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US 9,314,106 B2Granted
Bed step device and method
OwnerTimothy Browninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bed step device is provided for assisting a human or pet in climbing into and/or out of a bed. The device includes a base, at least one step attached to the base, and a retention member attached to the base. The retention member is configured to be disposed and retained between opposed surfaces of a bed, typically either the opposed surfaces of a mattress and a box spring or those of a box spring and a bed frame. The disposition of the retention member between the opposed surfaces results in a retention force, typically a friction force, to resist sliding movement of the device across a floor surface on which the device is supported. The retention member may be a rigid panel or a flexible sheet. The base and step or steps may comprise a folding staircase linkage or a rigid, unitary housing including a storage compartment.
Claims20
A portable bed step device for assisting a human or pet in climbing into a bed, comprising:
- a rigid bed step member supportable by a generally horizontal floor surface;
- a plurality of rigid steps, including a lowest step, disposed in fixed positions relative to the bed step member, each step including a generally horizontal support surface configured to be elevated above the generally horizontal floor surface when the bed step member is supported thereon in a use position;
- a rigid, elongate retention member connected to the bed step member, the retention member adapted to be disposed and frictionally retained between opposed surfaces of the bed, when the portable bed step device is in the use position adjacent to the bed, to resist movement of the device, including horizontal sliding movement of the device, away from the use position, at least one of the plurality of steps in the use position being disposed below the vertical level of the retention member, the resistance of the retention member to bending or pivoting relative to the bed step member further resisting upward or downward vertical movement of any of the plurality of steps;
- an at least substantially vertical rear side of the bed step member when in the use position disposed generally parallel and directly adjacent to the bed, the rear side extending at least from the vertical level of the retention member approximately to the floor surface, the bed step member contacting the floor surface proximate to the bottom of the rear side of the bed step member, and the bed step member contacting the floor surface proximate to the front of the lowest step, to at least substantially prevent downward movement of any of the steps;
- an at least substantially enclosed storage compartment disposed below the support surface;
- and
- floor-contacting members extendably and retractably connected to the bed step member to adjust the height of the bed step member and the support surface relative to the generally horizontal floor surface.
4 more elements
A portable bed step device for assisting a human or pet in climbing into a bed, comprising:
- a bed step member configured to be supported on a generally horizontal floor surface and having a plurality of steps connected thereto, each step including a generally horizontal support surface configured to be elevated above the generally horizontal floor surface when the bed step member is supported thereon in a use position, the bed step member contacting the floor surface over an area approximately equal to the area of each support surface;
- floor grip members attached to the bed step member and configured to directly contact a floor surface on which the bed step member is supported, the floor grip members composed of a high-traction material to resist sliding of the grip members across the floor surface;
- an elongate retention member connected to the device, the retention member having a thickness smaller than a vertical thickness of the step, the retention member adapted to be disposed and retained between opposed surfaces of the bed, when the device is in the use position adjacent to the bed, to resist movement of the device away from the use position, at least one of the plurality of steps in the use position being disposed below the vertical level of the retention member;
- and
- a linkage movably connecting the support surface to the bed step member;
- the linkage adapted to permit movement of the support surface to a range of positions at a range of heights above a floor surface on which the bed step member is supported, while constraining the support surface to remain generally parallel to the floor surface.
3 more elements
A portable bed step device for assisting a human or pet in climbing into a bed, comprising:
- a rigid bed step member supportable by a generally horizontal floor surface;
- a plurality of rigid steps disposed in fixed positions relative to the bed step member, each step including a generally horizontal support surface configured to be elevated above the generally horizontal floor surface when the bed step member is supported thereon in a use position;
- a flexible retention member connected to the bed step member, at least a portion of the flexible retention member adapted to be disposed and frictionally retained between opposed surfaces of the bed at a vertical level above at least one of the plurality of steps in the use position, when the portable bed step device is in the use position adjacent to the bed, to resist movement of the device, including horizontal sliding movement of the device, away from the use position;
- an at least substantially vertical rear side of the bed step member in the use position disposed generally parallel and directly adjacent to the bed, the bed step member contacting the floor surface proximate to the bottom of the rear side of the bed step member, and the bed step member contacting the floor surface proximate to the front of the foremost step, to at least substantially prevent downward movement of any of the plurality of steps;
- an at least substantially enclosed storage compartment disposed below the support surface;
- and
- floor-contacting members extendably and retractably connected to the bed step member to adjust the height of the bed step member and the support surface relative to the generally horizontal floor surface.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.