Patent Abstract:
A stair mat for a tread of a step includes a textured material such as corrugated, polypropylene carpet having a non-skid backing material such as rubber The stair mat is flexible and is adapted to surround the tread  16  such that the textured material extends 360° about the tread. The stair mat includes a closure such as Velcro® that is formed as a hook strip disposed on one side of the mat adjacent a first longitudinal end, and a loop strip disposed on another side of the mat adjacent a second longitudinal end.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates generally to coverings for stair steps and, more particularly, to a removable mat for step treads of a stair.  
           [0003]    2. Background Information  
           [0004]    Stairs consist of steps retained by side supports. A step typically consists of a horizontal member or tread and a vertical member or riser. In some instances stairs are constructed without risers. Therefore, the steps consist of only treads supported on each side by a support. The stair treads may be made from a variety of materials including wood, stone, plastic or other natural and man-made material. In all cases, it has been found advantageous to provide a tread covering. A tread covering can provide a safety aspect associated with the use of the stairs. This is especially true of stairs that are exposed to the elements such as stairs for recreational vehicles (RVs), trailers, campers, boats, docks, and the like.  
           [0005]    In response to the above-identified problem, various solutions have been developed. Typical tread coverings include carpet, rubber, or the like that is placed on the stair tread. One such step cover is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 115,717 issued to Dieterich et al. on Jun. 6, 1871 (hereinafter “the &#39;717 patent”). The &#39;717 patent provides a step cover consisting of a sheet or slab of vulcanized rubber or gutta-percha beveled on all four edges and contained within a frame. The frame is composed of overlapping and beveled strips that are secured together by screws. The step cover of the &#39;717 patent, however, is disadvantageous for various reasons including the fact that it covers only the top side of the step and is secured to the step by screws.  
           [0006]    In U.S. Pat. No. 161,305 issued to Walter on Mar. 23, 1875 (hereinafter “the &#39;305 patent”) there is disclosed a stair pad having a strip of carpet in a frame. The frame has a curved front edge that wraps over the curved edge of a step. Again, the stair pad of the &#39;305 patent is disadvantageous for various reasons including those described above with respect to the &#39;717 patent. In a similar manner, U.S. Pat. No. 815,391 issued to Weinstock on Mar. 20, 1906 (hereinafter “the &#39;391 patent”), discloses a stair carpet holder having a frame with a biased hook on the front thereof for engaging the front stair edge. The stair carpet holder of the &#39;391 patent, however, suffers from at least the same disadvantages as the others.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,088,976 issued to Roy on Jul. 18, 2000 (hereinafter “the &#39;976 patent”) discloses a removable non-skid step pad. The step pad includes a pad that is fastened around the stair tread. The pad portion of the &#39;976 patent, however, does not extend about the entire tread and is designed to be placed on the tread in a specific manner that cannot be reversed.  
           [0008]    In view of the above, it would be advantageous to provide a stair mat that has a textured stepping surface that extends entirely around the tread.  
           [0009]    It would be further advantageous to provide a stair mat as indicated above that has a non-skid bearing surface that extends entirely about the tread, particularly in conjunction with the stepping surface.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0010]    In accordance with the invention, there is provided a mat for a tread of a stair step wherein the step does not have a corresponding riser. The mat has a textured stepping surface that extends entirely around the tread. The mat is secured to itself once wrapped around the tread. Hook and loop fasteners are preferably used to secure one end of the mat with another.  
           [0011]    The mat preferably consists of a textured (e.g. corrugated) indoor-outdoor type carpet as the stepping surface such as a polypropylene carpet. The carpet includes a backing that consists of at least one layer of a rubber or similar elastomeric that provides a non-slip surface. The backing naturally also extends entirely around the tread and is adapted to be in contact with the tread surface.  
           [0012]    In one form, the subject invention is a mat for a stair tread. The mat includes a length of textured material having a first end and a second end, a backing material on one side of the textured material, and a closure formed as a first part disposed on a first end of the textured material and a second part disposed on the backing material on a second end opposite said first end. The closure securing the length of textured material onto a stair tread wherein the textured material extends  3600  about the stair tread.  
           [0013]    In another form, the subject invention is a mat for a tread of a riser-less stair. The mat includes a length of corrugated carpet defining a top surface, a bottom surface, a longitudinal length having first and second ends, and a short length having third and fourth ends. The longitudinal length of corrugated carpet is sufficient to extend entirely around a short length of the stair tread when installed on the stair tread. A non-skid material is disposed on the bottom surface of the corrugated carpet. A fastener is associated with the corrugated carpet and the non-skid material and is adapted to releasably hold the corrugated carpet around the stair tread.  
           [0014]    In another form, the subject invention is a mat for a riser-less step tread. The mat includes a length of polypropylene carpet having an underside surface and first and second longitudinal ends, a rubber backing disposed on the underside surface, and a releasable fastener having a first strip of first fastening material disposed on the polypropylene carpet at the first longitudinal end, and a second strip of second fastening material complementary to the first fastening material disposed on the backing at the second longitudinal end. The fastener allowing the polypropylene carpet to wrap around the tread and be secured thereon, wherein the polypropylene carpet creates a 360° surface around the tread.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    In the drawings:  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a flight of exemplary stairs on which the subject invention may be utilized;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of an exemplary embodiment of a mat made in accordance with the principles of the subject invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the exemplary mat of FIG. 2 with one corner folded down to better illustrate the various features of the subject invention;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4 is a side view of the exemplary mat of FIG. 2 illustrating the manner in which the mat is installed on a stair tread;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the stairs of FIG. 1, with each tread having the subject mat installed thereon; and  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 6 is a sectional view of one of the treads of the stairs of FIG. 4 taken along line  6 - 6  thereof showing a mat installed thereon. 
     
    
       [0022]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0023]    Referring to FIG. 1, there is depicted an illustration of an exemplary flight of stairs generally designated  10  in which the subject invention may be used. It should be appreciated that the stairs  10  is only exemplary of the many types of stairs that can utilize the subject invention as described herein. While the stairs  10  is shown by itself, it should be appreciated that the stairs  10  may be part of or attached to a structure such as an RV, mobile home, camper, dock or the like.  
         [0024]    The stairs  10  includes a first side support, stringer or the like  12  and a second side support, stringer or the like  14 . Situated between the first and second side supports  12  and  14  is a plurality of treads  16  forming steps. The stairs  10 , and particularly the treads  16  do not have risers associated therewith. Thus the stairs  10  may be considered an open-tread stair or a riser-less stair. It should be appreciated that the subject invention is thus applicable to any type of open-tread or riser-less stair. Moreover, it should be appreciated that the number of steps or treads  16  in the flight of stairs  10  is irrelevant. The subject invention is applicable equally to a single step and a stair having a plurality of steps.  
         [0025]    Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, an exemplary embodiment of a mat, generally designated  20 , in accordance with the principles of the subject invention is shown. The mat  20  has an outer surface  22  and an inner surface  24 . The outer surface  22  provides a stepping surface while the inner surface  24  provides a backing, contact or bearing surface. When installed on a tread as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and described below, the stepping surface  22  faces outward relative to the tread  16  while the contact surface  24  faces inward relative to the tread  16 .  
         [0026]    The stepping surface  22  is preferably formed of a textured material  26  that is preferably at least somewhat weatherproof or impervious to weather (e.g. rain, sleet, snow, sunshine, etc.). The textured material  26  is also preferably relatively easy to clean and is durable. One such material may be an indoor/outdoor type carpet such as a polypropylene carpet. In one form, the stepping surface  22  is formed of a corrugated polypropylene carpet. Of course, other carpets and/or materials may be used.  
         [0027]    The contact surface  24  is preferably formed of a non-skid material  28 . The non-skid material  28  forms a backing for the textured material  26 . The non-skid material  28  may be a rubber, elastomeric or other type of non-skid material that provides a positive traction (non-slip) surface. In one form as shown, the non-skid material  28  may consist of multiple plies  36 ,  38  of material (having two or more layers). One ply  36  may be an underlayment such as roping, cording, or the like that provides a good foundational material. A second ply  38  may be an elastomeric or other non-skid material. Of course, the backing  28  may be formed of a single material, a single layer of a composite material, or the like.  
         [0028]    The mat  20  further includes a first retention portion  32  and a second retention portion  34 . The first and second retention portions  32  and  34  together form a releasable fastener  30  (see FIG. 4) that allows the mat  20  to join ends to thus be securely installed on a stair tread, and to easily release the two ends to uninstall (remove) the mat from the stair tread. In a preferred form, the fastener  30  comprises a loop portion and a hook portion. It should be appreciated that while the first portion  32  is depicted as the loop portion and the second portion  34  is depicted as the hook portion, the two are interchangeable.  
         [0029]    The loop portion  32  may constitute a strip of loop material that is applied to the textured material  26 . The hook portion  34  may constitute a strip of hook material that is applied to the backing  28 . Preferably, and as best seen in FIG. 3, the first (loop) portion  32  preferably extends at least, but not necessarily, substantially from one short side of the mat  20  to another short side of the mat  20 . The second portion  34  also preferably extends at least, but not necessarily, substantially from one short side of the mat  20  to another short side of the mat  20 . It should be appreciated that the mat  20  in FIG. 3 has one corner folded over in order to clearly illustrate the position and configuration of the second (hook) portion  34 .  
         [0030]    Referring to FIG. 4, the mat  20  is depicted being folded together as is done when the mat  20  is installed on a stair tread  16 . As the mat  20  is bent or folded around the tread  16 , the first and second portions  32  and  34  join. The mat  20  is thus formed into a continuous loop. Moreover, as the first and second portions  32  and  34  are releasably joined, the textured material  26  extends 360° about the mat  20 . As well, the backing material  28  extends  3600  about the mat  20 .  
         [0031]    In FIG. 5, there is depicted the exemplary flight of stairs  10  as first depicted in FIG. 1. In FIG. 5, each tread  16  has a mat  20  disposed thereon. As indicated above, the textured material  26  extends entirely around the short length of the tread  16  but not necessarily its length. The length may be variable both due to different size steps and desired amount of tread coverage. In this manner, if the mat  20  rotates on the tread  16  either intentionally or not, the textured material  26  always presents itself on the top of the tread  16 .  
         [0032]    The mat  20  may be manufactured in various sizes, colors, stepping materials, and the like. Various designs may be incorporated into the stepping material. Each mat may cover a given amount of stair tread to accommodate various step sizes.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of the mat  20  installed on the tread  16 . It can be clearly seen that the textured material  26  extends  3600  around the short length of the tread  16  while the amount of the long length of the tread  16  that may or may not be covered depends on the size of the mat  20 . As well, the backing material  28  also extends 360° around the short length of the tread  16 .  
         [0034]    While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the subject invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the subject invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and that fall within the limits of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4