Abstract:
To further prevent stairway falls, an otherwise conventional handrail, of the type that is mounted on the sidewall of a stairway and has an upper portion which is configured to be easily grasped by one utilizing, is modified by providing it with a two-part cavity in the interior of the handrail, with its first part being a slot that extends from the handrails&#39; exterior surface and its second part being a bore that is situated in the handrail&#39;s interior and joined with the slot so as to make the bore accessible from the handrail&#39;s exterior surface. This modified handrail is also to provided with a wrist securing device that works in cooperation with the handrail&#39;s cavity for keeping the wrist of a user in close proximity to the handrail when the user is traversing the stairway.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of the patent application U.S. Ser. No. 11/998,633—filed Nov. 30, 2007 now abandoned. The teachings of this prior patent application are incorporated by reference herein and to the extent that they do not conflict with the teachings of the present application. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to static structures and the handrails found therein, and, in particular, to a handrail adjoining a stair that is configured to minimize the risk of one falling on the stairs. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Handrails are well known parts of multi-story buildings that are primarily used for the purpose of trying to prevent a person from falling when ascending or descending a stairway. 
     However, despite the use of handrails, each year thousands of people die and tens of thousands are injured from falls on stairways in their homes and in other places. Several conventional devices have been developed in order to reduce the number of injuries resulting from ascending or descending a stairway. 
     For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,992,832 discloses a stairway safety suspension support apparatus. This apparatus provides a plurality of loops along the stairway which a person can grasp in the event of a fall. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,253,287 discloses a step walker for use in conjunction with a stairway. In this apparatus, a walking bar is temporarily positioned within guide slots as the person walks up or down the stairway. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,989 discloses an alternative to the standard or conventional stairway handrail. This alternative includes a rail that is secured to a wall adjacent a stairway. However, the configuration of this rail is such that the rail itself is not meant to be grabbed and held in the standard manner by one traversing the stairway. Instead, the rail has a bore that extends along the longitudinal extent of the rail and, through a slit opening in the side of the bore, receives one end of a handle that is slidable on the side of the rail and along its longitudinal extent. The other end of the handle has a loop which is held and pushed by one who is traversing the stairway so as to cause the handle to slide along the rail. The stated advantage of this alternative is that its handle can be gripped at all times so that a user in traversing a stairway does not have to grip, release and regrip the rail—thus supposedly decreasing the likelihood of a accident by eliminating the periods when a rail is not being gripped or held. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,297 discloses a waist-wrapped, safety harness which one wears when ascending and descending a stairway. This safety harness has a tether which is looped around an adjoining tubular handrail that is supported only at its ends. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,270,058 discloses a handrail whose cross-sectional shape is especially configured so that it sits further away from an adjoining wall and thereby makes it easier for one to grasp and lean on such a handrail so as to prevent a stairway fall. U.S. Pat. No. 7,093,825 also has a handrail with a uniquely shaped cross-section that seeks to help prevent stairway falls and other dangers during a broader spectrum of movements. 
     With the number of elderly people in the U.S. on the rise, there is a continuing need for improvements in handrails that will make people&#39;s movements on stairways safer. 
     OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
     There has been summarized above, rather broadly, the prior art that is related to the present invention in order that the context of the present invention may be better understood and appreciated. In this regard, it is instructive to briefly consider the objects and advantages of the present invention. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved handrail whose use will make it safer for the elderly and others (e.g., those with ambulatory infirmities, poor vision or balance problems) to ascend or descend stairs. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a low-cost way to modify an otherwise conventional pole-like handrail so that this modified handrail&#39;s use will make it safer for the elderly and others (e.g., those with ambulatory infirmities, poor vision or balance problems) to ascend or descend stairs. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a low-cost way to retrofit existing pole-like handrails so that such a retrofitted handrail&#39;s use will make it safer for the elderly and others (e.g., those with ambulatory infirmities, poor vision or balance problems) to ascend or descend stairs. 
     It is an object of the present invention to modify or retrofit an otherwise conventional pole-like handrail, of the type that is mounted on the sidewall of a stairway and has an upper portion which is configured to be easily grasped by one utilizing the stairway, so that this modified or retrofitted handrail: (a) allows one who fears that he or she might fall in the stairway to use an especially designed wrist device that attaches to the modified or retrofitted handrail so as to prevent such a person from losing his or her grasp of the handrail, and (b) is not modified in such a way that its upper graspable portion is less usable by the those stairway users who have little or no fear of traversing the stairway and thus decline to use the present invention&#39;s wrist device. 
     It is an object of the present invention to modify or retrofit an otherwise conventional pole-like handrail, of the type that is mounted on the sidewall of a stairway and has an upper portion which is configured to be easily grasped by one utilizing the stairway, so that this modified or retrofitted handrail can still be just as easily used in the conventional manner by those who do not elect to use the present invention&#39;s especially designed wrist device that attaches to this modified or retrofitted handrail so as to prevent a person from losing his or her grasp of the handrail. 
     It is an object of the present invention to contribute to the reduction in the number of falls suffered by the elderly and others (e.g., those with ambulatory infirmities, poor vision or balance problems) when ascending or descending stairs. 
     It is an object of the present invention to contribute to the possibility that the elderly can continue to reside in their multi-story dwellings without having the fear of falling and being injured while using the dwellings stairways. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent as the invention is better understood by reference to the accompanying summary, drawings and the detailed description that follows. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Recognizing the need for the development of improved handrails that will contribute to minimizing the risk of falls on the stairs on which such handrails are used, the present invention is generally directed to satisfying the needs set forth above and overcoming the safety limitations seen in the prior handrails. 
     In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an improved handrail of the type includes: (a) a two-part cavity in the interior of the handrail and extending between its ends, with its first part being a slot that extends from the handrail&#39;s top surface and into its interior and its second part being a bore that is situated proximate the handrail&#39;s centerline and joined with the slot so as to make the bore accessible from the handrail&#39;s top surface, (b) a member which has a characteristic dimension that is less than that of the slot&#39;s width, (c) an adjustable wrist band, attached to a first end of the member, that has a shape which allows the is band to be wrapped around the wrist of a person who wishes to use the handrail, and (d) a stopper or spacer, having a characteristic dimension that is less than the characteristic dimension of the bore but greater than the slot&#39;s width, which is situated in the bore and attached to the member&#39;s second end and configured so that it is slideable along the entire length of the bore. 
     A person using the present invention: (i) inserts his or her hand into the wrist band and adjusts it so that it is secure on the wrist, (ii) holds onto the handrail and proceeds up or down the stairs in a normal manner; meanwhile, the wrist band slides in close proximity to the handrail&#39;s top surface while the stopper or spacer slides within the handrail&#39;s bore, (iii) upon completing one&#39;s traverse of the stairs, one unhooks the wrist band and proceeds. If for any reason the person should, during the ascent or descent of the stairs, let go of the handrail and try to pull his or her hand away from the handrail—one would not be able to do so since such an action would tend to pull the member up through the slot and cause the spacer to contact the top of the bore where it cannot pass through the handrail&#39;s slot and where friction between the spacer and the bore&#39;s top surface will prevent the wrist band from being moved further up or down the stair. 
     Thus, using the present invention, a person&#39;s hand or wrist is always held close to the handrail so that one may possibly regrip it should one feel oneself losing his or her balance and about to fall or, in a worst case scenario, be prevented from tumbling down the stairs. 
     Thus, there has been summarized above (rather broadly and understanding that there are other preferred embodiments which have not been summarized above) the present invention in order that the detailed description that follows may be better understood and appreciated. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is the cross-sectional view  2 - 2  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is the cross-sectional view  3 - 3  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Before explaining at least one embodiment of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     The present invention, in the form of a safer handrail, reduces the risk of one who uses such a handrail from falling when ascending or descending the stairway that the handrail serves. 
       FIG. 1  shows a first preferred embodiment of a modified version of an otherwise conventional, pole-like handrail. It is seen to be a handrail  1  which has a relatively conventional looking exterior surface that includes a symmetrical-about-its-lateral-centerline upper portion with two, top surface outer edges (note: top surface for the purpose of this application is defined as that surface which would be on the upper or higher end of a straight line which is aligned with the direction of the earth&#39;s gravitational pull; i.e., between two surfaces, the top surface is that which is on average the furtherest distance away from the earth&#39;s center). This symmetric, upper portion is configured so that both its top surface outer edges are easily simultaneously gripable by one hand of one going up and down a stairway. The handrail&#39;s interior  2  has a relatively rectangular, cross-sectional shape that is uniform between its two ends  3 ,  4  and along its longitudinal extent. Its upper portion has protrusions  2   a ,  2   b ; one of which extends laterally and symmetrically from each side of its top surface  5  so as to make it easier to grip the handrail&#39;s top surface. This handrail also has a longitudinal centerline  6  that extends between its ends. A number of spaced-apart, mounting brackets, that typically attach to the handrail&#39;s bottom surface, may be used to mount the handrail to a stairway&#39;s adjoining vertical wall. 
     The modifications or improvements to this otherwise relatively conventional looking handrail must be made such that they make it safer to use for one who is fearful of possibly falling in a stairway, but do not in any way lessen or degrade the usability of the handrail for one who desires to use the handrail in the typical manner and thus is not unduly concerned about failing in a stairway. These improvements include: (a) a cavity  10  that extends between the handrail&#39;s ends and from the handrail&#39;s top surface  5  and into its interior  2 ; this cavity consists of two parts where the first part is a slot  12  of a prescribed width, s (e.g., approximately 0.25 inches), that extends from the handrails&#39; top surface  5  and is joined on its interior portion to a bore  14  of characteristic dimension, b (e.g., 1 inch), that is situated proximate the centerline of the handrail and accessible through the slot  12  from the handrail&#39;s top surface  5 , (b) a member  20  with two ends  22 ,  24  and a characteristic diameter or dimension, c, that is less than that of the slot&#39;s width, s, (c) a wrist securing means that one can attach to and, upon ascending or descending a stairway, then detach from one&#39;s wrist (see, for example, the hook and loop fasteners seen  FIG. 2 ), consisting of an adjustable size, wrist band  30  that has a shape which allows it to be wrapped around or enclose the wrist of the hand that a person who wishes to use the handrail is also simultaneously using to grasp the top surface&#39;s outer edges, and with this band  30  being attached to the member&#39;s first end  22 , and (d) a stopper or spacer  40  that has a characteristic dimension, p (e.g., 0.75 inches), that is less than that of the bore but greater than that of the slot, and is affixed to the member&#39;s second end  24  and situated within the handrail&#39;s bore  14 ; with this spacer having an exterior surface and shape that is configured so as to allow it to be slideable along the entire length of the bore  14 . See also FIG.  2 &#39;s cross-sectional view  2 - 2 . 
     The slot&#39;s union with the handrail&#39;s exterior surface is smoothly rounded to prevent the member  20  that goes through the slot  12  from being damaged and to ensure that the tactile feel that a user experiences when grasping the handrail&#39;s upper portion is not adversely affected in order to prevent it being less likely that one would grasp said handrail in traversing said stairway because of said slot width. In one embodiment of the present invention, its spacer is formed by tying a suitably sized knot in the member&#39;s second end. 
     A person using the present invention to ascend or descent a stairway inserts his or her hand into the wrist band  30  and adjusts it so that it is secure on the wrist. The person then holds onto the handrail  1  and proceeds up or down the stairs in a normal manner. During this process, the wrist band slides in close proximity to the handrail&#39;s top surface  5  while the spacer  40  slides within the handrail&#39;s bore  14 . Upon completing one&#39;s traverse of the stairs, one unhooks the wrist band and proceeds. A line can be added to the wrist band assembly so that it can be brought to the other end of the handrail  1  in the event that its last user has left it at the opposite end of the handrail from which the next user wishes to ascend or descend the stairs. 
     If for any reason a person should, during a stairway ascent or descent, let go of the handrail  1  and try to pull his or her hand away from the handrail—he or she would not be able to do so since such an action would tend to pull the member  20  up through the slot  12  and such action would be stopped when the spacer  40  contacts the top of the bore and cannot pass through the handrail&#39;s slot and where friction between the spacer and the bore&#39;s top surface will prevent the wrist band from being moved further up or down the stair. The material used to construct the spacer  40  can be chosen so that its surface has the appropriate coefficient of friction with the bore&#39;s surface so as to provide the necessary frictional or binding force to prevent the wrist band&#39;s further movement. 
     An alternative to this friction stop is shown in  FIG. 3 . It consists of dams  16  located within the bore which extend from the top portion of the bore or at the intersection of the slot  12  with the bore  14  and at spaced apart lengths along the longitudinal extent of the bore  14 . These dams provide a positive stop for the spacer when it is pulled upward, by a user pulling her or her hand away from the handrail, and encounters a dam that prevent it from sliding further along the bore. Typical dimension for these dams  16  are ⅛ of an inch in height, 2 inches in lateral extent and with centerlines that are spaced apart every 12 inches along the bore&#39;s lateral extent. 
     Using the present invention, a person&#39;s hand or wrist is always held close to the handrail. If one is sufficiently alert when he/she loses his/her balance while using the present invention and traversing a flight of stairs, the person can possibly grab or regrip the, now necessarily, nearby handrail  1  and hopefully prevent a fall on the stairs. However, if the person cannot regrab the handrail lafter losing his/her balance, he/she will as a result of his/her inevitable pull on the wrist band  30  and its consequent binding or locking of itself in its present position, be prevented from tumbling down the stairs. 
     A removable cover piece may be attached to each end of the handrail to provide easy access to the handrail&#39;s cavity  10  and thereby a way to service, if necessary, the present invention&#39;s member and spacer. Additionally, this easy access to the handrail&#39;s cavity makes it feasible to leave one or two spare wrist bands at either end of the handrail so that one of them can be used when needed by just inserting its spacer into the handrail&#39;s cavity. 
     It should be recognized that there are many obvious materials that can be used to construct the present invention and all of these should be considered to come within the scope of this invention&#39;s disclosure. For example, the handrail  1  may be made from wood and have a cross-sectional shape as shown in  FIG. 1 . Alternative, the handrail can be a metal or plastic pipe or tube having a circular cross-section that allows the use of a slot and bore application. 
     Similarly, the spacer  40  can be a simple, appropriately sized knot that is tied in the member near its inner or second end  24  or it may be a more involved piece that is configured to slide optimally well in the handrail&#39;s bore and bind quickly when a outward pull on the member brings it into frictional contact with the bore&#39;s top surface. In a further simplification of the present invention, the other end  22  of the member can be extended and possibly formed into an adjustable—sized loop which can possibly serve as the wrist band portion of the present invention. Thus, hereinafter when we speak of a spacer and wrist band, this terminology should, in its broadest sense, be understood to convey that these elements may be fashioned from the present invention&#39;s member. 
     A hook and loop tape of approximately two inches in width has been found to be a very convenient material from which to make the adjustable wrist band of the present invention. 
     While the present invention has been discussed above in terms generally related to its use in private spaces and homes, it should also be recognized that a version of it can easily be adapted for use in public spaces where there are hundreds or thousands of users of the same stairway or handrail. In such applications (public handrails), it can be used by standardizing on the dimension&#39;s of the handrail&#39;s cavity (e.g., a 0.25 inch slot with a 1 inch bore) so that size of the present invention&#39;s member and spacer can also then be standardized for use in any number of standardized handrails. People could then carry their own standard-sized, member-spacer combinations which could be used in any such standardized public handrails that one might encounter in her/her travels. 
     The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention that is hereinafter set forth in the claims to this invention.