US 4,895,332 A · Anti-slip grab rail

Abstract

An anti-slip grab rail and grab rail assembly, the grab rail providing improved gripping surfaces which, in the preferred embodiments, are formed by a plurality of exposed surfaces of a rigid elongate bar alternating with a plurality of elastomeric members extending longitudinally of the bar. The elastomeric members preferably take the form of inserts secured within cavities that extend longitudinally of the bar at the surface of the bar. The inserts may be secured within the cavities by aligning the inserts adjacent to the cavities and pushing them transversely into the cavities such that the inserts snap into place and are retained by an interference fit with a portion of a structure of the rail. Improved handling, shipping and strength characteristics are attained by manufacturing and shipping the grab rails in comparatively short lengths of four feet or less and by providing key and key-receiving openings in the grab rail and mounting hardware therefor, preferably at both ends of the grab rail, so as to prevent a grab rail from rotating about a longitudinal axis thereof.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A grab rail mounted to a support surface, said grab rail comprising:

a rigid elongate bar having formed therein at least two outer cavities opening transversely outwardly of said bar;
at least two elastomeric inserts respectively disposed in said outer cavities and extending transversely outwardly at least to a location proximate an exposed surface of said bar, said at least two inserts and at least one exposed surface of said bar collectively forming gripping surfaces disposed so as to be contacted by the hand of a user who has gripped the grab rail;
and
a mounting stanchion coupled to the bar and secured to the mounting surface;
said bar oriented in said stanchion such that at least one of said inserts is interposed between the bar and the support surface to provide an anti-slip surface when the user grips the bar with at least part of the hand extending between the bar and the support surface.

2 more elements

A grab rail assembly comprising a grab rail and mounting hardware therefor,

said grab rail comprising a rigid elongate bar having formed therein at least two outer cavities opening transversely outwardly of said bar and at least two elastomeric inserts, each disposed in a respective one of said outer cavities, said inserts extending transversely outwardly at least to a location proximate an exposed surface of said bar, said inserts and at least one exposed surface of said bar collectively forming gripping surfaces disposed so as to be contacted by the hand of a user who has gripped the grab rail,
said mounting hardware comprising at least one mount for receiving an end of said grab rail and for fixing said grab rail at a desired location, said grab rail and said at least one mount comprising at least one key for reception in at least on key-receiving opening for preventing said grab rail from rotating about a longitudinal axis thereof;
said mount defining a mounting surface adapted to bear against a support surface;
said bar oriented in said mount such that at least one of the inserts is interposed between the bar and the mounting surface to provide an anti-slip surface when the user grips the bar with at least part of the hand extending between the bar and the support surface.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Anti-slip grab rail

Life of this patent

Anti-slip grab rail

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29