Slope aligning balustrade system and method of use

Abstract

A slope aligning balustrade system for staircases includes a series of U-shaped mounting bars secured to stair treads, shaped panels attached to the mounting bars, and a handrail mounted across the top edges of the panels. Each shaped panel features a vertically elongated front face with bent vertical edges for rigidity and a upward curved top edge that forms a uniform line of tangency aligning with the staircase slope, accommodating slopes from 30 to 40 degrees without modification, withstanding a 200-pound load on the handrail and a 50-pound-per-square-foot load on the panels, without requiring newels or wall attachments, with panels, spaced to ensure gaps do not exceed 4 inches, may include decorative cutouts and optional decorative strips for aesthetic customization, which simplifies installation, reduces the need for specialized craftsmanship, and ensures safety and compliance with building codes.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A slope aligning balustrade apparatus positioned between each of a series of stair tread(s), with its companion stair risers forming a slope to a staircase, and a handrail having an attachment slot and a drill hole, said apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of U-shaped mounting bars, each configured to be secured to one of the stair treads; and   a plurality of shaped panels, each having a vertically elongated front face, two vertical edges, a bottom edge, and a top edge, said bottom edge is configured to be secured to one of the U-shaped mounting bars, said top edge is configured to be secured to said attachment slot of the handrail,   wherein said top edges of said shaped panels are curved upward to form a uniform line of tangency that aligns with the slope of the staircase.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the balustrade apparatus is configured to meet building code structural requirements without attachment to newels or a wall. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said two vertical edges are configured as bent to form each with a vertical edge to provide structural rigidity to said shaped panel. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said two vertical edges of each shaped panel are bent at an angle of approximately 90 degrees to form said U-shaped cross-sectional profile. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said back edges include at least one additional bend to further increase stiffness and eliminate sharp edges. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each U-shaped mounting bar includes a base with at least one attachment hole for securing to the stair tread using at least one fastener. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein each U-shaped mounting bar includes two vertical sides, each having a plurality of attachment holes configured to align with corresponding attachment holes in said vertical edges of said shaped panels for securing with said at least one fasteners. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said bottom edge of each shaped panel is configured to rest on the stair tread and align with said U-shaped mounting bar for secure attachment. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said top edge of each shaped panel is upward arced to fit within the attachment slot of the handrail across a range of stairway slopes from 30 to 40 degrees. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the handrail is secured to said top edge of said shaped panels by at least one fastener driven through a pre-drilled hole in the handrail and said top edge. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a plug configured to conceal said fastener in said pre-drilled hole of the handrail for aesthetic purposes. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said vertically elongated front face of each said shaped panels includes at least one decorative cutout. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said shaped panels are spaced such that a gap between adjacent panels does not exceed 4 inches. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said shaped panels is finished with a coating selected from the group consisting of paint, powder coating, plating, or are left unfinished. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising decorative strips configured to be attached to said vertical edges of said shaped panels. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said face of said shaped panels is decorative. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said top edge is angled at approximately 31.0 degrees to approximately match the slope being 31.0 degrees to the staircase. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said top edge is angled at approximately 39.0 degrees to approximately match the slope being 39.0 degrees to the staircase. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said top edge is angled at approximately 36.9 degrees to approximately match the slope being 36.9 degrees to the staircase. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said top edge is angled to approximately match the slope to the staircase. 
     
     
         21 . A method of installing a slope aligning balustrade on a staircase having a series of stair treads and companion stair risers forming a slope, the method comprising:
 securing a plurality of U-shaped mounting bars to each of the stair treads using fasteners;   attaching a plurality of shaped panels to the U-shaped mounting bars, each of said shaped panels having a vertically elongated front face, two vertical edges, a bottom edge, and an upward curved top edge, wherein said bottom edge rests on the stair tread and is secured to the U-shaped mounting bar; and   mounting a handrail having an attachment slot across said upward curved top edge of said shaped panels, wherein said upward curved top edges form a uniform line of tangency aligning with the slope of the staircase.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising securing said handrail to said top edges of said shaped panels by driving at least one said fasteners through a pre-drilled hole in said handrail and said top edge. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising attaching decorative strips to said vertical edges of said shaped panels to enhance aesthetic appearance. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein attaching said shaped panels includes aligning attachment holes in said vertical edges of said shaped panels with attachment holes in vertical sides of said U-shaped mounting bars and securing with fasteners.