Stair stringer assembly, system, and method

Abstract

A bilateral bracket for steps to be fixed on a stringer having a number of steps and risers, the bilateral bracket having a generally flat body defining a framing edge having a riser edge and a tread edge; the riser edge having a riser flange perpendicularly extending therefrom in a first direction; the tread edge having a tread flange perpendicularly extending therefrom in the first direction, wherein the tread extends between a distal end and a proximal end; the framing edge defining an acute angle relative to each other, wherein the flat body does not project beyond a profile defined by the distal and proximal ends inward of a profile defined by the framing edge; and a stringer edge along the body, opposite the framing edge, wherein the stringer edge has an array of holes for selectively attaching to either side of the stringer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bilateral bracket for steps to be fixed on a stringer having a number of steps and risers, the bilateral bracket comprising:
 a generally flat body defining a framing edge having a riser edge and a tread edge;   the riser edge having a riser flange perpendicularly extending therefrom in a first direction;   the tread edge having a tread flange perpendicularly extending therefrom in the first direction, wherein the tread extends between a distal end and a proximal end;   the riser and tread edges defining an acute angle relative to each other, wherein the flat body does not project beyond a profile defined between two lines orthogonally drawn from each of the distal and proximal ends; and   a stringer edge along the body, opposite the framing edge, wherein the stringer edge has an array of holes for selectively attaching to either side of the stringer in one of a plurality of orientations so as to adjust an elevation of the tread edge relative to said stringer.   
     
     
         2 . The bilateral bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the array of holes comprises two rows of holes. 
     
     
         3 . The bilateral bracket of  claim 2 , wherein adjacent holes of each row of holes are approximately one inch apart. 
     
     
         4 . The bilateral bracket of  claim 2 , wherein the row of the two rows of holes that is closer to the tread flange is along a line orthogonal relative to a distal end of the tread flange so that when folded along said row a bent flange is form substantially parallel to the tread flange, and wherein the bent flange circumscribes the other row of the two rows of holes, whereby the bent flange provides an anchor for a bottom step. 
     
     
         5 . A method of installing the bilateral bracket of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 affixing a framing square to a 2×;   defining an orientation of the bilateral bracket relative to the 2× as a function of a riser value and a tread value for the number of steps and risers; and   clamping the bilateral bracket to the framing square prior to attaching the stringer edge to the 2×.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein a majority of the tread flange engages a first leg of the framing square during attachment of the bilateral bracket to the stringer. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein a distal end of the riser flange engages a second leg of the framing square during attachment of the bilateral bracket to the stringer. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising marking along edges of the first and second legs of the framing square along a face of the 2×.