GB2202249A - Railing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The systems e.g. for hand-rails, comprises at least one metal block connecting member 1 having six facets 2 with at least one hole 3 in each of at least two of said facets; at least one rail, each rail being secured to at least one of said connecting members by means of a male member or members cooperating with said holes; and means for securing said system to a solid surface. The securing means may be a flange 12 with fixing holes 10 and hole 11 for receiving one male member 5 of connecting means 4, the other male member of which is received in the block 1. <IMAGE>

Description

SUPPORT MEMBERS The present invention relates to hand rail systems.

There is a considerable demand for railings to be mounted on walls, doors and other surfaces to serve as handles and supports for the disabled and supports for the storage of goods, including, in the home, kitchen equipment, tools and the like and, in industry, heavy tools and equipment. Such railings normally comprise an essentially tubular member which is fixed, normally at either end, by a support means including a flange, to the wall, door or other surface. The whole assembly can be made integrally, for example from wood, metal or plastics materials, and this can be satisfactory for railings intended for relatively light duty service, e.g. towel rails. Even for such light duty applications, and, in particular, for heavy duty applications, it is more common for the rail, at least, to be manufactured as a separate element from the support.Such a system can work efficiently and, in the case where the rail is formed separately from its supports, has the advantage that railings of different lengths can be manufactured simply by altering the length of the rail but using the same supports.

However, it is time-consuming and expensive to adapt conventional railing systems, as welding of parts is required at some point to secure the railing to its supports. For many applications, it is also necessary or desirable to provide more than one railing closely associated with each other. For example, in the case of supports for the disabled, it may be necessary to provide a long run of railing along a surface and in that case, it would not normally be adequate to provide simply two supports at either end of the railing.

Alternatively, it may be desirable to provide two or more rails at angles to each other, for example to assist the disabled in or around the bath, where an essentially horizontal rail may need to be associated with an essentially vertical rail. In such a case, it is generally desirable that the two rails should, at their juncture, be supported by a single support.

Accordingly, it is necessary to provide a specially designed support to provide for such a junction. For other configurations of railings, other differently designed junctions and supports may be required.

Such junctions and supports can readily be moulded from plastics materials, but this will not normally be sufficiently strong for heavy duty applications.

Machined metal parts are more common for heavy duty applications, but the cost of manufacturing several different types of support and junctions for the many different possible uses means that such railing systems are necessarily expensive, and it is accepted within the industry that such expense is inevitable.

Attempts have been made to create a cheaper and more effective/adaptable railing system and these have focussed on the use of moulded plastic joints. These tend to take the form of L-shaped and T-shaped tubular portions and are quick and easy to assemble. They suffer from the main disadvantage of not being able to withstand great stress, such as the entire weight of a falling person. Various manufacturers have now taken these plastic junction systems off the market.

Junctions of this sort cannot be made of metal as the types of metal suitable cannot easily be cast into such configurations.

If metal supports and junctions were available more cheaply, then it is anticipated that railings of this type would become much more widely available, especially for disabled and elderly people, and would significantly enhance their safety and quality of life.

It has now been discovered that it is possible to provide such versatile and strong supports and junctions, or connecting members, by means of a single multifaceted metal block connectable, or connected, to a wall fixture and provided with holes in at least two of its facets to enable location of suitable railing without having to bend the railing. This enables a limited number of parts of different shapes and/or sizes to be manufactured to form a kit from which railings of all sizes and types may be made by a non-skilled person with limited technical facilities.

Thus, in a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hand rail system comprising: at least one cuboid block metal connecting member having six facets, each of at least two of the facets having at least one locating hole; at least one rail, each rail being secured to at least one of the connecting members by means of a male member or members e adapted to engage the locating hole or holes; and means for securing said assembly to a solid surface.

It will be appreciated that the above-described railing assembly can be provided as a kit of parts.

Therefore, in an alternative aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit of parts comprising: at least one cuboid block metal connecting member having six facets, each of at least two of the facets having at least one locating hole; at least one rail; a male member or members located or locatable at an end or ends of each rail and adapted to mate with the locating hole or holes; and means for securing the assembled structure to a solid surface.

It is possible for either the rail, the connecting member (or block), or both, to be provided with securing means.as an integral part, and such embodiments form a part of the present invention, but it is generally preferable for the individual elements to be made separately for ease of manufacture. Thus, the blocks can be made substantially symmetrically, and the securing means adapted to be fitted to blocks, or rails, as required. In either case, it is preferable to use the connecting means located on the respective element to mount the securing means.

The securing means preferably takes the form of a flange and. for a block, a support located thereon, either integrally or releasably. For attachment to a block, the support can be soldered or welded on, but ideally has a male threaded member matched by a female counter-threaded member in a facet of the block. For attachment to a rail, the flange can be attached conventionally or by means described hereinafter for attachment of the rail to a block.

It will be appreciated that, while a system according to the present invention will necessarily incorporate at least one cuboid connecting member, it may be desirable to incorporate a further connecting member of differing shape to allow angled constructions.

Thus, a bannister system may usefully be provided with an angled block at the head and foot of the stairs to permit continuity, although it would be equally possible to provide non-contiguous rails instead.

The systems according to the present invention may provide support for a rail between two walls, say, or to traverse a corner.

The holes in the facets may be provided either singly, or in pairs, or more. The advantage of pairs is that a corresponding pair of pins may be located at each end of the rail to locate in the said holes. However, this method may provide less firm location of rails than is required, movement within the holes of the block providing extra stress on the support, which may, in turn, result in loosening the attachment to the wall.

Thus, in a generally preferred embodiment there is provided a nale screw-threaded member located at each end of the rail which locates in a corresponding, counter-threaded hole in a facet of the block or for attachment to a flange. Even if not screwed in fully, longitudinal movement is restricted and unnecessary stress on the supports avoided.

For further adaptability, it is possible to cut lengths of rail to size, for use in the present invention, if the male location members are provided separately. Such members may be provided on a solid or hollow cylinder over, or in, which an end of the said ral may fit. In such cases, a screw or bolt provided through an end of the cylinder may provide the male member, but it is equally possible for the two parts to be integral.

The rail may further be secured to the said cylinder by glue, screw(s), compression, rivetting, or other means known in the art.

The holes in the metal block may be covered when not in use by caps, suitably of plastics material. Caps may not be necessary if blocks with holes in varying numbers of facets are used.

The block, securing means, rail and male members will normally and preferably be made of a metal, although it is not necessary that all should be made of the same metal, and the rail may also be made of rigid plastic, wood or some other suitably strong material.

Since the railing assembly could be used in a range of environments from cold to hot, moist to dry, including destructive domestic environments such as the bathroom or corrosive industrial environments, we prefer to use such relatively inert metals as aluminium or stainless steel. However, other, less inert metals may be used if provided with an inert covering, e.g. a plastics covering or chromium plating.

It is preferred that the surface of the rail should have a raised pattern to provide a better grip for the user. Such a pattern (the nature of which is not critical) may be provided by embossing sheet metal prior to forming the sheet into a tube to be used as the rail. In addition or instead, the rail may be covered by a sleeve, made, for example, of a plastics material, whose surface may be smooth or textured, to provide a better grip or for aesthetic reasons.

Rails are generally of between 1.5 and 10 cm diameter, preferably 2.5 to 3.5 cm, and ideally 3.175cm (1.25"). Rail length is not critical, but it is preferred to supply it in about 3m (10') lengths for preparation in situ. It is equally preferred to provide it in pre-cut lengths for immediate assembly, although these should preferably not exceed 1.25m. The rails may be of any desired construction, such as of square or circular cross-section, and may be solid or hollow.

However. it is preferred that they be metal, preferably stainless steel, with 304 grade being preferred for interior applications and 316 for exterior. Further, the rails are advantageously tubular and hollow, with a wall thickness of between 0.9 and 2 mm, preferably 1.2mm (18swg).

It will be appreciated that, for aesthetic reasons, the diameter of the rail will determine the minimum size of the relevant facets on the block. Maximum block size, however, is under no constraint and may be as large as desired, although it is generally preferred that the greatest measurement be no more than 1 or 2 cm more than the diameter of the rail.

While the railing systems according to the present invention will normally be affixed to a wall or other solid surface, it is also possible to provide them as hinged structures, for example as a gate on a wheelchair or next to a lavatory.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a plan view of a block according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of a support; Fig. 3 shows a side view of a hole cap; Fig. 4 shows an end/side/top elevation of the block of Fig. 1: Fig. 5 shows a side elevation of cylinder adapted to take a male member; Fig. 6 shows a side elevation of a cylinder with an integral male member; Fig. 7 shows a plan view of a flange for the support of Fig. 2; Fig. 8 is a plan view of a bathroom incorporating rails according to the invention; and Fig. 9 shows a hand-rail for support on stairs.

The block (1) shown in Fig. 1 is made of metal, e.g.

aluminium or steel (especially stainless steel) and bears six faces (2) with a threaded hole (3) in each.

Each hole meets in the middle of the block, colinear holes advantageously being provided by a single bore.

The edges of the block are rounded to avoid presenting sharp corners.

The support (4) in Fig. 2 is preferably a solid cylinder made of a suitable metal such as aluminium and bearing two male screw-threaded members (5), one at either end.

The cap (6) of Fig. 3 is conveniently made of plastics material, since it is not a structural member, but it may, if desired, be made of a metal.

The block of Fig. 4 illustrates further the positioning of the holes in the block of Fig. 1.

The cylinder (7) shown in Fig. 5 is preferably hollow, made of a metal such as aluminium and has a hole (8) in its solid end (9).

In Fig. 6, the cylinder (7) is constructed of the same materials as that of Fig. 5 but has an integral male member (5).

The flange of Fig. 7 has 2 or more, e.g. 3, holes (10) for locating screws around the outside and a further hole (11) in the centre piece (12) which is raised to enable pos,itioning of a fastening nut.

In use. one male member (5) of the support (4) is located in the hole (11) of the flange and is secured by a nut. A block (1) is then fastened on the second male member (5) of support (4). A male member associated with a cylinder (7) is located in a hole (3) of block (1) and tightened. The process is repeated for at least one further set of similar pieces. A piece of metal tubing (not shown) then has each of its ends located over a cylinder (7). The assembled railing is then screwed into place using holes (10) in the flange (Fig. 7). The tubing may be further secured, e.g. by means of rivetting, to each cylinder (7).

Supports are not necessarily required for each block where. for example. a railing construct stands out from a wall or corner.

In Fig. 8, 3 different railing constructs are shown for possible use in a bathroom. Bold lines represent rails, discs represent flanges and boxes represent blocks. Construct A demonstrates a system wherein no block is attached to a support and a convenient support rail is provided around a wash basin.

B shows a single rail with 2 blocks and 2 supports supporting the one rail.

C shows a support system around a lavatory, further showing, on the left, how extra support may be provided by a branching rail.

Figure 9 demonstrates a hand-rail for use with stairs and with a central block providing added support.

Claims (25)

1. A hand rail system comprising: at least one cuboid block metal connecting member having six facets, each of at least one cuboid block metal connecting member having six facets, each of at least two of the facets having at least one locating hole; at least one rail, each rail being secured to at least one of the connecting members by means of a male member, or members, adapted to engage the locating hole or holes; and means for securing said assembly to a solid surface.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein each facet has no more than one locating hole.

3. A system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein engagement of male members and holes is effected by cooperating screw threads.

4. A system according to any preceding claim wherein rails have a circular cross-section.

5. A system according to any preceding claim wherein rails are between 1.5 and 10cm in width.

6. A system according to claim 5 wherein the width is between 2.5 and 3.5cm.

7. A system according to claim 5 wherein the width is 3.175cm.

8. A system according to any preceding claim wherein rails are made from hollow stainless steel

9. A system according to claim 8 wherein the thickness of rail walls is between 0.9 and 2mm.

10. A system according to claim 9 wherein the thickness is 1.2mm (18swig).

11. A system according to any preceding claim wherein rails are 304 or 316 stainless steel.

12. A system according to any preceding claim wherein rails have raised patterns adapted to improve hand-grip.

13. A system according to any preceding claim wherein male members are located in sleeves securable on the ends of rails.

14. A system according to claim 13 wherein male members are provided by screws or bolts, each locatable through a closed end of a sleeve.

15. A system according to any preceding claim wherein each securing means comprises at least a flange securable to a solid surface.

16. A system according to claim 15 wherein each flange has a substantially central hole to allow engagement of a male member therein.

17. A system according to claim 16 wherein the male member is as defined in any preceding claim, or is provided on a further connecting member having at least a second male member to engage a locating hole in a connecting member.

18. A system according to claim 17 wherein the further connecting member is substantially cylindrical with two male members, one located at either end.

19. A system according to any of claims 16 to 18 wherein the male members are screw-threaded and securable in the flange by means of a screw or nut.

20. A system according to any preceding claim wherein at least one connecting member has locating holes in opposite facets and both holes are provided by a single through-bore.

21. A system according to any preceding claim wherein all components are made of metal.

22. A system according to any preceding claim wherein rails and flanges are made from stainless steel, connecting members are made from anodised aluminium and sleeves are made from aluminium.

23. A system according to any preceding claim, substantially as described herein.

24. A kit of parts comprising at least those components as described in claim 1, or any subsequent claim 2 to 23.

25. A kit of parts comprising: at least one cuboid block metal connecting member having six facets, each of at least two of the facets having at least one locating hole; at least one rail; a male member or members located or locatable at an end or ends of each rail and adapted to mate with the locating hole or holes; and means for securing the assembled structure to a solid surface.