Abstract
A free-standing modular egress system comprising various elements of a core frame, a staircase, a handrail, a long landing, a short landing, a door frame, and a means for attachment, for use in construction of hospitality and residential building construction. The system is prefabricated off-site which makes the onsite installation easier and capable of being installed prior to construction of the building.
Claims
1. A modular egress system comprising: a core frame comprising vertical columns and horizontal cross bars; a staircase; a handrail; a long landing; a short landing; a door frame; a means for attachment;
2. The modular egress system of claim 1, wherein the core frame is manufactured in two halves.
3. The modular egress system of claim 2, wherein the long landing and short landing are each integrated with one half of the core frame.
4. The modular egress system of claim 1, wherein the modular egress system is prefabricated.
5. The modular egress system of claim 1, wherein the staircase and handrail are integrated together forming one element.
6. The modular egress system of claim 1, wherein the system is transported by tractor trailer with each half of the core frame integrated with the landings transported separate from the integrated staircase and handrail.
7. The modular egress system of claim 1, wherein the door frame is installed at one end of the core frame.
8. The modular egress system of claim 1, wherein the core frame can be used with any traditional framing system comprising wood framing, light gauge steel, metal studs, structural steel, concrete block, precast and cast-in-place concrete.
9. The modular egress system of claim 1, wherein the staircase is connected to the long and short landings via bolted connections.
10. The modular egress system of claim 1, wherein the system is free-standing.
11. A modular egress system comprising: a core frame comprising vertical columns and horizontal cross bars; a staircase integrated with a handrail; a long landing connected to one end of the core frame; a short landing connected to the opposite end of the core frame; a door frame installed on one end of the core frame; a means for attachment for attaching the system to a building foundation and attaching additional identical levels of the system vertically on top of each other;
12. The modular egress system of claim 11, wherein the door frame is installed at one end of the core frame.
13. The modular egress system of claim 11, wherein the core frame is manufactured in two halves.
14. The modular egress system of claim 13, wherein the long landing and short landing are each integrated with one half of the core frame.
15. The modular egress system of claim 11, wherein the system is transported by tractor trailer with each half of the core frame integrated with the landings transported separate from the integrated staircase and handrail.
16. The modular egress system of claim 11, wherein the door frame is installed at one end of the core frame.
17. The modular egress system of claim 11, wherein the core frame can be used with any traditional framing system comprising wood framing, light gauge steel, metal studs, structural steel, concrete block, precast and cast-in-place concrete.
18. The modular egress system of claim 11, wherein the staircase is connected to the long and short landings via bolted connections.
19. The modular egress system of claim 11, wherein the system is free-standing.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a modular egress system according to the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 2 is a side view of a modular egress system according to the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 3 is an end view of a modular egress system according to the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention showing the core frame and CIP concrete form;
[0028] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention showing the stair, handrail, and landing elements;
[0029] FIG. 6 is a is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention showing the core frame;
[0030] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention showing the core frame and CIP concrete form;
[0031] FIG. 8 is a perspective top view of an embodiment of the present invention showing the stair, handrail, and landing elements;
[0032] FIG. 9 is a perspective top view of an embodiment of the present invention showing the frame and CIP concrete form and landing elements;
[0033] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;
[0034] FIG. 11 is an illustrative diagram depicting how the modular egress system is transported and installed according to the present invention.
DESCRIPTION
[0035] Referring now to the drawings, reference will be made to the preferred forms, configurations, embodiments and/or diagrams relating to and helping describe preferred aspects and versions of the instant invention, which are explained and characterized herein, often with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings and features shown herein also serve as part of the disclosure of the invention, whether described in text or merely by drawing disclosure alone.
[0036] With reference to FIGS. 1-3, a modular egress system 1 of the present invention is generally shown comprising a core frame 2, stairs 3, handrails 4, long landings 5, short landings 6, door frames 7, and attachment means 8. FIG. 1 depicts a two floor system constructed by stacking two modular egress systems 1 vertically and attaching the two systems together via the attachment means 8. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, up to five floors may be used. However, it is within the ambits of this invention, that even more floors could be constructed. The present invention uses standardized dimensions throughout other than the floor to floor height, which is determined on a job by job basis. The uses of standardized dimensions allows makes it easier for the present invention to be modular. It is within the ambits of the present invention that customized dimensions may be used. All of the necessary components of the modular egress system are already installed before reaching the job site, including but not limited to, the stairs and handrails being integrated together. The system of the present invention also includes steel door framing already installed, which allows for the ability to lock the modular egress system during construction, which is extremely important on live construction sites.
[0037] The core frame 2 is comprised of vertical steel columns 2 and horizontal steel cross bars 2. The core frame is typically manufactured using structural steel, but any suitable building materials may be used.
[0038] FIGS. 4-9 illustrate various components of the present invention without some of the other components for visual purposes to aid in understanding the invention better. FIG. 4 shows elements of another embodiment of the present invention when used for cast-in-place concrete framing. FIG. 4 shows the core frame 2 with the inside of the cast-in-place form 10 attached thereto. The integrated door frames 7 are also depicted. FIG. 5 shows the stairs 3, handrails 4 and landing elements 5 and 6 of the present invention without the core frame 2. FIG. 6 illustrates the core frame 2 without any of the internal components of the present invention. The core frame 2 is shown comprised of vertical steel columns 2 and horizontal steel cross bars 2. The door frame 7 is also shown. FIG. 7 illustrates the core frame 2 when used with cast-in-place concrete framing and it is shown with the inside of the cast-in-place form 10 attached thereto.
[0039] FIG. 8 depicts the interior elements of the present invention, including the stairs 3, handrails 4 and the long landing 5 and short landing 6 of the present invention without the core frame 2.
[0040] FIG. 9 illustrates the modular egress system 1 of the present invention when used for cast-in-place concrete framing with the inside of the cast-in-place form 10 shown, but without the stair element being shown. FIG. 9 is also a good depiction of what the present invention would look like after initial installation of the two halves of the modular egress system 1 with the long landing 5 and the short landing 6 already installed before transport to the job site. During installation of the present invention, the stairs would then be installed using bolted connections from landing to landing. FIG. 9 further illustrates how the modular egress system of the present invention ties into the rest of a building by showing the outside of the cast-in-place form 10 and how it ties into concrete floor/decking 20 of a building.
[0041] FIG. 11 further illustrates how the novel, prefabricated modular egress system of the present invention is shipped to the jobsite, taking advantage of its unique design so that transportation is easier than with prior art systems. FIG. 11 further illustrates how the modular egress system of the present invention is installed at the jobsite. The modular egress system of the present invention is shipped to the jobsite on a tractor trailer in two halves A and B. The two halves already have the long landings 5 and short landings 6 installed in the respective halves. The stairs 3 and handrails 4 are shipped separately. However, the stairs 3 and handrails 4 have already been prefabricated as one piece, so that there are fewer steps when installing on the job site. Both halves are set on anchor bolts (or other attachment means) 8 and plumbed. Then the stairs 3 and handrails 4 (not shown in FIG. 11) are then installed using bolted connections from landing to landing.
[0042] In FIG. 10, a single floor of the modular egress system 1 is shown. This figure illustrates a few of the different framing systems/core types that can be used in the various embodiments of the present invention. At each corner of the system 1, a different framing type is shown, with different cast-in-place thicknesses 9 shown ranging from 8, 10, to 12 thick as well as concrete block (CMU) 11. When CMU is the desired core type, N-joists 12 are used. As FIG. 10 is for illustrative purposes only, it should be noted that the desired core type would be all the way around the core frame 2. While this figure shows a few framing systems, the present invention can be used with any traditional framing system including but not limited to wood framing, light gauge steel, metal studs, structural steel, concrete block, precast and cast-in-place concrete. It is also envisioned that another embodiment of the present invention could be used for elevator egress systems, using the same ideas inherent to the present invention.
[0043] Various changes, alternatives and modifications may become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art following a reading of the foregoing specification. It is intended that any such changes, alternatives, and modifications within the scope of this provisional patent application be considered a part of the present invention. Further, it is within the ambit of the present invention to cover any obvious modifications of the embodiments described herein.
