Abstract:
A wraparound cover for a step or a seat includes rods on opposed ends beneath the step and tie wraps engaging the rods through holes in the opposed ends to secure the cover to the step. Each opposed end may be bifurcated into two parts to accommodate a riser supporting the step. In such configuration, a rod and holes are formed at each of the parts to accommodate tie wraps for drawing the rods in opposed parts of the opposed ends toward one another to secure the wraparound cover about the step or the seat.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to step covers and, more particularly, to a wraparound step cover. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Prior Art 
         [0004]    Numerous types of step covers have been used over the years. The most common step cover is simply material, usually a rubber composition, which is attached to the top of a step by a mastic, brads, or the like. Such a cover may extend partially or fully along the top surface of the step. Some step covers wrap partially around a step such that the opposed edges of the cover extend onto the sides or bottom of the step and are attached by nails, brads, or a mastic. A potentially removable step cover extends partially about each longitudinal edge of a step and partially on to the bottom of the step. The opposing ends of the cover at the bottom of the step are latched with one another by cords or the like penetrably engaging apertures along the edges of the cover under the step. 
         [0005]    The first two types of covers discussed above are usually permanently or at least semi-permanently attached to a step. This creates difficulties when the covers are to be replaced due to wear, damage or discoloration. The third type of cover is relatively easily removed but while in operation the forces exerted by the cords tend to cause a cover to pucker due to the non-uniform pulling forces exerted by the engaged cords. This puckering renders these types of covers relatively unsightly. If the pucker extends to the top of the step, a safety hazard exists as it may cause a user to trip. 
         [0006]    Except for the first above-described cover, the other two types of covers do not lend themselves for use where the step is supported at the midpoint by a riser. That is, the presence of a riser extending for essentially the full width of the step essentially precludes wrapping the cover about the front and rear edges and attaching them to the bottom of the step. Thus, steps supported by a riser at or close to the midpoint of the step limits the use of a cover to the top surface of the step. Where such steps are of metal, attachment on a permanent or semi-permanent basis of a cover creates significant issues relating to attachment and covers are unlikely to be used. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention is directed to a cover or rug for a step that extends across the top of the step with the longitudinal ends thereof extending along the front and back sides and partially onto the bottom of the step. In the event the step is supported by a riser at the midpoint thereof, the front and rear edges of the cover are split to extend along the bottom of the step on each side of the riser. The end of each front and rear edge of the cover supports a rod within a sleeve. A plurality of apertures are formed in each front and rear edge adjacent the corresponding rod. The front and rear edges of the cover are drawn toward one another to secure the cover in place by conventional plastic tie wraps engaging pairs of holes in the opposing ends of the cover. The tie wraps bear against the respective rods and thereby exert a pulling force along the full length of each corresponding opposed end. By tightening the tie wraps, sufficient friction exists between the cover and the step to prevent sliding movement of the cover along the step. Replacement of a cover is a simple matter of severing the tie wraps to disengage the old cover and removing it. The replacement cover is secured in place with new tie wraps. 
         [0008]    It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a detachably attached cover that extends along the top, sides and onto the bottom of a step. 
         [0009]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a cover that wraps along the top and sides of a step and applying a uniform force exerted along opposing ends of the cover to draw them toward one another on the bottom of the step and retain the cover in place. 
         [0010]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide a wraparound cover for a step having a rod disposed along each end of the cover beneath the step and drawn toward each other by multiple tie wraps engaging the rods. 
         [0011]    A further object of the present invention is to provide a rod at each end of a wraparound cover for a step and tie wraps urging the rods toward one another to establish a uniform force along the length and width of the cover to retain it in place. 
         [0012]    A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a rod at each end of a wraparound step cover for detachably attaching the rods to one another with tie wraps. 
         [0013]    A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a wraparound cover having front and back split ends extending beneath a step to accommodate the presence of a riser and the use of tie wraps to engage rods at opposed paired ends on either side of the riser to draw the paired ends toward one another and secure the wraparound cover in place. 
         [0014]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide a wraparound cover for a step supported in part by a centrally located riser by splitting the opposed ends of the wraparound cover into two paired ends and drawing the ends of each pair of ends toward one another by tie wraps engaging rods disposed at each end of each pair of ends. 
         [0015]    A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a uniform force extending along the length of the ends of a wraparound cover disposed at the bottom of the step. 
         [0016]    A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a method for drawing the ends of a wraparound cover at the bottom of a step with tie wraps engaging a rod disposed at each of the ends to exert a uniform force along the length of each of the ends. 
         [0017]    These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description thereof proceeds. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    The present invention will be described with greater specificity and clarity with reference to the following drawings, in which: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  illustrates a module of steps having a centrally located riser and illustrating the wraparound cover mounted on each step; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  illustrates the underside of the wraparound cover; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the wraparound cover taken along lines  3 - 3 , as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  illustrates a bottom view of the wraparound cover with the rods illustrated in dashed lines; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  illustrates a further module of steps supported at opposed ends and absent a riser; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  illustrates the underside of the wraparound cover shown in  FIG. 5 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a module  10  depicting a plurality of steps  12 ,  14  and  16  supported laterally by supports  18 ,  20  and a generally centrally located riser  22 . Each of steps  12 ,  14  and  16  may include a rug or a wraparound cover  24 ,  26  and  28 , respectively. A pad  30 ,  32  and  34  may be attached to the surface of the respective covers. To accommodate the presence of riser  22 , the front and rear ends of each of the wraparound covers may be bifurcated to permit wrapping the wraparound cover about its respective step. 
         [0026]    The underside of each wraparound cover is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . For purposes of illustration and disclosure, wraparound cover  24  is representative of the other wraparound covers shown in  FIG. 1 . Numeral  40  illustrates the underside of the portion of the wraparound cover  24  supported upon a step, such as step  12 . Bifurcated ends  42  and  44  extend around front edge  46  of step  12 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Rear bifurcated end  46  extends around the rear edge of step  12  to the bottom of the step. Similarly, bifurcated end  48  extends around the rear edge of step  12  to the bottom of the step. As illustrated, a space  50  is present between bifurcated ends  42  and  44  to accommodate riser  22 . Similarly, a space  52  exists between bifurcated ends  46  and  48  to also accommodate the riser. 
         [0027]    A rod  60  is disposed within a sleeve  62  of bifurcated end  42 . Apertures or holes  64 ,  66  penetrate sleeve  62  essentially adjacent the location of rod  60 . A similar rod ( 60 ), sleeve ( 62 ) and holes ( 64 , 66 ) are disposed in each of remaining bifurcated ends  44 ,  46  and  48 . For purposes of simplicity of numbering, these elements have common identifying numbers. 
         [0028]    Each cover is retained in place by securing the paired bifurcated ends with one another. A conventional tie wrap  70  is looped through opposing holes  64 . Another tie wrap  72  is looped through holes  66 . Each of these tie wraps is drawn tightly to bring bifurcated ends toward one another. The forces exerted by tie wraps  70 ,  72  bear upon respective rods  60 . These rods, being in their respective sleeve  62 , translate the force urged by the tie wraps to essentially the full width of each bifurcated end. Thereby, there is no concentration of forces, such as would be present were grommets or the like, used and engaged by similar tie wraps. Furthermore, as each tie wrap can be tightened to a selective degree, the wraparound cover is firmly and essentially immovably attached to its corresponding step. 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  illustrates a cross-section of a wraparound cover and its elements attached to a step. Cover  24  may include a backing  80  supporting nap  82  of the rug. A pad  30  may be lying on or otherwise attached to cover  24 . Front bifurcated end  42  extends about the front of step  12  (see  FIG. 1 ) and bifurcated end  46  extends about the rear of step  12 . As described above, bifurcated end  42  includes a sleeve  62  within which is disposed rod  60 . Similarly, bifurcated end  46  includes a sleeve  62  within which rod  60  is disposed. Tie wrap  72  extends through holes  66  and  64 . By tightening tie wrap  72 , a force will be exerted upon rods  60  to draw them toward one another. Upon such movement, the rods, bearing against the end of sleeves  64 ,  66 , will draw wraparound cover  24  tightly about enclosed step  12  (see  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0030]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view of a wraparound cover, such as wraparound cover  24 , without the tie wraps being attached thereto. In particular, it illustrates the various elements for using a wraparound cover upon a step essentially supported laterally and by a riser. Spaces  50 ,  52  disposed between the bifurcated ends accommodate the presence of the centrally located riser. It is to be understood that depending upon the length of the step to be covered, there may be more than one riser. In such event, the wraparound cover may include three or more pairs of bifurcated ends. Rods  60  are disposed in each bifurcated end within their respective sleeves, as described above. Pairs of holes  64 ,  66  are clearly illustrated essentially adjacent rods  60  as shown jointly in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . These pairs of holes are essentially adjacent the corresponding rod  60  and located laterally outwardly from the rod. Thereby, a force exerted by a tie wrap  72  (see  FIG. 3 ) is caused to bear against the respective rod when the tie wrap is tightened. 
         [0031]      FIG. 5  illustrates a module  90  that is essentially duplicative of module  10  shown in  FIG. 1  except that a riser  22  is absent as being unnecessary to support the respective steps. 
         [0032]    Referring jointly to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the features of module  90  which are different from the features of module  10 , will be described. Other elements and functions will remain the same. Wraparound covers  92 ,  94  and  96  extend across respective steps  12 ,  14 , and  16  without having front or rear ends bifurcated. As depicted in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the front end of each wraparound cover  92 ,  94 ,  96  extends downwardly along the face of the respective step ( 12 ,  14 ,  16 ) and extends to a point beneath the step. Similarly, each rear end extends across the side of the respective step ( 12 ,  14 ,  16 ) to a location beneath the step. Front end  94  of the wraparound cover includes a full length sleeve  98  for retaining a rod  100  therewithin. A plurality of holes  102  extend through sleeve  98  forwardly of rod  100 . Similarly, rear end  96  includes a full length sleeve  104  for supporting an essentially full length rod  106 . A plurality of holes  108  extend through sleeve  104  to the rear of rod  106 . Each of a plurality of tie wraps  110  engages a pair of holes  102 ,  108 . When drawn tight, the tie wraps will draw rods  100 ,  106  toward one another and thereby exert a stretching force on wraparound cover  92  to secure the wraparound cover about the respective step ( 12 ,  14 ,  16 ). 
         [0033]    As may be noted by inspection of modules  10  and  90 , the use of the rods in sleeves at the front and rear ends of the wraparound cover apply a uniform force exerted by the tie wraps extending uniformly along the lengths of the front and rear ends of the wraparound cover. Thus, there is no concentration of forces, such as would be the case with use of grommets, or holes engaged by tie wraps or cords. Similarly, were snaps or other localized attachment means used to draw the front and rear ends toward one another, there would be a concentration of forces resulting in puckering and unsightliness of the wraparound cover.