Stair assistance device

A stair assistance device for assisting a person to climb up and down stairs, the device comprising:

• a handle;
• a saddle for engagement with a guide rail mounted alongside the stairs, the saddle being connected to the handle;
• an engagement rack for attachment to and extending along the length of the guide rail, the saddle being engaged with the engagement rack;
• wherein the saddle is arranged for sliding motion along the guide rail and for selectively preventing motion of the handle and saddle along the guide rail, the saddle comprising:
• a releasable ratchet mechanism comprising a pawl engageable with a ratchet which, when engaged, prevents movement of the handle in a downstairs direction and allows movement of the handle in an upstairs direction;
• and
• wherein the handle is coupled to the pawl such that a predetermined movement of the handle relative to the guide rail will disengage the pawl;
• and
• a friction clutch mechanism coupled to the ratchet mechanism, the friction clutch mechanism including a clutch lever configured to disengage the pawl when the handle is moved in the upstairs direction and to engage the pawl when the handle is moved in the downstairs direction, wherein the predetermined movement of the handle prevents the clutch lever from engaging the pawl.

A stair assistance device for assisting a person to climb up and down stairs, the device comprising:

• a handle;
• a saddle for engagement with a guide rail mounted alongside the stairs, the saddle being connected to the handle;
• and
• an engagement rack for attachment to and extending along the length of the guide rail, the saddle being engaged with the engagement rack;
• wherein the saddle is arranged for sliding motion along the guide rail and for selectively preventing motion of the handle and saddle along the guide rail, the saddle comprising:
• a releasable ratchet mechanism comprising a pawl engageable with a ratchet which, when engaged, prevents movement of the handle in a downstairs direction and allows movement of the handle in an upstairs direction;
• and
• wherein the handle is coupled to the pawl such that a predetermined movement of the handle relative to the guide rail will disengage the pawl;
• wherein the saddle comprises a ratchet pull element arranged such that, in a first position of the ratchet pull element, the pawl can move freely between the engaged and disengaged position and, in a second position of the pull element, the ratchet pull element retains the pawl in the disengaged position.

A stair assistance device for assisting a person to climb up and down stairs, the device comprising:

• a handle;
• a saddle for engagement with a guide rail mounted alongside the stairs, the saddle being connected to the handle;
• and
• an engagement rack for attachment to and extending along the length of the guide rail, the saddle being engaged with the engagement rack;
• wherein the saddle is arranged for sliding motion along the guide rail and for selectively preventing motion of the handle and saddle along the guide rail, the saddle comprising:
• a releasable ratchet mechanism comprising a pawl engageable with a ratchet which, when engaged, prevents movement of the handle in a downstairs direction and allows movement of the handle in an upstairs direction;
• and
• wherein the handle is coupled to the pawl such that a predetermined movement of the handle relative to the guide rail will disengage the pawl;
• wherein the saddle comprises a frame assembly including one or more frames arranged for slidable movement along the guide rail;
• and
• wherein the frame assembly comprises a main frame arranged to house the ratchet mechanism and a friction clutch mechanism, and at least one side frame adjacent and coupled to the main frame.