US2006150541A1PendingUtilityA1

Stairway system having a hidden fastener

43
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Jan 13, 2005Filed: Jan 13, 2005Published: Jul 13, 2006
Est. expiryJan 13, 2025(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Robert H. GreenKurt NielsenJames N. TriceJack Phillips
E04F 11/1836B23B 47/28
43
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Claims

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a stairway system comprising: a plurality of spaced apart treads; a handrail above said treads comprising: a) at least two segments; b) a hidden fastener joining said segments, said hidden fastener having an axis; and at least one baluster between said treads and said handrail. In the preferred embodiment, the handrail further comprises a structure for preventing rotation about said axis of said hidden fastener of one of said segments with respect to another of said segments. Also in the preferred embodiment, the stairway system comprises a lateral support for supporting the handrail. A system for and method of joining a handrail having at least two segments is also disclosed.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A stairway system comprising: 
 (a) a plurality of spaced apart treads;    (b) a handrail above said treads comprising: 
 i) at least two segments; and  
 ii) a hidden fastener joining said segments; and  
   (c) at least one baluster between said treads and said handrail.    
   
   
       2 . The stairway system according to  claim 1 , further including a lateral support for supporting said handrail.  
   
   
       3 . The stairway system according to  claim 2 , wherein said lateral support is a newel.  
   
   
       4 . The stairway system according to  claim 3 , wherein one end of said newel is connected to said handrail and the other end of said newel is anchored.  
   
   
       5 . The stairway system according to  claim 4 , wherein said newel is connected to the ends of said handrail.  
   
   
       6 . The stairway system according to  claim 4 , wherein said newel is vertically anchored.  
   
   
       7 . The stairway system according to  claim 6 , wherein said newel is anchored to the floor of the structure.  
   
   
       8 . The stairway system according to  claim 6 , wherein said newel is anchored to at least one tread.  
   
   
       9 . The stairway system according to  claim 6 , wherein said vertically anchored newel includes a bolt and a mounting column.  
   
   
       10 . The stairway system according to  claim 9 , wherein one end of said bolt is a wood screw for attaching to said newel.  
   
   
       11 . The stairway system according to  claim 9 , wherein said mounting column further includes a mounting plate attached to said mounting column.  
   
   
       12 . The stairway system according to  claim 11 , wherein said mounting plate includes a plurality of apertures for receiving fasteners for attaching said plate to the floor of the structure.  
   
   
       13 . The stairway system according to  claim 1 , wherein said spaced apart treads include a foot support surface and means for attaching said foot support surface to the structure.  
   
   
       14 . The stairway system according to  claim 13 , wherein the width of said foot support surface is greater than the depth of said foot support surface.  
   
   
       15 . The stairway system according to  claim 13 , wherein said means for attaching said spaced apart treads to the structure is a stringer.  
   
   
       16 . The stairway system according to  claim 13 , wherein said means for attaching the spaced apart treads to the structure is by wall mounting.  
   
   
       17 . The stairway system according to  claim 1 , wherein said spaced apart treads are spaced at a uniform riser height.  
   
   
       18 . The stairway system according to  claim 17 , wherein said uniform riser height varies between about 6″ and 9″.  
   
   
       19 . The stairway system according to  claim 18 , wherein said uniform riser height is about 7½″.  
   
   
       20 . A stairway system comprising: 
 (a) a plurality of spaced apart treads;    (b) a handrail above said treads comprising: 
 i) at least two segments;  
 ii) a hidden fastener joining said segments, said hidden fastener having an axis; and  
 iii) a structure for preventing rotation about said axis of said hidden fastener of one of said segments with respect to another of said segments; and  
   (c) at least one baluster between said treads and said handrail.    
   
   
       21 . The stairway system according to  claim 20 , wherein said hidden fastener includes at least two portions.  
   
   
       22 . The stairway system according to  claim 21  wherein one of said portions resides in one of said segments.  
   
   
       23 . The stairway system according to  claim 22 , wherein another of said portions resides in said another of said segments.  
   
   
       24 . The stairway system according to  claim 23 , wherein said portions are complementary.  
   
   
       25 . The stairway system according to  claim 20 , wherein said structure is offset from said axis of said hidden fastener.  
   
   
       26 . The stairway system according to  claim 20 , wherein said structure comprises a dowel.  
   
   
       27 . The stairway system according to  claim 20  wherein said structure is hidden.  
   
   
       28 . The stairway system according to  claim 20  wherein said structure comprises an adhesive.  
   
   
       29 . A stairway system comprising: 
 (a) a plurality of spaced apart treads;    (b) a handrail above said treads comprising: 
 i) at least two segments;  
 ii) a hidden fastener joining said segments, said hidden fastener having an axis; and  
 iii) a structure for preventing rotation about said axis of said hidden fastener of one of said segments with respect to another of said segments;  
   (c) at least one baluster between said treads and said handrail; and    (d) a lateral support for supporting said handrail.    
   
   
       30 . The stairway system according to  claim 29 , wherein said lateral support is a newel.  
   
   
       31 . The stairway system according to  claim 30 , wherein one end of said newel is connected to said handrail and the other end of said newel is anchored.  
   
   
       32 . The stairway system according to  claim 31 , wherein said newel is connected to the ends of said handrail.  
   
   
       33 . The stairway system according to  claim 31 , wherein said newel is vertically anchored.  
   
   
       34 . The stairway system according to  claim 33 , wherein said newel is anchored to the floor of the structure.  
   
   
       35 . The stairway system according to  claim 31 , wherein said newel is anchored to at least one tread.  
   
   
       36 . The stairway system according to  claim 33 , wherein said vertically anchored newel includes a bolt and a mounting column.  
   
   
       37 . The stairway system according to  claim 36 , wherein one end of said bolt is a wood screw for attaching to said newel.  
   
   
       38 . The stairway system according to  claim 36 , wherein said mounting column further includes a mounting plate attached to said mounting column.  
   
   
       39 . The stairway system according to  claim 38 , wherein said mounting plate includes a plurality of apertures for receiving fasteners for attaching said plate to the floor of the structure.  
   
   
       40 . The stairway system according to  claim 29 , wherein said spaced apart treads include a foot support surface and means for attaching said foot support surface to the structure.  
   
   
       41 . The stairway system according to  claim 40 , wherein the width of said foot support surface is greater than the depth of said foot support surface.  
   
   
       42 . The stairway system according to  claim 40 , wherein said means for attaching said spaced apart treads to the structure is a stringer.  
   
   
       43 . The stairway system according to  claim 40 , wherein said means for attaching the spaced apart treads to the structure is by wall mounting.  
   
   
       44 . The stairway system according to  claim 29 , wherein said spaced apart treads are spaced at a uniform riser height.  
   
   
       45 . The stairway system according to  claim 44 , wherein said uniform riser height varies between about 6″ and 9″.  
   
   
       46 . The stairway system according to  claim 45 , wherein said uniform riser height is about 7½″.  
   
   
       47 . The stairway system according to  claim 29 , wherein said hidden fastener includes at least two portions.  
   
   
       48 . The stairway system according to  claim 47  wherein one of said portions resides in one of said segments.  
   
   
       49 . The stairway system according to  claim 48 , wherein another of said portions resides in said another of said segments.  
   
   
       50 . The stairway system according to  claim 49 , wherein said portions are complementary.  
   
   
       51 . The stairway system according to  claim 29 , wherein said structure is offset from said axis of said hidden fastener.  
   
   
       52 . The stairway system according to  claim 29 , wherein said structure comprises a dowel.  
   
   
       53 . The stairway system according to  claim 29  wherein said structure is hidden.  
   
   
       54 . The stairway system according to  claim 29  wherein said structure comprises an adhesive.  
   
   
       55 . In a system for joining a handrail having at least two segments, the system including a fixture comprising: 
 (a) a fixed position portion having a pair of opposing generally parallel surfaces extending downwardly for inserting a segment of the handrail;    (b) an adjustable portion attached to the fixed position portion and movable with respect to the fixed position portion, the adjustable portion having a pair of opposing generally parallel surfaces extending upwardly; and    (c) a selectively movable hole positioner attached to the fixed position portion.    
   
   
       56 . The system according to  claim 55 , further including a hidden fastener for joining the segments of the handrail, the hidden fastener having an axis.  
   
   
       57 . The system according to  claim 56 , further including a structure for preventing rotation about said axis of said hidden fastener of one of said segments with respect to another of said segments.  
   
   
       58 . The system according to  claim 55 , further comprising a drill for boring at least one hole in a segment of the handrail.  
   
   
       59 . A fixture for a system for joining a handrail having at least two segments, the fixture comprising: 
 (a) a fixed position portion having a pair of opposing generally parallel surfaces extending downwardly and having a distance there between for inserting a segment of the handrail, wherein the distance between the surfaces decreases along at least a portion of the downwardly extending opposing surfaces;    (b) an adjustable portion attached to the fixed position portion and movable with respect to the fixed position portion, the adjustable portion having a pair of opposing generally parallel surfaces extending upwardly and having a distance there between for inserting a segment of the handrail, wherein the distance between the surfaces decreases along at least a portion of the upwardly extending opposing surfaces; and    (c) a selectively movable hole positioner attached to the fixed position portion and comprising a stop and at least one hole guide, the hole positioner for determining a position for boring at least one hole in a segment of the handrail.    
   
   
       60 . The fixture according to  claim 59 , wherein the hole guide is defined by a cylindrical wall.  
   
   
       61 . The fixture according to  claim 59 , wherein the hole positioner comprises at least two hole guides.  
   
   
       62 . The fixture according to  claim 59 , wherein the hole positioner comprises a clamp for selectively setting the hole positioner.  
   
   
       63 . The fixture according to  claim 59 , wherein the hole positioner is movable with respect to the fixed position portion of the fixture.  
   
   
       64 . In a system for joining a handrail having at least two segments, the system comprising: 
 (a) a fixed position portion of a fixture, the fixed position portion having a pair of opposing generally parallel surfaces extending downwardly and having a distance there between for inserting a segment of the handrail, wherein the distance between the surfaces decreases along at least a portion of the downwardly extending opposing surfaces;    (b) an adjustable portion of a fixture, the adjustable portion attached to the fixed position portion and movable with respect to the fixed position portion, the adjustable portion having a pair of opposing generally parallel surfaces extending upwardly and having a distance there between for inserting a segment of the handrail, wherein the distance between the surfaces decreases along at least a portion of the upwardly extending opposing surfaces;    (c) a selectively movable hole positioner attached to the fixed position portion of the fixture and comprising a stop and at least one hole guide, the hole positioner for determining a position for boring at least one hole in a segment of the handrail; and    (d) a hidden fastener for joining the segments of the handrail, the hidden fastener having an axis.    
   
   
       65 . The system according to  claim 64 , further including a structure for preventing rotation about said axis of said hidden fastener of one of said segments with respect to another of said segments.  
   
   
       66 . The system according to  claim 64 , further comprising a drill for boring at least one hole in a segment of the handrail.  
   
   
       67 . The fixture according to  claim 64 , wherein the hole guide is defined by a cylindrical wall.  
   
   
       68 . The fixture according to  claim 64 , wherein the hole positioner comprises at least two hole guides.  
   
   
       69 . The fixture according to  claim 64 , wherein the hole positioner comprises a clamp for selectively setting the hole positioner.  
   
   
       70 . The fixture according to  claim 64 , wherein the hole positioner is movable with respect to the fixed position portion of the fixture.  
   
   
       71 . A method for joining a handrail using a fixture, the handrail having at least two segments, the method comprising: 
 (a) placing a segment of the handrail against a fixed position portion of the fixture, the fixed position portion of the fixture having a pair of opposing generally parallel surfaces extending downwardly for inserting a segment of the handrail;    (b) placing an adjustable portion of the fixture against the segment of the handrail, the adjustable portion of the fixture attached to the fixed position portion and movable with respect to the fixed position portion, the adjustable portion having a pair of opposing generally parallel surfaces extending upwardly; and    (c) setting a selectively movable hole positioner, the selectively movable hole positioner attached to the fixed position portion of the fixture.    
   
   
       72 . The method according to  claim 71 , further including inserting a hidden fastener for joining the segments of the handrail into a segment of the handrail.  
   
   
       73 . A method of joining a handrail using a fixture, the handrail having at least two segments, the method comprising: 
 (a) placing a segment of the handrail against a fixed position portion of the fixture, the fixed position portion of the fixture having a pair of opposing generally parallel surfaces extending downwardly and having a distance there between, wherein the distance between the surfaces decreases along at least a portion of the downwardly extending opposing surfaces;    (b) placing an adjustable portion of the fixture against the segment of the handrail, the adjustable portion of the fixture attached to the fixed position portion and movable with respect to the fixed position portion, the adjustable portion having a pair of opposing generally parallel surfaces extending upwardly and having a distance there between, wherein the distance between the surfaces decreases along at least a portion of the upwardly extending opposing surfaces; and (c) setting a selectively movable hole positioner attached to the fixed position portion and comprising a stop and at least one hole guide, the hole positioner for determining a position for boring at least one hole in the segment of the handrail.

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