WO2014184788A1

WO2014184788A1 - Modular spiral staircase

Info

Publication number: WO2014184788A1
Application number: PCT/IB2014/061540
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fabrizio Amaducci
Original assignee: Fondazione Di' Persona
Priority date: 2013-05-17
Filing date: 2014-05-19
Publication date: 2014-11-20
Also published as: EP2997204A1; ITBO20130230A1

Abstract

A modular spiral staircase, comprising a central support pole (2) and a plurality of steps (3) fixed to said pole (2) at different heights and in different angular positions with reference to the axis of said pole (2) so as to be arranged according to a helix; the central pole (2) comprises a plurality of plate-shaped elements (4) of the same shape, assembled on top of one another and angularly offset with respect to one another by a certain predetermined angle (a) with respect to the axis of said central pole (2) so as to define a substantially helical shape. The staircase moreover comprises connection means (6) for connecting each of said plate-shaped elements (4) to the elements (4) immediately above and below. The connection means (6) comprise a plurality of slotted openings (7,8) foreseen in each of said plate-shaped elements (4), and a plurality of axial fixing elements (9) inserted through said slotted openings (7,8).

Description

"MODULAR SPIRAL STAIRCASE".

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a modular spiral staircase .

STATE OF THE ART

Some types of spiral staircases are known comprising a central pole and steps that are fixed to the pole itself along a helicoidal line that ensures the correct rise .

Some of these staircases comprise, mainly for aesthetic reasons, a central metal pole substantially having the shape of a band twisted over itself along its longitudinal axis, according to a helix having a suitable pitch.

This type of pole for spiral staircases, which indeed makes it possible to achieve very desirable results in term of appearance, has a very high cost mainly due to the machining necessary to obtain the aforementioned shape.

Moreover, such a central pole that is made as a single metal piece is extremely heavy and difficult to manage during assembly.

PURPOSES OF THE INVENTION

The technical task of the present invention is that of improving the state of the art. In such a technical task, one purpose of the present invention is to devise a modular spiral staircase having a substantially helical support pole that is characterised in that it has low production costs that are considerably lower than those of known staircases that are available on the market.

A further purpose of the present invention is to make a modular spiral staircase that is simple and fast to assemble .

A further purpose of the present invention is to devise a modular spiral staircase that is versatile and suitable for making solutions having different shapes and sizes.

This task and these purposes are achieved by the modular spiral staircase according to the attached claim 1.

The dependent claims refer to preferred and advantageous embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

The characteristics of the invention shall become clearer by any man skilled in the art from the following description and from the attached drawing tables, given as an example and not for limiting purposes, in which:

figure 1 is a side view of a modular spiral staircase according to the present invention;

figure 2 is a side view of another embodiment of the spiral staircase according to the invention;

figure 3 is a perspective and sectioned view of a detail of the staircase;

figure 4 is a view from above of a detail of the staircase;

figure 5 is a front view of a portion of the staircase; figure 6 is a view from above of the same portion;

figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of the same portion of the staircase;

figure 8 is a perspective view of a first element of the staircase;

figure 9 is a perspective view of a second element of the staircase;

figure 10 is a perspective view of a third element of the staircase;

figure 11 is a front view of a portion of staircase according to the invention;

figure 12 is a view from above of the same portion of figure 11;

figures 13,14 are perspective views of a detail of another embodiment of the staircase according to the invention;

figure 15 is a partially sectioned side view of a portion of the staircase according to the embodiment of figures 13, 14;

figure 16 is a view from above of the portion of staircase of figures 13-15.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION.

With reference to the attached figure 1, reference numeral 1 wholly indicates a modular spiral staircase according to the present invention.

The spiral staircase 1, in a per se known manner, comprises a central support pole 2.

The staircase 1 further comprises a plurality of steps 3 that are fixed to the central pole 2 at different heights and in different angular positions with reference to the axis of the pole 2, so as to be arranged according to a helix.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the central pole 2 comprises a plurality of plate-shaped elements 4 of the same shape.

The plate-shaped elements 4 are assembled. on top of one another -i.e. substantially stacked on top of one another - and offset with respect to one another by a certain predetermined angle a with respect to the axis of the pole 2, so as to define a substantially helical shape, as shall become clearer in the rest of the description. Figure 1 shows a staircase 1 with steps 3 without a riser .

Figure 2, on the other hand, only as an example, shows a staircase 1 with steps 3 that are provided with risers.

The present invention, therefore, can be applied to different types of staircases.

As can be observed in figures 1,2, the plate-shaped elements 4 that form the central pole 2 are divided into single sub-groups 5.

This separation, as shall become clearer in the rest of the description, is mainly aimed at requirements of assembling the central pole 2.

A certain number of sub-groups 5 of plate-shaped elements 4 - for example five sub-groups 5 - defines a rise of the staircase 1, i.e. the distance, measured vertically, between two consecutive steps 3.

Of course the number of sub-groups 5 that constitutes a rise could be any, without any limitation.

A single rise of the staircase is illustrated in particular in figures 5 and 6.

A sub-group 5 of plate-shaped elements 4 of the staircase 1 is illustrated in the exploded view of figure 7.

In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, a single sub-group 5 is made up of eight plate-shaped elements 4.

Of course the number of the plate-shaped elements 4 that constitute a single sub-group 5 could be any, in relation to the specific application requirements.

Each of the plate-shaped elements 4 is substantially in the shape of a circular crown, having a predetermined angular extension.

The staircase 1 comprises connection means, which are wholly indicated with reference numeral 6, for connecting each of the plate-shaped elements 4 to the elements immediately above and below.

The connection means 6 are in particular of the removable type, but, in other embodiments of the invention, they could also be of the permanent type. More in detail, the aforementioned connection means 6 comprise a plurality of slotted openings 7,8 that are foreseen in each of the plate-shaped elements 4.

Moreover, the connection means 6 comprise a plurality of axial fixing elements 9 that are inserted through the aforementioned slotted openings 7,8.

Such axial fixing elements 9 can be made up of axial screws, or by other fixing elements that are equivalent to the screws, for example rivets or other similar elements . In the rest of the description we shall refer in particular to the embodiment of the invention in which the axial fixing elements 9 consist of screws.

As mentioned, however, this is a specific example which does not take anything away from the generality of the outlined inventive concept.

In particular, in each of the plate-shaped elements 4 it is foreseen for there to be first slotted openings 7 that are suitable for the abutment and/or for the passage of the heads 10 of the axial screws 9, or nuts 11 screwed to the axial screws 9 themselves.

Moreover, in each of the plate-shaped elements 4 it is foreseen for there to be slotted openings 8 that are suitable for the simple passage of the axial screws 9, in particular of the stem of the axial screws 9.

Each of the aforementioned first slotted openings 7 comprises, more in detail, two circular holes 12 that communicate with one another through a circumferential intermediate segment 13.

In each of the plate-shaped elements 4, the slotted openings 7,8 are arranged at the ends and at the centre .

Concerning their function that they perform inside each sub-group 5, the plate-shaped elements 4 can have a different distribution of slotted openings 7, 8. For example, figure 8 illustrates a plate-shaped element 4 in which there are exclusively second slotted openings 8 that are suitable for the passage of the stems of the axial screws 9.

For example, the two second slotted openings 8 foreseen at the ends are positioned towards the outer edge 14 of the plate-shaped element 4; the remaining second slotted opening 8 is, on the other hand positioned at the inner edge 15 of the plate-shaped element 4.

Figure 9 illustrates a plate-shaped element 4 comprising first slotted openings 7 that are suitable for the heads 10 of the axial screws 9, or nuts 11 to pass through.

The aforementioned first slotted openings 7 - arranged at the outer edge 14 and at the inner edge 15 of the plate-shaped element 4 - are each made up of circular holes 12 that are joined by an intermediate circumferential segment 13.

Figure 10, on the other hand, illustrates a plate- shaped element 4 comprising first slotted openings 7 each made up of two circular holes 12 that are joined by an intermediate circular segment 13 and in which the circular holes 12 each have an inner portion 16 with for example a square-shaped section, for the abutment of the head 10 of an axial screw 9 or of a nut 11 that is screwed to the axial 9 itself.

The plate-shaped elements 4 of the types illustrated in figures 8, 9, 10 are combined in the way illustrated in figure 7 so as to obtain a single sub-group 5, consisting, as mentioned earlier, of eight plate-shaped elements 4.

In particular, as ^"illustrated, the plate-shaped elements 4, which are provided with first slotted openings 7 that are suitable for the passage or the abutment of the heads 10 or of the nuts 11, are arranged at the top and at the base of the sub-group 5. The plate-shaped elements 4 that are provided with second slotted openings 8 are on the other hand arranged in an intermediate position inside the single sub-group 5.

As can be clearly seen in figure 5, the fact of foreseeing slotted openings 7, 8 in the plate-shaped elements 4 allows them to be reciprocally connected through the passage of the axial screws 9 in the openings 7, 8 themselves.

For each of such plate-shaped elements 4, the passage of the axial screws 9 occurs in different points of the slotted openings 7, 8, indeed due to the angular offsetting of the elements 4 themselves.

The connection of the plate-shaped elements 4 to make the central pole 2 of the staircase 1 can occur - for example with reference to a plan view of the staircase 1 - in the same way in the clockwise or anticlockwise direction, that is to say the single plate-shaped elements 4 can be angularly offset with respect to one another according to the clockwise or anticlockwise rotation direction, in relation to the result that is desired to be obtained.

Each of the plate-shaped elements 4 comprises an upper surface 17 in which a relief 18 is foreseen.

Moreover, each of the plate-shaped elements 4 comprises a lower surface 19 in which a recess 20 is foreseen. The relief 18 of the plate-shaped element 4 immediately below is suitable for engaging in the recess 20 of each plate-shaped element 4, so as to form a coupling that is secure and stable.

Moreover, in the relief 18 of each plate-shaped element 4 it is foreseen for there to be pairs of small holes 20A; for example, it is foreseen for there to be four pairs of holes 20A.

The holes 20A are positioned, for example, at the end of the plate-shaped element 4 and in more central areas thereof .

Correspondingly, in the recess 20 of each plate-shaped element 4 it is foreseen for there to be pins 20B that are selectively inserted in the holes 20A.

In particular, four pins 20B are foreseen that are each arranged at a respective pair of holes 20A, which are equally spaced from each one.

During assembly, by inserting each pin 20B in one hole or the other 20A of the corresponding pair, a clockwise or anticlockwise helical structure can be obtained.

As can be understood by observing figure 5, the maximum number of plate-shaped elements 4 foreseen in each sub- group 5 is, in some way, determined mainly by the maximum length of the axial screws 9 which can be mounted, also bearing in mind the necessary requirements of resistance of the structure to the static or dynamic stresses to which it may be subjected.

Figures 11, 12 show, essentially as an example and not for limiting purposes, dimensional parameters of a single rise of the staircase 1 according to the present invention.

For example, figure 12 illustrates the predetermined offset angle a between two adjacent plate-shaped elements 4, which is for example 0.75°.

Also indicated is the offset angle of the entire rise, which is 30°, as a consequence of the arrangement of a total of forty plate-shaped elements 4 that are offset by such a predetermined angle a.

Such an offset angle of the rise of course corresponds to the angular offsetting between one step 3 and the other of the staircase 1.

Each of said plate-shaped elements 4 can have, for example, a thickness that can vary between 5.25 mm and 5.75 mm.

In the embodiment illustrated in figure 11, the plate- shaped elements 4 all have a thickness of 5.25 mm, and the overall rise is of 210 mm.

Of course, the size parameters shown above can be suitably recalculated and varied in relation to the specific requirements, without any limitation.

As can be clearly seen in figures 8, 9, 10, each of the plate-shaped elements 4 comprises windows 21.

Such windows 21 are essentially arranged along the entire surface of each plate-shaped element 4, separated by connection bridges 22.

As illustrated in particular in figures 3 and 4, each of the steps 3 is fixed to the pole through screw means 23.

The aforementioned screw means 23 comprise, for example, lateral tie-rods 24 that pass through lateral holes 25 foreseen along the outer edges 14 of the plate-shaped elements 4. Such lateral holes 25 are made through special hole templates .

The lateral tie-rods 24 can be accessed through the aforementioned windows 21 that are foreseen in the plate-shaped elements 4, which obtain actual through channels in the thickness of the pole 2 through which the operators can intervene on the tie-rods 24 themselves.

It is worth underlining that the plate-shaped elements 4 can be, for example, made in a material selected from metal, plastic materials, wood.

The steps 3 can of course be, on the other hand, of any material that is compatible with the specific application .

Figures 13-16 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the staircase 1 according to the invention.

In particular, in this embodiment each sub-group 5 is made in a single piece, for example in wood, plastic material, metal, or yet other materials.

In each sub-group 5 three series 26 of three through holes 27 each are made, which are arranged along the ideal circumferences.

The three series 26 of through holes 27 are arranged at the ends and at the centre of the sub-group 5.

As can be understood from the figures, the single sub- groups 5 are assembled angularly offset so as to make the different through holes 27 of each series 26 coincide .

This allows axial connecting screws 9 to be inserted, according to the same assembly modalities foreseen for the previous embodiment.

In this case, however, the axial screws 9 pass through holes and not slotted openings.

This embodiment is of course simplified in terms of its assembly, but it has a more rigid application due to the fact that the single sub-groups 5 are characterised by having their own offsetting in the clockwise or anticlockwise direction.

In particular, figure 13 illustrates one . version with an anticlockwise helix, whereas figure 14 illustrates a version having a clockwise helix.

In this embodiment, each step 3 can be made as a single piece with the corresponding sub-group 5, therefore eliminating also the mounting phase of the step 3 itself .

It has thus been seen how the invention achieves the proposed purposes.

The proposed solution is extremely more cost-effective than existing staircases with helical support poles, mainly because it is not foreseen for there to be the high machining costs that are necessary in order to obtain such solutions.

Moreover, the staircase 1 according to the invention is extremely versatile since, by using a small number of plate-shaped elements 4, which are available for example in only three versions, a wide variety of different solutions can be obtained in terms of the dimensions and of the shape of the central pole 2.

Such different solutions would not be able to be obtained in staircases made with a helical central pole obtained in a single piece.

Moreover, it should be noted that the staircase 1 thus obtained has a fixed tread, therefore it can also be made with a square base, which, as known, requires the tread to be fixed and not variable.

The central pole 2 made in such a way, even when assembled, is much lighter and manageable than the poles of staircases of the known type.

The present invention has been described according to preferred embodiments, but equivalent variants can be conceived without for this reason departing from the protection offered by the following claims.

Claims

1. A modular spiral staircase, comprising a central support pole (2) and a plurality of steps (3) fixed to said pole (2) at different heights and in different angular positions with reference to the axis of said pole (2) so as to be arranged according to a helix,

said central pole (2) comprising a plurality of plate- shaped elements (4) of the same shape, assembled on top of one another and angularly offset with respect to one another by a certain predetermined angle (a) with respect to the axis of said central pole (2) so as to define a substantially helical shape,

said staircase moreover comprising connection means (6) for connecting each of said plate-shaped elements (4) to the elements (4) immediately above and below,

characterised in that said connection means (6) comprise a plurality of slotted openings (7,8) foreseen in each of said plate-shaped elements (4), and a plurality of axial fixing elements (9) inserted through said slotted openings (7,8).

2. A staircase according to claim 1, wherein each of said plate-shaped elements (4) is substantially in the shape of a circular crown having a predetermined angular extension. A staircase according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said axial fixing elements (9) are made up of axial screws.

A staircase according to claim 3, wherein said slotted openings (7,8) comprise first slotted openings (7) suitable for the passage and/or the abutment of the heads (10) of the axial screws (9) or nuts (11) screwed to the axial screws (9), and/or second slotted openings (8) suitable for the passage of the stems of the axial screws (9) . A staircase according to the previous claim, wherein each of said first slotted openings (8) comprises two circular holes (12) communicating through an intermediate circumferential segment (13) .

A staircase according to one of the previous claims, wherein said slotted openings (7,8) are arranged at the end and/or the centre of said plate-shaped elements (4) .

A staircase according to any one of the previous claims, wherein each of said plate-shaped elements (4) comprises . an upper surface (17) in which a relief (18) is foreseen, and a lower surface (19) in which a recess (20) is foreseen in which the relief (18) of the plate-shaped element (4) immediately below it is suitable for being engaged .

8. A staircase according to one of the previous claims, wherein each of said steps (3) is fixed to said central pole (2) through screw means (23).

9. A staircase according to the previous claim, wherein said screw means (23) comprise lateral tie-rods (24) passing through lateral holes (25) foreseen along the outer edges (14) of said plate- shaped elements (4) .

10. A staircase according to the previous, claim, wherein each of said plate-shaped elements .(4) comprises windows (21) suitable for allowing access to said lateral tie-rods (24) .

11. A staircase according to one of the previous claims, wherein said plate-shaped elements (4) are made in a material selected from metal, plastic materials, wood.

12. A staircase according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said predetermined angle is 0.75°.

13. A staircase according to any one of the previous claims, wherein each of said plate-shaped elements (4) has a thickness of between 5.25 mm and 5.75 mm.

14. A staircase according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said plate-shaped elements (4) are divided into sub-groups (5) along said central pole (2) .

15. A staircase according to the previous claim, wherein each of said sub-groups (5) is made up of a certain number of plate-shaped elements (4) different from one another.

16. A staircase according to claim 13, wherein each of said sub-groups (5) is^' made in a single piece .

17. A staircase according to the previous claim, wherein each of said sub-groups (5) comprises many series (26) of through holes (27), arranged along the ideal circumferences, arranged at the ends and at the centre of said sub-group (5), axial screws (9) for connecting many sub-groups (5) being inserted through said through holes (27).