Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
rc ~~
CA 02360861 2001-11-O1
1 "ERGONOMIC HANDRAIL"
2 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
3 The present invention relates to ergonomic handrails and, more particularly,
to a
4 handrail having a generally wavy shape that enables infirm persons such as
elderly and
disabled persons to grasp it readily and firmly without causing their hands to
6 accidentally slip from grasping engagement therewith. The invention also
relates to a
7 handrail assembly for assisting a person when sitting or standing relative
to a fixed
8 structure such as a toilet or a bathtub.
9 In most modern buildings, it is common to provide a handrail extending along
a
wall or a stairway to facilitate the movement of persons therealong. Also,
facilities such
11 as hospitals, nursing homes and private homes for elderly or disabled
persons make
12 extensive use of handrails so that infirm persons can grasp them for
support when
13 moving around or for assistance when lifting themselves onto or from a
toilet. Such a
14 handrail is particularly helpful to them in a bathroom in supporting
themselves during
bathing and getting in and out of the tub.
16 Conventionally, such handrails comprise a length of solid or tubular
material
17 which is generally straight or L-shaped. A handrail is generally supported
on a wall by
18 conventional supports so that it extends obliquely along a stairway. During
ascending
19 or descending a flight of stairs, users usually reach downward to grasp
onto the handrail
by bending their wrist forwardly. This forward bending movement of the wrist
tends to
21 prevent the users from gripping the handrail firmly thus increasing the
risk of
22 accidental slippage of their hands from grasping engagement therewith.
{EM195393.DOC;1 } 1
CA 02360861 2001-11-O1
1 Handrails disposed in bathrooms, toilets, foyers or the like generally
include
2 vertically extending sections which users grasp for support during sitting
down or
3 standing up. When the user lifts oneself onto or from a toilet, he or she
grasps and holds
4 onto the vertical section and then stretches or bends both arms gradually so
that he or
she can move toward or from the toilet seat. However, the disadvantage with
such
6 handrails is that infirm persons must be strong enough to pull themselves up
and
7 support their own weight during sitting down on or standing up from the
toilet seat.
8 Handrails will not help such infirm persons who are too weak or
incapacitated.
9 Disposing a straight handrail obliquely rather than vertically or
horizontally
seems to result in a viable solution which does not require stretching of the
arms during
11 sitting down. However, in this case, one would grasp the handrail in the
same manner
12 as described in connection with the handrail for a stairway. The inability
to grip the
13 handrail firmly would increase the risk of injury by the user falling onto
the toilet.
14 Therefore, there is a need for a handrail that is configured to enable
infirm
persons to grasp it readily and firmly without causing their hands to
accidentally slip
16 from grasping engagement therewith.
17 There is another need for a handrail that can assist elderly or disabled
persons in
18 lifting themselves onto or from a toilet.
19 There is a further need for a handrail that is particularly helpful to such
persons
in a bathroom in supporting themselves during bathing and getting in and out
of the
21 tub.
{ EM 195393.DOC; l } 2
CA 02360861 2005-10-26
1 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
2 In one embodiment, the present invention provides a
3 comprising a handrail having a generally wavy shape. The handram mw~ ~.
a.~.,..~..~....e
4 combination of generally upwardly curved sections and generally downwardly
curved
sections. Means are provided for mounting the handrail relative to a structure
so that
6 it is readily engaged by the hand of a user. The handrail assembly may
further
7 comprise a plurality of generally straight sections each interposed between
two
8 adjacent, generally upwardly and downwardly curved sections, the axes of two
9 adjacent ones of said generally straight sections intersecting with each
other at an
obtuse angle. Also, the handrail assembly may further comprise at least one
straight
11 section disposed near one end thereof.
12 In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a
13 handrail assembly adapted for use with a stairway, comprising: a handrail
having a
14 generally wavy shape and having an alternating combination of generally
horizontally
disposed portions and generally vertically disposed portions, when mounted
obliquely
16 to a support wall. The handrail may be mounted relative to the stairway so
that each
17 of the generally horizontally and vertically disposed portions is
positioned generally
18 above a step and a riser of the stairway, respectively. Means are provided
for
19 mounting the handrail obliquely along the stairway to provide the
alternating
combination of generally horizontally disposed portions and generally
vertically
21 disposed portions. The generally vertically disposed portions being adapted
to be
22 grasped by a user without bending his or her wrist forwardly in ascending a
flight of
23 stairs. The generally horizontally disposed portions being adapted to be
grasped by a
24 user without bending his or her wrist forwardly in descending the flight of
stairs. In
3 ~ E510293b.DOC;1 f
CA 02360861 2005-10-26
1 accordance with another embodiment, the generally horizontally disposed
portions of
2 the handrail may have a width greater than the generally vertically disposed
portions
3 so that the user can grasp and lean on the generally horizontally disposed
portions for
4 support in descending the flight of stairs.
In accordance with another embodiment, the present invention provides an anti-
6 slip means on the handrail, which comprises a plurality of grooves extending
7 longitudinally thereof. The handrail may include indicia thereon for aiding
a visually
8 handicapped person in moving up and down the stairway, and the indicia are
in the
9 Braille system, including characters to be felt and distinguished by human
fingers.
11 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
12 For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the
advantages
13 thereof, reference may be made to the following written description of
exemplary
14 embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a first embodiment of a handrail adapted for
use with a
16 stairway;
17 FIG. 2 is a plan view of the handrail as shown in FIG. 1;
18 FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the first embodiment of the handrail as
mounted on a wall
19 for a stairway;
4 {E5102936.DOC;1 f
CA 02360861 2001-11-O1
1 FIG. 4 is a front elevation of a second embodiment of a handrail adapted for
use
2 with a stairway;
3 FIG. 5 is a plan view of the handrail as shown in FIG. 4;
4 FIG. 6 is a front elevation of the second embodiment of the handrail as
mounted
on a wall for a stairway;
6 FIG. 7 is a front elevation of a third embodiment of a handrail adapted for
use in
7 a toilet;
8 FIG. 8 is a plan view of the handrail as shown in FIG. 7;
9 FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the third embodiment of the handrail as
mounted
in a toilet;
11 FIG. 10 is a front elevation of a fourth embodiment of a handrail adapted
for in a
12 toilet;
13 FIG. 11 is a plan view of the handrail as shown in FIG. 10;
14 FIG. 12 is a front elevation of the fourth embodiment of the handrail as
mounted
in a toilet;
16 FIG. 13 is a front elevation of a fifth embodiment of a handrail adapted
for use in
17 a toilet;
18 FIG. 14 is a plan view of the handrail as shown in FIG. 13;
19 FIG. 15 is a front elevation of the fifth embodiment of the handrail as
mounted in
a toilet;
21 FIG. 16 is a front elevation of a sixth embodiment of a handrail adapted
for use
22 in a toilet;
23 FIG. 17 is a plan view of the handrail as shown in FIG. 16;
24 FIG. 18 is a front elevation of the sixth embodiment of the handrail as
mounted
in a toilet;
{ EM 195393.DOC;1 } 5
CA 02360861 2001-11-O1
1 FIG. 19 is a front elevation of a seventh embodiment of a handrail as
mounted
2 relative to a stairway;
3 FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the handrail as taken along lines A-A
of FIG.
4 19;
FIG. 21 is a front elevation of the eighth embodiment of the handrail as
mounted
6 on a wall for a stairway;
7 FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a ninth embodiment of a handrail as mounted
on
8 a wall for a stairway;
9 FIG. 23 is a pictorial view of a tenth embodiment of a handrail as mounted
in a
car of a commuter train.
11
12 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
13 A first embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. l, 2 and 3. A
handrail
14 assembly, as generally designated at Tl, includes a handrail 1,
conventional supports 2,
and caps 3 mounted at both ends of the handrail 1. The handrail 1 comprises an
16 elongated, solid body made of hard plastic material having a generally
circular cross
17 section. It should be understood that the handrail may be fabricated from a
hollow pipe
18 made of certain metal. It should be noted that, as best shown in FIGS. 1
and 3, the
19 handrail 1 has a wavy, or generally sinusoidal, shape for reasons to be
fully described
later.
( EM 195393.DOC;1 } 6
CA 02360861 2001-11-O1
1 The wavy-shaped handrail 1 comprises a repetitive occurrence of three
different
2 sections, i.e., a upwardly curved section 10, a downwardly curved section
11, and a
3 generally straight section 12 of a predetermined length interposed between
two
4 adjacent, upwardly and downwardly curved sections 10, 11. Virtual boundaries
between the upwardly or downwardly curved sections 10, 11 and the interposed,
6 generally straight section 12 are generally indicated by broken lines
extending
7 perpendicular to the handrail 1 at those boundaries. It should be noted that
virtual axes
8 O, O, O, ~ extending through two adjacent ones of the generally straight
sections 12
9 intersect with each other at an obtuse angle 13.
In the first embodiment of the invention, the handrail 1 has a diameter of
11 approximately 34 mm and the radius of curvature of the upwardly and
downwardly
12 curved sections 10 and 11 is approximately 100 mm. The length of the
generally
13 straight section 12 is approximately 93 mm and two adjacent ones of the
generally
14 straight sections 12 intersect with each other at an angle of approximately
100 degrees.
Also, the total length of the handrail 1 as measured between both ends is
approximately
16 1500 mm.
17 Referring to FIG. 3, the handrail assembly T1 is shown as mounted on a wall
5
18 by three conventional supports 2 relative to a stairway 4. As shown, the
handrail 1, as a
19 whole, extends obliquely along the stairway 4 so that each generally
horizontally
disposed portion A and each generally vertically disposed portion B both
consisting of
21 the generally straight sections 12 and portions of their adjacent curved
sections 10 and
22 11 are disposed generally above a step 40 and a riser 41 between two
adjacent steps 40,
23 respectively. The relative level of the handrail 1 and the stairway 4 may
vary depending
24 upon the average height of users and, it is preferable to mount the
handrail at a level
corresponding to the user's waist portion.
{ EM 195393.DOC;1 } 7
CA 02360861 2001-11-O1
1 With this arrangement, the user, in ascending a flight of stairs, can first
grasp the
2 generally vertically disposed portion B of the handrail 1 more firmly and
smoothly than
3 a conventional straight handrail without bending or cocking his or her wrist
forwardly,
4 because the handrail 1 is more vertical than the conventional one. Then, the
user can
grasp and lean on the generally horizontally disposed portion A of the
handrail 1,
6 because the portion A has much less slope than the conventional handrail.
7 It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the wavy shaped
handrail
8 1 is best suited to infirm persons such as elderly or disabled persons in
that, during
9 ascending, they can grasp the vertically and horizontally disposed portions
B and A
firmly with a reduced risk of accidental slippage of their hands from gripping
11 engagement with the handrail. Gripping the generally vertically disposed
portions B
12 and then the generally horizontally disposed portions A will enable such
persons to pull
13 themselves up and then support their own weight.
14 In descending a flight of stairs, it will be appreciated by those skilled
in the art
that the user will rely mainly on the generally horizontally disposed portions
A for
16 support because their slope is much less than the conventional handrail.
With a reduced
17 slope of the handrail, the user can grasp the horizontally disposed
portions A without
18 bending or cocking his or her wrist forwardly and with his or her hand just
by the side
19 of the waist portion. Accordingly, it should be understood that infirm
persons such as
elderly or disables persons can grasp the generally horizontally disposed
portions A
21 firmly and smoothly with a much less risk of accidental slippage of their
hands from
22 the handrail than the conventional one.
{ EM 195393.DOC;1 } 8
CA 02360861 2001-11-O1
1 Also, it should be understood that the generally straight sections 12 are
generally
2 easier to grip than the upwardly and downwardly curved portions 10 and 11.
3 Accordingly, it should be readily understood that the user is recommended to
grasp the
4 generally straight section 12 of the generally vertically disposed portions
B during
ascending and the generally straight section 12 of the generally horizontally
disposed
6 portions A during descending because to do so will reduce the risk of
accidental
7 slippage of his or her hands from gripping engagement with the handrail.
8 As described above, the axes of two adjacent ones of the generally straight
9 sections 12 are arranged to intersect with each other at an obtuse angle 13
of 100
degrees, for example, so that a relatively smooth transition occurs between
the
11 generally horizontally and vertically disposed portions A and B. This will
enable the
12 user to slide his or her hands from one to the other of the portions A and
B without
13 substantially detaching from the handrail.
14 As described above, the generally horizontally and vertically disposed
portions A
and B are arranged in relation to the stairway 4 such that the portions A and
B are
16 disposed generally above the steps 40 and the risers 41 therebetween,
respectively. This
17 will permit the user to readily grasp the portions A and B depending upon
whether he
18 or she is descending or ascending a flight of stairs.
19 Referring to FIGs. 4 to 6, there is illustrated a second embodiment of the
invention T2 which includes a handrail 1 a mounted on a wall by conventional
supports
21 2 for a stairway 4. As shown, the handrail assembly T2 includes five
supports 2
22 mounted to the generally straight portions 12 of the handrail la at an
equal spacing
23 from each other. In this second embodiment of the invention, the handrail 1
a has a
24 diameter of approximately 34 mm and the radius of curvature of the upwardly
and
downwardly curved sections 10 and 11 is approximately 100 mm. The length of
the
{EM195393.DOC;1 }9
CA 02360861 2001-11-O1
1 generally straight sections 12 is approximately 130 mm and two adjacent ones
of the
2 generally straight sections 12 intersect each other at an angle 13 of
approximately 105
3 degrees. Also, the total length of the handrail 1 a as measured between both
ends is
4 approximately 4000 mm.
As described above in connection with the first embodiment, it is preferable
to
6 mount the handrail la of the invention relative to a stairway 4 such that
the generally
7 horizontally disposed portions A and the generally vertically disposed
portions B are
8 positioned generally above the steps 40 and the risers 41, respectively.
However, it
9 should be understood that the present invention is not limited to such
relative
positioning of the handrail and the stairway.
11 Referring to FIGs. 7 to 9, there is illustrated a third embodiment of the
present
12 invention T3 which includes a handrail 1 b mounted on a wall 5 by
conventional
13 supports 2b in a toilet. The handrail 1b is generally wavy-shaped,
including two
14 generally upwardly curved sections 10 and two generally downwardly curved
sections
11. However, it does not include a plurality of generally straight sections 12
as is the
16 case with the handrails l and la as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6. The handrail 1b
is also
17 provided with caps 3 at both ends.
18 In this third embodiment of the invention, the handrail 1b has a diameter
of
19 approximately 34 mm and the radius of curvature of the upwardly and
downwardly
curved sections 10 and 11 is approximately 100 mm. Two adjacent ones of the
21 generally straight sections 12 intersect with each other at an angle 13 of
approximately
22 95 degrees. Also, the total length of the handrail 1b as measured between
both ends is
23 approximately 600 mm.
{EM195393.DOC;1 } 10
CA 02360861 2001-11-O1
1 As best shown in FIG. 9, the handrail 1b is mounted generally obliquely on
the
2 wall 5 by conventional supports 2c so as to provide an alternating
combination of
3 generally horizontally and vertically disposed portions which comprise the
generally
4 downwardly and upwardly curved sections and transition sections
therebetween.
In lifting oneself onto the toilet, the user will grasp either the generally
vertically
6 or horizontally portions of the handrail 1 b for support and gradually slide
his or her
7 hand downwardly along the handrail while supporting his or her own weight.
By so
8 doing, the user does not have to stretch his or her arm. This will also
enable the user to
9 maintain his or her grip on the handrail during sliding so that the risk of
injury by the
user falling onto the toilet will be greatly reduced.
11 In standing up from the toilet, the user may well grasp either the
generally
12 horizontally or vertically portions of the handrail 1 b located at a
position easier to
13 grasp, and then pull oneself up and support his or her own weight. It
should be noted
14 that the curvature of the curved portions 10, 11 serves to prevent
accidental slippage of
the user's hand leading to injury due to falling onto the toilet. It should
also be noted
16 that although the handrail 1b is shown as mounted obliquely with respect to
the toilet
17 floor, the present invention is not limited to such mounting of the
handrail and that it
18 can be mounted generally parallel or perpendicular to the toilet floor.
19 Referring to FIGS. 10 to 12, there is illustrated a fourth embodiment of
the
invention T4 which is generally similar in construction to the third
embodiment T3. As
21 shown, the handrail lc additionally includes two straight sections 14c and
15c disposed
22' near both ends of the handrail lc. Both of the straight sections 14c, 15c
are generally
23 parallel not only to each other but also to the toilet floor. The handrail
lc is mounted on
24 a wall 5 obliquely with the straight section 15c located just by the side
of the toilet seat
so that it can be readily engaged by the hand of the user. A conventional cap
3 is
(EM195393.DOC;1 ) 1 1
CA 02360861 2001-11-O1
1 mounted at each end of the handrail 1 c. A generally straight section 12 is
not provided
2 between two adjacent, generally upwardly and downwardly curved sections 10
and 11
3 unlike the first and second embodiments of the invention.
4 In this fourth embodiment of the invention, the handrail 1 c has a diameter
of
approximately 32 mm and the radius of curvature of the upwardly and downwardly
6 curved sections 10 and 11 is approximately 110 mm. The lengths of the
straight
7 sections 14c and 15c are approximately 100 and 300 mm, respectively.
8 Referring to FIG. 13 to 15, there is illustrated a fifth embodiment of the
invention
9 TS which is adapted for use in a toilet or a bathtub. As shown, the handrail
1 d includes
two straight sections 14d and 15d disposed near both ends thereof. These
straight
11 sections 14d, 15d are disposed generally vertically and horizontally,
respectively.
12 Unlike the first and second embodiments of the invention, such a generally
straight
13 section 12 is not provided between two adjacent, generally upwardly and
downwardly
14 curved sections 10 and 11. In this fifth embodiment, the handrail 1 d has a
diameter of
approximately 32 mm and the radius of curvature of the upwardly and downwardly
16 curved sections 10 and 11 is approximately 110 mm. The length of the
straight sections
17 14d and 15d is approximately 300 mm.
18 Referring to FIGs. 16 to 18, there is illustrated a sixth embodiment of the
19 invention T6 which is adapted for use in a toilet or bathtub. As seen, the
handrail
assembly T6 differs from that T4 as shown in FIGs. 10 to 12 in that the
handrail 1 a is
21 mounted on a floor 6 rather than on a wall. As shown, the handrail 1 a
additionally
22 includes vertically disposed, post sections 16 and 17 whose lower ends are
mounted on
23 the floor by conventional mounting members 2e.
{ EM 195393.DOC;1 } 12
CA 02360861 2001-11-O1
1 In this sixth embodiment, the handrail 1 a has a diameter of approximately
34 mm
2 and the radius of curvature of the upwardly and downwardly curved sections
10 and 11
3 is approximately 110 mm. The lengths of the horizontally disposed, straight
sections
4 14e and 15e are approximately 150 and 300 mm, respectively. The vertically
disposed
post sections 16 and 17 are approximately 800 and 600 mm, respectively. Also,
the
6 radius of curvature of generally upwardly curved sections 160 and 170
located between
7 the straight sections 14e, 15e and the post sections 16, 17 is approximately
35 mm.
8 Referring to FIGs. 19 to 20, there is illustrated a seventh embodiment of
the
9 invention T7 which is adapted for use with a stairway 4. As depicted, the
handrail
assembly T7 is different from that T1 as shown in FIG. 3 in the inclusion of
an anti-slip
11 mechanism 18.
12 This anti-slip mechanism 18 serves to prevent accidental slippage of user's
hands
13 from grasping engagement with a handrail 1 f during ascending and
descending. The
14 anti-slip mechanism 18 may be in the form of grooves 180 formed in the
upper half
circumference of the handrail 1 f and extending longitudinally thereof, as
shown in FIG.
16 20. Alternatively, the grooves may be formed to extend circumferentially of
the
17 handrail. Other forms of anti-slip mechanisms may be provided using, for
example,
18 anti-slip pads adhered to the handrail or material having an inherent anti-
slip or
19 frictional property. With this anti-slip mechanism used, the user can
safely ascend or
descend a flight of stairs by firmly grasping the handrail.
21 Referring to FIG. 21, there is illustrated an eighth embodiment of the
invention
22 T8 which is adapted for use with a stairway 4. The handrail assembly T8 as
shown
23 differs from that T7 as shown in FIG.19 in the provision of indicia 190a,
190b, 191 a
24 and 191 b on the handrail 1 g for aiding a visually handicapped person in
moving up and
down stairs.
{ EM 195393.DOC;1 } 13
CA 02360861 2001-11-O1
1 The indicia 190a, 190b, 191a and 191b are in the Braille system and include
2 characters to be felt and distinguished by human fingers. As shown, these
indicia are
3 disposed on the upper side of the handrail 1 g. Alternatively, the indicia
may be
4 disposed on the lower side of the handrail so that when a visually
handicapped person
manually grips the handrail, their fingers will be wrapped around the lower
side of the
6 handrail and will engage the characters of the indicia for manual reading.
7 There are four groups of indicia, namely, indicia 190a and 190b disposed on
the
8 generally vertically and horizontally disposed portions B and A of the
handrail 1 g,
9 respectively, and also indicia 191 a and 191 b associated with the first or
lower step and
the last or top step of the stairway 4, respectively.
11 The indicium 191 a may include characters indicating the numeral 1 or the
12 number of steps to go before reaching the top of the flight of stairs. In a
like manner,
13 the indicium 191b may include characters indicating the numeral
corresponding to the
14 top of the flight of stairs or the number of steps to go before reaching
the bottom of the
stairway.
16 Each indicium 190a, which is disposed on a generally vertically disposed
portion
17 B, may include characters setting forth the number corresponding to the
step associated
18 with the portion B or the number of steps to go before reaching the top of
the flight of
19 stairs. In a like manner, each indicium 190b, which is disposed on a
generally
horizontally disposed portion A, may include characters indicating the number
21 corresponding to the step associated with the portion A or the number of
steps to go
22 before reaching the bottom of the flight of stairs. It should be understood
that the
23 indicia 190a, 190b, 191 a and 191 b may include characters setting forth
the nature or
24 appearance of the top or bottom floor of the stairway.
{ EM 195393.DOC;1 } 14
CA 02360861 2001-11-O1
1 Although the indicia 190a, 190b, 191a and 191b could be provided on the
2 handrail in a variety of ways, it may be preferred to form the indicia on a
metal strip or
3 bar with the characters projecting from the base. The metal strip or base
may be secured
4 to the handrail 1 g with a suitable adhesive or other type of fastener so as
to conform to
the contour of the handrail. Or alternatively, it may be desirable to mold
indicia
6 integrally with a strip base formed of plastic, wood or other material which
is subject to
7 minimum wear.
8 With this arrangement, a visually handicapped person, having knowledge of
the
9 Braille system, can distinguish the characters to determine the number of
steps in a
flight of stairs and/or the location of a step in the flight of stairs.
11 Referring to FIG. 22, there is illustrated a ninth embodiment of the
invention
12 which is adapted for use with a stairway. As depicted, the handrail 1 h
includes an
13 alternating combination of generally horizontally disposed sections 7 and
generally
14 vertically disposed sections 8 wherein the former sections 7 have a lateral
dimension
greater than the latter sections 8. The former or generally horizontally
disposed sections
16 7 are generally oblong in cross section and have a wider upper surface so
that the user
17 can temporarily lean on it by his or her elbow for support in ascending or
descending
18 the flight of stairs. This will aid infirm persons such as elderly or
disabled persons in
19 ascending or descending the flight of stairs.
Referring to FIG. 23, there is illustrated a tenth embodiment of the invention
T10
21 which is adapted for use with a mass transmit system such as a commuter
train, a bus, a
22 subway, a street car or the like. As shown, the handrail assembly T10
includes a wavy-
23 shaped handrail 1 i mounted generally horizontally below a ceiling of a car
of a
24 commuter train. A plurality of depending support posts 9 are used to
rigidly mount the
handrail 1 i relative to the car structure. Each support post 9 has its upper
end fixed to
{EMI95393.DOC;1 } 15
CA 02360861 2001-11-O1
1 the ceiling and its lower end secured to upwardly curved sections 10 of the
handrail 1 i.
2 The handrail assembly T10 also includes a plurality of flexible straps 91
3 depending from the handrail 1i that assists passengers in keeping a standing
position in
4 the moving car. As shown, all of the straps 91 have their lower ends
connected to grip
rings 90 to enable the passengers to grip them readily. The straps 91 have
their upper
6 ends secured to either the upper or downwardly curved sections 10,11. Since
the straps
7 91 are of equal length, the grip rings 90 are at two different levels
depending upon the
8 location of the straps along the handrail 1 i. This will provide flexibility
to passengers in
9 selecting which straps they should use in keeping themselves in a standing
position.
In this tenth embodiment of the invention, the handrail 1 i has a diameter of
11 approximately 34 mm and the radius of curvature of the upwardly and
downwardly
12 curved sections 10, 11 is approximately 350 mm.
13 While various embodiments of the present invention have been described
above,
14 it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example
only, and not
limitation. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various
changes in form
16 and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope
of the
17 invention as defined in the appended claims. Thus, the breadth and scope of
the present
18 invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary
embodiments,
19 but should be defined in accordance with the following claims and their
equivalents.
{EM195393.DOC;1 } 16
