CA2416225A1

CA2416225A1 - Stair walker

Info

Publication number: CA2416225A1
Application number: CA 2416225
Authority: CA
Inventors: Chris Manson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-01-23
Filing date: 2003-01-23
Publication date: 2004-07-23

Abstract

The Stair Walker will replace a regular handrail when in use. It will assist stair users with a safer, more controlled and balanced stair accent or decent. The Stair Walker will run the length of a set of stairs on the same degree of decline. A bar will come out from the rail on a 90 degree angle and run parallel to ground level. The bar will be in front of the user at all times. The bar will rest in lock notches that are incrementally placed on the length of the rail. The user will lift the bar out of the lock notch and move it forward into another lock notch. Then the user will take the next step towards the bar while holding onto it at all times. If the user trips, the bar will help brace their fall.

Description

Page l:
I~escrip9>ion The Stair',l~alker is an innovation of the stair step hatndrail. If a challenged stair step user is rewired to support their accent or decent with a hand over hand motion they are ut thei:r h~d in an u~baya~~,ed nfiiti~ri< Tire shoulders should 1?e s ~ar~ t~ their ath p _Y - -- p - - ~ ~ p ._ __) If they do trip there is little chance that their grip on the rail will stop their fall.
The Stair V~alker will replace the narmal handrail fc~r those who require aid with stair steps. It will be installed at the wane angle and high as that of a regular handrail.
before the user starts their accent or decent they will lift the bar out of its resting position and lock it into place at whatever distance the~T choose in front of them. The user will hold the bar while taking a step for_w~rd into tl~~ bari keeping the sh_c~ulder-s ~quar_~ to their path while improving their balance. 'hhey will repeat this motion until they have reached the end of their accent or decent. If the user should trip on their decent, the bar in its locked position will help brace their fall.
In the following description I will refer the unit that replaces the regular hand as the rail (Fig 1a). This is the u.~~it in which will replace tl~e regular haGndrail and will house the sliderlbar combination (F ig 1 e). The unit that will be held b;y the user will be referred to as the bar (Fig l~. The opening that will allow the bar to slide up and down will be referred to as the sliding grocwe (Fi.g l h).. The notches drat run increrner~taHl_y the length of the rail will be referred to as the locking notches (Fig lc). The notClaes that avill allow the bar to rest flush to the wall when the unit is not in use will be refeured to as the resting notches (Fig 1 d).
A Rail will run the length of the stairs on the sane angle of decent. (f'ig 1 a) It will be mounted ti~rt~~gh the wall and into the studs a the saa~ne revel as the regular h~~ail it is replacing. The rail will be tubular in shape and function. The inside of the rail will be round in circumference andY~ust large enough to allow the slider to slide while giving the Izar stahili_ty<. (Fig i h) The rail will have a sliding groove at the side running the length of the rail. (Fig 1b) This sliding groove will allow the bai to run th.e length of the stairs. The sliding groove will be ,just large enough to allow the bar slide up and down the rail.
-Underneath the sliding groove tLtere will ~6e Iock notches cul. into the rail. These cock notches will run the length of the rail. The notches along with the sliding groove will be situated so that vihen the bar is in the -locked position it will -be parallel to the ground.
There will be as many lock notches on it as functionally possible to allow the bar to lock at any position along the way. (Fig 1 c) The Iock notches will be just l~~ge crieugh to house the I~ar in the resting position.

1?age ~
The bar will be attached tQ the slider (Fig 1 e) and connect snaking a T
shape. The top of the T is the slider; it is slightly sn~.aller than its rail housing. This is the piece that slides up and dawn the rail while transferring the strength and support from. the. stud mounted rail to the bar.
The i_eng. th of_ the T (Fig 1 f~ is tt~_~ 1?~.r an..d will be an appr~>pr_iate width. reta..tave to the width of an average. body, it will be used as- to hold onto- or will. brace their fal.I as the user makes their accent or decent.
The resting notches will be situated at the eery top and bottom of the rail.
These notcl°les will allow the bar to rest flat against the wall when it is not in use. (Fig l d) The bar will be fitted with end caps that t~lill create the gap for the resting notch and protect against -~~tal -shards frc~the eut of wst~m fiatirrg the rail to the -sups ~fi-g 1 i~
~ foam pad will slide over the l~a~° allowing it to be more easily gripped. (Fig lg~
Figure 2a shows the Stair Walker in use.

Claims

1. A stair Walker is made from a lightweight strong metal or metal alloy. Its length will vary and can be cut and adapted tp any size set of stairs. The shape of the rail is tubular. It will be of a diameter convenient to be used like a regular handrail by none stair challenged users. It will be installed into the studs at an appropriate height relative to its user and run at the same rate of decline as the steps.
Along the outside (stair side edge of the hand rail) a sliding groove is located. This groove will run the length of the rail and allow the bar/slider combination to run the length of the rail. Underneath the groove, lock notches just big enough to house the safety bar in the locked position will be in place incrementally, there will be as many lock notches in place as the length and structural integrity will allow, as these are part of the safety mechanism. The slider will be just smaller than the inside of the tubular rail; this will allow the slider/safety bar combination to run the length of the rail smoothly and securely. The safety bar part of the slider safety bar combination will come out from the rail at a 90 degree angle and when in its locked position in the lock notches, it will be parallel to the ground. The safety bar will have a sufficient width relative to its user covering a span up to 3 feet in width. The rail will have a notch at either end of the rail that will allow the safety bar to rest flat against the wall when not in use.

2. As defined in claim 1 where a plastic end will he fitted at the end of the rail where the cut was made to custom fit the stair Walker.

3. As defined in claim 1 where the lock notches are concealed within the tube.

4. As defined in claim 1,2,3 where a hand release is used instead of lock notches so that when the user clutches the hand control, the bar then will be free to move into the next position. When the user releases the hand control the bar will be locked securely into position.

5. As defined in claim 1,2,4, where a preset able tension control mechanism is used for resistance for fluent accent or decent on the stairs instead of the lock notch.

6. A slider/safety bar that past the lock notch has 2-90 degree bends in it, after the first 90 degree bend an adjustment mechanism may be used to adjust the height of the bar to custom fit the user.

7. A Stair Walker wherein the slider system has adjustable preset stopping points based on the depth of the stairs.
s

8. A Stair walker as defined in claims 1,4,6 wherein the bar is only large enough to accommodate one hand for less challenged stair users.

9. A Stair walker as defined in claim 1,4 wherein there is negative tension on the bar so that the user must push the bar down the stairs, on the accent, the negative tension created will be used as positive tension aiding them in their accent.