Temporary handrails

Abstract

To provide a temporary handrail including a non-cylindrical handrail having an adjustable length.SOLUTION: A first handrail 21 has an outer pipe 71 and an inner pipe 72 slidably inserted into the outer pipe 71. The outer peripheral shapes of the outer pipe 71 and the inner pipe 72 are elliptical. The lower end of the outer pipe 71 has a first open hole 75 and the lower end of the inner pipe 72 has a groove part 76. The groove part 76 includes a groove hole 76a and edge pieces 76b positioned at both sides of the groove hole 76a. In the groove part 76, a fixing member 77 having a female screw part 77b is disposed. A fixing bolt 79 is inserted into the first open hole 75 of the outer pipe 71 and the groove hole 76a of the inner pipe 72 and screwed into the female screw part 77b of the fixing member 77, so that the edge pieces 76b of the inner pipe 72 are sandwiched between the fixing member 77 and the outer pipe 71. As a result, the outer pipe 71 and the inner pipe 72 are fixed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 20

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Temporary handrails have been known in the past that have multiple base plates, support posts erected on each base plate, and handrails suspended between the support posts. Such temporary handrails can be easily installed. By installing the temporary handrails in places where no handrails were originally installed, users such as elderly people can use the temporary handrails to walk easily.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a temporary handrail whose length can be adjusted. The handrail of the temporary handrail disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a thick tube and a thin tube slidably inserted into the thick tube. The length of the handrail can be adjusted by adjusting the insertion length of the thin tube relative to the thick tube. The thick tube and the thin tube are formed in a cylindrical shape. In this handrail, after the length is adjusted, the thick tube and the thin tube are fixed with a sleeve and a clamping nut. That is, a sleeve with a tapered portion at each end that gradually tapers toward the tip is internally fitted to a clamping nut that is screwed onto the threads at the end of the thick tube. By gradually screwing the clamping nut onto the threads of the thick tube, both ends of the sleeve through which the thin tube is inserted are compressed. As a result, the sleeve narrows, gradually clamping the thin tube, and the thick tube and the thin tube are fixed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-185242 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the temporary handrail, the large pipe and the small pipe must be fixed together by rotating the clamping nut. To allow the clamping nut to rotate, the large pipe and the small pipe must be cylindrical. The structure disclosed in Patent Document 1 allows the handrail length to be adjusted, but cannot be applied to non-cylindrical handrails.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and its object is to provide a temporary handrail equipped with a non-cylindrical handrail whose length can be adjusted. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The temporary handrail of the present invention comprises a first base plate, a second base plate, a first support pole erected on the first base plate, a second support pole erected on the second base plate, a handrail spanning between the first support pole and the second support pole, a fixing member, and a fixing bolt. The handrail has an outer tube and an inner tube slidably inserted into the outer tube. The outer and inner tubes have non-circular outer shapes whose cross-sectional dimensions in a first direction are greater than their cross-sectional dimensions in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A first through-hole is formed at one end of the outer tube in the second direction. A groove extending in the longitudinal direction of the inner tube is formed at one end of the inner tube in the second direction. The groove includes a slot extending in the second direction in the cross-section of the inner tube and edge pieces located on one and the other sides of the slot in the first direction. The fixing member is disposed within the groove of the inner tube and has a female thread. The fixing bolt is inserted into the first through hole of the outer tube and the groove hole of the inner tube, and is screwed into the female threaded portion of the fixing member, thereby sandwiching the edge piece of the inner tube between the fixing member and the outer tube.

[0008] According to the temporary handrail described above, the length of the handrail, which is suspended between the first and second posts, can be adjusted by adjusting the insertion length of the inner tube relative to the outer tube. However, the outer and inner tubes have non-circular outer peripheries. Therefore, as in conventional technology (see, for example, JP 2016-185242 A), a rotary tightening nut cannot be used to secure the outer and inner tubes together after adjusting the length of the handrail. However, according to the handrail described above, a fixing member is disposed inside the groove of the inner tube. By inserting a fixing bolt into the first through hole of the outer tube and the groove of the inner tube and screwing the fixing bolt into the female thread of the fixing member, the edge piece of the inner tube can be sandwiched between the fixing member and the outer tube. This allows the outer and inner tubes to be secured together. Therefore, despite the non-circular outer peripheries of the outer and inner tubes, the outer and inner tubes can be easily secured together after adjusting the length of the handrail.

[0009] The outer circumferential shapes of the outer tube and the inner tube may be formed into an elliptical shape.

[0010] The outer periphery of the outer tube and the inner tube may be formed into an elliptical shape whose horizontal dimension is greater than its vertical dimension.

[0011] As a result, the horizontal dimensions of the handrail (strictly speaking, the outer and inner tubes) are relatively large, so users can steadily slide their hands along the top surface of the handrail while putting their weight on it. This makes it easy for users to walk while sliding their hands along the handrail. Also, because the horizontal dimensions of the handrail are relatively large, if a user stumbles while walking and tries to grab the handrail to support themselves, their hands are less likely to slide from the top surface of the handrail to the side. This makes it easy for users to support themselves.

[0012] The first through-hole may be formed in a lower end of the outer tube, and the groove may be formed in a lower end of the inner tube.

[0013] When using the handrail, the user presses their palm against the top surface of the inner tube as they walk. With the above configuration, the grooves in the inner tube are less likely to get in the way when using the handrail. In addition, the grooves are placed in a location that is difficult to see, improving the appearance of the handrail.

[0014] The width of the groove on the outer circumferential surface of the inner tube is not particularly limited, but may be 5 mm or less.

[0015] This prevents the user's fingertips from getting inside the groove when the user grips the inner tube.

[0016] The temporary handrail may include a positioning member disposed at a predetermined position relative to the outer pipe. The fixing member may be fixed to the positioning member.

[0017] This means that even if the fixing bolt comes off the fixing member when loosened, the position of the fixing member will not change. Therefore, when the fixing bolt comes off the fixing member, it is possible to prevent the position of the through hole in the outer tube from being misaligned with the position of the female thread portion of the fixing member. Since the fixing bolt makes it easy to fix the outer tube and inner tube together, it is easy to adjust the length of the handrail.

[0018] The handrail may have a tubular cover into which the outer tube and the inner tube are inserted and which covers the joint between the outer tube and the inner tube. The outer peripheral shape of the cover may be formed into a non-circular shape whose cross-sectional dimension in the first direction is larger than its dimension in the second direction. A second through hole may be formed at one end of the cover in the second direction. The fixing bolt may be inserted through the second through hole of the cover into the first through hole of the outer tube and the groove hole of the inner tube.

[0019] With this, the joint between the outer pipe and the inner pipe is covered with the cover, which prevents dust and the like from entering the gap between the outer pipe and the inner pipe, and also improves the appearance.

[0020] The handrail may have a tubular cover into which the outer tube and the inner tube are inserted and which covers the joint between the outer tube and the inner tube. The outer peripheral shape of the cover may be formed into a non-circular shape whose cross-section dimension in the first direction is larger than its dimension in the second direction. A second through hole may be formed in one end of the cover in the second direction. The fixing bolt may be inserted through the second through hole of the cover into the first through hole of the outer tube and the groove hole of the inner tube. The cover may have a protrusion extending from one end of the cover in the second direction toward the other end, into which the fixing member is fitted. The positioning member may be constituted by the protrusion.

[0021] This allows the joint between the outer and inner tubes to be covered by the cover, preventing dust and other particles from entering the gap between the outer and inner tubes and improving the appearance. Also, since the protrusions for positioning the fixing member are provided on the cover, the fixing member can be positioned simply by attaching the cover to the outer and inner tubes. [Effects of the Invention]

[0022] According to the present invention, a temporary handrail having a non-cylindrical handrail whose length can be adjusted can be provided. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a temporary handrail according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a first base plate. [Figure 3] FIG. 2(a) is a perspective view of the adjuster, and FIG. 2(b) is a cross-sectional view of the adjuster. [Figure 4] FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the first support pillar. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a side view of the first connecting member. [Figure 10] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a first connecting member. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a front view of the gripping bracket and the support bracket of the first connecting member. [Figure 12] FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a side view of the second connecting member. [Figure 15] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a second connecting member. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a side view of a third connecting member. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a third connecting member. [Figure 18] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first handrail. [Figure 19] FIG. 2 is a partial bottom view of the first handrail. [Figure 20] A cross-sectional view of the first handrail. [Figure 21] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cover and a fixing member. [Figure 22] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another example of installation of a temporary handrail. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a temporary handrail 100 according to this embodiment. For ease of understanding in the following description, the symbols F, Re, L, R, U, and D in the drawings represent front, rear, left, right, top, and bottom, respectively, and these directions will be used in the description. The symbols X, Y, and Z represent the left-right direction, the front-back direction, and the up-down direction, respectively. However, these directions are merely defined for the convenience of explanation. The installation mode of the temporary handrail 100 is not limited to the installation mode described below.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 1, the temporary handrail 100 comprises a first base plate 1, a second base plate 2, and a third base plate 3. The first base plate 1, the second base plate 2, and the third base plate 3 are arranged at a distance from one another. The temporary handrail 100 comprises a first support pillar 11 erected on the first base plate 1, a second support pillar 12 erected on the second base plate 2, and a third support pillar 13A and a fourth support pillar 13B erected on the third base plate 3. The temporary handrail 100 comprises a first handrail 21 spanning between the first support pillar 11 and the second support pillar 12, a second handrail 22 spanning between the second support pillar 12 and the third support pillar 13A, and a third handrail 23 spanning between the third support pillar 13A and the fourth support pillar 13B. The temporary handrail 100 comprises a first connecting member 101 that connects the first support 11 to the first handrail 21, a second connecting member 102 that connects the second support 12 to the first handrail 21 and the second handrail 22, a third connecting member 103 that connects the third support 13A to the second handrail 22 and the third handrail 23, and a fourth connecting member 104 that connects the fourth support 13B to the third handrail 23. Their configurations will be explained below.

[0026] [Base plate] (First base plate) First, the base plates will be described. The first base plate 1, the second base plate 2, and the third base plate 3 are rectangular in shape when viewed from above. In this specification, the term "rectangular" refers not only to a strict rectangular shape with right-angled corners and straight sides, but also to an approximately rectangular shape with rounded corners or curved sides. Here, the first base plate 1, the second base plate 2, and the third base plate 3 are rectangular in shape, with the left-right dimension greater than the front-to-back dimension. For example, the first base plate 1 has a long side 1A extending in the left-to-right direction and a short side 1B extending in the front-to-back direction and shorter than the long side 1A. The first base plate 1, the second base plate 2, and the third base plate 3 are installed by being placed on the ground. The first base plate 1, the second base plate 2, and the third base plate 3 are not fixed to the ground.

[0027] The first base plate 1 is provided with a mounting portion 1S to which the first support column 11 is attached. While the number of mounting portion 1S may be one, in this embodiment, multiple mounting portions 1S are provided so that the mounting position of the first support column 11 can be changed. Here, the mounting portions 1S are provided on the left, central, and right portions of the first base plate 1. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the first base plate 1. As shown in FIG. 2, multiple mounting holes 1i are formed in the mounting portion 1S. In addition, a water drain hole 1w is formed in the mounting portion 1S. The mounting holes 1i and the water drain hole 1w penetrate the first base plate 1. The mounting holes 1i are holes into which bolts are inserted to secure the first support column 11 and the first base plate 1. The mounting holes 1i of the mounting portion 1S to which the first support column 11 is attached are blocked by bolts. On the other hand, the water drain hole 1w is a hole for draining water and is not blocked. The water drain hole 1w is formed in the center of the mounting portion 1S. The drainage hole 1w of the mounting portion 1S to which the first support post 11 is attached is located directly below the first support post 11. Mounting holes 1i are formed around the drainage hole 1w. In this example, mounting holes 1i are formed on the left front, left rear, right front, and right rear of the drainage hole 1w.

[0028] The first base plate 1 has an adjuster hole 1h consisting of a female thread. In this specification, a "female thread" refers to a portion having a hole with a spiral groove formed on its inner circumferential surface. A "male thread" refers to a portion having a shaft with a spiral groove formed on its outer circumferential surface. An adjuster 40 (see FIG. 3), which will be described later, is fitted into the adjuster hole 1h. The first base plate 1 has a plurality of adjuster holes 1h. Here, the adjuster holes 1h are provided in the left front portion, right front portion, left rear portion, and right rear portion of the first base plate 1. However, the number and arrangement of the adjuster holes 1h are not particularly limited.

[0029] FIG. 3(a) is a perspective view of adjuster 40, and FIG. 3(b) is a cross-sectional view of adjuster 40. Adjuster 40 is fitted into adjuster hole 1h and protrudes downward from the bottom surface of first base plate 1. Adjuster 40 has a male thread portion 41a that engages with adjuster hole 1h. By rotating adjuster 40, the amount of protrusion of adjuster 40 from the bottom surface of first base plate 1 can be adjusted. Even if the surface on which first base plate 1 is placed (e.g., the ground or floor surface; hereinafter simply referred to as the ground) is uneven or the ground is inclined from a horizontal plane, the first base plate 1 can be kept horizontal by appropriately adjusting the amount of protrusion of one or more adjusters 40.

[0030] While the specific configuration of the adjuster 40 is not particularly limited, the adjuster 40 according to this embodiment includes an adjuster shaft 41, a bottom plate 42, and a rubber sheet 43. The adjuster shaft 41 includes a male threaded portion 41a, a sliding portion 41b provided below the male threaded portion 41a, and a retaining portion 41c provided below the sliding portion 41b. The bottom plate 42 is formed with a hole 42h into which the sliding portion 41b of the adjuster shaft 41 is inserted. The bottom plate 42 is rotatably supported by the sliding portion 41b of the adjuster shaft 41. The outer diameter of the retaining portion 41c is larger than the inner diameter of the hole 42h. The retaining portion 41c prevents the adjuster shaft 41 from slipping out of the bottom plate 42. The rubber sheet 43 is attached to the bottom surface of the bottom plate 42. A hexagonal hole 44 is provided on the top surface of the adjuster shaft 41. The adjuster shaft 41 is rotatable relative to the bottom plate 42. Therefore, by inserting a hexagonal wrench into the hexagonal hole 44 and rotating the adjuster shaft 41 with the hexagonal wrench, the protrusion amount of the adjuster 40 can be adjusted without rotating the bottom plate 42. Therefore, the protrusion amount of the adjuster 40 can be adjusted while the first base plate 1 is placed on the ground. Note that the hexagonal hole 44 is merely one example of an engagement portion with which a tool can be engaged. Instead of the hexagonal hole 44, a cross-shaped groove or the like that can be engaged with a screwdriver may be provided.

[0031] (2nd base plate, 3rd base plate) As shown in Fig. 1, the second base plate 2 is provided with a mounting portion 2S, and the third base plate 3 is provided with a mounting portion 3S. The mounting portions 2S are provided on the left, central, and right portions of the second base plate 2. The mounting portions 3S are provided on the left, central, and right portions of the front half of the third base plate 3, and on the left, central, and right portions of the rear half. The configurations of the mounting portions 2S and 3S are similar to the configuration of the mounting portion 1S, so detailed explanations thereof will be omitted.

[0032] Like the first base plate 1, the second base plate 2 and the third base plate 3 have adjuster holes 1h. The adjuster holes 1h are formed in the front left portion, front right portion, rear left portion, and rear right portion of the second base plate 2 and the third base plate 3. Adjusters 40 are also fitted into the adjuster holes 1h of the second base plate 2 and the third base plate 3.

[0033] [Prop] (1st pillar) Next, the support pillars will be described. The mounting position of the first support pillar 11 relative to the first base plate 1 can be changed, but in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the first support pillar 11 is mounted on the left side of the first base plate 1. The first support pillar 11 is positioned offset to one side in the longitudinal direction of the first base plate 1. The center of the first base plate 1 forms a passageway along which users walk. The first support pillar 11 has an outer cylinder 51 and an inner cylinder 52 slidably inserted into the outer cylinder 51. The length of the first support pillar 11 can be adjusted by adjusting the insertion amount of the inner cylinder 52 relative to the outer cylinder 51.

[0034] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the first support column 11. In addition to the outer cylinder 51 and the inner cylinder 52, the first support column 11 also has a mounting plate 62 and a mounting cylinder 63. The mounting plate 62 is a member attached to the mounting portion 1S of the first base plate 1. Here, the mounting plate 62 is a circular plate. However, the shape of the mounting plate 62 is not limited to a circular plate. The mounting plate 62 has multiple mounting holes 62i, multiple fixing holes 62h, and drainage holes 62w. The fixing holes 62h are formed in the center of the mounting plate 62, and the mounting holes 62i are formed in the peripheral portions of the mounting plate 62. As shown in FIG. 2, the mounting plate 62 is disposed on the mounting portion 1S of the first base plate 1. The mounting plate 62 is fixed to the mounting portion 1S by bolts 62B inserted into the mounting holes 1i of the mounting portion 1S and the mounting holes 62i of the mounting plate 62. Although not shown, multiple bolt holes are formed in the bottom wall of the mounting cylinder 63. 4, bolts 65A are inserted into fixing holes 62h of mounting plate 62 and bolt holes of mounting cylinder 63. Mounting cylinder 63 is fixed to mounting plate 62 by bolts 65A. A cover 62A is attached above mounting plate 62 (see FIG. 2).

[0035] The mounting tube 63 is inserted into the lower end of the outer tube 51. The lower end of the outer tube 51 is fixed to the mounting tube 63 by a bolt 65B. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the outer tube 51. In other words, FIG. 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the outer tube 51. The outer peripheral shape in the cross section of the outer tube 51 (hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, "outer peripheral shape" refers to the outer peripheral shape in the cross section of a member) is formed into a non-circular shape. The outer peripheral shape of the outer tube 51 is formed into a non-circular shape in which the dimension X51 in the left-right direction is larger than the dimension Y51 in the front-rear direction. Here, the outer peripheral shape of the outer tube 51 is formed into an elliptical shape. Note that the "elliptical shape" referred to in this specification includes not only a strict elliptical shape but also an approximately elliptical shape. Grooves 53 are formed at the left and right ends of the outer tube 51. As shown in FIG. 4, the grooves 53 extend in the vertical direction. The grooves 53 are formed from the upper end to the lower end of the outer tube 51. The groove 53 opens upward from the upper end of the outer cylinder 51. The groove 53 also opens downward from the lower end of the outer cylinder 51. An outer cylinder hole 54 that opens in the left-right direction is formed inside the right groove 53.

[0036] 6 is a cross-sectional view of the inner tube 52. Similar to the outer tube 51, the outer peripheral shape of the inner tube 52 is formed in a non-circular shape in which the dimension X52 in the left-right direction in the cross section is larger than the dimension Y52 in the front-rear direction. Here, the outer peripheral shape of the inner tube 52 is formed in an elliptical shape. As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of inner tube holes 55, each opening in the left-right direction, are formed on the top and bottom of the right end of the inner tube 52.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 4, a positioning member 56 is fitted into the groove 53 on the right side of the outer tube 51. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the positioning member 56. The positioning member 56 is formed in a curved plate shape. The positioning member 56 has a female thread portion 56a. Protrusions 58 that protrude in the front-rear direction are formed on the left and right sides of the positioning member 56. The protrusions 58 extend in the up-down direction. As shown in FIG. 5, a recess 59 that engages with the protrusion 58 of the positioning member 56 is formed in the groove 53 of the outer tube 51. The recess 59 is recessed in the front-rear direction and extends in the up-down direction. The engagement between the protrusion 58 and the recess 59 allows the positioning member 56 to be slidably engaged in the groove 53 of the outer tube 51 up and down. The positioning member 56 is positioned so that the position of the female thread portion 56a matches the position of the outer tube hole 54 of the outer tube 51 (see FIG. 4).

[0038] As shown in Figure 4, a fixing bolt 57 is inserted into the female thread portion 56a of the positioning member 56, the outer tube hole 54 of the outer tube 51, and one of the inner tube holes 55 of the inner tube 52. The fixing bolt 57 is a bolt that fixes the outer tube 51 and the inner tube 52. By appropriately selecting the inner tube hole 55 into which the fixing bolt 57 is inserted, the insertion amount of the inner tube 52 into the outer tube 51 can be adjusted. This makes it possible to adjust the length of the first support post 11. By adjusting the length of the first support post 11, the height of the first handrail 21 can be adjusted.

[0039] FIG. 8 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the first support column 11 passing through the center of the outer tube bore 54. As shown in FIG. 8, the fixing bolt 57 has a male threaded portion 57a ​​that engages with the female threaded portion 56a of the positioning member 56 and a rod-shaped portion 57d. Here, the male threaded portion 57a ​​forms the head of the fixing bolt 57, and a hexagonal hole (not shown) is formed in the top surface of the male threaded portion 57a. The fixing bolt 57 can be easily attached and detached using a hexagonal wrench. The fixing bolt 57 is easily replaceable. Note that the hexagonal hole is merely one example of an engaging portion that can be engaged with a tool. Instead of a hexagonal hole, a cross-shaped groove or the like that can be engaged with a screwdriver may be provided. When the male threaded portion 57a ​​of the fixing bolt 57 is engaged with the female threaded portion 56a of the positioning member 56, the tip portion 57b of the fixing bolt 57 is pressed against the inner circumferential surface on the left side of the inner tube 52. That is, the tip 57b of the fixing bolt 57 is pressed against the portion of the inner tube 52 opposite the inner tube hole 55. In this way, the outer tube 51 and the inner tube 52 are firmly fixed together without any rattle. In this embodiment, the fixing bolt 57 does not protrude outward (to the right in Figure 8) from the positioning member 56. Furthermore, since the positioning member 56 is fitted into the groove 53 of the outer tube 51, the fixing bolt 57 does not protrude laterally from the first support column 11. The first support column 11 does not have any lateral protrusions.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 4 , battens 60A, 60B, and 60C are fitted into the groove 53 of the outer tube 51. Battens 60A and 60B are fitted into the groove 53 on the right side of the outer tube 51, and batten 60C is fitted into the groove 53 on the left side of the outer tube 51. Batten 60A is disposed below the positioning member 56, and batten 60B is disposed above the positioning member 56. As described above, the positioning member 56 is slidably engaged with the groove 53 of the outer tube 51. If the positioning member 56 is not supported, there is a risk that the positioning member 56 will fall to the bottom end of the groove 53. Batten 60A serves to support the positioning member 56 so that the female thread portion 56a of the positioning member 56 is aligned with the outer tube hole 54 of the outer tube 51. For example, after fitting the batten 60A into the groove 53 of the outer tube 51, the positioning member 56 can be easily positioned at a predetermined position by simply inserting the positioning member 56 into the groove 53 from the upper end of the outer tube 51 and sliding it downward until it contacts the batten 60A. This facilitates the task of fastening the outer tube 51 and the inner tube 52 with the fixing bolts 57. As shown in FIG. 8, the outer surface of the batten 60C is substantially flush with the outer peripheral surface of the outer tube 51. Similarly, the outer surfaces of the batten 60A and 60B are substantially flush with the outer peripheral surface of the outer tube 51. This conceals the groove 53, improving the appearance of the first support 11. Similar to the batten 60A, 60B, and 60C, the outer surface of the positioning member 56 is substantially flush with the outer peripheral surface of the outer tube 51 (see FIG. 8).

[0041] (2nd pillar, 3rd pillar, 4th pillar) The second support column 12, the third support column 13A, and the fourth support column 13B have the same configuration as the first support column 11. The second support column 12, the third support column 13A, and the fourth support column 13B have the same configuration as the first support column 11, so their description will be omitted. In this embodiment, the second support column 12 is fixed to the left side of the second base plate 2. Specifically, the mounting plate 62 of the second support column 12 is attached to the left mounting portion 2S of the second base plate 2. The third support column 13A and the fourth support column 13B are fixed to the left side of the third base plate 3. Specifically, the mounting plate 62 of the third support column 13A is attached to the left front mounting portion 3S of the third base plate 3, and the mounting plate 62 of the fourth support column 13B is attached to the left rear mounting portion 3S of the third base plate 3. The second support column 12 is positioned offset to one side of the second base plate 2 in the longitudinal direction. The third support column 13A and the fourth support column 13B are arranged offset to one side of the third base plate 3 in the longitudinal direction.

[0042] [Connecting member] Next, the connecting members will be described. Although details will be described later, the first connecting member 101 connects the first handrail 21 to the first support post 11 so that it can rotate left and right and up and down. The second connecting member 102 connects the first handrail 21 and the second handrail 22 to the second support post 12 so that they can rotate left and right and up and down. The third connecting member 103 connects the second handrail 22 to the third support post 13A so that it can rotate left and right and up and down, and connects the third handrail 23 to the third support post 13A so that it cannot rotate. The fourth connecting member 104 connects the third handrail 23 to the fourth support post 13B so that it cannot rotate.

[0043] (First connecting member) Figure 9 is a side view of the first connecting member 101. Figure 10 is an exploded perspective view of the first connecting member 101. The first connecting member 101 includes a support bracket 38, a gripping bracket 39, a horizontal rotation bracket 34, a vertical rotation bracket 36, and a connecting bracket 32.

[0044] The support bracket 38 is an example of a "pillar connection part" that is connected to the first support column 11. The support bracket 38 has an insertion part 38a that is fitted into the first support column 11, and a support part 38b that has a horizontal surface. The insertion part 38a is fitted into the inner tube 52 of the first support column 11. As mentioned above, the outer periphery of the inner tube 52 is formed in an elliptical shape, and therefore the outer periphery of the insertion part 38a is also formed in an elliptical shape. The insertion part 38a is fixed to the inner tube 52 by a bolt 65C. The support part 38b is provided above the insertion part 38a. The support part 38b has a hole 38h that extends in the vertical direction.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 10 , the grip bracket 39 has a fixed portion 39 a and a grip portion 39 b. The fixed portion 39 a is formed in a substantially circular plate shape. A hole 39 h extending in the vertical direction is formed in the fixed portion 39 a. A bolt 33 serving as a "vertical shaft" is inserted into the hole 39 h of the fixed portion 39 a and the hole 38 h of the support bracket 38. The fixed portion 39 a and the support bracket 38 are fixed by the bolt 33. The grip portion 39 b is formed so that it can be gripped by a user. As shown in FIG. 9 , the grip portion 39 b is formed in an arc shape in a side view. As shown in FIG. 11 , the grip portion 39 b is formed so that its width (i.e., its dimension in the left-right direction) decreases downward. The maximum width W39 b of the grip portion 39 b is smaller than the maximum width W38 of the support bracket 38. When a user grips the grip portion 39 b, their fingers are less likely to come into contact with the support bracket 38. The grip portion 39b is formed in a shape and size that makes it easy to grip.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 9 , a constricted portion 37 is formed above the first support column 11 by the support bracket 38 and the gripping bracket 39. The constricted portion 37 includes an upper portion 37a whose width decreases as it extends downward, a lower portion 37c whose width decreases as it extends upward, and a central portion 37b located between the upper portion 37a and the lower portion 37c. Here, the upper portion 37a of the constricted portion 37 is formed by the fixing portion 39a of the gripping bracket 39. The lower portion 37c of the constricted portion 37 is formed by the support portion 38b of the support bracket 38. The central portion 37b of the constricted portion 37 is formed by the joint between the fixing portion 39a and the support portion 38b. A user can easily grasp the first connecting member 101 by placing their hand along the central portion 37b of the constricted portion 37 as if pinching it.

[0047] 10, the horizontal rotation bracket 34 extends in the front-rear direction and has a horizontal portion 34a and a vertical portion 34b. The horizontal portion 34a has a vertical hole 34b that opens in the up-down direction. c The horizontal portion 34b has a horizontal hole 34d that opens horizontally. As shown in FIG. 9, the horizontal portion 34a is placed on the fixing portion 39a of the holding bracket 39. As shown in FIG. 10, a bolt 33 is inserted into the vertical hole 34c of the horizontal portion 34a. The horizontal rotation bracket 34 is connected to the holding bracket 39 by the bolt 33 so as to be rotatable left and right. The horizontal rotation bracket 34 is connected to the first support column 11 by the bolt 33 so as to be rotatable left and right. FIG. 12 is a front view of the horizontal rotation bracket 34. When viewed in the front-rear direction (i.e., the extension direction of the horizontal rotation bracket 34), the outer peripheral shape of the horizontal rotation bracket 34 is formed into an elliptical shape in which the horizontal dimension W34 is larger than the vertical dimension H34. The horizontal portion 34a has an outer peripheral shape including a semi-elliptical upper surface 34au and a flat lower surface 34ad. The vertical portion 34b has a right surface whose outer periphery is semi-elliptical and a left surface which is flat.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 10 , the vertical rotation bracket 36 extends in the front-to-rear direction and has a vertical portion 36b and a cylindrical portion 36a. A horizontal hole 36d opening horizontally is formed in the vertical portion 36b. A hole opening rearward is formed in the cylindrical portion 36a. A bolt 35 serving as a "horizontal shaft" is inserted through the horizontal hole 34d of the horizontal rotation bracket 34 and the horizontal hole 36d of the vertical rotation bracket 36. Reference numeral 66 denotes a nut. The vertical rotation bracket 36 is connected to the horizontal rotation bracket 34 by the bolt 35 so as to be rotatable up and down. The vertical rotation bracket 36 is connected to the first support column 11 so as to be rotatable up and down. FIG. 13 is a front view of the vertical rotation bracket 36. When viewed in the front-to-rear direction (i.e., the extension direction of the vertical rotation bracket 36), the outer peripheral shape of the vertical rotation bracket 36 is formed as an ellipse with a horizontal dimension W36 greater than a vertical dimension H34. The vertical portion 36b includes a left surface 36bl having a semi-elliptical outer periphery and a flat right surface 36br.

[0049] The connection bracket 32 ​​is an example of a "handrail connection portion" to which the first handrail 21 is connected. The connection bracket 32 ​​is formed in a cylindrical shape. The front end of the connection bracket 32 ​​is inserted into the cylindrical portion 36a of the vertical rotation bracket 36. The connection bracket 32 ​​and the vertical rotation bracket 36 can be fixed together, for example, by gluing. The front end of the first handrail 21 is inserted into the rear end of the connection bracket 32. The first handrail 21 is fixed to the connection bracket 32 ​​with bolt 65D. When viewed in the extension direction of the connection bracket 32, the outer peripheral shape of the connection bracket 32 ​​is formed into an elliptical shape with the horizontal dimension greater than the vertical dimension.

[0050] The horizontal dimensions of the horizontal rotation bracket 34, the vertical rotation bracket 36, and the connecting bracket 32 ​​are not particularly limited, but may be, for example, 44 mm to 48 mm. The vertical dimensions of the horizontal rotation bracket 34, the vertical rotation bracket 36, and the connecting bracket 32 ​​are not particularly limited, but may be, for example, 36 mm to 40 mm.

[0051] (Second connecting member) Figure 14 is a side view of the second connecting member 102. Figure 15 is an exploded perspective view of the second connecting member 102. The second connecting member 102 includes a support bracket 138, horizontal rotation brackets 134A and 134B, vertical rotation brackets 136A and 136B, and a connecting bracket 132.

[0052] The support bracket 138 has a configuration similar to that of the support bracket 38. The support bracket 138 is fitted into the second support column 12. More specifically, the support bracket 138 is fitted into the inner cylinder 52 of the second support column 12. The support bracket 138 is fixed to the inner cylinder 52 by a bolt 65E.

[0053] The horizontal rotation bracket 134B extends in the front-rear direction and has a horizontal portion 134Ba and a vertical portion 134Bb. The horizontal portion 134Ba is placed on the support bracket 38 (see FIG. 14). A vertical hole 134Bc that opens in the up-down direction is formed in the horizontal portion 134Ba. A horizontal hole 134Bd that opens in the horizontal direction is formed in the vertical portion 134Bb. A bolt 133 that serves as a vertical shaft is inserted into the vertical hole 134Bc of the horizontal portion 134Ba. The horizontal rotation bracket 134B is supported by the bolt 133 so as to be rotatable left and right. The horizontal rotation bracket 134B is connected to the second support column 12 so as to be rotatable left and right. When viewed in the front-rear direction (i.e., the extension direction of the horizontal rotation bracket 134B), the outer periphery of the horizontal rotation bracket 134B is formed as an ellipse whose horizontal dimension is larger than its vertical dimension. The vertical portion 134Bb has a right surface whose outer periphery is semi-elliptical and a planar left surface, and the horizontal portion 134Ba has a planar upper surface.

[0054] The horizontal rotation bracket 134A extends in the front-rear direction and has a horizontal portion 134Aa and a vertical portion 134Ab. The horizontal portion 134Aa is placed on a horizontal portion 134Ba of the horizontal rotation bracket 134B (see FIG. 14). A vertical hole 134Ac that opens in the up-down direction is formed in the horizontal portion 134Ab. A horizontal hole 134Ad that opens in the horizontal direction is formed in the vertical portion 134Ab. A bolt 133 is inserted into the vertical hole 134Ac of the horizontal portion 134Aa. The horizontal rotation bracket 134A is supported by the bolt 133 so as to be rotatable left and right. The horizontal rotation bracket 134A is connected to the second support column 12 so as to be rotatable left and right. When viewed in the front-rear direction (i.e., the extension direction of the horizontal rotation bracket 134A), the outer periphery of the horizontal rotation bracket 134A is formed as an ellipse whose horizontal dimension is larger than its vertical dimension. The horizontal portion 134Aa has a semi-elliptical upper surface and a flat lower surface. The lower surface of the horizontal portion 134Aa faces the upper surface of the horizontal portion 134Ba of the horizontal rotation bracket 134B. The vertical portion 134Ab has a semi-elliptical left surface and a flat right surface.

[0055] The vertical rotation bracket 136A extends in the front-to-rear direction and has a vertical portion 136Ab ​​and a tubular portion 136Aa. A horizontal hole 136Ad opening horizontally is formed in the vertical portion 136Ab. An insertion hole 136Ac opening forward is formed in the tubular portion 136Aa. A bolt 135A serving as a horizontal shaft is inserted through the horizontal hole 134Ad of the horizontal rotation bracket 134A and the horizontal hole 136Ad of the vertical rotation bracket 136A. The vertical rotation bracket 136A is connected to the horizontal rotation bracket 134A by the bolt 135A so as to be rotatable up and down. The vertical rotation bracket 136A is connected to the second support 12 so as to be rotatable up and down. The rear end of the first handrail 21 is inserted into the insertion hole 136Ac of the vertical rotation bracket 136A. The vertical rotation bracket 136A is directly connected to the first handrail 21. When viewed along the front-rear direction (i.e., the extension direction of the vertical rotation bracket 136A), the outer peripheral shape of the vertical rotation bracket 136A is formed into an elliptical shape with the horizontal dimension being larger than the vertical dimension. The outer peripheral shape of the tubular portion 136Aa is formed into an elliptical shape. The outer peripheral shape of the vertical portion 136Ab ​​includes a semi-elliptical right surface and a planar left surface. The left surface of the vertical portion 136Ab ​​faces the right surface of the vertical portion 134Ab of the horizontal rotation bracket 134A.

[0056] The vertical rotation bracket 136B extends in the front-rear direction and has a vertical portion 136Bb and a tubular portion 136Ba. A horizontal hole 136Bd opening in the horizontal direction is formed in the vertical portion 136Bb. A bolt 135B serving as a horizontal shaft is inserted through the horizontal hole 134Bd of the horizontal rotation bracket 134B and the horizontal hole 136Bd of the vertical rotation bracket 136B. The vertical rotation bracket 136B is connected to the horizontal rotation bracket 134B by the bolt 135B so as to be rotatable up and down. The vertical rotation bracket 136B is connected to the second support column 12 so as to be rotatable up and down. When viewed in the front-rear direction (i.e., the extension direction of the vertical rotation bracket 136B), the outer periphery of the vertical rotation bracket 136B is formed into an elliptical shape with the horizontal dimension being larger than the vertical dimension. The outer periphery of the tubular portion 136Ba is formed into an elliptical shape. The vertical portion 136Bb has a left surface whose outer periphery is semi-elliptical and a flat right surface. The right surface of the vertical portion 136Bb faces the left surface of the vertical portion 134Bb of the horizontal rotation bracket 134B.

[0057] The connecting bracket 132 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The cylindrical portion 136Ba of the vertical rotation bracket 136B is inserted into the front end of the connecting bracket 132. The connecting bracket 132 and the vertical rotation bracket 136B can be fixed together, for example, by gluing. The front end of the second handrail 22 is inserted into the rear end of the connecting bracket 132. The second handrail 22 is fixed to the connecting bracket 132 by bolts 65F. When viewed in the front-to-rear direction (i.e., the extension direction of the connecting bracket 132), the outer peripheral shape of the connecting bracket 132 is formed into an elliptical shape with the horizontal dimension being larger than the vertical dimension.

[0058] The horizontal dimensions of the horizontal rotation brackets 134A, 134B, the vertical rotation brackets 136A, 136B, and the connecting bracket 132 are not particularly limited, but may be, for example, 44 mm to 48 mm. The vertical dimensions of the horizontal rotation brackets 134A, 134B, the vertical rotation brackets 136A, 136B, and the connecting bracket 132 are not particularly limited, but may be, for example, 36 mm to 40 mm.

[0059] (Third connecting member, fourth connecting member) Figure 16 is a side view of the third connecting member 103 and the fourth connecting member 104. Figure 17 is an exploded perspective view of the third connecting member 103 and the fourth connecting member 104. The third connecting member 103 includes a support bracket 237, a horizontal rotation bracket 234, a vertical rotation bracket 236, and a connection bracket 232.

[0060] The support bracket 237 has a support portion 237a, a horizontal portion 237b, and a tubular portion 237c. The support portion 237a is inserted into the third support column 13A. More specifically, the support portion 237a is inserted into the inner tube 52 of the third support column 13A. Like the inner tube 52, the outer periphery of the support portion 237a is formed in an elliptical shape. The side surfaces of the support portion 237a are inclined from a vertical plane so that the width of the support portion 237a increases as it goes downward. The support portion 237a forms a constricted portion 237aa (see FIG. 16) whose width decreases as it goes upward. The horizontal portion 237b has a horizontal upper surface. A vertical hole 237d that opens in the vertical direction is formed in the horizontal portion 237b. An insertion hole 237e that opens forward is formed in the tubular portion 237c. When viewed in the front-rear direction, the outer peripheral shape of the cylindrical portion 237c is formed in an elliptical shape with a horizontal dimension greater than a vertical dimension.

[0061] The horizontal rotation bracket 234, vertical rotation bracket 236, and connecting bracket 232 have the same configuration as the horizontal rotation bracket 34, vertical rotation bracket 36, and connecting bracket 32 ​​of the first connecting member 101, respectively. Therefore, like parts to those of the first connecting member 101 are given like reference numerals, and descriptions of the configurations of the horizontal rotation bracket 234, vertical rotation bracket 236, and connecting bracket 232 will be omitted. The horizontal rotation bracket 224 can rotate left and right relative to the third support post 13A. The vertical rotation bracket 236 can rotate up and down relative to the third support post 13A. The rear end of the third handrail 23 is inserted into the insertion hole 237e of the connecting bracket 232.

[0062] The fourth connecting member 104 has a support bracket 238. The support bracket 238 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The outer peripheral shape of the support bracket 238 is formed in an elliptical shape with the horizontal dimension being greater than the dimension in the front-to-rear direction. The lower end of the support bracket 238 is inserted into the third support pillar 13B. More specifically, the lower end of the support bracket 238 is inserted into the inner cylinder 52 of the third support pillar 13B. The lower end of the third handrail 23 is inserted into the upper end of the support bracket 238.

[0063] The horizontal dimensions of the horizontal rotation bracket 234, the vertical rotation bracket 236, and the connecting bracket 232 are not particularly limited, but may be, for example, 44 mm to 48 mm. The vertical dimensions of the horizontal rotation bracket 234, the vertical rotation bracket 236, and the connecting bracket 232 are not particularly limited, but may be, for example, 36 mm to 40 mm.

[0064] [handrail] (First handrail) Next, the handrail will be described. Figure 18 is a perspective view of the first handrail 21. Figure 19 is a partial bottom view of the first handrail 21. The first handrail 21 is configured to be extendable and retractable, allowing its length to be adjusted. The first handrail 21 has an outer tube 71, an inner tube 72 slidably inserted into the outer tube 71, a cover 73, and a fixing mechanism 80, which will be described later.

[0065] The outer pipe 71 is made of a so-called elliptical pipe. FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the first handrail 21, taken along line XX-XX in FIG. 19. As shown in FIG. 20, the outer peripheral shape of the outer pipe 71 is formed into an elliptical shape in which the horizontal dimension W71 is larger than the vertical dimension H71. The dimensions of the outer pipe 71 are not particularly limited. For example, the horizontal dimension W71 of the outer pipe 71 may be 37 mm to 43 mm, and the vertical dimension H71 of the outer pipe 71 may be 29 mm to 35 mm. The wall thickness th71 of the outer pipe 71 is not particularly limited. In this embodiment, the wall thickness th71 of the outer pipe 71 is constant in the cross section of the outer pipe 71, but the wall thickness th71 of the outer pipe 71 does not have to be constant. The wall thickness th71 of the outer pipe 71 can be, for example, 2 mm to 4 mm.

[0066] As shown in Figure 19, a through-hole 75 is formed in one end portion in the front-rear direction of the outer tube 71. Here, the through-hole 75 is formed in the front end portion of the outer tube 71. The through-hole 75 is formed in the lower end portion of the outer tube 71. The through-hole 75 is open in the vertical direction (see Figure 20).

[0067] Like the outer tube 71, the inner tube 72 is configured as a so-called elliptical tube. As shown in FIG. 20, the outer peripheral shape of the inner tube 72 is formed into an elliptical shape in which the horizontal dimension W72 is larger than the vertical dimension H72. The dimensions of the inner tube 72 are not particularly limited. For example, the horizontal dimension W72 of the inner tube 72 may be 32 mm to 38 mm, and the vertical dimension H72 of the inner tube 72 may be 22 mm to 28 mm. In this embodiment, in the cross section of the inner tube 72, the thickness th72 of one end (here, the upper end) of the inner tube 72 in the vertical direction is larger than the thickness tw72 of one end (here, the right end) of the inner tube 72 in the left-right direction. However, this is not particularly limited, and the thickness th72 and the thickness tw72 may be equal. The numerical values ​​of the thickness th72 and the thickness tw72 are not particularly limited. For example, the thickness th72 may be 5 mm to 7 mm, and the thickness tw72 may be 2 mm to 4 mm. Although not particularly limited, in this embodiment, the wall thickness th72 and the wall thickness tw72 are larger than the wall thickness th71 of the outer tube 71.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 19 , a groove 76 extending in the longitudinal direction of the inner tube 72 is formed in at least one end in the front-to-rear direction of the inner tube 72. Here, the groove 76 is formed from the front end to the rear end of the inner tube 72. The groove 76 is formed in the lower end of the inner tube 72. As shown in FIG. 20 , the inner tube 72 includes a partition 76s separating the interior of the inner tube 72 from the groove 76, a slot 76a extending vertically toward the interior of the groove 76, and edge pieces 76b located on the left and right sides of the slot 76a. The width and depth of the groove 76 are not particularly limited, but are preferably large enough to prevent a user's fingertips from entering. In this embodiment, the width W76 of the groove 76 on the outer circumferential surface of the inner tube 72 (here, the width of the slot 76a) is set to 5 mm or less. However, the numerical value of the width W76 of the groove 76 is not limited. The width W76 of the groove 76 may be, for example, 3 mm to 6 mm or 4 mm to 5 mm.

[0069] The cover 73 is a member that covers the joint between the outer pipe 71 and the inner pipe 72. The outer pipe 71 and the inner pipe 72 are inserted into the cover 73. The cover 73 is configured to cover the end face of the outer pipe 71. The cover 73 is formed in a tubular shape. Like the outer pipe 71 and the inner pipe 72, the outer peripheral shape of the cover 73 is formed as an ellipse whose horizontal dimension is greater than its vertical dimension. As shown in FIG. 19 , the cover 73 is formed in a shape that tapers from its midpoint toward the front. The outer peripheral surface of the cover 73 includes a rear outer peripheral surface 73a that is parallel to the axial direction (here, the front-rear direction) and a front outer peripheral surface 73b that is inclined relative to the axial direction so as to approach the axis as it extends forward. A through hole 74 is formed in one end (here, the front end) of the cover 73 in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 20 , the through hole 74 opens in the vertical direction.

[0070] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the cover 73 and a fixing member 77, which will be described later. As shown in FIG. 21, a protrusion 61 that protrudes toward the center of the cover 73 is formed on the inside of the cover 73. The protrusion 61 is provided on the lower part of the cover 73. The protrusion 61 extends from the lower end of the cover 73 toward the upper end. As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the cover 73 is inserted into one end of the outer tube 71. When the cover 73 is attached to the outer tube 71 and the inner tube 72, the protrusion 61 is positioned at a predetermined position relative to the outer tube 71. The protrusion 61 is an example of a "positioning member" that is positioned at a predetermined position relative to the outer tube 71.

[0071] A fixing member 77 is fitted into the protrusion 61. The fixing member 77 is fixed to the protrusion 61 and held by the cover 73. Here, the fixing member 77 is formed in a plate shape, but the shape of the fixing member 77 is not particularly limited. The fixing member 77 may be, for example, a block-shaped member or a T-nut. As shown in FIG. 20, the fixing member 77 is placed inside the groove portion 76 of the inner tube 72. The left-right dimension of the fixing member 77 is greater than the left-right spacing of the groove hole 76a. The bottom surfaces of the left and right portions of the fixing member 77 contact the upper surface of the edge piece 76b of the groove portion 76. A female thread portion 77b is formed in the fixing member 77. The hole of the female thread portion 77b opens in the vertical direction.

[0072] As shown in FIG. 20 , a fixing bolt 79 is inserted through the through-hole 74 of the cover 73, the through-hole 75 of the outer tube 71, the slot 76a of the inner tube 72, and the female thread 77b of the fixing member 77. When the fixing bolt 79 is threaded into the female thread 77b of the fixing member 77, the edge piece 76b of the inner tube 72 is sandwiched between the fixing member 77 and the outer tube 71. This secures the outer tube 71 and the inner tube 72 to each other. Loosening the fixing bolt 79 allows the inner tube 72 to slide back and forth relative to the outer tube 71, allowing the length of the first handrail 21 to be adjusted. After adjusting the length of the first handrail 21 to the desired length, the fixing bolt 79 can be tightened to secure the outer tube 71 and the inner tube 72 to each other, thereby setting the length of the first handrail 21 to the desired length. The fixing member 77 and the fixing bolt 79 form a fixing mechanism 80 that secures the outer tube 71 and the inner tube 72 to each other.

[0073] The dimensions of the first handrail 21 are not particularly limited, but for example, the horizontal dimension can be 30 mm to 45 mm and the vertical dimension can be 20 mm to 40 mm. The dimensions of the outer tube 71 and the inner tube 72 are not particularly limited. For example, the horizontal dimension of the outer tube 71 can be 35 mm to 45 mm, and the vertical dimension of the outer tube 71 can be 25 mm to 35 mm. For example, the horizontal dimension of the inner tube 72 can be 32 mm to 38 mm, and the vertical dimension of the inner tube 72 can be 22 mm to 28 mm.

[0074] (Second handrail) 1, the second handrail 22 has the same configuration as the first handrail 21. Since the configuration of the second handrail 22 is the same as the configuration of the first handrail 21, a description thereof will be omitted.

[0075] (Third handrail) As shown in FIG. 1, the third handrail 23 is formed in an L-shape. The third handrail 23 is formed from a so-called elliptical tube. The third handrail 23 has a horizontal portion 23a and a vertical portion 23b. The outer peripheral shape of the horizontal portion 23a is formed in an elliptical shape in which the dimension in the left-right direction is larger than the dimension in the up-down direction. The outer peripheral shape of the vertical portion 23b is formed in an elliptical shape in which the dimension in the left-right direction is larger than the dimension in the front-to-back direction.

[0076] [Temporary handrail installation type] According to this embodiment, the first support pillar 11 and the second support pillar 12 are respectively arranged to be biased towards one end in the left-right direction of the first base plate 1 and the second base plate 2. The third support pillar 13A and the fourth support pillar 13B are respectively arranged to be biased towards one end in the left-right direction of the third base plate 3. Therefore, the central portions of the first base plate 1, the second base plate 2, and the third base plate 3 can be suitably used as passageways.

[0077] The first handrail 21 can be rotated left and right and up and down relative to the first support post 11 by loosening bolts 33 and 35 (see FIG. 10). After adjusting the left and right and up and down orientation of the first handrail 21 relative to the first support post 11, the first handrail 21 can be fixed to the first support post 11 by tightening bolts 33 and 35. Similarly, the first handrail 21 can be rotated left and right and up and down relative to the second support post 12 by loosening bolts 133 and 135A (see FIG. 15). After adjusting the left and right and up and down orientation of the first handrail 21 relative to the second support post 12, the first handrail 21 can be fixed to the second support post 12 by tightening bolts 133 and 135A. The second handrail 22 can be rotated left and right and up and down relative to the second support post 12 by loosening bolts 133 and 135B (see FIG. 15). After adjusting the left-right and up-down orientation of second handrail 22 relative to second support post 12, second handrail 22 can be fixed to second support post 12 by tightening bolts 133 and 135B. Second handrail 22 can be rotated left-right and up-down relative to third support post 13A by loosening bolts 33 and 35 (see FIG. 17). After adjusting the left-right and up-down orientation of second handrail 22 relative to third support post 13A, second handrail 22 can be fixed to third support post 13A by tightening bolts 33 and 35.

[0078] In this way, with the temporary handrail 100, the orientation of the first handrail 21 and the second handrail 22 can be freely set. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 22 , the second base plate 2 can be installed offset left and right relative to the first base plate 1. The temporary handrail 100 can be suitably installed, for example, in a passageway that curves left and right. The second base plate 2 can also be installed offset up and down relative to the first base plate 1. The temporary handrail 100 can be suitably installed, for example, in a passageway with steps. Furthermore, although not shown, the second base plate 2 can be installed not only parallel to the first base plate 1, but also non-parallel. Similarly, the third base plate 3 can be installed offset left and right or up and down relative to the second base plate 2, and can be installed non-parallel to the second base plate 2.

[0079] As shown in FIG. 1, the first to third base plates 1 to 3 each have multiple mounting portions 1S to 3S in the left-right direction. This allows the left-right positions of the first support column 11, the second support column 12, the third support column 13A, and the fourth support column 13B to be changed. For example, by attaching the first support column 11, the second support column 12, the third support column 13A, and the fourth support column 13B to the right portions of the first base plate 1, the second base plate 2, and the third base plate 3, the first to third handrails 21 to 23 can be positioned on the right side, allowing users to walk on the left side of the first to third handrails 21 to 23. Furthermore, by attaching the first support column 11, the second support column 12, the third support column 13A, and the fourth support column 13B to the center portions of the first base plate 1, the second base plate 2, and the third base plate 3, the first to third handrails 21 to 23 can be positioned in the center. Furthermore, depending on the installation location of the temporary handrail 100, for example, the first support 11 can be attached to the left side of the first base plate 1, and the second support 12 can be attached to the center of the second base plate 2. The positions of the first to third handrails 21 to 23 can be set appropriately depending on the installation location.

[0080] In this embodiment, the first to third handrails 21 to 23 are provided only on the left side of the first to third base plates 1 to 3, but they can also be provided on both the left and right sides. That is, the first support 11 is attached to the left and right mounting portions 1S of the first base plate 1, the second support 12 is attached to the left and right mounting portions 2S of the second base plate 2, the third support 13A and the fourth support 13B are attached to the left and right mounting portions 3S of the third base plate 3, and a first handrail 21 is provided between the left and right first support 11 and second support 12, a second handrail 22 is provided between the left and right second support 12 and third support 13A, and a third handrail 23 is provided between the left and right third support 13A and fourth support 13B. This allows the user to grasp the first to third handrails 21 to 23 with both hands, providing more stable support for the body.

[0081] The temporary handrail 100 according to this embodiment is disassembled. For example, the first support pole 11 is detachably attached to the first base plate 1. The first handrail 21 is detachably attached to the first support pole 11 and the second support pole 12 via the first connecting member 101 and the second connecting member 102. Therefore, each component can be transported to the installation site, and then the temporary handrail 100 can be assembled there. Furthermore, the temporary handrail 100 can be disassembled at the installation site, and then each component can be collected from the installation site. When transporting or selling the temporary handrail 100, all components can be transported or sold as a single unit, or each component or an assembly of multiple components can be transported or sold individually. For example, the first handrail 21, the connecting bracket 32, the vertical rotation bracket 36, and the vertical rotation bracket 136A can be assembled and sold as a single product. The assembly of first support column 11, support bracket 38, gripping bracket 39, and lateral rotation bracket 34 may be transported or sold as a single product.

[0082] [Effects of the embodiment] According to the temporary handrail 100 of this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

[0083] The first handrail 21 of the temporary handrail 100 comprises an outer tube 71 and an inner tube 72 slidably inserted into the outer tube 71, so that the length of the first handrail 21 can be adjusted by adjusting the insertion length of the inner tube 72 relative to the outer tube 71. However, the outer peripheries of the outer tube 71 and the inner tube 72 are formed in an elliptical shape. Therefore, it is not possible to use a rotary tightening nut, as in the prior art (see, for example, JP 2016-185242 A), as a means for fixing the outer tube 71 and the inner tube 72 together after adjusting the length of the first handrail 21. However, according to this embodiment, a fixing member 77 is placed inside the groove 76 of the inner tube 72, and by inserting a fixing bolt 79 into the through hole 75 of the outer tube 71 and the groove 76a of the inner tube 72 and screwing the fixing bolt 79 into the female threaded portion 77b of the fixing member 77, the edge piece 76b of the inner tube 72 can be sandwiched between the fixing member 77 and the outer tube 71, thereby fixing the outer tube 71 and the inner tube 72. Therefore, even though the outer peripheral shapes of the outer tube 71 and the inner tube 72 are elliptical, the length of the first handrail 21 can be adjusted, and the outer tube 71 and the inner tube 72 can be easily fixed together after the length adjustment.

[0084] Incidentally, while a handrail with a circular outer periphery makes it easy to firmly grip the entire circumference, it can be difficult to use when walking with your hands along the handrail. When walking, it is easier to slide your hands along the top surface of the handrail rather than firmly gripping the entire circumference of the handrail at each position in accordance with your stride. In this case, if the handrail has a circular outer periphery, it can be difficult to slide your hands stably along the top surface. Also, when walking with your hands sliding along the top surface of the handrail, you may trip and want to support your body in an instant. In this case, if the handrail has a circular outer periphery, there is a risk that your hands will slide from the top surface to the side along the outer periphery of the handrail, making it difficult to support your body properly.

[0085] According to this embodiment, the outer peripheral shape of the first handrail 21 (strictly speaking, the outer peripheral shapes of the outer tube 71 and the inner tube 72) is formed into an elliptical shape whose horizontal dimension is larger than its vertical dimension. Because the horizontal dimension of the first handrail 21 is relatively large, a user can stably slide their hand over the top surface of the first handrail 21 while putting their weight on it. This makes it easy for a user to walk while sliding their hand over the first handrail 21. In addition, because the horizontal dimension of the first handrail 21 is relatively large, if a user stumbles while walking and tries to hold on to the first handrail 21 to support themselves, their hand is less likely to slide from the top surface of the first handrail 21 to the side. This makes it easy for a user to support their body.

[0086] Incidentally, when a handrail is cylindrical, increasing the outer diameter of the handrail allows for a larger horizontal dimension. However, a larger outer diameter makes it difficult for users to grip the handrail. In contrast, according to this embodiment, the horizontal dimension of the first handrail 21 can be ensured while reducing the circumferential length. This allows users to firmly grip the first handrail 21. According to this embodiment, when a user grips the first handrail 21 to support their body, they can firmly grip the first handrail 21. This allows the user to stably support their body. Note that, according to this embodiment, similar to the first handrail 21, the outer peripheral shape of the horizontal portions 23a of the second handrail 22 and the third handrail 23 is formed into an elliptical shape in which the horizontal dimension is larger than the vertical dimension. Therefore, the above-mentioned effects can also be obtained for the horizontal portions 23a of the second handrail 22 and the third handrail 23.

[0087] According to this embodiment, the groove 76 is formed at the lower end of the inner tube 72. When using the first handrail 21, the user walks while pressing their palm against the upper surface of the inner tube 72. Therefore, the groove 76 is unlikely to get in the way when using the first handrail 21. Furthermore, since the groove 76 is positioned in a location that is difficult to see, the appearance of the first handrail 21 is improved.

[0088] According to this embodiment, the width of the groove 76 on the outer circumferential surface of the inner tube 72 is set to 5 mm or less. This prevents the user's fingertips from getting inside the groove 76 when the user grips the inner tube 72.

[0089] When changing the length of the first handrail 21, the fixing bolt 79 is first loosened, the inner tube 72 is slid onto the outer tube 71, and then the fixing bolt 79 is tightened to secure the outer tube 71 and the inner tube 72 together. However, when loosening the fixing bolt 79, the fixing bolt 79 may come off the fixing member 77. If the cover 73 and the fixing member 77 are separated, the fixing member 77 will be misaligned when the fixing bolt 79 comes off the fixing member 77. Therefore, after sliding the inner tube 72 onto the outer tube 71, the fixing member 77 must be repositioned before the fixing bolt 79 can be screwed into the fixing member 77. However, according to this embodiment, the protrusion 61 is provided as a positioning member arranged at a predetermined position, and the fixing member 77 is fixed to the protrusion 61. Therefore, even if the fixing bolt 79 comes off the fixing member 77, the position of the fixing member 77 will not change. This prevents the position of the through hole 75 in the outer tube 71 from being misaligned with the position of the female thread portion 77a of the fixing member 77. The fixing bolt 79 makes it easy to fix the outer tube 71 and the inner tube 72 together, making it easy to adjust the length of the first handrail 21.

[0090] According to this embodiment, a cover 73 is provided at the joint between the outer pipe 71 and the inner pipe 72. Because the joint between the outer pipe 71 and the inner pipe 72 is covered by the cover 73, it is possible to prevent dust and the like from entering the gap between the outer pipe 71 and the inner pipe 72. In addition, the appearance is improved. Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the protrusion 61 that positions the fixing member 77 is provided on the cover 73. Therefore, the fixing member 77 can be positioned simply by attaching the cover 73 to the outer pipe 71 and the inner pipe 72.

[0091] The above-mentioned effect can be obtained not only in the first handrail 21 but also in the second handrail 22 in the same manner.

[0092] [Other embodiments] While one embodiment has been described above, the embodiment is merely an example. The handrail support and temporary handrail according to the present invention can be embodied in various other forms.

[0093] The number of base plates is not limited to three, but may be two, or may be four or more.

[0094] The outer peripheral shapes of the outer cylinder 51 and the inner cylinder 52 may be elliptical in which the horizontal dimension is equal to or smaller than the vertical dimension. Furthermore, the outer peripheral shapes of the outer cylinder 51 and the inner cylinder 52 are not limited to elliptical. The outer peripheral shapes of the outer cylinder 51 and the inner cylinder 52 may be other non-circular shapes in which the dimension in a first direction in the cross section is greater than the dimension in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

[0095] The through-hole 75 may be formed in a portion other than the lower end of the outer tube 71, and the groove 76 may be formed in a portion other than the lower end of the inner tube 72.

[0096] If the fixing member 77 has a structure that makes it difficult to come off even when the fixing bolt 79 is loosened, the fixing member 77 does not need to be fixed to the cover 73.

[0097] Although it is preferable to provide a cover 73, the cover 73 is not necessarily required. [Explanation of symbols]

[0098] 1 First base plate 2 Second base plate 11 1st pillar 12 Second pillar 21 First handrail (handrail) 71 Outer tube 72 Inner tube 75 Through hole (first through hole) 76 Groove 76a Slot hole 76b Edge piece 77 Fixing member 77b Female thread 79 Fixing bolt 100 Temporary Handrails

Claims

1. A first base plate; A second base plate; a first support column erected on the first base plate; a second support column erected on the second base plate; a straight handrail spanning between the first support pole and the second support pole; a connecting member that connects the first support and the handrail, The handrail has an outer tube and an inner tube slidably inserted into the outer tube, the outer circumferential shapes of the outer tube and the inner tube are formed in a non-circular shape in which a dimension in a first direction in a cross section is larger than a dimension in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a first through hole is formed at one end of the outer tube in the second direction; a groove portion extending in a longitudinal direction of the inner pipe is formed at one end portion of the inner pipe in the second direction, the groove portion includes, in a cross section of the inner pipe, a slot extending in the second direction and edge pieces located on one side and the other side of the slot in the first direction, a fixing member disposed inside the groove of the inner tube and having an internal thread; a fixing bolt that is inserted into the first through hole of the outer pipe and the groove hole of the inner pipe and is screwed into the female thread portion of the fixing member to sandwich the edge piece of the inner pipe between the fixing member and the outer pipe, A temporary handrail, one end of which is inserted into and fixed to the connecting member.

2. The temporary handrail according to claim 1 , wherein the outer and inner pipes have an elliptical outer circumferential shape.

3. The temporary handrail according to claim 1 , wherein the outer peripheries of the outer tube and the inner tube are formed into an elliptical shape whose horizontal dimension is greater than its vertical dimension.

4. the first through hole is formed in a lower end of the outer tube, The temporary handrail according to claim 3 , wherein the groove is formed in a lower end of the inner pipe.

5. 5. The temporary handrail according to claim 1, wherein the width of the groove on the outer peripheral surface of the inner pipe is 5 mm or less.

6. a positioning member disposed at a predetermined position relative to the outer tube; The temporary handrail according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the fixing member is fixed to the positioning member.

7. A first base plate; A second base plate; a first support column erected on the first base plate; a second support column erected on the second base plate; a handrail spanning between the first support pole and the second support pole, The handrail has an outer tube and an inner tube slidably inserted into the outer tube, the outer circumferential shapes of the outer tube and the inner tube are formed in a non-circular shape in which a dimension in a first direction in a cross section is larger than a dimension in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a first through hole is formed at one end of the outer tube in the second direction; a groove portion extending in a longitudinal direction of the inner pipe is formed at one end portion of the inner pipe in the second direction, the groove portion includes, in a cross section of the inner pipe, a slot extending in the second direction and edge pieces located on one side and the other side of the slot in the first direction; a fixing member disposed inside the groove of the inner tube and having an internal thread; a fixing bolt that is inserted into the first through hole of the outer pipe and the groove hole of the inner pipe and is screwed into the female thread portion of the fixing member to sandwich the edge piece of the inner pipe between the fixing member and the outer pipe, The handrail has a tubular cover into which the outer tube and the inner tube are inserted and which covers a joint between the outer tube and the inner tube, The outer peripheral shape of the cover is formed into a non-circular shape in which the dimension in the first direction in a cross section is larger than the dimension in the second direction, A second through hole is formed at one end of the cover in the second direction, A temporary handrail, wherein the fixing bolt is inserted through the second through hole of the cover into the first through hole of the outer pipe and the groove hole of the inner pipe.

8. A first base plate; A second base plate; a first support column erected on the first base plate; a second support column erected on the second base plate; a handrail spanning between the first support pole and the second support pole, The handrail has an outer tube and an inner tube slidably inserted into the outer tube, the outer circumferential shapes of the outer tube and the inner tube are formed in a non-circular shape in which a dimension in a first direction in a cross section is larger than a dimension in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a first through hole is formed at one end of the outer tube in the second direction; a groove portion extending in a longitudinal direction of the inner pipe is formed at one end portion of the inner pipe in the second direction, the groove portion includes, in a cross section of the inner pipe, a slot extending in the second direction and edge pieces located on one side and the other side of the slot in the first direction; a fixing member disposed inside the groove of the inner tube and having an internal thread; a fixing bolt that is inserted into the first through hole of the outer pipe and the groove hole of the inner pipe and is screwed into the female thread portion of the fixing member, thereby sandwiching the edge piece of the inner pipe between the fixing member and the outer pipe; a positioning member disposed at a predetermined position relative to the outer tube, the fixing member is fixed to the positioning member, The handrail has a tubular cover into which the outer tube and the inner tube are inserted and which covers a joint between the outer tube and the inner tube, The outer peripheral shape of the cover is formed into a non-circular shape in which the dimension in the first direction in a cross section is larger than the dimension in the second direction, A second through hole is formed at one end of the cover in the second direction, the fixing bolt is inserted through the second through hole of the cover into the first through hole of the outer tube and the slot of the inner tube; a protrusion extending from one end of the cover in the second direction to the other end thereof and into which the fixing member is fitted is formed on the cover; The temporary handrail, wherein the positioning member is constituted by the protrusion.

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