Patent EA-003985-B1 (EA)
Title: Method for constructing a balanced stair
Inventor: VAN LOON MARC
IPC: E04F11/02
Filed: 2001-05-21
Abstract: 1. A method for constructing a balanced stair comprising steps with treads showing front edges, which method comprises the step of designing the stair and the step of materially constructing the stair so designed, the designing step comprising the step of determining a line of travel on the stair, the step of determining a reference line onto each step in a predetermined position with respect to the front edge thereof, and the step of dividing said reference lines along said line of travel so that the reference lines of each pair of two adjoining reference lines are situated on a substantially constant mutual distance near said line of travel, at least a number of said steps being balanced so that the front edges thereof define an angle different from a right angle with said line of travel, characterized in that in said dividing step, said substantially constant mutual distance is determined near said line of travel along a measuring line which is determined for each pair of adjoining reference lines so as to form a substantially constant angle with at least one of the adjoining reference lines thereof. 2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that said reference lines are determined on said steps either parallel to or coinciding with the front edge of said steps. 3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said substantially constant angle is an angle of between 80 degree and 100 degree , preferably an angle of between 85 degree and 95 degree and most preferably an angle of about 90 degree . 4. A method according to any one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the stair has two opposite ends, and in that, starting at least from the reference line on the step at a first one of said opposite ends, the adjacent reference line situated closer to a second one of said opposite ends is each time positioned on said substantially constant mutual distance measured near said line of travel along said measuring line to form each time one of said pairs of adjoining reference lines, which measuring line is determined for this latter pair of adjoining reference lines so as to form said substantially constant angle with the reference line which is the closest to said first end and/or with the reference line which is the closest to said second end. 5. A method according to claim 4, characterized in that said measuring line is determined so as to form said substantially constant angle with the reference line which is the closest to said first end and so as to form a further substantially constant angle with the reference line which is the closest to said second end. 6. A method according to claim 5, characterized in that said further substantially constant angle is an angle of between 80 degree and 100 degree , preferably an angle of between 85 degree and 95 degree and most preferably an angle of about 90 degree . 7. A method according to claim 6, characterized in that use is made each time of a circle, having a center and a diameter equal to said substantially constant mutual distance, for positioning said adjacent reference line situated closer to said second opposite end, which circle is positioned with its center substantially onto said line of travel so that the reference line situated near said first end is tangent to this circle and the adjoining reference line situated closer to said second end is positioned so as to be also tangent to the circle. 8. A method according to any one of the claims 4 to 7, characterized in that starting from the reference line on the step at said first opposite end, the adjacent reference line situated closer to said second opposite end is each time positioned on said substantially constant mutual distance until the reference line of the step at said second end of the stair is positioned and when this latter reference line is positioned in such a manner that the front edge of this step does not substantial coincide with the second end of the stair, positioning of the reference lines is started again either with a smaller substantially constant mutual distance and/or with a substantially constant angle which differs more from a right angle in case the front edge of the step at said second end extends beyond this end or with a greater substantially constant mutual distance and/or with a substantially constant angle which differs less from a right angle in case the front edge of the step at said second end does not extend up to this second end. 9. A method according to any one of the claims 4 to 7, characterized in that starting from the reference line on the step at said first opposite end, the adjacent reference tine situated closer to said second opposite end is each time positioned on said substantially constant mutual distance and starting from the reference line on the step at said second opposite end, the adjacent reference line situated closer to said first opposite end is each time positioned on said substantially constant mutual distance until a predetermined reference line is positioned both starting from said first end and from said second end and when this predetermined reference line is positioned not in substantially the same position when starting from the first and the second end of the stair, positioning of the reference lines is started again either with a smaller substantially constant mutual distance and/or with a substantially constant angle which differs more from a right angle in case the predetermined reference line positioned starting from the first end of the stair extends beyond the predetermined reference line positioned starting from the second end of the stair or with a greater substantially constant mutual distance and/or with a substantially constant angle which differs less from a right angle in case the predetermined reference line positioned starting from the first end of the stair does not extend up to the predetermined reference line positioned starting from the second end of the stair. 10. A method according to any one of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said measuring line has a length equal to said substantially constant mutual distance and is positioned in such a manner with respect to the line of travel that a predetermined point on the measuring line is situated on said line of travel. 11. A method according to claim 10, characterized in that said predetermined point is situated substantially in the middle of said measuring line.