Abstract:
A combination grab or article support bar and light source is may comprise an elongated bar body, wherein the bar body is translucent or transparent; means for attaching the bar body to a wall; and means for lighting at least partially located within the bar body. The means for lighting may comprise fiber optic lighting, Light-Emitting Diode (LED) lighting, or any of a plurality of other means for lighting such as fluorescent or incandescent lights.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/888,400 under 35 U.S.C. §119(e), filed on Feb. 6, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a grab bar and, more particularly, to a grab bar that provides a source of illumination. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Each year, many people of all ages are injured from slip and falls. Grab bars generally are useful to help prevent people from falling in an around a bathroom area. For example, grab bars in a home assist in the safe transfer of people in and out of a bathtub or shower area. Grab bars further act as a balancing assist for people as they are in the shower or when they are drying in the adjacent bath area. Additionally, grab bars may be placed in locations such that they are useful for holding bath items, such as towels and toilet paper. 
         [0004]    Aside from the use of grab bars in a residence, hotels and motels install grab bars in both handicap and standard rooms. The surroundings of a hotel room are often unfamiliar to the occupant, and thus a person is even more likely to slip and fall in the hotel room versus the person&#39;s home. 
         [0005]    Grab bars that are intended as safety devices must be able to bear the weight of the person holding or grabbing the bar Furthermore, the grab bar should preferably be located in a suitable position and provide high visibility so that it can be located and grabbed quickly. 
         [0006]    Standard grab bars are typically constructed out of a color and material that will blend into the background. Their functional design is based on the need for weight bearing and stability only. They do not address the need for visibility in low light areas or for people who do have vision problems. 
         [0007]    Therefore, there is a need for a bar that has illumination. The illumination will make the grab bar more visible in low light and situations. This visual orientation will assist in giving the user a surer grip on the bar in proper location. The light may optionally provide ambient light a dark space which may have tripping hazards such as bath mats and obstacles in the area. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    One or more embodiments of an illuminated grab bar are thought to improve upon existing grab bar design. In this regard, an illuminated bar may be usable in both wet and dry situations. The lights may come in varying colors and/or changeable colors, adding to the chromatherapy health benefits. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment, a combination grab or article support bar and light source is disclosed that comprises an elongated bar body, wherein the bar body is translucent or transparent; means for attaching the bar body to a wall; and means for lighting at least partially located within the bar body. The means for lighting may comprise fiber optic lighting, Light-Emitting Diode (LED) lighting, or any of a plurality of other means for lighting such as fluorescent or incandescent lights. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment, a combination grab bar and light is disclosed that comprises a translucent bar body; and a light source at least partially located within the bar body, wherein, the grab bar is capable of supporting the weight of a person. 
         [0011]    In yet another embodiment, a method of providing light for a room is disclosed that comprises providing a support bar selected from the group consisting of grab bars, towel bars, and toilet paper holders; wherein the support bar is at least partially translucent or transparent; and placing a light source at least partially inside the support bar such that light shines through the bar and provides light for the room. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a side view of an embodiment of an illuminated grab bar assembly. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the illuminated grab bar assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is longitudinal cross-sectional view of an end portion of a bar, shown without a fixture attached and without an end cap attached. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is an end view of the bar as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a fixture that may be used in attaching a bar to a wall, illustrated from the perspective of line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 2 , and not attached to a bar. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the fixture of  FIG. 5 , illustrated from the perspective of line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 2 , and not attached to a bar. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the fixture of  FIGS. 5-6 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a side cross-sectional view of a mounting plate. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the mounting plate of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a schematic representation of a grab bar installed on a wall. 
           [0022]      FIGS. 11A-11B  illustrate a second embodiment of an illuminated bar assembly in the form of a toilet paper holder. 
           [0023]      FIGS. 12A-12B  illustrate a third embodiment of an illuminated bar assembly in the form of a short straight grab bar. 
           [0024]      FIGS. 13A-13B  illustrate a fourth embodiment of an illuminated bar assembly in the form of a long straight grab bar. 
           [0025]      FIGS. 14A-14B  illustrate a fifth embodiment of an illuminated bar assembly in the form of a short curved grab bar. 
           [0026]      FIGS. 15A-15B  illustrate a sixth embodiment of an illuminated bar assembly in the form of a long curved grab bar. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]    A preferred embodiment of an illuminated grab bar assembly, generally identified by reference number  10 , is illustrated in the  FIGS. 1-9 . Illuminated grab bar assembly  10  may comprise elongated bar body  12 , fixtures  30 , mounting plates  50 , and light source  70  with power supply. 
         [0028]    Elongated bar  12  may include two ends  14  and a central bore  16 . The central bore  16  may terminate in threaded portions  18  that receive an end cap  22 . In one embodiment, end caps  22  are removable and replaceable via a threaded protrusion on the end cap  22  that is threadedly attachable to threaded portion  18  in bar  12 . The outer or displayed portion of end caps  22  may be decorative in nature such that the owner of the bar assembly  10  may somewhat customize it based on the taste of the owner. 
         [0029]    In some embodiments, the bar is manufactured from a material that is translucent or transparent. In one embodiment, the bar comprises a translucent acrylic. However, it is contemplated that the bar may be manufactured from any suitable material, such as any of a plurality of suitable polymers that are strong enough to support the weight of a person yet allow light from the interior of the bar  12  to shine through the bar  12 . Bar  12  may additionally comprise at least one aperture  20  ( FIG. 3 ) that receives at least a portion of a light means, such as fiber optic cable, or a power supply cord. In one or more embodiments, the aperture  20  may be located near an end of the bar  12  at a location suitable to be overlaid by a fixture  30 . 
         [0030]    Similar to standard grab bars, grab bar assembly  10  may further comprises two fixtures that aid in attaching the bar  12  to a wall  60  or other support structure. In some embodiments, at least one of the fixtures may comprise fixture  30 . Fixtures  30  may comprise portion  32  having aperture  33  that receives a bar  12  therethrough. Fixture  30  may further comprise a neck portion  34 , and base portion  38  comprising a recess  44  extending inward from the bottom of base  38  and threaded recess  40  extending inward from recess  44 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , neck portion  34  may comprise aperture  36  extending therethrough that is in communication with aperture  33  at one end and threaded aperture  44  on the other end. When fixture  30  is properly installed on bar  12  overlaying aperture  20 , aperture  36  in fixture  30  aligns with aperture  20  in bar  12 . 
         [0031]    Recess  44  and threaded recess  40  aid in attaching fixture  30  to a wall  60  or other support surface. In some embodiments, a mounting plate may first attach to the wall  60  on one end and to fixture  30  on its other end. 
         [0032]    One embodiment of a mounting plate  50  is illustrated in  FIGS. 8-9 . Mounting plate  50  may comprise a generally circular body with apertures  52  that receive screws or other fasteners that affix mounting plate  50  to a wall. Mounting plate  50  may further comprise threaded projection portion  54  having aperture  56  extending through the projection and through the body of the mounting plate  50 . The threaded projection  54  may have external threads that are complementary to internal threads of recess  40  in fixture  30 . 
         [0033]    Illuminated bar assembly  10  may further comprise a light source that shines light from the interior of bar  12 . The light source may comprise a fiber optic light system, an LED light system, or any of a plurality of light systems that are suitable for use in a grab bar. In one embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , a light source  70  such as a fiber optic light source may be located at a location spaced from bar  12 , although it is also contemplated that the entire light source is located within bar  12 . The light source  70  may be connected to a suitable power supply  80  such as alternating current found in a home&#39;s electrical system, or a battery. The light source  70  may transfer light to the bar  12  by one or more fiber optic cables  72 , which extend through wall  60 , mounting plate  50 , fixture  30 , and finally through aperture  20  into bar  12 . It is apparent that cables  72  may only be required to be inserted through one fixture  30  of the two fixtures that hold up the bar  12 . 
         [0034]    Alternatively, one or more LED lights may be located within bar  12 . In such an embodiment, bar  12  may comprise one or more electrical contacts on an outer end that contact one or more corresponding electrical contacts on a fixture. The fixture contacts may be connected to a power supply, such as an AC or DC power supply. If electrical power is going into the bar  12 , one or more insulators or o-rings may be used in aperture  33  in fixture  30  to prevent water and moisture was reaching the electrical system. It is contemplated that different color LED may be used, such that the owner of the bar assembly  10  may choose a particular color of light to shine through bar  12 . To that end, the LED light system may be connected to a board or computing device such that it that can be programmed to select different colors of lights at predetermined times, such as randomization of light color or light color that changes every hour once or more per day. 
         [0035]    With any of the embodiments, it is contemplated that the bar assembly  10  may be connected to a switch  74  such as a wall switch so that the user can turn the light on and off. 
         [0036]    To install a bar assembly  10 , the light source  70  is first installed in a suitable location (if located externally of bar  12 ) and connected to a power source  80 . Fiber optic cables can be run from the light source through one or both apertures in a wall  60  or other support structure. In this example, the cables  72  are fed through only one of the wall apertures. After feeding cables  72  through aperture  56  in one of the mounting plates  50 , the mounting plates  50  may then be affixed to a wall  60  or other support structure by one or more fasteners that are inserted through apertures  52  and into the wall  60  or other support structure. Thereafter, the cables are fed through aperture  36  in one of the fixtures  30  and the base portions  38  of fixtures  30  are mounted to respective mounting plates  50  via a threaded connection  40 ,  54 . A set screw may then be tightened in one or both set screw apertures  42  in the fixtures  30  to fixedly secure the fixtures  30  to mounting plate  50 . 
         [0037]    Next, the cables  72  may be fed into aperture  20  in bar  12  and the bar  12  may be adjusted relative to portions  32  of fixture  30  so that apertures(s)  20  are covered by portion  32  of fixture  30 . Thereafter, a set screw may be tightened within each set screw aperture  24  to secure the bar  12  longitudinally relative to fixture  30 . 
         [0038]    In an alternative embodiment, as stated previously, an external surface of the bar  12  analogous to aperture  20  may comprise electrical connections. If so, the bar  12  may be installed by sliding the bar  12  through apertures  33  in fixtures  30  until the electrical contacts engage corresponding contacts in fixture  30 . It is contemplated that in one embodiment, the contacts in the fixture may be located near the opening of aperture  36 . Once the bar  12  is positioned such that the electrical contacts are engaged, the set screws can be tightened to secure the bar  12  longitudinally relative to the fixture  30 . 
         [0039]    Aside from the embodiments of bar assembly  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-9 , other embodiments for bar assemblies are illustrated in  FIGS. 11-15 .  FIGS. 11A-11B  illustrate a shorter bar assembly  100  that includes a shorter bar  112  and fixtures  130  that are shorter than fixtures  30 . In this embodiment, the fixtures  130  are located adjacent to each other such that the device functions as a toilet paper holder. It is also contemplated that only one fixture  130  may be used. 
         [0040]      FIGS. 12A-12B  also illustrate bar assembly  200  having a short bar  112  of, for example, ten inches, but the fixtures  130  are more conventionally spaced toward the ends of the bar  112 .  FIGS. 13A-13B  illustrate a long bar  312  with shorter fixtures  130 . Finally,  FIGS. 14A-14B  and  FIGS. 15A-15B  illustrate embodiments  400  and  500  that comprise curved bars  412  and  512 , the difference between the two embodiments being the length of the bars  412 ,  512  and the height of the fixtures  30 ,  130 . 
         [0041]    This invention has been described with reference to illustrative embodiments and is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that elements or process steps from one or more embodiments described herein may be used in combination with elements or process steps from one or more other embodiments described herein, and that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments provided herein but only as set forth in the accompanying claims. Various modifications of the illustrative embodiments, as well as additional embodiments to the invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to this description.