GB2331771A

GB2331771A - Stair bracket and stairs incorporating such a bracket

Info

Publication number: GB2331771A
Application number: GB9825546A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Oke
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-12-01
Filing date: 1998-11-20
Publication date: 1999-06-02
Also published as: GB2331771A9; GB9825546D0

Abstract

A stair bracket 1 is provided which allows a tread to be secured to a carriageway or string of a stair. The treads can be attached in situ, thereby allowing the inclination of the stairs to be selected.

Description

1 SA.BUGOKE-2 0..SP-LAB\igoke-2.Iwp 2331771 A STAIR BRACKET AND STAIRS

INCORPORATING SUCH A BRACKET The present invention relates to a stair bracket, and to stairs incorporating such a bracket.

Stairs comprise a plurality of horizontal sections, known as treads, which are supported on inclined support members, called strings. The strings are generally provided at the opposing edges of the treads and often have predefined grooves or support elements attached thereto such that the angle between the tread and the string is fixed and unchangeable. Risers extend between adjacent treads to form closed stairs. Stairs are found at a plurality of ranges of inclination, and consequently a stair manufacturer must carry an extensive range of stairs of different lengths and different angles of inclination in order that the treads remain horizontal once the stairs are installed. It would be advantageous to provide a device whereby the angle between the string or another supporting structure, such as a carriageway and the treads could be easily adjusted. This would alleviate the need for a manufacturer to carry a plurality of staircases for installation at different angles of inclination. Furthermore, such a device might allow stairs to be constructed in situ by placing the strings or carriageways in position and then adding the treads later.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a stair bracket, comprising a member having a first portion for attachment to a carriageway or a string of a staircase and a second portion extending perpendicularly to the first portion for attachment to the tread of a staircase.

2 It is thus possible to provide a bracket for connecting the treads of the staircase to the carriageway or a string thereof.

Preferably the first portion includes fixing means for securing the brackets to the carriageway or a string. Advantageously the fixing means comprise a plurality of holes for accepting fasteners such as bolts or screws.

Advantageously at least two holes are spaced apart on a part of the fust portion which in use, overlaps with the carriageway or a string. Bolts may extend through the holes, and through drilled passages in the carriageway or a string. The passages in the carriageway or a string may be drilled in situ. Advantageously a template is provided to assist in correctly positioning the holes so as to obtain a level tread and a uniform inter tread distance. The template may be printed for a plurality of common stair inclinations.

One of the fixing points of the stair bracket can be regarded as pivot point and consequently the position of each of these pivot points of each tread with relation to the pivot points of the other treads is invariant irrespective of the angle of inclination of the stairs for a given tread pitch. Thus a simplified template may be provided in which only the pivot hole positions are predefined and the second fixing point position is filled in situ once the tread has been set level, for example using a spirit level.

3 According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a staircase comprising at least one carriageway or a string, at least one tread, and a plurality of brackets according to the first aspect of the present invention.

Preferably the staircase is an open tread staircase. Advantageously safety bars may be attached to the underside of each tread in order to reduce the open gap there between. This may be required by the local health and safety regulations in order to prevent children from getting their between the treads of the stairs.

Preferably the lateral distance between a pair of carriageways of the staircase is less than the width of the tread. This can simplify the installation of the staircase and may also provide a pleasing visual effect.

Advantageously a banister is provided comprising two vertical support posts (newel posts) for attachment adjacent the uppermost and lowermost ends of the staircase, and having pivotal attachments to a hand rail. Thus the banister is also adjustable to accommodate the angle of inclination of the stairs.

Advantageously a plurality of intermediate banister bars are pivotally attached to the hand rail so as to form a series of upright posts forming a barrier to prevent people from falling off the staircase. Advantageously the banister bars are pivotally attached to a second rail which, in use, is parallel to the hand rail. This second rail is, in use, also attached to the newel posts. The banister bars may be arranged in pairs. Alternatively further diagonal banister rails may be provided to prevent people from falling off the stairs.

4 It is thus possible to provide a staircase system which can be easily constructed at any one of plurality of angles from standard components.

The present invention will further be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a bracket constituting an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is perspective view of the bracket of figure 1 in use; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of a staircase constituting an embodiment of the present invention.

The bracket shown in Figure 1 comprises a unitary piece of metal cut and bent so as to form a first portion 2 which, in use, is attached to a carriageway of a staircase, and a horizontal portion 4 which provides a support for a stair tread. The first portion 2 has first and second fixing holes 6 and 8 which accept fasteners, such as screws or bolts, for securing the bracket to the carriageway. Similarly the second portion 4 has holes 10,11 and 12 formed therein for accepting fasteners for securing the tread to the bracket. The first portion 2 may be of any arbitrary shape, but the curved outermost edge 14 of the bracket gives it a pleasing appearance, and also provides a gently contoured surface in order to prevent inadvertent injury to a person ascending the stairs in the event that they accidentally kick the bracket.

Figure 2 schematically illustrates the bracket 1 in use. The first portion 2 of the bracket 1 is held in abutment with a carriageway 20 of the staircase by bolts 22 and 24 extending through the holes 6 and 8, respectively, and through corresponding passages drilled into the carriageway. A tread 26 is positioned such that a first surface of the tread is in abutment or in close proximity to an upper surface 28 (hidden from view in Figure 2) of the carriageway. The tread 26 is then attached to the upper flange 4 of the bracket 1 by fasteners (such as screws) extending through the holes 10 and 12. A similar or mirror image fixing arrangement is provided at the other carriageway supporting the other side of the tread.

Figure 3 schematically shows part of the staircase which comprises two carriageways 20 and a plurality of treads 26, each of which are attached to the carriageways by brackets of the type shown in Figures 1 and 2. A guard bar 30 is attached to the underside of each tread in order to reduce the open gap between successive treads. A banister 40 is provided which comprises a newel 42 attached to stringer by a bracket (not shown) and having a hand rail 44 hingeably attached thereto by a pivoting connection 46. A similar newel and pivotable connection 46 is provided at the uppermost end of the staircase. A plurality of banister bars 50 are hingeably attached to the handrail 44 at regular intervals. They are also pivotally attached to a bar 52 which is attached at either end to the newel 42 via a pivot 54. Thus once the newels are attached at either end of the staircase, the banister bars 50 are always vertical and are held in position by the hand rail 44 and the bar 52. It is thus possible to provide a system wherein the treads can be attached to the carriageways by brackets thereby ensuring that the treads can always be set level irrespective of the angle of 1 6 the carriageways. In order to achieve this, a template may be provided for the most common risers. Alternatively, the fixing 22 can be pre- drilled in the carriageways thereby ensuring that the treads remain equally spaced, and once the carriageways are in position, the treads may be leveled using a spirit level and then the second point 24 can be drilled and inserted.

The lengths of the banister bars 50 may be selected, ie cut or pre-cut, such that the banister bars end in contact with, or adjacent, an associated tread to which they may be attached.

7

Claims

CLAIMS A stair bracket, comprising a member having a first portion for

attachment to a carriageway or a string of a staircase, and a second portion extending perpendicularly to the first portion for attachment to the tread of a staircase.
2. A stair bracket as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a fixing means for securing the brackets to a carriageway or string.
A stair bracket as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the first portion of the bracket has at least two spaced apart holes therein such that, in use, bolts extend through the holes and through passageways in the carriageway or string to attach the stair bracket thereto.
4. A stair bracket as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which an outwardly facing edge of the bracket is curved so as to prevent inadvertent injury to a person ascending stairs incorporating the bracket.
A staircase comprising at least one carriageway or string, at least one tread and a plurality of brackets as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.
6. A staircase as claimed in claim 5, in which the staircase is an open tread staircase, and it further comprises safety bars attached to the underside of each tread.
A staircase as claimed in claim 5 or 6, further comprising a banister having newel posts for attachment adjacent the upper and lower ends of the staircase, and pivotal attachments to a hand rail.
8 8. A staircase as claimed in claim 7, in which a plurality of intermediate banister bars are pivotally attached to the hand rail so as to form a series of upright posts forming a barrier.
9. A staircase as claimed in claim 8, in which the banister bars are pivotally attached to a second rail which is also secured to the newel posts.