Method and apparatus for forming curved handrails

Abstract

An on-site fabrication method has been devised for compound bending of laminated wooden beam members into a handrail for curved or spiral stairways in which upstanding supports are positioned at intervals along the path of intended curvature on the stairway, the strips are assembled together in juxtaposed relation to one another and retained by leveling brackets on the support members whereby to prevent twisting of the beam members when a lateral force is applied, clamping the beam members together against each support member and permitting the beam members to be cured into a unitary rail section. In the preferred apparatus, right angle brackets are anchored to the tread portions with upstanding support members or legs disposed along the path of intended curvature, channel-shaped brackets are associated with the right angle brackets to apply pressure to the top and bottom surfaces of the beam members, and C-clamps apply a laterally directed pressure to clamp the beam members firmly against a closed end of each channel-shaped bracket and vertical leg of each right angle bracket.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.