Method, Component and Structure for Constructing a Dual-Use Staircase

Abstract

A method of converting a traditional staircase into a dual-use staircase, for reducing the stepping height and knee stress in stairs climbing and descending, comprises: providing a plurality of lifting modules and a plurality of extending modules; connecting the plurality of lifting and extending modules in pairs to the original steps respectively; and optionally connecting a plurality of dividers in between said lifting and extending modules respectively. The dual-use staircase structure reduces the step rise by half, while keeping the total run about the same. It allows healthy people to walk in a full-step domain, while allowing people with knee concerns to walk on a half-step domain. The dual-use staircase may include dividers with lateral openings to facilitate reverse turning halfway during ascending or descending of the staircase.

1 . A method of converting a traditional staircase into a dual-use staircase, the traditional staircase having a plurality of N original steps, each original step having a first tread, a first depth and a first height, comprising:
 raising a first portion of the first tread for a first raised height and thus forming a first adjusted tread of the ith original step, for i=1 to N−1;   extending a second portion of the first tread outwards for a first extended depth and thus forming a second adjusted tread of the jth original step, for j=1 to N; wherein   said first adjusted treads being lined up and forming a first array of stepping surfaces;   said second adjusted treads being lined up and forming a second array of stepping surfaces; and   the first array being adjacent to the second array.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 raising an adjacent portion of a stepping surface of a lower-level floor for a second raised height; wherein   the adjacent portion being adjacent to the first adjusted tread;   the second raised height being within 35% to 65% of the first height of the first original step; and   the first raised height of the ith original step being within 35% to 65% of the first height of the (i+1)th original step; wherein   0<i<N.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein
 the first extended depth of the jth original step being within 35% to 65% of the first depth of the (j−1)th original step; wherein   0<j<N+1.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein
 the step of forming the second adjusted tread including disposing another tread partially overlapping the first tread and extending outwards for the first extended depth.   
     
     
         5 . A method of converting a traditional staircase into a dual-use staircase, the traditional staircase having a plurality of original steps, each original step having a first tread, a first depth and a first height, comprising:
 providing a plurality of lifting modules for connecting to the original steps respectively, wherein each lifting module having a second height less than the first height;   providing a plurality of extending modules for connecting to the original steps respectively, wherein each extending module having a third height matching the first height within a 5% tolerance and having a third depth less than the first depth; and   connecting the plurality of lifting and extending modules in pairs to the original steps respectively.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein
 each second height being within 35% to 65% of the first height of an adjacent original step; and   each third depth being within 35% to 65% of the first depth of an adjacent original step.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein
 each lifting module including at least one of a first main support, a first height adjuster, a stacking layer or their combinations for adjusting said second height.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein
 each extending module including at least one of a second main support, a depth adjuster, an extendable part or their combinations for adjusting said second depth.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein
 the original steps having a full with W 1 ;   the lifting modules having a first partial width WS 1 ;   the extending modules having a second partial width WS 2 ; and   WS 1 <(W 1 ×40%).   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein
 the original steps having a full with W 1 ;   the lifting modules having a first partial width WS 1 ;   the extending modules having a second partial width WS 2 ; and   (WS 1 +WS 2 )<(W 1 ×60%).   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 connecting a plurality of connector bases to said original steps respectively; and   connecting each connector base to at least one of said extending modules, lifting modules or their combinations.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein
 the step of connecting each connector base to at least one of said extending modules, lifting modules or their combinations including using at least one of pins, pin holes, tongues, grooves, or their combinations for the connection.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 connecting a plurality of dividers in between said extending and lifting modules respectively.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein
 the plurality of dividers being lined up and forming at least one lateral opening.   
     
     
         15 . A method of converting a traditional staircase into a dual-use staircase, the traditional staircase having a plurality of original steps, each original step having a first tread with an outer edge, a first depth, a first width and a first height, comprising:
 forming a cavity in each original step from a portion of the outer edge with dimensions of a second height downwards, a second depth inwards and a second width in a lateral direction;   connecting a plurality of annex modules to said original steps next to the cavities respectively; wherein a third top surface of each annex module aligns with a second top surface of an adjacent cavity; and further comprising   forming a second tread over each aligned second and third top surfaces.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein
 for each original step, the second height being within 35% to 65% of the first height; and   the second depth being within 35% to 65% of the first depth.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein
 said second treads being lined up in an array; and   for each original step, the second width being less than 40% of the first width.   
     
     
         18 . A set of components for converting a traditional staircase into a dual-use staircase, the traditional staircase having a plurality of original steps, each original step having a first tread, a first depth and a first height, comprising:
 a plurality of lifting modules for connecting to the original steps respectively, wherein each lifting module having a second height less than the first height of an adjacent original step;   a plurality of extending modules for connecting to the original steps respectively, wherein each extending module having a third height matching the first height within a 5% tolerance, and having a third depth less than the first depth, of an adjacent original step; wherein   the plurality of lifting and extending modules being formed for connecting to each other in pairs and for connecting to the original steps respectively.   
     
     
         19 . The set of components as in  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a plurality of connector bases for connecting said pairs of lifting and extending modules to the original steps respectively.   
     
     
         20 . The set of components as in  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a plurality of dividers for connecting in between said lifting and extending modules respectively.