GANGWAY HANDRAIL AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME

• US 20110047724A1
• Filed: 09/02/2009
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safe Rack LLC
• Original Assignee: Safe Rack LLC
• Inventors: Honeycutt, Robert W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,046,858 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 14/69.5
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 41/06 about two or more axes
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 41/46 Heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/463 Grips, handles handgrips as part of the body finishing of the vehicles B29L2031/3029
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 11/18 Balustrades; Handrails guard-rails on ships B63B; for bridges E01D19/10; for roads E01F13/00, E01F15/00; fences E04H17/00 ; safety measures for persons during the construction of buildings E04G21/32
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2011/1897 mainly of organic plastics with or without reinforcements or filling materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4998 Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent material

Abstract

A handrail for a gangway and a method for manufacturing the same where the handrail comprises a single, continuous piece of plastic.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a handrail for a gangway comprising:

providing a mold comprising a cavity, wherein the cavity corresponds to a shape of the handrail;

filling the mold with a polymer;

heating the mold;

rotating the mold;

cooling the mold; and

removing the handrail from the mold.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising attaching the handrail to the gangway.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the handrail is a continuous piece of plastic.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the polymer is polyethylene.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the polymer is one selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, and nylons.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the mold is heated to approximately 510 to 550°

F.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the mold is cooled by fans.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the mold is cooled by water spray.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the mold is heated for approximately 30 to 35 minutes.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of rotating the mold comprises biaxially rotating the mold.

11. A gangway comprising:

an underbody support structure;

a first support surface connected to an end of the underbody support structure, wherein a first support surface first upright extends from one side of the first support surface and a first support surface second upright extends from another side of the first support surface;

a second support surface connected to another end of the underbody support structure, wherein a second support surface first upright extends from one side of the second support surface and a second support surface second upright extends from another side of the second support surface;

a left handrail, wherein one end of the left handrail is connected to the first support surface first upright and another end of the left handrail is connected to the second support surface first upright; and

a right handrail, wherein one end of the right handrail is connected to the first support surface second upright and another end of the right handrail is connected to the second support surface second upright, and the right handrail is a first single, continuous piece of plastic.

12. The gangway of claim 11 wherein the left handrail is a second single, continuous piece of plastic.

13. The gangway of claim 11 wherein the right handrail is manufactured via a rotational molding process.

14. The gangway of claim 12 wherein the left handrail is manufactured via a rotational molding process.

15. A handrail for a gangway comprising a single, continuous piece of plastic comprising:

an elongated, generally cylindrical main body portion; and

a first tab extending from the elongated, generally cylindrical main body portion, wherein the first tab is adapted to be received by a first portion of the gangway and defines a first aperture through which a first connecting mechanism is passed in order to connect the handrail to the gangway.

16. The handrail of claim 15 wherein the connecting mechanism is a rod.

17. The handrail of claim 15 wherein the elongated, generally cylindrical main body portion defines a flat area at one end of the elongated, generally cylindrical main body portion and a half spherical area at another end of the elongated, generally cylindrical main body portion.

18. The handrail of claim 15 wherein the single, continuous piece of plastic further comprises an elongated, generally cylindrical secondary body portion positioned relatively parallel to the elongated, generally cylindrical main body portion with respect to an axis of the elongated, generally cylindrical main body portion, wherein the elongated, generally cylindrical secondary body portion exhibits a first diameter less than a second diameter of the elongated, generally cylindrical main body portion, the elongated, generally cylindrical secondary body portion exhibits a first length less than a second length of the elongated, generally cylindrical main body portion, and the elongated, generally cylindrical secondary body portion is connected to the elongated, generally cylindrical main body portion.

19. The handrail of claim 15 wherein the single, continuous piece of plastic further comprises a second tab extending from the elongated, generally cylindrical main body portion, wherein the first tab is adapted to be received by a second portion of the gangway and defines a second aperture through which a second connecting mechanism is passed in order to connect the handrail to the gangway.