Staircase railing

Abstract

A railing system for assisting a user in ascending and descending a staircase having a plurality of steps. The railing system includes an elongated upper rail having opposite first and second ends and a cross sectional diameter. The upper rail having a top portion with a cross-sectional profile substantially in the form of a parabolic arch. An elongated lower rail having opposite first and second ends, is mounted parallel to and below the upper rail at a height of about 36 inches above the steps of the staircase. A mounting bracket is included for mounting the upper and lower rails above the steps in a parallel fashion. The mounting bracket positions the top portion of the upper rail mounted at a heigh above the steps of between about 42 to about 46 inches. The upper rail may include a bottom portion opposite the top portion, with a pair of elongated handles formed on the bottom portion.

Therefore, what is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A railing system for assisting a user in ascending and descending a staircase having a plurality of steps, the railing system comprising: 
 an elongated upper rail having opposite first and second ends and a cross sectional diameter, the upper rail having a top portion,    a mounting bracket for mounting the rail above the steps,    the top portion of the rail mounted at a heigh above the steps of between about 42 to about 46 inches.    
     
     
         2 . The railing system of  claim 1  wherein the rail has a cross sectional profile and wherein the profile of the top portion is arched.  
     
     
         3 . The railing system of  claim 2  wherein the cross-sectional profile of the top portion of the rail is substantially in the form of a parabolic arch.  
     
     
         4 . The railing system of  claim 3  wherein the cross-sectional diameter of the rail is about four inches.  
     
     
         5 . The railing system of  claim 4  wherein the upper rail has a bottom portion opposite the top portion, the rail having a height of about four inches between the upper and bottom portions.  
     
     
         6 . The railing system of  claim 5  wherein the bottom portion of the rail includes at least one elongated handle.  
     
     
         7 . The railing system of  claim 5  wherein the bottom portion of the rail includes a first and a second elongated handle.  
     
     
         8 . The railing system of  claim 7  wherein the first and second elongated handles are separated by a space of about three inches.  
     
     
         9 . The railing system of  claim 1  further comprising a lower rail mounted below the upper rail, the lower rail mounted about 36 inches above the steps.  
     
     
         10 . The railing system of  claim 9  wherein the upper and lower rails are separated by at least three inches.  
     
     
         11 . The railing system of  claim 4  further comprising a lower rail mounted below the upper rail, the lower rail mounted about 36 inches above the steps, the lower and upper rails being separated by at least three inches.  
     
     
         12 . The railing system of  claim 11  wherein the upper rail has a bottom portion opposite the top portion, the rail having a height of about four inches between the upper and bottom portions.  
     
     
         13 . The railing system of  claim 12  wherein the bottom portion of the upper rail includes at least one elongated handle, the elongated handle being at least three inches from the lower rail.  
     
     
         14 . A railing system for assisting a user in ascending and descending a staircase having a plurality of steps, the railing system comprising: 
 an elongated upper rail having opposite first and second ends and a cross sectional diameter, the upper rail having a top portion,    an elongated lower rail having opposite first and second ends,    a mounting bracket for mounting the upper and lower rails above the steps in a parallel fashion,    the top portion of the upper rail mounted at a heigh above the steps of between about 42 to about 46 inches, and    the lower rail mounted at a height above the steps of about 36 inches.    
     
     
         15 . The railing system of  claim 14  wherein the upper rail has a cross sectional profile and wherein the profile of the top portion is arched.  
     
     
         16 . The railing system of  claim 15  wherein the cross-sectional profile of the top portion of the upper rail is substantially in the form of a parabolic arch.  
     
     
         17 . The railing system of  claim 16  wherein the cross-sectional diameter of the upper rail is about four inches.  
     
     
         18 . The railing system of  claim 17  wherein the upper rail has a bottom portion opposite the top portion, the upper rail having a height of about four inches between the upper and bottom portions.  
     
     
         19 . A method of supporting a user while the user ascends and descends a staircase using the railing system of  claim 14  comprising the steps of: 
 positioning the upper rail between the user's arm and chest by straddling the upper rail with the arm,  
 pressing the upper portion of the rail against the user's armpit and transferring at least a portion of the user's weigh to the upper rail by the user leaning against the upper rail.  
 
     
     
         20 . The method of claim  23  further comprising the step of grasping the lower rail with the user's hand.