Patent ID: 6276027
Filing Date: 2001-08-21
Classification: A47K,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A grab bar for use by a handicapped person for ambulatory assistance, comprising:a substantially U-shaped body lying in a vertical plane, said body including at least one cross link member to increase the stability and rigidity of said body, said body being arranged so as to have a plurality of gripping surfaces;a base member, said base member including first and second fixed rings;first and second bushings disposed between said fixed rings with annular extensions forming an annular space therebetween, said body being arranged for gripping by a person to pivot said body about said bushings;a torsion member, said torsion member including a torsion spring, said torsion spring being arranged around said annular extensions to provide torsional force between said body member and said base member;said body being pivotable by the person using the grab bar between a horizontally extending position wherein the weight of the body retains the body in that position in opposition to the torsion spring after release by the person and a vertically extending position wherein the torsion spring retains the body in that vertically extending position in opposition to the weight of the body after release by the person; andwherein said body has a collar encircling said annular extensions forming a cavity that said torsion spring is disposed within, said first bushing connected to said first fixed ring and rotatably supporting a first end of said collar, and said second bushing connected to a second end of said collar and rotatably supported on said second fixed ring.