Collapsible handrails for a bulkheaded staircase

A collapsible handrail system configured for mounting to a wall adjacent a staircase extending upwardly from a staircase bottom to a staircase top and having stair treads and stair risers with widthwise extents oriented perpendicularly to the wall, the handrail system comprising:

• an elongated primary rail having primary-rail top and bottom surfaces extending between primary-rail upper and lower ends, the primary-rail lower end being pivotably mounted to the wall such that the primary rail can be angularly displaced between primary-rail deployed and storage positions about a fixed primary-rail pivot axis that extends perpendicularly to the wall and substantially parallel to the widthwise extent of the stair treads, the primary-rail pivot axis furthermore being fixed in a location more proximate to the staircase bottom than to the staircase top;
• and
• a primary post having primary-post top and bottom ends, the primary-post bottom end being pivotably mounted to the wall such that the primary post can be angularly displaced between primary-post deployed and primary-post storage positions about a fixed primary-post pivot axis that extends substantially parallel to the primary-rail pivot axis, wherein
• (i) the primary-rail deployed and storage positions are such that the primary-rail upper end is disposed at, respectively, higher and lower relative elevations;
• (ii) the primary-post deployed and storage positions are such that the primary-post top end is disposed at, respectively, higher and lower relative elevations;
• (iii) the primary rail and primary post can selectively couple such that, when in, respectively, the primary-rail and primary-post deployed positions, the primary-post top end supports and maintains the primary rail in the primary-rail deployed position;
• and
• (iv) the deployed primary rail and primary post can selectively decouple such that they can be angularly displaced into, respectively, the primary-rail and primary-post storage positions.