Safety handle for pilings

Abstract

The invention provides a portable safety handle that temporarily attaches to wood pilings for use in the entering or exiting of docked boats. The safety handle is preferably constructed from plastic having a front surface for engaging a wood piling and back surface that is sized to prevent a persons hand from touching the wood directly and includes a handgrip for support of the person during boat entry and exit. The safety handle is temporarily secured to a wood piling by a pair of straps adapted to extend around a piling.

1 . A safety handle for attachment to a piling, said safety handle comprising: 
 a base member constructed of a flexible sheet of material, said base member further defined as having a front surface and a back surface bounded by a top edge and a bottom edge with a first and second side edge;    a handgrip secured to said back surface, said handgrip including a photoluminescent material for storing light energy whereby said handgrip will glow in darkness;    a pair of straps connected to said base member, each strap is adapted to extend around a piling;    whereby said base member is secured to a piling by use of said straps wherein said handgrip is available for use in entry and exiting of a boat.    
   
   
       2 . The safety handle according to  claim 1  including wood engaging members positioned along said front surface of said base member.  
   
   
       3 . The safety handle according to  claim 1  wherein said base member and said hand grip are plastic.  
   
   
       4 . The safety handle according to  claim 1  wherein said base member and said hand grip are wood.  
   
   
       5 . The safety handle according to  claim 1  wherein said base member and said handgrip are integrally formed.  
   
   
       6 . The safety handle according to  claim 1  wherein a proximal end of each said strap is attached to said first edge of said base member with a distal end of each said strap is available for insertion through a through a slot-like opening located on said second edge after said strap is encircled around a piling.  
   
   
       7 . The safety handle according to  claim 1  wherein said strap is of a length sufficient to encircle a piling between 6 inches and 20 inches.  
   
   
       8 . (canceled)  
   
   
       9 . (canceled)  
   
   
       10 . The safety handle according to  claim 1  wherein a proximal end of each said strap is attached to said first edge of said base member with a distal end of each said strap is available for coupling to a quick release fastener coupled to said second edge after said strap is encircled around a piling.  
   
   
       11 . (canceled)  
   
   
       12 . A safety handle for attachment to a piling, said safety handle comprising: 
 a base member constructed of a flexible sheet of material, said base member further defined as having a front surface and a back surface bounded by a top edge and a bottom edge with a first and second side edge;    a handgrip secured to said back surface, said handgrip including a receptacle sized to receive a chemiluminescent light stick whereby said handgrip will glow in darkness;    a pair of straps connected to said base member, each strap is adapted to extend around a piling;    whereby said base member is secured to a piling by use of said straps wherein said handgrip is available for use in entry and exiting of a boat.    
   
   
       13 . The safety handle according to  claim 12  including wood engaging members positioned along said front surface of said base member.  
   
   
       14 . The safety handle according to  claim 12  wherein said base member and said hand grip are plastic.  
   
   
       15 . The safety handle according to  claim 12  wherein said base member and said hand grip are wood.  
   
   
       16 . The safety handle according to  claim 12  wherein said base member and said handgrip are integrally formed.  
   
   
       17 . The safety handle according to  claim 12  wherein a proximal end of each said strap is attached to said first edge of said base member with a distal end of each said strap is available for insertion through a through a slot-like opening located on said second edge after said strap is encircled around a piling.  
   
   
       18 . The safety handle according to  claim 12  wherein said strap is of a length sufficient to encircle a piling between 6 inches and 20 inches.  
   
   
       19 . The safety handle according to  claim 12  wherein a proximal end of each said strap is attached to said first edge of said base member with a distal end of each said strap is available for coupling to a quick release fastener coupled to said second edge after said strap is encircled around a piling.