Patent Abstract:
A support for steps, having the shape of a triangular corner plate to be installed one after the other along a stringer. The sides of this support are reinforced, horizontally and vertically by a 90 degree fold, to fix the steps and risers. The ends are wider and possess a number of fixing holes to provide more stability when fixed against a stringer. The horizontal side is ended by a projecting horizontal rule. The wide part of the vertical side is flanked by vertical graduations. The horizontal rule is set against a stringer at a desired step run and the vertical graduations are set against the stringer at a desired step rise. The horizontal rule overlaps the vertical graduations of the preceding support.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to stairs structure, particularly supports to position the steps and risers along a stringer. 
     2. Description Of The Prior Art 
     Certain patents particularly drew our attention: 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,088,977 Lawrence, Jul. 18 th , 2000, illustrates a method and an apparatus to build staircases. It comprises a support to build steps supported by a longitudinal beam. Several holes allow different heights and lengths, that is the tread of the steps. The support is made of a central block with legs that overlap the stringer. A total of four (4) parts is required. The external sheet is visible and must be covered. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,032, Buzby, May 4, 1999, illustrates a staircase structure. It shows supports for steps. The horizontal side has a flared portion  8 , which allows adjusting the height. The step run cannot vary. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,520, Vochatzer, has sides comprising two lower brackets  42 , 48  screwed in place, without means to control height or length. Top strip  29  is positioned lengthwise onto a dotted stringer thanks to a return  32 . The same applies to the flanges  59 , 58 . Locating flanges are measured beforehand to correspond to a desired slope, for instance 7 inch rise and 11 inch length. Such a system cannot be adapted to various slopes unless designed at the time of stamping of bracket  41 . 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a general objective of the invention to provide a support for steps that can be used for all types of staircases and be easy to install. This support includes a horizontal side, which supports the steps on the stringer while allowing a variation of angle of the stringer. At the same time a vertical side allows fixing the riser. 
     Another objective is to provide a support for steps including a corner plate whose ends include wider parts intended to overlap, when installed. These sides, horizontal and vertical, have reinforcements to fix the steps and risers. Moreover, the wide part of the horizontal side may include a horizontal adjustment slit and the wide part on the vertical side includes a series of holes among which at least one will coincide with the slit at the time of the installation. Each wide part comprises a second series of fixing holes, sufficiently spaced apart to secure the contact with the stringer. Instead of a slit one may use a pair of overlapping rulers. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will be further understood from the following description with reference to the drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective of a support for steps. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective of an alternative to the support of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 shows the support of FIG. 1, installed on top of a stringer. 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the support of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 shows the support of FIG. 2, installed against a stringer. 
     FIG. 6 shows the support of FIG. 3, installed as an alternative. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective for the foot of a staircase. 
     FIG. 8 is a top view of the support of FIG. 1 in mirror image. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings wherein the same numbers identify the same characterising elements. 
     FIG. 1 shows a support for steps  20  identified by an arrow. The support for steps  20  is a metal piece at right angles defining a set-square, with a horizontal side  24  and a vertical side  26 , which widen out to create an upper wide part  28  and a lower wide part  30 . Each side is folded to make an L-shaped section, that is a horizontal fold  32  and a vertical fold  34 . The upper wide part  28  includes some close holes  46  close with respect to the centre of the support  20  and some further apart  48  and a series of horizontal  58  and vertical holes  60 . The lower wide part  30  has a series of holes, some closer  52  and some farther apart  54 . The wide part  30  of the vertical side  26  is graduated  55  to measure a step rise of the support  20 . A ruler  55 ′ is placed on the horizontal side  24  to measure a step run of the support  20 . This ruler  55 ′ can be fixed, removable, flexible or magnetised. 
     FIG. 2 shows an alternative identified by an arrow as “French” support  120 . The French support  120  is adapted to be installed on the inner side of a stringer, that is to support steps and risers according to the method known as “French”. There is a horizontal side  124  and a vertical side  126 , a horizontal fold  132  and a vertical fold  134 . There also are horizontal  158  and vertical holes  160 . 
     FIG. 3 shows the support of FIG. 1 installed on top of a stringer, according to a method known as “English”, that is fixed on the inner side of the stringer and straddling the stringer. A tread  36  will be fixed to the horizontal fold  32  by screws  59  (see FIG.  4 ). A riser  38  is fixed on the vertical fold  34 . The horizontal part of a step, known as the step run of the tread, must be of at least 8¼″ to comply with certain building codes such as the Canadian national building Code. A short support allows a step run between 8¼″ and 10½″. The shorter step run corresponds to the length of the horizontal fold, providing a maximum of resistance. A larger support provides step runs from 10¼″ to 12½″. The same applies to the height known as step rise of the riser, which generally varies from 6″ to 8″. The horizontal  32  and vertical  34  folds have a series of holes for step  40  and riser  42  to fix them in place. In upper wide part  28  two screws are installed one in closer holes  46  and another screw in remote holes  48 . There also is a ruler  55 ′ on the horizontal part. Graduations  55  are drawn on the end of the vertical part. In lower wide part  30  two screws are installed, one in close hole  52  and another screw in remote hole  54 . 
     FIG. 4 shows the coupling of supports for step  20  inferior and  21  superior. Upon installation one positions the upper support  21  first, followed by the next lower support  20  The ruler  55 ′ of support  20  is placed so it gives the step run and the graduations  55  of support  20  are positioned according to the desired step rise then the support is screwed to the stringer. The lower wide part  30  of the support for steps  21  is under the rule  55 ′ of the support for steps  20  just above. First, the support is fixed on the stringer with series of holes that are closer together  52  and  46 . Then with the series of holes that are farther apart  48 , 54  when the step run of tread and the step rise are determined with the graduations  55 . The series of holes that are further apart  54  forms a line of three holes, one of which will be used. This hole becomes a point of coupling  57  and receives a screw # 8 . One sees such a screw  59  used to hold steps. The metal of the support  20  is thin enough to be sawed with the stringer  22 . This makes the completion of the staircase much easier, as it is possible to cut the stringer  22  and support  20  at the foot of the staircase. In the present drawing, the support  20  is installed according to the method known as “English”, the support  20  being above the stringer  22 . 
     FIG. 5 illustrates another method that can be used with the support of step  120  that is known as “French”. It shows the support of FIG. 2 installed against the inner side of the stringer  122 . The support for steps is fixed with a series of horizontal  158  and vertical holes  160  located on the horizontal  124  and vertical  126  sides. To install, one draws horizontal  161  and vertical  163  lines on the inner side of the stringer according to step run and step rise. 
     FIG. 6 shows the support of FIG. 3 installed on the inner side of a stringer. This is an alternative to the “English” method. It differs from that of FIG. 3 in that the horizontal  32  and vertical  34  folds, although the support  20  is fixed on the inner side of the stringer  22 , are directed towards the outer side of the stringer while being above the stringer. The disadvantage of this alternative is the difficulty in screwing steps and risers from the outer side of the staircase. 
     FIG. 7 shows a foot support  23  at the foot of the staircase that was cut in its vertical side  70 . The horizontal side  72  is fixed on the inner side of the stringer. One sees a base  25 , ending with a strip  27  that folds on the back  29  of the stringer. To install, one fixes the base  25  at the foot of the stringer with screws  74 . The builder then fixes the strip with screws  76 . One fastens the staircase to the floor with a screw into the heel  25  through a floor hole  77  and positions a first step by means of a step hole  79 . 
     FIG. 8 indicates a ruler offset  141  of the thickness of the wide part away from the bearing face  132 . 
     METHODS OF INSTALLATION 
     The measurements mentioned in the description are the reflection of the standards of Quebec and Canada. These will vary in accordance with the country where the support for steps is used. For example, the minimal step run, stated as 8¼″ in description, will be 9″ if the support for steps is adapted to the American market. 
     The support for steps is fixed on the stringer. The horizontal and vertical folds form a right angle. The wide parts on the horizontal and vertical sides are important for the strength of the supports. 
     It is possible to use adjustment slits. However graduations allows adjusting a support in relation with the support directly over or above. Horizontal graduations can be on parts that are removable, flexible or even replaceable. Some characteristics of the steps themselves must be taken into consideration. The staircase may be of the “French” type where the steps are installed inside the stringer. The staircase can be of the so-called “English” type, where the steps are installed over the stringer. The English type may also be referred to as “rack” when the stringer is cut, the stringer being made of wood. When the stringer is not cut, the type may nevertheless be referred to as “rack” as the supports are fixed on the stringer by their wide parts. FIG. 6 shows the “English” type and FIG. 5 shows the “French” type. The French support is similar to the English support but for the wide parts that are not necessary as the support is fixed against the sides both horizontally and vertically. It suffices to draw an outline with a pencil and a set-square. The supports are aligned on the outline and screwed in this position. In the case of the “English” type, the support is positioned with the vertical and horizontal rulers and fixed through the wide part. 
     SUMMARY Upper and lower wide parts provide a structure for firmly fixing such as by screws the adjustable supports to a stringer. The supports are separate and do not overlap, in order to prevent torsion. In addition the horizontal ruler projecting from the side of the support is offset from the base plane of the support and extends to cover the vertical side of a neighbouring support to match the neighbouring vertical ruler. After screwing a support the horizontal ruler may be cut off because it is no longer needed. The vertical ruler may be simply painted onto the vertical side of the support and need not be erased. 
     It is clearly understood that the mode of realisation of this invention which was described above, in reference to the annexed drawings, was given as an indication and is by no means restrictive, and which modifications and adaptations can be brought without the object deviating from all that the framework of this invention. 
     Other embodiments are possible and limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4