A stair including at least one tread portion and an elevating mechanism by which the tread portion is elevatable to a deployed position in which the tread portion is presented to be stepped on by a person. The stair further includes a pedal. The elevating mechanism includes a stop and a striking portion. The striking portion is arranged to move into abutment with the stop when the tread portion is so elevated to its deployed position. The striking portion is also arranged to be driven against the stop by at least a portion of the person's weight. The pedal is pressible to move the striking portion away from the stop. The elevating mechanism is configured such that, when the striking portion is so moved away, depressing the tread portion moves the striking portion further away from the stop.

The present invention generally relates to a folding step stool that is, in one embodiment, mounted and stored within a cabinet. Children and short adults are typically not tall enough to readily access a kitchen or bathroom sink. Accordingly, many homes have a portable step stool located in the kitchen or bathroom. While effective, one problem with such a portable step stool is storage of the stool when not in use. Aspects of the present invention are directed to a folding step stool that may be mounted within an interior of a cabinet. When not in use, the entirety of the folding step stool may be disposed within an interior of the cabinet to permit closure of the cabinet door. Likewise, when needed, the cabinet door may be opened and the step stool may be deployed to provide one or more steps for use in accessing a counter or sink above the cabinet.

An in-cabinet step stool for use with a cabinet defining an interior area, the in-cabinet step stool including a framework having a pair of upstanding side walls, each side wall having a rear section and a front section extending forwardly and downwardly from the rear section. An upper step spans between upper edges of respective rear sections. A lower step spans between upper edges of respective lower sections. Each includes a rear foot having a rounded configuration such that the framework is pivotally movable thereon between a (1) deployed configuration in which the rear foot rests upon the bottom wall of the cabinet and the front section extends forwardly through the opening of the cabinet and a stored configuration in which the rear foot rests upon the bottom wall of the cabinet and the front section is inside the cabinet interior area.

A stairway apparatus for use with an endoscope storage cabinet includes a slidable door to open or close the cabinet's interior compartment. The stairway apparatus includes a base member disposed on a ground and placed against the cabinet, the base member having a first step with a front face, a rear face opposite the front face, and a top face connecting the front and rear faces, the front face having a lip coupled thereto and positioned to remain flush with the top face of the first step. The front face of the first step contacts front edges of the cabinet. The lip extends into the interior compartment of the cabinet when open and contacts side walls of the cabinet, thereby preventing lateral movement of the base member.

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.