GB2218344A

GB2218344A - Aid for ascending and descending stairs

Info

Publication number: GB2218344A
Application number: GB8900111A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jack * Smith Peter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-04-28
Filing date: 1989-01-04
Publication date: 1989-11-15
Also published as: GB8810149D0; GB8900111D0

Abstract

A user, an invalid or elderly person, puts on a harness and attaches it to a rope extending from a device 1. As the user descends the stairs the rope is paid out against a resistance. If the user falls the rope locks thus preventing the fall. At the bottom of the stairs the rope and harness is removed from the user and attached at 8 for reuse later for ascent of the stairs. In an alternative the rope is connected to a handle that slides along a channel and the handle is gripped by a user. <IMAGE>

Description

ADDITIONAL SAFETY ON STAIRS BY COWERING A PERSON'S 3ATANCE This invention relates to a positive method which, by its essence, alleviates fear of falling when ascending and descending stairs, by counter-balancing the loss of a person's balance.

When learning to walk, we fall; were this not the case, then care, or the safety factor, would not be so easily carried with us throughout life. With this in mind, the present invention takes character. The concern, or fear of falling, will be greatly lessened by this the present invention and indeed is its essence. Climbing, down or up, a staircase, always should be taken in one's stride with care. After leaving the learning stage of walking, care is not so obvious in our stride, unless we are handicapped mentally or physically, or approach the time of life when we are not so able as was once the case. The present invention is for, to benefit, help, enable, those persons of whatever age-group, to address the trauma that a fall will create, while ascending or descending stairs.

The present invention, in design, has assumed or expects the usual banisters to be present, and also banisters that have been added individually, or other aids to suit the need of an individual. The present invention does not imply or state that it will by design make obsolete other aids that help to overcome the problems that climbing up and down stairs present.

The present invention is also an aid, that will by design, counter a person's balance; is an inventive step to slow or halt a loss of balance, and should a fall be incurred, the counterbalance is there to intervene, stop or blunt the pull of gravity which otherwise would follow in the natural course of events.

To make clear the boundary to which the present invention is to apply or is applicable, and further to make clear its purpose:- its use will combine additional safety, by using a means of counter-balancing a person's weight when ascending or descending stairs, stair-cases/-ways, steps, ladders, companion-ways, in houses, flats, buildings, hospitals, factories, boats ships, liners or their like.

In explaining the viability/workability of the present invention, for convenience purposes, it shall be applied to a house staircase, though applicable to all areas already mentioned.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings; reference shall be made to both sheets as marked, i.e. 1/2, 2/2.

Sheet 1/2, Fig.l shows in perspective a person descending the stairs using this invention, and its application to the person and how it shall counter a loss of balance.

Fig. 2 illustrates the opposite use of the invention: to counter a loss of balance while a person ascends the stairs, and its application to the person.

Sheet 2/2, Fig.3 displays another conception that this invention lends itself to, that is, a supportive arm, and Its use in descent.

Fig.4 showing its similarity to Figs.l,2,3, while describing its use in ascending a staircase.

Referring to the drawings on sheet 1/2, Fig.l, the person, feeling in need of additional security as approaching the top of the staircase 6, shall reach for an appropriately positioned 2T harness, belt, or suitably tailored equipment, take it from the position 2T, and on wearing it, securely fasten it to the cord 3. The person, now wearing the secured apparel, will continue to approach the top of the staircase 6 in the usual manner, and with a hand on the bannisters 5 start to descend 4.

In doing so, the person shall exert a given pressure that the restraining apparel, connected by the cord 3 and 1 shall impose. The constraining effect to be complimentary, welcomed, so that the staircase shall become less steep, less burdensome, as may now be the case prior to the present invention.

On reaching the bottom of the staircase 6, the cord, as shown by 7,may be positioned and held as suggested by 8 and apparel placed as suggested by 2B ready for ascent.

On ascent, the restraining apparel shall be taken from position 2B, again being securely fastened to the person who will now be facing in the opposite direction Fig.2, -4. The apparel shall be in need of reconnection, or shall be already connected, as may be appropriate to the developing method in design accorded by the present invention. As the person begins to ascend the staircase 6, the present invention shall, from the front of the person 4, be exerting a pulling pressure by cord 3 from 1; this assisting pressure presenting security from a backward loss of balance. Upon reaching the top of the staircase 6, the apparel shall be replaced for further use in suggested position 2T. This description clarifying that both ascent and descent shall be combined in the counterbalance of the invention.

In adding to the description of the invention and the boundary which it covers: it will be applicable to the assistance of those recovering from all forms of illness or their like, be it mental or physical; of those with deformity of body or mind, the mentally or physically handicapped; to help in the recovery of the afoementioned, or to a given level of recovery, or as a therapeutic measure to enhance the quality of life/living. Purther to the embodiment and boundary of this invention: the additional safety factor that the invention brings to both ascending and descending stairs, as mentioned in this specification, is to aid and assist those who will purport to be in a good measure of health and its essence will be to complement that view, by being in the category of use where wisdom will see it as 'prevention is better than cure'.The present invention offers its assistance to all who may require the common sense of its essence.

That the invention lends itself to many inventives shall become more apparent in its technological development.

As an example, reference will now be made to drawings on 2/2, in describing the use of a supportive arm method.

The person, sensing the need of additional security when descending or ascending the stairs, shall, when on descent and approaching the top of the staircase Fig.3,6, pull down from upright position, as in 2, a supportive arm and gripping tbe handle 23 firmly proceed the descent 4. The supportive arm will help to counter a person's loss of balance 2A, should it occur. The person 4, when walking forward and down the staircase 6 shall apply a given pressure to the supportive arm 2A which will stop, come to a halt, should there be a sudden movement, i.e. an increase in pressure.

The supportive arm shall move, run, slide in a specifically designed channel 7 which will be secured above the bannisters 5.

On reaching the bottom of the staircase, the person shall release the supportive arm, allowing it to spring freely into locking position 2.

Fig.4: In ascending, the person 4 shall, on pulling the supportive arm down and in front 2A, automotically unlock the supportive arm and feel a given pulling pressure. This encouraging the person 4 to ascend, and on doing so will move forward and up the staircase 6, confidently knowing that a backward movement on the supportive arm shall be restrained, for it will stop and support while the person is firmly gripping the handle 23. Continuing the ascent 4 the supportive arm, still held firmly 2A ,shall continue to support the person 4,while the cord 3 is pulling the supportive arm as it moves up the channel 7 untill it reaches position 2. The person on reaching the stair case top 6 releases their hold on the handle 2B,so that the supportive arm can spring freely to locking position 2, Referriing to Pigs 1 to 4 on sheets 1/2 and 2/2, but to numeral 1, in particular which represents a suitably known technology that will restrain and arrest (stop) a sudden forward movement of the cord 3. The cord 3 is also housed in 1.

In adding to this Specifistion of the present invention and the bounary it covers The design of the present invention shall be accorded to varying circumstances of environments and varying circumstances, where the invention is to be fixed, placed, or usedF So that both the principle and the essence of the invention shall be identifiable, i.e.

To counter a persons loss of balance should it arise and or should the need be apparent, by the use and or aid of the invention, Which is to support,aid,or assistin the balance of the person, when ascending or descending stairs and staircases as specified, and relative to varyation in design.

Claims

CLAIMS OF THIS SPECIFICATION

I.. A means of ascending, descending stairs with a greater measure of safety, of counter - balance.
2. That the means to counter -'balance as in claim one, is to aid the person in their usage of the stairs, referring to lines 33 to 38 of this specification ) thereby reducing the fear of falling down the staircase ana the trauma of events that may follow,
3.. The present invention is to correct an imbalance or loss of balance, that might occur while using the stairs as in claim two, by a means to counter - balance.
4. That in both cases of ascent and descent, a harness or a suitable apparel, or supportive means, shall be the mediator between the person and the means to counter the persons balance as in claim three.
5. the present invention is. by its essence an aid or supportive assistance to counter the pull of gravity, so that the imbalance of. the person, as in claims two and three, is redressed.
6. The present invention, as described in the specifica tion, drawings and all preceeding claims, shall still retain its principle; this immaterial of variations or even var lance in/of design - such as may be the case if or when the invention in its developing stages of design - is applied to the boundary it embraces, (as made clear in lines Nos. 30 to .38 of this specification).
7. This specification presents z suggested and basic means. accompanied by drawings, bringing together known methods by which this invention may be put into practice..

But claims to take into account its enhancement through the sophistication of. techr.olgyb