# US 2019/0169930 A1 · Automated step device and methods of making and using > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0169930 A1 - Document ID: US20190169930A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/829,722 - Filed: 2017-12-01 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-01 - Assignees: Kenneth Robert Niemiec; Tracy Knight - Inventors: Kenneth Robert Niemiec - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190169930A1 ## CPC - E06C 1/005: {Ladders in use as furniture or ladders in relation to furniture, e.g. in cupboards (step-stools, chairs or benches requiring conversion between the step and seat functions A47C12/02)} - A47B 88/413: Drawers slidable into a space provided between furniture body and floor, e.g. plinth drawers - G05B 15/02: electric - A47B 77/10: with members movable outwards to a position of use, e.g. tables, ironing boards (A47B77/16 takes precedence; surfaces adapted to be brought into position for use by extension or pivoting in general A47B46/00) - A47B 2210/16: Sliding drawers being part of the furniture base - A47B 2220/05: Furniture provided with a ladder - A47C 12/00: Step-stools - E06C: LADDERS (E04F11/00 takes precedence; step-stools A47C12/00; adaptation of ladders to use on ships B63B, to use on aircraft B64; scaffolding E04G) - A47B: TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE (furniture jointing F16B) - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - A47C: CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS ## Abstract An automated step includes a carriage moveable between a retracted position and a deployed position; a jack disposed on the carriage; a platform disposed on the jack; rotatable legs coupled to the platform and rotatable between a stowed position and an extended position; and a controller coupled to the carriage, the jack, and the legs. The controller, when activated to deploy the automated step, directs the carriage to extend, directs the jack to raise the platform, and directs the legs to rotate to the extended position and, when activated to retract the automated step, directs the legs to rotate to the stowed position, directs the jack to lower the platform, and directs the carriage to retract. The jack and legs both support the platform when a user stands on the automated step. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An automated step, comprising: a carriage configured and arranged to move between a retracted position and a deployed position; a jack disposed on the carriage; a platform disposed on the jack, wherein the jack is configured and arranged to raise and lower the platform; a plurality of rotatable legs coupled to the platform and configured and arranged to rotate between a stowed position and an extended position, wherein the jack and rotatable legs both support the platform and a user when the automated step is in a deployed position and the user steps onto the platform; and a controller coupled to the carriage, the jack, and the legs, wherein the controller is configured and arranged to: when activated to deploy the automated step, direct the carriage to extend, direct the jack to raise the platform, and direct the legs to rotate to the extended position, and when activated to retract the automated step, direct the legs to rotate to the stowed position, direct the jack to lower the platform, and direct the carriage to retract. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The automated step of claim 1, wherein the platform comprises a base and sidewalls extending below the base, wherein the legs are attached to the sidewalls. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The automated step of claim 2, wherein, in the extended position, the legs each make an interior angle in a range of 95 to 110 degrees with the sidewall to which the leg is attached. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The automated step of claim 1, wherein directing the jack to raise the platform and directing the legs to rotate to the extended position comprises directing the jack to raise the platform to a leg deployment height, directing the legs to rotate to the extended position, and then directing the jack to lower the platform to a final height. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The automated step of claim 1, wherein directing the legs to rotate to the stowed position and directing the jack to lower the platform comprises directing the jack to raise the platform to a leg retraction height, directing the legs to rotate to the stowed position, and then directing the jack to lower the platform to a nested position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The automated step of claim 1, further comprising a sensor coupled to the controller, wherein the sensor is configured and arranged to detect obstruction of the extension of the carriage. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The automated step of claim 1, further comprising a sensor coupled to the controller, wherein the sensor is configured and arranged to detect the user attempting to stand on the platform prior to full deployment of the automated step. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The automated step of claim 1, further comprising a sensor coupled to the controller, wherein the sensor is configured and arranged to detect failure of the legs to rotate to the extended position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The automated step of claim 1, further comprising a sensor coupled to the controller, wherein the sensor is configured and arranged to detect failure of the jack to raise the platform to a final height or a leg deployment height. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The automated step of claim 1, further comprising a sensor coupled to the controller, wherein the sensor is configured and arranged to detect obstruction of the retraction of the carriage. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The automated step of claim 1, further comprising a sensor coupled to the controller, wherein the sensor is configured and arranged to detect obstruction to lowering of the platform by the jack. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The automated step of claim 1, wherein the jack is a scissor jack. ### Claim 13 An automated step, comprising: a carriage; a carriage drive mechanism attached to the carriage and configured and arranged to move the carriage between a retracted position and a deployed position; a jack disposed on the carriage; a jack motor coupled to the jack; a platform disposed on the jack, wherein the jack is configured and arranged to raise and lower the platform; a plurality of rotatable legs coupled to the platform, wherein the jack and rotatable legs both support the platform and a user when the automated step is in a deployed position and the user steps onto the platform; at least one leg motor coupled to the legs and configured and arranged to rotate the legs between a stowed position and an extended position; and a processor coupled to the carriage drive mechanism, the jack motor, and the leg motors, wherein the processor is configured and arranged to: when activated to deploy the automated step: direct the carriage drive mechanism to extend the carriage, direct the jack motor to raise the platform, and direct the at least one leg motor to rotate the legs to the extended position and when activated to retract the automated step; direct the at least one leg motor to rotate the legs to the stowed position, direct the jack motor to lower the platform, and direct the carriage drive mechanism to retract the carriage. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The automated step of claim 13, wherein directing the jack motor to raise the platform and directing the at least one leg motor to rotate the legs to the extended position comprises directing the jack motor to raise the platform to a leg deployment height, directing the at least one leg motor to rotate the legs to the extended position, and then directing the jack motor to lower the platform to a final height. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The automated step of claim 13, wherein directing the at least one leg motor to rotate the legs to the stowed position and directing the jack motor to lower the platform comprises directing the jack motor to raise the platform to a leg retraction height, directing the at least one leg motor to rotate the legs to the stowed position, and then directing the jack motor to lower the platform to a nested position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The automated step of claim 13, further comprising a sensor coupled to the controller, wherein the sensor is configured and arranged to detect obstruction of the extension of the carriage, wherein the processor is configured and arranged to halt extension of the carriage when the sensor detects the obstruction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The automated step of claim 13, further comprising a sensor coupled to the controller, wherein the sensor is configured and arranged to detect the user attempting to stand on the platform prior to full deployment of the automated step, wherein the processor is configured and arranged to halt deployment of the automated step when the sensor detects the user attempting to stand on the platform. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The automated step of claim 13, further comprising a sensor coupled to the controller, wherein the sensor is configured and arranged to detect the user attempting to stand on the platform prior to full deployment of the automated step, wherein the processor is configured and arranged to produce a visual or audible warning when the sensor detects the user attempting to stand on the platform. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The automated step of claim 13, further comprising a sensor coupled to the controller, wherein the sensor is configured and arranged to detect failure of the jack to raise the platform to a final height or a leg deployment height, wherein the processor is configured and arranged to halt deployment of the automated step when the sensor detects the failure of the jack to raise the platform to the final height or the leg deployment height. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The automated step of claim 13, further comprising a sensor coupled to the controller, wherein the sensor is configured and arranged to detect obstruction of the retraction of the carriage, wherein the processor is configured and arranged to halt retraction of the carriage when the sensor detects the obstruction.