Abstract:
A handgrip that is restricted to only being partially gripped thereabout and by reason of sloped sides causing the slippage therefrom of a closed loop, and consequently is effective in negating its use in suicidal attempts.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to an end use not covered by my prior patent for thwarting suicidal attempts of mentally ill persons using a closet clothes rod, namely, negating suicidal attempts using a door handgrip. 
   EXAMPLES OF THE PRIOR ART 
   The problem posed by a closet clothes rod being used for attempted, and actually achieved, suicides at hospital facilities for mentally ill patients is the focus of U.S. Pat. No. 4,643,318 for “Safety Closet Rod System” issued on Feb. 17, 1987 to this inventor, Laurence D. Kopp. The elevated and stationary condition of the clothes rod was used to support a belt in a depending relation terminating in a noose configuration. Equally foreboding is a door handgrip, but the solution of the &#39;318 patent of causing the release of the clothes rod under the body weight of a patient is not available for a door handgrip, because the handgrip mounting on the door must be substantial enough to withstand the normal abuse of use for urging the door in opening and closing movements. In door handgrip technology there is lacking a handgrip construction which negates suicidal attempts. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Broadly it is an object of the present invention to overcome the foregoing and other shortcomings of the prior art. 
   More particularly, it is an object to impart a construction to the handgrip which is constrained against an attachment thereto that can be made by the free end of a noose-configurated opposite end of a belt or the like, and nevertheless not impair the door-opening functioning of the handgrip, all as will be better understood as the description proceeds. 
   The description of the invention which follows, together with the accompanying drawings should not be construed as limiting the invention to the example shown and described, because those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains will be able to devise other forms thereof within the ambit of the appended claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a partial perspective view of an end use of the door handgrip according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an isolated view, in front elevation, of the handgrip; 
       FIG. 3  is a side elevational view projected from  FIG. 2 ; and 
       FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view illustrating in full line and phantom line perspective an operating mode of the handgrip. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   In a prior U.S. Pat. No. 4,643,318 entitled “Safety Closet Rod System” there is disclosed “a closet rod which is yieldable [from its support] under a predetermined weight,” it being explained “there are several instances wherein closet rods, mounted in the conventional manner, pose a hazard to the safety and well being of the persons using such facility. For example, mentally ill persons have been known to use such rods to hang themselves in an attempt at suicide.” This patent addresses the same basic problem, but posed by a handgrip on a door, said handgrip, being generally designated  10 , and is attached by screws  12  adjacent a free edge  14  of a door  16  hinged, as at  18 , to partake of opening and closing movements about the axis of the hinges  18 , with the aid of the handgrip  10  being used by an individual (not shown) to urge the door  16  in the movements noted. 
   The grip  20  per se of the handgrip  10  is appropriately attached, by welding or otherwise, to be suspended between side brackets  22  and  24 , each of which brackets having flanges  26  and  28  used in the previously noted attachment to the door  16  implemented by the screws  12 . The grip  20  is cylindrical in shape presenting a 360-degree peripheral surface, as best noted in  FIG. 3  at  30 , it being important to also note that widthwise of the grip  20  a nominal length portion  32  of the surface  30  is integral to an angularly oriented grip-blocking wall  34  extending to, and attached to the juncture of the side brackets  22 ,  24  and flanges  26 ,  28 , and consequently the grip  20  cannot be entirely gripped in a 360-degree encirclement relation by an individual. This partial grip is no impediment to urging the door  16  in opening and closing movements since the partial grip is achieved by a thumb placed under the grip  20  and at least one and a half digits of four fingers placed over the grip and the pressure applied therebetween has been found in practice to accomplish the gripping function intended. The placement of the wall  34 , as described which effectively prevents 360-degree encirclement of the grip  20  correspondingly effectively negates any suicidal attempt using a cord, rope or the like and the grip  20 , as a stationary elevated site of attachment. 
   Hypothesized in  FIG. 4  is an individual  36  attempting a suicide using a belt  38  in a closed loop configuration in encirclement about the width expanse of the handgrip  10  which is thwarted, as noted by the arrow  40 , by slippage caused by an angularly oriented slope of the top edge surfaces  42  of the side brackets  22  and  24 , which in a preferred embodiment subtends an acute angle to the horizontal. 
   While the apparatus for practicing the within inventive method, as well as said method herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the detail of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.