Mounting brackets for handrail system

• US 4,394,718 A
• Filed: 03/22/1982
• Issued: 07/19/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1980
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Balco International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Balco, Inc. (CSW Industrials, Inc.)
• Inventors: Balzer, Claude P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Peter A.
• Application Number:
  US06/360,762
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 362/20, 362/146, 362/147, 362/226, 362/306, 362/368, 362/326, 362/278, 362/307, 362/310, 362/365, 362/432, 362/311
• US Class Current: 362/278
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 11/1804 Details of anchoring to the wall
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2011/1872 illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/20 with light sources held by or within elongate supports
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/022 Emergency lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/164 the parts being subjected to bending, e.g. snap joints
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0464 the sensor sensing the level of ambient illumination, e.g. dawn or dusk sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/006 General building constructions or finishing work for buildings, e.g. roofs, gutters, stairs or floors; Garden equipment; Sunshades or parasols
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/08 for handles or handrails

Abstract

A light emitting mounting bracket is provided for a handrail arrangement. The bracket comprises a body portion which supports the handrail on an associated wall and which has a cavity therein which contains a light emitting source and provides access to associated wall fasteners. A translucent lens is wedgedly and flushly mounted on the bracket so as to give the appearance of being molded therewith, thereby presenting a clean profile.

Claims

1. A light emitting mounting bracket comprising:

(a) a body portion having a cavity projecting inwardly from one side thereof;

said one side having a surface associated therewith;

(b) a slot defined at the juncture of said cavity and said surface;

(c) a light emitting source securely and removably retained in said cavity;

(d) electrical current means communicating with said light emitting source; and

(e) a resilient transparent lens wedgedly resiliently and removably received in said slot;

said lens having an outer surface associated therewith;

said lens surface mating with said body portion surface so as to be substantially flush therewith, thereby presenting a substantially clean profile.

2. The bracket as in claim 1 wherein:

(a) said body portion including fastening means for securing said body portion to an associated handrail and to an associated wall;

said fastening means being positioned within and accessible only from within said cavity; and

(b) said lens covers said cavity so as to render said cavity inaccessible when said lens is placed thereon, thereby reducing access and vandalism to said light source and said fastening means.

3. The bracket as in claim 1 wherein:

(a) said lens is transparent and said body portion is opaque.

4. The bracket according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) said body portion has a recessed shoulder associated with said slot and positioned approximately the thickness of said lens from said body portion surface in said slot; and

(b) said shoulder receiving said lens thereon when said lens is positioned in said slot.

5. The bracket according to claim 1 or 4 wherein:

(a) one of said body portion and said lens includes a plurality of lugs thereon and an opposite one of said body portion and said lens includes a plurality of lug receiving grooves therein;

said lugs snugly mating with said grooves when said lens is positioned on said body portion to retain said lens thereon.

6. The handrail system according to claim 4 wherein:

(a) said grooves are on said body portion.

7. The handrail system according to claim 4 wherein:

(a) said body portion is molded as a single piece including said grooves therein; and

(b) said lens is molded as a single piece including said lugs therein.

8. The handrail system according to claim 1 or 4 wherein:

(a) said lens has a lower edge when positioned on said body portion;

said lower edge being accessible to pry said lens from said body portion to allow access to an interior said body portion; and

said lower edge being substantially hidden from view of a user of an associated handrail system such that availability of access to said body portion interior is not readily apparent to such a user.

9. The bracket according to claim 8 wherein:

(a) said lens is coextensive with at least two opposite sides of said slots so as to be tightly received therein; and

(b) said lens includes no external auxiliary fasteners to secure said lens to said body portion.

10. A light emitting mounting bracket comprising:

(a) a body portion having a cavity projecting inwardly from one side thereof;

said one side having a surface associated therewith;

(b) a slot defined at the juncture of said cavity and said surface;

(c) a light emitting source securely and removably retained in said cavity;

(d) electrical current means communicating with said light emitting source;

(e) a resilient transparent lens wedgedly resiliently and removably received in said slot;

said lens having an outer surface associated therewith;

said lens surface mating with said body portion surface so as to be substantially flush therewith, thereby presenting a substantially clean profile; and

(f) a translucent window plug positioned on a top surface of said mounting bracket and communicating with said cavity whereby the light from said light emitting source radiates upwardly upon an associated wall.