HAND-RAIL FOR USE IN SHIPS, BUILDINGS, ETC.

Abstract: A hand-rail (3) for use in ships, buildings, etc., which, in order to give an indication of direction to persons who are in the ships or buildings, is designed with an indentation or structure (4) with a direction-orientated pattern in the hand-rail's (3) longitudinal direction. By following this direction orientation, it will be possible to find the way to exits or specific locations. A description is also given of possibilities for reversing the hand-rail's guiding direction.

Description: Hand-rail for use in ships, buildings, etc. The invention concerns a hand-rail for use in ships, buildings, etc. Hand-rails are in general use in most places where people are moving around and their main purpose is as a support to hold on to, or as a screen to keep people away from a particular area, or to protect wall sections etc. The main object of the present invention is to give the hand¬ rail the additional function of enabling it to help people to find the way in buildings, on ships, etc. In particular the object is to design a hand-rail capable of providing information concerning the correct escape route to an exit in emergency situations, e.g. in the case of fire, which would be an invaluable help on boats, in large buildings where people are often unfamiliar with the layout, such as hotels, hospitals, old people's homes and in large shops and offices. Moreover, the hand-rail will also provide information on the correct direction in non-emergency situations to persons who have a special need for good information, such as those with poor sight, the blind and children. Such information can also be useful for all persons on a ship or an offshore construction or in a large, complicated building in order to find the way to a main exit. Particularly in connection with accidents and fires on board ships it has been found that the passengers below decks have lost their sense of direction and have gone round in circles. The thick smoke which develops during a fire impairs sight, and passengers meet closed doors and fail to find the emergency exit quickly enough. Most people search for the main exit, even although the^e can be several emergency exits '-.loser at hand. Thus there has been a considerable need for a system which can safely indicate the way to the nearest emergency exit. A further object of the present invention is to provide a cheap, permanent system which can be installed in all kinds o buildings, ships, etc. where people are staying and where it or can be important to be able to find a guide to lead one in particular direction, especially towards an emergency exit. T system should be integrated as a natural part of the environ¬ ment. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a system whereby the search direction can be reversed in a simple and rapid manner. This reversal of the direction for the escape route should preferably be capable of activation by remote control, but at least by means which are minimally affected b fire. The above-mentioned objects are achieved by a hand-rail which is characterized by the claims presented. There are several previously known systems for indicating defined directions, e.g. in passageways. The main method used is signs, light indicators and also light strips, e.g. on the floor. An electrically driven emergency system, e.g., is described in US patent no. 4 347 499. According to the system described in this patent, a sensor activates a signal system which emits light signals which indicate a recommended direction of movement, e.g. marked by pulsating lights. The system can also be equipped with sound signal generators and/ sensory devices in the form of vibrators. The system has to b activated, is dependent on electricity and is expensive. In contrast hereto the basis for the invention is a hand-rail or banister which is a natural and normal part of the environ ment, particularly in office buildings, hotels, hospitals, nursing homes, ships, etc. The hand-rail design in accordance with the invention achieves the required direction indication by means of very simple methods. Until now hand-rails have only fulfilled a support function and have given blind people a way to follow, but no indication of direction. Any shaping or engraving of hand-rails to date have only been for the purpose of artistic decoration. A deliberate shaping of hand rails as proposed in the invention has proved to have the capability of being a safety feature and an aid which will be of great value, e.g. to the handicapped, weak- sighted and the blind. As an emergency instrument a hand-rail of this kind can naturally be installed at different heights, e.g. at a low height for children, or in the form of a skirting board to protect the wall from wheeled transport in the corridor for normal use and as an emergency indicator in an emergency situation. The hand-rail in accordance with the invention can also be incorporated in wall constructions and still be designed as proposed. In a special design of the invention the possibility is provided of altering the hand-rail's profile direction, so that the escape route can be reversed. This enables either the crew in the ship's control room to reverse the direction by means of a panel in those cases where they know that some of the emergency exits are closed due to fire, or there could be automatic release devices for the reversing operation at strategic points, thus automatically reversing escape routes at special obstacles. Such a design will mean a further increase in safety and will help everyone to find his way to the correct exit. In the following section the invention will be explained in more detail by means of an embodiment which is illustrated in the drawing, which shows: Fig. 1 a side view of a part of a hand-rail, designed in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, fig. 2 a section through a portion of hand-rail in accordance with fig. 1, fig. 3 a schematic side view illustrating a design of the main part of a hand-rail in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, fig. 4 an element to work together with the hand-rail part in fig. 3, and fig. ' 5A and B sketches illustrating the reversibility of the hand-rail profile composed of the elements in figs. 3 and 4. The figures illustrate the invention in a purely schematic way and do not show the complete construction of a hand-rail. The drawing thus only shows a hand-rail rod indicating how a design in accordance with the invention can be provided. In fig. 1 which illustrates a hand-rail rod viewed from the side, the two directions which can be followed along the hand¬ rail are indicated by arrows 1 and 2. The hand-rail itself is indicated by 3. On the circumference of the hand-rail, at least over a part of it, a serrated pattern has been engraved where the serrations point obliquely upwards, viewed in the direction of arrow 1. If one runs one's hand along the hand-rail rod, by moving one's hand in the direction of the arrow 1, relatively little resistance will be felt, but by running the hand in direction 2, in the direction against the points 4, a distinct resistance will be felt. By following "the path of least resistance" an indication of the direction leading, e.g., to an emergency exit, a stairway, etc. will be obtained. The pattern with the points 4 can be placed around the whole hand-rail rod 3, as indicated by 5, or the pattern can be placed on only one side, as illustrated in fig. 2. This shows a hand-rail rod which is smooth in area 6, while it has points installed in the remaining part of its circumference, e.g. as illustrated in fig. 1. Side 6 can face on to the corridor, thus protecting the serrated part and preventing people from scraping against it, while still being able to follow the guide on the hand-rail when holding on to it. It should be quite obvious that the serrations or the direction-orientated pattern on the hand-rail can be provided according to the design of the hand-rail and the need for indication of a direction, and that the pattern does not necessarily have to be finely serrated, but can be roughly serrated or have any shape whatever capable of giving the required "experience" of no resistance to running one's hand in one direction and resistance in the opposite direction. In its extreme form, e.g. a fur covering can be used where one strokes with and against the hair. The kind of pattern will vary according to the material used in the hand-rail. In the drawing a design is shown where the patterning is integrated in the actual hand-rail rod, but it should be obvious that this kind of patterning can be added separately as an additional element. Such a design with an additional element is illustrated in figs. 3-5. These figures illustrate a design of the invention in which the guiding direction, i.e. the profile direction, on the hand-rail can be reversed. Fig. 3 illustrates the basic piece of a hand-rail which is indicated by 7 in the figure and the top of which has been given an "undulating up and down" shape, with lower points 8 and top point 9. On this basis are installed profile elements of the type illustrated in fig. 4 and which are indicated by 10. The elements consist of two triangular side pieces with a midpoint or fulcrum 11. The side pieces are indicated by 12 and 13 respectively. In fig. 5 these elements are assembled to form a banister or hand-rail in accordance with the invention. As shown in the figure, element 10 is installed with its midpoint 11 situated above the top point 9 on the hand-rail part 7 and it is on Fig. 5A placed with the side piece 12 facing the surface of the basic part 7. Thus the side piece 13 will project above the basic part 7. The next profile piece 10 is then positioned with its midpoint 11 placed on the next top point 9 and is positioned in the same way. The surface of the hand-rail is thereby shaped in such a way as to indicate a particular guiding direction as explained above. In the example shown the profile pieces 10 are kept in place by means of a magnetic device, in that a magnet 14a is placed in the areas beside the lowest points 8, but somewhat displaced in towards the midpoint. The magnetic elements can be electro¬ magnetic and can be remotely controlled in their effect. In the side pieces 12 and 13 magnetic plates 14b are installed which can be attracted by the magnets. If the guiding direction has to be reversed, the electromagnets under the side pieces 12 can, e.g. , be deactivated, while the electromagnets under the side pieces 13 are activated, and thus the profile piece will pivot round and create a guiding direction in the opposite direction as illustrated on Figure 5B. Control of this kind using electromagnetic means will be simple for an expert in the field to provide and is not described in more detail here. It should also be mentioned that even although there has been described here an electromagnetic activation device for the turning or reversing operation, this could also be designed mechanically by means of a rod mechanism or a line or wire traction mechanism, which will be insensitive to the effects of heat and thus be safe to use. Such mechanisms can be released by handles in appropriate places or remotely controlled, but can also be controlled from sensor points at strategic positions which can issue warnings that an emergency exit is blocked so that the escape route has to be reversed or automatically change the direction. Many modifications are possible of such reversible profile designs for the hand-rail. In the drawing an example is illustrated where the profile piece 10 is located on a suitable hand-rail surface, but such profile pieces can also be inserted in slots in the hand-rail, and other shapes than those shown can also be used. Similarly, as mentioned, different types of control mecnanisms can be used, both manual, mechanical, electrical and electromechanical. Thus many modifications are possible within the scope of the invention.

Claims: PATENT CLAIMS 1. A hand-rail for use in ships, buildings, etc. , characterized in that on the surface of the hand-rail there is arranged an indentation or structure with a direction- orientated pattern in the hand-rail's longitudinal direction. 2. A hand-rail according to claim 1, characterized in that the indentation or structure is integrated in the actual hand-rail. 3. A hand-rail according to claim 1, characterized in that the indentation or structure is arranged on the surface of the hand-rail. 4. A hand-rail according to claims 1-3, characterized in that the indentation or structure is only arranged on the areas of the hand-rail facing away from a user, while the side facing the user is smooth. 5. A hand-rail according to claim 1, characterized in that the hand-rail's indentation or structure is designed as profile elements installed in the hand-rail's longitudinal direction, which can be pivoted around an axis situated at the surface of the hand-rail, and where the basic part of the hand-rail is designed with a profile which enables the element to be lowered on one side of the pivotal axis, while the other, opposite part projects up above the surface of the hand-rail, or vice versa, and that the element is equipped with means for activating such a pivoting movement. 6. A hand-rail according to claim 5, characterized in that the activation device is common to all elements in pre-defined areas of the hand-rail. 7. A hand-rail according to claim 5, characterized in that the means of activation are mechanical and/or electrical and/or magnetically influenced.

Inventors: HARALDSEN TORILD, HARALDSEN, TORILD
Applicants: HARALDSEN TORILD, HARALDSEN, TORILD
Application year: 1991
Main classification: E04F11
IPC codes: A62B3, B63B17, E04F11, G08B5, G09F19