Staircase protective step cover and or replacement step

Abstract

A protective step cover that is both functional, decorative, and the versatility of protecting and or replacing the steps, rectangular in configuration, the top having a horizontal surface with grooves formed into the plastic for traction, the front and rear having a flat vertical surface, the bottom having a flat horizontal surface on each side of the parallel radius drip edges for eliminating moisture, with an open center section for detachably attached to said steps; and brackets, rectangular in configuration, the top having a flat horizontal supporting surface, the front and rear having a flat vertical surface, the bottom having a flat horizontal surface on each side of an open center section for allowing access, the sides having holes for attaching bolts through bracket to the supporting structure, for providing brackets for the protective step cover detachably attached to said brackets to replace the steps in their entirety.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention relates to exterior staircase steps, specifically to such steps which are used on two, three, and four stories, apartment houses, condominiums, industrial, and commercial buildings.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to an exterior staircase that comprises, of a supporting structure, a flight of stairs, and a handrail. This type of staircase are commonly used on two, three and four stories, apartment houses, condominiums, industrial and commercial buildings, and are still the most commonly used today. The recurring problem that exists year after year is the deterioration of the concrete pre-cast steps and its attaching metal plates deteriorating steps are often left in the staircase until the surface is deteriorated, cracking, and steel reinforcement is showing, and becomes a dangerous liability. This is often the case due to the cost of replacing of just one step; it has become the trend to wait until more steps need re...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]It is another object of the invention to provide a protective step c

Problems solved by technology

The recurring problem that exists year after year is the deterioration of the concrete pre-cast steps and its attaching metal plates deteriorating steps are often left in the staircase until the surface is deteriorated, cracking, and steel reinforcement is showing, and becomes a dangerous liability.

These type of steps deteriorate over a very short time and are inherently unstable, as a result of impact, ultraviolet rays, freeze and thaw, salt and other harmful chemicals, and are difficult to replace, to one that is not skilled in the profession of structural fabrication and electrical welding of metals or one skilled in concrete construction.

These types of staircases are manufactured at the time of the initial construction of the building, and access is not a problem, at once the construction process is complete, access to the underneath of the staircase can be extremely difficult.

These steps are prohibitively expensive to the consumer.

Concrete pre-cast and metal pan steps are elevated and cannot sustain a hard impact, the result of a hard impact fractures the concrete surface allowing moisture to enter in the fractured concrete, deteriorating the concrete and reinforcement, also if it fractures through to the underneath of the step, the moisture will deteriorate the attaching metal plates that support the step to the supporting structure.

This results in failure of the step and becomes detached from the supporting structure.

These type of staircase steps cannot eliminate the moisture collecting underneath the steps allowing the moisture to hang underneath the step deteriorating the step until the moisture can evaporate into the air or on a wintry cold evening it will eventually become frozen, turning into ice, expanding, causing the step fracture to separate, weakening the step, reinforcement and its attaching plates.

Once summer approaches, the steps then contract adding opposite stress to the step, plates, pan, and supporting structure, from the constant expansion and contraction, eventually deteriorating the entire supporting structure.

This will result in a total replacement of the staircase.

Exterior staircase steps, that have to withstand vigorous winter months have a much higher rate of deterioration, once the concrete is fractured, deteriorating step and metal attaching plates, since the steps were rather permanent nature, the buildings maintenance crews would attempt to caulk the fractures with silicones, epoxy, paint, plaster, which is not effective.

Repairs that are attempted using silicones, epoxies, and plasters are repaired over the fractures, and deteriorated areas, making the surfaces uneven and difficult to walk up and down the staircase, and a high risk of liability.

Silicones, epoxies, plasters, paint, have the tendency to crack, peel, curl upward, and in a very short time, allowing moisture to re-enter.

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