US3569689A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Continuously illuminated grab bar
Assignee: Union Manufacturing Co
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Filing: 1968-06-17
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Granted: 1971-03-09
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Expires: 1988-06-17
Abstract
Abstract A grab-bar or handrail system not only incorporates its own spaced directional illumination sources but also its complete electrical cabling. Thus, installation of the system requires virtually no special electrical cabling or conduit within the wall, such ducting being limited to that required for a single end connection, or to bridge a discontinuity in the handrail, as where the wall is interrupted for a doorway, window, or the like opening. Illumination sources are provided within and as part of each supporting bracket, and individual electrical connection thereof to the supply cabling is made adjacent each support and within the grab-bar. Provision is made for automatic transfer from house voltage supply to standby storage supply, in the event of power failure, thus assuring the maximum safety that constant illumination can provide.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederick Leonard Nestrock
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 17:38
CPC Classifications
F; F21; F21V; F21V33/00; F21V33/006; E; E04; E04F; E04F11/00; E04F11/18; E04F11/1802; E04F11/1804; E04F11/1808; E04F2011/1868; E04F2011/1872; F21S; F21S9/00; F21S9/02; F21S9/022; F21W; F21W2111/00; F21W2111/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
A grab bar or the like as a combined electrical conduit and light source, comprising an elongated bar element, longitudinally spaced mounting-structure elements for spaced parts of said bar element for mounting the same in clearance relation relation with the face of a wall or the like, a source of light contained within each of a plurality of said mounting-structure elements each of which is also capacitated to externally and directionally transmit light from its respective source in a general direCtion normal to the elongation axis of said bar element, and electricsupply means including an elongated flexible cable extending within said bar element for at least the combined length comprehended by the spacings of said mounting-structure elements, said respective light sources being connected to said cable at the locations of adjacency thereto, said supply means including a bar member connected at one end to one of said mounting-structure elements and including at its other end cover-plate-connection means removably securable to an electric-supply junction box, with said cable extending through said bar member to said junction box.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
176 words
A grab bar or the like as a combined electrical conduit and light source, comprising an elongated bar element, longitudinally spaced mounting-structure elements for spaced parts of said bar element for mounting the same in clearance relation relation with the face of a wall or the like, a source of light contained within each of a plurality of said mounting-structure elements each of which is also capacitated to externally and directionally transmit light from its respective source in a general direCtion normal to the elongation axis of said bar element, and electricsupply means including an elongated flexible cable extending within said bar element for at least the combined length comprehended by the spacings of said mounting-structure elements, said respective light sources being connected to said cable at the locations of adjacency thereto, said supply means including a bar member connected at one end to one of said mounting-structure elements and including at its other end cover-plate-connection means removably securable to an electric-supply junction box, with said cable extending through said bar member to said junction box.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
155 words
A grab bar or the like as a combined electrical conduit and light source, comprising an elongated tubular bar open at both longitudinal ends, two bar-support bracket members having bases adapted for mounting at spaced locations along a wall or the like, each bracket member including a tubular bar support and an offset arm connecting said tubular support to said base, each tubular support being open at both longitudinal ends and being adapted for telescoping interfit with a bar end, each offset arm having a locally transparent opening and carrying an electric-light source positioned to transmit light through said transparent opening, the respective ends of said bar being telescopically fitted to adjacent ends of said tubular bar supports, electric-supply cable means extending through said bar and bar supports, and separate bridging connections to said light sources from adjacent portions of said cable, said bridging connections being contained within tubular parts of said bar and brackets.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
155 words
A grab bar or the like as a combined electrical conduit and light source, comprising an elongated tubular bar open at both longitudinal ends, two bar-support bracket members having bases adapted for mounting at spaced locations along a wall or the like, each bracket member including a tubular bar support and an offset arm connecting said tubular support to said base, each tubular support being open at both longitudinal ends and being adapted for telescoping interfit with a bar end, each offset arm having a locally transparent opening and carrying an electric-light source positioned to transmit light through said transparent opening, the respective ends of said bar being telescopically fitted to adjacent ends of said tubular bar supports, electric-supply cable means extending through said bar and bar supports, and separate bridging connections to said light sources from adjacent portions of said cable, said bridging connections being contained within tubular parts of said bar and brackets.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A grab bar according to claim 2, in which ends of said bars are telescopically received within said tubular bar supports.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
136 words
A grab bar according to claim 2, in which said bridging connections for each light source comprise flexible-lead means connected at one end to its light source and connected at the other end to a bridging connector, said bridging connector including first and second clamp parts of electrically insulating material capacitated to receive and clamp separate conductors of said cable means in locally spaced relation, a first conductive element carried by one clamp part and projecting between said parts for conductive interception of a first clamped cable conductor, a second conductive element carried by a clamp part and projecting between said parts for conductive interception of a second clamped cable conductor, said conductive elements being connected by flexible conductor means including separate leads to said light source, and means retaining said clamp parts in clamped relation
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
158 words
A grab bar or the like as a combined electrical conduit and light source, comprising plural elongated tubular bars each open at both longitudinal ends, plural bar-support brackets having bases adapted for mounting at spaced locations along a wall or the like, each bracket including a tubular bar support and an offset arm connecting said tubular support to said base, each tubular support being open at both longitudinal ends and being adapted at both longitudinal ends for telescoping interfit with a bar end, each offset arm having a locally transparent opening and carrying an electric-light source positioned to transmit light through said transparent opening, the respective ends of each bar being telescopically fitted to adjacent ends of adjacent tubular bar supports, electric-supply cable means extending through said bars and bar supports, and separate bridging connections to said light sources from adjacent portions of said cable, said bridging connections being contained within tubular parts of said bars and brackets.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
158 words
A grab bar or the like as a combined electrical conduit and light source, comprising plural elongated tubular bars each open at both longitudinal ends, plural bar-support brackets having bases adapted for mounting at spaced locations along a wall or the like, each bracket including a tubular bar support and an offset arm connecting said tubular support to said base, each tubular support being open at both longitudinal ends and being adapted at both longitudinal ends for telescoping interfit with a bar end, each offset arm having a locally transparent opening and carrying an electric-light source positioned to transmit light through said transparent opening, the respective ends of each bar being telescopically fitted to adjacent ends of adjacent tubular bar supports, electric-supply cable means extending through said bars and bar supports, and separate bridging connections to said light sources from adjacent portions of said cable, said bridging connections being contained within tubular parts of said bars and brackets.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
87 words
A grab bar according to claim 5, and including a cover plate for the open face of a wall-outlet receptacle box, said cover plate including a short tubular bar member having an open end extending away from the plane of the open face, said last-mentioned open bar-member end having telescoping interfit with an open end of One of said elongated bar and bracket members, and said cable extending through said short tubular member for splicing connection within the receptacle box to which said cover plate is fitted.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A grab bar according to claim 6, in which said short tubular member is telescopically fitted within the adjacent end of the adjacent bar support.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A grab bar according to claim 6, in which said short tubular member telescopically receives the adjacent end of the adjacent one of said bars.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
113 words
In combination, a grab-bar support bracket having a light-transmitting opening in a localized wall part thereof, said bracket containing light-source means in the region of said opening, wall-mounting means for support of said bracket in a direction offset from the surface of wall support, bar-support means forming part of said bracket and having a bar-receiving opening offset from said surface and communicating within said bracket to the region of said light-source means, and electrical supply means for said bracket including conduit means having telescoping fit at one end with said brackets at the bar-receiving opening, said conduit means at its other end including a cover-plate element removably securable to an electric-supply junction box.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
113 words
In combination, a grab-bar support bracket having a light-transmitting opening in a localized wall part thereof, said bracket containing light-source means in the region of said opening, wall-mounting means for support of said bracket in a direction offset from the surface of wall support, bar-support means forming part of said bracket and having a bar-receiving opening offset from said surface and communicating within said bracket to the region of said light-source means, and electrical supply means for said bracket including conduit means having telescoping fit at one end with said brackets at the bar-receiving opening, said conduit means at its other end including a cover-plate element removably securable to an electric-supply junction box.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination of claim 9, in which said cover-plate element has a central opening and said conduit means includes a conduit element secured to said plate element at said opening.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination of claim 10, in which said conduit element is straight on an axis generally normal to said plate element.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination of claim 10, in which said conduit element has opposed ends on substantially perpendicular axes, the end secured to said plate element being substantially normal thereto.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
The combination of claim 12, in which the axis of the other end of said conduit element is offset from the general plane of said plate element, by substantially the same extent as the axis of said bar-support opening is offset from the wall-support surface of said bracket.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-08 | 1974-09-07 | 1975-03-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-08 | 1978-09-07 | 1979-03-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-08 | 1982-09-07 | 1983-03-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |