Facing structure for a stair step forward portion

Abstract

A facing structure for a forward portion of steps of the stair comprises a working member made of a resilient material, a horizontal and a vertical fastening members connected to rearward and lower surfaces of the said working member. The thickness H of the working member and the modulus of elasticity E of a resilient material satisfy the relationships: H>h+h 1 , E H×k, where: h—the thickness of a facing material of the horizontal surface of stair steps [m], h 1 —the thickness of the horizontal fastening member [m], k=10 11 [n/m 3 ].

1 . A self-cleaning facing structure adapted to be fixed to an outdoor stair step, said facing structure comprising: 
 a beam-like working member made of a resilient material and having an exposed treading surface adapted to be tread upon by pedestrians:    a horizontal fastening member projecting from a rearward facing surface of the working member; and    a vertical fastening member projecting from a downward facing surface of the working member;    wherein the horizontal and vertical fastening members are integrally formed with the beam-like working member as a single unit;    wherein the horizontal fastening member is adapted to be mounted on a horizontal tread surface of the step, and the vertical fastening member is adapted to be mounted on a vertical tread surface of the step;    wherein the horizontal fastening member is adapted to have a horizontal facing material applied thereon, and the vertical fastening member is adapted to have a vertical facing material applied thereon; and    wherein a modulus of elasticity E of the resilient material of the working member and a thickness H of the working member    satisfy E/H−k, where k is a constant having a value of 1011 Newtons per cubic meter.    
   
   
       2 . The facing structure of  claim 1 , wherein a lower surface of the horizontal fastening member is formed to be flush with a lower surface of the working member.  
   
   
       3 . The facing structure of  claim 1 , wherein the horizontal and vertical fastening members are made of the same resilient material as the working member.  
   
   
       4 . The facing structure of claim I, wherein the horizontal and vertical fastening members are made of a material whose modulus of elasticity is at least an order of magnitude greater than the modulus of elasticity E of the resilient material of the working member.  
   
   
       5 . An outdoor stair step assembly comprising: 
 (i) an outdoor stair step having a horizontal tread surface and a vertical tread surface; and    (ii) a self-cleaning facing structure fixed to the outdoor stair step,    wherein said facing structure comprises: 
 an exposed beam-like working member made of a resilient material;  
 a horizontal fastening member projecting from a rearward facing surface of the working member and mounted on the horizontal tread surface of the outdoor stair step; and  
 a vertical fastening member projecting from a downward facing surface of the working member and mounted on the vertical tread surface of the outdoor stair step;  
 wherein the horizontal and vertical fastening members are integrally formed with the beam-like working member as a single unit;  
   (iii) a horizontal facing material mounted on the horizontal fastening member; and    (iv) a vertical facing material mounted on the vertical fastening member;    wherein a modulus of elasticity F of the resilient material of the working member and a thickness H of the working member satisfy E/H=k, where k is a constant having a value of 1011 Newtons per cubic meter.    
   
   
       6 . The outdoor stair step assembly of  claim 5 , wherein a lower surface of the horizontal fastening member is formed to be flush with a lower surface of the working member.  
   
   
       7 . The outdoor stair step assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the horizontal and vertical fastening members are made of the same resilient material as the working member.  
   
   
       8 . The outdoor stair step assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the horizontal and vertical fastening members are made of a material whose modulus of elasticity is at least an order of magnitude greater than the modulus of elasticity E of the resilient material of the working member.  
   
   
       9 . The outdoor stair step assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the horizontal and vertical fastening members are made of an aluminum alloy.  
   
   
       10 . The outdoor stair step assembly of  claim 5 , wherein holes are provided through the working member.  
   
   
       11 . The outdoor stair step assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the holes have round, square or triangular cross-sections.  
   
   
       12 . The outdoor stair step assembly of  claim 5 , wherein corrugations are formed on the treading surface of the working member.  
   
   
       13 . The outdoor stair step assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the thickness H of the working member is greater than the sum of a thickness h1 of the horizontal fastening member and a thickness h of the horizontal facing material to be applied to the horizontal fastening member.