Stairway construction

Abstract

A device that simulates the presence of a high price stair tread end to provide the appearance of a full stair tread extending outwardly beneath a balustrade's bottom rail, when properly installed, which device has a generally horizontal first upper member, and a generally vertical second lower member, the lower member being disposed within a rear surface recess of the upper member, the upper member being milled on at least one vertical surface.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to a device that simulates the edge of the tread of a step and the trim used with it. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Builders of tract homes want to give the perception of high value in the homes they build; yet they are required to spend only a finite sum of money for a particular price point home. Buyers on the other hand, want the appearance of a higher end home than the price point at which they are purchasing. This is known as perceived value. [0003] In upscale homes the stairs are made with individual treads. These treads extend laterally beyond the risers to underneath the banister and its associated balusters and bottom rail. This lateral extension beyond the riser is about 1.0 inch and the forward extension beyond the riser is about 0.75 inch. See FIGS. 1 and 4. [0004] In many tract and even upscale homes, many buyers prefer not to have “naked” or uncarpeted stairs, but buyers like the look of hardwoods such as maple ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] A simulated stair tread end for attachment to a stairway whose treads are made of lower cost materials, and / or by a lower cost method, and which stair tread end when mounted projects laterally outwardly under the banister and bottom rail of stairway. The device may be made of medium density fiberboard or from hardwood or other wood substitute as may be desired. The device has an upper horizontal portion and a lower vertical portion fastened to each other to form the device which is then nailed into position onto a “stringer”—the saw-toothed plank that forms the basis of the stair set, to simulate the appearance of the tread extending beyond the banister and bottom rail instead of terminating flush with the stringer.

[0009] It is a first object to provide a tread end that is attachable to a low-cost inset construction stair, to create the appearance of the use of individual milled plank stair treads.

[0010] It is a second object to provide an easy to attach stair tread end.

[0012] It is a fourth object to provide a stair tread and under trim for use with low-cost production stairways to create eye appeal.

Problems solved by technology

But due to a builder's costs constraints, rather than use high-priced hardwood as both the tread and riser, lower priced products are used such as pine, medium density fiberboard (MDF), and plywood in low-cost stairway construction.

Thus a dichotomy, in that the problem existed as to how to use lower cost materials and methods to keep the price down but still satisfy the desires of buyers for a high end look.

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