US1999127A

US1999127A - Stair tread cushion

Info

Publication number: US1999127A
Application number: US663788A
Authority: US
Inventors: Karl G Kastner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1933-03-31
Filing date: 1933-03-31
Publication date: 1935-04-23
Anticipated expiration: 1952-04-23

Description

April 23, 1935. K. G. KASTNER STAIR TREDJ CUSHIONA Filed March 31, 1935 N am-.. N

MMH

Patented Apr. 23, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STAIR TREAD CUSHION Karl G. Kastner, Louisville, Ohio Application March 31, 1933, Serial vNo.' 663,788

2 Claims. (Cl. V15d- 56) This inventionl relates to a cushion for. use in connection with coverings for stair treads and floors, and has for its object to prevent excessive wear of the covering by taking up the shock from a the latter when under use and further to prevent lil the covering contacting with that portion of the surface upon which is positioned the cushion.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a cushion of pad-like form so constructed when used in connection with a strair tread covering to prevent excessive wear of the covering by taking up the shock from it under use, and further preventing the covering from making contact with the stairs, particularly at the nose-or outer edge of the step where the greatest wear upon the covering occurs.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a cushion for the purpose referred to possessing a resilient characteristic and formed with inherent means to provide, when pressure is applied thereto by a person treading upon the covering with which the cushion is used an air cushioning effect.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafterset forth, a cushion for the purpose referred to so constructed as to prevent it from matting down under use.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a cushion for the purpose referred to for bringing the cov-- ering supported thereby back to its normal position after being depressed by a person walking thereover. o y

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a Icushion of pad-like form which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, thoroughly efficient in Aits use, readily installed with respect to the covering with which it is te be used, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture. Y

With the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention consists of the novel construction,

d combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described, and illustratedy in the accompanying drawing wherein is shown one embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing which illustrates, by way of cxample, a form of the invention used in connection with stair treads:

Figure l is an inverted plan view of the cushion.

Figure 2 is a view looking toward the outer side edge of the cushion when inverted. l

Figure 3 is a section of the cushion on line 3-3 Figure 1 and further showing the adaptation of the cushion with respect to a stair tread.

Figure 4 is an end view of the cushion.

With respect to the figures of the drawing, like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

The cushion is formed from a body of any suitable resilient material, that is to say, a material possessing compressible and extendible characteristics. Preferably the material will be sponge rubber.

Referring to the drawing, I and 2 indicate the 15 risers of a stairway, `il a step, 4 the nose of the latter and 5 the tread of step 3. The latter is positioned against the lower portion of the front faceof riser I, disposed at right angles to the latter and is seated upon and extends outwardly from the upper edge of riser 2. A runner for the stairway is designated 6 and which is arranged to have an upper upstanding stretch 'I thereof oppose riser I, a horizontal stretch 8 above tread 5, the bend 9 between the stretches 1 and 8 po- 25 sitioned at the corner formed between riser I and step 3, an upstanding lower stretch l0 opposing riser 2, and the bend II between stretches 8 and I0 opposing the nose 4.

When the cushion, in accordance with this invention, is employed in connection with the runner Ii, it is interposed between stretch 8 and bend II, mounted on tread 5 and overlaps nose 4.

l The cushion is of pad-like form andlcomprises a body part I2 preferably of rectangular contour 35 and which merges at its outer side in a vertically ldisposed holder part I3 of segmental contour in vertical section. The length, Width and thicknessof body part I2 may be as desired. The length'of part I3 will be the same as part I2. 40 The height and thickness of part I3 will be as desired. lThe body part I2 has the upper face of its rear portion sloping as at I4. The end portions of the upper face of body part I2 also are sloped as at I5, I6. The slopes I4, I5 and I6 start from 45 the dotted lines I1, I8 and I9 respectively. The slopes I5 and I6 merge into the slope I4 at the dotted lines 20, 2i respectively. The dotted line 22 indicates the thickness of part I3.l The dotted line 23 indicates the lower face of part I2; The 50 lower face of body part I2 in proximity to its inner side edge is formed with a row of spaced circular pockets 24 disposed lengthwise of such face. The lower face of body part I2 adjacent each end thereof is formed with a row of spaced circular pockets disposed transversely of such face. One row of transverse pockets is designated and the other row 26. 'Ihe transverse rows terminate adjacent the outer side of body part I2. The lower face of body part I2 at the transverse median of the latter is provided with a transverse row of spaced circular pockets 21. The

pockets

24, 25, 26 and 21 constitute means to provide an air cushioning effect when pressure is applied to body part I2.

The lower face of body part I2 is provided with two independent spaced groups of intersecting air channels disposed lengthwise and transversely of such face. One group indicated at 28 is arranged between and spaced from the

pockets

25, 21 and between several of the pockets 24 and the outer side of the body part I2. The group 28 is spaced from pockets 24 and the outer side of the body part. The channels of the group 28 are designated 29, 30 and coact to provide a group of spaced lugs 3|. The other group, indicated at 32 is arranged between and spaced from the

openings

26, 21 and between several of the pockets 24 and the outer side of body part I2. 'I'he group 32 is spaced from the pockets 24 and the outer side of body part I2. The channels of the group 32 are designated 33, 34 and coact to provide a group of spaced lugs 35.

'I'he channels may be of any suitable contour and are shown by way of example of inverted V-form whereby the lugs are tapered.

'I'he

channels

29, 33 are of like length and of greater length than channels 3U, 34. The

channels

29, 33 are disposed lengthwise and the

channels

30, 34 transversely of the lower face of body part I2. The channels 29 are arranged in parallel spaced relation and a like arrangement is had with respect to

channels

30, 33 and 34.

When the cushion is used in connection with a tread of a stairway, the body part I2 thereof is of less width than such tread and which will provide for the stretch 8 of the runner being extended beyond the slope I4 and the bend 9 being positioned at and secured against the corner between riser I and step 3. The holder part I3 is to be arranged in overlapped engagement with nose 4 which will arrest the rearward slipping of the cushion with respect to tread 5. rI'he runner 6, when the cushion is mounted on step 3 will have the stretch 8 supported upon body part I2 and the bend II against holder part I3. The major portion of stretch 8 will be held elevated and away from tread 5 and bend II will be maintained clear of nose 4.

The shape of the

pockets

24, 25, 26 and 21 may be as desired.

The pockets and air channels function when pressure is applied to body part to cause an air cushioning effect.

Each group of channels is surrounded by a border channel 36 provided by a pair of lengthlwise and a pair of transverse channels merging into each other. By this division the air is conned in a smaller space and not allowed to pass from one side to the other when the cushion is depressed by a footstep of a person.

The pad may be molded with a gummy surface on the under side (giving more gripping power) and a smooth surface on the upper side, which may be covered with muslin or other fabric allowing the carpet to be laid and stretched into place more freely.

What I claim isz- 1. An expandible and contractible air cushioned structure for the tread runners of stair steps comprising an imperforate one-piece resilient element of like material throughout for disposition below the runner and formed of a rectangular body part for-seating upon the stair step and a holder part depending from the front side of the body part for overlapping the nose or outer edge of the stair step, said body part having the upper face smooth throughout and the rear and end marginal portions of said face sloping downwardly towards the rear and end edges of said body part, the said sloping end marginal portions merging at the rear thereof into the said sloping rear marginal portion, said body part having a at lower face provided adjacent its rear side edge with a row of spaced air pockets extending lengthwise thereof and a pair of spaced opposed endless air channels between said row and said front side, said body part having disposed transversely of its lower face a series of spaced parallel rows of spaced air pockets, one of the rows of said series being located between said channels and the other being located in proximity to the ends of said face, and said body part having its lower face formed with a pair of spaced groups of crossing intersecting air channels dening between them a plurality of lugs to contact the stair step, each group of crossing channels being completely encompassed by and opening into an endless air channel.

2. An expandible and contractible air cushioned structure for the tread runners of stair steps comprising an imperforate one-piece resilient element of like material throughout for disposition below the runner and formed of a rectangular body part for seating upon the stair step and a holder part depending from the front side of the body part for overlapping the nose or outer edge of the stair step, said body part having the upper face smooth throughout and the rear and end marginal portions of `said face sloping downwardly towards the rear and end edges of said body part, the said sloping end marginal portions merging at the rear thereof into the said sloping rear marginal portions, said body part having a flat lower face provided adjacent its rear side edge with a row of spaced air pockets extending lengthwise thereof and a pair of spaced opposed endless air channels between said row and said front side, said body part having disposed transversely of its lower face a series of spaced parallel rows of spaced air pockets, one of the rows of said series being located between said channels and the other being located in proximity to the ends of said face, and said body part having its lower face formed with a pair of spaced groups of crossing intersecting air channels dening between them a plurality of lugs to contact the stair step, each group of crossing channels being completely encompassed by and opening into an endless air channel, and the transverse cross sectional length of said body part being less than the transverse cross sectional length of the stair step.

KARL G. KASTNER.