EP1306499A1

EP1306499A1 - Safety handrail provided with touch-perceptible direction indicating means

Info

Publication number: EP1306499A1
Application number: EP02017130A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Simone Bozzano; Luigi Bozzano
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-10-25
Filing date: 2002-07-30
Publication date: 2003-05-02
Also published as: ITGE20010084A0; ITGE20010084A1

Abstract

A safety handrail or banister (1) is described provided at least on its back surface with touch-perceptible direction indicating means (3). According to an embodiment of the invention, the said touch-perceptible direction indicating means (3) are in the form of relief arrow point like marks. Advantageously, the said touch-perceptible direction indicating means (3) are formed at comparatively close distance one from the other along the whole length of the said handrails (1). Whenever the said handrails (1) are made from sheet metal, the said direction indicating means (3) are formed on said handrails (1) by an embossing process.

Description

The present invention relates to the banisters or the handrails, and more particularly to the banisters or handrails located in premises open to the public, or located on ships or generally in all premises in which concentration of people may occur.
In said premises it may happen that, due to some unexpected event, or due to some breakdown inside the structure, panic may arise among people, which may be unable to find out the right direction for a safe escape.
It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide a solution to the above problem, putting all people in the said premises in condition to find easily and surely the right direction toward the nearest safety exit or toward the nearest means of escape.
According to the main feature of the invention, this object is achieved by disposing along the walls and/or the stairs of said premises a substantially continuous line of handrails leading to the safety exits, the said handrails being provided, at least on their upper surface, with touch-perceptible direction indicating means.
According to another feature of the invention, the said touch-perceptible direction indicating means are in the form of arrow point marks formed in relief at comparatively close distance the one from the other at least on the back of the handrails or of the banisters disposed in the said premises.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments of same made with reference to the annexed drawing, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of a handrail bearing on its back the touch-perceptible direction indicating means according to a first embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the back of a handrail provided with the touch-perceptible direction indicating means according to a second embodiment of the invention, and
Figure 3 is a top plan view similar to that of Figure 2, of a portion of the back of a handrail provided with the touch-perceptible direction indicating means according to a third embodiment of the invention.
With reference to Figure 1 of the drawing, numeral 1 denotes a handrail. The said handrail 1 may be of any suitable kind and shape and may be made of any suitable material, as for instance wood, sheet metal, or the like. The handrail 1 may be supported in position by any suitable means, and for instance, as shown, by means of suitable wall fittings 2. According to the invention, the handrail 1 is provided on its upper surface with touch-perceptible direction indicating means 3, which in the embodiment shown are in the form of V-shaped or arrow point-like members, formed in relief at a comparatively short distance the one from the other at least along the back of the handrail 1, although they could also extend on the sides of the handrail 1. The said direction indicating means 3 have their points directed in the direction of the nearest safety exit. Should the handrail 1 be made from sheet metal, the means 3 can be formed by means of an embossing process. In case that the handrail 3 is made from wood, also the said means 3 may be made from wood (or from any other suitable material, like metal or plastics) and may, for instance be inserted by any suitable means on the back of the handrail 1, or may be formed integral with said handrail.
In the embodiment of Figure 2, the arrow point-shaped indicating means 3 are further provided at the central zone of their concave side with a short rod-like extension 4, which may be of help in individuating the right direction to be followed.
In the embodiment of Figure 3, the point of the arrow shaped indicating means 3 is provided with a central passage 5. The scope of said passage 5 is to avoid the accumulation of dirt in correspondence of the concave side of the arrow-like elements 3, during the cleaning operation of the handrail 1.
The advantages of the above described safety device will be evident. In the most different emergency condition, that is in absence of any light source, or in premises saturated with smoke or gases, which prevents any visibility, it will be sufficient to reach a wall on which the life saving handrail is affixed, and by resting on it with a hand the user will at once realize the direction to be taken in order to reach the nearest safety exit, and will be safely guided up to said safety exit.
Thanks to the safety handrail according to the invention, also sightless or disabled people will autonomously realize the direction to be taken in order to reach the safety exits.

Claims

Safety handrail or banister (1) characterized by the fact that is provided at least on its back surface with touch-perceptible direction indicating means (3).
Safety handrail or banister (1) according to claim 1, in which the said touch-perceptible direction indicating means (3) are in the form of relief V-shaped or arrow point-like marks.
Safety handrail (1) according to claims 1 or 2, in which the said touch-perceptible direction indicating means (3)are formed at comparatively close distance one from the other along the whole length of the said handrail (1).
Safety handrail (1) according to the preceding claims, in which whenever the said handrails (1) are made from sheet metal, the said direction indicating means (3) are formed on said handrails (1) by an embossing process.
Safety handrail (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the said V-shaped or arrow-like direction indicating means (3) are provided with a passage (5) in correspondence of their points.
Safety handrail (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which in correspondence of the middle line of the space between two subsequent V-shaped or arrow point-like direction indicating means (3), a short rod-like relief extension (4) is provided.