Stair climbing aid

• US 5,355,904 A
• Filed: 10/04/1993
• Issued: 10/18/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ronald I. Wallum
• Original Assignee: Ronald I. Wallum
• Inventors: Wallum, Ronald I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAI, LANNA
• Application Number:
  US08/130,746
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• Field of Search: 135/65-67, 135/74, 135/75, 135/77, 182/16, 182/62.5, 182/106, 182/129, 182/151, 182/156, 182/228, 52/118, 52/632, 52/243.1, 52/730.1, 52/126.1, 52/127.2, 52/127.11, 52/122.1, 52/183, 52/182
• US Class Current: 135/65
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2003/001 on steps or stairways
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/00 Appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about apparatus for helping babies to walk A47D13/04 ; applying electrical currents by contact electrodes for stimulating motor muscles, e.g. walking assistance A61N1/36003
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 11/02 Stairways; Layouts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 11/0201 Space-saving stairways, e.g. having half steps

Abstract

A stairway climbing aid having a plurality of individual adjustable half-step members fixedly connected to a rigid elongated channel member at spaced locations along the length of the latter to comprise a rigid assembly. The channel member is connected to each of the half-step members adjacent the rear end of the latter and at an elevation and angle such that the channel member will extend upon or adjacent the outer edge of the tread of each step. The half-step members are longitudinally adjustable so that their length can equal the depth of the particular steps to which they are applied. Thus, any stairway can be readily modified to facilitate travel thereover by persons having difficulty in taking full steps, by applying such an assembly to the steps along one side of the stairway, after adjusting the individual half-steps to the depth of the treads.

Claims

1. A stairway climbing aid comprising:

(a) a plurality of vertically spaced half-step members, each having vertical dimensions within a range approximately 3" to 43/4", and having upper and lower horizontal surfaces; and

(b) a rigid, elongated, substantially planar connector fixedly connected at locations along its length spaced uniformly approximately 11" to 14" apart, to each of said members at a point intermediate said surfaces and rearwardly relative to said surfaces at an angle approximately 27°

to 44°

relative thereto.

2. The stairway climbing aid defined in claim 1, wherein said connector is comprised of an elongated channel member.

3. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said connector is comprised of an elongated channel member and is secured to each of said half-step members by means of a bolt and rectangular nut, the latter having its greatest dimension slightly narrower that the width of the channel of said channel member.

4. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein at least some of said half-step members are each comprised of a pair of telescoping elements and means for securing said elements in fixed telescoped relation to each other.

5. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein at least some of said half-step members are each comprised of a pair of adjustably telescoping box-like members, and means for securing said box-like members in any one of a variety of telescoped positions.

6. The stairway climbing aid defined in claim 1, wherein said horizontal surfaces extend at an angle to said connector approximating 27°

to 39°

.

7. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said horizontal surfaces extend at an angle to said connector approximating 33°

to 40°

.

8. The stairway climbing aid defined in claim 1, wherein said horizontal surfaces extend at an angle to said connector approximating 33°

to 37°

.

9. The stairway climbing aid defined in claim 1, wherein said horizontal surfaces extend at an angle to said connector approximating 30°

to 34°

.

10. The stairway climbing aid defined in claim 1, wherein each of said half-step members is connected directly to said connector.

11. The stairway climbing aid defined in claim 1, wherein each of said half-step members is connected directly to said connector and is otherwise devoid of connection to each other.

12. The stairway climbing aid defined in claim 1, wherein each of said half-step members is connected at one of its sides to said connector.

13. The stairway climbing aid defined in claim 1, wherein said entire climbing aid structure is portable as a unit.

14. The stairway climbing aid defined in claim 1, wherein said connector element is fixedly but adjustably secured to said half-step members.

15. The stairway climbing aid defined in claim 1, wherein said connector is fixedly secured to each of said half-step members at a point disposed approximately midway between said horizontal surfaces of said half-step members.

16. The stairway climbing aid defined in claim 1, wherein said connector is fixedly secured to each of said half-step members at a point disposed slightly below midway between said horizontal surfaces of said half-step members.

17. The stairway climbing aid defined in claim 1, wherein each of said half-step members have forward and rearward end portions and said connector is fixedly connected to said rearward end portions of each of said half-step members.

18. A stairway climbing aid comprising:

(a) a plurality of vertically spaced half-step members, each having vertical dimensions approximately one half the vertical dimensions of a conventional stairway riser and having opposite sides and upper and lower side edges; and

(b) a rigid elongated connector fixedly connected at locations along its length spaced approximately 1 foot apart, to one side of each of said members at a point intermediate said edges, and extending downwardly and rearwardly past said edges at an angle approximately 27% to 44% relative thereto.

19. A stairway climbing aid comprising:

(a) a rectangularly shaped box-like member having rigid side walls and being open at one end;

(b) a slightly smaller and similarly shaped second box-like member having rigid side walls and being telescoped into said open end of said first mentioned box-like member;

(c) means associated with said box-like members for adjustably securing said members to each other in fixed telescoped relation in a variety of telescoping positions;

(d) each of said members having adjacent horizontal upper wall surfaces for supporting the weight of a human thereon; and

(e) each of said members having vertical dimensions approximating one half the vertical dimensions of the riser of a conventional stairway.

20. The stairway climbing aid defined in claim 19, wherein said members include a fastening mechanism for fixedly securing the same to a rigid elongated connector.