The present invention belongs to fixed constructions, namely to stairways consisting of a plurality of assembled modular parts, wherein each module is supported by load- bearing elements.

The purpose of the invention is to create a self-standing staircase consisting of assembled and detachably interconnected prefabricated modules, wherein said modules shall be standardized, the number of different modules shall be minimized, and the basic components of said modules shall be unified as much as possible, so that the components of certain module could also be used in other modules, by which on the one hand the components and also the modules of such staircase could be economically manufactured in a mass production, and on the other hand each user could on the basis of each selected modules easily purchase, transport and assemble each desired staircase, which will be stable, aesthetically acceptable, sufficiently rigid for the purposes of furnishing an usual apartment, and could moreover be appropriately arranged within each disposable soace, A self-standing staircase is described in US 3,707,814 and can be assembled of small number of basic components i.e. units, which can be prefabricated and manufactured in mass production processes. A straight staircase module is foreseen on the one hand, and a podium on the other hand, and two steel beams are also required, which are adapted to rest on the ground and to support said staircase modules and podiums. Each staircase module comprises a plurality of horizontal and at least approximately vertical panels, which form stairs and which are mutually interconnected by means of a pair of longitudinal sidewalls, generally boards or panels or similar construction elements. Each podium is generally formed as a sufficiently rigid rectangular panel, which length corresponds to double width of the staircase module. Each beam comprises a vertically situated jamb and horizontally arranged transversal elements, which are spaced apart from each other in a vertical direction. The lowest transversal element is adapted to rest on the ground, and each higher located transversal element is adapted for attachment of one end portion of each staircase module and podium, which is located between each neighboring staircase modules, and by which each first module and/or each last module can be ended, when desired. Two beams which are arranged appropriately apart from each other, generally enable forming of a staircase. As soon as modules and podiums are attached onto a supporting construction, the lowest staircase module in slanted position is rest on the ground by means of its bottom end portion, while its top end portion is similarly like the neighboring podium attached to each corresponding transversal element on the one side of the beam. On the other side of the beam, a bottom end portion of a further module is attached, the top end portion of which is attached on the first higher located transversal element of the other beam, on which also a further podium is attached. A further staircase module is by means of its bottom end portion attached to the lastly mentioned transversal element together with the lastly mentioned podium, however on the other side of the secondly mentioned beam. In such manner, a staircase is formed of said modules, podiums and beams. Several deficiencies should be exposed in the context of the purpose of the proposed invention. In particular, when the staircase is a little bit more complex and should link several floors, such metallic beams are pretty bulky, heavy and difficult for handling, transporting and assembling i.e. mounting. On the other hand, such staircase consists both of wooden and metallic parts, which requires quite different technology of manufacturing. A still more important deficiency appears to be the fact, that such concept cannot allow to each user to create a staircase in accordance with each actual needs, and allows just vertical arrangement and zigzag arrangement of staircase modules within a predetermined space in the form of parallelepiped, the dimensions of which, not only the width but also the height and the length, must be exactly and precisely defined in advance and synchronized with dimensions of beams, podiums and staircase modules.

The present invention refers to prefabricated modules for assembling of a staircase assembly, as well as to a staircase consisting of such modules.

In this application, the expression "a staircase module" or simplified "a module" means an uniform - at least during assembling or during the use - assembly of a predetermined number of stairs and corresponding sidewalls and each required other components, wherein each particular module can be combined with other modules and assembled in situ in order to build-up a staircase in each desired configuration.

The expression »straight staircase module« or simplified »straight module« means an assembly, which consists of a pre-defined number of stairs, which are directed straightforward, when observed in a direction of moving upstairs or downstairs.

The expression »left-oriented staircase module« or simplified »left-oriented module« means an assembly consisting of a pre-defined number of stairs, which in a direction upstairs turn towards the left at 90°.

The expression »right-oriented staircase module« or simplified »right-oriented module« means an assembly consisting of a pre-defined number of stairs, which in a direction upstairs turn towards the right at 90°. The expression "front side of a module" means one of both sides of each module, which is adapted for establishing interconnection between this module and a further module, or can also mean each corresponding side of each module, where the user enters the module or departs the module or the staircase during the use. Consequently, both front sides of a straight module are arranged opposite with respect to each other, while in left-oriented or right-oriented modules the front sides are located perpendicularly with respect to each other.

The expression "podium" means a particular embodiment of a module without stairs, namely an essentially horizontal surface, which is either square or a rectangular with respect to the top view thereof, and is intended merely for establishing interconnection and a passage between two modules located at the same level, or also between the module and a door opening or any other passage, which can be foreseen in the area of such staircase.

The present invention refers to a prefabricated module of a modular staircase, comprising a pre-defined number of stairs, which are arranged equidistantly both in direction of moving upstairs during the regular use and also in vertical direction, and which each per se comprise a horizontal surface and a vertical surface in order to form either, when observed by moving upstairs, a straight module, or when observed by moving upstairs and turning at 90°, a left-direction module or a right-directed module, and which are optionally interconnected by means of longitudinal sidewalls to form an uniform assembly. Each module is adapted either to rest on the ground or is by means of supplemental supporting jambs maintained at each appropriate distance above the ground, and is moreover in the area of its front surfaces, which are by the straight module arranged opposite to each other and by left-oriented or right oriented module rectangular with respect to each other, interconnectable either with each neighboring module or with a podium comprising a horizontal surface and at least two front surfaces. Said podium is either by means of each neighboring modules, or by means of supplemental supporting jambs, maintained at certain distance above the ground and is moreover ada ^p ted for interconnection either with each annronriate module or with a further podium or with each disposable door opening or any other similar passage connected to said staircase.

The invention provides that each module, namely either a straight or a left-oriented or a right-oriented module, or also a podium, is furnished in each corner area with a jamb, which extends in a vertical direction i.e. rectangular with respect to horizontal surfaces of stairs, wherein each jamb is furnished on its both end portions with a centrally located interconnecting bore, which extends in longitudinal direction of the jamb, as well as with an interconnecting protrusion, which protrudes away from each belonging front surface and is furnished with a centrally located interconnecting bore, which extends along each belonging jamb. Accordingly, each module or podium is in the area of said jambs and/or interconnecting protrusions by means of pins od similar connecting members interconnectable either with a further module or with a podium or with a supporting jamb, which is on its both end portions analogously furnished with longitudinally extending and centrally located interconnecting bores.

Each staircase module can be available either as

- a straight staircase module, which is square in a top view, and the stairs of which are with respect to moving in a direction upstairs during a regular use straightforward oriented; or

- a left-oriented staircase module, which is square in a top view, and the stairs of which are with respect to moving in a direction upstairs during a regular use oriented in the left direction at angle 90°; or

- a right-oriented staircase module, square in a top view, the stairs of which are with respect to moving in a direction upstairs during a regular use oriented in the right direction at angle 90°; or

- a podium having a horizontal surface (41) and being square in a top view.

A preferred embodiment of each module in accordance with the invention provides that the maximal dimension of its square top view surface shall be smaller than 80 cm, in particular between 74 and 76 cm. The length of optionally used supplemental supporting jamb shall preferably be at least approximately 60 cm, or a multiplied value thereof.

The invention also concerns a staircase, which is formed of at least two modules in accordance with previously mentioned features, which are mutually interconnected in a detachable manner, wherein at least one of modules is optionally supported by means of supplemental supporting jambs.

Each of said modules is preferably prefabricated and is available either as a detachable assembly or an integral unit. Whenever such module is prefabricated and commercially available as a detachable assembly, it can either be assembled and delivered to each user in assembled state, or in kit i.e. in the form of a plurality of components, which are then assembled in situ in order to obtain each particular module, which is then ready-to-use and can be combined and interconnected with any other desired modules for the purposes of building-up each desired staircase.

All components of each particular modules preferably consist of wood, and assembling thereof, or building-up each desired staircase, requires quite similar knowledge and skills, which are e.g. required by assembling of usual interior furniture.

The invention will be described in more detail by means of embodiments, which are schematically presented in the attached drawings, where

Fig. 1 is an isometric presentation of the first embodiment of a staircase consisting of staircase modules according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a detailed isometric presentation of a further embodiment of a staircase consisting of staircase modules according to the invention;

Fig. 3 is an isometric presentation of a straight staircase module in its

commonly used position;

Fig. 4 is a bottom isometric view of the straight module according to Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an isometric presentation of a podium in its commonly used position; Fig. 7

Fig. 8

Fig. 9

Fig. 10

One of numerous possible configurations of a staircase according to the invention is shown in Fig. 1. The staircase consists of staircase modules 1, 2, 3 and optionally podiums 4 in combination with eventually required supporting jambs 5, which are combined and detachably assembled in accordance with each particular needs or each particular choice of each particular user. Such staircase namely depending on each desired configuration consists of a required number of straight staircase modules 1 and/or a required number of left-directed staircase modules 2 and/or a required number of right-directed staircase modules 3 and/or a required number of podiums 4, wherein each of said modules 1, 2, 3 and/or podiums 4, depending of its position and arrangement, is optionally supported by means of at least one jamb 5, which is either used as a support for maintaining each desired module 1, 2, 3 or podium 4 at each desired distance above the ground, or also as a spacer between two modules 1, 2, 3 and/or podiums 4 and/or a module 1, 2, 3 and/or a podium 4 arranged above each other.

As presented in Figs 3 and 4, each straight module 1 is formed of three - regarding the direction of usual moving upstairs - equidistant and straightforwardly arranged stairs 1 1, 12, 13, which are each per se furnished with a horizontal surface 1 1 ', 12', 13' and a vertical surface 1 1 ", 12", 13", and are embedded and mutually interconnected by means of longitudinal sidewalls 18, 19. Moreover, said module 1 is furnished with jambs 14, 15, 16, 17, which are located in corners on both opposite front sides 10', 10" and should normally extend vertically, at least bv takins into consideration a common position of the module 1 during its regular use (Fig. 3). Each of said jambs

14, 15, 16, 17 is furnished on both end portions thereof with a centrally arranged connecting bore 14', 15', 16', 17'; 14", 15", 16", 17". Moreover, each of said jambs 14,

15, 16, 17 is furnished with a connecting protrusion 140, 150, 160, 170, which is located at least approximately at the level of each adjacent stair 11, 12, 13 and protruded away from each belonging front side 10, 10" of the module 1, by which each of these protrusions 140, 150, 160, 170 is analogously like said jambs 14, 15, 16, 17 furnished with a centrally arranged connecting bore 140', 150', 160', 170', which extends parallel to each corresponding jamb 14, 15, 16, 17 and bores 14', 15', 16', 17'; 14", 15", 16", 17" within said jambs 14, 15, 16, 17.

As shown in Fig. 2, thanks to said jambs 14, 15, 16, 16 and bores 14', 15', 16', 17'; 14", 15", 16", 17" and also to protrusions 140, 150, 160, 170 in 140', 150', 160', 170', said straight module 1 can be interconnected either with another linear module 1 and/or with a left-directed module 2 and/or a right-directed module 3 and/or with a podium 4, wherein it is either rest on the ground or supported with supplemental jambs 5, which are analogously like jambs 14, 15, 16, 17 on both end portions furnished with centrally arranged and coaxially to each other extending bores, which can be no doubt understood by those skilled in the art and is therefore not separately shown in the drawings. In this, interconnection between each corresponding modules 1, 2, 3 and/or podiums 4 and/or supporting jambs 5 can then be easily established by means of inserting pins or similar cylindrical or tubular connecting members, which are also not separately shown in the drawings.

As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the right-directed staircase module 3 is formed of three stairs 31, 32, 33, which are arranged at 30° with respect to each other and equidistantly in the usual moving direction upstairs during the use to form all together 90° turn towards the right, wherein each stair 31, 32, 33 comprises a horizontal surface 3 , 32', 33' and a vertical surface 31 ", 32", 33 ". In addition, said stairs 31, 32, 33 are mutually interconnected by means of longitudinal sidewalls 38, 39. Said right-directed with respect to usual position of the module 3 during the use and are arranged in corners of front sidewalls 30', 30", which are in this particular embodiment arranged rectangular with respect to each other. Each of these jambs 34, 35, 36, 37 is on its both end portions furnished with a centrally arranged connecting bore 34', 35', 36', 37'; 34", 35", 36", 37" extending in the longitudinal direction thereof. Moreover, each jamb 34, 35, 36, 37 is furnished with a connecting protrusion 340, 350, 360, 370, which is arranged at least approximately at the level of each neighboring stair 31, 32, 33 and protrudes away from each belonging front surface ^* 38, 39 of the module 3, wherein at the same time each of said protrusions 340, 350, 360, 370 is similarly like each jamb 34, 35, 36, 37 per se furnished with a centrally located bore 340', 350', 360', 370' extending parallel to each corresponding jamb 34, 35, 36, 37 and bores 34', 35', 36', 37'; 34", 35", 36", 37" within said jambs 34, 35, 36, 37.

As shown in Fig. 2, thanks to said jambs 34, 35, 36, 37, said bores 34', 35', 36', 37'; 34", 35", 36", 37" and also to protrusions 340, 350, 360, 370 in 340', 350', 360', 370', such right-oriented module 3 can be then easily interconnected either with a further right-oriented module 3 and/or with a straight module 1 and/or with a left-oriented module 2 and/or with a podium 4, by which it is either rest on the ground or supported with supplemental supporting jambs 5, which are similarly like the jambs 34, 35, 36, 37 on their end portions furnished with coaxially extending and centrally arranged bores, which shall be no doubt understood by those skilled in the art and is of that reason not separately shown in the drawings. As already mentioned, appropriate interconnection between/among each modules 1, 2, 3 and/or podiums 4 and/or supporting jambs 5 can be easily established by means of inserting cylindrical or tubular interconnecting members, e.g. pins or the like, which are not separately shown in the drawings.

As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the left-directed staircase module 2 is formed of three stairs 21, 22, 23, which are arranged at 30° with respect to each other and equidistantly in the usual moving direction upstairs during the use to form all together 90° turn towards the left, wherein each stair 21. 22. 23 eomcrises a horizontal surface 21 ' 22'. 23' and a vertical surface 21", 22", 23". In addition, said stairs 21, 22, 23 are mutually interconnected by means of longitudinal sidewalls 28, 29. Moreover, said left-directed module 2 is furnished with jambs 24, 25, 26, 27, which extend vertically with respect to usual position of the module 2 during the use and are arranged in corners of front sidewalls 20', 20", which are in this particular embodiment arranged rectangular with respect to each other. Each of these jambs 24, 25, 26, 27 is on its both end portions furnished with a centrally arranged connecting bore 24', 25', 26', 27'; 24", 25", 26", 27" extending in the longitudinal direction thereof. Moreover, each jamb 24, 25, 26, 27 is furnished with a connecting protrusion 240, 250, 260, 270, which arranged at least approximately at the level of each neighboring stair 21, 22, 23 and protrudes away from each belonging front surface 28, 29 of the module 2, wherein at the same time each of said protrusions 240, 250, 260, 270 is similarly like each jamb 24, 25, 26, 27 per se furnished with a centrally located bore 240', 250', 260', 270' extending parallel to each corresponding jamb 24, 25, 26, 27 and bores 24', 25', 26', 27 ^* ; 24", 25", 26", 27" within said jambs 24, 25, 26, 27.

As shown in Fig. 2, thanks to said jambs 24, 25, 26, 27, said bores 24', 25', 26', 27'; 24", 25", 26", 27" and also to protrusions 240, 250, 260, 270 in 240 ^* , 250', 260', 270', such left-oriented module 2 can be then easily interconnected either with a further left- oriented module 2 and/or with a straight module 1 and/or with right- oriented module 3 and/or with a podium 4, by which it is either rest on the ground or supported with supplemental supporting jambs 5, which are similarly like the jambs 24, 25, 26, 27 on their end portions furnished with coaxially extending and centrally arranged bores, which shall be no doubt understood by those skilled in the art and is of that reason not separately shown in the drawings. As already mentioned, appropriate interconnection between/among each modules 1, 2, 3 and/or podiums 4 and/or supporting jambs 5 can be easily established by means of inserting cylindrical or tubular interconnecting members, e.g. pins or the like, which are not separately shown in the drawings.

The podium 4 is separately shown in Figs 5 and 6, and essentially formed of a as well as of jambs 44, 45, 46, 47, which are arranged in corners of the podium 4 quite similar like by the other modules 1, 2, 3, and which are each per se furnished with centrally located and longitudinally with respect to each jamb 44, 45, 46, 47 extending bores 44', 45', 46', 47'; 44", 45", 46", 47". Also the podium 4 comprises two front sides 40', 40". The jambs 44, 45, 46, 47 are furnished with interconnecting protrusions 440, 450, 460, 470 protruding away from said front sidewalls 40', 40". Each of said protrusions 440, 450, 460, 470 is furnished with an interconnecting bore 440', 450', 460', 470', by which said podium 4 can be interconnected either with a further podium 4 and/or any one of the modules 1, 2, 3, quite similarly like any of the previously mentioned modules 1, 2, 3.

In top view, each previously mentioned module 1, 2, 3 and also said podium 4 shall preferably be formed as a square, wherein the length of said jambs 14, 15, 16, 17; 24, 25, 26, 27; 34, 35, 36, 37 should at least approximately correspond to the length of the side of said square. The preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the length of the side of said square shall not exceed 80 cm, and shall in particular be determined to approximately 75 cm, by which said modules can be easily transported into each building, where the width of the door opening is approximately 80 cm. In such case, the supporting jambs 5 having the length 60 cm, or a multiplied value of such length, can be simply standardized.

Persons skilled in the art shall further understand that the basic components of modules 1, 2, 3 as well as of the podium 4 may consist of wood and can be interconnected by means of pins, screws, adhesive or in any other manner, which is commonly used in the furniture production. Moreover, it is also obvious that the majority of these components can be unified with respect to dimensions and standardized, so that each of them per se can be used for the purposes of forming different modules 1, 2, 3.