Handrail assemblies

Abstract

A handrail assembly 1 for a staircase or the like comprises a base rail R and a handrail 2 each preferably having at least one substantially flat surface ( 2 a , FIG. 18 ), at least one upright post 3 and a bracket 4 to connect one rail 2 to the upright post 3 , the post-to-rail bracket 4 having a base 40 for engagement with the substantially flat surface ( 2 a , FIG. 18 ) of the rail 2 and a deformable portion 45 to accommodate different inclinations of the rail 2 relative to the post 3 . An assembly 1 may further comprise a connector 5 to interconnect the handrail 2 with a rail 6 , the connector 5 preferably having a first hollow portion with an internal cross-sectional shape to match the cross-section of the handrail 2 , the handrail 2 extending at least partially into the first hollow portion.

1 . A handrail assembly comprising a length of rail having one end inserted into a body portion of a connector, the connector being mounted on and secured to a support surface and being pivotable about a pivot point to accommodate a desired angle of inclination of the handrail, a plurality of posts and a plurality of brackets which connect the posts to the handrail, the brackets having a portion which is deformable to accommodate a desired angle of inclination.  
     
     
         2 . A kit of parts for the assembly of a handrail installable to adopt a plurality of inclinations, the kit comprising: 
 A length of rail for use as a handrail;    Two parts of a two-part pivotable connector for the rail, one part having a hollow portion into which an end of the rail is insertable, the other part being mountable on a supporting surface, the two parts being interconnectable and being mutually pivotable when interconnected.    
     
     
         3 . A kit according to  claim 2 , wherein the rail has, in cross section, a rounded portion and a flat part, the hollow portion of the connector having an internal cross-sectional which is complementary to that of the rail.  
     
     
         4 . A kit according to  claim 3  further comprising a plurality of posts and a plurality of brackets attachable to the handrail, the posts and brackets having mating portions for engagement therebetween, each bracket having a deformable portion to accommodate a plurality of inclinations of installed handrail.  
     
     
         5 . A kit according to  claim 4 , wherein each bracket has a flat surface for flush engagement with the flat surface of the rail.  
     
     
         6 . A kit of parts for the assembly of a handrail installable to adopt a plurality of inclinations, the kit comprising: 
 A length of rail for use as a handrail:    A plurality of posts; and    A plurality of brackets to interconnect the posts and handrail, each bracket having a surface shaped for flush engagement with a surface of the rail and a deformable portion to accommodate a plurality of inclinations of the installed handrail.    
     
     
         7 . A kit according to  claim 6 , wherein the rail has, in cross section, a rounded part and a flat part, each bracket having a planar surface for flush engagement with the flat surface of the rail.  
     
     
         8 . A kit according to  claim 6 , wherein the deformable portion can deform to accommodate a variation in inclination of about 10°, preferably 7°.  
     
     
         9 . A kit according to  claim 6  further comprising at least one two-part pivotable connector for supporting the handrail, a first part of the connector having a hollow portion into which an end of the rail is insertable, the second part being mountable on a support surface, the two parts being interconnectable to provide pivotable motion with respect to one another.  
     
     
         10 . A kit according to  claim 2 , further comprising one or more connectors having hollow portions into which an end of a length of rail is insertable to interconnect two lengths of rail, one or both hollow portions having an internal cross section having a rounded part and a flat part.  
     
     
         11 . A kit according to  claim 2  further comprising a hollow mount to support an end of a handrail inserted into the hollow mount, the mount having an internal surface which has a curved part and a flat part.  
     
     
         12 . A kit according to  claim 2  further comprising a mount to support a post formed from the length of rail, the mount having a hollow portion in which an end of the post is insertable, the internal surface of the mount having a rounded portion and a flat portion.  
     
     
         13 . A kit according to  claim 6 , further comprising one or more connectors having hollow portions into which an end of a length of rail is insertable to interconnect two lengths of rail, one or both hollow portions having an internal cross section having a rounded part and a flat part.  
     
     
         14 . A kit according to  claim 6  further comprising a hollow mount to support an end of a handrail inserted into the hollow mount, the mount having an internal surface which has a curved part and a flat part.  
     
     
         15 . A kit according to  claim 6  further comprising a mount to support a post formed from the length of rail, the mount having a hollow portion in which an end of the post is insertable, the internal surface of the mount having a rounded portion and a flat portion.  
     
     
         16 . A two-part pivotable connector for a handrail, the first part of the mount having a hollow portion into which an end of a handrail is insertable, the second part of the mount being attachable to a support surface, the two parts being pivotable with respect to one another when interconnected, and wherein the internal surface of the hollow portion is shaped to prevent, in use, rotation of the hollow portion about a complementarily shaped handrail end inserted therein.  
     
     
         17 . A connector according to  claim 16 , wherein the internal surface of the hollow portion is shaped to have a rounded part and a flat surface.  
     
     
         18 . A connector to connect non-parallel lengths of rail, the connector having two hollow parts into which lengths of rail are insertable, the hollow parts having openings which are non-parallel, at least one of the hollow parts has an internal surface shaped to prevent, in use, rotation of that part about the end of the length of rail when inserted therein.  
     
     
         19 . A connector according to  claim 18 , wherein the internal surface of said at least one hollow has a curved part and a flat part.  
     
     
         20 . A connector according to  claim 16 , wherein the openings of two parts are orthogonal to one another.  
     
     
         21 . A connector according to  claim 18 , wherein the openings of two hollow parts are orthogonal to one another.  
     
     
         22 . A bracket to connect a post to a rail, the bracket comprising a terminal portion for engagement with an end of the post and a surface for flush engagement with a surface of the rail; and an intermediate deformable portion between the terminal portion and the surface which is deformable to accommodate different angles between the rail and post.  
     
     
         23 . A bracket according to  claim 22 , wherein the deformable portion is deformable to accommodate variations of up to 5° either side of its equilibrium position, preferably up to 3.5°.  
     
     
         24 . A method of installing a handrail assembly comprising a two-part pivotable mount or connector and a length of handrail, the assembly being capable of accommodating different inclinations of handrail, the method comprising the steps of: 
 Connecting one part of the mount to a supporting surface;    Inserting an end of the handrail into a hollow part of the second part of the mount;    Interconnecting the two parts of the mount;    Mounting a second end of the handrail at an intended location;    wherein, the two parts of the mount are pivotable with respect to one another to allow the handrail to adopt the inclination between the support and the intended location.    
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 24  further comprising the step of connecting posts to the handrail with brackets, the brackets having a deformable portion to accommodate different angles of inclination.