Patent Publication Number: US-8122530-B1

Title: Rotatably positionable hand rail

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The disclosed device relates generally to safety devices which are utilized to support and balance a person, and more specifically to provide a person with a handhold to prevent a fall, or as device to grab if the person loses their footing and starts to fall. Such devices are routinely used in bathtubs, showers, bathrooms, and adjacent to stairs and steps. Presently known hand rails generally are mounted in a fixed position, which generally vary from horizontal, vertical, or, when adjacent to stairs or steps, at an angle which corresponds to the angle of the stairs or steps. Because the position of the hand rail is fixed, the user must have his or her hand in one general position in order to grab the bar. However, it is not always possible for a user to easily position their hands in a position which is conducive to obtaining and maintaining a secure grasp of the rail. For example, for a variety of health-related reasons, many people have limited range of motion in their elbows, wrists, and/or shoulders, which can make the positioning of the hand in a position allowing the most secure handhold to be problematic for a hand rail having a fixed position. Because the hand rail must reliably support the user&#39;s entire weight, the inability to obtain and maintain a secure grasp on the rail may defeat the purpose for which the rail is intended. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the presently disclosed invention provide a solution to the need identified above. The disclosed invention provides a hand rail which has a plurality of easily selectable rotational positions, in addition to a vertical and horizontal orientation. The ability to select a particular rotational position allows the user to set the hand rail at a desired rotational position, where such position allows the user to obtain and maintain a comfortable and secure grasp of the hand rail. 
     An embodiment of the adjustable hand rail has a wall-mountable base member comprising a circular plate having an inward facing side and an outward facing side. The circular plate has a peripheral edge and a circular track integrally attached at the peripheral edge. The circular track has a bottom from which extend an inside rail member and outside rail member, where the two rail members are parallel with one another. A c-shaped channel is defined by the inside rail member and the outside rail member, where the channel has an outward facing opening opposite the bottom of the circular track. The bottom of the circular track has a plurality of diametrically opposed aperture pairs, with each aperture having generally the same diameter. The apparatus also has a bar member which comprises a handle section disposed between a first end member and a second end member, where the first end member and the second end member are perpendicular to the handle section. Each end member has a pin member sized to fit within any of the apertures. Each end member also has a shoulder member which is larger than the outward facing opening of the c-shaped channel, where each shoulder member is disposed within the c-shaped channel. A biasing means, such as a spring, urges the two pin members of the bar member into a pair of diametrically opposed apertures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosed hand rail. 
         FIG. 2  shows a front view of the embodiment of the disclosed hand rail depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  shows a sectional view along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  shows a detailed view of an embodiment of rotational locking mechanism in the locked position, which mechanism may be utilized in embodiments of the disclosed hand rail. 
         FIG. 5  shows a detailed view of the rotational locking mechanism shown in  FIG. 4  in the unlocked position. 
         FIG. 6  shows an embodiment of a cover plate which may be utilized with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  shows an embodiment of the present invention with the cover of  FIG. 6  attached. 
         FIG. 8  shows a detailed view of an embodiment of mounting plate which may be utilized with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the figures, embodiments of the disclosed hand rail  10  are depicted in  FIGS. 1 through 8 . As a general description, the adjustable hand rail  10  comprises a wall-mountable base member  12  and a bar member  40  which mounts to the wall-mountable base member, where the bar member generally defines an axis L. The bar member  40  is manually rotatable with respect to the wall-mountable base member  12 . The bar member  40  comprises means for being selectively locked into any one of a plurality of different axial positions with respect to the wall-mountable base member  12 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , these axial positions include a vertical axial position (shown in solid line) and a horizontal axial position (shown in broken line). In addition, the bar member  40  may be selectively locked into various intermediate axial positions between the vertical axial position and the horizontal axial position. 
     More specifically, the apparatus  10  may comprise a wall-mountable base member  12  comprising a circular plate  14  having an inward facing side  16  and an outward facing side  18 . The circular plate  14  has a peripheral edge  20 . A circular track  22  is located at the peripheral edge  20 . The circular track  22  may be an integral part of the circular plate  14  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     The circular track  22  has a bottom  24  from which extend an inside rail member  26  and outside rail member  28  which cantilever from the bottom. As shown best in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the two rail members  26 ,  28  are generally parallel or concentric with one another except at the free ends, each which respectively has a flanged end  30 ,  32 . A c-shaped channel  38  is defined by the inside rail member  26  and the outside rail member  28 , where the channel has an outward facing opening  34  opposite the bottom  24  of the circular track  22 . The bottom of the circular track has a plurality of diametrically opposed apertures  36 , each aperture having a diametrically opposed mate, such that diametrically opposed pairs of apertures  36  are formed. All of the apertures  36  have approximately equivalent diameters. 
     The hand rail  10  also has a bar member  40  which comprises a handle section  42  disposed between a first end member  44  and a second end member  46 . The first end member  44  and the second end member  46  are perpendicular to the handle section  42 . Each end member  44 ,  46  has a pin member  48  sized to fit within any of the apertures  36 . Each end member  44 ,  46  also has shoulder member  50  which is larger than the outward facing opening  34  of the c-shaped channel  38 . As best shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , each shoulder member  50  is disposed within the c-shaped channel  38 . A biasing means, such as a spring  52 , urges the two pin members  48  of the bar member  40  into a pair of diametrically opposed apertures  36 . As best shown in  FIG. 3 , bar member  40  may comprise a handle  54  which provides an improved gripping structure for a user. 
       FIG. 3  shows how the base member  12  is mounted to a wall W by anchors  56 . Anchors  56  should be selected according to the anticipated loads to which the device will be subjected. 
       FIG. 6  depicts a cover member  58  which may be utilized with the disclosed hand rail  10 . Depending upon the use and location of the hand rail  10 , it may be desirable to cover the device from view with an aesthetically pleasing cover member  58 , which may simply snap fit over the outside edge of the base member  12  as depicted in  FIG. 7 . Alternatively, the cover member may comprise a two-piece clam shell configuration, which opens to allow access to the handle member. This type of cover may be configured such that the user simply pushes the outside of the cover member to gain access to the bar member  40  on the inside. The two pieces may be spring loaded such that the cover closes when the user removes his or her hand from the bar member  40 . 
     Installation of the shoulder member  50  into the c-shaped channel  38  may be accomplished by utilizing track sections  60  which are removable from the circular track  22 . The track sections  60  are wide enough such that when the track sections are removed, the shoulder members  50  may pass through and be installed within the c-shaped channel  38 . Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 7 , a circular track  22 ′ may comprise a pair of enlarged openings  62  through the flanged ends  30 ′,  32 ′ which are diametrically disposed within the circular track. The cut-out sections  62  will be large enough to allow passage of the shoulder members  50 . 
     The hand rail  10  is manufactured from materials which provide the required mechanical properties for the anticipated service as well as providing an attractive finish which has the required durability for the particular service. In general, because the hand rail must support anticipated impact loads from a person falling, the required mechanical properties will dictate the proper material for construction, such as stainless steel, although certain high strength plastic materials may also be utilized. 
     While the above is a description of various embodiments of the present invention, further modifications may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the size, shape, and/or material of the various components may be changed as desired. Thus the scope of the invention should not be limited by the specific structures disclosed. Instead the true scope of the invention should be determined by the following appended claims.