FIELD OF APPLICATION

The present invention relates to a prefabricated covering element adapted to be applied to existing or newly built steps, being part of staircases or other similar constructions that place in communication different levels of buildings.

The covering element according to the invention was designed to solve problems connected with the deterioration of existing manufactured articles but also for covering newly built staircases, making it quick and easy to perform finishing operations on flights of stairs or the like.

The solution proposed by the present invention relates to a covering system for existing or newly built steps with variable risers and treads, to be used in particular for remodernising existing staircases without the need to remove the old steps.

More in particular, the covering element according to the invention is made to be adapted to different measurements of risers and treads of the steps without having to modify the measurements of the covering itself.

The present invention is advantageously applied in the building sector and in particular in the area of maintenance of steps of staircases of old but also new construction.

PRIOR ART

It is known that multi-storey buildings are provided with flights of staircases of which the steps, over the years, get worn due to treading or even because of deterioration of various kinds due to use or, on the other hand, abandonment like, especially in the case of flights of staircases located outdoor, due to atmospheric agents or thermal expansions caused by sudden temperature changes or the like.

More generally, a fundamental drawback comes from the fact that the covering slabs of the steps of staircases must be made to measure each time, both in relation to the height and to the available space, although the walkable surface of each step and its height must have substantially standard measurements.

For example, it is known that for making a staircase the steps must have a vertical height or distance, or riser, between them that is preferably close to 17 centimetres, whereas the depth, or tread, of each slab in the sense of the extension of the staircase, is preferably close to 30 centimetres.

By widening the range of standardised measurements in the building sector the tread may be comprised on average between 25 and 34 centimetres, whereas the riser can assume average values comprised between 16 and 19 centimetres.

It can therefore be understood that a staircase can be made according to a specific design and embodiment and therefore the main drawback both for renovation and for new construction is the one related to a substantial cost to be sustained, as the elements that compose it must be designed and built differently every time, according to specific needs.

Likewise, it can be observed that the modernisation of staircases is a very problematic and expensive operation, as the necessary operations would imply the removal of the existing covering, historically made of stone, with big problems relating to the accessibility to the flats during the work stages and very expensive site operations.

For these reasons, flat blocks are found with flats that have been re-modernised but that depreciate because of old common staircases that require redevelopment operations.

The covering element according to the present invention makes it possible to see to the re-modernisation of staircases without having to face the cost of removing existing steps, with a solution that can be adapted to different risers and treads also within the context of the staircase itself, without having to change the measurement of the actual covering.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this situation, the technical task underpinning the present invention is that of designing a system for the restoration or installation ex-novo of the steps of a staircase that can substantially overcome the mentioned drawbacks through the use of prefabricated covering elements that can be substantially made in series by companies in the industry, therefore at contained cost.

The invention sets out in particular to provide a prefabricated covering element adapted to be applied to existing or newly built steps, being part of staircases or other similar constructions that place in communication different levels of buildings.

Another object of the invention is that of proposing a covering element for existing steps with variable risers and treads, to be used for remodernising existing staircases without the need to remove the old steps. This is obtained through a covering element for existing steps with variable riser and tread, the characteristics of which are described in claim 1.

The dependent claims of the solution in question outline advantageous embodiments of the invention.

The main advantages of this solution relate to the fact that for redeveloping old existing staircases that may also have different shapes, prefabricated covering elements are used that are simple to make and that can be directly assembled in situ.

Such prefabricated covering elements are composed of the assembly, through appropriate specific glues, of slabs made of stone or composite material, such as stoneware, porcelain stoneware or similar materials. According to one embodiment, the slabs may be connected through metal corner profiles, preferably made of steel, which are made to adhere mutually to each other using relevant glues or adhesives or the like.

A further advantage offered by the invention is that according to which it is possible also for new buildings to use the prefabricated element according to the invention, which is installed directly on top of the unfinished structure of the staircase.

ILLUSTRATION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from reading the following description of an embodiment of the invention provided by way of non limiting example, with the aid of the drawings illustrated in the appended tables of drawings, in which: figure 1 represents a diagram highlighting the possible adaptation ranges of covering elements for steps according to the invention; figures 2, 3 and 4 illustrate schematic views highlighting the same number of possible configurations of an existing staircase to which covering elements for steps according to the invention are applied; figure 5 shows a schematic sectional view of a staircase with steps covered with covering elements according to the invention; figures 6 and 7 represent schematic sectional views of components for the covering of the head of a step and of a skirting board, respectively, figure 8 represents a schematic and axonometric view of a staircase covered with covering elements for steps according to the invention; figure 9 shows a sectional view on the vertical plane of a staircase of new buildings the steps of which are covered with covering elements according to the invention, which are installed directly on the unfinished structure of the staircase.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the appended figures, and initially in particular to the diagram of figure 1, 10 generally indicates an existing step, which having been subjected to mechanical strain or also due to neglect, needs to be treated so as to bring it back to the original conditions, at least with regard to its appearance.

According to the invention, for restoring existing steps 10, prefabricated covering elements 11 are used, which are simple to make and can be directly installed in situ. Such prefabricated covering elements 11 are composed of the assembly of slabs of stone or composite material, such as stoneware, which are connected to one another using specific adhesives, forming a single element. According to other embodiments, the slabs are made of wood or similar materials and are connected to one another through metal corner profiles, preferably made of steel, which are made to adhere mutually to each other using relevant glues or adhesives.

More in particular, each covering element 11 is composed of a first rear vertical riser slab 12 the bottom edge of which is associated with a horizontal tread slab 13, the edge of which opposite the preceding and parallel thereto, is in turn associated with a second front vertical riser slab 14.

According to the invention, the second front vertical slab 14 associated with said horizontal slab 13 is arranged on the opposite edge with respect to the edge on which said first rear vertical slab 12 is arranged, the height of said second front vertical slab 14 being lower than that of said first rear vertical slab 12 so that, in situ, the second front vertical slab 14 partially surmounts the first rear vertical slab 12 of an adjacent covering element 11.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the rear vertical 12 and front riser 14 slabs are made having a height measurement that covers a range A of steps with risers of different measurements.

Likewise, according to an embodiment of the invention, the horizontal tread slab 13 is manufactured according to a depth measurement that covers a range B of steps with treads of different measurements.

From the operating point of view, it is envisaged that the covering elements 11 are made in a single riser and tread measurement calculated for the installation of steps of different measurements both of the riser and the tread, in order to satisfy most of the customer requests.

By way of example, the following measurements have been calculated for the three components of the covering elements: 75 mm for the slab forming the front riser 14, 300 mm for the slab forming the tread 13 and 112 mm for the slab forming the rear riser 12.

According to a further embodiment represented in figures 5 and 9, for the join between the two risers 12 and 14 and the common tread 13, corner profiles 15 can be used, made of metal material, preferably steel or the like, which are made to adhere mutually to each other through adhesives of an appropriate nature according to the materials used.

For the installation of the covering elements 11 two methods of use are envisaged: for redeveloping old existing staircases and for installation on existing steps and on unfinished elements of new buildings.

In the first case, for redeveloping old existing staircases it will be sufficient to ascertain the stability of the existing step 10, therefore to see to spreading a layer of adhesive material, in particular on the tread of the step, and the subsequent installation of the covering element 11 made according to the procedures described above.

In the second case, also for new buildings, it is possible to use the covering elements 11 that are installed directly on the unfinished structure of the steps of the staircase. In this case, covering elements provided with a larger thickness and self-supporting structure according to the invention can be used. During the installation of the covering elements 11 a front vertical slab 14 of a covering element is arranged in order to externally surmount a rear vertical slab 12 of an underlying covering element, so as to create an aesthetically pleasant visual effect with the same characteristics as a new original step.

This configuration of covering elements 11 is particularly suitable for the application thereof under particular conditions such as those illustrated in figures 3 and 4, in the first of which there is an undercut with a trend turned to the inside towards the lower part, whereas in the second each tread projects a certain amount towards the outside.

In both cases the covering elements 11 satisfy the need to perfectly cover steps also of different measurements, obtaining the same effect as a newly built staircase.

According to the embodiment represented in figures 5, 8 and 9, the use is envisaged of further components 16 that can be used in cases of covering for reaching the landing, as well as covering components 17 that can be used in cases of covering for starting from the landing.

Other covering components 18 for the head of the step and covering components 19 for the skirting board are also envisaged.

As it is possible to note, the covering element according to the invention is made to be adapted to different riser and tread measurements of both existing steps and new and unfinished ones, without having to modify the covering element itself.

The invention has been described in the foregoing with reference to a preferential embodiment thereof. However it is clear that the invention is susceptible to numerous variants which fall within the scope thereof, and which are technically equivalent.