FR3107715A1 - NEW STAIRS - Google Patents

Abstract

NEW STAIRS The invention relates to a staircase (E) comprising - at least one stringer (100), - a plurality of steps (200), remarkable in that the face of the stringer (100) on which the lateral end of the stringer is fixed. the step is formed by a single longitudinal groove (110) preformed with retaining edges and in which slides the first end of a support rod (120), the second end of which supports a plate (400) on which the lateral end of the step (200), said plate (400) being crossed by at least one other fixing rod (402) ensuring its orientation and its fixing to the stringer (100). Figure for the abstract: Fig. 3

Description

NEW STAIRCASE

FIELD OF APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of the design, manufacture and assembly of stairs and in particular to adaptations making it possible to facilitate the positioning of the steps in relation to the stringer.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

A staircase is traditionally made up of a plurality of steps fixed between two stringers. The steps have a horizontal contact surface with the foot. The stringers follow a slope defined by the height of the floors to be connected and by the surface available to accommodate the staircase.

The operations of fixing the two ends of each step to said stringers are therefore long and tedious operations due to the angular, vertical and horizontal positioning for each step.

To solve this problem, it is possible to design pre-cut stringers for housings for the steps, but the cost of these stringers and therefore of the staircase is then significant. Moreover, such stringers are limited to a single angular orientation, a single horizontal positioning and a single vertical positioning.

The document FR2844537 describes a device for connecting the steps to the uprights of a staircase, in particular of a pedestrian bridge, said uprights each consisting of a metal profile provided with at least two regular longitudinal grooves of T-section and spaced apart l each other. This device was remarkable in that it comprised rigid strips of cross-section complementary to the clearance near or close to that of said grooves, these strips each being threaded into a said upright groove, being pre-drilled with tapped holes at a pitch corresponding to the positioning of the steps on the upright and receiving the screws for fixing the steps to the uprights, which are each engaged from the outside in a corresponding drill hole of each of the steps and in a said tapping hole of a bar, and are tightened to this one.

Such a solution allows freedom in the angular positioning of the steps relative to the uprights or stringers. It nevertheless requires, during the manufacture of the stringer, the formation of two grooves each accommodating a rod sliding in each groove and capable of fixing the height between the steps. It also requires the use of mounting plates for the side ends of the steps with oblong holes. The number of manufacturing operations (two grooves to be made in the silt), the use of additional parts (two rods) and the shaping of the plates (elongated holes) make this solution expensive.

The document FR2114749 describes a configuration equivalent to two rod sliding lanes but with direct connections between the steps and the stringers. The steps have a complex configuration in order to allow the change of their angular position according to the change of angular position of the stringers.

The document US3367444 describes a configuration with a groove accommodating a rod, the lateral end of the step being equipped with two shafts:

- a first shaft being in pivot connection with the stringer by being engaged in a bore dimensioned for this purpose in the stringer, and

– a second shaft in pivot connection with a rod sliding in a groove.

The drilling of the reception holes of the second trees in the rod defines the angular positioning and the respect of the height between the steps.

Although simpler than the solutions with two rods for the manufacture of the stringer, the latter for this configuration must nevertheless be the subject of a drilling with a precise positioning of the reception holes of the first shafts of the steps.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Observing this, the applicant has carried out research aimed at proposing a new staircase design making it possible to solve the technical problems described above by avoiding excessively expensive design and manufacture of the stringer and the use of a rod.

In addition, the aesthetics offered by such a staircase has also been studied.

This research led to the design and construction of a new staircase of the type comprising

- at least one stringer, the stringer being formed by a hollow metal section of rectangular section, said section comprising long sides and short sides,

- A plurality of steps, with the steps having lateral ends of which at least one is fixed on a face of the stringer formed by a long side of the profile.

This staircase is remarkable in that the face of the stringer on which the lateral end of the step is fixed is provided with a single longitudinal groove preformed with retaining edges and in which slides the first end of a support rod whose second end supports a plate on which the lateral end of the step is fixed, said plate being crossed by at least one other fixing rod ensuring its orientation and its fixing to the stringer.

This characteristic is particularly advantageous in that it offers a configuration making it possible to adapt to the inclination of the stringer without requiring the presence of two grooves or one or more rods.

It requires:

- precise positioning of the support rod in the groove to define the height between the steps,

– the precise angular positioning of the plate to define a horizontal position of the step.

Thus, the new design of the staircase defines a new assembly process.

Nevertheless, the parts to be assembled are particularly simple, few and numerous. The fixing and assembly of the steps and therefore of the staircase are greatly facilitated. The staircase adopting this design is therefore particularly inexpensive to manufacture and assemble while remaining flexible on the angular orientation of the stringers, the horizontal positioning and the vertical positioning of the steps.

According to another particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention, the staircase of the invention comprises two stringers. The two stringers are identical. The profile used for one side is simply turned over to form the other side.

According to another particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention, the support rod is the rod of a cylindrical head screw, said head sliding and being retained in said groove.

According to another particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention, the plate adopts an elongated parallelepipedic shape bearing on the stringer by one of its faces called the bearing face and comprising on the face opposite the bearing face at least one tongue support on which the lateral end of the step is fixed. According to a preferred but non-limiting embodiment, the plate has two support tabs.

Other features characterize the staircase:

– the stringer(s) and the steps are made of aluminium;

– the stringer is a linear section of rectangular section whose edges have a thickness greater than that of the two other faces to support the load despite the presence of the groove;

- the stringer is a linear profile of rectangular section whose edges are preformed on the outside with projecting shapes and recessed shapes for the purpose of fixing a trim strip;

– the steps are linear sections of rectangular section whose edges are preformed on the outside with projecting shapes and recessed shapes for the purpose of fixing a step trim strip;

– the fixing of the strips on the edges is removable by being of the clipping or slide type with dovetail;

– said edges and/or said trim strips can accommodate light strips (LED strips). The presence of light strips can contribute not only to the aesthetics of the staircase but also to its safety;

- the steps are preformed on their upper surface with at least one longitudinal groove that can accommodate the screws for fixing the steps to the plate and an upper trim strip. According to a preferred but non-limiting embodiment, the upper surface is preformed with two grooves;

– the stair trim strips fixed to the edges of the stair profiles adopt an asymmetrical profile with a horizontal non-slip surface on one side and a vertical projection on the opposite side which, when facing upwards, serves as a surface for retained in a covering such as a wooden covering. These step trim strips therefore not only have an aesthetic function and have a different function depending on their orientation when they are attached to the edge of the step.

The fundamental concepts of the invention having just been explained above in their most elementary form, other details and characteristics will emerge more clearly on reading the description which follows and with regard to the appended drawings, giving by way of illustration non-limiting example, an embodiment of a staircase according to the invention.

is a schematic drawing of a perspective view of an embodiment of a staircase according to the invention;

is a schematic drawing of an exploded perspective view of the drawing of Figure 1;

is a schematic drawing of an exploded perspective detail view of the attachment of a step to a stringer;

is a schematic drawing of a perspective detail view of the single support plate;

is a schematic drawing of a sectional view of a stringer with its trim strips ready to be fitted;

is a drawing of a sectional view of a step with various trim profiles ready to be fitted;

and [Fig. 8] are technical and aesthetic variations made possible by the design of the steps.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As illustrated by FIGS. 1 and 2, the staircase referenced E as a whole is an aluminum staircase comprising two stringers 100 and 100' interconnected by a plurality of steps 200. This staircase E is fixed via its stringers 100 and 100' to the available surfaces of the building in which it is integrated. The lower end of the staircase E is fixed to a horizontal support surface referenced S and the upper end is fixed to a vertical surface V adjacent to the landing P to which the staircase E provides access.

To do this, the lower and upper ends of the 100 and 100' stringers are sawn at the right angle and are fixed to said horizontal and vertical surfaces by means of fixing lugs 300.

The vertical faces arranged opposite the 100 and 100' stringers have a single longitudinal groove. Due to the orientation of the perspective views, only the groove 110 of the stringer 100 appears.

Figure 3 illustrates the attachment of the side end of a 200 step.

A plate 400 provides the interface for positioning and fixing the step 200 in relation to the stringer 100.

More specifically, the head of a screw 120 acting as a support rod is slid into the groove 110 of the stringer 100. According to a preferred embodiment, the screws 120 are slid into the groove 110 of the stringer 100 before laying said stringer. The shank of the screw 120 is then projecting out of the groove 110. The plate 400 is provided with a middle hole 410 (see Fig. 4) to enable it to slip onto the shank of the screw 120. A nut 401 makes it possible to temporarily fix the plate 400 and the screw 120. Self-drilling fixing screws 402 pass through the plate 400 through holes 420 provided for this purpose and pierce the stringer to fix it definitively and thus fix definitively the plate to the stringer 100. The tightening by the nut 401 cooperating with the rod of the screw 120 makes it possible to position the plate 200 in the groove 110 linearly and angularly before its final fixing. Depending on the height, setback and angle of the stairs, the manufacturer and/or installer can make a gauge (a template) to guarantee the spacing of the steps.

Once the plate 400 has been fixed, the end of the step 200 can rest on it and be fixed there.

As illustrated in Figure 4, to implement its functions the plate 400 adopts an elongated parallelepipedic shape bearing on the stringer by one of its faces and comprising on the face opposite the bearing face two support tabs 430. The parallelepipedal shape is crossed by three orifices:

– a central hole 410 to slip over the stem of the screw 120 and on the edge of which the nut 401 rests for a first connection of the plate 400 to the stringer 100,

- two side holes 420 with which the self-drilling screws 402 cooperate to permanently fix the plate to the stringer 100.

Each tongue 430 is traversed by a vertical hole 431 with which vertical screws 201 for fixing the step 200 to the plate 400 cooperate.

The detail of the profile of the stringer 100 is illustrated in FIG. 5. As illustrated, the stringer 100 adopts a rectangular profile on one of the long sides of which is formed a groove 110. This groove 110 adopts at its opening flanges 111 which serve retaining surface at the head of the screw 120.

As illustrated, the short sides 130 or edges of the stringer 100 adopt a greater thickness in order to withstand the stresses while allowing the drilling of sidewalls

In addition, these edges 130 have their outer surface preformed with projecting and recessed shapes to serve as positioning and retaining means for trim strips 500.

These strips 500 are made of aluminum and are preformed recessed and protruding in order to be fixed to said edge, for example by clipping.

According to the illustrated embodiment, the edge 130 is in particular preformed with a rib 131 adopting a dovetail profile cooperating for retaining purposes with a dovetail groove 520 preformed in the strip 500.

These strips 500 are themselves preformed with longitudinal grooves 510 allowing to receive narrower strips in aluminum or plastic for covering or lighting by receiving a strip of LEDs.

The profile detail of step 200 is shown in Figure 6.

This substantially rectangular profile adopts projecting and recessed shapes on each of its faces to receive one or more rods.

Thus, the upper surface 210 is preformed with two longitudinal grooves 211 and 212 to receive finishing strips 213.

In addition, the edges 220 are preformed with projecting and recessed shapes to receive step trim strips 600. These edges 220 are in particular preformed with a rib 221 adopting a dovetail profile cooperating for the purpose of retained with a rib 640 made in the step trim strip 600.

Finally, the underside of step 200 is preformed with a housing 230 equipped with projecting and recessed shapes to receive a trim 240.

The bottom of the grooves 211 serves as a bearing surface for the vertical fixing screws 201 of the step 200 on the plate 400. Thus, the heads of these screws do not protrude once screwed. The spacing of the grooves 211 corresponds to the spacing of the tongues 430 of the plate 400. The step 200 is supported with the bottom of the housing 230 on the plate 400. Indeed, the same median horizontal plane profile constitutes the bottom of the grooves 211 and 212 and that of housing 230 which opens downwards. The trim profile 240 closes said housing 230.

The 600 step trim strips are themselves preformed with 610 longitudinal grooves to accommodate narrower trim strips (such as the 611 strip shown) or LED strip type lighting.

According to a preferred but non-limiting embodiment, the width of the grooves 510 provided in the trim strips 500 of the stringer 100 and those 610 provided in the trim strips of the steps 600 are designed to accommodate the same trim strips 611 that are less wide or LED strip type lighting.

As illustrated, these step trim strips 600 adopt an asymmetrical profile by presenting a projection 620 on only one of the sides of its groove 610. The side 630 of the strip 600 opposite to that equipped with the projection 620 is preformed with longitudinal streaks to form a non-slip surface.

Thus, depending on the orientation of the strip 600, the latter offers facing upwards the non-slip surface 630 or the projection 620.

Figure 7 illustrates a configuration where the step trim strips 600 are fixed to the edge 220 of the profiles forming the steps 200 so that their projection 620 is oriented downwards. The non-slip surface 630 is then positioned upwards and is located at the same height as the upper surface 210 of the step 200.

Figure 8 illustrates a configuration where the step trim strips 600 are fixed to the edge 220 of the profiles forming the steps 200' so that their projection 620 is oriented upwards. The space delimited by the two projections 620 is then occupied by a covering constituted here by a wooden board 700. The projections 620 then serve to better accommodate and better retain a covering that is more difficult to accommodate such as a covering in drink.

It is understood that the staircase which has just been described and represented above, was for the purpose of disclosure rather than limitation. Of course, various adjustments, modifications and improvements may be made to the above examples, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (9)

Staircase (E) including
- at least one stringer (100), the stringer (100) being formed by a hollow metal section of rectangular section, said section comprising long sides and short sides,
- a plurality of steps (200), with the steps (200) having lateral ends, at least one of which is fixed to a face of the stringer (100) formed by a long side of the profile,
CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the face of the stringer (100) on which the lateral end of the step is fixed is provided with a single longitudinal groove (110) preformed with retaining edges and in which the first end of a rod slides (120) whose second end supports a plate (400) on which the lateral end of the step (200) is fixed, said plate (400) being traversed by at least one other fixing rod (402) ensuring its orientation and its attachment to the stringer (100). Staircase (E) according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the plate (400) adopts an elongated parallelepipedic shape bearing on the stringer (100) by one of its faces called the bearing face and comprising on the face opposite to the bearing face at least one support tongue (430) on which is fixed the lateral end of the step (200). Staircase (E) according to any one of Claims 1 to 2, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the stringer(s) (100) and the steps (200) are made of aluminium. Staircase (E) according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the stringer (100) is a linear section of rectangular cross-section, the edges (130) of which have a thickness greater than that of the two other faces. Staircase (E) according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the stringer (100) is a linear profile of rectangular cross-section, the edges (130) of which are preformed on the outside with projecting shapes and recessed shapes for securing a trim strip (500). Staircase (E) according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the steps (200) are linear sections of rectangular cross-section, the edges (220) of which are preformed on the outside with projecting shapes and recessed shapes for securing a step trim strip (600). Staircase (E) according to any one of claims 5 and 6, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT said edges (130, 220) and/or said trim strips (500, 600) can accommodate light strips. Staircase (E) according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the steps (200) are preformed on their upper surface (210) with at least one longitudinal groove (211, 212) which can accommodate screws fixing (201) of the steps (200) on the plate (300) and an upper trim strip (213). Staircase (E) according to claim 6, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the step trim strips (600) fixing on the edges (220) of the profiles of the steps (200) adopt an asymmetrical profile with a non-slip surface on one side horizontal (630) and on the opposite side a vertical projection (620) which when oriented upwards serves as a retaining surface for a covering such as a wooden covering (700).