US3888477A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spacing tool
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-04-11
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Granted: 1975-06-10
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Expires: 1994-04-11
Abstract
Abstract A time-saving element-spacing tool preferably of an adjustable jig-type for use in expediting uniformly gauging or spacing various elements such as precast step riser elements in a generally parallel descending fashion down sloping terrain. The jig is especially useful when installing complementally interfitting precast stair tread and riser elements particularly for a stringerless type stairway. The jig-tool comprises a support member or assembly adapted to be disposed horizontally, and from which one or more element-positioning-and-holding bracket units are dependingly supported. The bracket units are preferably mounted for adjustment along the support members to adapt to different front-to-rear tread depths and spacings between sequentially installed riser elements. The bracket units are further adjustable to adapt to and complementally slip fit over riser elements of varying thickness.
Inventors
- 👤 John F P Tate
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 14:25
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04F; E04F21/00; E04F21/26; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S269/00; Y10S269/904
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
326 words
A jig for use in uniformly installing in sloping terrain preformed step riser elements of stairs fabricated from preformed interfitting riser and tread elements, said riser and tread elements each comprising generally planar rectangular members of predetermined thickness and having opposed generally planar faces, said jig comprising: a. support means including a support member disposed for horizontal disposition, having one end constituting an index end portion from which to progressively gauge a predetermined spacing of said riser elements commencing from an initial starting point working down the slope and from each subsequently installed riser element; b. riser-element-positioning bracket means dependingly attached transversely to said support member at a predetermined distance from said index portion end, said distance corresponding essentially to the selected tread distance of the steps being installed; c. said bracket means comprising at least a first pair of laterally spaced bracket members each having linear portions spaced substantially the same distance from said index end portion, said linear portions being spaced laterally apart to attain coplanar engagement with at least portions of one common face of said riser elements to establish the spacing thereof from said index end portion and in an upright riser manner; and d. the related stair installation including using riser elements having substantial extra height in excess of the finished step riser height, wherein a lowermost portion of each riser element is to be embedded within narrow excavated trenches, which lowermost portions are packed preferably with gravel and/or granular fill; and said riser-element-holding bracket means of said jig including a template having four strategically spaced apart holes, with two holes each disposed near laterally opposite sides of said support member so as to define by marking therethrough length and width corner limits of a predetermined size trench having a plan view greater than the thickness of said riser element, and within which said riser element is to Be embedded generally centrally relative to the length and width of said trench.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
326 words
A jig for use in uniformly installing in sloping terrain preformed step riser elements of stairs fabricated from preformed interfitting riser and tread elements, said riser and tread elements each comprising generally planar rectangular members of predetermined thickness and having opposed generally planar faces, said jig comprising: a. support means including a support member disposed for horizontal disposition, having one end constituting an index end portion from which to progressively gauge a predetermined spacing of said riser elements commencing from an initial starting point working down the slope and from each subsequently installed riser element; b. riser-element-positioning bracket means dependingly attached transversely to said support member at a predetermined distance from said index portion end, said distance corresponding essentially to the selected tread distance of the steps being installed; c. said bracket means comprising at least a first pair of laterally spaced bracket members each having linear portions spaced substantially the same distance from said index end portion, said linear portions being spaced laterally apart to attain coplanar engagement with at least portions of one common face of said riser elements to establish the spacing thereof from said index end portion and in an upright riser manner; and d. the related stair installation including using riser elements having substantial extra height in excess of the finished step riser height, wherein a lowermost portion of each riser element is to be embedded within narrow excavated trenches, which lowermost portions are packed preferably with gravel and/or granular fill; and said riser-element-holding bracket means of said jig including a template having four strategically spaced apart holes, with two holes each disposed near laterally opposite sides of said support member so as to define by marking therethrough length and width corner limits of a predetermined size trench having a plan view greater than the thickness of said riser element, and within which said riser element is to Be embedded generally centrally relative to the length and width of said trench.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
207 words
An adjustable jig for sequentially aligning and spacing along a generally longitudinal run elongated parallel planar-like elongated elements being positioned in a predetermined relationship; said jig comprising in combination: a. a generally horizontally disposed support member including a pair of laterally spaced, generally parallel beam assemblies disposed longitudinally in a direction of the run of parallel elements being spaced; b. each of said beam assemblies including means forming an adjustment slot throughout a major part of its longitudinal length; c. transverse beam-connecting means fixedly interconnecting said beam assemblies near at least one common end thereof in a fixable predetermined spaced apart relationship; d. said beam assemblies having at least one pair of respectively corresponding ends transversely aligned with one another and disposed at substantially 90* relative to the longitudinal length of said beam assemblies and constituting index end portions from which to gauge a predetermined spacing of said elements during installation use; and e. transversely disposed element-positioning-and-holding means bridgingly and adjustably connected to said beam assemblies by means of fasteners cooperatively disposed through said adjustment slots of said beam assemblies, said element-positioning-and-holding means including a pair of laterally spaced depending brackets having portions for temporarily engaging opposite faces of said planar-like elongated elements being spaced and positioned.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
207 words
An adjustable jig for sequentially aligning and spacing along a generally longitudinal run elongated parallel planar-like elongated elements being positioned in a predetermined relationship; said jig comprising in combination: a. a generally horizontally disposed support member including a pair of laterally spaced, generally parallel beam assemblies disposed longitudinally in a direction of the run of parallel elements being spaced; b. each of said beam assemblies including means forming an adjustment slot throughout a major part of its longitudinal length; c. transverse beam-connecting means fixedly interconnecting said beam assemblies near at least one common end thereof in a fixable predetermined spaced apart relationship; d. said beam assemblies having at least one pair of respectively corresponding ends transversely aligned with one another and disposed at substantially 90* relative to the longitudinal length of said beam assemblies and constituting index end portions from which to gauge a predetermined spacing of said elements during installation use; and e. transversely disposed element-positioning-and-holding means bridgingly and adjustably connected to said beam assemblies by means of fasteners cooperatively disposed through said adjustment slots of said beam assemblies, said element-positioning-and-holding means including a pair of laterally spaced depending brackets having portions for temporarily engaging opposite faces of said planar-like elongated elements being spaced and positioned.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
An adjustable jig as defined in claim 2, further including transverse connecting means fixedly interconnecting said beam assemblies together at their respectively opposite ends to form a generally parallelogram type support means for said adjustably disposed element-positioning-and-holding means connected thereto.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
An adjustable jig as defined in claim 2, wherein said element-positioning-and-holding means of paragraph (e) includes a laterally extended template member having laterally spaced holes corresponding to the spacing between said slots of said beam assemblies, and selectively removable nut-and-bolt fastener means for adjustably connecting said element-positioning-and-holding means to said beam assemblies.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
An adjustable jig as defined in claim 2, wherein each of said brackets include fore-and-aft spaced arms, and means for mounting one of said arms for adjustment toward and away from the other arm to accomodate therebetween elements of selectively different thickness.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
An adjustable jig as defined in claim 2, wherein said beam assemblies each include a pair of elongated members of angular cross-section spaced apart to define a slotway through which said fasteners of paragraph (e) are disposed; and said transverse beam-connecting means of paragraph (c) includes a member having angularly disposed flanges, and on one flange of which said pairs of elongated members of said beam assemblies are supported in a fixed manner.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
An adjustable jig as defined in claim 2 wherein said beam assemblies include a plurality of uniformly spaced indicia means for facilitating the selectively setting and the adjustable transverse disposition of said element-positioning-and-holding means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
307 words
An adjustable jig for use in uniformly installing in sloping terrain pre-formed step riser elements of stairs fabricated from pre-formed interfitting riser and tread elements, said riser elements having lowermost extended portions adapted to be stably embedded in narrow excavated trenches which are repacked preferably with gravel and/or granular fill; said jig comprising in combination: a. a generally horizontally disposed support member including a pair of laterally spaced, generally parallel beam assemblies disposed longitudinally in a direction of the run of said riser elements being spaced; b. each of said beam assemblies including a pair of elongated members of angular cross-section and spaced slightly apart for forming an adjustment slot throughout a major part of its longitudinal length; c. transverse beam-connecting means fixedly interconnecting said beam assemblies at opposite ends in a fixable predetermined spaced-apart relationship; d. said beam assemblies having at least one pair of respectively corresponding ends transversely aligned with one another and disposed at substantially 90* relative to the length of said beam assemblies and constituting index end portions from which to gauge a predetermined spacing of said elements being installed; e. transversely disposed riser element-positioning-and-holding means bridgingly and adjustably connected to said beam assemblies via fasteners cooperatively disposed through said adjustment slots of said beam assemblies; and wherein f. said riser-element-positioning-and-holding means comprises two laterally spaced bracket units, each of said bracket units comprising a first depending bracket member having a linear surface portion to be disposed in coplanar engagement with portions of one face of said riser elements and having a second depending bracket member spaced apart from the first bracket member a distance corresponding substantially to the thickness of said riser elements to engage an opposite face thereof whereby the pair of bracket members of each unit complementally embrace the opposite faces of and stabilize the riser element during installation thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
307 words
An adjustable jig for use in uniformly installing in sloping terrain pre-formed step riser elements of stairs fabricated from pre-formed interfitting riser and tread elements, said riser elements having lowermost extended portions adapted to be stably embedded in narrow excavated trenches which are repacked preferably with gravel and/or granular fill; said jig comprising in combination: a. a generally horizontally disposed support member including a pair of laterally spaced, generally parallel beam assemblies disposed longitudinally in a direction of the run of said riser elements being spaced; b. each of said beam assemblies including a pair of elongated members of angular cross-section and spaced slightly apart for forming an adjustment slot throughout a major part of its longitudinal length; c. transverse beam-connecting means fixedly interconnecting said beam assemblies at opposite ends in a fixable predetermined spaced-apart relationship; d. said beam assemblies having at least one pair of respectively corresponding ends transversely aligned with one another and disposed at substantially 90* relative to the length of said beam assemblies and constituting index end portions from which to gauge a predetermined spacing of said elements being installed; e. transversely disposed riser element-positioning-and-holding means bridgingly and adjustably connected to said beam assemblies via fasteners cooperatively disposed through said adjustment slots of said beam assemblies; and wherein f. said riser-element-positioning-and-holding means comprises two laterally spaced bracket units, each of said bracket units comprising a first depending bracket member having a linear surface portion to be disposed in coplanar engagement with portions of one face of said riser elements and having a second depending bracket member spaced apart from the first bracket member a distance corresponding substantially to the thickness of said riser elements to engage an opposite face thereof whereby the pair of bracket members of each unit complementally embrace the opposite faces of and stabilize the riser element during installation thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
292 words
An adjustable jig for sequentially aligning and spacing along a generally longitudinal run elongated parallel elements being positioned in a predetermined relationship; said jig comprising in combination: a. a generally horizontally disposed support member including a pair of laterally spaced, generally parallel beam assemblies disposed longitudinally in a direction of the run of parallel elements being spaced; b. each of said beam assemblies including an elongated longitudinal beam member and means forming an adjustment slot throughout a major part of its longitudinal length; c. transverse beam-connecting means fixedly interconnecting said beam assemblies near at least one common end thereof in a fixable predetermined spaced apart relationship; d. said beam assemblies having at least one pair of respectively corresponding ends transversely aligned with one another and disposed at substantially 90* relative to the longitudinal length of said beam assemblies and constituting index end portions from which to gauge a predetermined spacing of said elements during installation use; e. transversely disposed element-positioning-and-holding means including a transverse beam member having a straight edge bridgingly and adjustably connected to said beam assemblies by means of fasteners cooperatively disposed through said adjustment slots of said beam assemblies and carrying bracket members extending therefrom adjacent said beam assemblies for engaging and positioning the elements being positioned; and f. said longitudinal beam members each having an elongated series of uniformly spaced vertical holes and associated indicia means located along a path paralleling and adjacent said slot removably receiving a pin-like abutment member extending through and below a hole of each series to provide a pair of temporary abutments for the straight edge of said transverse beam to locate the same during tightening of the fasteners in said slots and thereby facilitate setting of said element-positioning-and-holding means at selected positions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
292 words
An adjustable jig for sequentially aligning and spacing along a generally longitudinal run elongated parallel elements being positioned in a predetermined relationship; said jig comprising in combination: a. a generally horizontally disposed support member including a pair of laterally spaced, generally parallel beam assemblies disposed longitudinally in a direction of the run of parallel elements being spaced; b. each of said beam assemblies including an elongated longitudinal beam member and means forming an adjustment slot throughout a major part of its longitudinal length; c. transverse beam-connecting means fixedly interconnecting said beam assemblies near at least one common end thereof in a fixable predetermined spaced apart relationship; d. said beam assemblies having at least one pair of respectively corresponding ends transversely aligned with one another and disposed at substantially 90* relative to the longitudinal length of said beam assemblies and constituting index end portions from which to gauge a predetermined spacing of said elements during installation use; e. transversely disposed element-positioning-and-holding means including a transverse beam member having a straight edge bridgingly and adjustably connected to said beam assemblies by means of fasteners cooperatively disposed through said adjustment slots of said beam assemblies and carrying bracket members extending therefrom adjacent said beam assemblies for engaging and positioning the elements being positioned; and f. said longitudinal beam members each having an elongated series of uniformly spaced vertical holes and associated indicia means located along a path paralleling and adjacent said slot removably receiving a pin-like abutment member extending through and below a hole of each series to provide a pair of temporary abutments for the straight edge of said transverse beam to locate the same during tightening of the fasteners in said slots and thereby facilitate setting of said element-positioning-and-holding means at selected positions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
92 words
A jig as defined in claim 2, wherein said transversely disposed element-positioning-and-holding means includes a template having four strategically spaced apart holes, with two holes each disposed near laterally opposite sides of said element-positioning-and-holding means so as to define by marking therethrough length and width corner limits of a predetermined size trench having a plan view size Greater than the thickness of the planar-like elongated elements to be positioned by said jig to thereby define the corner limits for a trench within which portions of the planar-like elongated elements may be embedded.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
134 words
A jig as defined in claim 8, wherein the related stair installation includes using riser elements having substantial extra height in excess of the finished step riser height and wherein the lowermost portion of each riser element is to be embedded within narrow excavated trenches to be thereafter packed with gravel or granular fill, said riser element-positioning-and-holding means of said jig including a template having four strategically spaced apart holes, with two holes each disposed near laterally opposite sides of said support member so as to define by marking therethrough length and width corner limits of a predetermined size trench having a plan view size greater than the thickness of said riser element, and within which said riser element is to be embedded generally centrally relative to the length and width of said trench.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
100 words
A jig as defined in claim 9, wherein the transverse beam member forms a template having four strategically spaced apart holes, with two holes each disposed near laterally opposite sides of said support member so as to define by marking therethrough length and width corner limits of a predetermined size trench having a plan view size greater than the thickness of said elongated elements to be positioned by the jig to thereby define the corner limits for a trench within which portions of the elongated elements may be embedded generally centrally relative to the length and width of said trench.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-09 | 1978-12-09 | 1979-06-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-09 | 1982-12-09 | 1983-06-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-09 | 1986-12-09 | 1987-06-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |