Combination handrail/crash rail

Abstract

A combination crash rail and railing system provides walking-aid support along a wall and protects the wall from impact damage. The system includes a distinct handrail and crash rail components, and one or more wall-mounting brackets. The handrail and crash rail components are independently mounted along the wall on common wall-mounting brackets that are secured to the wall. The wall-mounting brackets have a universal design that allows flexibility in the choice of the types of handrail and crash rail components that can be installed. In one universal design, a wall-mounting bracket includes a base plate, which can be secured to a wall surface, and separate handrail- and crash rail-mounting flanges that are disposed at the ends of a pair of arms that extend from the base plate.

Description

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 60 / 506,948 filed Sep. 29, 2003, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to handrails that are used by pedestrians for support along walls, and to crash rails that are mounted on walls to protect the walls from collision or impact by moving objects. More particularly, the present invention relates to a combination handrail / crash rail structures that provide both the traditional support functions of a handrail and the protective functions of the crash rail. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Handrails are traditionally installed along walls and stairs in buildings, for example, in hospitals and nursing homes as standing or walking support aids. The design and installation of traditional handrails have take into account human ergonomics. For example, the traditional handrails generally are solid or hollow tubes of a size that make ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a system for walking-aid support along walls and for protecting the walls from impact damage that overcomes the disadvantages of prior art expedients.

Problems solved by technology

Combining the functions of the two types of rails in a single assembly often results in design compromises that degrade the functionality of the two types of rails.

For example, the flat handrail / crash rail assembly with its rounded edges does not have the same easy grip as a traditional circular-cross section handrail.

This and other commercially available sculpted handrail / crash rail combinations are improvements over flat profile combinations, but yet they do not provide the full functionality of a traditional independent handrail with a completely unattached circular or oval cross section.

For example, a grip with fingers wrapped completely around the handrail portion may not be possible in a handrail / crash rail combination because of interference from the web segment connecting the handgrip portion to the crash rail portion.

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