Temporary handrail

Abstract

To provide a temporary handrail that is installed in a toilet, etc., and has excellent usability.SOLUTION: A temporary handrail 1 comprises: a strut 30; a handrail 40 supported by the strut 30; a rotation mechanism 60 rotatably supporting the handrail 40 on the strut 30 so that the handrail 40 can rotate between a horizontal position and a standing position; and a grip 50 provided on the handrail 40 so as to be rotatable together with the handrail 40. The temporary handrail 1 is installed in front of a toilet bowl 100. A user seated on the toilet bowl 100 can support his / her body by placing his / her arm on the handrail 40 at the horizontal position. A user urinating in a standing posture can support his / her body by holding the grip 50 when the handrail 40 is set at the standing position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 12

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a temporary handrail. [Background technology]

[0002] Temporary handrails have traditionally been used by elderly people and others when using toilets. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a temporary handrail that includes a support post positioned on the side of the toilet bowl and a flip-up handrail rotatably attached to the support post. With this type of temporary handrail, by flipping up the handrail, users can transfer from the side to the toilet bowl without being obstructed by the handrail. Furthermore, after sitting on the toilet bowl, users can lower the handrail to rest their arms on it. By resting their arms on the handrail, users can support their body stably. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-78447 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, for male users, the temporary handrail can be used conveniently when defecating, but cannot be used effectively when urinating while standing.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and its object is to provide a temporary handrail that is more convenient than conventional ones. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The temporary handrail of the present invention comprises a support pole placed directly or indirectly on the floor, a handrail supported by the support pole, a rotation mechanism that rotatably supports the handrail on the support pole so that the handrail can rotate between a horizontal position and an upright position that is inclined or perpendicular to the horizontal position, and a grip that is attached to the handrail so that it can rotate together with the handrail and is held by a user. Note that the "horizontal direction" referred to here is not limited to the horizontal direction in the strict sense (i.e., the direction perpendicular to the vertical direction), but also includes a direction slightly inclined from the horizontal direction in the strict sense.

[0007] According to the temporary handrail, by setting the handrail in a horizontal position, a user sitting on the toilet can rest their arms on the handrail to support themselves. This makes it suitable for use when urinating. Furthermore, since the temporary handrail is equipped with a grip, when the handrail is set in the upright position, the user can hold onto the grip while standing. Therefore, male users can hold onto the grip to support themselves when urinating while standing, making it suitable for use when urinating while standing.

[0008] The temporary handrail may include a locking mechanism that locks the handrail from rotating when the handrail is in the upright position.

[0009] This prevents the handrail and the grip from rotating unintentionally when a user holds the grip to support their body.

[0010] The locking mechanism may include a first engagement member provided on one of the support post and the handrail, a second engagement member provided on the other of the support post and the handrail and movable between an engagement position in which it engages with the first engagement member and a disengagement position in which it does not engage with the first engagement member when the handrail is in the upright position, a biasing member that biases the second engagement member toward the engagement position, and a lever provided on the second engagement member so as to be movable together with the second engagement member.

[0011] As a result, when the handrail is rotated to the upright position, the second engagement member receives the biasing force of the biasing member and moves to the engagement position. This engages the first engagement member and the second engagement member, locking the rotation of the handrail. Therefore, simply by rotating the handrail to the upright position, the handrail can be automatically locked in the upright position. On the other hand, when the lever is moved against the biasing force of the biasing member, the second engagement member moves from the engagement position to the disengagement position. This unlocks the handrail, allowing it to be rotated from the upright position to the horizontal position.

[0012] The grip may be configured such that the height of at least a portion of the grip when the handrail is in the upright position is higher than the top end of the handrail when the handrail is in the horizontal position.

[0013] This allows the user to grasp the grip at a relatively high position when the handrail is set to the standing position, thereby providing more stable support for the user's body when urinating while standing.

[0014] The grip may have a portion that extends horizontally when the handrail is in the upright position. Note that the "horizontal direction" referred to here is not limited to the horizontal direction in the strict sense (i.e., the direction perpendicular to the vertical direction), but also includes a direction slightly inclined from the horizontal direction in the strict sense.

[0015] This allows the user to easily grasp the grip when the handrail is set to the standing position, thereby providing more stable support for the user's body when urinating while standing.

[0016] The grip may be formed in a loop shape.

[0017] If the grip has a protruding rod-shaped portion, the sleeve of the user's clothing may get caught on the rod-shaped portion. On the other hand, if the grip is formed in a loop as described above, the sleeve of the clothing is less likely to get caught on the grip.

[0018] The upright position of the handrail may be a position in which the handrail is rotated backward from the horizontal position, and the grip may be provided on the underside of the handrail when the handrail is in the horizontal position.

[0019] As a result, when the handrail is in a horizontal position, the grip is located on the underside of the handrail, so it is less likely to get in the way of the user resting their arm on the handrail.On the other hand, when the handrail is in an upright position, the grip is located on the front side of the handrail, so it is easy for the user to grasp the grip.

[0020] The temporary handrail may include a base to which the lower end of the support pole is fixed and which is placed on the floor.

[0021] This allows the temporary handrail to be easily installed by placing the base on the floor.

[0022] The temporary handrail may include another support pole arranged to the side of the support pole and placed directly or indirectly on the floor, and another handrail supported by the other support pole.

[0023] This allows the user to rest one arm on the handrail and the other arm on the other handrail when sitting on the toilet, allowing the user to rest both arms and support the body more stably.

[0024] The temporary handrail may include a base plate to which the lower ends of the support poles and the lower ends of the other support poles are fixed and which is placed on the floor.

[0025] This allows the temporary handrail to be easily installed by placing the base plate on the floor.

[0026] The temporary handrail may also include another pivoting mechanism that rotatably supports the other handrail on the other support pole so that the other handrail can be rotated between a horizontal position and an upright position that is inclined or perpendicular to the horizontal position, and another grip that is provided on the other handrail so that it can be rotated together with the other handrail and is held by the user.

[0027] This allows the user to selectively use either the grip or the other grip when urinating while standing. For example, the user can support their body by gripping the grip located on the right side, or by gripping the grip located on the left side. Therefore, it can be used effectively whether the user is right-handed or left-handed. The user can also grip both grips with both hands. [Effects of the Invention]

[0028] According to the present invention, a temporary handrail that is more convenient than conventional ones can be provided. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of the temporary handrail when both handrails are in a horizontal position. [Figure 2] This is a front view of the temporary handrail when both handrails are in a horizontal position. [Figure 3] This is a left side view of the temporary handrail when both handrails are in a horizontal position. [Figure 4] This is a plan view of the temporary handrail when both handrails are in a horizontal position. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view of the temporary handrail when one handrail is in the upright position. [Figure 6] This is a left side view of the temporary handrail when one handrail is in the upright position. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 3. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 3. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX in FIG. 2. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a view equivalent to FIG. 9 when the handrail is in the upright position. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating how a user can use a temporary handrail when defecating. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating how a user can use a temporary handrail when urinating while standing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a temporary handrail 1 according to this embodiment. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are a front view, a left side view, and a plan view of the temporary handrail 1, respectively. The temporary handrail 1 according to this embodiment is a temporary handrail for a toilet. As shown in Fig. 4, the temporary handrail 1 is installed in front of a toilet 100. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, front, back, left, and right mean the front, back, left, and right as seen by a user sitting on the toilet 100.

[0031] As shown in Figure 1, the temporary handrail 1 comprises a base plate 2, a first handrail unit 3, and a second handrail unit 4. The first handrail unit 3 and the second handrail unit 4 are fixed to the base plate 2. The second handrail unit 4 is located to the right of the first handrail unit 3.

[0032] The base plate 2 is a plate-like member that is placed directly on the floor. The base plate 2 is an example of a "pedestal." The base plate 2 may be attached to the floor with fasteners such as bolts, but in this embodiment it is not attached to the floor. The base plate 2 is simply placed on the floor and can be moved by lifting it up. Therefore, the temporary handrail 1 can be installed without using tools and can be easily moved.

[0033] The shape and dimensions of the base plate 2 are not particularly limited. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, the base plate 2 is formed in a generally rectangular shape with a recess 20 when viewed from above. The recess 20 is provided in the center of the rear side of the base plate 2 and is recessed toward the front. By installing the base plate 2 so that the front of the toilet 100 fits into the recess 20, the first handrail unit 3 and the second handrail unit 4 can be positioned close to the toilet 100.

[0034] 1, a pair of left and right first mounting holes 21 are formed on the left and right sides of the base plate 2. Although not shown, a pair of left and right second mounting holes are formed behind the first mounting holes 21, and a pair of left and right third mounting holes are formed behind the second mounting holes.

[0035] Next, the configuration of the first handrail unit 3 will be described. The first handrail unit 3 comprises a post 30, an attachment member 33 that attaches the post 30 to the base plate 2, a handrail 40 supported by the post 30, a grip 50 provided on the handrail 40, a rotation mechanism 60 that rotatably supports the handrail 40 on the post 30, and a locking mechanism 70 that locks the rotation of the handrail 40. The rotation mechanism 60 allows the handrail 40 to rotate between a horizontal position and an upright position. Figures 1 to 4 are views of the handrail 40 of the first handrail unit 3 when it is in a horizontal position. Figures 5 and 6 are a perspective view and a left side view, respectively, of the handrail 40 of the first handrail unit 3 when it is in an upright position.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 1 , the support 30 includes a lower support 31 and an upper support 32 that is slidable relative to the lower support 31. The shapes of the lower support 31 and the upper support 32 are not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, the lower support 31 and the upper support 32 are configured as pipes with oval cross sections. As shown in FIG. 3 , the lower support 31 extends vertically. The upper support 32 includes a vertical portion 32a that extends vertically and an inclined portion 32b that extends rearward and upward. The vertical portion 32a of the upper support 32 is slidably inserted into the lower support 31. As the upper support 32 slides relative to the lower support 31, the support 30 extends and contracts, changing the length of the support 30. As such, in this embodiment, the support 30 is configured to be extendable and contractible, and the length of the support 30 is adjustable.

[0037] In this embodiment, an adjustment screw 34 is attached to the support column 30 to secure the lower support column 31 and the upper support column 32 together. Although not shown in the figure, a hole is formed in the lower support column 31, and multiple holes are formed in a vertical row in the upper support column 32. The adjustment screw 34 is inserted into either the hole in the lower support column 31 or one of the holes in the upper support column 32, and the lower support column 31 and the upper support column 32 can be secured together by tightening the adjustment screw 34. The length of the support column 30 can be adjusted by selecting one of the multiple holes in the upper support column 32 through which the adjustment screw 34 is passed.

[0038] However, the above-described configuration is one example, and the configuration for adjusting the length of the support 30 is not particularly limited. Furthermore, the support 30 may be configured so that its length cannot be adjusted. The support 30 may be non-retractable. The support 30 may be a single support (in other words, a single object).

[0039] The mounting member 33 is fixed to the lower end of the lower support 31. In this embodiment, the mounting member 33 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from above (see FIG. 4). Although not shown, mounting holes are formed in the left front, right front, left rear, and right rear portions of the back surface of the mounting member 33. Bolts are fastened to the mounting holes in the left front and right front portions of the mounting member 33 and to a pair of left and right second mounting holes in the base plate 2. Bolts are also fastened to the mounting holes in the left rear and right rear portions of the mounting member 33 and to a pair of left and right third mounting holes in the base plate 2. In this way, the mounting member 33 is detachably attached to the base plate 2 by the bolts. Furthermore, by fastening bolts to the mounting holes at the front left and front right of the mounting member 33 and to a pair of left and right first mounting holes 21 of the base plate 2, and fastening bolts to the mounting holes at the rear left and rear right of the mounting member 33 and to a pair of left and right second mounting holes of the base plate 2, the position of the first handrail unit 3 can be positioned further forward than the position shown in Figure 1. In this way, the first handrail unit 3 is attached so that its position can be adjusted forward and backward relative to the base plate 2. Although a detailed explanation will be omitted, the first handrail unit 3 may also be configured so that its position can be adjusted left and right relative to the base plate 2.

[0040] The handrail 40 has a handrail main body 41 and a bracket 42. As shown in FIG. 4, the handrail main body 41 is formed in a generally rectangular shape that is elongated from front to back when viewed from above. As shown in FIG. 3, the top surface of the handrail main body 41 is flat. The bracket 42 is fixed to the underside of the handrail main body 41. However, the bracket 42 may be integrated with the handrail main body 41. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 3. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 7, the bracket 42 has a U-shaped cross section. The bracket 42 has a top plate portion 42U fixed to the back surface of the handrail main body 41, a left plate portion 42L extending downward from the left end of the top plate portion 42U, and a right plate portion 42R extending downward from the right end of the top plate portion 42U.

[0041] The pivoting mechanism 60 (see FIG. 1) pivotably supports the handrail 40 on the support post 30. As described above, the handrail 40 can pivot between a horizontal position and an upright position. The horizontal position is a position where the top surface of the handrail body 41 is horizontal. Note that "horizontal" here does not necessarily mean strictly horizontal, but also includes a position slightly tilted from strictly horizontal. The upright position is a position tilted from the horizontal position or a vertical position. In this embodiment, the upright position is a position perpendicular to the horizontal position (see FIG. 6). FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX in FIG. 2. FIG. 10 is a view equivalent to FIG. 9 when the handrail 40 is in the upright position. As shown in FIG. 9, the pivoting mechanism 60 has a pivot shaft 61 inserted through the inclined portion 32b of the upper support post 32 and the bracket 42.

[0042] 9, the locking mechanism 70 includes a base member 71 fixed to the support post 30, a locking shaft 72 attached to the handrail 40, a support member 73 that slidably supports the locking shaft 72, a spring 74 that presses the locking shaft 72 against the base member 71, and a lever 75 fixed to the locking shaft 72. The base member 71 and the locking shaft 72 are examples of a "first engaging member" and a "second engaging member," respectively.

[0043] The base member 71 is formed in a cylindrical shape and is sandwiched between the inclined portions 32b of the upper support columns 32. The rotation shaft 61 passes through the base member 71. In addition, a lock hole 71a extending vertically is formed in the upper part of the base member 71.

[0044] The tip of the lock shaft 72 abuts against the base member 71. The tip surface of the lock shaft 72 may be a flat surface, but in this embodiment it is a convexly curved surface. The tip 72a of the lock shaft 72 and the base member 71 are in point contact. Because the lock shaft 72 and the base member 71 are in point contact, the tip 72a of the lock shaft 72 slides smoothly against the base member 71 when the handrail 40 rotates. However, the shape of the tip surface of the lock shaft 72 is not particularly limited, and the lock shaft 72 and the base member 71 do not have to be in point contact. The lock shaft 72 is provided with a spring support portion 72b that supports one end of the spring 74.

[0045] The spring 74 is an example of a "biasing member" and is formed of a coil spring in this example. One end of the spring 74 is supported by the spring bearing portion 72b of the lock shaft 72, and the other end of the spring 74 is supported by the spring bearing portion 73b of the support member 73. The spring 74 is disposed in a compressed state between the spring bearing portions 72b and 73b. Therefore, the spring 74 presses the lock shaft 72 toward the base member 71. Note that the type of spring 74 is not limited as long as it applies an elastic force to the lock shaft 72 toward the base member 71.

[0046] As shown in Fig. 2, in this embodiment, a pair of levers 75 are provided on the left and right sides of the bracket 42. The levers 75 are provided on the left and right sides of the bracket 42. Openings 76 that open to the left and right are formed in the support member 73 and the bracket 42. As shown in Fig. 8, the left lever 75 and the right lever 75 are connected by the portion of the lock shaft 72 that is inside the opening 76. The levers 75 are fixed to the lock shaft 72. Therefore, the levers 75 and the lock shaft 72 move together.

[0047] 9, the support member 73 has an abutment portion 73a that abuts against the inclined portion 32b of the support post 30. When the handrail 40 is in a horizontal position, the abutment portion 73a abuts against the inclined portion 32b of the support post 30. This prevents the handrail 40 from rotating downward from the horizontal position.

[0048] FIG. 10 shows the locking mechanism 70 when the handrail 40 is in the upright position. When the handrail 40 is in the upright position, the locking shaft 72 is positioned directly above the locking hole 71a of the base member 71. When the handrail 40 is in the upright position, the locking shaft 72 can move between an engaged position where it fits into the locking hole 71a and a disengaged position where it is not fitted into the locking hole 71a. As described above, the locking shaft 72 is pressed toward the base member 71 by the spring 74. Therefore, when the handrail 40 is rotated from the horizontal position to the upright position, the tip 72a of the locking shaft 72 fits into the locking hole 71a of the base member 71. This restricts the rotation of the handrail 40. In other words, the handrail 40 is locked in the upright position. On the other hand, when the lever 75 is slid upward against the elastic force of the spring 74 from the locked state, the tip 72a of the locking shaft 72 can be pulled out of the locking hole 71a. This releases the lock. When the handrail 40 is rotated in the unlocked state, the handrail can be returned from the upright position to the horizontal position.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 3, the grip 50 is connected to the lower part of the handrail 40. The grip 50 is provided on the underside of the handrail 40 when the handrail 40 is in a horizontal position. In this embodiment, the grip 50 is located on the underside of the front half of the handrail 40 when the handrail 40 is in a horizontal position. When the handrail 40 is in a horizontal position, the grip 50 is located forward of the support pole 30. When the handrail 40 is in a horizontal position, the grip 50 is located forward of the front end of the mounting member 33. The grip 50 is held by the user's hand and is rotatable together with the handrail 40. In this embodiment, the handrail 40 rotates around a rotation shaft 61 located at the rear of the handrail 40. The upright position of the handrail 40 is a position rotated rearward from the horizontal position. As shown in FIG. 6, when the handrail 40 is in the upright position, the grip 50 is located on the front side of the handrail 40. When the handrail 40 is in the upright position, the grip 50 is located rearward of the front end of the support pole 30. When the handrail 40 is in the upright position, the grip 50 is positioned rearward of the front end of the mounting member 33.

[0050] The grip 50 is preferably positioned in a position that allows the user to easily grasp it when the user is in a standing position. When the handrail 40 is in the upright position, the height of at least a portion of the grip 50 is higher than the top end of the handrail 40 when the handrail 40 is in the horizontal position. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 6, when the handrail 40 is in the upright position, the entire grip 50 is higher than the top end of the handrail 40 when the handrail 40 is in the horizontal position.

[0051] The grip 50 is loop-shaped and does not have a rod-shaped tip. As shown in FIG. 3, the grip 50 has a first grip portion 51 that extends downward from the handrail body 41 when the handrail 40 is in a horizontal position, a second grip portion 52 that extends rearward and upward from the lower end of the first grip portion 51, and a third grip portion 53 that extends upward from the upper end of the second grip portion 52. As shown in FIG. 6, when the handrail 40 is in an upright position, the first grip portion 51 and the third grip portion 53 extend horizontally. As shown in FIG. 9, the first grip portion 51, the second grip portion 52, and the third grip portion 53 are cylindrical, and a reinforcing member 55 is provided inside each of them. However, the reinforcing member 55 is not necessarily required. The first grip portion 51, the second grip portion 52, and the third grip portion 53 may be cylindrical or may have another shape.

[0052] The above is the configuration of the first handrail unit 3. In this embodiment, the second handrail unit 4 has the same configuration as the first handrail unit 3. Therefore, for the second handrail unit 4, the same parts as those in the first handrail unit 3 are given the same reference numerals, and an explanation of the configuration of the second handrail unit 4 will be omitted.

[0053] Next, we will explain how to use the temporary handrail 1. As mentioned above, the temporary handrail 1 is a temporary handrail for a toilet, and is installed in front of the toilet 100. As shown in Figure 11, when defecating, the user can use the temporary handrail 1 while sitting on the toilet 100 (hereinafter referred to as the seated position). When using it in a seated position, the user can rest both arms on the handrail 40 to stably support their body.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 12, when a male user urinates in a standing position (hereinafter referred to as the standing position), the user can use the temporary handrail 1 in a standing position. For example, by rotating the handrail 40 of the first handrail unit 3 to the upright position, the grip 50 can be positioned at a relatively high position. Therefore, the user can stably support their body by grasping the grip 50 with their right hand. The handrail 40 is locked in the upright position by the locking mechanism 70. Therefore, when the user grasps the grip 50 to support their body, the handrail 40 can be prevented from rotating from the upright position. Furthermore, by rotating the handrail 40 of the second handrail unit 4 to the upright position, the user can grasp the grip 50 with their left hand. By rotating the handrails 40 of both the first handrail unit 3 and the second handrail unit 4 to the upright position, the user can grasp the grip 50 with both hands.

[0055] Furthermore, for example, when the toilet door is located to the side of the toilet 100, a user may wish to transfer to the toilet 100 from the side. In such cases, by rotating the handrail 40 to the upright position, the user can easily transfer to the toilet 100 from the side without being obstructed by the handrail 40 and the grip 50. Also, when a male user moves toward the front of the toilet 100 to urinate, by rotating the handrail 40 to the upright position in advance, the user can move toward the front of the toilet 100 while holding the grip 50 and supporting his or her body. Because the grip 50 is located at a relatively high position when the handrail 40 is in the upright position, the user can easily move toward the front of the toilet 100 without bending over. In this way, the grip 50 can be used effectively not only when urinating while standing, but also when the user moves toward the front of the toilet 100.

[0056] The temporary handrail 1 according to this embodiment can provide various effects as described below.

[0057] According to the temporary handrail 1, by setting the handrail 40 in a horizontal position, a user sitting on the toilet 100 can rest their arms on the handrail 40 to support themselves (see Figure 11). Therefore, the temporary handrail 1 can be used conveniently when urinating. In addition, because the temporary handrail 1 is equipped with a grip 50, when the handrail 40 is set in the upright position, the user can hold onto the grip 50 while standing (see Figure 12). Because the user can hold onto the grip 50 to support themselves when urinating while standing, the temporary handrail 1 can also be used conveniently when urinating while standing.

[0058] The temporary handrail 1 is equipped with a locking mechanism 70 that locks the rotation of the handrail 40 when the handrail 40 is in the upright position (see FIG. 10). This prevents the grip 50 from rotating together with the handrail 40 when a user holds the grip 50 to support their body. This allows the user to support their body stably.

[0059] While the configuration of the locking mechanism 70 is not particularly limited, the locking mechanism 70 according to this embodiment includes a base member 71 attached to the support pole 30, a locking shaft 72 attached to the handrail 40, a spring 74 that biases the locking shaft 72 toward the base member 71, and a lever 75 attached to the locking shaft 72. When the handrail 40 is rotated to the upright position, the locking shaft 72 receives the biasing force of the spring 74 and fits into the locking hole 71a of the base member 71. In other words, the locking shaft 72 moves to the engaged position. According to this embodiment, the handrail 40 can be automatically locked in the upright position simply by rotating the handrail 40 to the upright position. On the other hand, when the handrail 40 is in the upright position, if the lever 75 is moved upward against the biasing force of the spring 74, the locking shaft 72 is pulled out of the locking hole 71a. In other words, the locking shaft 72 moves from the engaged position to the disengaged position. This unlocks the handrail 40, allowing it to be rotated from the upright position to the horizontal position.

[0060] According to this embodiment, when the handrail 40 is rotated to the upright position, the grip 50 is positioned at a relatively high position (see FIG. 6). When the handrail 40 is in the upright position, the entire grip 50 is positioned higher than the top end of the handrail 40 when it is in the horizontal position. The user can grasp the grip at a relatively high position. This means that the user does not have to bend over when urinating while standing, and can support their body more stably.

[0061] The first grip portion 51 and the third grip portion 53 of the grip 50 are arranged to extend horizontally when the handrail 40 is in the upright position (see FIG. 6). Therefore, when the handrail 40 is set in the upright position, a user in a standing position can easily grasp the grip 50. This allows the user to support their body more stably when urinating while standing.

[0062] The shape of the grip 50 is not particularly limited, but the grip 50 according to this embodiment is formed in a loop shape. The grip 50 does not have a protruding rod-shaped portion. Therefore, there is little risk that the sleeve of the user's clothing will get caught on the grip 50.

[0063] In this embodiment, the handrail 40 is configured so that it can be flipped up toward the rear. The upright position of the handrail 40 is the position where the handrail 40 is rotated backward from the horizontal position. The grip 50 is provided on the underside of the handrail 40 when the handrail 40 is in the horizontal position (see FIG. 3). When the handrail 40 is in the horizontal position, the grip 50 is located on the underside of the handrail 40, so the grip 50 is less likely to get in the way when a user places their arm on the handrail 40. On the other hand, when the handrail 40 is in the upright position, the grip 50 is located on the front side of the handrail (see FIG. 6), so a user in a standing position can easily grasp the grip 50.

[0064] The temporary handrail 1 according to this embodiment includes a base plate 2 to which the lower ends of the posts 30 are fixed. The temporary handrail 1 can be easily installed by placing the base plate 2 on the floor.

[0065] The temporary handrail 1 according to this embodiment has a first handrail unit 3 located on the left side and a second handrail unit 4 located on the right side, with handrails 40 located on both sides. A user sitting on the toilet 100 can rest both arms on the handrails 40, providing more stable support for the body.

[0066] According to this embodiment, both the handrails 40 of the first handrail unit 3 and the second handrail unit 4 are rotatable. When urinating while standing, the user can select and use the grip 50 of either the first handrail unit 3 or the second handrail unit 4. For example, the user can support their body by grasping the grip 50 located on the right side as seen from the user's perspective, or by grasping the grip 50 located on the left side as seen from the user's perspective. Therefore, whether the user is right-handed or left-handed, the temporary handrail 1 can be used appropriately when urinating while standing. The user can also grasp both grips 50 with both hands.

[0067] According to this embodiment, the support pole 30 is configured to be extendable and retractable. The length of the support pole 30 is adjustable. Therefore, the height of the handrail 40 can be adjusted. In addition, the height of the grip 50 can be adjusted.

[0068] An embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, the embodiment is merely an example, and various other embodiments are possible. Examples of other embodiments will be briefly described below.

[0069] In the above embodiment, the support column 30 is configured to be placed indirectly on the floor via the base plate 2. However, the support column 30 may also be configured to be placed directly on the floor.

[0070] In the above embodiment, the base member 71, which is the first engagement member, is provided on the support post 30, and the lock shaft 72, which is the second engagement member, the spring 74, which is the biasing member, and the lever 75 are provided on the handrail 40. However, the first engagement member may be provided on the handrail 40, and the second engagement member, biasing member, and lever may be provided on the support post 30. Furthermore, the configuration of the lock mechanism 70 is one example, and the configuration of the lock mechanism 70 is not limited in any way.

[0071] In the above embodiment, the posts 30 of both the first handrail unit 3 and the second handrail unit 4 are fixed to a common base plate 2. However, the posts 30 of the first handrail unit 3 and the posts 30 of the second handrail unit 4 may be fixed to separate bases. As described in JP 2013-78447 A, for example, the temporary handrail according to the present invention may include a left base that supports the left post and a right base that supports the right post, and the left post and the right post may be connected by a connecting member that is placed in front of the toilet.

[0072] In the above embodiment, the handrail 40 is held in a horizontal position by the abutment portion 73a abutting against the inclined portion 32b of the support pole 30 (see FIG. 9), and is held in an upright position by the lock shaft 72 fitting into the lock hole 71a (see FIG. 10). However, the positions in which the handrail 40 can be held are not limited to the horizontal position and upright position of the above embodiment, and the handrail 40 may be held in other positions. The upright position is not limited to a single position, and may be multiple positions. By providing the handrail 40 with multiple upright positions, it is possible to adjust the height of the grip 50 without adjusting the length of the support pole 30.

[0073] In the above embodiment, the lever 75 is provided on both the left and right sides of the bracket 42, but the lever 75 may be provided only on the left side or only on the right side of the bracket 42. In addition, the position of the lever 75 is not particularly limited, and the lever 75 may be located on the front side of the handrail 40 when the handrail 40 is in the upright position.

[0074] In the above embodiment, the upper support 32 has a vertical portion 32a and an inclined portion 32b, but the extension direction of the upper support 32 is not particularly limited. The upper support 32 may not have an inclined portion 32b and may be composed of only the vertical portion 32a. The bracket 42 of the handrail 40 may be connected to the upper end of the vertical portion 32a.

[0075] In the above embodiment, the upright position of the handrail 40 is a position rotated backward from a horizontal position, and the handrail 40 is configured to be flipped up backward. However, the upright position of the handrail 40 may be a position rotated forward from a horizontal position, and the handrail 40 may be configured to be flipped up forward. Furthermore, the direction of rotation of the handrail 40 from the horizontal position to the upright position is not limited to forward or backward, and may be, for example, to the left or right.

[0076] In the above embodiment, the handrails 40 of both the first handrail unit 3 and the second handrail unit 4 are rotatable, and grips 50 are provided on both handrails 40. However, it is also possible that the handrails 4 of both the first handrail unit 3 and the second handrail unit 4 are rotatable, but the grip 50 is provided on only one of the handrails 40. Also, the handrail 4 of one of the first handrail unit 3 and the second handrail unit 4 may not be rotatable, and may not be provided with a grip 50. Also, one of the first handrail unit 3 and the second handrail unit 4 may not be provided.

[0077] The temporary handrail of the present invention can be used in places other than toilets. The temporary handrail of the present invention can be used in various places and for various purposes where it can be used in both sitting and standing positions. The recess 20 of the base plate 2 is not particularly necessary. [Explanation of symbols]

[0078] 1 Temporary handrails 2 base plate (pedestal) 3. First handrail unit 4. Second handrail unit 30 pillars 40 Handrail 50 Grip 60 Rotating mechanism 61 Rotating shaft 70 Locking mechanism 71 base member (first engagement member) 72 lock shaft (second engagement member) 74 Spring (biasing member) 75 Lever

Claims

1. a support column that rests directly or indirectly on the floor; a handrail supported by the support; a rotation mechanism that rotatably supports the handrail on the support post so that the handrail can rotate between a horizontal position and an upright position that is inclined or perpendicular to the horizontal position; a grip provided on the handrail so as to be rotatable together with the handrail and to be held by a user; Temporary handrails equipped with

2. 2. The temporary handrail according to claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism that locks the handrail from rotating when the handrail is in the upright position.

3. The locking mechanism is a first engagement member provided on one of the support post and the handrail; a second engaging member provided on the other of the support post and the handrail, the second engaging member being movable between an engaging position in which it engages with the first engaging member and a disengaging position in which it does not engage with the first engaging member when the handrail is in the upright position; a biasing member that biases the second engaging member toward the engaging position; a lever provided on the second engagement member so as to be movable together with the second engagement member; The temporary handrail according to claim 2,

4. 2. The temporary handrail according to claim 1, wherein the grip is configured so that the height of at least a portion of the grip when the handrail is in the upright position is higher than the top end of the handrail when the handrail is in the horizontal position.

5. The temporary handrail according to claim 1 , wherein the grip has a portion that extends horizontally when the handrail is in the upright position.

6. The temporary handrail according to claim 1 , wherein the grip is formed in a loop shape.

7. The upright position of the handrail is a position where the handrail is rotated backward from the horizontal position, The temporary handrail according to claim 1 , wherein the grip is provided on the underside of the handrail when the handrail is in the horizontal position.

8. 2. The temporary handrail according to claim 1, wherein the lower end of the support pole is fixed to a base that is placed on the floor.

9. Another support column is arranged on the side of the support column and placed directly or indirectly on the floor; Another handrail supported by the other support pole; The temporary handrail according to claim 1, comprising:

10. 10. The temporary handrail according to claim 9, further comprising a base plate to which the lower ends of the support poles and the lower ends of the other support poles are fixed and which is placed on a floor.

11. Another pivot mechanism pivotally supports the other handrail on the other support post so that the other handrail can pivot between a horizontal position and an upright position that is inclined or vertical relative to the horizontal position; Another grip is provided on the other handrail so as to be rotatable together with the other handrail and is held by a user; The temporary handrail according to claim 9, comprising:

Images