Patent Publication Number: US-2022228371-A1

Title: Grab rail

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a grab rail of the type typically mounted beside bathrooms to assist bathroom users. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The use of grab rails, particularly in bathrooms, is well established, one example of such a rail being described in our UK Patent No. 2500020. Typically a rail is mounted horizontally, vertically or at an angle between, on a wall surface. Where the wall is a stud wall, the rail should be fixed to studs. This does not present a problem if the rail is to be mounted vertically as opposite ends of the rail can be fixed to vertically spaced sites on a common stud. However, because of variations in stud spacings and/or the need to accommodate different mounting angles, rails of differing lengths must be provided or the rail cut to length prior to application. The former presents inventory issues while the latter can present issues arising from the need to form new connections between the rail and its mountings. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a grab rail that will go at least some way in addressing the aforementioned problems; or which will at least provide a novel and useful alternative. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment, a system including a processing device . . . In one aspect the invention provides a grab rail comprising an elongate shaft having a length axis; and a pair of attachment fittings engageable with said elongate shaft at spaced points along said length axis, said attachment fittings having contact surfaces offset from said length axis which, in use, engage a support surface at spaced points with respect to said length axis, wherein at least one of said attachment fittings has at least two connections each of which is selectively engageable with said shaft and wherein said at least one of said attachment fittings is further configured whereby the distance between said contact surfaces can be varied by selection of the connection between said at least one attachment fitting and said shaft. 
     Preferably said shaft and said length axis are linear. 
     Preferably said at least one attachment fitting comprises a mounting which, when the attachment fitting is engaged with said shaft, is aligned with said length axis; and a pillar extending from said mounting, a distal end of said pillar defining or being connected to a said contact surface. 
     Preferably said mounting has opposed ends and a mid-length, said pillar extending from said mounting at a position between said opposed ends but offset from said mid-length, and wherein said opposed ends define said at least two connections. 
     Preferably each of said attachment fittings is the same. 
     Preferably said attachment fittings are engaged with opposed ends of said elongate shaft. 
     Preferably said elongate shaft comprises a plurality of shaft modules mounted in series on a common connecting bar, 
     Preferably said attachment fittings are mounted to said common connecting bar. 
     Many variations in the way the present invention can be performed will present themselves to those skilled in the art. The description which follows is intended as an illustration only of one means of performing the invention and the lack of description of variants or equivalents should not be regarded as limiting. Subject to the scope of the appended claims, wherever possible, a description of a specific element should be deemed to include any and all equivalents thereof whether in existence now or in the future. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: 
         FIG. 1 : shows an isometric view from the front, partly exploded, of a grab rail to which the invention may be applied; and 
         FIG. 2 : shows an enlarged plan view of part of that which is shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF WORKING EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 &amp; 2 , a grab rail  10  is shown comprising an elongate shaft  11  having a length axis  12  and opposed ends  13   a  and  13   b.  Attachment fittings  14   a  and  14   b  are engaged with respective shaft ends  13   a  and  13   b  to mount the shaft  11  to, but spaced from, a mounting surface such as a stud wall (not shown). In the conventional manner the attachment fittings include contact surfaces  15  which contact the wall and are spaced from one another relative to the axis  12 . 
     Those skilled in the art will know that it is preferable, and in many instances essential, that the contact surfaces overlie stud positions in a stud wall and it is an important feature of the invention that the spacing between the contact surfaces  15  can be varied so that the rail  10  can be readily adapted for fitment to walls in which the studs are spaced at different centres. As described in greater detail below, this is achieved by suitably configuring at least one, and preferably both, of the attachment fittings and further adapting the fitting or fittings for selective engagement with the shaft ends  13   a  and  13   b.    
     As described in our British Patent GB 2500020, the shaft  11  may be formed as a series of shaft modules  16  mounted on, and clamped together by, a central connecting bar  17 . The connecting bar  17  preferably extends beyond the shaft ends  13   a,    13   b  to engage with and form mounts for the attachment fittings  14   a,    14   b.  In the example shown, the attachment fittings  14   a,    14   b  are fixed to the connecting bar  17  by means of clamping inserts  18  that locate within the brackets  13 , and locking screws  19 , the locking screws engaging in internally threaded axial bores  20  in the ends of the connecting bar  17 . With the attachment fittings  14  clamped to the handle  10 , end caps  21  may be fixed to the exposed ends of the attachment fittings  14 . 
     As described above, the invention has been devised with the specific object of providing a single grab rail assembly that can accommodate a range of spacings between mounting points. This accommodation is provided by the assembly so that the spacing between the contact surfaces can be selectively varied. 
     In the form shown each attachment fitting includes a mounting, preferably a tubular mounting  22  that, when the attachment fitting is connected to the shaft  11 , is aligned along the shaft axis  12 . The tubular mounting has a mid-position  23  and opposed ends  24   a  &amp;  24   b,  the ends  24   a  &amp;  24   b  preferably being identical in form. It can be seen that a pillar  25  projects from the outer surface of the mounting tube, the distal end of the pillar  25  mounting a fixing base  26  the underside of which, in turn, defines or carries contact surface  15 . The fixing base typically includes apertures  27  though which fixing screws may be passed to attach the rail to a wall. 
     In the example shown the pillar  25  is linear, is mounted perpendicular to the tube  22  but is offset by x from a line  29 , parallel to the pillar and passing through the mid-length of the tube  26 . Since each of tube ends  28   a  &amp;  28   b  is selectively engageable with the handle shaft  11 , it will be appreciated that, by selecting which of the ends is chosen to engage the handle, the spacing between the contact surfaces may be varied. 
     It will thus be appreciated that the invention provides a simple yet effective means of providing a grab rail in which selective assembly of the rail components allows the rail to be readily and effectively mounted on studs of different spacings.