GB2147928A

GB2147928A - Handrails

Info

Publication number: GB2147928A
Application number: GB08327634A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Walter Bennett
Original assignee: TRENT VALLEY ENGINEERING
Current assignee: TRENT VALLEY ENGINEERING
Priority date: 1983-10-14
Filing date: 1983-10-14
Publication date: 1985-05-22
Also published as: GB2147928B; GB8327634D0

Abstract

A handrail to assist elderly and handicapped people comprises a portion of a generally spiral form constituted by a alternate straights 24, 26, 28 and bends 30, 32, 34. There are three straights in each turn, aligned along three mutually substantially perpendicular axes. The straights provide hand-holds between the bends. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Handrails This invention is concerned with improve ments in or relating to handrails, especially handrails to assist elderly and handicapped people.

The invention provides, in one of its as pects, a handrail comprising an elongate rail portion defining at least one full turn of a generally spiral form constituted by a plurality of alternate straights and bends, there being at least one straight per turn providing a hand-hold between bends.

Such a handrail may be of value in any situation in which an elderly or handcapped person needs a readily and securely graspable rail by which to support themselves. For example, such a handrail could be provided on a wall adjacent to a bath, or in a much longer form, comprising many spiral turns, could be provided alongside steps or a staircase.

In a preferred form, the rail portion of a handrail as set out in the last preceding paragraph but one comprises a plurality of straights in the or each turn, each straight providing a hand-hold between bends. The straights and the bends between the straights are preferably each substantially uniform throughout the rail portion.

In a most preferred form, the rail portion of a handrail as set out in the last preceding paragraph but two comprises three straights in the or each turn. The three straights may be aligned along three mutually substantially perpendicular axes.

There now follows a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of a handrail which illustrates the invention by way of example.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of the handrail; Figure 2 is a top plan view of the handrail; and Figure 3 is an end view of the handrail.

The handrail shown in the drawings is designed to assist elderly and handicapped people. It can be secured to a wall, for example by a bath, to provide a readily and securely graspable rail, it being possible to grip the rail securely in many different ways and without risk of the person's grip sliding along the rail.

The handrail, which apart from three feet 10, 12 and 14 is fabricated from chromium plated brass tube, comprises a continuous elongate rail portion 1 6 which defies three full turns of a generally spiral form. Each turn is of the same form. Two endmost feet 10 and 1 4 are welded to the free ends of extensions 1 8 and 20, respectively, of the rail portion 16, and a middle one 1 2 of the feet is welded to one end of a supporting tube 22 of which the other end is welded to the rail portion 1 6 at its mid-point. The three feet 10, 1 2 and 1 4 are in the form of plates which can be secured to a wall to secure the handrail.

The spiral form of the rail portion 1 6 is constituted by a plurality of alternate straights and bends, the straights and the bends between the straights each being substantially uniform throughout the rail portion 16. There are three straights 24, 26 and 28 in each full turn of the rail portion 16, providing handholds between successive bends 30, 32, 34 and 30'.

The three straights 24, 26 and 28 can be aligned along three mutually substantially perpendicular axes.

A handrail in accordance with the invention can, of course, be made from any suitable metal or other materials.

1. A handrail comprising an elongate rail portion defining at least one full turn of a generally spiral form constituted by a plurality of alternate straights and bends, there being at least one straight per turn providing a hand-hold between bends.

2. A handrail according to claim 1 in which the rail portion comprises a plurality of straights in the or each turn, each straight providing a hand-hold between bends.

3. A handrail according to claim 2 in which the straights and the bends between the straights are preferably each substantially uniform throughout the rail portion.

4. A handrail according to either of claims 2 and 3 in which the rail portion comprises three straights providing three hand-holds between bends in the or each turn.

5. A handrail according to claim 4 in which the three straights are aligned along three mutually substantially perpendicular axes.

6. A handrail substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Claims 1 and 3 above have been deleted or textually amended.

New or textually amended claims have been filed as follows: 1. A handrail comprising an elongate rail portion defining at least one full turn of a generally spiral form constituted by a plurality of alternate straights and bends, there being at least one straight per turn providing between bends a hand-hold which owing to the adjacent bends can be gripped without risk of the person's grip sliding along the handrail.

3. A handrail according to claim 2 in which the straights and the bends between the straights are each substantially uniform throughout the rail portion.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Handrails This invention is concerned with improve ments in or relating to handrails, especially handrails to assist elderly and handicapped people. The invention provides, in one of its as pects, a handrail comprising an elongate rail portion defining at least one full turn of a generally spiral form constituted by a plurality of alternate straights and bends, there being at least one straight per turn providing a hand-hold between bends. Such a handrail may be of value in any situation in which an elderly or handcapped person needs a readily and securely graspable rail by which to support themselves. For example, such a handrail could be provided on a wall adjacent to a bath, or in a much longer form, comprising many spiral turns, could be provided alongside steps or a staircase. In a preferred form, the rail portion of a handrail as set out in the last preceding paragraph but one comprises a plurality of straights in the or each turn, each straight providing a hand-hold between bends. The straights and the bends between the straights are preferably each substantially uniform throughout the rail portion. In a most preferred form, the rail portion of a handrail as set out in the last preceding paragraph but two comprises three straights in the or each turn. The three straights may be aligned along three mutually substantially perpendicular axes. There now follows a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of a handrail which illustrates the invention by way of example. In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of the handrail; Figure 2 is a top plan view of the handrail; and Figure 3 is an end view of the handrail. The handrail shown in the drawings is designed to assist elderly and handicapped people. It can be secured to a wall, for example by a bath, to provide a readily and securely graspable rail, it being possible to grip the rail securely in many different ways and without risk of the person's grip sliding along the rail. The handrail, which apart from three feet 10, 12 and 14 is fabricated from chromium plated brass tube, comprises a continuous elongate rail portion 1 6 which defies three full turns of a generally spiral form. Each turn is of the same form. Two endmost feet 10 and 1 4 are welded to the free ends of extensions 1 8 and 20, respectively, of the rail portion 16, and a middle one 1 2 of the feet is welded to one end of a supporting tube 22 of which the other end is welded to the rail portion 1 6 at its mid-point. The three feet 10, 1 2 and 1 4 are in the form of plates which can be secured to a wall to secure the handrail. The spiral form of the rail portion 1 6 is constituted by a plurality of alternate straights and bends, the straights and the bends between the straights each being substantially uniform throughout the rail portion 16. There are three straights 24, 26 and 28 in each full turn of the rail portion 16, providing handholds between successive bends 30, 32, 34 and 30'. The three straights 24, 26 and 28 can be aligned along three mutually substantially perpendicular axes. A handrail in accordance with the invention can, of course, be made from any suitable metal or other materials. CLAIMS

Claims 1 and 3 above have been deleted or textually amended.

New or textually amended claims have been filed as follows:

1. A handrail comprising an elongate rail portion defining at least one full turn of a generally spiral form constituted by a plurality of alternate straights and bends, there being at least one straight per turn providing between bends a hand-hold which owing to the adjacent bends can be gripped without risk of the person's grip sliding along the handrail.