Step cover and stair cover system

Abstract

A step cover and a stair cover system. The step cover includes a flat tread, a length of extruded plastic cap, and a spline. The tread having a front, two sides, and a back, a lower surface and an upper surface, at least the upper surface wrapped with a decorative film, the front and the sides each having a groove, the length of plastic cap having a curved cross section with two ends, an outer surface and an inner surface, a curved front, said back having two straight edges between the ends, at least one of the edges having a groove, the outer surface of the plastic cap wrapped with a decorative film, and the spline having a top surface and a bottom surface, the spline configured to fit into grooves in the tread and the plastic cap.

I/we claim: 
     
         1 . A step cover for covering a step comprising:
 a flat tread having a front, two sides, and a back, a lower surface and an upper surface, a width from one side to the other side and a depth from front to back, at least said upper surface wrapped with a decorative film, said front having a groove;   a length of extruded plastic cap curved in cross section having two ends, said plastic cap having an outer surface and an inner surface, said plastic cap having a width between said two ends, a curved front, said back having two straight edges between said ends along said width, at least one of the edges having a groove between said ends, and said outer surface of said plastic cap wrapped with a decorative film; and   a thin spline having a top surface and a bottom surface, said spline configured to fit into said groove in said tread on a first side of said spline and into said groove in said plastic cap on a second side of said spline when said front of said tread and said edge of said plastic cap are adjoined with said spline positioned between them;   wherein, said decorative film on said tread is substantially similar in appearance to said decorative film on said plastic cap;   wherein said tread can be connected to said plastic cap along said front of said tread and along one of said edges of said plastic cap using said spline with said spline positioned in said grooves.   
     
     
         2 . The step cover of  claim 1 , wherein said spline includes ridges on at least one of said top surface and said bottom surface. 
     
     
         3 . The step cover of  claim 2 , wherein said tread is fixedly attached to said plastic cap using said spline positioned in said grooves and with adhesive on said spline and inside said grooves. 
     
     
         4 . The step cover of  claim 1 , wherein said back of said plastic cap is concave shaped configured to fit over a front full bullnose edge of a step. 
     
     
         5 . The step cover of  claim 3 , further comprising a second plastic cap, said second plastic cap curved in cross section having two ends, said second plastic cap having an outer surface and an inner surface, said second plastic cap having a width between said two ends, a curved front, said back having two straight edges between said ends along said width, at least one of the edges having a groove between said ends, and said outer surface of said second plastic nose wrapped with a decorative film, wherein said tread is fixedly attached to said second plastic cap using a spline positioned in a groove of said second plastic cap and in said groove in one of said sides of said tread. 
     
     
         6 . The step cover of  claim 5 , further comprising a third plastic cap, said third plastic cap curved in cross section having two ends, said second plastic cap having an outer surface and an inner surface, said third plastic cap having a width between said two ends, a curved front, said back having two straight edges between said ends along said width, at least one of the edges having a groove between said ends, and said outer surface of said third plastic cap wrapped with a decorative film, wherein said third plastic nose is fixedly attached to said second plastic cap using a spline positioned in said groove of said second plastic cap and in said groove in said third plastic cap. 
     
     
         7 . The step cover of  claim 1 , further comprising a length of wood stair nosing having a full bullnose front and a flat back configured to attach to a flat front step, wherein said back of said plastic cap is configured to fit over said front full bullnose edge of said length of wood stair nosing. 
     
     
         8 . The step cover of  claim 1 , further comprising a step riser cover having a front and a back, and four sides, with a decorative film or paper or laminate on a front surface and on the four sides. 
     
     
         9 . A step cover for covering a step comprising:
 a flat tread having a front, two sides, and a back, a lower surface and an upper surface, a width from one side to the other side and a depth from front to back, at least said upper surface wrapped with a decorative film, paper or laminate, said front and at least one of said sides having a groove;   at least one length of extruded plastic nose curved in cross section having two ends, said at least one length of plastic nose having an outer surface and an inner surface, said at least one length of plastic nose having a width between said two ends, a curved front and a concave back, said back having two straight edges between said ends along said width, at least one of the edges having a groove between said ends, and said outer surface of said at least one plastic nose wrapped with a decorative film, paper or laminate; and   at least one thin spline having a top surface and a bottom surface, said at least one spline configured to fit into said groove in said tread on a first side of said at least one spline and into said groove in said plastic nose on a second side of said at least one spline when said front of said tread and said at least one edge of at least one plastic nose are adjoined with said at least one spline positioned between them;   wherein said tread can be connected to said at least one plastic nose along said front of said tread and along one of said edges of said at least one plastic nose using said spline with said spline positioned in said grooves.   
     
     
         10 . The step cover of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one spline includes ridges on at least one of said top surface and said bottom surface. 
     
     
         11 . The step cover of  claim 10 , wherein said tread is fixedly attached to said plastic nose using said spline positioned in said grooves and with adhesive on said spline and inside said grooves. 
     
     
         12 . The step cover of  claim 9 , further comprising a length of wood stair nosing having a full bullnose front and a flat back wherein said back of said plastic nose is configured to fit over said front full bullnose edge of said length of wood stair nosing. 
     
     
         13 . The step cover of  claim 9 , wherein said tread is fixedly attached to said plastic nose using said spline positioned in said grooves and with adhesive on said spline and inside said grooves. 
     
     
         14 . The step cover of  claim 9 , further comprising a second extruded plastic nose, wherein said tread can be connected to said second plastic nose along a side of said tread and along one of said edges of said second plastic nose using a second spline with said second spline positioned in said grooves. 
     
     
         15 . The step cover of  claim 14 , further comprising a third length of extruded plastic nose, wherein said tread can be connected to said third plastic nose along a side of said tread and along one of said edges of said third plastic nose using a third spline with said third spline positioned in said grooves. 
     
     
         16 . The step cover of  claim 9 , wherein said decorative film on said tread is substantially similar in appearance to said decorative film on said plastic nose. 
     
     
         17 . The step cover of  claim 9 , further comprising a step riser cover having a front and a back, and four sides, with a decorative film or paper or laminate on a front surface and on the four sides. 
     
     
         18 . A process for covering a step on a closed stringer staircase with flooring material having a preselected decorative film finish said flooring material comprising a flat tread, a cap, and a spline,
 said flat tread comprising a front, two sides, and a back, a lower surface and an upper surface, a width from one side to the other side and a depth from front to back, at least said upper surface wrapped with a decorative film, said front having a groove along the width of said tread;   said cap comprising a length of extruded plastic curved in cross section having two ends, said cap having an outer surface and an inner surface, a width between said two ends, a curved front and a concave back, said back having two straight edges between said ends along said width, at least one of said edges having a groove between said ends, said outer surface of said cap wrapped with a decorative film;   a length of spline having a top surface and a bottom surface, said spline configured to fit into said groove in said tread on a first side of said spline and into said groove in said cap on a second side of said spline when said front of said tread and a said edge of said cap are adjoined with said spline positioned between them;   the process comprising:   cutting said tread, said cap, and said spline to a desired width for a step to be covered determined by the width of the step between stringers;   cutting said tread to a depth determined by measuring the distance from the riser to the edge of said cap with said cap positioned over the front edge of the step;   fixedly connecting said cap to said tread using said spline and adhesive, with said spline positioned inside said groove of said tread and said groove in said edge of said cap; and   fixedly attaching said connected cap and tread to said step using adhesive placed on said step.