WO1990007041A1

WO1990007041A1 - An adjustable fastener for mounting stair units

Info

Publication number: WO1990007041A1
Application number: PCT/NO1989/000133
Authority: WO
Inventors: Arne GJØEN
Original assignee: Gjoeen Arne
Priority date: 1988-12-19
Filing date: 1989-12-19
Publication date: 1990-06-28
Also published as: NO885623L; NO885623D0

Abstract

To be able to adjust stair units, like stairs, banisters, etc. in a simple manner in strings of a staircase, dependent on angles of the staircase, heights of floors, etc. on the building site, an adjustable fastener is provided to comprise a first member (2) having a shape and size corresponding to a milled recess in the string (A) of the staircase. Said member (2) is joined with a second member (1) having a shape and size adapted to the stair unit (B) which it is to support. Said joining comprises a rotational shaft connection (3) combined with at least one adjustable connection (5, 4), and said adjustable connection (5, 4) is lockable upon being correctly adjusted.

Description

An adjustable fastener for mounting stair units

The present invention relates to an adjustable fastener for mounting stair units, e.g. steps, banisters, etc. in strings of a staircase, dependent on staircase angles, the rise of steps, the height of floors, etc. The fastener is especially intended for permitting mounting operations to be carried out at the site without previous measuring, and it is, further¬ more, intended for permitting standardization with the aim of designing staircases with stair units at the producers* .

By the aid of the invention it should also be possible to achieve simple, accurate, and sturdy mounting of staircases on the.building site proper without the necessity of making previous measurements, and without the staircase erector being much experienced.

When staircases are mounted the floor height and string angle will vary from one place to another. Conventional staircases, thus, require individual and very accurate measuring, pro¬ duction, and mounting. Even with high accuracy it is not uncommon for finished mounted staircases to have steps deviating from the horizontal or showing different risers uppermost or lowermost. As regards mounting of, e.g. banisters, the corresponding problems arise, high accuracy being required to provide stair posts correctly to avoid an uneven visual impression of the staircase.

In order to manufacture a staircase a joiner will at first measure the precise floor height and future angle of the staircase. Based on such measurements grooves for the steps are milled at the factory with a precision and an angle permitting the steps to be accurately horizontal and to show equal risers. Mounting of the staircase in the building is then often done by the same person who made the original measurements. Even in case of very slight adjustments before or during mounting operations, disadvantageous deviations of s-tep positions may occur. Difficulties in connection with staircase mounting are so common that a demand for more flexible approaches was felt for a long time. Fasteners permitting individual mounting of stairs were, thus, previously introduced. The same problem will arise when banisters are to be mounted for staircases with high accuracy required. In cases of narrow stair-flights it is often difficult to place banisters, and strict demands are put on correct mutual distance between posts.

All previously utilized fasteners for mounting staircases showed the disadvantage that each fastener and each separate step had to be adjusted when the steps were mounted in the string.

It is an object of the present invetnion to permit standard¬ ization of the production of strings of staircases and steps made of wood, steel, and concrete, and to render mounting operations less demanding without loss of accuracy or sturdi- ness of the structure.

This object is achieved by the aid of an adjustable fastener of the kind mentioned above, which is characterized by the features appearing from the claims.

From GB-PS No. 1 261 699 stairs are previously known to be adjustable in rail members or grooves in the strings, whereas the fastener of steps has elongated holes. This provides for many adjustments but very much labor is required to adjust each separate step.

From Danish patent No 135.862 it is, furthermore, known to provide a string for^"a s€aircase with a circular fastener which may be turned to adjust a horizontal position, whereupon the fastener is screwed into a firm position. In this case a high degree of individual adaption is also required and the system is cumbersome in use.

SE aid-Open Publication No. 395 738 discloses a design which is relatively like the above mentioned Danish patent, a circular member being used. In this case, however, the step fastener is screwed firmly in place by.the aid of an additional screw spaced from the circular member.. Fine adjustment is necessary in this case too.

All known adjustment fasteners lack an adjustable combination of two fastener members, i.e. it is not possible to make preliminary adjustments of the fastener proper, in the manner of the present invention. The possibility of preliminary adjustment of the fasteners before they are mounted in the string provides for substantial labor saving and increased efficiency.

According to the invention the fastener may, thus, be finely adjusted to provide a correct angle/height of step, and vertical adjustment of a banister post, respectively, with great accuracy and it may then be locked before it is secured in a simple manner to the string in grooves cut to this aim. The steps may then be attached to the fasteners.

In order to be able to adjust each fastener at precisely the same angle, simple tools may be used for adjustment, and obviously, a spirit level or the like may also be used.

The fastener according to the invention may be used for the majority of straight staircases, so that a standardized production of steps, strings, fasteners, and banister posts may be achieved in large series. Adjustment of fasteners may be carried out on the building site.

The invention is disclosed in more detail below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings, in which

Figure 1 is an elevational view in perspective, with parts partly exploded, showing a string of a staircase with two fasteners according to the invention, and with the stairs proper being indicated, Figure 2 shows a variant of the fastener illustrated in Figure 1, and

Figure 3 shows the separate members of a fastener for a banister post, as seen in a side elevation and an elevation, respectively.

In Figure 1 a fastener according to the invention for securing a stair is shown as is the securing mechanism. In the drawing the string of the stair is designated A, whereas part of a stair having standardized milled slots is designated B. C illustrates an embodiment of the fastener according to the invention.

The shown fastener comprises two halves, i.e. member 1 which is a step console and member 2 which is a string yoke. String yoke is adjustable to form various angles relative to the step console of angular fastener 1. In the drawing the adjusting movement is indicated by lines showing rotation about a sleeve or shaft 3 at the center of the fastener. Angular fastener member 1 may, furthermore, be locked to supporting console or member 2 which is insertable into the string, adjustment to various positions being continuous by the aid of a locking means which is shown in the form of screws 4 in elongated grooves 5. Members 1 and 2 are locked together in an adjusted state and secured to the string of the staircaise A, e.g. as shown in the drawing, by the aid of a wood screw 6 passing through shaf 3 and being secured in a predrilled hole 7 in the string. Stairs B are then attached to the angular fasteners 1 and locked in a suitable manner. In the drawing this is illustrated ^'to be achieved by the aid of wood screws 8 passing through holes 9 in angular fastener member 1 and, furthermore, in to predrilled holes 10 in the stair.

A simplified variant of the fastener according to the invention is diagrammatically shown in Figure 2. Rotational axis 3 is in this case provided at one end of fastener member 2, and only one elongated groove or hole 5 is used with a bolt 4. This adjustable side of the fastener should, preferably, be provided on the inside of the step where the load is small. Attachment to string A may, e.g. be achieved by the aid of screw 6 which is passed through a hole 11 in the fastener. Figure 2 also comprises a diagrammatical illustration of fastener member 2 as being divided into plate lamellae which are pressed together by being screwed together. In this manner great frictional forces are developed which contribute to good joining. This effect is better utilized in the embodiment shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3 shows the design of a fastener for firmly holding a banister post in the string portion of a staircase. In the same manner as grooves made for the stair fastener in said string, corresponding grooves 13 may be provided in the top face of the string for mounting banister posts. Such a drilled hole is diagrammatically illustrated at numeral 13 in Figure 1. In said hole a fastener of the kind as shown in Figure 3 is to be inserted. The fastener of the illustrated embodiment comprises three main members, i.e. a fastening member for the banister post, designated 14 and corresponding to angular fastener member 1 in Figure 1. Member 14 cooperates with member

15 corresponding to fastener member 2 in Figure 1 and is intended for firmly holding the post fastener member in drilled hole 13. To achieve accurate adaption to hole 13 said second fastener member 15 may be provided with external plate elements

16 which are accurately adapted to the dimensions of hole 13. In the shown embodiment members 14 and 15 are designed to be lamella plate members, as will appear from the elevational views. Lamella members which are joined by the aid of screws in the upper portion, are inserted between lamellae of member 15, and said members are^"then joined together by the aid of a shaft end through holes 17. Adjustment for vertical alignment of shank member 18 can then be made by displacement of lower member 14 by turning it about the shaft end with hole 17 due to the possibility of moving a bolt 19 through the longitudinal hole 20. After correct adjustment of the mutual angle of members the lamellae package is screwed together and will be held in a most stable manner in its position due to the great frictional forces between lamellae. The post fastener can then be inserted into the hole to be secured by the aid of suitable means, whereupon a post may be attached to shank 18. In this case as well preadjustment will be possible based on measure¬ ments upon positioning the strings of the staircase, so that all banister posts are accurately positioned.

Many modifications will be possible within the scope of the present invention, since manners of adjustment, positioning of rotational points, and the composition of members may be varied. What is essential in the present invention is, thus, not the design of separate members, but the fact that they are mutually adjustable in advance and the possibility of locking the fastener members together which permits the preliminary adjusted position to be maintained during and after mounting operations.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. An adjustable fastener for mounting stair units, e.g. stairs, banisters, etc. in strings of a staircase, dependent on angles of the staircase, the raise of steps, the height of floors, etc., c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the fastener comprises a first member having a shape and size which corresponds to a milled opening in the string of the staircase, that this member is firmly joined with a second member having a shape and size which is adapted to the stair unit which it is to carry/support, said joining comprising a rotational axis connection combined with at least one adjustable connection, and that the adjustable connection is lockable upon being correctly adjusted.

2. A fastener as stated in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the rotational axis is provided centrally in both members, and that the adjustable connection is formed by screws which are provided to be adjusted and tightened in elongated holes on both sides of the rotational axis.

3. A fastener as stated in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the rotational axis is provided at one edge of the fastener and by a bolt which is passed trough an elongated hole at the other edge of the fastener.

4. A fastener as stated in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the first member is comprised of lamellae plates.

5. A fastener as stated in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the second member is an angle plate for stairs to be placed in contact with said plate for mounting.

6. A fastener as stated in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said second member is a fastener means for a banister post having a projecting post support.

7. A fastener as stated in claims 4 and 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the second member is inserted between lamellae of said fist member.

8. A fastener as stated in claim 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that on each external side of the fastener a plate member having external dimensiones cor¬ responding to the recesses in the string of the staircase.