Abstract:
A security handrail system having a plurality of vertical post members securable in a vertical orientation to a stratum, the vertical post members intersected by a plurality of horizontal cross members, there being articulatingly secured between adjacent vertical post members, an articulating seat member rotatable from a vertical position flush with the plane of the handrail security system to a substantially horizontal plane allowing a user to orient himself in a sitting position for a temporary period of time. The seat member is capable of being formed with a biasing means, automatically returning the seat member to a vertical orientation when weight is removed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to security hand rail assemblies, and in particularly, to a reinforced hand rail security assembly incorporating articulating mounted seats, the reinforced hand rail security system of the present invention primarily used in containing and directing individuals in a queue or waiting area. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Security railing assemblies have long been used for a variety of applications, such as multi-story buildings with stairways and balconies, industrial buildings, playgrounds and schools, and as directional indicators for long lines of individuals such as directing the queue of individuals within a bus station, air port, train station, or in amusement parks where long lines of individuals stand in line in order to gain access to a particular ride. Many of these uses are outdoors where the security railing is exposed to the weather and other corrosive elements, such as salt water, chemical vapors and the like. Building codes require the use of high strength materials, such as iron, steel, aluminum or the like to provide sufficient rigidity and strength to insure adequate security qualities. These types of railing systems often present a problem of rusting and/or corrosion of the metallic parts. In addition to the corrosion being unsightly and requiring constant care and upkeep, the corrosion of the security railing system degrades the strength to the point where they are no longer capable of functioning for their intended purpose. 
   Applicant is the developer of a reinforced plastic handrail security system and evidenced in U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,900 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,203,233. 
   Applicant has further developed a reinforced plastic handrail security system for particular application to the situations where a large number of individuals must be channeled or directed to a particular location or must remain in a particular configuration or area before gaining access to another area. Railing systems of this type are particularly used in bus stations, air ports, train stations, and amusement parks. For example, in amusement parks, large numbers of individuals may wish to gain access to a particular amusement ride and therefore must stand or queue in line until they have reached the front of the line where their access is allowed. In some instances people must stand in the queue for a significant amount of time, e.g. 40 minutes to an hour. Individuals seeking access to the amusement ride are of all ages, including young children and older adults. At the present time, individuals in such queues or waiting areas had no choice but to stand in line and shuffle forward as the line decreased, or if becoming tired, sit on the ground or lean on the railing system. 
   Applicant has developed an articulating mounted seating means which is incorporable with the railing system which provides an articulating seat mounted between vertical elements of the railing system. 
   OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of the present invention is to provide for a novel handrail security assembly which incorporates an articulated seat member which seat member is flush with the railing system when not in use and when in use, provides a temporary seat for an individual in the queue. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide for a novel handrail assembly and articulating seat in which the seat member when not in use is flush with the plane of the railing system. 
   A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel railing assembly and articulating seat in which the seat automatically returns to its vertical flush position with the railing system after use. 
   A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel handrail assembly and articulating seat in which the hand rail system and the articulating seat are suitably fabricated so that there is no rusting or corrosion of the parts. 
   A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel hand rail security assembly and articulating seat, wherein the seat member can be secured to the security handrail system as an aftermarket item. 
   A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel handrail security assembly and articulating seat wherein the articulating seat and handrail security assembly are fabricating in multiple sections for installation which allows the user the flexibility in the design of the queue system or waiting area. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A security handrail assembly having a plurality of vertical post members securable in a vertical orientation to a stratum, the vertical post members intersected by a plurality of horizontal cross members, there being articulatingly secured between adjacent vertical post members, an articulating seat member rotatable from a vertical position flush with the plane of the handrail security assembly to a substantially horizontal plane allowing a user to orient himself in a sitting position for a temporary period of time. The seat member may incorporate a biasing means for automatically returning it to a vertical orientation when weight is removed. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent, particularly when taken in light of the following illustrations wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a front planar view of a section of a handrail security system incorporating the articulating seats of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the elements of the articulating seat member; 
       FIG. 3  is a close up perspective view of one end of the seat member; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the seat member in its horizontal orientation for accepting the weight of an individual in a sitting position; 
       FIG. 5  is a partial exploded front view of a second embodiment of an articulating seat member of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a side view of the second embodiment; and 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the seat member. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  illustrates a section of a security hand rail assembly  10  in accordance with the present invention. Security railing  10  is installed on a support surface  12  which can be wood, concrete or other suitable substrate normally found in home, commercial or industrial settings where railings are used. It will be appreciated that the number of sections which can be joined together may vary depending upon the size of the area where the railing system is to be installed. The portion of the railing system illustrated in  FIG. 1  illustrates three units of railing. 
   The security hand rail assembly  10  may be constructed of any suitable material, i.e. aluminum, steel or the like. The preferred embodiment will be described with respect to Applicant&#39;s tubular plastic hand rails described in the aforementioned patents. The rail units and posts are made of tubular plastic material, preferably acrylic (ASA) or polyvinyl chloride plastic (PVC) pipe and/or tubing  14 . The pipe or tubing may be suitably reinforced with fibers or the like in accordance with known state of the art techniques where additional strength and/or rigidity is required. The pipes have a smooth, gloss, satin or matte finish and may be made in a variety of colors by adding pigment to the extrusion material. 
   Typically a size of pipe found suitable for the present invention can vary, however a pipe having an outside diameter of two inches and a wall thickness of at least one eighth inch would be suitable, although larger and smaller size tubing may be used depending upon the intended use while not departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
   The plastic material is impervious to corrosive elements such as salt, spray, rain, snow and extreme heat, as well as corrosive chemical atmospheres. Preferably, the pipe is fire resistant and resistant to denting, scratching, and other physical abuse. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the plastic pipe or tubing is reinforced by a metal pipe insert  16  whose outer diameter is dimensioned to the inner diameter of the plastic pipe or tubing  14 . The rail system comprises a plurality of vertical perpendicular posts  18  comprised of the plastic pipe  14  and the metal pipe insert  16  being imbedded in a suitable base or stratum  12 . The perpendicular vertical posts  18  are joined by a plurality of cross members  20  which form the railing system or assembly. 
   In the instant invention, the rail system  10  has disposed between each adjacent perpendicular vertical post  18  an articulating seat member  22  shown and illustrated in  FIG. 1  in an upright and unused orientation. The articulating seat member  22  may be rotated to a substantially horizontal position to allow for an individual in the queue or waiting area to sit down and rest on a temporary basis. When the weight of the individual is released from the seat member  22  when it is in a substantially horizontal position, the seat member  22 , can be returned to the vertical orientation shown and illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     FIGS. 2 and 3  are exploded views of the articulating seat member  22  and the means by which it is cooperatively mounted between two perpendicularly vertical adjacent posts  18 .  FIGS. 2 and 3  incorporated a biasing means which automatically returns the seat to its vertical orientation. While  FIG. 2  is illustrated with vertical tubular members of circular cross section it will be appreciated that tubular members of other geometric cross section may be utilized. 
   A mounting bracket  24  is secured to the vertically perpendicular adjacent posts  18  at equal heights. The mounting bracket has a first face surface  26  comprising a semi-cylindrical groove  28  whose arc is complimentary with the arc of the outer diameter of the perpendicular vertical post  18 . The opposing face surface  30  of mounting bracket  24  has a bearing receiving face  32 . 
   Throughbores are formed in the mounting bracket  24  from the bearing receiving face  32  to the first face surface  26  for the receipt of a securing means  34  which will secure the mounting bracket  24  to the respective vertical perpendicular post  18 . 
   A first bearing surface  36  and a second bearing surface  38  are receivable within the bearing receiving face  32  of mounting bracket  24 . The first bearing surface  36  and second bearing surface  38  are complimentary and are positioned after the seat member has been positioned in the first bearing surface  36  as described hereafter. The first bearing surface  36  and the second bearing surface  38  have throughbores  40  therethrough alignable with a bore in the mounting bracket  24  so that the bearing surfaces  36  and  38  may be secured at the completion of assembly. 
   The mounting bracket  24  and first and second bearing surfaces  36  and  38  are for receipt of an articulating seat support  42  generally comprised of two parallelledly disposed arms  44  having first ends  46  and a second ends  48 , parallelledly disposed arms  44  are secured by a counter weight bar  50  proximate the second end  48  and seat  56 . The first end  46  of the opposing parallelledly disposed arms  44  are L-shaped in cross sectional area forming a flange  52  having throughbores  54  there through for securing the seat  56  to the seat support  42 . 
   Formed on the outer surface  58  of opposing parallelledly disposed arms  44  are two opposing cylindrical bushings  60  whose circumference surface is complimentary with the bearing surface formed when first bearing surface  36  and second bearing surface  38  are secured together. 
   Also formed proximate the second end  48  of opposing parallelledly disposed arms  44  of articulating seat support  42  are stop members  62  which engage with the mounting bracket  24  to limit the rotation of the seat  56  and articulating seat support  42  from a horizontal to vertical orientation. 
   In assembly, opposing mounting brackets  24  would be secured to adjacent perpendicular vertically disposed posts  18 . First bearing surfaces  36  would then be inserted into the bearing receiving face  32  of the mounting bracket  24 . The articulating seat support  42  would then be positioned with the opposing cylindrical bushings  60  being in engagement with the first bearing surface  36 . Second bearing surface  38  would then be inserted into the bearing receiving face  32  of mounting bracket  24  so that the opposing cylindrical bushings  60  would then be encapsulated by the first bearing surface  36  and the second bearing surface  38 . A securing means would then be engaged through the through bores in the first bearing surface  36  and the second bearing surface  38  and into the mounting bracket  24  thereby securing the articulating seat support  42  between the mounting brackets  24  and the adjacent vertical posts  18 . The seat  56  could then be installed to the flanges  52  of the first end  46  of the articulating seat support  42  if not already so secured. 
   In this configuration, the counterweight bar  50  is of a sufficient weight that the articulating seat support and seat  42  and  56  will rotate to a vertical position substantially in the plane of the guardrail system. Such a seat support  42  and seat  56  would be positioned between every adjacent vertical post  18  or could be randomly positioned between adjacent vertical posts when the vertical posts are used in a railing system  10  which serves as a directional or queue or waiting area for individuals. An individual wishing to rest while in a queue or waiting area of such railing system  10  would merely grasp the seat  56  and with pressure cause the seat and the articulating seat support  42  to rotate to a horizontal position, the rotating automatically ceasing when the stop member  62  contacts the mounting bracket  24  (See  FIG. 4 ). The individual could then utilize the seat  56  to rest for a period of time before having to move. When the individual stands up, the weight of the counterweight bar  50  will cause the articulating seat support  42  and seat  56  to rotate upwardly into a vertical plane which is again substantially in the plane of the guard rail system  10  such that it does not interrupt the flow of individuals or traffic through the queue. 
   In practice, the mounting brackets would be mounted on adjacent vertical posts  18  such that when the articulating seat support  42  and seat  56  were rotated into a horizontal, sitting position, the height of the seat  56  would be approximately 23 to 24 inches off the ground. Naturally this height could be varied depending upon the intended use of the safety railing system and the type of queue or waiting area involved. However, 23 inches has been found to be the optimum height to accommodate both children and adults. 
   All of the elements of the seat support  42  and seat  56  would be fabricated from suitable materials depending upon the installation location, i.e. indoors or outdoors. 
   Still further, the width of the articulating seat support  42  and seat  56  could vary depending upon the design distance between adjacent vertical posts  18 . In the instant illustration, for optimum strength and durability, the vertical posts  18  are approximately 22 inches apart with the distance from the outer surface of the opposing parallelledly disposed arms  44  being approximately 20 inches thereby leaving a gap of one inch on each side of the articulating seat support  42  which limits the possibility of a pinching action occurring to the fingers when the articulating seat support  42  and seat  56  rotate to a vertical position after use. 
   In some instances it may be desireable not to have the seat automatically returned to vertical orientation after the weight is removed. In those instances, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the counterweight  50  would be eliminated from the seat assembly. The remaining portion of the assembly would be identical to that as explained heretofore. In these instances, the user would lift the seat to the vertical orientation when not in use, or in some instances, an attendant would periodically check the security hand rail assembly  10  and lift seats in a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation manually. 
     FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate a second embodiment of the hand rail assembly with alternative biasing means. 
   This assembly utilizes a seat support block  24 A with bushing  70  mounted to vertical tubular member  18 A. Support block  24 A has two outwardly extending finger members  72  and  74 . Seat support arms  44 A having first ends  46 A and second ends  48 A are slightly modified for this embodiment. First ends  46 A of the opposing parallelledly disposed support arms  44 A are L-shaped in cross sectional area forming a flange  52 A with throughbores there through for the securing of a seat  56 A. The second ends  48 A are formed with two opposing arcuate cutouts  76  and  78  in which finger members  72  and  74  protrude and ride. The interior side of support arms  44 A include a centrally disposed hub  80  about which a concentric bias spring means  82  is disposed, the spring means  82  having divergent ends  84  which wrap contact and engage finger members  72  and  74  extending from support block  24 A. A cover  86  and a fastening means  88  are then disposed over the spring means  82  with the fastening means  88  extending though the cover  86 , centrally disposed hub  80 , outer wall of the support arm  44 A and into support block  24 A. 
   In this manner, the downward rotation of the seat assembly  42 A will cause the spring means  82  to contract. Release of weight onto the seat assembly  42 A will release the spring means returning the support arms  44 A and seat  56 A back to a vertical orientation. 
   The rail system illustrated utilized tubular posts and rails of circular cross section. However, the present invention can be utilized with tubular posts and rails of a geopmetric cross section other than circular. 
   While the present invention has been described with respect to the exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications or changes can be achieved without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore it is manifestly intended that the invention be limited only by the scope of the claims and the equivalence thereof.