BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stairway system constructed according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a handrail for the stairway system;
FIG. 3 is a back perspective view of a fixture for joining a handrail;
FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of a fixture for joining a handrail;
FIG. 5 is a side view of a fixture for joining a handrail; and
FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of a fixture for joining a handrail.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views. Also in the following description, it is to be understood that such terms as “forward,” “rearward,” “left,” “right,” “upwardly,” “downwardly,” and the like are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms.
Referring now to the drawings in general and FIG. 1 in particular, it will be understood that the illustrations are for the purpose of describing a preferred embodiment of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention thereto. As best seen in FIG. 1, a stairway generally designated 10, is shown constructed according to an embodiment of the system. The stairway system 10 shown includes a plurality of spaced apart treads 12; a handrail 14 above the treads; and at least one handrail support 16.
The stairway system 10 may further include a lateral support 20 for supporting the handrail 14. The lateral support 20 may be a newel. One end of the newel may be connected to the handrail 14 and the other end of the newel may be anchored. The newel may be connected to the ends of the handrail 14. The newel may be vertically anchored. The newel may be anchored to a floor. The newel may be anchored to at least one tread. The anchored newel may include a bolt and a mounting column. One end of the bolt may be a wood screw for attaching to the newel. The mounting column may further include a mounting plate attached to the mounting column. The mounting plate may include a plurality of apertures for receiving fasteners for attaching the plate to the floor of the structure.
The spaced apart treads 12 may include a foot support surface 22 and means for attaching 24 the foot support surface to the structure. The width of the foot support surface 22 may be greater than the depth of the foot support surface 22. The means for attaching 24 the spaced apart treads to the structure may be a stringer. The means for attaching 24 the spaced apart treads to the structure may be by wall mounting. The spaced apart treads 12 may be spaced at a uniform riser height. The uniform riser height may vary between about 6″ and 9″. The uniform riser height may be about 7½″.
FIG. 2 shows the handrail 14 for the stairway system, which may comprise at least two segments 15; a fastener 17 joining the segments, the fastener 17 having an axis 18; and a structure 19 for preventing rotation about the axis 18 of the fastener 17 of one of the segments 15 with respect to another of the segments 15. Each of the segments 15 may include an end wall 11 having a hole 13 for alignment with a hole in the other segment 15.
The fastener 17 may include at least two portions 21. One of the portions 21 may reside in one of the segments 15 of the handrail and another portion 21 may reside in another segment of the handrail 14. The portions 21 of the fastener may be complementary. In one embodiment, the fastener may be a pair of INVIS® joining elements available from Invis North America, Inc. of Irvin, Calif. which is a subsidiary of Lamello A G, CH. The fastener may be a screw, a rail bolt and/or a dowel.
The structure 19 for preventing rotation about the axis 18 of the fastener 17 of one of the segments 15 of the handrail 14 with respect to another of the segments 15 may be offset from the axis 18 of the fastener 17. The structure 19 may comprise a dowel. The structure 19 may be hidden. The structure 19 may comprise an adhesive.
FIG. 3 is a back perspective view of a fixture 110 for joining a handrail having at least two segments. In the illustrated embodiment, the fixture 110 includes an aligner 120; a base 140 connected to the aligner 120, and a take-up mechanism 150. The base 140 includes a housing 144 and a wear-resistant bushing 142. The take-up mechanism 150 also includes a bushing 152 in the base 140 for inserting a fastener to engage a face of a segment. In some embodiments, the take-up mechanism 150 includes a clamp device including a compressor. The compressor may include one or combinations of screws, cams and elastic chords configured to engage a segment of the handrail with the base 140. The fixture may be generally constructed of a thermoplastic material.
In FIG. 3, the base 140 of the fixture 110 includes a planar edge 146 (also shown in FIGS. 4 and 5). The planar edge 146 includes a portion 147 generally conforming to the cross section of the handrail segments. The wear-resistant bushing 142 of the fixture 110 may include a wear-resistant metal, another wear-resistant material, and combinations of metal and another wear-resistant material, and be removably retained in the fixture 110 with an axial clamp 141, such as a thumbscrew.
FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the fixture 110 showing the aligner 120 configured to substantially surround an end of a segment of the handrail. The aligner 120 has a depth measured from a front end 121 of the aligner 120 to the base 140 and is configured to receive a segment having a height measured from a bottom surface of the segment to a top surface (shown in FIG. 5). The aligner 120 includes a resilient member 128 for positioning a segment of the handrail. The resilient inner member shown in FIG. 4 is a flexible arm 128. In embodiments of the fixture, the resilient member may include a flexible inner coating in the aligner, and/or an elastic band surrounding the segment.
FIGS. 5 and 6 show the fixture 10 being configured to receive both a straight segment 175 and a segment 160 having a radius of curvature of between about 6½ inches and 9½ inches. The ratio of the depth of the aligner 120 to the height of the segment measured from a bottom surface 162 of a segment 160 to a top surface 164 may be between about one and a half to about one and about one to about one and a half.
Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the foregoing description. By way of example, the fixture is shown having a particular shape to accommodate a handrail having a matching profile. However, the shape of the fixture may be adjusted, of course, to match the shape of a handrail having a different profile. All such modifications and improvements have not been included herein for the sake of conciseness and readability but may properly fall within the scope of the appended claims.
Patent Application
20070283638
