New Locking System for a Stair Assistance Device

A stair assistance kit for use with a handrail, the kit comprising a sleeve engageable with and slideable relative to the handrail, and a plurality of interchangeable brake elements to hinder or prevent sliding movement of the sleeve, wherein, when the sleeve is engaged with a handrail, a brake element is resiliently biased towards the handrail, to hinder or prevent movement of the sleeve when the device is not in use;

• the brake elements comprising pads or inserts which are releasably engageable with the sleeve.

A locking mechanism for a stair assistance device which comprises a plurality of pad assemblies disposed within the physical constraints of the sleeve of a handle bar that substantially encloses a handrail which is slideably movable along the handrail, said pad assemblies providing one or more linear springs that produce a force that applies a friction brake against the said handrail and providing a positive force against which the user can provide an overcoming force when manually moving the handle bar up or down the handrail.

18-19. (canceled)