GB2244498A

GB2244498A - Space saving stair

Info

Publication number: GB2244498A
Application number: GB9004873A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mohammed Anwaruddin Khan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-03-05
Filing date: 1990-03-05
Publication date: 1991-12-04
Also published as: GB9004873D0

Abstract

A stair for use in a restricted space is longitudinally divided into two side-by-side halves of equal rise and pitch, the two halves being out of phase by half the rise. One half is for the left foot and the other for the right. Two parallel such stairs may be arranged side-by-side. <IMAGE>

Description

SPACE SAVING STAIR The invention relates to a stair.

Nearly everyone is familiar with stairs used for connecting different levels. There are curved stairs, winders or spiral stairs which are considered undesirable yet they are resorted to where a straight run stair cannot be constructed because the floor space is not sufficient to allow the making of rise and tread within permissible limits considered by building codes as practicable. In a situation like this where one resorts to a curved or spiral stair and a straight run stair cannot be built due to limitation of space something novel is required to solve this problem.

The present invention offers a solution to this problem.

fl space saving stair having an equal number of steps with the same rise and tread as in a conventional stair can be constructod in about half the space required for the latter. Even where there is no space problem a space saving stair will make more room available to be used for other purposes There are three essential features of a space saving stair = t. It consists of two separate stairs side by side, one for the lcff len and the other fe the right ng. lhcrc ra.tcr referred to as left and right stair).

2. There is only one step (hereinafter referred to as first step) which has its rise and tread as specified fe t steps of space saving stair. This is the step where the ascent begins.

The rise of all other steps of the left or the right stair is equal to twice the rise of the first step but their tread is equal to the tread of the first step.

These features mentioned above are responsible for making the rise between a step of left stair and a step of the right stair equal to the specified rise and yet save space.

n fourth feature which is not essential for saving space but extremely important for making the ascent natural and comfortable, is the displacement of steps by half a tread.

R specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Figure 1. Shows in perspective a space saving stair.

Figure 2. Shows in perspective a pair of space saving stairs, one for going up and the other for coming down.

Referring to figure 1 of the accompanying drawing a space saving stair consists of two separate stairs, one for the left leg and the other for the right leg The left and right stairs are constructed side by side but have a displacemennt of half a tread so that a step of one stair lies exactly halfway between two steps of the other stair and the first step protrudes half a trend b\ "nJ its side step. The. stair with the first step may be a left stair or a right stair (The stair with the first step is shown as a left stair in figure 1 of the accompanying drawing).

The tread cif all steps is as specified, the rise ot t first step is also as specified but the ris OT all other ZCOp~ in the left or the right stair is equal to twice the rise of the first step.

The featuress mentioned above i.e a separate stair for each leg, the specified rise of the first step and the rise of other steps equal to twice the rise of first step combine to make the rise between a step of left stair and a step of right stair equal to the specified rise and also save space.

8 space saving stair having equal number of steps with the same rise and tread as in a conventional stair can be constructed in about half the space required for the latter. The space saved can be calculated easily with the help of the following formula: 1/2 y (n-l) where y = tread of a step and n = number of steps in a space saving stair or a conventional stair as the number of steps is equal in both the stairs.

It is possible to make a space saving stair without the displacement of left and right steps and save half a tread more of space but by placing the left and right steps exactly one beside the other the movement in ascending the stair will have a closer resemblance to mark time i.e. the movement will be thwarted like stop and proceed. This doesnot happen when a displacement of half a tread is provided between the steps of left and right stair and the ascent now conforms to human gait and is thus made smooth and comfortable.

A space saving stair may be provided with one or more railings as required.

In case the number of persons using the stair is large and people going up and coming down simultaneously becomes inevitable a pair of space saving stairs may be built to provide two lanes as shown in figure 2 of the accompanying drawing.

In a two lane space saving stair where a central railing is not desired, the arrangement of stairs may be allowed to remain as they are shown in figure 2 of the accompanying drawing or shifted in the following manner: The stairs with the first steps may be joined together in the centre or placed apart on either side whichever design seems convenient to the builder or the user.

Claims

1. A space saving stair consists of two separate stairs side by side one for the left leg and the other for the right leg.

The rise and tread of the first step is always as specified; the tread of all steps is equal to the tread of the first step but the rise of steps of the left stair as well as the rise of steps of the right stair is equal to twice the rise of the first step.

2. A space saving stair as claimed in Claim 1, wherein a displacement of half a tread is provided between the left and right steps to make the ascent conform to human gait.

3. A space saving stair substantially as described herein with reference to figure t of the accompanying drawing and a pair of space saving stairs providing two lanes as shown in figure 2 of the accompanying drawing.