GB2335933A

GB2335933A - A handrail grip

Info

Publication number: GB2335933A
Application number: GB9806922A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Lewis
Original assignee: ML SERVICES
Current assignee: ML SERVICES
Priority date: 1998-03-31
Filing date: 1998-03-31
Publication date: 1999-10-06
Anticipated expiration: 2018-03-31
Also published as: GB2335933B; GB9806922D0

Abstract

A handrail grip has a yoke portion 1 which fits over the handrail 15 of an existing bannister and is slidably retained by inwardly facing nylon pads 4 which engage channel portions in the sides of the handrail. When the grip is tilted rearwardly a friction pad 5 engages the top surface 10 of the handrail and the user can haul himself/herself up the stairs by gripping the handle 2.

Description

2335933 HANDRAIL GRIP AND ASSEMBLY The present invention relates to a

handrail grip for assistance in ascending or descending stairs.

As is well known, elderly or frail persons often find it difficult to negotiate stairs and have to pull themselves up by gripping the handrail. However, the handrail is not easy to grip and accordingly efforts have been made to overcome this problem.

One design which addresses this problem is disclosed in GB-A-2106790 and comprises a carriage of generally rectangular cross-swfion which has a tubular portion arranged to slide along a purpose made rectangular guide or handrail. Next to the tubular portion the carriage carries an arm which is pivotable about nearly vertical axis, the am terminating in a frame-type handle and lying parallel to the guide or handrail. The arm bears against slidable mounted horizontal piston elements which are located in front of and behind the pivot axis and carry friction pads which engage the guide or handrail when the arm is tilted as a result of the user leaning forwardly or backwardly against the handle.

The above arrangement, in which the pivot axis is offset from the guide or handrail, is complicated and. because it requires a purpose-made guide or handrail which is a close fit in the carriage, relatively expensive.

2 The present invention provides a handrail grip for assistance in ascending or descending stairs, the grip being arranged in use to fit over the handrail and to tilt on the handrail when 1 c leant on by the users, the grip being arranged to ffictionally engage the handrail when tilted 1 in one direction and to slide along the handrail when tilted in the opposite direction.

By allowing the grip to tilt on the handrail, the invention avoids the need for an exact slidine, fit between the grip and handrail and enables the grip to be used with an existing banister.

The invention also provides a handrail assembly comprising a handrail grip as defined above fitted over a handrail of non-rectangular transverse cross-section.

Preferably the grip has two leg portions which can be fitted over the handrail, the lea portions being arranged to engage the handrail and to define the tilt axiis.

Preferably at least one facing portion of the legs has an inwardly extending projection which in use engages a surface of the handrail.

Preferably in use the pr jection engages the handrail so as to prevent the handrail grip ftom 01 Ili being lifted off the handrail when the grip is tilted by the user.

Other preferred features of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

3 A preferred embodiment of the invention is described below by way of example only with reference to Figures 1 to 9 of the accompanying drawings, whereh Figure 1 is a sketch perspective view of a handrail grip in accordance with the invention., Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side view of the grip of Figure 1 when the user is leaning forward, Figure 3 is a diagrammatic side view of the grip of Figure 1 when the user is leaning backward., Figure 4 is a front elevation, partly in section, showing the engagement of the grip of Figure 1 with the sides of an existing handrail on a banister, Figure 5 is a side elevation taken on Figure 4,.

Figure 6 is a top plan view taken on Figure 4.

0 7 Figure 7 is a view of one handrail cross-section which can be used with the grip of Figure 1; Figure 8 is a view of another handrail cross-section which can be used with the grip of Figure 1 and 4 Figure 9 is a view of another handrail cross-section which can be used with the grip tP of Figure 1.

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a variant of the above embodiment, and Figure 11 is a diagrammatic side elevation showing another configuration of the variant of Figure 10.

Referring to Figure 1, the handrail -,rip comprises a generally U-shaped portion 1 on whose central yoke portion is mounted an upwardly-extending generally T-shaped handle 2. The portion 2 has opposed nylon@ pads mounted on the inner surfaces of its leg portions 1 and these define a tilt axis 9, as will subsequently become apparent. The pads 4 are removably mounted by cross-headed screws extending from the outer surfaces of the legs through the legs into the pads.

The for-ward (right-hand) end of portion 1 carries a roller 3 which in use (when the grip is t'Ited f axl I orwardly about is 9) engages the top surface of the handrail 15 (Figures 2 and 3) and the rear portion carries a rubber pad 5 which, when the grip is tilted rearwardly about axis 9. engages the top surface of the handrail 15 This is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 respectively. In Figure 2 the user is pushing forward as he/she climbs the stairs and in Figure 3 the user leans backward and can pull himself/herself up the stairs by pulling on handle 2.

Figure 4 shows the pads 4 engaging shallow channel portions 5A of the handrail, thereby preventing the grip ftom being lifted ofFthe handrail.

Figure 5 shows in more detail the liffing of roller 3 and engagement of pad 5 with top surface 10 of the handrail as the grip is filted rearwardly.

Figure 6 shows the contours of the cross-bar portion of the handle which help the users fingers to grip the handle securely- t Figures 7, 8 and 9 show different commonly used wooden handrail sections 50, 60 and 70, each having a shallow channel R which can receive the pads 4. If necessary different sets of pads 4 can be provided having the appropriate complementary shape to the different channels R.

Figures 10 and 11 show a variant in which the handle 2 is pivotable about an axis P so as to move the centre of gravity CG from a position near the pad S to a position near the roller 3. When the handle is in the former configuration the weight W of the grip is supported on friction pad S and the grip remains in position on the handrail 15 of the banister, as shown in Figure 10. When the handle is in the latter configuration the centre of gravity CG' 6 (Figure 11) moves nearer the roller 3 and the -rip no longer rests on pad 5 and can slide down the handrail 15 In this manner the grip can be used by a first person to assist in climbing the stairs and then returned to the bottom of the banister by another person.

n The invention includes within its scope va 'ants of the described embodiment. For example, one or both of the leg portions could be detachable to facilitate fitting the grip over a handrail and the pads 4 could be permanently attached to or integral with the leg portions. Furthermore the grip could be arranged to extend around part of the bottom surface of the handrail and could include one or more detachable or adjustable portions to enable the grip to be fitted over or removed from the handrail.

Different sets of pads 4 could be supplied with profiles complementary to different handrail cross-sections- 7

Claims

A handrail grip for assistance in ascending or descending stairs, the grip being arranged in use to fit over the handrail and to tilt on the handrail when leant on by the users, the grip being arranged to ffictionally engage the handrail when tilted in one direction and to slide along the handrail when tilted in the opposite direction.

2.

A handrail grip according to Claim 1, having two leg portions which can be fitted over the handrail, the leg portions being arranged to engage the handrail and to define a tilt axis.

1 A handrail grip according to Claim 2, wherein at least one facing portion of the legs has an inwardly-extending projection which in use engages a surface of the handrail.

I_ A handrail grip according to Claim 3, wherein in use the projection engages the C1 handrail so as to prevent the handrail grip from being lifted off the handrail when the grip is tilted by the user.

5. A handrail grip according to claim 3, or Claim 4, wherein the legs comprise two opposed projections which are arranged in use to engage opposite channel portions of the handrail, A handrail grip according to any of Claims to 5, wherein the projections are removably mounted.

8 A handrail (,,rip according to any of Claims 3 to 7, wherein the pr. ect, W 1.1 1 oj ions are composed of low friction plastics material.

8.

A handrail grip according to any preceding claim, which has an upwardlyextending 1 handle and friction means arranged to ffictionally engage a top or a bottom surface of the handrail.

9. A handrail grip according to Claim 8, having a handle grip extending generally parallel to said tilt axis.

10. A handrail grip according to Claim 9, wherein said handle is generally T-shaped.

11. A handrail grip according to any preceding claim, having roller means arranged to bear a.,alnst the surface of the handrail when the handrail grip is tilted in the t opposite sense to that causing frictional engagement.

1 c 11 A handrail grip according to any preceding claim, having a friction pad secured to an interior surface thereof, said interior surface facing the tilt axis.

c 13, A handrail grip substantially as described hereinabove with reference to Figures 1 to 9 of the accompanying drawings, optionally as modified in accordance with Figures 10 and 11, 9 14. A handrail assembly comprising a handrail of non-rectangular transverse cross- section and a handrail grip as claimed in any preceding claim fitted over the handrail.