Handrail end caps
The end cap design with a recessed area and communication hole addresses the issue of water accumulation by enhancing drainage performance, preventing rust and corrosion in outdoor handrails.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- TANAKA KOGYO CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2022-10-31
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-29
AI Technical Summary
Existing handrail end caps fail to effectively drain water that accumulates inside, leading to issues like rust and corrosion, especially in outdoor environments where water seepage occurs through gaps between the end cap and handrail.
The end cap design includes a recessed area with an inclined surface and a communication hole that facilitates the collection and drainage of water, utilizing a bottom plate portion and cylindrical portion to direct water towards a drainage outlet, enhancing the drainage performance.
The improved drainage mechanism effectively removes accumulated water, reducing the risk of rust and corrosion by ensuring efficient water flow out of the end cap, even when tilted or angled.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to an end cap for a handrail that covers an end portion of a handrail main body. In particular, it relates to an end cap for a handrail used outdoors.
Background Art
[0002] In the field of handrails, handrail end caps have been conventionally known as members that cover the ends of a rod-shaped handrail main body extending in one direction (see, for example, FIG. 1 of Patent Document 1 and FIG. 2 of Patent Document 2). The handrail end cap serves to prevent the exposure of the end portion of the handrail main body and is one of the components that constitute the handrail together with the handrail main body.
[0003] As the handrail main body, there are various types known, such as those having an internal structure in which a core material made of a rigid material such as metal is covered with a coating material made of a resin material, or those composed of a steel pipe without such a coating material. By covering the end portion of the handrail main body with an end cap, it is possible to suppress the influence of the outside world, such as the intrusion of foreign substances from the end portion, on the inside of the handrail main body. In particular, outdoor handrails used outdoors are constantly exposed to the influence of the outside world, so there is a high risk of foreign substances invading, and the end cap that covers the end portion of the handrail main body is particularly useful.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0004]
Patent Document 1
Patent Document 2
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0005] However, in the case of handrails used in environments exposed to rainwater and condensation, such as outdoor handrails, even if end caps are provided, water can slowly seep in through the small gap between the end of the handrail body and the end cap and accumulate inside the end cap. If this condition persists for a long period of time, it can have undesirable effects on the handrail body and end cap, such as rust and corrosion, so a mechanism to remove the accumulated water is necessary.
[0006] One possible mechanism for this is to simply provide a drainage hole through the end cap so that water can flow out. However, due to the surface tension of droplets, water does not flow easily, and simply providing a drainage hole is often insufficient to achieve adequate drainage. Therefore, further ingenuity is required to remove water that has accumulated inside the end cap.
[0007] In view of the above circumstances, the present invention aims to provide an end cap for a handrail with improved drainage capabilities for removing water accumulated inside the end cap. [Means for solving the problem]
[0008] To solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides the following end caps for handrails.
[0009] [1] An end cap for a handrail that covers the end of a rod-shaped handrail body extending in one direction and constitutes a handrail together with the handrail body, comprising: a bottom plate portion disposed opposite to the end face of the end of the handrail body and covering the end face; and a cylindrical portion disposed opposite to the outer circumferential surface of the end of the handrail body and covering the outer circumferential surface, and connected to the periphery of the bottom plate portion, wherein the bottom plate portion has a recess at the connection point with the cylindrical portion that is recessed in a direction away from the end face of the end of the handrail body, and at least one of the cylindrical portion and the bottom plate portion has a communication hole that communicates with the recess and penetrates the cylindrical portion or the bottom plate portion and opens to the outer surface of the end cap.
[0010] Here, "extending in one direction" refers to the concept that the handrail body extends in one dimension, and is not limited to cases where the handrail body extends in a straight line. For example, "extending in one direction" also includes cases where part or all of the handrail body extends in a bent or curved manner.
[0011] [2] The end cap of the handrail according to [1], wherein the recess has an inclined surface that slopes toward the bottom of the recess.
[0012] [3] The end cap for the handrail according to [2], wherein the bottom plate portion has a stepped portion that protrudes toward the end face of the end of the handrail body and abuts against the end face at the connection point with the cylindrical portion, excluding the portion where the recess exists.
[0013] [4] The end cap for a handrail according to [3], wherein the bottom plate portion has a bottom surface on the inner side facing the end of the handrail body that is inclined toward the recess with respect to a virtual plane perpendicular to the axial direction in which the cylindrical portion extends.
[0014] [5] The end cap is fixed to the end of the handrail body by screwing it to the end of the handrail body, and the cylindrical portion has a screw hole for screwing through the cylindrical portion and has the communication hole at the same position as the screw hole in the circumferential direction around the cylindrical portion, as described in any of [1] to [4].
[0015] [6] The end cap is fixed to the end of the handrail body by screwing it to the end of the handrail body, and the cylindrical portion has a screw hole for screwing through the cylindrical portion, and the communication hole is located on the opposite side of the screw hole in the circumferential direction that circles the cylindrical portion, as described in any of [1] to [4].
[0016] [7] A handrail comprising the handrail main body and the end cap of the handrail according to any one of [1] to [4].
Effect of the Invention
[0017] In the end cap of the handrail of the present invention, the water drainage property for removing the water staying in the end cap is improved as compared with the conventional end cap without a recess.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0018] [Figure 1] It is a view showing a handrail to which the end cap of the handrail according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. [Figure 2] It is an enlarged view of the periphery of the end cap in the handrail of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a side view of the end cap in a state of being attached to the handrail main body. [Figure 4] It is a cross-sectional view taken along the line PP' in FIG. 3. [Figure 5] It is an explanatory view for explaining another factor by which water enters the end cap. [Figure 6] It is an external perspective view of the end cap of the present embodiment as viewed from the opening side. [Figure 7] It is a top view of the end cap of FIG. 6 as viewed from the opening side. [Figure 8] It is a side view of the end cap of FIG. 6. [Figure 9] It is a cross-sectional view of the end cap of FIG. 6 in a plane passing through the line AA' in FIG. 7 and the line BB' in FIG. 8. [Figure 10] It is a view showing a state in which the end caps of FIGS. 1 to 9 are attached to the end of the handrail main body facing obliquely downward. [Figure 11] It is a cross-sectional view of the end cap of another embodiment of the present invention attached to the handrail main body 20. [Figure 12] It is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the end cap of FIG. 11. [Figure 13]This is a cross-sectional view of an end cap according to yet another embodiment of the present invention, in which the bottom plate portion has a communication hole. [Figure 14] This diagram shows how an end cap, which does not have a screw hole formed in the cylindrical part, is attached to the handrail body. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0019] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and that appropriate design changes, improvements, etc., may be made based on the ordinary knowledge of those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention.
[0020] Figure 1 shows a handrail 100 to which an end cap 10, which is one embodiment of the present invention, is applied, and Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the area around the end cap 10 in the handrail 100 of Figure 1.
[0021] The handrail 100 in Figure 1 is a handrail used in environments that are frequently exposed to water, such as rainwater and condensation. A typical example of such an environment is the outdoors.
[0022] As shown in Figure 1, the handrail 100 comprises a rod-shaped handrail body 20 extending in one direction and an end cap 10. The handrail body 20 has a roughly circular cross-section and is supported by brackets 30 attached to the ends of each of the multiple support posts 40. In Figure 1, the portion of the entire handrail body 20 supported by the brackets 30 at the ends of two support posts 40 is shown as an example. The handrail body 20 is curved around the end cap 10 shown in Figure 2, but extends straight in the remaining portion (for example, the portion between the two brackets 30). Here, the direction in which the remaining portion of the handrail body 20 (for example, the portion between the two brackets 30) extends is the horizontal direction, and the direction perpendicular to this horizontal direction, along the support posts 40, is the vertical direction.
[0023] As shown in Figure 2, the handrail body 20 extends from a horizontal position to a vertically downward direction around the end cap 10, and the end cap 10 of this embodiment is attached to the vertically downward end.
[0024] Figure 3 is a side view of the end cap 10 attached to the handrail body 20, and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along the PP' line in Figure 3.
[0025] The end cap 10 covers the end of the handrail body 20 and is one of the components that make up the handrail 100 in Figures 1 and 2 together with the handrail body 20. The material that makes up the end cap 10 is not particularly limited as long as it is a material that has sufficient durability to withstand wind, rain and temperature changes in an outdoor environment, but such durable materials can be metal materials or hard resin materials.
[0026] There are various methods for attaching the end cap 10 to the end of the handrail body 20, but for example, as shown in Figure 3, the end cap 10 can be screwed to the end of the handrail body 20 with a screw 11. As shown in Figure 4, the handrail body 20 has an internal structure in which a core material 21 made of a rigid material such as metal is covered with a covering material 22 made of a resin material. The screw 11 that passes through the end cap 10 penetrates the covering material 22 of the handrail body 20 and engages with the core material 21. At this time, the head of the screw 11 fits into the screw hole 1 formed in the end cap 10, and the end cap 10 is pressed against the handrail body 20. In this way, the end cap 10 is screwed to the handrail body 20.
[0027] The end cap 10 covers the end of the handrail body 20, which helps to prevent the inside of the handrail body 20 from being directly affected by external influences such as foreign objects entering from the end. In particular, if the handrail body 20 is an outdoor handrail used outdoors, it is constantly exposed to external influences, so the risk of foreign objects entering is high, and the end cap 10 that covers the end of the handrail body 20 is especially useful.
[0028] However, even with an end cap 10, in outdoor handrails, rainwater or other water can gradually seep in through the small gap between the end of the handrail body 20 and the end cap 10 and accumulate inside the end cap 10.
[0029] For example, when the end cap 10 is molded using a mold, the end cap 10 may be given a shape with a gradient (hereinafter simply referred to as "draft angle") such that the inner surface of the end cap 10 widens slightly as it approaches its opening, in order to make it easier to remove the end cap 10 from the mold. In this case, when attaching the end cap 10 to the handrail body 20, a gap is more likely to form between the end of the handrail body 20 and the end cap 10, which can be one of the factors that cause water to enter and accumulate inside the end cap 10.
[0030] Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another factor that causes water to enter the end cap 10.
[0031] When the end cap 10 is screwed to the end of the handrail body 20, the screwing action presses the inner surface of the end cap 10 on the screw side against the handrail body 20, causing the inner surface of the end cap 10 on the screw side to conform to the handrail body 20. In this situation, if a draft angle is formed on the inner surface of the end cap 10, the end cap 10 is likely to tilt at an angle corresponding to that draft angle. Specifically, as shown in Figure 5, the gap S between the end of the handrail body 20 and the end cap 10 becomes larger on the side opposite to the screw 11 (screw hole 1), and water may enter this gap S and accumulate inside the end cap 10.
[0032] As explained above, there are various factors that can cause water to enter and accumulate inside the end cap 10. If this water accumulation continues for a long period of time, it can have undesirable effects on the handrail body 20 and the end cap 10, such as rust and corrosion.
[0033] The end cap 10 of this embodiment is equipped with a mechanism to effectively remove water that has accumulated inside the end cap 10. The end cap 10 will be described in detail below.
[0034] Figure 6 is an external perspective view of the end cap 10 of this embodiment, viewed from the opening side. Figure 7 is a top view of the end cap 10 of Figure 6, viewed from the opening side, Figure 8 is a side view of the end cap 10 of Figure 6, and Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the end cap 10 of Figure 6 in a plane passing through line AA' in Figure 7 and line BB' in Figure 8.
[0035] As shown in Figures 6 to 9, the end cap 10 comprises a bottom plate portion 4 and a cylindrical portion 3. The bottom plate portion 4 is the part that is positioned opposite to the end face 20a of the end of the handrail body 20 in Figure 4 and covers that end face 20a. In this embodiment, the bottom plate portion 4 is formed in the shape of a disc, for example. On the other hand, the cylindrical portion 3 is the cylindrical part that is positioned opposite to the outer peripheral surface 20b of the end of the handrail body 20 and covers that outer peripheral surface 20b, and is connected to the periphery of the bottom plate portion 4. In this embodiment, the cylindrical portion 3 is formed in the shape of a cylinder, corresponding to the shape of the bottom plate portion 4.
[0036] Here, as shown in Figures 6, 7, and 9, the bottom plate portion 4 has a recess 5 at the connection point with the cylindrical portion 3, which is recessed in a direction away from the end face 20a of the end of the handrail body 20 (downward in Figure 4). The recess 5 has an inclined surface 53 that slopes toward the bottom 51 of the recess 5. The recess 5 also has a groove 52 formed within the inclined portion in the manner of a valley carved out of the inclined portion having the inclined surface 53, and the groove 52 is connected to the bottom 51.
[0037] On the other hand, as shown in Figures 6 to 9, the cylindrical portion 3 has a communication hole 2 that communicates with the recess 5 and penetrates the cylindrical portion 3, opening onto the outer surface of the end cap 10. More specifically, the communication hole 2 communicates with the groove 52 of the recess 5, and communicates with the bottom 51 of the recess 5 via the groove 52.
[0038] The end cap 10 of this embodiment has a communication hole 2 as a drainage hole for discharging water accumulated inside the end cap to the outside, and also has a recess 5 at the connection point with the cylindrical part 3 on the bottom plate part 4 that communicates with the communication hole. When the end cap 10 is attached to the end of the handrail body 20 as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the recess 5 is located on the lower vertical side of the end cap 10. Therefore, water accumulated inside the end cap 10 tends to collect in the recess 5. Compared to water dispersed in droplet form without the recess 5, the water collected in the recess 5 is less affected by surface tension and flows out to the outside through the communication hole 2 more easily. Therefore, the end cap 10 of this embodiment has improved drainage performance for removing water accumulated inside the end cap compared to conventional end caps without the recess 5.
[0039] In particular, the inclined surface 53 of the recess 5 makes it easier for water to collect towards the bottom 51, and the collected water flows out to the outside through the groove 52 and the communication hole 2. It is preferable that the bottom surface of the communication hole 2 and the bottom surface of the recess 5 are on the same plane, or that the bottom surface of the communication hole 2 is lower than the bottom surface of the recess 5.
[0040] Here, as shown in Figures 7 and 9, it is preferable that the bottom plate portion 4 has a stepped portion 6 that protrudes toward the end face 20a (see Figure 4) of the end of the handrail body 20 and abuts against the end face 20a at the connection point with the cylindrical portion 3, excluding the location where the recess 5 exists. In this embodiment, the stepped portion 6 is provided continuously along the periphery of the bottom plate portion 4, but in the present invention, it may be provided intermittently along the periphery of the bottom plate portion 4.
[0041] In this configuration, only the stepped portion 6 of the bottom plate portion 4, which has the step d shown in Figure 9, comes into contact with the end surface 20a (see Figure 4) of the end of the handrail body 20. This creates a space between the end surface 20a of the end of the handrail body 20 and the bottom plate portion 4 for water in the end cap 10 to flow through (see Figure 4), making it easier for water to collect in the recess 5.
[0042] In this embodiment, the cylindrical portion 3 has a screw hole 1 for fastening that penetrates the cylindrical portion 3, and as shown in Figures 6 to 9, it has a communication hole 2 at the same position as the screw hole 1 in the circumferential direction that encircles the cylindrical portion 3. In such a case, it is preferable that the bottom plate portion 4 has a bottom surface 7 on the inner surface side facing the end face of the end of the handrail body 20, as shown in Figure 9, which is inclined toward the recess 5 with respect to a virtual plane perpendicular to the axial direction (up and down direction in Figure 9 and the direction of line BB' in Figure 8) in which the cylindrical portion 3 extends. Such a downward inclination shape of the bottom surface 7 is achieved, for example, when the thickness T of the bottom plate portion 4 decreases toward the recess 5, as shown in Figure 9, such that the part further away from the recess 5 is thicker and the part closer to the recess 5 is thinner. Here, it is preferable that the inclination angle of the bottom surface 7 is greater than the draft angle on the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 3, and it is preferable that the inclination angle of the bottom surface 7 is 0.5 degrees or more. Furthermore, the slope of the inclined surface 53 of the recess 5 is steeper than the slope of the bottom surface 7.
[0043] According to the above configuration, the presence of a bottom surface 7 that slopes toward the recess 5, as shown in Figure 9, means that even if water enters the end cap 10, the water will flow toward the recess 5 (direction X in Figure 9) and easily collect in the recess 5. In particular, even if the end cap 10 is tilted by screw fastening (see Figure 5), the bottom surface 7 is already sloped, so water on the bottom surface 7 easily flows toward the recess 5.
[0044] The above is a description of the function of the end cap 10 in this embodiment.
[0045] In the above description, the end cap 10 was attached to the vertically downward end of the handrail body 20, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. However, the end cap 10 may also be attached to an end of the handrail body that is not vertically downward, for example, an end of the handrail body that is angled downward or an end of the handrail body that is horizontal.
[0046] Figure 10 shows how the end caps 10 shown in Figures 1 to 9 are attached to the end of the handrail body 20' which is angled downwards.
[0047] As shown in Figure 10, the end caps 10 in Figures 1 to 9 can also be used on handrail bodies 20' that extend diagonally downwards rather than curving vertically downwards, unlike the handrail bodies 20 in Figures 1 and 2. However, in this case, in order to drain water, it is necessary to attach the end cap 10 to the handrail body 20' so that the recess 5 and communication hole 2 in the end cap 10 are positioned as far downwards vertically as possible (towards the bottom of Figure 10). By attaching the end cap 10 in this way, water accumulated inside the end cap 10 can be effectively removed for the same reasons as described above in Figures 6 to 9.
[0048] As described above, the end cap 10 of this embodiment can adequately remove water in both cases: when the bottom plate portion 4 is located on the lower side (see, for example, Figure 2), and when the cylindrical portion 3 is located on the lower side (see, for example, Figure 10).
[0049] In the description of Figures 1 to 10 above, the cylindrical portion 3 had a communication hole 2 at the same position as the screw hole 1 in the circumferential direction around the cylindrical portion 3. However, in the present invention, the position of the communication hole in the circumferential direction may be different from the position of the screw hole 1. Another embodiment of the present invention will be described below. In this other embodiment, it will be described as being attached to the end of the handrail body 20 facing vertically downward, similar to the end cap 10 in Figures 1 and 2.
[0050] Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of an end cap 10A of another embodiment of the present invention attached to the handrail body 20, and Figure 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the end cap 10A of Figure 11.
[0051] In Figures 11 and 12, the same reference numerals are used for components that are the same as those in Figures 5 and 9, and redundant explanations are omitted. Below, we will focus on the differences between the end cap 10 in Figures 1 to 10 and the end cap 10 in the following explanation.
[0052] The end cap 10A in Figure 11, like the end caps 10 in Figures 1 to 10, is an end cap that is fixed to the end of the handrail body 20 by being screwed to the end of the handrail body 20. For this reason, the cylindrical portion 3A of the end cap 10A also has a screw hole 1A for screw fastening that passes through the cylindrical portion 3A. However, as shown in Figure 11, unlike the cylindrical portion 3 in Figure 6, the cylindrical portion 3A has a communication hole 2 at a position opposite to the screw hole 1A in the circumferential direction around the cylindrical portion 3A. Correspondingly, the bottom plate portion 4A of the end cap 10A also has a recess 5 that communicates with the communication hole 2 at a position opposite to the screw hole 1A.
[0053] When the end cap 10A is screwed to the end of the handrail body 20, the screw-side inner surface of the end cap 10A is pressed against the handrail body 20 by the screw fastening, causing the end cap 10A to tilt at an angle corresponding to the draft angle of the inner surface of the cylindrical part 3A. In this case, as shown in Figure 11, the gap S between the end of the handrail body 20 and the end cap 10 becomes larger on the side opposite to the screw 11 (screw hole 1), and water may enter this gap S. However, in the end cap 10A of Figure 12, since there is a communication hole 2 and a recess 5 on the opposite side of the screw hole 1A, the water will travel along the cylindrical part 3A and go straight to the recess 5 and communication hole 2. Therefore, unlike the bottom plate portion 4 of the end cap 10 in Figure 9, the bottom plate portion 4A of the end cap 10A in Figure 12 has a bottom surface 7A that is parallel to a virtual plane perpendicular to the axial direction in which the cylindrical portion 3A extends. Even with a bottom plate portion 4A having such a bottom surface 7A, it is possible to sufficiently collect the accumulated water in the recess 5. This shape of the bottom surface 7A is achieved, for example, when the thickness T' of the bottom plate portion 4 is constant regardless of the distance from the recess 5, as shown in Figure 12.
[0054] However, depending on the angle at which the end cap 10A is attached to the handrail body, the bottom surface 7A may be formed to be inclined with respect to a virtual plane perpendicular to the axial direction in which the cylindrical portion 3A extends, in order to allow water to collect more easily in the recess 5.
[0055] As shown in Figures 11 and 12, even in an end cap 10A where the communication hole 2 is located on the opposite side of the screw hole 1A, water accumulated in the end cap 10A can be effectively removed by the recess 5 and the communication hole 2. Therefore, compared to conventional end caps that do not have a recess 5, the water drainage performance for removing water accumulated in the end cap is improved.
[0056] In this other embodiment of the end cap 10A, sufficient water removal is possible in both cases: when the bottom plate portion 4 is located on the lower side, and when the cylindrical portion 3A is located on the lower side.
[0057] In the above description, the cylindrical portion had a communication hole, but in the present invention, the bottom plate portion may also have a communication hole. Below, another embodiment in which the bottom plate portion has a communication hole will be described. In this yet another embodiment, as in the end cap 10 in Figures 1 and 2, it will be described as being attached to the end of the handrail body 20 which is facing vertically downward.
[0058] Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of an end cap 10B of yet another embodiment of the present invention, in which the bottom plate portion has a communication hole.
[0059] In Figure 13, the same reference numerals are used for components that are the same as those in Figure 9, and redundant explanations are omitted. Figure 13 shows a cross-section of the end cap 10B on the surface passing through the screw hole 1, the communication hole 2B, and the recess 5B. The following explanation will focus on the differences between Figure 13 and Figures 6 to 9.
[0060] In the end cap 10B, the bottom plate portion 4B communicates with the recess 5B and has a communication hole 2B that penetrates the bottom plate portion 4B and opens to the outer surface of the end cap 10B. Thus, the end cap 10B differs from the end cap 10 in Figures 6 to 9 in that the bottom plate portion 4B, rather than the cylindrical portion 3B, has the communication hole 2B; otherwise, it is the same as the end cap 10 in Figure 9. For this reason, the end cap 10B has improved drainage capabilities for removing water accumulated inside the end cap compared to conventional end caps that do not have a recess 5B.
[0061] In particular, with the end cap 10B in Figure 13, the communication hole 2B extends vertically from the recess 5B, which has the advantage that when attached to the end of the handrail body 20 that is facing vertically downward (see Figures 1 and 2), water accumulated in the recess 5B can easily flow out.
[0062] In the above descriptions of the embodiments, the end caps had screw holes formed in the cylindrical portion, but the present invention may also be an end cap in which screw holes are not formed in the cylindrical portion.
[0063] Figure 14 shows how the end cap 10C, which does not have a screw hole formed in the cylindrical part, is attached to the handrail body 20C.
[0064] In Figure 14, the same reference numerals are used for components that are the same as those in Figures 1 to 10, and redundant explanations are omitted. The following explanation will focus on the differences between Figures 1 to 10 and Figure 14.
[0065] In the handrail body 20C shown in Figure 14, the core material 21C made of a rigid material such as metal and the covering material 22C made of a resin material are separate parts, and the handrail body 20C is constructed by combining these. Here, the end cap 10C has a fitting part 8C attached to a boss erected on the bottom plate 4. The end cap 10C is fixed to the handrail body 20C by inserting the fitting part 8C into the hollow part of the core material 21C, inserting a screw 11 through the screw hole 1C of the fitting part 8C, and screwing the screw 11 into the core material 21C.
[0066] The above describes the embodiments of the present invention.
[0067] In the above descriptions of each embodiment, there was one communication hole, but the present invention may have multiple communication holes. For example, there may be two communication holes, one formed in the cylindrical part as shown in Figure 9 or Figure 12, and one formed in the bottom plate part as shown in Figure 13. Also, in the end cap 10A of Figure 12, the communication hole 2B of the end cap 10B of Figure 13 may be used instead.
[0068] Furthermore, in the above descriptions of each embodiment, the end cap was attached to the end of a handrail body having an internal structure in which a core made of a rigid material such as metal is covered with a covering material made of resin. However, the present invention can be applied regardless of the details of the internal structure of the handrail body. For example, it may be applied to a hollow handrail body made of a single rigid material or a solid wooden handrail body.
[0069] Furthermore, although the end caps were cylindrical in the above-described embodiments, the external shape of the handrail body can vary, including elliptical, triangular, and square shapes, and the external shape of the end caps can also be various shapes corresponding to the external shape of the handrail body. [Industrial applicability]
[0070] This invention is useful for improving drainage to remove water accumulated inside the end cap. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0071] 1,1A,1C: Screw hole, 2,2B: Communication hole, 3,3A,3B: Cylindrical part, 4,4A,4B: Bottom plate part, 5,5B: recessed area, 6: Stepped section, 7,7A: Bottom, 8C: Fitting part, 10, 10A, 10B, 10C: End caps, 20,20C: Handrail body, 20a: end face, 20b: outer peripheral surface, 21,21C: Core material, 22,22C: Covering material, 30: Bracket, 40: Strut, 51: Bottom, 52:Groove, 53: Inclined surface, 100: Handrail, d: step, T,T': thickness, S: Gap.
Claims
1. In an end cap for a handrail that covers the end of a rod-shaped handrail body extending in one direction and forms a handrail together with the handrail body, A bottom plate portion is positioned opposite to the end face of the end of the handrail body and covers the end face, The handrail body comprises a cylindrical portion that is positioned opposite to the outer circumferential surface of the end portion and covers the outer circumferential surface, and is connected to the periphery of the bottom plate portion, The bottom plate portion has a recess at the connection point with the cylindrical portion that is recessed in a direction away from the end face of the end of the handrail body, An end cap for a handrail, wherein at least one of the cylindrical portion and the bottom plate portion has a communication hole that communicates with the recess and penetrates either the cylindrical portion or the bottom plate portion to open to the outer surface of the end cap.
2. The end cap for a handrail according to claim 1, wherein the recess has an inclined surface that slopes toward the bottom of the recess.
3. The end cap for a handrail according to claim 2, wherein the bottom plate portion has a stepped portion that protrudes toward the end face of the end of the handrail body and abuts against the end face at the connection point with the cylindrical portion, excluding the portion where the recess exists.
4. The end cap for a handrail according to claim 3, wherein the bottom plate portion has a bottom surface on the inner side facing the end of the handrail body that is inclined toward the recess with respect to a virtual plane perpendicular to the axial direction in which the cylindrical portion extends.
5. The end cap is fixed to the end of the handrail body by being screwed to the end of the handrail body. The end cap for a handrail according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cylindrical portion has a screw hole for fastening that penetrates the cylindrical portion, and the communication hole is located at the same position as the screw hole in the circumferential direction that circles the cylindrical portion.
6. The end cap is fixed to the end of the handrail body by being screwed to the end of the handrail body. The end cap for a handrail according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cylindrical portion has a screw hole for fastening that penetrates the cylindrical portion, and the communication hole is located on the opposite side of the screw hole in the circumferential direction that circles the cylindrical portion.
7. A handrail comprising the handrail body and an end cap for the handrail according to any one of claims 1 to 4.