7 Sept. 26,

F. c. MQINTIRE PREFABRICATED S'IQ'EP FOR STEPWAY CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 14, 1964 mvziwmx FRANK a/m: INT/RE BY 5- V ms ATTORNEYS United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE.

A prefabricated step for forming a stepway comprising a vertical riser having a centrally disposed locking pin and a horizontal step portion having a series of holes disposed longitudinal and on the centerline thereof for receiving the locking pin of a successive step.

Background of the invention My invention relates generally to stepways for sloping terrain and in particular to a prefabricated unitary step for use in the construction of a stepway.

It has heretofore been conventional practice in constructiug stepways or stairways for ascending or decending sloping terrain to excavate for and build forms for the pouring of concrete to form the stepway; also, it has been customary practice to form stepways from bricks or stones, all of which involve substantial costs of materials and labor such as for bricklayers, stone masons, or other workmen. Such stepways are normally of permanent installation and formal appearance and seldom blend with the surroundinglandscape. When conventional, flat individual steps are laid on the sloped terrain, they normally tend to settle or slip, and after use become uneven and hazardous to the user, as well as unsightly in appearance.

Summary 0 the invention In place of the conventional permanent stepway, I have provided an individual, prefabricated step which is economical to manufacture and capable of ready assembly with like steps to form either a straight or curved stepway which tends to blend with the adjacent terrain presenting a pleasing appearance in the landscape. Further, a stepway formed of a plurality of my perfabricated individual steps can be readily constructed and, if desired, quickly disassembled for removal to and installation at another location, all without damage to the terrain.

It is among the objects of my invention:

(1) To provide a novel and improved prefabricated step for use in constructing a stepway on sloping terrain;

(2) To provide a novel and improved prefabricated step for use in constructing a stepway of varying curvatures on sloping terrain;

(3) To provide a novel and improved prefabricated step for use in constructing a stepway on terrain of various slopes and contours;

(4) To provide a novel and improved prefabricated step having means thereon enabling connection of one step to another in partial overlapping relationship to form a continuous stepway on sloping terrain;

(5) To provide a novel and improved prefabricated step having means therein permitting pivotal connnection of one step to another and to the ground to form a continuous and secure stepway on sloping terrain;

(6) To provide a novel and improved prefabricated step having means therein for enabling adjustment of the overlap of steps in a stepway to adapt the same to the degree of slope of the underlying terrain;

(7) To provide a novel and improved prefabricated step for use with like steps to form a stepway that may be readily assembled and disassembled;

(9) To provide a novel and improved prefabricated step which is economical to construct and simple to install.

Description of the drawings Additional objects of my invention will be brought forth in the following description of a preferred embodiment of the same, taken in conjunction with the following drawi'ngs wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a three-dimensional view depicting a plurality of steps of the present invention in partial overlapping relationship; l I

FIGURE 2 is a side-sectional view of a plurality of steps of my invention forming a stepway on terrain of relatively steep slope; I

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2, but with the steps forming the stepway installed on terrain of more gradual slope; and

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view depicting a plurality of steps positioned to form an arcuate stepway.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring to the drawings for details of my invention in its preferred form, the step comprises a slab 1 preferably of rectangular form having a front or tread portion 3 and a rear portion 5. The front portion terminates in an integral depending lip' or riser 7 having a pin receivable aperture 9 extending upwardly thereinto centrally of the bottom edge 11 thereof. The rear portion 5 of the slab is provided with a plurality of .pin receivable apertures 13, 15, 17 extending through the slab and disposed along the longitudinal aXis thereof in line with aperture 9 of the lip. It will thusbe seen, upon reference to the drawings, that the pin receivable apertures 9 and 13, 15 and 17 each constitute a different component part of a pivotal connection whereby one sla'b or step may be pivotally connected at its front portion by means of pins or pegs 19 or the like to the rear portion of a second slab in overlapping relationship, and the same method of connection can be repeated with successive steps until the desired length of a continuous stepway is completed.

I prefer to prefabricate the step as a unitary integral single piece structure of concrete or other molda-ble material with the pin-receiving apertures incorporated therein. My step may be formed of standard or light weight materials presenting a smooth, roughened or exposed aggregate tread surface and the same may be reinforced in any well known manner as required depending upon its contemplated usage.

I have illustrated in FIGURE 2 of the drawings, a series of interconnected individual steps of my invention installed to form a stepway for relatively steep-sloped terrain 21. In such case, the front portion 3 of one step overlaps the rear portion 5 of a second step an amount necessary to axially align the aperture 9 in the lip or riser 7 of one step with the foremost aperture 13 of the rear portion 5 of the second step to permit the reception by the aligned apertures of a connecting pin or peg 19. The same procedure may then be followed with successive overlapping steps to interconnect the series of steps in the stepway. While I have shown only three spaced apertures 13, 15 and 17 in the rear portion of the slab, my invention contemplates the incorporation of such additional aperture-s as may be desired to accommodate the stepway to dilferent slopes.

Where the slope of the terrain 21 is more gradual as shown in FIGURE 3, the steps are overlapped to bring the lip aperture 9 of one step into alignment with the rearmost aperture 17 of the second step, thus increasing the width of the tread portion of said step and conforming the steps in the stepway to the gradual slope of the terrain. It is apparent that by providing a plurality of spaced apertures in the rear portion of the slab, the

, steps can be adjusted in the amount of overlapping relationship to conform the steps to different slopes.

My unitary step structure is such that it not only permits the connection of one step to another in series for use in a stepway but, in addition, permits the anchoring of each step thereof to the underlying terrain on which the stepway is constructed. Thus, my structure permits the use of pins 19 of such length that one end thereof may be securely anchored in the terrain while the other, or upper part thereof, projects through the selected aperture in the rear portion of one slab for reception in the lip aperture of an overlapping slab, thereby anchoring the entire stepway to the terrain.

Another important feature of my step is that a series thereof can be interconnected to form a circular or winding stepway, as illustrated in FIGURE 4. This is accomplished by locating all apertures on the longitudinal axis of the step, thus permitting an overlapping step to be rotated on the pin which projects through the aperture in the rear portion of the underlying step and into the lip aperture of an overlapping step. This feature facilitates the construction of stepways of variable curvatures which present a pleasing appearance.

My step lends itself to ready installation of stepways, as well as easy disassembly and removal thereof. Very little preparatory work on the terrain is required for the installation, since all that is needed is a slight amount of terracing in order that the steps may be laid with their tread surface disposed in a substantially horizontal position and accommodation to the particular slope.

The construction of a stepway formed of my individual steps is a simple one-man operation where the steps are of the size customarily used. Beginning at the toe of the slope, a pin is first driven into the terrain with its upper end exposed sufiiciently to be received in the central aperture of the riser or lip of the first step. If required, the terrain may be slightly terraced to accommodate the step in a horizontal position. A second pin is then driven through a selected aperture in the rear portion of the step and into the underlying terrain but with its upper end extending above the surface of the step. A- second step is then placed upon the first step with the pin of the selected step. Succeeding steps follow the same installation as the second step, except that in no event will the pin in the last step extend above the surface of the rear portion thereof to leave an obstruction for the user to trip over.

It will become apparent from the foregoing description of my invention, in its preferred form, that the same is subject to alteration and modification without departing from the underlying principles involved, and I, accordingly, do not desire to be limited in my protection to the specific details illustrated and described, except as may be necessitated by the appended claims.

I claim: A prefabricated step for use in the construction of a stepway comprising a slab having a front portion and a rear portion, said front portion having a depending lip as an integral part of said slab, said slab having a centrally disposed pin depending from said lip in said front portion and of a length to extend through the rear portion of said slab an amount to anchor said step to the underlying terrain of a stepway a plurality of apertures disposed along the centerline of said slab; in said rear portion, whereby said slab may be pivotally connected at a variable angle at its forward section to the rear portion of a second slab in adjustable overlapping relationship thereto by the fitting of the pin of one slab into an aperture of an underlying slab, and a third slab may be similarly connected with its forward por tion in overlapping relationship to the rear portion of said first slab and so on.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 750,998 2/ 1904 Ohnstrand 52-187 2,520,452 8/1950 Brune 52190 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,163,784 9/1958 France. 1,041,673 10/1958 Germany.

FMNK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

P JOHN E. MURTAGH, Examiner. aperture projecting into the lip aperture of the second ROBERT S. VERMUT, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,343,316 September 26, 1967 Frank C. McIntire It is hereby certified that error appears in the above'numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Co1umn l, line 24, for "decending" read descending column 4, line 21, after "stepway" insert a comma; line 22, for "slab read slab Signed and sealed this 15th day of October 1968.

ISEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents nesting Officer