Foot tread and method of assembling same

Abstract

A stair tread comprising a tread center manufactured from a plurality of elongated wood members. Each elongated wood member receives a lamination of higher quality wood which is glued to each elongated wood member. The elongated wood members are then edge glued to form a tread body. A nose member is attached to leading edge of the tread body and is manufactured from a single unbroken piece of high-quality wood. Additionally, a heel member manufactured from a single unbroken piece of higher quality wood is attached to the rear edge of the tread body. A side member manufactured from higher quality wood may be positioned adjacent each edge of the tread body as well.

1 . A stair tread comprising;
 a tread center having a top surface made from a lower quality wood having a leading edge and a rear edge;   an elongated heel member made from a high-quality wood attached to the rear edge of the tread center;   an elongated wooden nose member made from a higher quality wood attached to the leading edge of the tread center; and   a lamination of higher quality wood extending over the top surface of the tread center.   
   
   
       2 . The stair tread of  claim 1  wherein the nose member and heel member each have an edge and an upper surface; and in which the lamination abuts the edge adjacent the upper surface. 
   
   
       3 . The stair tread of  claim 2  in which the tread center has a first thickness and the lamination has a second thickness and in which the second thickness is less than 30% of the first thickness. 
   
   
       4 . The tread center of  claim 3  in which the nose member and the heel member have a third thickness and in which the third thickness equals the sum of the first and second thicknesses. 
   
   
       5 . The stair tread of  claim 2  in which the nose member, heel member and tread member define a pair of edges and in which a solid wood side is attached to at least one of the edges. 
   
   
       6 . The stair tread of  claim 5  in which a solid wood side is attached to both of the side edges. 
   
   
       7 . The stair tread of  claim 2  in which the lamination, heel member and nose member are manufactured of the same material. 
   
   
       8 . The stair tread of  claim 2  in which the heel member is a solid unbroken piece of higher quality wood. 
   
   
       9 . The stair tread of  claim 8  in which the tread center further comprises a plurality of elongated wood members, each having a width and an edge and in which the edges adjacent elongated wood members are attached. 
   
   
       10 . The stair tread of  claim 9  in which each lamination has a width equal to the width of the associated elongated wooden member of the tread center. 
   
   
       11 . The stair tread of  claim 10  in which the tread center is made from at least three elongated wooden members. 
   
   
       12 . The stair tread of  claim 11  in which the heel member has a width equal to at least 40% of the width of the smallest width elongated wooden member. 
   
   
       13 . The stair tread of  claim 12  in which each elongated wooden member has an equal width and in which the heel member has a width equal to said equal width. 
   
   
       14 . The stair tread as defined in  claim 11  in which the elongated wood members and laminations are joined to form a tread body and in which the nose member and heel members are joined to the tread body. 
   
   
       15 . The stair tread of  claim 2  in which the elongated wooden members are attached to one another and in which each of the nose member and heel member are attached to one another by a joint consisting of one from the group of butt joint, lap joint, dowel pin joint, zigzag joint and tongue and groove joint. 
   
   
       16 . The stair tread of  claim 15  in which all joint in the stair tread are the same. 
   
   
       17 . The stair tread of  claim 2  further comprising a bottom lamination of higher quality wood and in which the stair tread has a bottom surface and in which the bottom lamination of higher quality wood is secured to the bottom surface of the stair tread.