GB2186604A - Hand rail system - Google Patents

Abstract

The system (particularly for use by old infirm, handicapped, and disabled persons) comprises a first component 11 having first means (23,24) and second means (28,29) for securing the component to a support W1, one end of the component 11 being adapted to be cut to a desired length, and then to cooperate with a second component which may be a closure member 16 to close the end of the tube, the closure member having means 64,65 for securing the closure member to a support W3 and hence to support the end of the first component 11 or a straight connector 30 having first means to co-operate with the second end of the first component 11 and second means to cooperate with a third component, and means 33,34 for securing the straight connector 30 to a support W1 and hence to support the second end of the first component 11, or an angled connector 14; 15 having two limbs which extend transverse relative to one another, one limb being adapted to cooperate with the second end of the first component 11 and the other limb being adapted to co-operate with a third component, each limb having means 45,46,48,49;57,58,60,61 to secure the limb to a support and hence to support the second end of the first component 11. The means for securing the various components to the supports W are permanently secured to an integral with their respective components. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Hand rail system Description of invention This invention relates to a hand rail system and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a hand rail system for use by old, infirm, handicapped, and disabled persons, to facilitate for example, such a person bathing, i.e. getting in and out of a bath.

It will be appreciated there are a wide range of such hand rail systems already available, but generally these fall into two categories.

First, "tailor made" hand rails. Of course, because there are a wide range of sizes of baths and bathrooms, and other applications each may require a hand rail of a different configuration. It is expensive to tailor make such hand rails. Furthermore, it often takes a considerable time for a tailor made hand rail to be supplied.

Secondly, modular systems are known which comprise a plurality of fittings such as end stops, bends, straight connectors, T connectors etc. at least some of which have means to enable the fitting to be secured to a support, e.g. a wall. Such fittings "mate" with lengths of straight tubing which are cut to length to provide a large number of alternative configurations of hand rail.

However because the tube lengths are only secured to the supporting wall by the fittings, at least the longer lengths of tube tend to feel flimsy to a user offering no confidence to the user. Further, such tubes and fittings are usually simple push-fit connections. Because the tubes are not themselves directly secured to the support, this construction could permit the tubes to spring out of the fittings or at least to permit the tubes to rotate relative to the fittings which again detracts from providing confidence to the user of the hand rail.

According to the invention we provide a hand rail system comprising a first component, the first component comprising an elongate element having first and second ends, the first end having permanently secured to or integral therewith first means for securing the component to a support, and intermediate its ends, the component having permanently secured to or integral therewith second means for securing the component to a support, the second end of the component being adapted to be cut to a desired length, and then to cooperate with a second component selected from the following group of components:: (a) a closure member to close the end of the tube, the closure member having permanently secured to or integral therewith means for securing the closure member to a support and hence to support the second end of the first component; (b) a straight connector having first means to co-operate with the second end of the first component and second means to co-operate with a third component, and permanently secured or integral therewith means for securing the straight connector to a support and hence to support the second end of the first component;; (c) an angled connector having two limbs which extend transverse relative to one another, one limb being adapted to co-operate with the second end of the first component and the other limb being adapted to co-operate with a third component, each limb having permanently secured to or integral therewith means to secure the limb to a support and hence to support the second end of the first component.

At least where the second component comprises a straight connector or angled connector, the third component may comprise a further first component, or alternatively a further plain, elongate element, one end of which cooperates with the connector, and the free end of the third component co-operating with a further component selected from the group of components.

Where the length of the third component is long, preferably securing means are provided intermediate the ends of the third component permanently secured or integral therewith, for securing the third component to the support.

It will be appreciated that using a plurality of first components with selected second components, and third components, different from the first components where appropriate, a wide variety of configurations of hand rail readily can be built up thereby overcoming the problems with tailor made systems. Further, any rough end caused by cutting the first component to length would be concealed by the selected second component.

Because the first component is secured to the support at two positions by the first and second securing means, no rotation of the first component is permitted, and increased rigidity can be achieved, thereby overcoming the problems of known modular hand rail systems. It is not possible for the elongate elements to spring out of their associated connectors because no longitudinal movement is permitted. Further, because the closure member, straight connector or angled connector, second component is itself secured to the support by securing means, the closure member, straight connector or angled connector can itself provide a rigid hand hold for a user of the hand rail.

Thus a more rigid modular system than known modular hand rail systems is provided which can be tailored to suit individual needs simply by cutting the second end of the first component to length (if necessary), and selecting the appropriate second and third components, where appropriate.

The invention will now be described with the aid of the acccompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows a hand rail system in accordance with the invention.

Figures 2a and 2b illustrate alternative second components which could be used in the system of Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 1, a hand rail system 10 comprises a first component 11, a second component 12, and a third component 13.

The third component 13 is connected to a fourth component 14 which is in turn connected to a further third component 13' which is connected to a fifth component 15 which is in turn connected to a further third component 13" which finally is connected to a sixth component 16.

The first component 11 is an elongate element comprising a length of tubing 21 which may be of square section or round section as shown, or of any other regular or irregular cross sectional configuration, which has at a first end 22, a bend to provide a securing element 23 which extends generally at 90" to the longitudinal axis of the remainder of the component 11. The securing element 23 has welded thereto, or otherwise permanently secured or integral therewith, a plate 24 which has a plurality of apertures, in the present examples two apertures 25, which receive fasteners (not shown) which secure the plate 24 and hence the first end 22 of the first component 11 to a support which in the present example comprises a first wall W 1.

The second end 26 of the first component 11, is plain, and co-operates with the second component 12 as hereinafter described.

Intermediate the ends 22 and 26 of the first component 11, the tubing 21 is formed with an integral securing element 27 to which is welded a further plate 28 which again has a pair of fastener receiving apertures 29 but could of course have a different number of apertures.

Thus the first component 11 is secured to the wall W1 by first securing means at the end 22 of the component 11, and by a second securing means intermediate the ends 22 and 26 of the first component 11.

Because the securing elements 23 and 27 are both fixed relative to the tubing 21, the tubing 21 cannot rotate relative to the wall W1 or move longitudinally or of course, sideways.

The tubing 21 is cut to a desired length and then the cut end is received within a body 30 of the second component 12 thus concealing any roughness. The body also receives one end 31 of the third component 13. The body 30 is of greater dimension than each of the ends 26 and 31 of the first and third components 11 and 13 respectively, so that there is no reduction in the strength of the first and second components 11,13, at their ends 26,31. The body 30 has integrally provided therewith, a securing element 32 to which is welded a plate 33 which again has fastener receiving apertures 34 to enable the plate 33 and hence the second component 12 to be secured relative to the wall W 1.

The second component 12 thus supports the second end 26 of the first component 11.

The third component 13 comprises a further length of tubing 35. A second end 36 of the tubing 35 is received by the fourth component 14 as hereinafter described.

Intermediate the ends 31 and 36 of the third component 13, a securing element 37 is integral or permanently secured thereo. The securing element 37 has welded to its free end, a further plate 38 with further fastener receiving apertures 39 to enable the plate 38 and hence the third component 13 to be secured relative to the wall W 1.

If desired, more than one securing element 37 may be required along the length of the tubing 35, if for example the length of the tubing 35 were considerably greater than that shown. Each end of the third component 13 may be cut to the desired length both to fit within the desired space and to ensure that the securing element 37 is in a desired position to suit a user.

It will be appreciated that because of the securing means comprising the element 37 and plate 38 intermediate the ends 31 and 36 of the third component 13, the third component 13 cannot rotate relative to the wall W1, or move longitudinally or sideways relative to the wall W1.

The end 31 of the third component 13 is well supported by the second component 12 and is thus rigid relative to the first component 11 and wall W1.

The fourth component 14 comprises a pair of limbs 40,41 which extend generally at right angles to one another.

The limb 40 receives the end 36 of the third component 13, whilst the limb 41 receives one end 43 of a further third component 13' as described hereinafter. Again, like body 30 of the second component, the connector 14 is longer than the components 13,13' so as not to weaken the components 13,13' at their ends 36,43.

The limb 40 has integrally provided or permanently secured thereto, a securing element 44 to which is welded a plate 45 which again has fastener receiving apertures 46. Thus the limb 40 can be secured to wall W1 to provide a rigid support for the end 36 of the third component 13.

Integrally provided with, or permanently secured to the limb 41 of the component 14, is a further securing element 48 which, like securing element 44, extends outwardly of the component 14, but generally away from securing element 44.

The securing element 48 again has a plate 49 welded thereto, the plate 49 having fastener receiving apertures to enable the plate 49 and hence the limb 41 of the component 14 to be secured to another support comprising a second wall W2 which is generally at right angles to wall W 1.

The limb 41 thus provides a rigid support for the end 43 of the further third component 13' which extends along the wall W2 similar to the manner in which the third component 13 extends along the wall W 1.

The further third component 13' is substantially identical to third component 13, although the ends 43 and 50, corresponding to ends 31 and 36 respectively, may be cut to different lengths as desired, to fit any particular application, and to position a securing means 51 as desired to suit a user.

The securing means 51 is intermediate the ends 43 and 50 of the further third component to enable the further third component 13' to be secured relative to wall W2.

The end 50 of the further third component 13' is received by one limb 52 of the fifth component 15. The fifth component 15, like fourth component 14 has a second limb 53 generally at right angles to limb 52, which limb 53 receives one end 54 of a still further third component 13".

The limb 52 of the fifth component 15 has integrally provided or integrally secured thereto, a securing element 56 to which is welded a plate 57 again having fastener receiving apertures 58 to enable the limb 52 to be secured relative to the second wall W2 and thus provide a rigid support for the end 50 of the further third component 13'.

The limb 53 also has provided integrally or permanently secured thereto, a securing element 59, which, like securing element 56 extends outwardly of the component 15 but generally towards securing element 56. The securing element 59 has welded thereto, a plate 60 again with fastener receiving apertures 61, and this enables the limb 53 to be secured relative to a further wall support W3 which is generally at right angles to wall W2.

Whereas the fourth component 14 can extend inside the corner C between walls W1 and W2 because the securing elements 44 and 48 extend outwardly away from one another, fifth component 15 can be secured around the outside of a corner C' by virtue of the securing elements 56 and 59 extending outwardly of the body towards one another.

The end 54 of the still further third components 13" is thus rigidly supported relative to the fifth component 15 and the wall W3 and the other end of the still further component 13" which is indicated at 62, is secured rigidly relative to the wall W3 by the sixth conponent 16 as hereinafter described.

The still further third component 13" is substantially identical to the further third component 13' and component 13 except the ends 54 and 62 may be cut to different selected lengths for a particular application. However, again, a securing means 61 is provided intermediate the ends 54 and 62 of the still further third component 13" to enable the still further third component 13" to be rigidly secured relative to wall W3.

The sixth component 16 comprises closure element 16 which receives the end 62 of the still further third component 13" in the manner of a cap. The cap 16 has a securing element 63 extending transversly relagive thereto, the securing element 63 having welded thereto a further plate 64 again with fastener receiving apertures 65 to enable the sixth component 16 and hence the end 62 of the still further third component 13" to be secured rigidly relative to wall W3.

It will be appreciated that the first component 11, and each of the third components 13,13' and 13" may be cut to length to suit any particular application. Furthermore, different intermediate components to components 12,14,15 and end component 16 may be provided, or in different combinations, to achieve different rail configurations. Hence the rail configuration shown is only for iliustrative purposes and it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that using the components 11 to 16, a wide variety of alternative configurations of hand rail can be achieved.

In Fig. 2a an alternative closure member 16' is shown which, instead of having a securing element 63 extending generally at 90" to the extent of the adjacent still further third component 13", a securing element 63' is provided which extends axially of the closure element 16' but again has rigidly welded thereto a plate 64' with fastener receiving apertures 65'.

This component 16' could be used in place of component 16 it for example a fourth wall extended at right angles to wall W3.

Of course, in buildings, not all corners are of right angles. Accordingly in Fig. 2, an alternative component 70 is shown which, like components 14 and 15, comprise a pair of limbs 71 and 72. However the limbs 71 and 72 do not extend at right angles to one another, but in the present example at an angle of 135". It is envisaged that components similar to component 70 might be provided with varying angles such as 1200. Each limb 71 and 72 has a securing element 73,74, respectively, provided integrally therewith, each element 73,74 having welded thereto a plate 75,76 which is intended to be secured to a support via fasteners which are received in fastener receiving apertures 77.

In this example, the securing elements 73,74 extend towards one another from the limbs 71 and 72 so that the component would be suitable for extending around the outside of a corner. In an alternative arrangement, the securing elements 73,74 may extend away from one another so that the component may be suitable for extending inside a corner having an angle substantially identical to the angle between the limbs 71 and 72 of the component.

Whereas in the components 14,15 and 70, the respective pairs of securing elements 44,48; 56,59; and 73,74 extend towards or away from one another from the limbs of the components to fit corners, the elements may extend in parallel directions from their respective limbs. In this way, a third component, such as component 13,13',13" or a further first component could extend longitudinally along an axis transverse to the axis of the adjacent first or third component, for example to provide a vertical or where the limb angle is not 90", at least an upwardly or downwardly extending rail section in addition to the generally longitudinal rail sections shown in fig. 1.

It is envisaged that each of the components 11-16, 16',70 could be anodised, textured, or coated with a suitable plastic or epoxy coating to enable a user of the hand rail to achieve a firm grip and to provide a decorative finish.

Each of the securing elements 23,27,32,37, 44,48,51,56,59,63,63',73 and 74 preferably have a length of at least 25 mm so that the hand rail is supported away from the wall W1, W1 or W2 by a similar distance. Each of the securing elements are preferably shaped to provide a hand hold to a user of the hand rail.

It will be appreciated that an infirm, handicapped or disabled user may not have sufficient grip to grasp the hand rail along the tubular parts 21,35, of the components 11,13,13' and 13", in which case the securing elements may themselves provide a secure handhold to a user of the hand rail.

Various modifications may be made to the hand rail system described without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition to providing a large number of different arrangements of hand rail using the components described, preferably a plurality of first components 11 are available, with varying spacing between the securing means at the end 22 of the component 11 and the intermediate securing means. Further, preferably first components 11 are available with different lengths of ends 26 which may be cut to selected lengths with minimum wastage and to ensure that the support elements which also provide handholds for users, are positioned as required.

Although as shown, each of the tubular parts 21,35, of the components described have been of round cross section, they could alternatively be of rectangular e.g. square cross sections or any other regular or irregular shape.

Further, instead of the first and third components being tubular, if desired they could be made of solid rods suitably formed.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, in the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims (26)

1. A hand rail system comprising a first component, the first component comprising an elongate element having first and second ends, the first end having permanently secured or integral therewith, first means for securing the component to a support, and intermediate its ends, the component having permanently secured or integral therewith second means for securing the component to a support, the second end of the component adapted to be cut to a desired length, and then to co-operate with a second component selected from the following group of components:: (a) a closure member to close the end of the tube, the closure member having permanently secured to or integral therewith means for securing the closure member to a support and hence to support the second end of the first component; (b) a straight connector having first means to co-operate with the second end of first component and second means to co-operate with a third component, and permanently secured or integral therewith means for securing the straight connector to a support and hence to support the second end of the first component;; (c) an angled connector having two limbs which extend transverse relative to one another, one limb being adapted to co-operate with the second end of first component and the other limb being adapted to co-operate with a third component, each limb having permanently secured or integral therewith means to secure the limb to a support and hence to support the second end of the first component.

2. A hand rail system according to Claim 1 wherein the second component comprises a straight connector or angled connector and the third component comprises a further first component.

3. A hand rail system according to Claim 1 wherein the second component comprises a straight connector or angled connector and the third component comprises a further plain, elongate element, one end of which co-operates with the connector, the free end of the third component co-operating with a further component selected from the group of components.

4. A hand rail system according to Claim 3 wherein the further plain, elongate element has permanently secured or integral therewith intermediate its ends, securing means for securing the third component.

5. A hand rail system according to Claim 1 wherein the second component comprises a closure member, the closure member comprising a cap which receives the second end of the first component.

6. A hand rail system according to Claim 5 wherein the means to secure the closure member to the support comprises a securing element which extends from the cap transverse relative to the extent of the first component.

7. A hand rail system according to Claim 4 wherein the means to secure the closure member to the support comprises a securing element which extends from the cap in a direction generally parallel to the extent of the first component.

8. A hand rail system according to Claim 6 or Claim 7 wherein the securing element has permanently secured or integral therewith a plate which engages with the support, and means to permit fasteners to secure the plate to the support.

9. A hand rail system according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the second component comprises a straight connector comprising a body which receives the second end of the first component and an end of the third component so that the first and third components are connected in line.

10. A hand rail system according to Claim 9 wherein the means to secure the straight connector to the support comprises a securing element which extends from the connector transversely relative to the extent of the first component.

11. A hand rail system according to Claim 10 wherein the securing element has permanently secured or integral therewith a plate which engages with the support and has means to permit fasteners to secure the plate to the support.

12. A hand rail system according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the second component comprises an angled connector, the one limb receiving the second end of first component and the other limb receiving one end of the third component.

13. A hand rail system according to Claim 12 wherein the two limbs of the angled connector are generally at 90" to one another.

14. A hand rail system according to Claim 11 wherein the two limbs of the angled connector are generally at an angle greater than 90" but less than 180" to one another.

15. A hand rail system according to Claim 14 wherein the two limbs of the angled connector are generally at an angle of between 119" and 130" to one another.

16. A hand rail system according to any one of Claims 12 to 1 5 wherein the means to secure each limb to the support comprises a securing element which extends from the limb transversely relative to the extent of the limb.

17. A hand rail system according to Claim 16 wherein each securing element has permanently secured or integral therewith a plate which engages with the support and has means to permit fasteners to secure the plate to the support.

18. A hand rail system according to Claim 16 or Claim 17 wherein the securing elements extend outwardly from the second component away from one another so that the second component may be secured inside a corner of a support.

19. A hand rail system according to Claim 16 or Claim 17 wherein the securing elements extend outwardly from the second component towards one another so that the second component may be secured around the outside of a corner of a support.

20. A hand rail system according to Claim 16 or Claim 17 wherein the securing elements extend outwardly from the second component in generally parallel directions.

21. A hand rail system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first and second securing means of the first component are each provided by a securing element which extends transversly relative to the first component and each securing element having permanently secured or integral therewith a plate which engages with the support, and means to permit fasteners to secure the plate to the support.

22. A hand rail system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the elongate element of the first component, and any further elongate element, of non circular cross section.

23. A hand rail system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elongate element of the first component, and any further elongate element, comprises a length of tubing of round, rectangular or other cross section.

24. A hand rail system according to any one of the preceding Claims where appendant to Claims 6 or 7, or 10 or 11, or 16 or 17 or Claim 21 wherein the securing element ensures that there is a distance of at least 25 mm from the component to the support so that the securing element can be used as a hand hold.

25. A hand rail system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

26. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein or shown in the accompanying drawings.