PORTABLE STAIRCASE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a modular and temporary staircase and particularly to a modular, temporary and portable staircase assembly for use at a building site in order to allow builders and the like to access levels of different heights in multiple storey construction sites.

BACKGROUND ART

Typically, staircases are made on a building site and so as to reduce the potential damage to the finished steps, the staircase is usually one of the last components of a multi-storey building to be finished. Therefore, during the construction of multi storey buildings, there is a need to have temporary means of accessing the upper storeys until such time as the final staircase has been finished.

The building industry is heavily regulated by numerous government and other bodies particularly concerned with safety procedures in order to maintain a safe work environment on building sites. To this extent, there are many rules and regulations that have been put in place that govern the procedures and working conditions implemented on a building site. One such rule is that on a multi-storey building site where ladders are used as a means to move between different levels, when ascending or descending a ladder, a worker must have a minimum of three contact points with the ladder at all times. This means that the worker must have at least two hands and one foot or two feet and one hand in contact with the ladder. This is almost impossible to achieve when the worker is carrying a tool or the like, in one or both of their hands, a common scenario on a building site.

Even without such rules and regulations in place, it is desirable to have an alternative to using a ladder for moving between different levels of multistorey buildings on a building site, so that workers would have a more convenient way of moving between the different levels. This would result in tools, building materials and the like being more easily transported from one storey to another. Also, climbing and descending a ladder is a relatively time consuming process, so there is a further need to have a more convenient and less time consuming way for workers on a multi-storey building site to move between different levels. Many previous attempts have been made to provide a suitable temporary and portable staircase for use on a building site.

For example, JP 7259462 describes a folding type staircase that is temporary, easy to assemble and disassemble and convenient to transport. However, there are problems with using this type of temporary staircase. The staircase of JP 7259462 can only be configured in a single orientation, that is, the staircase can only be erected in a straight line from a position at a lower level to a position at an upper level of a multi-storey building. This is problematic when the distance between the lower and upper storeys is significant, as the angle of incline of the stairs will become too steep and become impractical or dangerous when the distance between the two storeys becomes greater. As the angle of incline approaches the vertical, it becomes more difficult for workers to safely ascend and descend the stairs, and the incline or 'steepness' of the stairs becomes dangerous. Another disadvantage of the staircase of JP 7259462 is apparent when the building site in which the staircase is to be erected will not allow for a straight staircase to be installed due to obstructions or the like. As the staircase of JP 7259462 has a fixed orientation and configuration, it will not be suitable for use in this situation.

Another type of portable staircase is described in WO 00/37752 in which a temporary staircase having several stair modules comprising a step located between two parallel side rail elements is disclosed. This staircase has landing platforms between the bottom of the staircase and the top of the staircase, thus reducing the angle of incline of the stairs where the distance between the

two levels is significant. Therefore, this staircase can be used to more effectively span a greater difference in height between two levels of a multistorey building than the staircase of JP 7259462. However, the staircase of WO 00/37752 is not able to be configured in multiple configurations and therefore suffers from the same disadvantages when the building site at which the staircase is to be erected will not allow for a straight configuration staircase to be installed due to obstructions or the like.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a modular, temporary and portable staircase assembly which goes at least some way towards overcoming or at least minimising the prior art problems or limitations outlined above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a modular, temporary and portable staircase assembly comprising at least one stair section and at least one landing platform. The landing platform has multiple attachment points thereon, which are adapted to releasably engage with the stair section. The stair section is adapted to engage with the attachment points in multiple combinations whereby, in use, the staircase assembly is adapted to be configured in a variety of orientations. The stair section is a predetermined length and has a pair of opposing strings that support at least one step. The upper and lower ends of the stair section have engagement means thereon, which are adapted to releasably engage with the landing platform.

Preferably, the staircase assembly has two or more stair sections and the landing platform is an intermediate landing .platform, having multiple attachment points thereon adapted to releasably engage with the stair sections.

Preferably, the height of the staircase assembly is adjustable and is determined by selecting different numbers of intermediate platforms and/or selecting different predetermined lengths of the stair sections.

Preferably, the upper and lower ends of each of the strings has an engagement point thereon, which is adapted to releasably engage with the landing platform, each one of which is substantially square. The multiple attachment points are located at or near a corner portion of each of the landing platforms and each of the landing platforms comprises four attachment points thereon. Preferably, each of the attachment points are substantially square section members that extend from the landing platform and are adapted to engage with the strings. The engagement means of the strings comprises a square shaped sidewall defining a central aperture adapted to receive one of the attachment points of the landing platform therein.

Preferably, the staircase assembly further comprises structural support framework under each of the intermediate landing platforms, the structural support framework comprising a plurality of legs extending from the underside of each of the intermediate landing platforms to the ground. Structural support framework may also be provided under an upper level landing platform. The vertical legs comprise cross bracing to strengthen the support framework.

Preferably, the staircase assembly further comprises a plurality of handrails, which comprise balusters. The balusters are adapted to releasably engage with the landing platforms and/or the stair sections. Preferably, the staircase assembly comprises a plurality of handrail connection means comprising square section members adapted to receive the handrails therein in a variety of different orientations. The stair sections further comprise at least one handrail engagement point adapted to releasably engage with the balusters. The handrail engagement point comprises a square shaped sidewall defining a central aperture adapted to receive an end of the baluster therein.

Preferably, the components of the staircase assembly are substantially weather proof to allow the staircase assembly to be used both internally and externally. The components are preferably substantially made of lightweight strong aluminium. Furthermore, each of the landing platforms further comprise a substantially non-slip surface coating. The stair sections are substantially made of lightweight, strong fibre-reinforced plastic mesh.

Preferably, the stair sections are of a predetermined length having between two to ten steps inclusive.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the staircase assembly comprises a ground level landing platform at the base thereof and an upper level landing platform at the top thereof. Even more preferably, an intermediate landing platform is disposed between the ground level landing platform located at the lower ground section and the upper level landing platform located at the upper floor section.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a pre fabricated kit for a modular, temporary and portable staircase assembly comprising, at least one stair section and at least one landing platform. The landing platform has multiple attachment points thereon adapted to releasably engage with the stair section. The stair section is of a predetermined length and has a pair of opposing strings that support steps. The upper and lower ends of the stair section have engagement means thereon adapted to releasably engage with the landing platform. In use, the staircase assembly is adapted to be configured in a variety of different orientations by engaging the stair section with different combinations of the multiple engagement points.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a modular landing platform to be used in combination with at least one stair section, the modular landing platform having multiple attachment points thereon adapted to be engaged with the stair section in at least two different configurations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In order to facilitate a better understanding of the nature of the present invention, a preferred embodiment of a modular, temporary and portable staircase assembly will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the staircase assembly according to the present invention;

FIG 2 is an exploded perspective view of the staircase assembly shown in FIG 1;

FIG 3 is a top perspective view of a landing platform of the staircase assembly shown in FIG 1; and

FIG 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the staircase assembly according to the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIGS 1 to 3 show a staircase assembly 1 in accordance with the present invention. The staircase assembly 1 is a modular, temporary and portable staircase. The staircase assembly 1 may be erected at a building site for varying lengths of time where a multi-storey building is being constructed. The staircase assembly 1 provides access for a builder, worker or the like from one level of a multi-storey building site to another. When the staircase assembly 1 is no longer required at a building site, it is disassembled and is then transported by way of a vehicle or the like to another building site, where it can be erected again. This cycle of assembly, disassembly and transportation can continue repeatedly.

A first stair section 6 having opposing strings 8a and 8b between which a step 10 is disposed in a conventional manner is installed at ground level 2. The height adjustability of the staircase assembly 1 is determined by the number of stair sections 6 that are used when erecting the staircase assembly 1. The stair sections 6 comprise varying numbers of steps 10 ranging from between two to ten steps inclusive, so that in varying combinations, any number of steps may be obtained in order that staircase assembly 1 may be used between varying heights of one level to another level of a multi-storey building.

The staircase assembly 1 extends from the ground level 2 to an upper level 32. In between the ground level 2 and the upper level 32, there is provided at least one landing platform 16. Whilst FIGS 1 and 2 show a single landing platform 16, it is within the scope of this invention that any number of landing platforms 16 may be used. The number of landing platforms used will be determined by the height between the levels of the multi-storey building site between which the staircase assembly 1 is erected.

In another embodiment of the present invention not shown in the accompanying drawings, the landing platforms 16 also include winder steps of various heights, shapes and configurations. These winder steps are particularly useful where the staircase assembly 1 is required to make a sharp bend or turn.

Each of the landing platforms 16 consists of a relatively flat base portion having disposed thereon landing platform attachment means 14. The landing platform attachment means 14 comprise substantially square section members that extend from the relatively flat base portion of the landing platforms and are adapted to receive the stair sections 6 thereon. As shown in FIG 3, each of the landing platforms 16 has four of the landing platform attachment means 14 (A, B, C, D) thereon, located at or near an edge portion of the landing platforms.

However, it is also possible to have any suitable number of the landing platform attachment means 14, provided that various different orientations and configurations of the staircase assembly 1 can still be made. In an embodiment of the present invention not shown in the accompanying drawings, each of the landing platforms 16 may comprise a single "trough- like" engagement point that is adapted to receive a portion of the stair section 6 therein. In this particular embodiment, an end portion of the stair section 6 is "dropped" into the "trough-like" attachment point of the landing platforms 16. Similar types of single point engagement means are also within the scope of the present invention.

Each of the landing platforms 16 is substantially square in shape, although rectangular landing level platforms may also be utilised. However, it is within the scope of this invention that any suitable shape that provides a landing platform 16 having equally disposed landing level attachment means

14 thereon may be utilised.

When the staircase assembly 1 is assembled at building sites, the orientation, configuration and height of the staircase assembly may be altered to suit each instalment in the multi-storey building site.

Firstly, the height of the staircase assembly 1 is determined by the number of the stair sections 6 that are used. Furthermore, which particular length stair sections 6 are used also affects the height of the assembled staircase assembly 1.

A further embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG 4. Given the similarities between the embodiments shown in FIGS 1 to 3 and the embodiment shown in FIG 4, corresponding features have been identified with the same reference numerals.

The staircase assembly 1 shown in FIG 4 consists of a ground level landing platform 4 located at the ground level 2. The ground level landing

platform 4 provides a base at the ground level 2 for the staircase assembly 1 to be securely but removably attached to. Attached to the ground level landing platform 4 is a first stair section 6 having opposing strings 8a and 8b between which a step 10 is disposed in a conventional manner. The height adjustability of the staircase assembly 1 is determined by the number of stair sections 6 that are used when erecting the staircase assembly 1. The stair sections 6 comprise varying numbers of steps 10 ranging from between two to ten steps inclusive, so that in varying combinations, any number of steps may be obtained in order that staircase assembly 1 may be used between varying heights of one level to another level of a multi-storey building.

The staircase assembly 1 further comprises an upper level landing platform 34 located at an upper level 32. The upper level landing platform 34 is in turn connected to a second stair section 6. In between the ground level landing platform 4 and the upper level landing platform 34 there is provided at least one intermediate level landing platform 16. The structure of the intermediate level landing platform 16 is substantially identical to the ground level landing platform 4 and the upper level landing platform 34. Whilst FIG 4 shows a single intermediate level landing platform 16, it is within the scope of this invention that any number of intermediate level landing platforms 16 may be used. The number of intermediate level landing platforms used will be determined by the height between the levels of the multi-storey building site between which the staircase assembly 1 is erected.

Each of the intermediate level landing platforms 16 further comprise vertical legs 22, which support the intermediate landing platform. The vertical legs 22 are connected at an underside connection point on the intermediate level landing platform 16 and extend to the ground level 2. The upper level landing platform 34 may also optionally comprise vertical legs 22 in a similar arrangement. The vertical legs 22 are disposed at or near a corner portion of the intermediate level or upper level landing platforms 16, 34.

As shown in FIGS 1 to 4, all of the embodiments of the staircase assembly 1 further comprise handrails 24, which are of corresponding length

to each of the various lengths of stair sections 6. Handrails 24 are releasably connected to the stair sections 6 and are provided as a safety feature to the staircase assembly 1. Handrails 24 further allow a builder, worker or the like to easily and safely ascend or descend the staircase assembly 1. Handrails 24 are connected together by means of either straight handrail connectors 26, elbow joint handrail connectors 28 cross-shaped connectors 30 (with the cross arm angled down from the horizontal). The connector used is dependent upon what type of connection is required.

Each of the components of the staircase assembly 1 are substantially made of strong lightweight aluminium. Each of the steps 10 are made of strong, lightweight fibre-reinforced plastic. However, any suitable material may be used such as steel, lightweight, durable plastic and the like. In other embodiments of the invention not shown in the accompanying drawings each of the landing level platforms 16 are furthered covered in a non-slip material.

Whilst the embodiments of the present invention that are depicted in the accompanying drawings have been discussed in relation to use in building or construction sites, it should be understood that the staircase assembly 1 of the present invention is not limited to this use. The staircase assembly 1 can be installed in any suitable location and whilst the staircase assembly is preferably temporary, it can be permanently or semi-permanently installed if necessary.

EXAMPLES

For example, if the height difference between one level and another level of a multi-storey building site would require the staircase assembly 1 to have eleven steps 10, then the user may put together the staircase assembly

1 with, a first stair section 6 having five steps, a single intermediate level landing platform 16, and a second stair section having six steps. The resulting

staircase assembly 1 would have eleven steps 10 (five steps in the first stair section 6 and six steps in the second stair section).

The orientation and configuration of the staircase assembly 1 may be altered by changing which of the landing platform attachment means 14 (A, B, C ₁ D) of the intermediate level landing platform 16 are used to attach stair sections 6 thereto. Each of the opposing strings 8a and 8b of the stair sections 6 has an attachment point 9 at their respective ends, adapted to securely and releasably engage with the landing platform attachment means 14 (A,B,C,D). By changing which of the landing platform attachment means 14 (A, B, C, D) of the intermediate level landing platform 16 are used for attaching the stair sections 6 thereto, the orientation, configuration and shape of the staircase assembly 1 can be altered. For example, in one particular configuration, a first stair section 6 is installed on the ground level 2 and an end of the stair section may be attached to the landing platform 16 at landing platform engagement means 14 C and D. A second stair section 6 is attached to the landing platform 16 at landing platform engagement means 14 A and B and extends to an upper floor level 32. This results in staircase assembly 1 having a "straight line" configuration from a lower level position to an upper level position.

In another configuration, a first stair section 6 is installed on the ground level 2 and an end of the stair section may be attached to a landing platform 16 at landing platform engagement means 14 B and D. A second stair section 6 is attached to the landing platform 16 at landing platform engagement means 14 A and B and extends to an upper floor level 32. This results in staircase assembly 1 having a 90° change of direction at one of the intermediate landing platforms 16, and the staircase assembly 1 has a "dog leg" configuration.

Whilst FIGS 1 and 2 show the staircase assembly 1 in a "dog leg" configuration, having a single intermediate level landing platform 16, it is possible to have a staircase assembly 1 with multiple intermediate level

landing platforms, whereby the configuration of the staircase assembly 1 is determined by the positioning of the stair sections 6 on each of the intermediate level landing platforms, by altering which landing platform engagement means 14 (A,B,C,D) are used to engage with each of the stair sections.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The invention can be utilised in relation to modular and temporary staircases and particularly to a modular, temporary and portable staircase assembly for use at a building site in order to allow builders, workers and the like to access levels of different heights in multi-storey buildings.

The term. "comprising" as used herein (and its grammatical variations) is used in the inclusive sense of "having" or "including" and not in the exclusive sense of "consisting only of".

It will be apparent that obvious variations or modifications may be made in accordance with the spirit of the invention that are intended to be part of the invention, and any such obvious variations or modification are therefore within the scope of the invention.