Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Stepped; e.g. – stair
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-04
2002-04-23
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Stepped; e.g., stair
C052S188000, C052S189000, C052S251000, C052S604000, C052S605000, C052S608000, C052S609000, C052S561000, C052S566000, C052S588100, C446S124000, C446S127000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06374556
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to a concrete elevation assembly formed of components or elements to enable a person to move from one elevation to another, a hollow concrete block utilized as a support for the concrete elevation assembly or as a wall, and a method for forming the hollow concrete block and, more particularly, to a concrete elevation assembly in which the components or elements may be easily assembled by one person in an interlocking relation, a hollow concrete block having the tolerances of its walls parallel to the longitudinal axis of a through passage closely controlled, and a method for forming the hollow concrete block so that its through passage may be disposed horizontal to have the tolerances of its support walls closely controlled.
The concrete elevation assembly may be either a step assembly or a ramp assembly. Each enables a person to move from one elevation to another.
Various step assemblies have previously been suggested in U.S. Pat. Nos. 744,887 to Walsh, 1,265,949 to Osborn, 1,475,777 to Ballenger, 1,879,996 to Sherwood, 2,153,017 to Henderson, 2,722,823 to Summers, 3,025,639 to Lemieux, and 3,706,170 to Argraves et al. The assembly of each of the aforesaid patents has disadvantages, particularly when the steps are to be assembled by an unskilled artisan such as a do-it-yourself person, who lacks both the knowledge and the tools to perform certain functions such as being able to form cement or mortar.
The aforesaid Walsh patent has risers and treads of steps formed of plastic and relies solely on cementing the risers and the treads to each other to hold them in place. It is not understood how plastic can be cemented to plastic. However, even if it could, a base-wall is formed as a single element beneath the width of the steps or as two elements at opposite sides of the steps. There is no interlocking of any of the risers, treads, and supports therefor in the aforesaid Walsh patent.
The aforesaid patent to Walsh also requires ledges on the inside of the base-wall, if it does not extend completely beneath the step structure, to support the risers, which have a hollow U-shaped cross section with a tread on top thereof.
For the do-it-yourself person, who is not a skilled artisan, the step assembly of the aforesaid Walsh patent would not be easy to form because of the problem of how to support the two base-walls. These would be extremely heavy when made of concrete blocks, for example, as the present invention uses in order to be able to have an easy assembly.
The aforesaid Osborn patent requires the assembly be held by a building. This requirement would prevent a do-it-yourself person from being able to utilize the structure of the aforesaid Osborn patent.
In addition, the aforesaid patent to Osborn has a complex arrangement for connecting risers, treads, and stringers to each other. This requires fresh cement to be poured in openings in the bottom surface of the tread registering with elongated openings in the stringers and an elongated opening in the top of the riser registering with a longitudinal opening in the bottom surface of the tread. This mixed fresh cement is normally not within the capabilities of a do-it-yourself person.
The step assembly of the aforesaid Ballenger patent also requires its connection to a building wall through a connector having a hook supporting the lowermost of the risers. The risers are supported solely by the treads of adjacent steps except for the lowermost of the risers. This prevents a free-standing step assembly.
The aforesaid patent to Sherwood has relatively large end rest members supporting opposite ends of each tread of a step assembly. During assembly, tie rods hold the end rest members together. Mortar also is required; this is not within the skill of most do-it-yourself persons.
Furthermore, the aforesaid Sherwood patent forms the risers with brackets to support the bottom of the treads, which are attached to the end rest members. However, there is no connection between the tops of the risers and the treads. Thus, the aforesaid patent to Sherwood has a rather expensive step assembly that cannot be formed by a do-it-yourself person.
The aforesaid Henderson patent employs hollow concrete blocks on which treads may rest with their ends supported by risers, which are supported by the hollow concrete blocks having vertical through passages. The risers and the treads are mortared to each other. The treads are supported intermediate two end sets of hollow concrete blocks by straps or plates, which are supported by the risers.
The aforesaid patent to Henderson lacks any means for properly aligning the elements together during assembly. Mortar is also required, and this is not satisfactory for a do-it-yourself person. Furthermore, the size of the concrete blocks is larger than any present building code as to height of a step.
The aforesaid Summers patent has relatively large side pieces, which would be difficult to handle if formed of concrete, for example, and requires tensioning rods to hold the assembly together. There is no direct connection of the risers and the treads although there are interlocking arrangements between the side sections and the treads and between the side sections and the risers. Mortar also is required to be in position prior to and after the assembly procedure is completed for the structure to be substantially integral. There also is a requirement for a tapered key to hold the tread in a locked position. This is a rather complex and expensive assembly. Because of the use of mortar, a do-it-yourself person could not effectively construct the assembly of the aforesaid patent to Summers.
The aforesaid Lemieux patent has stringers with tie rods connecting them together. Risers have their bottoms seated in notches in the stringers as are depending flanges on the rear of the treads. There is no interlocking of the treads to the risers or the stringers except for the disposition of the flange on the rear of each of the treads within the notch, which also receives the lower end of the riser supporting the tread thereabove.
The step assembly of the aforesaid patent to Argraves et al has no interlocking elements and requires both mortar and bolts to hold the assembly together. Mortar or other bonding agent connects a reduced portion of each tread to side members, which are stamped to look like individual pieces and have mortar applied in grooves formed thereby. Mortar also is required to be applied over the bolts.
The present invention satisfactorily overcomes the problems of the aforesaid patents through enabling a concrete step assembly to be easily erected by a do-it-yourself person. There is no requirement for mixing with any cement or other materials. Instead, only a construction adhesive, which may be easily applied by a do-it-yourself person through a caulking gun, is used.
Furthermore, an interlocking arrangement between the risers and the treads insures that each of the risers is positively locked or held in position.
The concrete elevation assembly of the present invention also may be formed as a concrete ramp assembly. The ramp assembly employs concrete support elements with each having only its top surface inclined and support structures for the concrete elements similar to the support structures of the concrete step assembly and having an interlocking arrangement with the concrete support elements.
The ramp assembly also may be formed with intermediate support elements disposed on substantially horizontal upper surfaces of concrete blocks with the intermediate support elements having an inclined upper surface and a horizontal lower surface, which rests on the substantially horizontal upper surface of each of the concrete blocks supporting it. Each of the intermediate support elements has an interlocking relation with each of the concrete blocks supporting it.
The inclined upper surface of each of the intermediate support elements supports planks, which have substantially parallel upper and lower walls. There is an interlocking relation between the inclined upper surface of each of the intermed
Conley Greg C.
Crant Bruce H.
Dorsey Dennis L.
Friedman Carl D.
Popovich & Wiles, P.A.
Step-by-Step Systems, LLC
LandOfFree
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