System to deter external climbing of open stairs
OwnerRichard B. Murphy, Barbara H. Murphyinventors
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Abstract
The present invention provides a guard which is a surface that is adapted for mounting over the open end of the tread of a step of an open stairway such that when associated with a stairway: the exposed area of the OTEP is reduced. The present invention further provides for a retention means to maintain stable association of the guard with the stairway. The present invention further comprises kits comprising one or more guards, one or more retention means and instructions for use.
Claims15
An apparatus for association with an open stairway, the open stairway comprising a balustrade and one or more open end treads wherein at least one of the open-end treads has an open tread end protrusion (OTEP), the OTEP having an exposed upper surface, the apparatus comprising:
- a guard configured to be mounted to the open stairway, the guard having an upper edge, a lower edge, a leading edge and a trailing edge, wherein the guard is capable of being removed from the open stairway and does not comprise a structural element of the open stairway,
- wherein the guard comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion being movably attached to the lower portion via a hinge, the lower portion of the guard comprising a downward extending element and a transverse element extending from the inner surface of the guard, the transverse element being substantially perpendicular to the downward extending portion of the lower portion, wherein when the guard is mounted to the stairway the inner surface of the downward extending element is in contact with the outer edge of the tread and the lower surface of the transverse element is in contact with the upper leading edge of the tread, and
- a retention means, the retention means configured to maintain the upper edge of the guard in stable association with the balustrade of the open stairway,
- wherein when the guard is maintained in stable association with the open stairway by employment of the guard retention means, and the upper edge of the upper portion of the guard is in contact with the balustrade at a point above the OTEP of at least one tread and the lower edge of the guard extends below the OTEP of at least one tread such that external access to the exposed upper surface of at least one OTEP is reduced.
An apparatus for association with an open stairway, the open stairway comprising a balustrade and one or more open end treads wherein at least one of the open-end treads has an open tread end protrusion (OTEP), the OTEP having an exposed upper surface, the apparatus comprising:
- a guard configured to be mounted to the open stairway, the guard having an upper edge, a lower edge, a leading edge and a trailing edge, wherein the guard is capable of being removed from the open stairway and does not comprise a structural element of the open stairway, and
- a retention means, the retention means configured to maintain the upper edge of the guard in stable association with the balustrade of the open stairway,
- wherein when the guard is maintained in stable association with the open stairway by employment of the guard retention means, and the upper edge of the guard is in contact with the balustrade at a point above the OTEP of at least one tread and the lower edge of the guard extends below the OTEP of at least one tread such that external access to the exposed upper surface of at least one OTEP is reduced,
- the apparatus further comprising an alarm system, the alarm system comprising a comprising a transmitter to wirelessly broadcast an electromagnetic signal to a remote device, one or more pressure sensitive switches and a power supply in electrical communication with the switch and the transmitter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.