Granted Patent B2

US 8,371,071 · App. 13/063,565 · Granted Feb 12, 2013

Abstract

Claims (21)

1. A stepped structure comprising a plurality of separate run portions, wherein said plurality of separate run portions each comprise upper and lower sheets each sheet having a forward longitudinal end portion bent downwards and a rear longitudinal end portion bent upwards, and wherein the upper an lower sheets are identical in profile, and a core between said upper and lower sheets, wherein a cavity between said upper and lower sheets of each separate run portion is substantially sealed from outside between said respective forward longitudinal end portion and said respective rear longitudinal end portion.

2. The stepped structure of claim 1 , wherein adjacent separate run portions are fastened together.

3. The stepped structure of claim 2 , wherein said fastening is by way of at least one fastener.

4. The stepped structure of claim 3 , wherein said fastener comprises rivets and/or screw fasteners.

5. The stepped structure of claim 2 , wherein said fastening is by way of at least one weld.

6. The stepped structure of claim 2 , wherein adjacent separate run portions are fastened together via at least one of their respective longitudinal end portions.

7. The stepped structure of claim 2 , wherein a forward longitudinal end portion of a run portion is attached to a rear longitudinal end portion of the adjacent run portion to form a rise portion, wherein no core of plastics or polymer material exists between the forward longitudinal end portion and the rear longitudinal end portion.

8. The stepped structure of claim 2 , wherein said adjacent separate run portions are both fastened to a plate such that said adjacent separate run portions are fastened together with said plate forming at least part of a rise portion between said adjacent separate run portions.

9. The stepped structure of claim 2 , wherein said adjacent separate run portions are fastened to each other by fastening said at least one rear longitudinal end portion of a first separate run portion of said adjacent separate run portions to at least one forward longitudinal end portion of a second separate run portion of said adjacent separate run portions such that said at least one rear longitudinal end portion and said at least one forward longitudinal end portion from a rise portion between said adjacent separate run portions.

10. The stepped structure of claim 2 , wherein said adjacent separate run portions are fastened together by passing at least one fastener through at least one of said forward longitudinal end portions of a higher separate run portion of said adjacent separate run portions and at least one of said rear longitudinal end portion of a lower separate run portion of said adjacent separate run portions.

11. The stepped structure of claim 10 , wherein said at least one fastener passes through both forward longitudinal end portions and/or both rear longitudinal end portions.

12. The stepped structure of claim 1 , wherein said rear longitudinal end portions are parallel to each other and are both present in a direction perpendicular to their planes and/or said forward longitudinal end portions are parallel to each other and are both present in a direction perpendicular to their planes.

13. The stepped structure of claim 1 , wherein at least part of a or the rise portion between adjacent run portions does not comprise a core.

14. The stepped structure of claim 1 , wherein said end portions form at least part of rise portions between run portions.

15. The stepped structure of claim 1 , wherein said cavity is sealed by contact between said longitudinal end portions, or wherein said cavity is substantially sealed from outside by a gasket positioned between said upper and lower sheets, or wherein said cavity is sealed by crimping together of end portions.

16. The stepped structure of claim 1 , wherein said upper and lower sheets are formed from one unitary sheet bent by 180° at the edge of one of the rear and forward longitudinal end portions such that said respective end portions are sealed by the portion of said sheet bent by 180°.

17. The stepped structure of claim 1 , wherein said upper and lower sheets are sealed by being clamped together.

18. The stepped structure of claim 1 , further comprising an intumescent material positioned between at least one of said forward longitudinal end portions and said rear longitudinal end portions.

19. The stepped structure of claim 1 , wherein the stepped structure is a tiered seating structure.

20. The stepped structure of claim 1 , wherein the core is of a polymer or plastics material.

21. The stepped structure of claim 1 , wherein the core comprises a cementitious material.

Assignments (8)