Grab rail having secure support member connection

Abstract

A grab rail adapted to be mounted to a surface is provided. The grab rail includes an elongated rail that has a bore lying along a central axis. A wedge block is disposed in the bore of the elongated rail. The wedge block has an inclined face on one end that is inclined relative to the central axis. A support member is connected to the surface. The support member has an inclined face on one end that is contiguous with the inclined face of the wedge block. A fastener engages the wedge block. The fastener urges together the inclined face of the wedge block and the inclined face of the support member to slide the elongated rail in a non-axial direction relative to the support member to join the support member and the elongated rail.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A grab rail adapted to be mounted to a surface, the grab rail comprising: 
 (a) an elongated rail having a bore lying along a central axis;    (b) a wedge block disposed in said bore of said elongated rail, said wedge block having an inclined face on one end inclined relative to said central axis;    (c) a support member for connection to said surface, said support member having an inclined face on one end being contiguous with said inclined face of said wedge block; and    (d) a fastener engaging said wedge block, said fastener urging together said inclined face of said wedge block and said inclined face of said support member to thereby slide the elongated rail in a non-axial direction relative to the support member to join the support member and the elongated rail.    
     
     
         2 . The grab rail of  claim 1 , further including two of said support members and two of said fasteners, the elongated rail having two of said wedge blocks, each of said support members being secured to said elongated rail by a respective one of said fasteners.  
     
     
         3 . The grab rail of  claim 1 , wherein said support member has a through bore, said through bore of said support member extending through said inclined face of said support member.  
     
     
         4 . The grab rail of  claim 3 , wherein: 
 (a) said wedge block has an internally threaded end, and said wedge block has a bore extending through said inclined face of said wedge block; and    (b) said fastener is a screw, said screw being disposed through said bore of said support member and said bore of said wedge block, and said screw threadably engages said internally threaded end of said wedge block.    
     
     
         5 . The grab rail of  claim 1 , further including a gasket for placement between said support member and said surface.  
     
     
         6 . The grab rail of  claim 5 , wherein said support member and said gasket each have a respective through hole for mounting said support member to the surface.  
     
     
         7 . The grab rail of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 (a) said elongated rail has an inclined face; and    (b) said support member has an inclined lip, said inclined lip of said support member mating with said inclined face of said elongated rail.    
     
     
         8 . The grab rail of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 (a) said elongated rail has a cavity for the housing of electrical wires; and    (b) said support member has a cavity in communication with said elongated rail cavity for the housing of said electrical wires.    
     
     
         9 . The grab rail of  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of lights located along the length of said elongated rail electrically connected to said electrical wires.  
     
     
         10 . The grab rail of  claim 1 , wherein said support member includes a stanchion.  
     
     
         11 . A grab rail adapted to be mounted to a surface, the grab rail comprising: 
 (a) an elongated rail having a bore lying along a central axis;    (b) a wedge block disposed in said bore of said elongated rail, said wedge block having an inclined face on one end inclined relative to said central axis, said wedge block having a hub section;    (c) a support member connected to said surface, said support member having a rail lip on one end, said rail lip having an inclined face, said rail lip being contiguous with said elongated rail, said inclined face of said rail lip mating with said inclined face of said wedge block; and    (d) a fastener engaging said hub section of said wedge block, said fastener urging together said inclined face of said rail lip and said inclined face of said wedge block to thereby slide the elongated rail in a non-axial direction relative to the support member to join the support member and the elongated rail.    
     
     
         12 . The grab rail of  claim 11 , further including two of said support members and two of said fasteners, the elongated rail having two of said wedge blocks, each of said support members being secured to said elongated rail by a respective one of said fasteners.  
     
     
         13 . The grab rail of  claim 11 , wherein said support member has a through bore, said through bore of said support member extending through said inclined face of said rail lip.  
     
     
         14 . The grab rail of  claim 13 , wherein: 
 (a) said hub section of said wedge block is internally threaded and said wedge block has a bore going through said inclined face of said wedge block; and    (b) said fastener is a screw, said screw being disposed through said bore of said support member and through said bore of said wedge block, and said screw threadably engaging said internally threaded hub section of said wedge block.    
     
     
         15 . The grab rail of  claim 11 , further including a gasket for placement between said support member and said surface.  
     
     
         16 . The grab rail of  claim 15 , wherein said support member and said gasket each have a respective through hole for mounting said support member to the surface.  
     
     
         17 . The grab rail of  claim 11 , wherein: 
 (a) said elongated rail has an inclined face; and    (b) said support member has an inclined lip, said inclined lip of said support member mating with said inclined face of said elongated rail.    
     
     
         18 . The grab rail of  claim 11 , wherein: 
 (a) said elongated rail has a cavity for the housing of electrical wires; and    (b) said support member has a cavity in communication with said elongated rail cavity for the housing of said electrical wires.    
     
     
         19 . The grab rail of  claim 18 , further comprising a plurality of lights located along the length of said elongated rail electrically connected to said electrical wires.  
     
     
         20 . The grab rail of  claim 11 , wherein said support member includes a stanchion.  
     
     
         21 . A grab rail adapted to be mounted to a surface, the grab rail comprising: 
 an elongated rail having a bore lying along a central axis, said elongated rail having a wedge block disposed at either end in said bore of said elongated rail, said wedge blocks have an inclined face on one end inclined relative to said central axis;    two stanchions for connection to said surface, said stanchions have an inclined face on one end being contiguous with said inclined face of said wedge block; and    two fasteners each engaging a respective wedge block, said fasteners urging together said inclined face of said wedge blocks and said inclined face of said stanchions to thereby slide the elongated rail in a non-axial direction relative to the stanchion to join the stanchion and the elongated rail.    
     
     
         22 . The grab rail of  claim 21 , wherein said stanchions have a through bore, said through bore of said stanchions extending through said inclined face of said stanchions.  
     
     
         23 . The grab rail of  claim 22 , wherein: 
 said wedge blocks have an internally threaded end, and said wedge blocks have a bore going through said inclined face of said wedge blocks; and    said fasteners are a screw, said screws are disposed through said bore of said stanchions and said bore of said wedge blocks, and said screws threadably engage said internally threaded ends of said wedge blocks.    
     
     
         24 . A method of assembling a grab rail comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a support member having an inclined face on one end, said support member having a bore through said inclined face;    (b) providing a wedge block having an inclined face on one end, said wedge block having a threaded bore through said inclined face of said wedge block;    (c) abutting said inclined face of said wedge block against said inclined face of said support member;    (d) slipping an elongated rail over said wedge block;    (e) abutting said elongated rail against said support member;    (f) inserting a screw though said bore of said support member and through said bore of said wedge block; and    (g) tightening said screw until said wedge block secures said elongated rail to said support member.