Patent Application
20210238860
The present invention relates, in general, to static structures and, more particularly, to Stairs and staircases.
Various stair designs are known in the prior art for gaining access between floors of residential and commercial buildings. Most such stair constructions employ one-piece, straight stairs, stringers, and handrails. While this does not ordinarily present any problem, the use of one-piece, continuous stairs either requires that skilled carpenters using special tools construct the stairs in situ or that special and expensive packaging, shipping, and handling requirements be met to ship pre-constructed stairs or stair components from a manufacturing facility to the job site.
These conditions are particularly true for spiral or circular stair designs, which are gaining in popularity because of the relatively smaller amount of floor space they occupy as compared with straight stair designs. In other words, while a spiral stairway occupies a relatively small space when installed in a building, it is somewhat difficult to construct. On the other hand, pre-manufactured spiral stairs present special packaging and shipping difficulties. Moreover, even after such stairs reach a job site, difficulty may be encountered in getting the stairway into the building in which it is to be used. Further, many spiral and circular stairways are made of metal. Such metal stairways require even higher levels of skill and more specialized tools to construct.
In building construction and, more particularly, in-home construction, installing of a curved stairway adds to the aesthetic appeal of a home interior. Furthermore, homeowners and builders realize that a curved staircase is generally a good investment. A curved staircase may increase the home's resale value compared to the relatively lesser value added by a simple, straight staircase. Unfortunately, prior art curved staircases are generally more expensive than straight staircases. Such increased expense is primarily due to the cost of forming the curved portions of the curved staircase. Furthermore, the installing of a curved Staircase requires a higher degree of skill and is sometimes comparable to the high level of skill needed in cabinet making.
The increased expense is also due in part to the time-consuming manner in which such curved staircases are installed. For example, previous art methods of curved staircase construction include trial-and-error cutting and fitting of the staircase framing and fitting of the individual components of the staircase. Prior art building methods are also typically performed entirely at the job site, wherein the curved staircase is built into the structure.
In such methods, an outer wall is framed with studs, and an inner wall is then framed with the stringers being attached to the studs of the inner wall. Risers are then cut and assembled into individual-steps to tie the outer wall to the inner wall to form the curved staircase steps. As may be appreciated, such a conventional method for curved staircase construction is hugely time-consuming. Furthermore, such a traditional building method is highly dependent upon skilled labor and the availability of specialized tooling to produce a staircase. That meets precise tolerance requirements mandated by local and national building codes.
To reduce the time and cost required to construct curved staircases, several manufacturers have developed pre-assembled, completed curved staircases that are assembled at a factory and shipped as a unit to the job site. Such pre-assembled staircases are then installed by interconnecting the staircase at strategic points to the building structure. Unfortunately, due to the difficulty in controlling the tolerances of the building structure to which the completed staircase is to be connected, problems with the fitment of the curved staircases may occur. In addition, the generation of excess material wastage, schedule conflicts such as with framers, and issues in meeting building code requirements may develop.
Furthermore, the shipping of an entire completed curved staircase to a building structure many miles from the factory may entail significant logistical problems and may incur a great expense. In addition, the cost of pre-manufacturing such a curved staircase may run into the many thousands of dollars even prior to final installation into a building structure. Finally, such prior art building construction of curved staircases may result in problems with the structural integrity of the curved staircase and, more particular, problems associated with the connection of the curved staircase to upper and lower levels of the building structure A common problem that may develop with curved staircases of the prior art is that staircase squeaking may occur over time due to the gradual loosening of joints in the stairs.
Still further, even though a spiral staircase may occupy less room than a straight staircase, it still occupies the room. This may not be a problem in large homes, but in smaller areas, such as apartments, it may present a problem. Since a stairway may not be used at all times, a stairway of any type, spiral or straight, may represent wasted space.
Therefore, there is a need for a staircase that is aesthetically pleasing yet makes all efficient use of space.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above-discussed problems and to provide a staircase that is aesthetically pleasing and makes efficient use of spaces.
These and other objects are achieved by a movable and reconfigurable staircase. The Staircase can be configured as a straight stair, a circular stair, or a combination stair. The stair can be configured into a storage configuration and can be stored in a manner that frees the area that would otherwise be occupied by the stairway, thereby freeing space. In fact, the collapsed staircase can even be stored inside a closet or storage room.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from considering the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. Referring to the figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a Staircase 10 (
The staircase includes a plurality of steps, such as step 20, and a handrail system 30 comprises vertical supports, such as vertical support 32 and collapsible handhold rails, such as rope 34. As will be understood from the teaching of this disclosure, the steps are movable concerning each other. The handrail system is collapsible to move between a fully-deployed configuration such as
Referring to
The staircase is moved between the various configurations by a drive system 70, which is best shown in
Drive system 70 includes a motor 80, which is operably connected to the drive axle 72 by a speed reducer 82 mounted on the output shaft 84 of the motor and which is connected by a shaft 85 to a drive gear 86, which rotates in addition to that Gear 86 is a mitered bevel gear that mates with corresponding mitered beveled gears 88 and 90 mounted on the drive axle. Rotation of gear 86 causes corresponding rotation of gears 88 and 90, which causes the drive axle to rotate. A handle 100 is attached by an axle 102 to a mitered beveled gear 104 that mates with gears 88 and 90 to operate the drive axle by hand if desired.
Rotation of drive axle 72 is translated into movement of the steps by gear systems 110 in each step. Each gear system includes a spur gear 120 mounted on the drive axle for rotation therewith and which mates with a corresponding spur gear 122 fixedly climbed to the step whereby rotation of axle 72 is transferred to the step by the mated Spur gears. Rotation of the gear 122 causes the step on which it is mounted to rotate and move in a manner that can be, understood by comparing
The present invention is embodied in a movable and reconfigurable staircase. The precise means for moving the steps is not the invention per se but is a means of effecting the desired movement and reconfiguration. Thus, the exact gear combinations are not the invention but are merely means for carrying out the objective of the story, to wit: a movable and reconfigurable staircase. As such, the exact details of the gears and gear systems can be selected as necessary. Therefore, as will be understood by one skilled in the art, means other than those disclosed herein can be used to transfer the motor output to the steps without departing from the scope of this disclosure.
It is understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific conditions or arrangements of parts described and shown.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202110223202.2 | Mar 2021 | CN | national |
