(19)
(11) EP 2 141 301 A1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION
published in accordance with Art. 153(4) EPC

(43) Date of publication:
06.01.2010 Bulletin 2010/01

(21) Application number: 08736708.2

(22) Date of filing: 26.02.2008
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
E04F 11/02(2006.01)
(86) International application number:
PCT/ES2008/000106
(87) International publication number:
WO 2008/116944 (02.10.2008 Gazette 2008/40)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

(30) Priority: 26.03.2007 ES 200700653 U

(71) Applicant: Cerámicas Hijos De F.Moratal, S.A.
46720 Villalonga (ES)

(72) Inventor:
  • MORATAL PELLICER, Fernando
    E-46720 Villalonga (ES)

(74) Representative: Ungria Lopez, Javier et al
Avda. Ramón y Cajal, 78
28043 Madrid
28043 Madrid (ES)

   


(54) STRUCTURAL STEP


(57) The step comprises a general configuration with an external outline profile in a triangle-rectangle shape wherein the hypotenuse coincides with the major support face, the major cathetus with the horizontal face and the minor cathetus with the vertical face, and is characterized in that the major support face (1) of a step includes fastening elements complemented during stacking, by other major support face (1) fastening elements of another identical step. This results in the stable stacking of pairs of steps in contact through their major faces and forms a prismatic block predetermined by said two identical steps, thus providing advantages for their handling, both in the manufacturing process and during transport and assembly.




Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION



[0001] As stated in the title of this descriptive specification, the following invention relates to a structural step intended for the formation of stairs which substantially improves the existing steps, achieving advantages for their handling, both in the manufacturing process and during transport and assembly.

[0002] Improvements are also achieved in the adhesion to the construction base material, essentially concrete, used to create the stairs, as well as speed in the construction of the stairs with less weight, furthermore increasing the level of general safety of the work on account of rapidly eliminating the ramps prior to construction of the stairs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION



[0003] Stairs are currently known among which can be highlighted those that are of the type such as are to be found in Utility Model No. 160356, relating to a piece for the formation of steps where a modular step is protected with a finish for the support face formed by two flat surfaces, which does not permit its stable stacking for its storage both during manufacture and also during transport.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION



[0004] With the aim of achieving the objectives and avoiding the drawbacks mentioned in the above sections, the invention proposes a structural step which in principle presents a profile with a triangle rectangle shape, the hypotenuse of which corresponds to the major face for support and attachment by means of mortar or other materials, on the inclined plane of a ramp for the formation of a stair. So, the hypotenuse corresponds to the inclined face, while the sides or cathetuses of that profile in the form of a triangle rectangle will correspond to the vertical and horizontal faces of the step.

[0005] Starting from this premise, the structural step is characterized in that the said support face includes male and/or female elements which are complemented with the male and/or female elements of the support face of another paired structural step in order to permit the stacking of pairs of steps via their support faces in contact.

[0006] The tongue and grooved coupling of the male and/or female elements between pairs of steps permits a completely stable stacking which will facilitate the ordered stacking of various layers of pairs of steps, unlike in conventional steps of this type in which this characteristic stacking is not possible.

[0007] In particular, the male and female elements comprise a curved profile.

[0008] In another embodiment, the male and female elements comprise an angular profile, whose faces are parallel to the major and minor sides of the profile in the form of a triangle rectangle of the structural steps of the invention.

[0009] The vertical and horizontal faces of the structural step include grooves for achieving a better deposition of the fastening material and also for achieving a better fastening of the floor tiles attached to those faces.

[0010] Below, in order to facilitate a better understanding of this descriptive specification and forming an integral part thereof, some figures are attached in which the object of the invention has been represented by way of illustration and non-limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS



[0011] 

Figure 1.- Shows a profile view of two structural steps, the object of the invention. They are located facing each other via their major support faces.

Figure 2.- Shows another view similar to the above.

Figure 3.- Shows a view of the stacking of the steps of the invention.

Figure 4.- Shows a view of a section of stair with the steps of the invention.


DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED FORM OF EMBODIMENT



[0012] Considering the numbering adopted in the figures, the structural step is defined starting from a body with an exterior profile in the form of a triangle rectangle, whose hypotenuse corresponds to the major inclined support face 1, the major side or cathetus with the horizontal face 2 and the minor side or cathetus with the front or vertical face 3.

[0013] The major face 1 of a structural step includes ribs 4, 4' and/or channels 5, 5', which run along the entire width of the step and are complemented with other ribs and/or channels of another step in order to permit the stacking of pairs of steps with their major faces in contact, in such a way that by joining two steps via their major faces we will obtain a prismatic block array formed by two pieces that permit a stable stacking of numerous structural steps, both during manufacture and during transport, thereby making maximum use of the available space.

[0014] In one embodiment, the ribs 4 and channels 5 of the major faces of the steps present a curved structure. In this embodiment, at least one of the two faces in contact during the stacking includes some curved slots 10 in the straight sections which improve the stacking even more if possible.

[0015] In another embodiment, the ribs 4' and channels 5' of the major faces 1 of the respective steps present an angular structure, whose arms are parallel to the horizontal 2 and vertical 3 faces of the steps, with the two arms being joined together in turn by means of a rounded vertex 6. The slots 10 can also be incorporated into this embodiment.

[0016] The step is formed internally by a crisscrossing of partitions 7 though it could have any other structure, and it could even be solid.

[0017] Moreover, the vertices of the step are truncated or finished with a rounded shape.

[0018] The horizontal 2 and vertical 3 faces of the structural step of the invention incorporate grooves 8 and 9 which facilitate the gripping of mortar in order to then fasten the floor tiles, and also facilitating the gripping of the latter.


Claims

1. Structural step, which, comprising a general configuration with an external outline profile in a triangle-rectangle shape wherein the hypotenuse coincides with the major support face, the major cathetus with the horizontal face and the minor cathetus with the vertical face, is characterized in that the major support face (1) of a step includes fastening elements complemented during stacking by other fastening elements of the major support face (1) of another paired step, thus ensuring the stacking of pairs of steps that are in contact stably through their major faces forming a prismatic block predetermined by those two pairs of steps.
 
2. Structural step, according to claim 1, characterized in that the fastening elements comprise male elements and female elements which fit into each other during the stacking.
 
3. Structural step, according to claim 2, characterized in that the male and female elements respectively comprise ribs and channels running along the entire width of the structural steps.
 
4. Structural step, according to claim 3, characterized in that the ribs (4) and channels (5) present a curved profile.
 
5. Structural step, according to claim 3, characterized in that the ribs (4') and channels (5') present an angular profile, whose arms are parallel to the horizontal (2) and vertical (3) faces of the steps.
 
6. Structural step, according to claim 5, characterized in that the vertices where the arms of the ribs (4') and channels (5') join together present a rounded profile (6).
 
7. Structural step, according to any of the above claims, characterized in that the major support face (1) is determined by a single plane interrupted at least by the fastening elements.
 
8. Structural step, according to any of the above claims, characterized in that at least some of the major support faces (1) incorporate slots (10) located in the straight sections limited by two consecutive fastening elements.
 




Drawing
















Search report










Cited references

REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

Patent documents cited in the description