Safer handrail

Abstract

An improved handrail includes: an end-to-end extending, two-part cavity in the interior of the handrail, with its first part being a slot that extends from the handrails' exterior surface and its second part being a bore that is situated in the handrail's interior and joined with the slot so as to make the bore accessible from the handrail's exterior surface, and a wrist securing device that works in cooperation with the handrail's cavity for keeping the wrist of a user in close proximity to the handrail when the user is traversing a stairway.

1 . A system for increasing the safety of one who traverses a stairway of the type that has a handrail, said system comprising:
 a cavity in the interior of said handrail that is of the type having an exterior surface, a length between two ends and a centerline extending between said ends,   wherein said cavity having a first and a second part, said first part being a slot of a prescribed width that extends from said exterior surface and into the interior of said handrail, said second part being a bore that is situated proximate the centerline of said handrail and joins with said slot so as to make said bore accessible through said slot from the exterior surface of said handrail,   wherein said bore having a characteristic dimension that is greater than the width of said slot, and   a wrist securing means that works in cooperation with said handrail cavity for keeping a wrist of said user in close proximity to said handrail when said user is traversing said stairway.   
   
   
       2 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said wrist securing means having:
 a cord having a first and a second end and a characteristic cross-sectional dimension that is less than that of said slot width, 
 a wrist band that has a shape which allows said wrist band to enclose the wrist of a person who wishes to use said handrail, said band attached to the first end of said cord, and 
 a spacer having a characteristic dimension that is less than the characteristic dimension of said bore but greater than the width of said slot, said spacer being fixed to the second end of said cord and having an exterior shape and surface that allows said spacer to be placed in said bore so that said spacer is slideable within and along the length of said bore. 
   
   
   
       3 . A method for increasing the safety of one who traverses a stairway of the type that has a handrail, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a cavity in the interior of said handrail that is of the type having an exterior surface, a length between two ends and a centerline extending between said ends,   wherein said cavity having a first and a second part, said first part being a slot of a prescribed width that extends from said exterior surface and into the interior of said handrail, said second part being a bore that is situated proximate the centerline of said handrail and joins with said slot so as to make said bore accessible through said slot from the exterior surface of said handrail,   wherein said bore having a characteristic dimension that is greater than the width of said slot, and   providing a wrist securing means that works in cooperation with said handrail cavity for keeping a wrist of said user in close proximity to said handrail when said user is traversing said stairway.   
   
   
       4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said wrist securing means having:
 a cord having a first and a second end and a characteristic cross-sectional dimension that is less than that of said slot width, 
 a wrist band that has a shape which allows said wrist band to enclose the wrist of a person who wishes to use said handrail, said band attached to the first end of said cord, and 
 a spacer having a characteristic dimension that is less than the characteristic dimension of said bore but greater than the width of said slot, said spacer being fixed to the second end of said cord and having an exterior shape and surface that allows said spacer to be placed in said bore so that said spacer is slideable within and along the length of said bore.