EP0774032A1

EP0774032A1 - Adjustable staircase

Info

Publication number: EP0774032A1
Application number: EP95943535A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gilles Lesage
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-07-18
Filing date: 1995-07-18
Publication date: 1997-05-21
Anticipated expiration: 2015-07-18
Also published as: DE69505261T2; ATE171997T1; WO1996002716A1; FR2722525A1; ES2125063T3; AU3080195A; FR2722525B1; DE69505261D1; CA2194871A1; PL318273A1; CZ16197A3; US5890330A; EP0774032B1

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/FR95/00964 Sec. 371 Date Jan. 21, 1997 Sec. 102(e) Date Jan. 21, 1997 PCT Filed Jul. 18, 1995 PCT Pub. No. WO96/02716 PCT Pub. Date Feb. 1, 1996Adjustable steps (2) extend between two parallel stingboards (3). Each stringboard (3) includes two locking flanges (4) and each step (2) is supported by four pivotable blocks (7, 8) each securable to a flange (4) by means of a nut (17). Two threaded rods (13, 16) extending through the step and between the stringboards engage two respective nuts (17) combined with two opposite blocks. The height of each step of the staircase may be adjusted by changing the spacing between the blocks (7, 8) along each flange (4). The horizontal position of the steps may be adjusted by changing the vertical distance between the front blocks (7) and rear blocks (8) along the stringboards, regardless of the angle at which the stringboards were fitted. A universal staircase may thus be achieved.

Description

Staircase with variable configuration DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a staircase with variable configuration. To take account of each particular configuration, which determines the inclination of the stringers and the distance between steps, or can manufacture custom-made staircases, which are delivered assembled, or which are on the contrary assembled on site. Such staircases are expensive to manufacture as well as to install.

Some known staircases have an adjustable configuration but their constituent parts remain expensive. According to DE-A-1 778 509, a staircase is thus known, the steps of which have on each side two angles pierced with a hole to allow the clamping of the stringers in an adjustable position. These steps are expensive to manufacture with several welded parts. Different steps must be in stock for the different stair widths. The rigidity of the staircase depends on the rigidity of the angles.

The object of the invention is to propose a staircase with variable configuration which is particularly simple to make and install. According to the invention, the staircase with variable configuration comprises two parallel stringers, steps intended to extend parallel to each other between the two stringers, and means for fixing the steps in adjustable position between the two stringers, characterized in that the fixing means comprise for each step at least one rod extending over the entire width of the step and at each end of which is mounted a respective clamping means for urging the two stringers towards each other with compression of the step forming a spacer.

As the steps are fixed like simple spacers between the stringers, they can if desired be obtained by simply cutting a profile. There is no longer any need to add lateral fixing wings to them. The assembly is very fast, and the rigidity of the assembly obtained is improved thanks to the rigid and compressed bracing that the steps define between the stringers. The presence of at least one rod over the entire width of the step strengthens it against bending without the weight of the user or users. To make a staircase with a determined width, it suffices to cut the profile of the steps to the corresponding length, and to use rods of correspondingly length.

The assembly of the staircase can be a simple and fast operation, requiring neither particular qualification, nor complex tools. The clamping means can be removable, allowing the staircase to be dismantled and reassembled on another site, with another configuration. This variable configuration staircase, the steps and the two strings of which are preferably made of aluminum profiles, may have other characteristics. The stringers can be reinforced with sliding steel parts inside the aluminum profile. And to further facilitate the fixing of the staircase both to the floor and to the top of the vertical wall against which the staircase is placed, screwable brackets and sectors can be provided with the staircase. The staircase can be sold as a kit.

Other particularities and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description below, relating to nonlimiting examples, with reference to the drawing in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of a step of the staircase and two stringers with a tearing showing the means fixing the step to 1imon;

- Figure 2 is a top view of the staircase showing a step, the profiles of the two lateral stringers and four corresponding fixing means;

- Figure 3 is a detailed view of one of the fixing means;

- Figure 4 is a side view showing the inclined lateral stringer and by transparency two successive horizontal steps and their associated fastening means, another possible inclination of the stringer being shown in dotted lines;

- Figure 5 is a side view showing a complete lateral stringer and the means for fixing this stringer to the ground and flat against the vertical wall against which the staircase is supported;

- Figure 6 is a perspective view of the part that can be cut into two sectors adaptable to the ends of the stringer;

- Figure 7 is a side view showing a complete lateral stringer in position on site and the two sectors adaptable to the ends of the stringer; and

- Figure 8 is a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a step.

In the example presented in the figures, the staircase comprises two lateral parts - or stringers - (1) made of aluminum profile and steps (2) extending parallel to each other each between the two stringers.

The wall (3) of each profile or stringer, facing the other stringer, is extended along each of its edges by two clamping wings (4) each terminated by a guide rib (6) bent in the opposite direction to the other silt. The two lateral edges of the step are placed against the wall (3) of the two opposite stringers. In the vicinity of the four angles of each step are mounted four pivoting shoes (7, 8) each having a groove (9).

Each shoe is, at least before tightening, freely orientable relative to the plane of the step around an axis (39) parallel to the width of the step.

But when the staircase is assembled, each shoe is immobilized to avoid rotations around its axis (39) relative to the corresponding stringer. For this, the grooves (9) of the shoes overlap the ribs

(6) parallel to the longitudinal direction of the stringer

(I) •

Each shoe has two clamping faces. These two clamping faces are located on either side of the groove (9) on each shoe. They have an offset corresponding to the thickness of the wing (4). One (38) (fig.3) is designed to rest against the corresponding side edge of the step, and the other

(II) is designed to bear against a tightening face (41) of the stringer opposite to the step, and carried by the tightening wing (4).

The two front shoes (7), located at the two ends of the stair nosing (12), are crossed by a common anterior threaded rod (13) extending inside the step along the stair nosing, in a diameter housing very slightly larger than that of this rod. So the anterior threaded rod

(13), is simply movable in rotation inside the stair nosing, without being able to move away from the stair nosing.

The two rear shoes (8), adjacent to the rear edge (14) of the step, are identical to the front shoes (7). They are crossed by a common posterior threaded rod (16) passing inside the step. On the other hand, this rear threaded rod (16) can slide freely in a housing (19) located inside the step and under the upper plane P of the step (2). This housing (19) extends along the rear edge (14) of the step with a certain depth in the direction of the step nose, and a height very slightly greater than the diameter of the threaded rod (16). Thus the rear threaded rod (16) of each step is located at a freely adjustable distance from the front threaded rod (13). Each shoe is associated with a nut (17) screwed onto the threaded rod.

Each shoe can, by screwing the nut (17) on the corresponding threaded rod, be biased towards the step which carries it. The hooves thus clamp the stringers against the steps, which form spacers between the stringers. In addition, the threaded rods reinforce the steps against bending. The step (2) will thus be fixed on the two stringers in a position freely chosen by the user.

Thus, by placing the front shoes (7) of the different steps at a distance chosen between them, the height of the staircase is adjusted.

In addition, before tightening the hooves, the step (2) can be pivoted around the front rod (13) to more or less offset the rear hooves (8) relative to the front hooves (7) of the step relative to the length of stringers. This correlatively varies the distance between the front (13) and rear (16) rods of the step, by sliding the rear rod (16) in the housing (19). This adjusts the inclination that is planned to give the stringers when the staircase is installed, it being understood that it is generally desired that the plane P of the steps is horizontal.

Despite this great mobility of the step before tightening the hooves, the risks of accident due to loosening or bad tightening of a hoof in service are very limited. Indeed, each front (7) and rear (8) shoe includes a retaining face (36; 46) which in service is parallel and adjacent to a longitudinal support face (37; 47) formed on the stringer so as to be oriented upwards when the stringer is in the inclined position on the installed staircase. Thus, even in the event of loosening of a clamping means (7 or 8), the support of the retaining face (36 or 46) on the longitudinal support face (37 or 47) opposes the movement of the steps down under the action of the weight of the user of the stairs. In order for the fixing of the steps to be stable, there must be a sufficient distance between the front (7) and rear (8) shoes. This must be done even when the rear rod (16) is in abutment against the end of the housing (19) closest to the stair nosing, that is to say when it is brought as close as possible to the anterior rod ( 13), so when the angle between the tread plane and the longitudinal direction of the stringers is maximum (case of a very steep staircase). In other words, the distance between the two guide wings (6) of the same string must itself be sufficient. But this requires that the walk has a depth (distance between the nose

(12) and the rear edge (14)) sufficient so that the two threaded rods can also take between them a greater distance corresponding to the minimum angle position provided between the steps and the longitudinal direction of the stringers (in the case of a very slightly steep staircase). We then tend to end up with unnecessarily deep steps, especially with regard to the standard depth. To remedy this drawback, the housing (19) in which the rear rod (16) can slide to move more or less away from the front rod (13) is completed, along the rear edge

(14) of the step, by a step (21) which is such that the two extreme positions of the rear rod (16) are on a line L (Fig. 2) inclined rearward relative to the plane of the step . this allows to lower the rear rod relative to the plane P of the step, in other words to raise the rear of the step relative to the plane defined by the two rods (13, 16). We thus gain a few degrees of angle of inclination of the steps without corresponding increase in their depth.

Each stringer has a hollow profile body (22) of generally rectangular section into which a reinforcing profile (42) can be slid (right part of FIG. 2), for example made of steel, in particular with a view to reducing the flexibility of the stairs. very long.

The hollow profile body has, along its front and rear internal faces, parallel to the bending axis X of the stringer, two longitudinal ribs (23) allowing the reinforcement profile to slide without play, but without excessive friction, at the inside the hollow body (22). When the stringers tend to bend, they are prevented by the support of the ribs (23) against the reinforcing profile (42).

The profile of each stringer also has two reinforcing appendages (24) and (26). The first (24) is connected to the front face of the hollow body (22) facing the stair nosing. The second (26) is connected to the rear face of the hollow body (22) facing the rear edge of the step.

The front appendage (24) has on its face turned away from the other stringer, a T-shaped groove (27) for fixing accessories such as a railing.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, for fixing the stringers to the ground, brackets (28) are provided which can be fixed in an adjustable angular position against the external face of the stringers, so that the free wing (29) of these brackets is supported on the ground (31) and can be screwed there.

The same brackets (28) can be used for the fixing (1) stringers to the upper landing (32) that the ladder allows to reach. In this case the bracket is placed so that its free wing (29) is oriented vertically and can be screwed flat against the vertical wall (33) against which the staircase is supported.

For fixing the brackets (28), one can in particular exploit the presence of the groove (27) and / or drill additional holes in the wall of the hollow body (22) and / or the appendage (26).

In the example presented in FIG. 6, the staircase further comprises for each stringer a piece (51), in particular of wood, comprising two faces (52) at right angles and a cylindrical face (53) having the geometric axis l 'edge (54) between the two faces at right angles (52). Each face (52) carries a rectangular stud (56) which fits into the hollow body (22) of the stringers. Once the angle of inclination (A) that the stringers will have on site (figure 7) has been determined, the part (51) is cut along the plane (B) passing through the edge (54) and forming the same angle (A) with one of the faces (52). It then suffices to fix the two pieces (57) thus obtained at the two ends of the same stringer by fitting the stud (56) into the end of the hollow body (22) of the stringer to fill the sector-shaped gap between each end of the stringers on the one hand the ground (31) and respectively the vertical wall (33) on the other hand.

One can either fix the sectors (57) on the ground (31) and respectively on the wall (33) to ensure thanks to them the fixing of the staircase but one can also use the sectors (57) as finishing pieces and ensure the fixing by means of mounts such as

(28) (Figure 5). A staircase as described so far can be sold as a kit. In this case, the installer of the staircase according to the invention determines, according to the difference in level and inclination of the staircase he wants to make, the length of the stringers and the number of steps required. He buys two stringers made from section cut to length, and the number of steps desired. Then he climbs, adjusts and fixes the steps, possibly places the sectors then fixes the staircase using the brackets.

The staircases in the examples described are completely removable and then reinstallable on another site. This is particularly interesting for example for the equipment of construction sites.

In the example shown in Figure 4, each step is made in two half-steps 61, 62 connected to each other by snap 63. The joint thus produced is parallel to the width of the step, it is that is to say perpendicular to the plane of Figure 4. An aluminum profile for steps made in one piece would be, because of the large dimensions of its profile, much more expensive to produce than aluminum profiles allowing '' get the half steps.

In the example shown in Figure 8, we find this structure. However, the profile of the reverse half has a bulge 64 on its underside. This is useful for increasing the rigidity of the steps when the width of the stairs is relatively large.

According to a variant not shown, the reinforcement can be provided by a third profile, higher than the half-steps 61 and 62 of FIG. 4, and which, by snap-fastening, is inserted between the half-steps 61 and 62 of the Figure 4, either in all cases or only when it is necessary to make a relatively wide staircase.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples described and shown. For example, the retaining support between the front hooves and the stringers could be made between the upper face of the anterior guide wing (6) and the adjacent face of the shoe.

For the connection of the ends of stringers with the ground (31) and the vertical wall (33) it is also possible to produce end caps which can be fixed to the ends of stringers for example by fitting into the hollow body, and to each of which is articulated according to a axis parallel to the width of the steps a bracket whose free wing can be fixed against the ground (31) or respectively the vertical wall (33).

Claims

1. Staircase with variable configuration comprising two parallel stringers (1), steps (2) intended to extend parallel to each other between the two stringers, and means for fixing the steps in an adjustable position between the two stringers, characterized in that the fixing means comprise for each step at least one rod (13 or 16) extending over the entire width of the step and at each end of which is mounted a respective clamping means for urging the two stringers l 'towards each other with compression of the step forming a spacer.

2. Staircase according to claim 1, characterized in that each tightening means comprises a screw nut (17) on the corresponding end of the rod (13 or 16) to urge the two stringers (1) against the two lateral faces of the step (2).

3. Staircase according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the steps are made from profiled sections.

4. Staircase according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the fixing means comprise, for each step (2), two rods spaced from one another in the direction of the depth of the step, and each associated with a clamping means at each of its ends, the clamping means of at least one of the rods being adjustable in position along the stringers.

5. Staircase according to claim 4, characterized in that to allow adjustment of an orientation of the steps with respect to the longitudinal direction of the stringers (1), at least one of the rods is movable in the direction of the depth of the step .

6. Staircase according to claim 5, characterized in that each step (2) includes a guide for the movable rod, the two ends of which are on a line inclined towards the rear edge of the step, relative to the plane of the step.

7. Staircase according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the clamping means (7 or 8, 13 or 16, 17) are designed to exert the clamping on an adjustment slide (4, 5) carried by the silt.

8. Staircase according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the clamping means are, at least before clamping, freely orientable relative to the plane of the step, and comprise a retaining face (36 or 46) which is parallel and adjacent to a longitudinal support face (37 or 47) formed on the stringers so as to be oriented upwards when the staircase is installed, so that even in the event of loosening of a clamping means the movement from the step down under the action of the weight of the user of the staircase is fought by pressing the retaining face (36 or 46) on the support face (37 or 47).

9. Staircase according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that each clamping means comprises an adjustable shoe (7 or 8) along an axis parallel to the width of the step, and means for immobilizing the shoe relative to the stringer corresponding to the encounter of rotations around said axis.

10. Staircase according to claim 9, characterized in that the immobilization means are rib (6) and groove (9) coupling means parallel to the longitudinal direction of the stringer (1).

11. Staircase according to claim 10, characterized in that each stringer comprises two opposite clamping wings adjacent to the lateral edge of the step, and connected by an elbow each to said rib (6) which is directed opposite the step , and in that each shoe comprises a groove (9) for overlapping the rib (6) and a clamping face (11) for bearing on the clamping wing (4).

12. Staircase according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that each clamping means comprises a shoe having two clamping faces, one (38) for pressing against a lateral edge of the step, the other (11) for pressing against a face (41) of silt opposite the step, and means (13 or 16, 17) for urging the hoof towards walking.

13. Staircase according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that each stringer is made from a hollow aluminum profile (22).

14. Staircase according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the hollow profile comprises a box body (22) of which at least one inner face parallel to the bending axis has at least one longitudinal rib (23 ).

15. Staircase according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that each hollow section (22) may contain a longitudinal reinforcing means (42), in particular made of steel.

16. Staircase according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that each stringer comprises a profiled means (27) for fixing accessories such as a railing.

17. Staircase according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized by universal mounts (28) which can be fixed against the external faces of the stringers in the vicinity of each of their ends and comprising a square wing (29) for fixing on the floor (31) or respectively on a vertical wall (33) against which the staircase is supported.

18. Staircase according to any one of claims 1 to 17, characterized by parts (51) of which two faces at right angles comprise means of attachment to the ends of stringer, and which are separable into two sectors whose angles are chosen according to the inclination of the stringers.

19. Staircase according to any one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the steps (2) are removably fixed to the stringers (1).

20. Staircase according to one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the steps are made from at least two profiles (61, 62) fixed to one another, joined by a joint (63) extending along the width of the steps.