Portable steps
AssigneeVermont Juvenile Furniture Mfg., Inc.
InventorsChris Jakubowski, Scott S. Jakubowski, Todd M. Jakubowski, Guang-Sheng Lin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A step assembly that is specifically adapted to assist pets in reaching and/or descending from elevated surfaces is provided. The step assembly has two sidewalls having a plurality of openings in which pegs formed on the sides of individual treads and risers are engaged. The pegs are removably insertable into the openings and include protrusions which create an interference fit upon insertion. Because the treads, risers and side walls are joined by interlocking pegs and openings, the step assembly can be flat packed for shipping, and is easily assembled and disassembled for transportation and/or cleaning.
Claims17
A portable step assembly comprising:
- first and second sidewalls each having a plurality of openings, a shoulder is formed at a first end of each of the plurality of openings and a recess is formed at a second end of each of the plurality of openings;
- at least one tread having pegs formed on opposite sides thereof in complementary positions to a first set of the openings in each of the sidewalls;
- at least one riser having pegs formed on opposite sides thereof in complementary positions to a second set of the openings in each of the sidewalls,
- the pegs of the at least one tread and the at least one riser are removably insertable into the corresponding one of the first and second sets of openings such that the step has the ability to be assembled and disassembled repeatedly, the pegs each include an enlarged cylindrical shoulder portion adjacent to a base of the at least one tread or the at least one riser, a cylindrical intermediate section, an enlarged end portion and at least one radially protruding tab positioned on the enlarged end portion having a diameter greater than the cylindrical intermediate section.
A method of assembling portable steps comprising:
- providing first and second sidewalls each having a plurality of openings;
- providing at least one tread having pegs formed on opposite first and second sides thereof in complementary positions to a first set of openings in each of the sidewalls;
- providing at least one riser having pegs formed on opposite first and second sides thereof in complementary positions to a second set of the openings in each of the sidewalls;
- providing the pegs with an enlarged cylindrical shoulder portion adjacent to a base of the at least one tread and the at least one riser;
- providing a cylindrical intermediate section and an enlarged end portion having a diameter greater than the cylindrical intermediate section on each of the pegs;
- providing at least one radially protruding tab positioned on the enlarged end portion of each of the pegs;
- providing a shoulder formed at a first end of each of the plurality of openings configured to receive the enlarged shoulder portions of the pegs;
- providing at least one recess formed at a second end of each of the plurality of openings configured to receive the at least one tab;
- inserting the pegs which are located on the first side of the at least one tread into the first set of openings in the first sidewall;
- inserting the pegs which are located on the first side of the at least one riser into the second set of openings in the first sidewall;
- inserting the pegs which are located on the second side of the at least one tread into the first set of openings in the second sidewall;
- inserting the pegs which are located on the second side of the at least one riser into the second set of openings in the second sidewall;
- engaging the enlarged shoulder portions of the pegs into the shoulders of the plurality of openings;
- and
- engaging the at least one tab of each of the pegs into the at least one recess of each of the plurality of openings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.