JP7834679B2 - Handrail bracket - Google Patents

Description

Application of Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the Patent Law: 1. Exhibited and publicly displayed at the 49th International Home Care & Rehabilitation Exhibition from October 5th to 7th, 2022.

This invention relates to a handrail bracket for fixing handrail material to a support post.

In homes and care facilities, handrails are sometimes installed in indoor spaces by erecting support columns between the floor and ceiling and fixing handrail materials to these columns using handrail brackets. A known example of a handrail bracket used in this manner is, for example, Patent Document 1 by the present applicant. The handrail bracket (joint) described in Figure 12 of Patent Document 1 consists of a pair of clamp bodies (semi-cylindrical bodies) of substantially the same shape, and each clamp body is integrally provided with a cylindrical arm into which the handrail material is inserted and fixed. In this handrail bracket, the cylindrical axes of both arms are positioned on a straight line perpendicular to the central axis of the support column. That is, in a plan view, the angle formed by the central axes of each handrail material is always set to 180 degrees. Furthermore, Figures 13 and 14 of Patent Document 1 disclose a handrail bracket in which an arm is provided on only one clamp body.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 2003-206640

Handrail materials are widely known in U-shapes and reclining U-shapes. Furthermore, when standing up or sitting down, it is easier to maintain stability by grasping two handrail materials with each hand rather than a single handrail. Therefore, it is preferable to attach two handrail materials to the support posts as a pair. However, the optimal relative position of handrail materials relative to the support post (the mounting angle and distance between handrail materials) varies from person to person. While differences in the fixing positions of the two handrail materials to the support post are unlikely to be a major problem for able-bodied individuals, for the elderly and disabled, misalignment in the fixing positions of the two handrail materials to the support post can significantly affect standing up and sitting down.

When using the handrail bracket described in Patent Document 1 to attach a pair of handrail members to a support post, two configurations are possible: one where two handrail brackets with one arm are placed above and below the support post, and the handrail members are fixed to each bracket; and another where two handrail brackets with two arms are placed above and below the support post, and the handrail members are fixed to each of the upper and lower brackets. In the former configuration, since the ends of each handrail member are fixed to the support post by a separate handrail bracket, the relative positions of the handrail members around the support post can be arranged in various ways. However, since the two handrail brackets are fixed to the support post in an up-and-down arrangement, it is unavoidable that the fixing heights of the upper and lower handrail members will not match. In the latter configuration, it is possible to match the height at which a pair of handrail members are attached, but it is impossible to change the relative positions of the handrail members around the support post.

The object of the present invention is to provide a handrail bracket that allows for the fixing height of two handrail members to be aligned when fixing a pair of handrail members to a support post, and also allows for the relative position of the handrail members around the support post to be changed.

The present invention relates to a handrail bracket comprising a bracket base 9 fixed to a vertically extending support column 1, and first and second arms 10 and 11 connected to the bracket base 9 to support a handrail material 2, wherein these arms 10 and 11 are connected to the bracket base 9 via connecting structures 22 and 23. The bracket base 9 comprises first and second clamp bodies 14 and 15 attached to the circumferential surface of the support column 1 in a cradling manner. The first clamp body 14 and the first arm 10 are connected by a first connecting structure 22 formed between the two 14 and 10, and the second clamp body 15 and the second arm 11 are connected by a second connecting structure 23 formed between the two 15 and 11. Each of the arms 10 and 11 is provided with a cylindrical arm tube 26 that extends horizontally and into which the end of the handrail material 2 is inserted. Furthermore, the connection posture of at least one of the arms 10 and 11 to the clamp bodies 14 and 15 via the first and second connecting structures 22 and 23 is configured to be selectively switchable between a first connection posture in which the extension direction of the cylindrical axis C of the arm cylinder 26 coincides with the left-right direction, and a second connection posture in which the extension direction of the cylindrical axis C of the arm cylinder 26 is in a direction different from the left-right direction.

The first arm 10 and the second arm 11 are made of the same material, and the first connecting structure 22 and the second connecting structure 23 are constructed using the same connecting structure.

Each of the first clamp body 14 and the second clamp body 15 is made of a semi-cylindrical half-cut body. Each connecting structure 22 and 23 is provided on the outer circumferential surface of each clamp body 14 and 15 and includes a receiving portion 35 that receives each arm 10 and 11 in a first or second connecting position, first and second through holes 36 and 37 that penetrate the receiving portion 35 in an inward and outward direction, a female screw portion 38 provided on each arm 10 and 11 that is received by the receiving portion 35, and a male screw body 39 that is screwed into the female screw portion 38 from the inner circumferential surface side of each clamp body 14 and 15 via the first through hole 36 or the second through hole 37. The first through hole 36 and the second through hole 37 are provided at different angular positions in the circumferential direction of each clamp body 14 and 15. The arms 10 and 11 are configured to assume a first connected position when the male threaded body 39 is screwed into the female threaded portion 38 through the first through-hole 36, and to assume a second connected position when the male threaded body 39 is screwed into the female threaded portion 38 through the second through-hole 37.

The receiving portion 35 consists of socket holes 40 formed as recesses on the outer circumferential surfaces of each clamp body 14 and 15, which receive the arm bases 27 of each arm 10 and 11. The arm bases 27 are internally fitted into the socket holes 40, thereby restricting the relative movement of each arm 10 and 11 with respect to each clamp body 14 and 15.

As in the handrail bracket of the present invention, the bracket base 9 fixed to the support column 1 is equipped with first and second clamp bodies 14 and 15 that are attached to the circumferential surface of the support column 1 in a cradling manner. If first and second arms 10 and 11 that support the handrail material 2 are connected to these clamp bodies 14 and 15, the fixing height positions of both arms 10 and 11 relative to the support column 1 can be aligned. Therefore, by fixing handrail brackets at two locations, upper and lower, on the support column 1, and supporting two handrail materials 2 and 2 between the arms 10 and 11 of these upper and lower handrail brackets, the fixing heights of both handrail materials 2 and 2 can be aligned.

As in the present invention, if the connection posture of at least one of the arms 10 and 11 with respect to the clamp bodies 14 and 15 via the first and second connecting structures 22 and 23 is configured to be selectively switchable between a first connection posture in which the extension direction of the cylindrical axis C of the arm cylinder 26 coincides with the left-right direction, and a second connection posture in which the extension direction of the cylindrical axis C of the arm cylinder 26 is in a direction different from the left-right direction, then the mounting angle of the handrail material 2 and 2 supported by the arms 10 and 11 can be selected from two types: the left-right direction and other angles. In other words, for example, if both arms 10 and 11 are configured to be selectively switchable between a first connected position and a second connected position, the configuration of the handrail bracket, as defined by the mounting angle of the handrail members 2 and 2, can be one of three configurations: a configuration where both arms 10 and 11 are in the first connected position, a configuration where both arms 10 and 11 are in the second connected position, and a configuration where one arm 10 and 11 is in the first connected position and the other arm 11 and 10 is in the second connected position. Also, for example, if only the first arm 10 is configured to be selectively switchable between a first connected position and a second connected position, the configuration of the handrail bracket, as defined by the mounting angle of the handrail members 2 and 2, can be one of two configurations: a configuration where the first arm 10 is in the first connected position, and a configuration where the first arm 10 is in the second connected position. Based on the above, according to the present invention, the relative positions of the handrails 2 and 2 around the support column 1 can be changed by altering the mounting angle of the handrails 2 and 2 and the distance between them.

In a handrail bracket where the first arm 10 and the second arm 11 are made of the same material, the increase in manufacturing costs associated with diversifying the relative positions of the handrail materials 2 and 2 can be suppressed by sharing the types of materials that make up the handrail bracket. Furthermore, if the first connecting structure 22 and the second connecting structure 23 are made of the same connecting structure, the complexity of the handrail bracket configuration can be eliminated, further suppressing the increase in manufacturing costs.

By screwing the male threaded body 39 into the female threaded portion 38 of each arm 10 and 11, which are received by the receiving portion 35 in the first connected position, through the first through-hole 36, each arm 10 and 11 can be connected to each clamp body 14 and 15 in the first connected position. Similarly, by screwing the male threaded body 39 into the female threaded portion 38 of each arm 10 and 11, which are received by the receiving portion 35 in the second connected position, through the second through-hole 37, each arm 10 and 11 can be connected to each clamp body 14 and 15 in the second connected position. This configuration allows for the construction of each connecting structure 22 and 23 with a simple operation of only tightening the male threaded body 39, thus simplifying the installation of handrails in indoor spaces.

The receiving portion 35 consists of a socket hole 40 formed as a recess on the outer surface of each clamp body 14 and 15, which receives the arm base 27 of each arm 10 and 11. Since the arm base 27 is internally fitted and received by the socket hole 40, the relative movement of each arm 10 and 11 relative to each clamp body 14 and 15 is restricted. This prevents the arms 10 and 11 from moving unintentionally relative to each clamp body 14 and 15 due to the load on the handrail material 2 and 2, thereby improving the safety of handrails installed using handrail brackets.

This is a cross-sectional plan view of a handrail bracket according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing the handrail bracket in its first embodiment. This is a front view showing the handrail material fixed to the support post with a handrail bracket. This is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Figure 1. This is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in Figure 3. This is a cross-sectional plan view showing the handrail bracket in a disassembled state. This is a cross-sectional plan view of the handrail bracket, showing the handrail bracket in its second configuration. This is a cross-sectional plan view of the handrail bracket, showing the handrail bracket in its third configuration. This is a front view showing the handrail material fixed to the support post with a handrail bracket, and also shows another fixing configuration. This is a cross-sectional plan view of the handrail bracket, showing the handrail bracket in its fourth configuration.

(Embodiment) Figures 1 to 9 show an embodiment of the handrail bracket according to the present invention. In this embodiment, front/back, left/right, and up/down refer to the intersecting arrows shown in Figures 1 and 2, and the front/back, left/right, and up/down indications written near each arrow. As shown in Figure 2, the handrail bracket is used to fix handrail material 2 to a tension-fixed support column 1 that is installed in a tension-like manner between the floor and the ceiling. The handrail material 2 attached to the support column 1 includes a pair of U-shaped handrail material 2A(2) that are used to hold onto and stabilize the body when standing up or sitting down, and handrail material 2B(2) that are installed horizontally along the path of movement and used to hold onto when walking. The former handrail material 2A, 2A is fixed to the support column 1 with a pair of handrail brackets arranged above and below the support column 1, while the latter handrail material 2B is fixed to the support column 1 with a pair of handrail brackets arranged on adjacent support columns 1, 1.

The support column 1 comprises an upper frame 3 and a lower frame 4 made of round pipes in a nested structure, and a locking mechanism 5 provided between the two frame bodies 3 and 4, which locks the upper frame 3, pulled out from the lower frame body 4, to the lower frame body 4 so that it cannot move up or down. The installation procedure for the support column 1 is as follows: First, with the lock lever of the locking mechanism 5 switched to the unlocked position, the floor contact body provided at the lower end of the lower frame body 4 is placed on the floor surface. Next, the upper frame body 3 is pulled upward from the lower frame body 4, and the ceiling push-up body provided at the upper end of the upper frame body 3 is positioned directly against the ceiling. Finally, the lock lever is switched to the locked position to lock both frame bodies 3 and 4 in place. Thus, the support column 1 can be installed in a bracing manner between the ceiling and the floor.

As shown in Figure 5, the handrail bracket comprises a bracket base 9 responsible for fixing to the support column 1, and a pair of arms 10 and 11 (first arm 10, second arm 11) connected to the bracket base 9 and responsible for supporting the handrail material 2. The bracket base 9 comprises a pair of left and right clamp bodies 14 and 15 (first clamp body 14, second clamp body 15) that are attached to the circumferential surface of the support column 1 (lower frame 4) in a cradling manner, a connecting shaft 16 that pivotally supports both clamp bodies 14 and 15 so that they can rotate relative to each other between a fixed position where both clamp bodies 14 and 15 cradle the lower frame 4 and a detachable position where both clamp bodies 14 and 15 can be attached to and detached from the lower frame 4, and a fastening body 17 that holds the pair of clamp bodies 14 and 15 in the fixed position.

Each clamp body 14 and 15 is made of molded plastic and consists of a semi-cylindrical, half-split body with its inner and outer surfaces formed in a semi-circular arc shape. As shown in Figure 1, the bracket base 9 is fixed to the support column 1 by embracing the lower frame 4, with the inner surface of the first clamp body 14 in close contact with the left surface of the lower frame 4 and the inner surface of the second clamp body 15 in close contact with the right surface of the lower frame 4. Both clamp bodies 14 and 15 are pivotally supported at their front ends by a connecting shaft 16, allowing them to rotate relative to each other around a vertical axis. By rotating both clamp bodies 14 and 15 around the connecting shaft 16, their orientation can be changed between the fixed position shown in Figure 1 and the mounted position shown in Figure 5.

As shown in Figures 1 and 5, the fastening body 17 consists of a tightening bolt 18 provided at the rear end of the first clamp body 14 and a nut body 19 provided at the rear end of the second clamp body 15 into which the tightening bolt 18 is screwed. The tightening bolt 18 is inserted through a bolt hole that penetrates the rear end of the first clamp body 14 from left to right. The nut body 19 is embedded and fixed so that its screw hole is exposed on the left rear surface of the second clamp body 15. By switching both clamp bodies 14 and 15 to a fixed position so that their inner surfaces are in close contact with the circumferential surface of the lower frame body 4, and screwing the screw shaft of the tightening bolt 18 into the screw hole of the nut body 19, the bracket base 9 can be fixed to the lower frame body 4.

As shown in Figure 5, the first arm 10 is connected to the first clamp body 14, and the second arm 11 is connected to the second clamp body 15, relative to the bracket base 9. The first clamp body 14 and the first arm 10 are connected by a first connecting structure 22 provided between them, and the second clamp body 15 and the second arm 11 are connected by a second connecting structure 23 provided between them. The first arm 10 and the second arm 11 are made of the same material. Furthermore, the first connecting structure 22 and the second connecting structure 23 are identical, differing only in left-right orientation. The following description will focus on the first arm 10 and the first connecting structure 22; for the second arm 11 and the second connecting structure 23, identical components will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will be omitted.

The first arm 10 is made of a plastic molded product and, as shown in Figures 1 and 5, comprises an arm cylinder 26 extending horizontally into which the end of the handrail material 2 is inserted, and an arm base 27 integrally formed with the arm cylinder 26 and received by a receiving portion 35 of the first connecting structure 22, which will be described later. The arm cylinder 26 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape with a bottom wall 28. The arm base 27 is composed of three walls: a main wall 29 extending to the right from the front edge of the bottom wall 28, an upper peripheral wall 30 connecting the upper ends of the main wall 29 and the bottom wall 28, and a lower peripheral wall 30 connecting the lower ends of the main wall 29 and the bottom wall 28. The extended ends of the peripheral walls 30, 30 are formed in a concave arc shape that coincides with the curved surface of the receiving portion 35 in a plan view. A long, rectangular block-shaped metal plate 31 is embedded in the bottom wall 28.

The first arm 10, connected to the first clamp body 14 by the first connecting structure 22, is configured to be selectively switchable between a first connecting position, shown in Figure 1, where the extension direction of the cylindrical axis of the arm cylinder 26 coincides with the left-right direction, and a second connecting position, shown in Figure 6, where the extension direction of the cylindrical axis of the arm cylinder 26 differs from the left-right direction. Note that the cylindrical axis C1 of the arm cylinder 26 in both the first and second connecting positions is positioned on the same plane perpendicular to the central axis of the support column 1.

As shown in Figure 5, the first connecting structure 22 includes a receiving portion 35 provided on the outer circumferential surface of the first clamp body 14 to receive the first arm 10 in a first or second connecting position, two through holes 36 and 37 (first through hole 36, second through hole 37) that penetrate the receiving portion 35 in an inward and outward direction, a screw hole (female screw portion) 38 provided in the first arm 10 that is received by the receiving portion 35, and a connecting bolt (male screw body) 39 that is screwed into the screw hole 38 from the inner circumferential surface side of the first clamp body 14 via the first through hole 36 or the second through hole 37. The connecting bolt 39 is a countersunk bolt, and both through holes 36 and 37 are holes with screw washers that receive the countersunk portion of the connecting bolt 39. The first through-hole 36 and the second through-hole 37 are positioned side-by-side at different angular positions in the circumferential direction of the first clamp body 14, with the first through-hole 36 on the rear side and the second through-hole 37 on the front side.

The receiving portion 35 consists of a socket hole 40 formed as a recess on the outer circumferential surface of the first clamp body 14, which receives the arm base 27 of the first arm 10. As shown in Figure 4, the socket hole 40 is a circumferentially elongated rounded rectangular recess along the outer circumferential surface of the first clamp body 14, and the bottom of the socket hole 40 is formed as a curved surface. The arm base 27 is formed to match the outer shape of the socket hole 40, and in each connecting position (first and second connecting positions), its extended tip portion is received in an internally fitted manner within the socket hole 40.

In Figure 3, reference numeral 31 indicates a metal plate embedded in the bottom wall 28. A screw hole 38 is formed in the center of the metal plate 31, consisting of a through hole and a female thread engraved on the inner surface of the through hole. Screw holes 41, 41 are provided above and below the screw hole 38 in the metal plate 31. These screw holes 41, 41 are provided for fixing the handrail material 2, which is inserted into the arm cylinder 26, to the first arm 10. A material removal section is provided in the bottom wall 28 directly opposite the screw hole 38 and screw holes 41, and the screw holes 41 are exposed on the outer surface of the first arm 10 through this material removal section.

As shown in Figure 1, when the first arm 10 is connected to the first clamp body 14 in the first connection position, the extension direction of the cylindrical axis C1 of the arm cylinder 26 coincides with the left-right direction. By rotating the first arm 10 180 degrees around the cylindrical axis C1, the first arm 10 can be placed in the second connection position (see dashed lines in Figures 6 and 1). In this second connection position, the cylindrical axis C1 of the arm cylinder 26 is tilted 45 degrees with respect to the left-right direction.

When connecting the first arm 10 to the first clamp body 14 in the first connected position, as shown in Figure 1, the main wall 29 of the arm base 27 is positioned forward, and the arm base 27 is fitted into the socket hole 40 in this position. In this state, the screw hole 38 faces the first through hole 36, and the connecting bolt 39 is screwed into the screw hole 38 through the first through hole 36 and tightened. This clamps the first clamp body 14 between the arm base 27 and the connecting bolt 39, allowing the first arm 10 to be connected to the first clamp body 14 in the first connected position.

When connecting the first arm 10 to the first clamp body 14 in the second connection position, as shown in Figure 6, the main wall 29 of the arm base 27 is positioned to the rear, and the arm base 27 is then fitted into the socket hole 40. In this state, the screw hole 38 faces the second through hole 37, and the connecting bolt 39 is screwed into the screw hole 38 through the second through hole 37 and tightened. This clamps the first clamp body 14 between the arm base 27 and the connecting bolt 39, allowing the first arm 10 to be connected to the first clamp body 14 in the second connection position. In both the first and second connection positions, the relative movement of the first arm 10 with respect to the first clamp body 14 is restricted because the arm base 27 is fitted into the socket hole 40.

Figure 1 shows the state in which both arms 10 and 11 are connected to the bracket base 9 in the first connected position; this connected state is designated as the first form. Figure 6 shows the state in which the first arm 10 is connected to the bracket base 9 in the second connected position, and the second arm 11 is connected to the bracket base 9 in the first connected position; this connected state is designated as the second form. Figure 7 shows the state in which both arms 10 and 11 are connected to the bracket base 9 in the second connected position; this connected state is designated as the third form.

In the first embodiment of the handrail bracket shown in Figure 1, the angle between the cylindrical axis C1(C) of the arm cylinder 26 of the first arm 10 and the cylindrical axis C2(C) of the arm cylinder 26 of the second arm 11 is 180 degrees. In the second embodiment of the handrail bracket shown in Figure 6, the angle between the cylindrical axis C1 of the arm cylinder 26 of the first arm 10 and the cylindrical axis C2 of the arm cylinder 26 of the second arm 11 is 135 degrees. In the third embodiment of the handrail bracket shown in Figure 7, the angle between the cylindrical axis C1 of the arm cylinder 26 of the first arm 10 and the cylindrical axis C2 of the arm cylinder 26 of the second arm 11 is 90 degrees.

In addition to the above, it is also possible to connect the first arm 10 to the bracket base 9 in the first connecting position and the second arm 11 in the second connecting position. In this case, the angle between the cylindrical axis C1 of the arm cylinder 26 of the first arm 10 and the cylindrical axis C2 of the arm cylinder 26 of the second arm 11 is 135 degrees, the same as in the second form described above. However, there is a difference in whether the cylindrical axis C1 of the arm cylinder 26 of the first arm 10 or the cylindrical axis C2 of the arm cylinder 26 of the second arm 11 is aligned in the left-right direction.

The procedure for fixing a pair of U-shaped handrail members 2A, 2A to the support column 1 with the handrail brackets in their first form will be explained. The pair of handrail members 2A, 2A are fixed to the support column 1 (lower frame 4) with a pair of upper and lower handrail brackets. First, the first arms 10 are attached to each end of one handrail member 2A, and the second arms 11 are attached to each end of the other handrail member 2A. Specifically, the first arms 10 are attached to the handrail member 2A so that the end of the handrail member 2A is inserted into the arm cylinder 26, and in this state, screws 42 are screwed into the handrail member 2A through the upper and lower screw holes 41 to fasten and fix the handrail member 2A and the first arms 10. This is done at the end of the handrail member 2A. At this time, the orientation of the main wall 29 of each first arm 10 is such that it is positioned towards the front or back when the handrail member 2A is viewed from the front. In the other handrail member 2A, the handrail member 2A and the second arm 11 are fastened and secured in the same manner as described above. This forms a handrail member 2A with the first arm 10 attached to each end, and a handrail member 2A with the second arm 11 attached to each end.

Next, the first arm 10 is connected to the first clamp body 14, and the second arm 11 is connected to the second clamp body 15. At this time, the connection position of both arms 10 and 11 to the clamp bodies 14 and 15 is the first connection position. Specifically, the arm base 27 is fitted into the socket hole 40 so that the main wall 29 of the first arm 10 faces the front side (connecting shaft 16 side) of the first clamp body 14. In this state, the connecting bolt 39 is screwed into the threaded hole 38 through the first through hole 36 and tightened. This operation is performed for both the upper and lower handrail brackets. The same operation is performed for the second clamp body 15 and the second arm 11. With this, the connection between the bracket base 9 and the first and second arms 10 and 11 is completed, and the bracket base 9, both arms 10 and 11, and the pair of handrail members 2A and 2A can be integrated into a single unit.

Next, the bracket bases 9 of the upper and lower handrail brackets are rotated to the attachment/detachment position. At the desired fixed height of the support column 1 (lower frame 4), the bracket bases 9 are switched from the attachment/detachment position to the mounting position, and the support column 1 is held by the first clamp body 14 and the second clamp body 15. In this state, the tightening bolts 18 of each of the upper and lower handrail brackets are screwed into the nuts 19, and the support column 1 is tightened with both clamp bodies 14 and 15. This allows the pair of handrail members 2A and 2A to be fixed to the support column 1 using the handrail brackets.

In Figure 1, etc., reference numeral 43 denotes a liner interposed between each clamp body 14 and 15 and the circumferential surface of the support column 1. The liner 43 is made of a rubber sheet, and openings for passing connecting bolts 39 are provided in the portions facing the first and second through holes 36 and 37. By providing the liner 43 between each clamp body 14 and 15 and the circumferential surface of the support column 1, the liner 43 is elastically deformed in the thickness direction by tightening the fastener 17, thereby improving the contact between each clamp body 14 and 15 and the circumferential surface of the support column 1. Furthermore, the liner 43 improves the frictional force between each clamp body 14 and 15 and the circumferential surface of the support column 1, preventing the handrail bracket from shifting vertically even when a load is applied to the handrail material 2A.

The procedure for fixing the pair of handrail members 2A and 2A to the support column 1 in the second form of the handrail bracket is the same as above, except that the arm base 27 is fitted into the socket hole 40 so that the main wall 29 of the first arm 10 faces the rear side (connecting bolt 18 side) of the first clamp body 14, and in this state, the connecting bolt 39 is screwed into the screw hole 38 through the second through hole 37 and tightened. The procedure for fixing the pair of handrail members 2A and 2A to the support column 1 in the third form of the handrail bracket is the same as above, except that the arm base 27 is fitted into the socket hole 40 so that the main wall 29 of the second arm 11 faces the rear side (nut body 19 side) of the second clamp body 15, and in this state, the connecting bolt 39 is screwed into the screw hole 38 through the second through hole 37 and tightened. The procedure is the same as above.

As shown in Figure 2, the handrail bracket can also be used to fix a horizontal handrail member 2B (2) that spans between adjacent support posts 1, 1. In this case, by using the first form of the handrail bracket, the handrail member 2B fixed to the support post 1 can be provided in a straight line. Alternatively, by using the second or third form of the handrail bracket, the handrail member 2B fixed to the support post 1 can be provided in a folded line shape.

In some cases, three handrail brackets are fixed vertically to the support column 1, resulting in the installation configuration of the handrail materials 2A and 2A as shown in Figure 8. In this case, both arms 10 and 11 are connected to the bracket base 9 in the central handrail bracket, but one of the arms 10 and 11 is omitted in the upper and lower handrail brackets. When, for example, the first arm 10 is omitted, the socket hole 40 of the first clamp body 14 is exposed in a recessed state. Therefore, the handrail bracket of this embodiment is configured to include a cap body 46 that is fitted internally to fill the socket hole 40. Figure 9 shows a handrail bracket with the first arm 10 omitted, and this connected state is referred to as the fourth configuration.

As shown in Figures 5 and 9, the cap body 44 comprises a cap base 47 shaped like a smooth arc plate with a smooth outer surface that fits into the socket hole 40, and an engaging claw 48, a projection 49, etc., that protrude from the inner surface of the cap base 47. The engaging claw 48 is for holding the cap body 44 to each clamp body 14 and 15, and each of the first clamp body 14 and the second clamp body 15 is provided with an engaging hole 50 adjacent to the first through hole 36 into which the engaging claw 48 engages. When the cap body 44 is attached to the socket hole 40, the tips of the engaging claws 48 engage with a stepped portion formed on the inner surface of the engaging hole 50. The projection 49 is inserted into the first through hole 36 in an internal manner and holds the cap body 44 together with the engaging claw 48. When the cap body 44 is attached to the first clamp body 14, the outer surface of the first clamp body 14 and the outer surface of the cap base 47 are substantially flush. Furthermore, when the cap body 44 is attached to the first clamp body 14, the first and second through holes 36 and 37 are covered by the cap base 47.

As described above, in this embodiment of the handrail bracket, the bracket base 9 fixed to the support column 1 is equipped with first and second clamp bodies 14 and 15 that are attached to the circumferential surface of the support column 1 in a cradling manner, and the first and second arms 10 and 11 that support the handrail material 2 are connected to these clamp bodies 14 and 15. This configuration allows the fixing height positions of both arms 10 and 11 relative to the support column 1 to be aligned. Therefore, by fixing the handrail brackets at two locations, upper and lower, on the support column 1, and supporting two handrail materials 2 and 2 between the arms 10 and 11 of these upper and lower handrail brackets, the fixing heights of both handrail materials 2 and 2 can be aligned.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the connection posture of at least one of the arms 10 and 11 with respect to the clamp bodies 14 and 15 via the first and second connecting structures 22 and 23 can be selectively switched between a first connection posture in which the extension direction of the cylindrical axis C of the arm cylinder 26 coincides with the left-right direction, and a second connection posture in which the extension direction of the cylindrical axis C of the arm cylinder 26 is in a direction different from the left-right direction. Therefore, the mounting angle of the handrail material 2 and 2 supported by the arms 10 and 11 can be selected from two types: the left-right direction and other angles. In other words, the form of the handrail bracket, as defined by the mounting angle of the handrail material 2 and 2, can be any one of three forms: a form in which both arms 10 and 11 are in the first connection posture, a form in which both arms 10 and 11 are in the second connection posture, and a form in which one arm 10 and 11 is in the first connection posture and the other arm 11 and 10 is in the second connection posture. Based on the above, the handrail bracket of this embodiment allows for changing the relative positions of the handrail members 2 and 2 around the support column 1 by altering the mounting angle and distance between them.

In a handrail bracket where the first arm 10 and the second arm 11 are made of the same material, the increase in manufacturing costs associated with diversifying the relative positions of the handrail members 2 and 2 can be suppressed by sharing the types of materials that make up the handrail bracket. Furthermore, by configuring the first connecting structure 22 and the second connecting structure 23 with the same connecting structure, the complexity of the handrail bracket configuration is eliminated, further suppressing the increase in manufacturing costs.

By screwing the connecting bolts 39 through the first through-holes 36 into the threaded holes 38 of each arm 10 and 11, which are received by the receiving part 35 in the first connected position, each arm 10 and 11 can be connected to each clamp body 14 and 15 in the first connected position. Similarly, by screwing the connecting bolts 39 through the second through-holes 37 into the threaded holes 38 of each arm 10 and 11, which are received by the receiving part 35 in the second connected position, each arm 10 and 11 can be connected to each clamp body 14 and 15 in the second connected position. Therefore, each connecting structure 22 and 23 can be constructed with a simple operation of just tightening the connecting bolts 39, making it easy to install handrails in indoor spaces.

The receiving portion 35 consists of socket holes 40 formed as recesses on the outer circumferential surface of each clamp body 14 and 15, which receive the arm bases 27 of each arm 10 and 11. The arm bases 27 are internally fitted into the socket holes 40, restricting the relative movement of each arm 10 and 11 relative to each clamp body 14 and 15. This prevents the arms 10 and 11 from unintentionally moving relative to each clamp body 14 and 15 due to the load on the handrail material 2 and 2, thereby improving the safety of handrails installed using handrail brackets.

The first arm 10 is detachably connected to the first clamp body 14 by the first connecting structure 22, and the second arm 11 is detachably connected to the second clamp body 15 by the second connecting structure 23. Therefore, for example, when the first arm 10 is not needed, a configuration can be adopted in which only the second arm 11 is connected. In addition, by providing a cap body 46 that is fitted internally to fill the socket hole 40 instead of the first arm 10 or the second arm 11, the through holes 36 and 37 constituting the first connecting structure 22 can be covered by the cap body 46, preventing the aesthetic design (appearance) of the handrail bracket from being compromised by omitting the first or second arm 10 or 11.

In the above embodiment, both the first and second connecting structures 22 and 23 are configured to be selectively connectable to either the first or second connecting position. However, it is also possible to configure one of the connecting structures 22 (23) to be selectively connectable to either the first or second connecting position. The first and second connecting structures 22 and 23 do not need to have the same configuration; they can be composed of connecting structures with different structures. The receiving portion 35 can be composed of a protrusion projecting from the outer circumferential surface of each clamp body 14 and 15. In this case, a recess is provided in the arm base 27 so that the arm base 27 is externally fitted and received by the protrusion.

1. Support column 2. Handrail material 9. Bracket base 10. First arm 11. Second arm 14. First clamp body 15. Second clamp body 22. First connecting structure 23. Second connecting structure 26. Arm cylinder 35. Receiving part 36. First through hole 37. Second through hole 38. Female threaded part (threaded hole)
39. Male threaded body (connecting bolt)
40 Socket hole 46 Cap body C (C1, C2) Center of the cylinder of the arm cylinder

Claims (4)

A handrail bracket comprising a bracket base (9) fixed to a vertically extending support column (1), and first and second arms (10 and 11) connected to the bracket base (9) to support a handrail material (2), wherein these arms (10 and 11) are connected to the bracket base (9) via connecting structures (22 and 23),
The bracket base (9) comprises first and second clamp bodies (14 and 15) that are attached to the circumferential surface of the support column (1) in a cradling manner, the first clamp body (14) and the first arm (10) are connected by a first connecting structure (22) formed between them (14 and 10), and the second clamp body (15) and the second arm (11) are connected by a second connecting structure (23) formed between them (15 and 11).
Each of the arms (10 and 11) is provided with a cylindrical arm tube (26) that extends horizontally and into which the end of the handrail material (2) is inserted.
A handrail bracket characterized in that the connection position of at least one of the arms (10, 11) with respect to the clamp body (14, 15) via the first and second connecting structures (22, 23) can be selectively switched between a first connection position in which the extension direction of the cylindrical axis (C) of the arm cylinder (26) coincides with the left-right direction, and a second connection position in which the extension direction of the cylindrical axis (C) of the arm cylinder (26) is in a direction different from the left-right direction. The first arm (10) and the second arm (11) are made of the same material.
The handrail bracket according to claim 1, wherein the first connecting structure (22) and the second connecting structure (23) are composed of the same connecting structure. The first clamp body (14) and the second clamp body (15) are each made from a semi-cylindrical half-body.
Each connecting structure (22, 23) includes a receiving portion (35) provided on the outer circumferential surface of each clamp body (14, 15) that receives each arm (10, 11) in a first or second connecting position, first and second through holes (36, 37) that penetrate the receiving portion (35) in an inward and outward direction, a female threaded portion (38) provided on each arm (10, 11) that is received by the receiving portion (35), and a male threaded portion (39) that is screwed into the female threaded portion (38) from the inner circumferential surface side of each clamp body (14, 15) via the first through hole (36) or the second through hole (37).
The first through-hole (36) and the second through-hole (37) are provided at different angular positions in the circumferential direction of each clamp body (14 and 15).
The handrail bracket according to claim 2, wherein the arms (10 and 11) are configured to assume a first connected position by screwing the male threaded body (39) into the female threaded portion (38) through a first through hole (36), and the arms (10 and 11) are configured to assume a second connected position by screwing the male threaded body (39) into the female threaded portion (38) through a second through hole (37). The receiving portion (35) consists of a socket hole (40) formed as a recess on the outer surface of each clamp body (14, 15) to receive the arm base (27) of each arm (10, 11).
The handrail bracket according to claim 3, wherein the arm base (27) is internally fitted and received by the socket hole (40), thereby restricting the relative movement of each arm (10, 11) with respect to each clamp body (14, 15).