Patent ID: 8091295

Claim:
A modular staircase, comprising: a plurality of step modules, each step module having: a tread having a substantially planar foot engaging portion, a first support bracket disposed along a first lateral side of the tread, and a second support bracket disposed along a second lateral side of the tread, and a pair of riser brackets each having a lower member that is disposed at a bottom end of each riser bracket and extends from a front end of each riser bracket to a rear end of each riser bracket, front and rear balusters that are each connected to and extend generally upward from the lower member of each riser bracket at the front end and the rear end, respectively, of each riser bracket, wherein the lower member of each riser bracket extends along and is rigidly connected to a respective one of the first support bracket or the second support bracket of the tread and further wherein a plurality of connector holes are formed through the front and rear balusters of each riser bracket in a front-to-rear direction with respect to the riser brackets, and a balustrade that extends between and is connected to the front baluster and the rear baluster of each riser bracket at a top end of each riser bracket; the plurality of step modules including at least a first step module and a second step module; and a plurality of fasteners that rigidly connect the rear balusters of the first riser step module to the front balusters of the second step module at a selected vertical position of a plurality of possible vertical positions of the first step module with respect to the second step module.