GB2301389A - Step assemblies - Google Patents

Abstract

A step assembly comprising two spaced tubular side supports 2 and 4 each having welded thereto a pair of tubular tread supports 16 and 18. The tread supports 16 and 18 are accommodated within the ends of a pair of extruded aluminium treads 20 and 22 and held captive therein by bolts. The side supports 2 and 4 can have various configurations. The step assembly is used for a caravan, temporary building or a boat. The side supports may be shaped to provide a free standing step assembly and combined with a platform, fig 6.

Description

STEP ASSEMBLIES The present invention relates to step assemblies.

Step assemblies with relatively few steps are often required for providing access to caravans, boats and temporary buildings.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved step assembly.

According to the present invention there is provided a step assembly comprising a pair of parallel spaced side supports, at least one generally horizontally extending tread support rigid with each side support and at least one tread having a profile which accommodates a respective tread support at each end and means holding each tread captive to the tread support.

Step assemblies embodying the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a lean-to step assembly; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the step assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a detail to an enlarged scale of the step assembly shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a front elevation of a free standing step assembly; Figure 5 is a side elevation of the step assembly of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a perspective view of two free standing step assemblies configured to support a platform; Figure 7 is a cross-section of the extrusion used for the step; and Figure 8 is a side elevation of a single step free-standing step assembly.

The lean-to step assembly shown in Figures 1 and 2 is arranged to have its upper end secured to the outer wall of a mobile home and its lower end resting on the ground just below the door of the mobile home to provide a two step entry to the mobile home.

As shown, the assembly comprises two side supports 2 and 4 each of mild steel tube of square cross section. The two supports 2 and 4 extend parallel to one another and are spaced apart by the distance of a step tread. Each support 2 and 4 is profiled to have horizontally spaced, vertically upstanding upper and lower end portions 2A, 2B and 4A, 4B with an intermediate portion sloping at 450 to the horizontal.

The upper end portion 2A and 4A of each support 2 and 4 is capped by plastics closure 8 and has a horizontally extending through hole by means of which the supports can be secured to the wall of the mobile home using a screw or bolt 6.

The lower end portion 2B and 4B of each support accommodates a screw-threaded plate 10 which is screwthreadly engaged by the leg 12 of an adjustable foot 14.

A pair of horizontally extending tread supporting tubes 16 and 18 are welded at two spaced locations on the intermediate portion 2C and 4C of each side support. Each tube 16 and 18 is of square crosssection and is welded at an intermediate location to its respective support 2 and 4.

The pairs of tubes 16 and 18 support respective stair treads 20 and 22. Each stair tread 20 and 22 (see Figure 3) comprises an aluminium extrusion which in crosssection (see Figure 7) has a generally planar upper surface 30, two downwardly extending walls 32, at opposite sides of the upper surface 30 and an inwardly directed flange 34 at the lower end of each wall. A series of reinforcing ribs 40 are located on the underside of the upper surface 2. Each reinforcing rib 40 is slotted to define in cross-section a T-shaped slot. The transverse section of the T-shaped slot is arranged to accommodate nuts 36 so that parts can be bolted to the underside of the tread using bolts which engage the nuts.

The reinforcing ribs 40 thus not only provide means by which parts can be secured to the tread, but also provide the tread with better loading characteristics.

Thus, very little bend takes place in the tread when stepped on by the users.

The ribs 40 are generally uniformly spaced from one another on the underside of the tread.

The upper surface of the tread immediately above each rib 4 is provided an additional series of ribs 41 which act not only to increase the cross-sectional area of the tread in the vicinity of the ribs 40 (and so further improve the loading characteristics of the tread) but also act to provide a non-slip surface in these regions.

The tubes 16 and 18 are sized to fit within the cavities of each tread so that the tubes can support the treads. The tubes are held captive within the cavities by means of a bolt 38 which extends through an opening in the flange, an opening in the tube 16 and which then engages a nut 36 which is held captive within a rib 40.

Each tread preferably has at least four reinforcing ribs 40 and each rib holds a nut captive at each of its opposite ends. Thus, each tread is secured to the two tubes by a total of eight bolts (four bolts at each end of the tread). Instead, fewer bolts may be used where loading does not require them.

The arrangement makes for a stair assembly which is rigid in structure and easily assembled.

The upper and lower end portions of each support are provided with transversely extending through holes 42 which enable an inverted U-shaped hand rail (not shown) to be secured thereto.

The side supports are preferably coated with an iron phosphate/polyester powder. Instead, the supports may be galvanised or coated with zinc/phosphate.

The free standing step assembly shown in Figures 4 and 5 has two side supports 102 and 104 again each of mild steel tube but with a profile having a short forward leg 102A and a taller rearward leg 102B connected by a stepped intermediate portion having two steps 102C and 102D and a riser 102E. A respective support tube 116 and 118 (similar to the support tubes 16 and 18) is welded to each step 102C and 102D. Treads 120 and 122 similar to the treads 20 and 22 are carried by and supported on the support tubes 116 and 118 in a similar manner to that described in connection with the lean-to step assembly of Figures 1 to 3.

Each side support carries two adjustable feet 114 secured to the lower end of each leg of each side support 102 and 104.

Through holes 142 are provided in the legs of the side supports to enable inverted U-shaped handrails (not shown) to be secured to the supports by bolts.

The platform assembly shown in Figure 6 comprises two spaced free standing step assemblies 60 and 62 positioned back to back and supporting between them a pair of spaced inverted U-shaped supports 64 and 66 of similar material and section to the side supports 102 and 104. The downwardly depending arms of each support 62 and 64 are bolted to the taller leg portions 102B and 104B of the two assemblies. The intermediate portion of each Ushaped support 62 and 64 carry welded thereto two spaced tubes similar to the tubes 16 and 18 which in turn support two treads 68 and 70 similar to the treads 120 and 122.

It will be appreciated that the components can be rearranged to produce other structures with the extruded aluminium treads and the support tubes, that are welded to the side supports, common to the different arrangements.

It will also be appreciated that instead of the step assembly having two steps, three or more steps may be provided. Alternatively, the step assembly can comprise a single step. Such an arrangement is illustrated in Figure 8 which shows a free-standing step assembly having but a single step. In this arrangement, two parallel inverted U-shaped frames are provided with the tread secured to the transverse parts of the frames in a similar manner to that described in connection with the assembly of Figures 4 and 5.

Also, the step assemblies may be used for a variety of applications other than mobile homes and boats.

For example, they may be used to provide access to high shelves in shops.

Claims (14)

1. A step assembly comprising a pair of parallel spaced side supports, at least one generally horizontally extending tread support rigid with each side support and at least one tread having a profile which accommodates a respective tread support at each end and means holding each tread captive to the tread support.

2. An assembly according to Claim 1, wherein the side supports and the tread supports comprise tubes of generally square cross-section.

3. An assembly according to Claim 1 or to Claim 2, wherein side supports and tread supports are of mild steel and are welded to one another.

4. An assembly according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein each tread comprises an aluminium extrusion.

5. An assembly according to Claim 4, wherein the aluminium extrusion in cross-section comprises a central planar portion, two downwardly extending portions flanking the planar portion and an inwardly directed flange at the lower end of each downwardly extending portion to form an incomplete box-like section for accommodating the tread supports.

6. An assembly according to Claim 4, wherein the leading and/or trailing end of the control planar portion is ribbed.

7. An assembly according to Claim 5 or to Claim 6, including a plurality of reinforcing ribs located on the underside of the central portion.

8. A lean-to step assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein each side support carries horizontally spaced upper and lower upstanding portions connected by a sloping intermediate portion which intermediate portion carries the tread supports.

9. A free standing step assembly according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein each side support carries horizontally spaced shorter and taller upstanding portions interconnected by a stepped intermediate portion, which stepped intermediate portions carry the tread supports.

10. A platform step assembly including two free standing step assemblies each according to Claim 9, positioned back to back in spaced apart relation and supporting a pair of inverted U-shaped frames, the frames carrying tread supports which in turn carry said treads.

11. A lean-to step assembly substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A free standing step assembly substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

13. A platform step assembly substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A free standing step assembly substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to Figure 8 of the accompanying drawings.