Fixture for joining a handrail

Abstract

A stairway system including a plurality of treads, a handrail including a fastener, and a handrail support. A fixture for joining a handrail having at least two segments.

1 . A stairway system comprising:
 (a) a plurality of spaced apart treads;   (b) a handrail above said treads comprising:
 i) at least two segments, each of the segments having an end wall having a hole formed therein in the surface of the end wall and each of the holes concentrically aligned with the hole in the surface of the end wall in the other segment; and 
 ii) a fastener received by the aligned holes joining said segments; and 
   (c) at least one handrail support.   
   
   
       2 . The stairway system according to  claim 1 , further including a lateral support for supporting said handrail. 
   
   
       3 . The stairway system according to  claim 2 , wherein said lateral support is a newel. 
   
   
       4 . The stairway system according to  claim 3 , wherein one end of said newel is connected to said handrail and the other end of said newel is anchored. 
   
   
       5 . The stairway system according to  claim 4 , wherein said newel is connected to the ends of said handrail. 
   
   
       6 . The stairway system according to  claim 4 , wherein said newel is vertically anchored. 
   
   
       7 . The stairway system according to  claim 6 , wherein said newel is anchored to the floor of the structure. 
   
   
       8 . The stairway system according to  claim 6 , wherein said newel is anchored to at least one tread. 
   
   
       9 . The stairway system according to  claim 6 , wherein said vertically anchored newel includes a bolt and a mounting column. 
   
   
       10 . The stairway system according to  claim 9 , wherein one end of said bolt is a wood screw for attaching to said newel. 
   
   
       11 . The stairway system according to  claim 9 , wherein said mounting column further includes a mounting plate attached to said mounting column. 
   
   
       12 . The stairway system according to  claim 11 , wherein said mounting plate includes a plurality of apertures for receiving fasteners for attaching said plate to the floor of the structure. 
   
   
       13 . The stairway system according to  claim 1 , wherein said spaced apart treads include a foot support surface and means for attaching said foot support surface to the structure. 
   
   
       14 . The stairway system according to  claim 13 , wherein the width of said foot support surface is greater than the depth of said foot support surface. 
   
   
       15 . The stairway system according to  claim 13 , wherein said means for attaching said spaced apart treads to the structure is a stringer. 
   
   
       16 . The stairway system according to  claim 13 , wherein said means for attaching the spaced apart treads to the structure is by wall mounting. 
   
   
       17 . The stairway system according to  claim 1 , wherein said spaced apart treads are spaced at a uniform riser height. 
   
   
       18 . The stairway system according to  claim 17 , wherein said uniform riser height varies between about 6″ and 9″. 
   
   
       19 . The stairway system according to  claim 18 , wherein said uniform riser height is about 7½″. 
   
   
       20 . A stairway system comprising:
 (a) a plurality of spaced apart treads;   (b) a handrail above said treads comprising:
 i) at least two segments, each of the segments having an end wall having a hole formed therein in the surface of the end wall and each of the holes concentrically aligned with the hole in the surface of the end wall of the other segment; 
 ii) a fastener received by the aligned holes joining said segments, said fastener having an axis; and 
 iii) a structure for preventing rotation about said axis of said fastener of one of said segments with respect to another of said segments; and 
   (c) at least one handrail support.   
   
   
       21 . The stairway system according to  claim 20 , wherein said fastener includes at least two portions. 
   
   
       22 . The stairway system according to  claim 21  wherein one of said portions resides in one of said segments. 
   
   
       23 . The stairway system according to  claim 22 , wherein another of said portions resides in said another of said segments. 
   
   
       24 . The stairway system according to  claim 23 , wherein said portions are complementary. 
   
   
       25 . The stairway system according to  claim 20 , wherein said structure is offset from said axis of said fastener. 
   
   
       26 . The stairway system according to  claim 20 , wherein said structure comprises a dowel. 
   
   
       27 . The stairway system according to  claim 20  wherein said structure is hidden. 
   
   
       28 . The stairway system according to  claim 20  wherein said structure comprises an adhesive. 
   
   
       29 . A stairway system comprising:
 (a) a plurality of spaced apart treads;   (b) a handrail above said treads comprising:
 i) at least two segments; 
 ii) a fastener received by the aligned holes for joining said segments, said fastener having an axis; and 
 iii) a structure for preventing rotation about said axis of said fastener of one of said segments with respect to another of said segments; 
   (c) at least one handrail support; and   (d) a lateral support for supporting said handrail.   
   
   
       30 . The stairway system according to  claim 29 , wherein said lateral support is a newel. 
   
   
       31 . The stairway system according to  claim 30 , wherein one end of said newel is connected to said handrail and the other end of said newel is anchored. 
   
   
       32 . The stairway system according to  claim 31 , wherein said newel is connected to the ends of said handrail. 
   
   
       33 . The stairway system according to  claim 31 , wherein said newel is vertically anchored. 
   
   
       34 . The stairway system according to  claim 33 , wherein said newel is anchored to the floor of the structure. 
   
   
       35 . The stairway system according to  claim 31 , wherein said newel is anchored to at least one tread. 
   
   
       36 . The stairway system according to  claim 33 , wherein said vertically anchored newel includes a bolt and a mounting column. 
   
   
       37 . The stairway system according to  claim 36 , wherein one end of said bolt is a wood screw for attaching to said newel. 
   
   
       38 . The stairway system according to  claim 36 , wherein said mounting column further includes a mounting plate attached to said mounting column. 
   
   
       39 . The stairway system according to  claim 38 , wherein said mounting plate includes a plurality of apertures for receiving fasteners for attaching said plate to the floor of the structure. 
   
   
       40 . The stairway system according to  claim 29 , wherein said spaced apart treads include a foot support surface and means for attaching said foot support surface to the structure. 
   
   
       41 . The stairway system according to  claim 40 , wherein the width of said foot support surface is greater than the depth of said foot support surface. 
   
   
       42 . The stairway system according to  claim 40 , wherein said means for attaching said spaced apart treads to the structure is a stringer. 
   
   
       43 . The stairway system according to  claim 40 , wherein said means for attaching the spaced apart treads to the structure is by wall mounting. 
   
   
       44 . The stairway system according to  claim 29 , wherein said spaced apart treads are spaced at a uniform riser height. 
   
   
       45 . The stairway system according to  claim 44 , wherein said uniform riser height varies between about 6″ and 9″. 
   
   
       46 . The stairway system according to  claim 45 , wherein said uniform riser height is about 7½″. 
   
   
       47 . The stairway system according to  claim 29 , wherein said fastener includes at least two portions. 
   
   
       48 . The stairway system according to  claim 47  wherein one of said portions resides in one of said segments. 
   
   
       49 . The stairway system according to  claim 48 , wherein another of said portions resides in said another of said segments. 
   
   
       50 . The stairway system according to  claim 49 , wherein said portions are complementary. 
   
   
       51 . The stairway system according to  claim 29 , wherein said structure is offset from said axis of said fastener. 
   
   
       52 . The stairway system according to  claim 29 , wherein said structure comprises a dowel. 
   
   
       53 . The stairway system according to  claim 29  wherein said structure is hidden. 
   
   
       54 . The stairway system according to  claim 29  wherein said structure comprises an adhesive. 
   
   
       55 . A fixture for aiding the construction of a handrail formed from at least two segments, each of the segments having an end wall to be aligned with the hole in the surface of the end wall in the other segment, the fixture comprising:
 (a) an aligner for receiving an end of one segment and subsequently an end of the other segment; and   (b) a base connected to the distal end of the aligner for receiving a hole forming device, whereby a hole is formed therein in the surface of the end wall of each of the segments and each of the holes are concentrically aligned with the hole in the surface of the end wall in the other segment.   
   
   
       56 . The fixture according to  claim 55 , further including a take-up mechanism for securely positioning the end wall of a segment adjacent to the surface of the base prior to forming a hole therein. 
   
   
       57 . The fixture according to  claim 56 , wherein the take-up mechanism is connected to the base of the fixture. 
   
   
       58 . The fixture according to  claim 57  wherein the take-up mechanism includes an aperture in the base for inserting a fastener to engage the end wall of a segment. 
   
   
       59 . The fixture according to  claim 56  wherein the take-up mechanism includes a clamp device. 
   
   
       60 . The fixture according to  claim 59  wherein the clamp device includes a compressor. 
   
   
       61 . The fixture according to  claim 60  wherein the compressor is selected from the group including screws, cams, elastic chords, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       62 . A fixture for aiding the construction of a handrail formed from at least two segments, each of the segments having an end wall to be aligned with the hole in the surface of the end wall in the other segment, the fixture comprising:
 (a) an aligner for receiving the end of first one segment and subsequently the end of the other segment; and   (b) a base connected to the distal end of the aligner, the base having a wear resistant bushing for receiving a hole forming device, whereby a hole is formed therein in the surface of the end wall of each of the segments and each of the holes are concentrically aligned with the hole in the surface of the end wall in the other segment.   
   
   
       63 . A fixture according to  claim 62  wherein the base includes a substantially planar surface. 
   
   
       64 . A fixture according to  claim 63  wherein the planar surface includes a portion generally conforming to the cross section of the end wall of each of the segments. 
   
   
       65 . A fixture according to  claim 62  wherein the bushing is formed from a wear resistant metal. 
   
   
       66 . A fixture according to  claim 62  wherein the bushing is removable from the base. 
   
   
       67 . A fixture according to  claim 66  further including an axial clamp for removably retaining the bushing in the base. 
   
   
       68 . A fixture according to  claim 67  wherein the axial clamp includes a thumbscrew. 
   
   
       69 . A fixture according to  claim 62  wherein the aligner is configured to substantially surround an end of the segment. 
   
   
       70 . A fixture according to  claim 69  wherein the aligner includes a receiving opening having a depth measured from an end of the aligner to the base and is configured to receive a segment having a height measured from a bottom surface of the segment to a top surface. 
   
   
       71 . A fixture according to  claim 70  wherein the ratio of the depth to the height is between about 1½ to 1 and about ½ to 1½. 
   
   
       72 . A fixture according to  claim 62  further wherein the aligner includes a resilient member for positioning the segment within the aligner. 
   
   
       73 . A fixture according to  claim 72  wherein the resilient member includes a flexible arm. 
   
   
       74 . A fixture according to  claim 72  wherein the resilient member includes an inner wall coating. 
   
   
       75 . A fixture according to  claim 72  wherein the resilient member includes an elastic band. 
   
   
       76 . A fixture according to  claim 62  wherein the fixture is configured to receive both a straight segment and a segment having a radius of curvature between about 6½ and about 9½ inches. 
   
   
       77 . A fixture for aiding the construction of a handrail formed from at least two segments, each of the segments having an end wall to be aligned with the hole in the surface of the end wall in the other segment, the fixture comprising:
 (a) an aligner for receiving the end of first one segment and subsequently the end of the other segment;   (b) a base connected to the distal end of the aligner, the base having a wear resistant bushing for receiving a hole forming device, whereby a hole is formed therein in the surface of the end wall of each of the segments and each of the holes are concentrically aligned with the hole in the surface of the end wall in the other segment; and.   (c) a take-up mechanism for securely positioning the end wall of a segment adjacent to the surface of the base prior to forming a hole therein.