Finger pinch guard for handrails
OwnerDavid M. Thompsoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A finger pinch guard is used in connection with railings on a boat. Stanchions of adjacent railing segments are mounted close together on the boat gunwales. Each pair of adjacent railings forms a generally Y shaped profile in an arcuate transition area wherein fingers can jam. A mounting member having an axle is attached to the railing in this area. A curved member, typically including a generally spherical wheel, is attached to the mounting member axle, and is able to rotate on the axle. Thus, a finger introduced into this area with downward force will cause the wheel to rotate, thereby directing the finger to roll outward off the wheel and away from the railing. Another embodiment has a mounting member with a unitary, non-rotating curved member. The finger will slide off the curved member and away from the railing.
Claims10
A finger pinch guard for use in connection with railings on a boat, each railing having a horizontal handrail extending between opposite first and second arcuate transitions, each railing having a first stanchion connected to the first arcuate transition, and a second stanchion connected to the second arcuate transition, each stanchion extending downward and being mounted to a gunwale of the boat, the railings being mounted in-line along the gunwale of the boat with the stanchion of a first railing being mounted closely adjacent the stanchion of a second railing, so that each pair of adjacent stanchions and arcuate transitions forms a generally Y-shaped profile in an arcuate transition area, the finger pinch guard comprising:
- (a) a mounting member attached to the railing in the arcuate transition area;
- and
- (b) a curved member attached to the mounting member, the curved member curving downward and outward from the arcuate transition area, so that a finger introduced into the arcuate transition area with downward force will be directed by the curved member to move outward and away from the railing.
A finger pinch guard for use in connection with railings on a boat, each railing having a horizontal handrail extending between opposite first and second arcuate transitions, each railing having a first stanchion connected to the first arcuate transition, and a second stanchion connected to the second arcuate transition, each stanchion extending downward and being mounted to a gunwale of the boat, the railings being mounted in-line along the gunwale of the boat with the stanchion of a first railing being mounted closely adjacent the stanchion of a second railing, so that each pair of adjacent stanchions and arcuate transitions forms a generally Y-shaped profile in an arcuate transition area, the finger pinch guard comprising:
- (a) a curved member, the curved member including a generally spherical wheel having a bore, the bore extending through the wheel from a first end to a second end, the wheel having a first counterbore at the bore first end and a second counterbore at the bore second end;
- and
- (b) a mounting member, the mounting member having a base with at least one mounting hole through the base for attachment to the railing in the arcuate transition area, the mounting member having an axle projecting outward at an angle to the base, the axle extending between a proximal end connected to the base and an opposite distal end, the axle being interposed within the wheel bore so that the wheel is able to rotate on the axle, the axle including a flange at the proximal end interposed within the first counterbore, and a barb at the distal end interposed within the second counterbore, for smooth rotation and positive retainment of the wheel on the axle, so that a finger introduced into the arcuate transition area with downward force will cause the wheel to rotate, thereby directing the finger to roll outward off the wheel and away from the railing.
A guarding method for guarding a finger against pinching, for use in connection with railings on a boat, each railing having a horizontal handrail extending between opposite first and second arcuate transitions, each railing having a first stanchion connected to the first arcuate transition, and a second stanchion connected to the second arcuate transition, each stanchion extending downward and being mounted to a gunwale of the boat, the railings being mounted in-line along the gunwale of the boat with the stanchion of a first railing being mounted closely adjacent the stanchion of a second railing, so that each pair of adjacent stanchions and arcuate transitions forms a generally Y-shaped profile in an arcuate transition area, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) attaching a mounting member to the railing in the arcuate transition area;
- (b) attaching a curved member to the mounting member;
- (c) curving the curved member downward and outward from the arcuate transition area;
- (d) introducing a finger into the arcuate transition area with downward force;
- and
- (e) directing the finger outward by the curved member and thereby moving the finger away from the railing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.