout of a wall is presented. The rotating retractable step system comprises a foot pedal and a support shaft. The foot pedal is configured to be stowed in a vertical orientation within the cutout of the wall, and to rotate between the vertical orientation and a horizontal orientation. The support shaft is associated with the foot pedal, such that movement of the support shaft extends the foot pedal outwardly away from the cutout, or retracts the foot pedal towards the cutout.

A device that can be deployed from a retracted position to a deployed position comprises at least a first board and a second board, the device comprising a base frame intended to be horizontal and a deployment mechanism for guiding the boards between the retracted position and the deployed position, and vice versa, the first board being offset towards the rear of the device relative to the second board in a horizontal main direction when the device is in the deployed position and, when the device is in the retracted position, the first board is offset towards the front of the device and the second board is offset towards the rear, the two boards being situated at substantially the same level.

A rotating retractable step system positioned within a cutout of a wall is presented. The rotating retractable step system comprises a foot pedal and a support shaft. The foot pedal is configured to be stowed in a vertical orientation within the cutout of the wall, and to rotate between the vertical orientation and a horizontal orientation. The support shaft is associated with the foot pedal, such that movement of the support shaft extends the foot pedal outwardly away from the cutout, or retracts the foot pedal towards the cutout.

A step unit including a vertical frame and a plurality of linkages pivotally attached at different heights to the vertical frame by one end of each of the linkages, to provide lateral rotation to the linkages. A leg frame, with at least one leg, is pivotally attached to the opposite end of each linkage whereby laterally translating the leg frame simultaneously pivots the linkages from a first, vertical position to at least one second, horizontal position.

A rotating retractable step system positioned within a cutout of a wall is presented. The rotating retractable step system comprises a foot pedal and a support shaft. The foot pedal is configured to be stowed in a vertical orientation within the cutout of the wall, and to rotate between the vertical orientation and a horizontal orientation. The support shaft is associated with the foot pedal, such that movement of the support shaft extends the foot pedal outwardly away from the cutout, or retracts the foot pedal towards the cutout.

A retractable step stool assembly for assisting a person in elevating him or herself above a floor includes a base member, a step stool member which in an upright position has a generally horizontal platform surface and two side members which depend downwardly from opposite ends of the platform surface, and an arm assembly which is configured to pivotally connect the step stool member to the base member for movement of the step stool member between a stored position in which the step stool member is positioned over the base member to a deployed position in which the step stool member is positioned on the floor in front of the base member. The arm assembly is configured such that the platform surface remains generally horizontal during movement of the step stool member between the stored position and the deployed position. The step stool member includes an upwardly directed foot-engaging member which is engageable by the bottom of the person's foot and is configured to transfer at least an initial downwardly directed force from the person's foot into movement of the step stool member from the stored position toward the deployed position. In this manner, the person can move the step stool member from the stored position to the deployed position by engaging the foot-engaging member with only his or her foot.

Apparatuses and systems are disclosed for portable stairs. In one embodiment, a support structure extends from a lower level to an upper level. In a certain embodiment, a plurality of steps are coupled to the support structure. In a further embodiment, an apparatus includes means for independent, per-step adjustment of step positions relative to the support structure.

A carrier comprises a frame coupleable with a ladder in a first position and a second position, and a harness that one can wear to hold the frame to himself/herself. In the first position, the frame supports the ladder when one carries the frame. In the second position, the frame and ladder, together, support one when one sits on the frame. The carrier's frame includes a first member that holds the ladder when the frame is in the first position, and a second member that supports a person sitting on the frame when the frame is in the second position. With the ability to position the carrier's frame in a first position and a second position, one can use the carrier to carry a ladder to and from where one will be working without having to use one or both of one's hands. This allows one to use both hands and/or arms to carry one's tools and supplies to where one will be working. Then, later in the day, one can use the same carrier to sit on while taking a break.

A step stool is provided in various embodiments. A step stool in an embodiment includes a first top panel rotatably connected to a second top panel. It includes a front panel rotatably connected to the first top panel and a rear panel rotatably connected to the second top panel. It further includes a first side panel rotatably connected to the front panel and a second side panel rotatably connected to the first side panel and rotatably connected to the rear panel. It also includes a third side panel rotatably connected to the front panel and a fourth side panel rotatably connected to the third side panel and rotatably connected to the rear panel. It further includes a center support member having a first center panel rotatably connected to an underside of the first top panel, a second center panel rotatably connected to an underside of the second top panel and rotatably connected to the first center panel. It may also include a formation in which the first top panel includes a handle and the second top panel includes a recess in which the handle of the first top panel fits.