HAND-RAIL FOR USE IN SHIPS, BUILDINGS, ETC.

Description

[0001] The invention concerns a hand-rail for use in ships, buildings, etc.

[0002] Hand-rails are in general use in most places where people are moving around and their main purpose is as a support to hold on to, or as a screen to keep people away from a particular area, or to protect wall sections etc.

[0003] The main object of the present invention is to give the hand-rail the additional function of enabling it to help people to find the way in buildings, on ships, etc. In particular the object is to design a hand-rail capable of providing information concerning the correct escape route to an exit in emergency situations, e.g. in the case of fire, which would be an invaluable help on boats, in large buildings where people are often unfamiliar with the layout, such as hotels, hospitals, old people's homes and in large shops and offices. Moreover, the hand-rail will also provide information on the correct direction in non-emergency situations to persons who have a special need for good information, such as those with poor sight, the blind and children. Such information can also be useful for all persons on a ship or an offshore construction or in a large, complicated building in order to find the way to a main exit.

[0004] Particularly in connection with accidents and fires on board ships it has been found that the passengers below decks have lost their sense of direction and have gone round in circles. The thick smoke which develops during a fire impairs sight, and passengers meet closed doors and fail to find the emergency exit quickly enough. Most people search for the main exit, even although there can be several emergency exits closer at hand. Thus there has been a considerable need for a system which can safely indicate the way to the nearest emergency exit.

[0005] There are several previously known systems for indicating defined directions, e.g. in passageways. The main method used is signs, light indicators and also light strips, e.g. on the floor. An electrically driven emergency system, e.g., is described in US-A-4 347 499. According to the system described in this patent, a sensor activates a signal system which emits light signals which indicate a recommended direction of movement, e.g. marked by pulsating lights. The system can also be equipped with sound signal generators and/or sensory devices in the form of vibrators. The system has to be activated, is dependent on electricity and is expensive.

[0006] US 4179160 discloses a life line formed as a continuous line which can be wound on a spool and which in use is strung from support posts along an escape mine shaft, the line being provided with spaced apart enlargements, each of which has a gradual slope to the line on one side providing little resistance when the hand is slid along the line in an escape direction and an abrupt slope to the line providing substantially higher resistance when the hand is slid along the line in the opposite direction.

[0007] US-A-3 408 025 discloses a guide for indicating an escape route in airplanes, ships or theatres comprising a direction indicating configuration adapted to be located along said route and to be felt with the hand for determining a correct direction along said route. In US-A-3408025 the guide is a strip of material having said configuration which is fitted to surfaces along the escape route.

[0008] US 259544 of 1882 discloses a hand-rail for indicating a route in ships, buildings, etc, comprising a direction indicating configuration adapted to be located along said route and to be felt with the hand for determining a correct direction along said route, said direction indicating configuration comprising pivotable structures provided at the surface of said hand-rail extending in the longitudinal direction thereof.

[0009] The present invention provides a hand-rail as defined in the last preceding paragraph characterised in that said pivotable structures comprise profile elements which can be pivoted around respective axes situated at the surface of the hand-rail, the hand-rail has a profile which enables each element to be lowered on one side of its pivotal axis to project above the surface of the hand-rail on the other side, or vice versa, and each element is equipped with means for activating such a pivoting movement.

[0010] Thus, the invention provides the possibility of altering the hand-rail's profile direction, so that an escape route direction can be reversed. When used in a ship, this enables either the crew in the ship's control room to reverse the direction by means of a panel in those cases where they know that some of the emergency exits are closed due to fire, or there could be automatic release devices for the reversing operation at strategic points, thus automatically reversing escape routes at special obstacles.

[0011] Such a design will mean a further increase in safety and will help everyone to find his way to the correct exit.

[0012] The means for activating may be mechanical and/or electrical and/or magnetically influenced. Preferably there is provided an activating device common to all elements in pre-defined areas of the hand-rail for activating said pivoting movement.

[0013] In order that the invention may be better understood, an embodiment thereof, which is given by way of example only, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of the main part of a hand-rail;

Fig. 2 shows a profile element of the hand-rail; and

Figs. 3A and B are sketches illustrating the reversibility of the direction indicating configuration of the hand-rail, which comprises the main part shown in Fig. 1 and a plurality of profile elements shown in Fig. 2.

[0014] The figures illustrate the embodiment in a purely schematic way and do not show the complete construction of the hand-rail. The drawing thus only shows a hand-rail rod indicating how a design in accordance with the invention can be provided.

[0015] Fig. 1 illustrates the main part or, basic piece, of a hand-rail which is indicated by 7 in the figure and the top of which has been given an "undulating up and down" shape, with lower points 8 and top point 9. On this basis are installed profile elements of the type illustrated in Fig. 2 and which are indicated by 10. The elements each consist of two triangular side pieces with a midpoint or fulcrum 11. The side pieces are indicated by 12 and 13 respectively.

[0016] In Figs. 3A and B these elements are assembled with hand-rail part 7 to form a hand-rail. As shown in the figures each element 10 is installed with its midpoint 11 situated above a respective top point 9 on the hand-rail part 7. In Fig. 3A the hand-rail is shown with the elements 10 placed with their side pieces 12 facing the surface of the basic part 7. Thus their side pieces 13 will project above the basic part 7. The surface of the hand-rail is thereby shaped in such a way as to indicate a particular guiding direction. That is if one runs one's hand along the hand-rail rod, by moving one's hand in the direction of the arrow 1, relatively little resistance will be felt, but by running the hand in direction 2, in the direction against the projecting side pieces 13, a distinct resistance will be felt. By following "the path of least resistance" an indication of the direction leading, e.g., to an emergency exit, a stairway, etc. will be obtained.

[0017] In the example shown the profile elements 10 are kept in place by means of a magnetic device, in that a magnet 14a is placed in the areas beside the lowest points 8, but somewhat displaced in towards the midpoint. The magnetic elements can be electromagnetic and can be remotely controlled in their effect. In the side pieces 12 and 13 magnetic plates 14b are installed which can be attracted by the magnets. If the guiding direction has to be reversed, the electromagnets under the side pieces 12 can, e.g., be deactivated, while the electromagnets under the side pieces 13 are activated, and thus the profile elements will pivot round and create a guiding direction in the opposite direction as illustrated in Fig. 3B. Control of this kind using electromagnetic means will be simple for an expert in the field to provide and is not described in more detail here. It should also be mentioned that even although there has been described here an electromagnetic activation device for the turning or reversing operation, this could also be designed mechanically by means of a rod mechanism or a line or wire traction mechanism, which will be insensitive to the effects of heat and thus be safe to use. Such mechanisms can be released by handles in appropriate places or remotely controlled, but can also be controlled from sensor points at strategic positions which can issue warnings that an emergency exit is blocked so that the escape route has to be reversed or automatically change the direction.

[0018] Many modifications are possible of such reversible profile designs for the hand-rail. For example shapes other than those shown can be used. Similarly, as mentioned, different types of control mechanism can be used, both manual, mechanical, electrical and electromechanical.

Claims

1. A hand-rail (7) for indicating a route in ships, buildings, etc, comprising a direction indicating configuration adapted to be located along said route and to be felt with the hand for determining a correct direction along said route, said direction indicating configuration comprising pivotable structures (10) provided at the surface of said hand-rail extending in the longitudinal direction thereof characterised in that said pivotable structures comprise profile elements (10) which can be pivoted around respective axes (9) situated at the surface of the hand-rail (7), the hand-rail has a profile which enables each element to be lowered on one side of its pivotal axis to project above the surface of the hand-rail on the other side, or vice versa, and each element is equipped with means for activating such a pivoting movement.

2. A hand-rail according to claim 1, wherein the means for activating are mechanical and/or electrical and/or magnetically influenced.

3. A hand-rail according to claim 1 or 2, having an activation device common to all elements in pre-defined areas of the hand-rail for activating said pivoting movement.

Ansprüche

1. Ein Handlauf (7) zur Anzeige eines Weges in Schiffen, Gebäuden oder dergleichen, mit einer Richtungs-Anzeigekonfiguration, welche entlang des Weges anordenbar und von Hand fühlbar ist, um eine korrekte Richtung entlang des Weges zu bestimmen, wobei die Richtungs-Anzeigekonfiguration schwenkbare Strukturen (10) aufweist, die an der Oberfläche des Handlaufes angeordnet sind und sich in dessen Längsrichtung erstrecken, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die schwenkbaren Strukturen Profilelemente (10) aufweisen, welche jeweils um Achsen (9) schwenkbar sind, die an der Oberfläche des Handlaufes (7) angeordnet sind, wobei der Handlauf ein Profil hat, welches es ermöglicht, daß jedes Element auf einer Seite seiner Schwenkachse abgesenkt wird, um auf der anderen Seite von der Oberfläche des Handlaufes vorzustehen oder umgekehrt, wobei jedes Element mit Mitteln zur Aktivierung einer derartigen Schwenkbewegung versehen ist.

2. Ein Handlauf nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Mittel zum Aktivieren mechanisch und/oder elektrisch und/oder magnetisch beeinflußt sind.

3. Ein Handlauf nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, mit einer Aktivierungsvorrichtung, welche in vorbestimmten Bereichen des Handlaufes allen Elementen gemeinsam ist, um die Schwenkbewegung zu aktivieren.

Revendications

1. Main-courante (7) pour l'indication d'un parcours dans des bateaux, des bâtiments, etc, comprenant une configuration indicatrice de direction, apte à être positionnée le long dudit parcours et à être palpée avec la main pour déterminer la bonne direction le long dudit parcours, ladite configuration indicatrice de direction comprenant des structures pivotantes (10) disposées à la surface de ladite main-courante et s'étendant dans la direction longitudinale de cette dernière, caractérisée en ce que lesdites structures pivotantes comprennent des éléments profilés (10) qui peuvent être déplacés par pivotement autour d'axes respectifs (9) situés à la surface de la main-courante (7), la main-courante possède un profil qui permet à chaque élément d'être abaissé d'un côté de son axe de pivotement, pour faire saillie au-dessus de la surface de la main-courante de l'autre côté, ou inversement, et chaque élément est muni de moyens d'activation de ce mouvement pivotant.

2. Main-courante selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle les moyens d'activation sont mécaniques et/ou électriques et/ou sollicités magnétiquement.

3. Main-courante selon la revendication 1 ou 2, possédant un dispositif d'activation commun à tous les éléments dans des zones prédéfinies de la main-courante, pour activer ledit mouvement pivotant.

Drawing