Suspended stair railing for children

Details Suspended stair railing for children Suspended stair railing for children

1998-10-23

2001-04-03

Canfield, Robert (Department: 3635)

Fences

Rail

C256S066000, C052S184000, C052S749100

Reexamination Certificate

active

06209854

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention herein resides in the field of home products and, more particularly, to stair railings. Specifically, the invention relates to a stair railing adapted to be suspended beneath a standard railing, with the suspended railing being so positioned and secured to accomodate use by children and toddlers.
BACKGROUND ART
As a child develops, one of the most challenging experiences encountered is that of negotiating stairs. While crawling and walking are generally learned without great difficulty and without significant harm to the child, learning to move up and down stairs is not only difficult, but somewhat dangerous. While stair railings are typically provided in association with most stairways, these railings are typically positioned sufficiently above the stairs to accomodate adults. As such, they are out of the reach of youngsters, and provide little if any assistance in their learning to negotiate the stairs. Indeed, standard handrails are so positioned that any attempts by a toddler to reach a handrail actually compromises his or her ability to climb or descend the stairs.
In the past, it has been known to actually affix a lower rail to a wall or other permanent structure in order to accomodate youngsters. However, such attachments have generally been of a semi-permanent nature and have required repair, such as patching of screw holes and the like, when removed. The prior art has also suggested other approaches to securing lower handrails in association with stairs, but such approaches have generally not been of a sufficiently secure nature to provide the child with the necessary confidence to negotiate the stairs in a safe manner and they have typically been of a complex and expensive design, not given to ease of application. Accordingly, there remains in the art a need for a temporary suspended stair rail for children which may be easily and securely attached to and suspended from a standard stair railing.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
In light of the foregoing, it is a first aspect of the invention to provide a suspended stair railing for children which may be securedly attached to an existing standard stair railing.
Another aspect of the invention is the provision of a suspended stair railing for children which is easy to install and remove.
Yet a further aspect of the invention is the provision of a suspended stair railing for children which is adapted for application to both spindle and wall mounted railings.
Still a further aspect of the invention is the provision of a suspended stair railing for children which is lightweight, durable, not given to damaging of walls or other portions of the stairway, and which is easy to implement within the state of the art.
Another aspect of the invention is the provision of a suspended stair railing which is modular in nature, accommodating stairway portions or flights of various lengths.
The foregoing and other aspects of the invention which will become apparent as the detailed description proceeds are achieved by a children's handrail assembly for secured suspension beneath a standard handrail, comprising: a first plurality of connector brackets; a second plurality of cable ties securing said connector brackets to the standard handrail; and a third plurality of tubes interposed between and interconnected with said connector brackets.
Yet other aspects of the invention which will become apparent herein are attained by a child's handrail for interconnection with and suspension from a standard handrail, comprising: a plurality of tubes interconnected by a plurality of connector brackets, each said connector bracket being secured to the standard handrail by a cable tie, and wherein each said connector bracket comprises: a web-like body portion encompassed by a flange, said flange defining an enlarged head portion; a cradle positioned at a top edge of said enlarged head portion, said cradle adapted for engaging the standard handrail; a bumper interposed between said cradle and standard handrail; and a plurality of apertures passing through said enlarged head portion for receiving said cable ties and nesting said cradle against said standard handrail.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3005242 (1961-10-01), Roberts
patent: 3342457 (1967-09-01), Bobrowski
patent: 4465262 (1984-08-01), Itri et al.
patent: 4556201 (1985-12-01), Turner
patent: 4948100 (1990-08-01), Stevens
patent: 5337528 (1994-08-01), Jaworski et al.
patent: 5657968 (1997-08-01), Marsden
patent: 5853166 (1998-12-01), Koza

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Suspended stair railing for children does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Suspended stair railing for children, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Suspended stair railing for children will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2447102