Modular step system and method for manufacture
AssigneePacific Industries, Inc.
InventorJames Favaron
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A step system for swimming pools comprises a unitary stair module including a stair shell formed of plastic sheet material and a plurality of elongated rigidizing members which are encapsulated within the plastic sheet material of the stair shell, and support braces for supporting the unitary stair module. A method of manufacturing the unitary stair module of the step system is disclosed and comprises encapsulating each of the rigidizing members in the plastic sheet material of the stair shell by vacuum forming.
Claims25
A step system for a structure, comprising:
- a unitary stair module defining a plurality of longitudinal steps, including a stair shell formed of plastic sheet material defining a plurality of step treads, and a plurality of elongated rigidizing members having a substantially planar upper surface substantially coextensive with a transverse dimension of said step tread, said plastic sheet material partially encapsulating each of said rigidizing members such that said plastic sheet material follows said upper surface substantially across the entire transverse dimension of said step tread, and
- support means for supporting said stair module at an underside of said steps in a fixed position relative to the structure.
A unitary stair module defining a plurality of longitudinal steps, comprising
- a stair shell formed of plastic sheet material defining a plurality of step treads, and
- a plurality of elongated rigidizing members having a substantially planar upper surface substantially coextensive with a transverse dimension of said step tread, said plastic sheet material partially encapsulating each of said rigidizing members to define said plurality of longitudinal steps such that said plastic sheet material follows said upper surface substantially across the entire transverse dimension of said step tread.
A step system for a structure, comprising:
- a unitary stair module defining a plurality of longitudinal steps, including a stair shell formed of plastic sheet material defining a plurality of step treads, and a plurality of elongated rigidizing members, each rigidizing member being partially encapsulated within said plastic sheet material of a respective one of said step treads, and extending substantially coextensively therewith;
- and
- support means for supporting said stair module at an underside of said steps in a fixed position relative to the structure,
- each of said rigidizing members comprising a channel member having a web portion having a transverse dimension substantially coextensive with the transverse dimension of a step tread, said web of each of said rigidizing members having a pattern of alternating ridges and valleys, and said plastic sheet material of a corresponding step tread following said pattern of ridges and valleys to define a non-slip surface for said step tread.
A unitary stair module defining a plurality of longitudinal steps, comprising a stair shell formed of plastic sheet material defining a plurality of step treads, and a plurality of elongated rigidizing members, each rigidizing member being partially encapsulated within said plastic sheet material of a respective one of said step treads and extending substantially coextensive therewith to define said plurality of longitudinal steps,
- each of said rigidizing members comprising a channel member having a web portion having a transverse dimension which is substantially coextensive with the transverse dimension of a step tread, said web of each of said rigidizing members having a pattern of alternating ridges and valleys, and said plastic sheet material of a corresponding step tread follows said pattern of ridges and valleys to define a non-slip surface for said step tread.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.