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US 11,697,941 B2Granted
Handrail system and methods of use
OwnerMichael Bartainventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A handrail system that is constructed and arranged to be coupled to a stairwell such that at least a portion of a hand railing may be in an upright position or a lowered position. In an upright position, the system provides a complete top-to-bottom handrail. In the lowered, stowed position, the upper railing portion is conveniently stowed away within the stairwell. In a bulkhead embodiment, a full handrail is provided in the upright, use position and the upper railing is stowed within the bulkhead when the bulkhead doors are closed.
Claims4
A foldable handrail system for installation and storage within a bulkhead stairwell, comprising:
- a foldable railing member comprising an upper railing elongated along a first axis and a post elongated along a second axis, wherein a top end of the upper railing is fixedly coupled to a top end of the post and forms a rigid corner therewith, and wherein the upper railing and the first axis form an acute angle relative to the post and the second axis;
- an elongated lower railing configured to be affixed to a wall of the stairwell via a plurality of brackets;
- a railing hinge rotatably coupling a bottom end of the upper railing to a top end of the lower railing at a first location within the stairwell;
- and
- a base plate configured to be affixed to the wall of the stairwell adjacent a top step;
- a post hinge rotatably coupling a bottom end of the post to the base plate at a second location within the stairwell,
- wherein the railing hinge and the post hinge are axially aligned along a third axis and enable the upper railing and the post to rotate about the third axis between a lowered, stowed position within the stairwell and a substantially vertical upright, use position extending from the stairwell, and wherein the upper railing and the lower railing are coaxial when the upper railing is in the upright, use position;
- a locking latch mechanism coupled to the base plate configured to lock the post in the upright, use position;
- a release tether coupled to the locking latch mechanism configured to release the post from the locking latch mechanism in response to a pulling force to enable the post to be rotated about post hinge from the upright, use position to the lowered, stowed position;
- and
- a post tether coupled to the post configured to assist in lifting the post from the lowered, stowed position to the upright, use position.
8 more elements
A foldable handrail system for use and storage within a bulkhead stairwell, comprising:
- a foldable railing member comprising an upper railing elongated along a first axis and a post elongated along a second axis, wherein a top end of the upper railing is fixedly coupled to a top end of the post and forms a rigid corner therewith, and wherein the upper railing and the first axis form an acute angle relative to the post and the second axis;
- a railing hinge coupled to a bottom end of the upper railing configured to be rotatable coupled to a top end of an elongated lower railing affixed to a wall of the stairwell at a first location within the stairwell;
- and
- a base plate configured to be affixed to the wall of the stairwell adjacent a top step;
- a post hinge rotatably coupling a bottom end of the post to the base plate at a second location within the stairwell,
- wherein the railing hinge and the post hinge are axially aligned along a third axis and enable the upper railing and the post to rotate about the third axis between a lowered, stowed position within the stairwell and a substantially vertical upright, use position extending from the stairwell, and wherein the upper railing and the lower railing are coaxial when the upper railing is in the upright, use position;
- a locking latch mechanism coupled to the base plate configured to lock the post in the upright, use position;
- a release tether coupled to the locking latch mechanism configured to release the post from the locking latch mechanism in response to a pulling force to enable the post to be rotated about post hinge from the upright, use position to the lowered, stowed position;
- and
- a post tether coupled to the post configured to assist in lifting the post from the lowered, stowed position to the upright, use position.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.