SPINDLE STAIRCASE
United States Patent 3713260
A spindle staircase is provided including a plurality of vertical sleeves nesting into one another and forming internal grooves. Within the grooves are positioned compression plates through each of which passes a stud bolt engaged by a nut above the plate and engaging another nut disposed beneath the plate.
US Patent References:
Stair
Wilson - August 1929 - 1726133
SPIRAL STAIRCASES
Mackay - June 1972 - 3667176
Stair
Wilson - August 1929 - 1726133
SPIRAL STAIRCASES
Mackay - June 1972 - 3667176
Application Number:
05/171117
Publication Date:
01/30/1973
Filing Date:
08/12/1971
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
52/832
International Classes:
E04F11/032; E04F11/02; E04F11/00
Field of Search:
52/726,182,187,227
Primary Examiner:
Murtagh, John E.
Claims:
What is claimed is
1. A spindle staircase comprising a plurality of sleeves disposed one above the other and each having stairs laterally secured thereto, said sleeves having a smaller outer diameter at the one end and relieved internally at the other end and being nested into each other providing internal annular grooves therebetween, compensation rings disposed between adjacent sleeves, compression plates positioned in said annular grooves each of said compression plates having a central bore, a stud bolt threaded adjacent each end thereof and passing through said central bore, and an extended nut threaded onto the threaded portion of said bolt extending upwardly above said compression plate, the lower threaded portion of said stud bolt engaging the upper portion of an extended nut disposed therebeneath and associated with the next lower compression plate and sleeve combination.
2. A spindle staircase according to claim 1 wherein the ends of said sleeves are each relieved in the longitudinal direction thereof to the same extent.
3. A spindle staircase according to claim 1 wherein the end of said sleeve to be arranged at the upper side in assembling is relieved to greater extent than the lower end thereof by an amount equal to the thickness of said compression plate.
4. A spindle staircase according to claim 1 wherein an initial member is provided at the lower end of said staircase, which member comprises a base plate having applied thereon an internally relieved sleeve and a centrally secured sleeve carrying internal threads.
5. A spindle staircase according to claim 1 including a landing plate at the upper end of said staircase formed as a stair of increased width and provided with a mounting steel sleeve.
6. A spindle staircase according to claim 1 wherein said compression plates are provided with reinforcing elements.
1. A spindle staircase comprising a plurality of sleeves disposed one above the other and each having stairs laterally secured thereto, said sleeves having a smaller outer diameter at the one end and relieved internally at the other end and being nested into each other providing internal annular grooves therebetween, compensation rings disposed between adjacent sleeves, compression plates positioned in said annular grooves each of said compression plates having a central bore, a stud bolt threaded adjacent each end thereof and passing through said central bore, and an extended nut threaded onto the threaded portion of said bolt extending upwardly above said compression plate, the lower threaded portion of said stud bolt engaging the upper portion of an extended nut disposed therebeneath and associated with the next lower compression plate and sleeve combination.
2. A spindle staircase according to claim 1 wherein the ends of said sleeves are each relieved in the longitudinal direction thereof to the same extent.
3. A spindle staircase according to claim 1 wherein the end of said sleeve to be arranged at the upper side in assembling is relieved to greater extent than the lower end thereof by an amount equal to the thickness of said compression plate.
4. A spindle staircase according to claim 1 wherein an initial member is provided at the lower end of said staircase, which member comprises a base plate having applied thereon an internally relieved sleeve and a centrally secured sleeve carrying internal threads.
5. A spindle staircase according to claim 1 including a landing plate at the upper end of said staircase formed as a stair of increased width and provided with a mounting steel sleeve.
6. A spindle staircase according to claim 1 wherein said compression plates are provided with reinforcing elements.
Description:
This invention relates to a spindle staircase with a plurality of vertical sleeves positioned one above the other, each having laterally attached thereto stairs consisting of a supporting structure and a suitable covering material.
A spindle staircase is known comprising essentially a central supporting tube and stairs which are provided with vertical sleeves as supporting means at the ends thereof. This spindle staircase is assembled in such manner that the sleeves in combination with the stairs mounted thereon are slipped from above over the central supporting tube which latter tube has been installed beforehand. The stairs per se are constructed from a supporting structure, e.g., a trough-shaped base, and a suitable covering material, such as wooden or stone plates.
It is disadvantageous in this known construction that there must always be prepared in the factory a supporting tube having a predetermined length adapted to the height of the respective floor, prior to installation of the staircase. Besides, the transport of the supporting tube to the construction site and the introduction and errection of the tube are difficult and complicated operations, so that the installation can be performed by skilled personnel only. It is also disadvantageous that the known staircase construction cannot be installed everywhere.
Another type of a spindle staircase is also known. This construction likewise utilizes stairs having vertical sleeves at the ends thereof, which sleeves are slipped over a threaded rod. In this case, each individual sleeve is secured by threading before the next sleeve is added. In detail, the installation of this staircase is performed in such manner that a floor plate is first embedded into the bottom of the floor and the threaded rod is anchored. Thereafter a so-called difference washer is applied onto the foundation and secured by means of a nut screwed down over the full length of the threaded rod. Then the first sleeve including its stair is added, whereby the sleeve engages a relief portion of the difference washer. Finally, another difference washer is applied to the installed sleeve and pressed against the sleeve by means of another hexagonal nut screwed down from above.
The disadvantages of this construction are the same as in the first mentioned spindle staircase insofar as this construction again uses a long rod which must be adapted to the respective floor height. A particular disadvantage of the second mentioned structure is that each nut for securing an individual sleeve must be screwed down from above over the full length of the threaded rod in order to clamp down the adjacent difference washer. However, this operation is very complicated. Moreover, the stairs including the sleeves must be applied at the upper end and moved downwardly. It is obvious that this mode of operation is difficult, complicated and troublesome and involves excessive manhours and labor cost. On the whole, the assembling takes too much time.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to avoid the disadvantages of the known constructions and to provide a spindle staircase composed of prefabricated components which may be easily manufactured, which may be readily shipped and which are adapted to be assembled into the spindle staircase at every site, rapidly and without any difficulty.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a vertical, partically sectioned view of a spindle staircase showing various features of the invention:
FIG. 2 is a top view of the staircase shown in FIG. 1; and
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section taken along lines 3--3 of FIG. 2.
Very generally the illustrated spindle staircase includes a plurality of vertical sleeves which may be of steel, positioned one above the other and each having laterally attached thereto stairs, each consisting of a supporting structure and a suitable covering material. The sleeves are machined to smaller diameter at one end and relieved internally at the other end and are nested into each other with pitch compensation rings disposed between adjacent sleeves. Internal annular grooves are provided between adjacent sleeves which have positioned therein compression plates. The plates each have a central bore through which a stud bolt passes. The stud bolt has an extended nut, which may be hexagonal, threaded onto a threaded portion of the bolt which extends upwardly above the compression plate. A lower threaded portion of the stud bolt engages the upper portion of another extended nut disposed therebeneath and associated with the next lower compression plate-sleeve combination.
MOre specifically, the illustrated spindle staircase includes a stand or base plate 10 which is secured to the floor or embedded into the latter. This base plate 10 includes a sleeve 11 which may be of steel and welded thereto and is relieved internally at its upper, open end. Furthermore, centrally of the sleeve 11 positioned on the base plate 10 is a sleeve 12, which may be hexagonal, carrying internal threads.
Above the sleeve 11 are successively positioned additional sleeves 13 which may also be of steel. Each of the sleeves 13 has the outer surface of its lower end thereof faced or machined to smaller outer diameter and its upper relieved or machined to greater internal diameter. The first sleeve 13 of this type is inserted into the relieved end portion of the sleeve 11 of the base plate 10 and successive sleeves 13 are inserted into the relieved end portion of the next lower sleeve 13. A pitch compensation ring 14 is interposed between adjacent sleeves above the upper end of the next lower sleeve 11 or 13. Compression plates 15 are positioned on the bases of the sleeves 11 or 13 formed by the internal relief thereof.
Each compression plate 15 may be provided with reinforcing elements 15A. Each plate is provided with a central bore through which passes a stud bolt 16, which is provided with external threads at its upper and lower ends, serving as a tensioning bolt. Upon the upper end of this stud bolt 16, there is securely threaded before assembly an extended nut 17. The free or lower threaded portion 18 of the bolt and the unthreaded shaft 19 of the bolt are inserted through the bore of the lowest compression plate 15 so that the extended nut 17 is above the compression plate 15 but still spaced therefrom. Now, the nut 17 is rotated by means of a wrench, whereby the threads 18 are drawn into the internal threads of the sleeve 12. The nut 17 is rotated until it is tightened on the upper face of the compression plate 15. This operation results in a downward tension being applied onto the compression plate 15 while this plate itself exercises a compressive force onto the sleeve 13. As illustrated, supporting structure 20 for the stairs is welded to the steel sleeve, although this structure, of course, may be secured in any other manner.
Thereafter, in assembly, another compensation or pitch spacer ring 14 is applied and another steel sleeve 13 in combination with a supporting structure 20 is inserted into the previously installed steel sleeve 13. Then a compression plate 15 is added and a stud bolt 16 having an extended nut secured thereto is inserted through the bore of the compression plate 15. When the nut 17 is rotated the free threaded portion 18 of the upper stud bolt 16 engages into the extended upper portion of the nut 17 therebelow and imparts a tension to the upper compression plate 15 which in turn urges the steel sleeves 13 downwardly. Additional assemblies of a compression plate, sleeve, stud bolt, and nut are applied in the foregoing manner.
As it can be seen, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 the upper end of each steel sleeve 13 is relieved to greater extent than the facing of the other end, so that upon nesting or insertion of an adjacent sleeve there is formed an internal annular groove even if pitch compensation rings are not used. However, due to the fact that such compensation rings are always required to provide for the requisite pitch height, it is not absolutely necessary to face and relieve the steel sleeves to different degrees because the use of the pitch compensation rings results in the formation of the annular grooves being necessary for inserting the compression plates even if the sleeve ends are faced and relieved over equal lengths.
The ends of the steel sleeves 13 may be each faced and relieved in the longitudinal direction thereof to the same extent in which case the compression rings act as spacers to form internal annular grooves therebetween. Alternatively the one end of each sleeve to be arranged at the upper side in assembling may be relieved to a greater extent than the other (lower) end by an amount equal to the thickness of the compression plate.
FIG. 2 shows a landing plate 21 which may be considered as a stair of greater width and which is also adapted to be inserted into the previously installed sleeve 13 therebelow by means of another steel sleeve 13. The attachment of the landing plate 21 to the upper ceiling is made according to FIG. 3 from the upper side by means of expander bolts 22 and spreader bolts 23. At the same time, the landing plate 21 forms the overall mounting means of the spindle staircase.
It may be seen from the foregoing that in comparison with the known constructions of spindle staircases, the described structure shows substantial advantages. In the first place, neither a central supporting tube nor a continuous completely threaded spindle are required. Rather, a spindle staircase is provided of modular construction which may be assembled from standardized prefabricated components manufactured in the factory. These components can be more easily manufactured in the factory and stored. Non-production periods of the plant can be readily made use of. The prefabricated components may be painted, covered or coated or sealed at the factory. Shipment and transportation are greatly facilitated since there is no longer required either a threaded spindle or a central supporting tube. Unskilled labor can be used to install the staircase. It is of great advantage that the staircase can be installed in such locations where it is not possible to mount a welded construction staircase, such as e.g., in a stairway leading to a garret. Various changes and modifications may be made without disparting from the invention. For example, the supporting structure may comprise, in known manner, steel troughs which may be covered with stairs of wood or marble, filled with plaster-floor or provided with carpet-floor or PVC. Instead of the trough, one may also use profiled bars or rods with mesh grids inserted thereinto. The stairs may be of free cantilevered construction and hence not require an interconnection between them at their outer ends. Each stair may be arranged to protrude from the left side or from the right side, and the projection and pitch of each may be varied during the mounting operation. All of these variations would fall within the scope of the invention, features of which are set forth in the claims.
A spindle staircase is known comprising essentially a central supporting tube and stairs which are provided with vertical sleeves as supporting means at the ends thereof. This spindle staircase is assembled in such manner that the sleeves in combination with the stairs mounted thereon are slipped from above over the central supporting tube which latter tube has been installed beforehand. The stairs per se are constructed from a supporting structure, e.g., a trough-shaped base, and a suitable covering material, such as wooden or stone plates.
It is disadvantageous in this known construction that there must always be prepared in the factory a supporting tube having a predetermined length adapted to the height of the respective floor, prior to installation of the staircase. Besides, the transport of the supporting tube to the construction site and the introduction and errection of the tube are difficult and complicated operations, so that the installation can be performed by skilled personnel only. It is also disadvantageous that the known staircase construction cannot be installed everywhere.
Another type of a spindle staircase is also known. This construction likewise utilizes stairs having vertical sleeves at the ends thereof, which sleeves are slipped over a threaded rod. In this case, each individual sleeve is secured by threading before the next sleeve is added. In detail, the installation of this staircase is performed in such manner that a floor plate is first embedded into the bottom of the floor and the threaded rod is anchored. Thereafter a so-called difference washer is applied onto the foundation and secured by means of a nut screwed down over the full length of the threaded rod. Then the first sleeve including its stair is added, whereby the sleeve engages a relief portion of the difference washer. Finally, another difference washer is applied to the installed sleeve and pressed against the sleeve by means of another hexagonal nut screwed down from above.
The disadvantages of this construction are the same as in the first mentioned spindle staircase insofar as this construction again uses a long rod which must be adapted to the respective floor height. A particular disadvantage of the second mentioned structure is that each nut for securing an individual sleeve must be screwed down from above over the full length of the threaded rod in order to clamp down the adjacent difference washer. However, this operation is very complicated. Moreover, the stairs including the sleeves must be applied at the upper end and moved downwardly. It is obvious that this mode of operation is difficult, complicated and troublesome and involves excessive manhours and labor cost. On the whole, the assembling takes too much time.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to avoid the disadvantages of the known constructions and to provide a spindle staircase composed of prefabricated components which may be easily manufactured, which may be readily shipped and which are adapted to be assembled into the spindle staircase at every site, rapidly and without any difficulty.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a vertical, partically sectioned view of a spindle staircase showing various features of the invention:
FIG. 2 is a top view of the staircase shown in FIG. 1; and
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section taken along lines 3--3 of FIG. 2.
Very generally the illustrated spindle staircase includes a plurality of vertical sleeves which may be of steel, positioned one above the other and each having laterally attached thereto stairs, each consisting of a supporting structure and a suitable covering material. The sleeves are machined to smaller diameter at one end and relieved internally at the other end and are nested into each other with pitch compensation rings disposed between adjacent sleeves. Internal annular grooves are provided between adjacent sleeves which have positioned therein compression plates. The plates each have a central bore through which a stud bolt passes. The stud bolt has an extended nut, which may be hexagonal, threaded onto a threaded portion of the bolt which extends upwardly above the compression plate. A lower threaded portion of the stud bolt engages the upper portion of another extended nut disposed therebeneath and associated with the next lower compression plate-sleeve combination.
MOre specifically, the illustrated spindle staircase includes a stand or base plate 10 which is secured to the floor or embedded into the latter. This base plate 10 includes a sleeve 11 which may be of steel and welded thereto and is relieved internally at its upper, open end. Furthermore, centrally of the sleeve 11 positioned on the base plate 10 is a sleeve 12, which may be hexagonal, carrying internal threads.
Above the sleeve 11 are successively positioned additional sleeves 13 which may also be of steel. Each of the sleeves 13 has the outer surface of its lower end thereof faced or machined to smaller outer diameter and its upper relieved or machined to greater internal diameter. The first sleeve 13 of this type is inserted into the relieved end portion of the sleeve 11 of the base plate 10 and successive sleeves 13 are inserted into the relieved end portion of the next lower sleeve 13. A pitch compensation ring 14 is interposed between adjacent sleeves above the upper end of the next lower sleeve 11 or 13. Compression plates 15 are positioned on the bases of the sleeves 11 or 13 formed by the internal relief thereof.
Each compression plate 15 may be provided with reinforcing elements 15A. Each plate is provided with a central bore through which passes a stud bolt 16, which is provided with external threads at its upper and lower ends, serving as a tensioning bolt. Upon the upper end of this stud bolt 16, there is securely threaded before assembly an extended nut 17. The free or lower threaded portion 18 of the bolt and the unthreaded shaft 19 of the bolt are inserted through the bore of the lowest compression plate 15 so that the extended nut 17 is above the compression plate 15 but still spaced therefrom. Now, the nut 17 is rotated by means of a wrench, whereby the threads 18 are drawn into the internal threads of the sleeve 12. The nut 17 is rotated until it is tightened on the upper face of the compression plate 15. This operation results in a downward tension being applied onto the compression plate 15 while this plate itself exercises a compressive force onto the sleeve 13. As illustrated, supporting structure 20 for the stairs is welded to the steel sleeve, although this structure, of course, may be secured in any other manner.
Thereafter, in assembly, another compensation or pitch spacer ring 14 is applied and another steel sleeve 13 in combination with a supporting structure 20 is inserted into the previously installed steel sleeve 13. Then a compression plate 15 is added and a stud bolt 16 having an extended nut secured thereto is inserted through the bore of the compression plate 15. When the nut 17 is rotated the free threaded portion 18 of the upper stud bolt 16 engages into the extended upper portion of the nut 17 therebelow and imparts a tension to the upper compression plate 15 which in turn urges the steel sleeves 13 downwardly. Additional assemblies of a compression plate, sleeve, stud bolt, and nut are applied in the foregoing manner.
As it can be seen, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 the upper end of each steel sleeve 13 is relieved to greater extent than the facing of the other end, so that upon nesting or insertion of an adjacent sleeve there is formed an internal annular groove even if pitch compensation rings are not used. However, due to the fact that such compensation rings are always required to provide for the requisite pitch height, it is not absolutely necessary to face and relieve the steel sleeves to different degrees because the use of the pitch compensation rings results in the formation of the annular grooves being necessary for inserting the compression plates even if the sleeve ends are faced and relieved over equal lengths.
The ends of the steel sleeves 13 may be each faced and relieved in the longitudinal direction thereof to the same extent in which case the compression rings act as spacers to form internal annular grooves therebetween. Alternatively the one end of each sleeve to be arranged at the upper side in assembling may be relieved to a greater extent than the other (lower) end by an amount equal to the thickness of the compression plate.
FIG. 2 shows a landing plate 21 which may be considered as a stair of greater width and which is also adapted to be inserted into the previously installed sleeve 13 therebelow by means of another steel sleeve 13. The attachment of the landing plate 21 to the upper ceiling is made according to FIG. 3 from the upper side by means of expander bolts 22 and spreader bolts 23. At the same time, the landing plate 21 forms the overall mounting means of the spindle staircase.
It may be seen from the foregoing that in comparison with the known constructions of spindle staircases, the described structure shows substantial advantages. In the first place, neither a central supporting tube nor a continuous completely threaded spindle are required. Rather, a spindle staircase is provided of modular construction which may be assembled from standardized prefabricated components manufactured in the factory. These components can be more easily manufactured in the factory and stored. Non-production periods of the plant can be readily made use of. The prefabricated components may be painted, covered or coated or sealed at the factory. Shipment and transportation are greatly facilitated since there is no longer required either a threaded spindle or a central supporting tube. Unskilled labor can be used to install the staircase. It is of great advantage that the staircase can be installed in such locations where it is not possible to mount a welded construction staircase, such as e.g., in a stairway leading to a garret. Various changes and modifications may be made without disparting from the invention. For example, the supporting structure may comprise, in known manner, steel troughs which may be covered with stairs of wood or marble, filled with plaster-floor or provided with carpet-floor or PVC. Instead of the trough, one may also use profiled bars or rods with mesh grids inserted thereinto. The stairs may be of free cantilevered construction and hence not require an interconnection between them at their outer ends. Each stair may be arranged to protrude from the left side or from the right side, and the projection and pitch of each may be varied during the mounting operation. All of these variations would fall within the scope of the invention, features of which are set forth in the claims.