COLLAPSIBLE HANDRAILS FOR A BULKHEADED STAIRCASE

Abstract

A collapsible staircase-handrail system includes an elongated primary rail extending lengthwise between primary-rail upper and lower ends. The primary rail is pivotably mounted adjacent the staircase for angular displacement about a spatially-fixed primary-rail pivot axis between primary-rail deployed and storage positions. The handrail system further includes a primary post extending between primary-post top and bottom ends, with the primary post being pivotably mounted adjacent the staircase for angular displacement about a spatially-fixed primary-post pivot axis that extends parallel to the primary-rail pivot axis. The primary-rail deployed and storage positions are such that the primary-rail upper end is disposed at, respectively, higher and lower elevations. Similarly, the primary-post pivots between deployed and storage positions defined such that the primary-post top end is disposed at, respectively, higher and lower relative elevations. The primary rail and primary post can selectively couple in order to mutually maintain one another in their respective deployed positions.

Description

BACKGROUND

Home basements—or cellars—are ubiquitous throughout much of the United States and beyond. Access between a basement and the main living quarters of a house is most commonly facilitated by an interior basement staircase. However, depending on how the basement is configured relative to the terrain surrounding the house, direct access between the basement and the outdoors is provided in one of two ways.

A first type of basement, known as a walkout basement, has a door that provides direct access to the exterior through an exterior door that pivots between open and closed positions about a vertical axis defined by hinges. In a walkout arrangement, the basement floor is essentially at the same level as the ground to the exterior in the location of the access door. A walkout basement is typically adjacent sloped terrain such that some portion of at least one of the basement walls is at or near ground level, while other parts of the basement's walls are subterranean.

A second type of basement is such that the majority of the height of all its walls are subterranean. As such, direct access to the outdoors is not provided through a vertically-hung exterior door, as in the case of a walkout basement. Instead, direct access to the outdoors is provided by an exterior basement staircase—usually constructed of poured-in-place or precast concrete—leading upwardly from the basement floor to a bulked door or a pair of bulkhead doors. In the most familiar arrangement, each basement bulkhead door is mounted to a sub-structure of a basement bulkhead such that it pivots between open and closed positions about hinges defining a bulkhead-door pivot axis that is neither fully vertical nor horizontal, but pitched an acute angle relative to the exterior ground such that, when closed, the bulkhead door is sloped downwardly away from the exterior first-floor wall of the house below which the exterior basement staircase is located. When closed, the bulkhead door(s) cover(s) the exterior basement staircase in order to seal the basement in general, and the exterior staircase more particularly, from the exterior atmospheric elements, and from entry into the basement, intentional or otherwise, by persons or animals.

While interior basement staircases invariably include handrails—which are undoubtedly required by building codes throughout the United States—bulkheaded exterior basement staircases most commonly lack handrails entirely. In the small minority or instances in which such staircases include handrails, the handrails cannot extend all the way to the top of the staircase, and above the height of the closed bulkhead doors. The lack of handrails—or at least full-length handrails—presents a danger to the those walking up and down exterior basement stairs into and out of the structure serviced by those stairs.

Accordingly, a need exists for a basement-staircase handrail system that accommodates both (i) closure of basement bulkhead doors and (ii) at least one handrail accessible to a person walking up the entire length of basement stairs when the bulkhead doors are open.

SUMMARY

As envisioned in a typical environment, each of various embodiments generally illustrative of the invention includes a handrail system having a set of selectively collapsible first and second handrails mounted to vertical basement walls situated on either side of an exterior basement staircase. In the preferred instances in which a handrail is provided on either side of the staircase, the first and second handrails, while roughly mirroring one another, function in essentially identical fashion. However, most broadly envisioned, desired functions and objectives can be accomplished by a single handrail mounted to only one staircase wall on a selected side of the staircase. Accordingly, cooperating elements and functionality of various embodiments are enablingly disclosed and explained predominantly by reference to a single, first handrail.

The collapsible first handrail is movable between storage and deployed modes (or positions). In the storage position, the handrail is collapsed to a level low enough to accommodate closure of staircase bulkhead doors. When the bulkhead doors are opened, each handrail can be moved into the deployed position in which it extends above the level of the otherwise-closed bulkhead doors. Furthermore, the handrail can be selectively secured in the deployed position.

Collapsible handrails are not without precedent. In fact, U.S. Pat. No. 11,697,941 to Barta (hereinafter, Barta or the “'941 patent) discloses a staircase handrail configured to collapse below closed basement bulkhead doors. However, the manner in which the handrail in Barta collapses renders difficult access to the closed bulkhead doors from inside the basement. More specifically, with reference to the example provided in Barta's FIG. 3, a collapsible portion of a handrail is pivotable on hinges defining handrail pivot axes that extend parallel to the stair treads along axes that extend into planes defined by the risers. Stated alternatively, the pivot handrail pivot axes in Barta do not extend laterally across the widthwise extent of the risers. Because of this, when in a collapsed position to accommodate closure of the bulkhead doors, the Barta handrail is situated over the upper portion of the staircase, thereby obstructing convenient access for opening and closing the bulkhead doors from the staircase.

Illustratively, a first embodiment of the present collapsible handrail system is configured for mounting to a wall adjacent a staircase extending upwardly from a staircase bottom to a staircase top and having stair treads and stair risers with widthwise extents oriented perpendicularly to the wall. Most fundamentally, the first embodiment includes an elongated primary rail and a primary post.

The primary rail has primary-rail top and bottom surfaces extending between primary-rail upper and lower ends. The primary-rail lower end is pivotably mounted to the wall such that the primary rail can be angularly displaced between primary-rail deployed and storage positions about a spatially-fixed primary-rail pivot axis that extends perpendicularly to the wall and substantially parallel to the widthwise extent of the stair treads. The primary-rail pivot axis is permanently fixed in a location more proximate to the staircase bottom than to the staircase top. The primary-rail deployed and storage positions are such that the primary-rail upper end is disposed at, respectively, higher and lower relative elevations. By virtue of the fact that the primary rail is restricted to pivotal displacement, it will be readily appreciated that, in moving between the primary-rail storage and deployed positions, the primary-rail upper end subtends an arcuate path geometrically centered about the primary-rail pivot axis.

The primary post has primary-post top and bottom ends. The primary-post bottom end is pivotably mounted to the wall, independently of the primary rail, such that the primary post can be angularly displaced between primary-post deployed and storage positions about a spatially-fixed primary-post pivot axis that extends substantially parallel to the primary-rail pivot axis. The primary-post deployed and storage positions are such that the primary-post top end is disposed at, respectively, higher and lower relative elevations. In a fashion analogous to the displacement of the primary rail, in moving between the primary-post storage and deployed positions, the primary-post top end also subtends an arcuate path that is geometrically centered about the primary-post pivot axis.

The primary rail and primary post are configured to selectively couple, thereby maintaining and mutually supporting one another in, respectively, the primary-rail and primary-post deployed positions. The deployed and coupled primary rail and primary post can be selectively decoupled and angularly displaced into, respectively, their primary-rail and primary-post storage positions. The specific mechanisms by which selective coupling is achieved is of secondary importance to the overall inventive concept, but the means selected for any given implementation preferably facilitates rapid coupling and decoupling while maintaining a reliably supportive connection when coupled. In one illustrative configuration, selective coupling of the primary rail and primary post is facilitated by (i) a primary-rail pin extending from one of the primary rail and the primary post and (ii) a primary-rail-pin socket configured for removably receiving the primary-rail pin, and defined within the other of the primary post and the primary rail. In this version, coupling and decoupling are achieved by, respectively, insertion and removal of the primary-rail pin into/from the primary-rail-pin socket.

Each of various embodiments is configured for use in association with a basement staircase situated below a bulkhead including at least one bulkhead door, but which most commonly includes first and second bulkhead doors that can be opened and closed independently of one another. Each bulkhead door is pivotable between open and closed positions, and, when in the closed position, extends along (e.g., within) a closure plane that is spatially disposed over the basement staircase. When the primary rail and primary post are in, respectively, the primary-rail and primary-post storage positions, neither the primary rail nor the primary post extends above the closure plane. Additionally, when the primary rail and primary post are in, respectively, the primary-rail and primary-post are in deployed positions, and selectively coupled, at least the primary-rail upper end is disposed above the closure plane.

As is widely known, each stair riser defines a rise and each stair tread defines a run. The sum of the rises and the sum of the runs define, respectively, the total rise and total run of the staircase. For purposes of referential context throughout the present specification and claims, the ratio of the total rise to the total run defines a staircase inclination angle. When the primary rail is supported in the primary-rail deployed position, it is preferably disposed at a primary-rail inclination angle corresponding to the staircase inclination angle.

Alternatively embodied handrail systems within the scope and contemplation of the invention include elements in addition to a primary rail and primary post for supporting the primary rail. One version further includes a secondary rail having secondary-rail top and bottom surfaces extending between secondary-rail first and second ends. The secondary-rail first end is pivotably attached to the primary-rail upper end for angular displacement relative to the primary rail about a secondary-rail pivot axis between secondary-rail deployed and storage positions. The secondary-rail storage position is such that the secondary rail is folded back over the primary rail such that the secondary-rail top surface is disposed above, but not necessarily in contact with, the primary-rail top surface. The secondary-rail deployed position is such that, when the primary rail is in the primary-rail deployed position, and the secondary rail is in the secondary-rail deployed position, the secondary rail (a) is disposed above the closure plane, (b) extends away from the primary-rail upper end, and (c) defines a secondary-rail deployment angle with the primary rail such that at least a portion of the secondary rail is substantially parallel to the stair treads, depending on whether the secondary rail is straight includes a curve along its length. In moving between the secondary-rail storage and deployed positions, the secondary-rail second end subtends an arcuate path that is geometrically centered about the secondary-rail pivot axis.

At least one variant including a secondary rail further includes a secondary post having secondary-post top and bottom ends. The secondary-post bottom end is pivotably mounted to the wall—independently of both the primary rail and primary post—for angular displacement of the secondary post between secondary-post deployed and storage positions about a spatially-fixed secondary-post pivot axis that extends substantially parallel to the primary-rail and primary-post pivot axes. The secondary-post deployed and storage positions are such that the secondary-post top end is disposed, respectively, above and below the closure plane. In a fashion analogous to the displacement of the primary post, in moving between the secondary-post storage and deployed positions, the secondary-post top end also subtends an arcuate path geometrically centered about the secondary-post pivot axis.

The secondary rail and secondary post are configured to selectively couple such that, when in, respectively, the secondary-rail and secondary-post deployed positions, the secondary-post top end supports and maintains the secondary rail in the secondary-rail deployed position. The deployed and mutually coupled secondary rail and secondary post can selectively decouple such that they can be angularly displaced into, respectively, the secondary-rail and secondary-post storage positions. The specific mechanisms by which selective coupling is achieved is of secondary importance to the overall inventive concept, but the means selected for any given implementation preferably facilitates rapid coupling and decoupling while maintaining a reliably supportive connection when coupled. In one illustrative configuration, selective coupling of the secondary rail and secondary post is facilitated by (i) a secondary-rail pin extending from one of the secondary rail and the secondary post and (ii) a secondary-rail-pin socket configured for removably receiving the secondary-rail pin, and defined within the other of the secondary post and the secondary rail. In this version, coupling and decoupling are achieved by, respectively, insertion and removal of the secondary-rail pin into/from the secondary-rail-pin socket.

Representative embodiments are more completely described and depicted in the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an upward perspective view of a collapsible handrail system in a deployed state;

FIG. 2 is a downward perspective view of the deployed handrail system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows the handrail system of FIGS. 1 and 2 in an intermediate state between fully deployed and fully collapsed into a storage state;

FIG. 4 depicts the handrail system of FIGS. 1-3 in an intermediate state different from the intermediate state of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows the handrail system of FIGS. 1-4 in a still-different intermediate state from those intermediate states depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4; and

FIG. 6 depicts the handrail system of FIGS. 1-5 in a fully collapsed storage state under a set of basement bulkhead doors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description of variously configured collapsible handrail systems is demonstrative in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or its application of uses. Accordingly, the various implementations, aspects, versions and embodiments described in the summary and detailed description are in the nature of non-limiting examples falling within the scope of the appended claims and do not serve to restrict the maximum scope of the claims.

Shown in the included drawings are various views and illustrative versions of a collapsible handrail system generally referenced by the reference number 10. Basic first and second embodiments are described with general reference to FIGS. 1-6. The more intricate of the two basic embodiments is explicitly depicted in FIGS. 1-6. Because the first, more basic of the two main embodiments considered is subsumed within the second embodiment, the first embodiment is discussed with reference to the same FIGS. 1-6 in association with which the second, more intricate embodiment is discussed. Moreover, for the sake of efficiency and descriptive clarity, illustrative, non-limiting additions, optional features, and alternative configurations of various elements are described with conjunctive reference to the basic illustrative configuration of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6. Additionally, throughout the specification and drawings, like elements across alternative embodiments, or various views of the same embodiment, are referenced by similar or identical numeric and/or alphanumeric reference characters.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a collapsible handrail system 10 is mounted to a wall 15 adjacent a staircase 20 extending upwardly from a staircase bottom 22 to a staircase top 24. The staircase 20 has stair treads 26 and stair risers 28 with widthwise extents—tread and riser widths W_T and W_R—oriented perpendicularly to the wall 15, and seen most clearly in FIG. 1. Most fundamentally, each of the first and second embodiments includes an elongated primary rail 30 and a primary post 40.

The primary rail 30 has primary-rail top and bottom surfaces 32 and 34 extending between primary-rail upper and lower ends 36 and 38. The primary-rail lower end 38 is pivotably mounted to the wall 15 such that the primary rail 30 is angularly displaceable between primary-rail deployed and storage positions about a fixed primary-rail pivot axis A_PR that extends perpendicularly to the wall 15 and substantially parallel to the widthwise extent W_T of the stair treads 26. The primary-rail pivot axis A_PR is permanently fixed in a location more proximate to the staircase bottom 22 than to the staircase top 24. The primary-rail deployed and storage positions are such that the primary-rail upper end 36 is disposed at, respectively, higher and lower elevations relative to the stair treads 26, and are illustratively depicted in, respectively, FIGS. 1 and 6.

The primary post 40 extends longitudinally between primary-post top and bottom ends 46 and 48. The primary-post bottom end 48 is pivotably mounted to the wall 15 to facilitate angular displacement of the primary post 40 between primary-post deployed and storage positions about a fixed primary-post pivot axis A_PP that extends substantially parallel to the primary-rail pivot axis A_PR. The primary-post deployed and storage positions are such that the primary-post top end 46 is disposed at, respectively, higher and lower elevations relative to the stair treads 26, and are illustratively depicted in, respectively, FIGS. 1 and 6.

The primary rail 30 and primary post 40 can be selectively coupled to one another, thereby maintaining and mutually supporting one another in, respectively, the primary-rail and primary-post deployed positions, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, for example. The deployed and coupled primary rail 30 and primary post 40 can be selectively decoupled and angularly displaced into, respectively, their primary-rail and primary-post storage positions. With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 in which the primary rail 30 and primary post 40 are being transitioned, and have been transitioned, from their deployed to their storage orientations, it can be seen that selective coupling of the primary rail 30 and primary post 40 is facilitated by a pin-and-socket arrangement. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, a primary-rail pin 35 extends from the primary-rail bottom surface 34. As depicted in FIG. 6, a primary-rail-pin socket 45 configured for removably receiving the primary-rail pin 35 is defined within the primary-post top end 46. When the primary rail 30 and primary post 40 are pivoted into specific angular orientations, the primary-rail pin 35 is aligned with and inserted into the primary-rail-pin socket 45 thereby supporting the primary rail 30 and the primary post 40 in their deployed orientations, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

As shown throughout FIGS. 1-6, the depicted handrail system 10 is configured for use in association with a basement staircase 20 situated below a bulkhead 100 including at least a first bulkhead door 110, but which most commonly includes first and second bulkhead doors 110 and 120 that can be opened and closed independently of one another. Each of the bulkhead doors 110 and 120 is pivotable between open and closed positions, and, when in its closed position, extends along a closure plane P_C that is spatially disposed over the basement staircase 20. When the primary rail 30 and primary post 40 are in, respectively, the primary-rail and primary-post storage positions, neither the primary rail 30 nor the primary post 40 extends above the closure plane P_C. Additionally, when the primary rail 30 and primary post 40 are in, respectively, the primary-rail and primary-post 30 and 40 are in deployed positions, and selectively coupled, at least the primary-rail upper end 36 is disposed above the closure plane P_C.

In addition to a primary rail 30 and primary post 40, a second basic embodiment further includes a secondary rail 60 having secondary-rail top 62 and bottom surfaces 64 extending between secondary-rail first and second ends 66 and 68. The secondary-rail first end 66 is attached to the primary-rail upper end 36 for pivotal displacement about a secondary-rail pivot axis A_SR between secondary-rail deployed and storage positions. As illustratively depicted in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6, the secondary-rail storage position is such that the secondary rail 60 is folded back over the primary rail 30 such that the secondary-rail top surface 62 is disposed above, but not necessarily in contact with, the primary-rail top surface 32. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the secondary-rail deployed position is such that, when the primary rail 30 is in the primary-rail deployed position, and the secondary rail 60 is in the secondary-rail deployed position, the secondary rail 60 (a) is disposed above the closure plane P_C, (b) extends away from the primary-rail upper end 36, and (c) defines a secondary-rail deployment angle ⊖_DSR with the primary rail 30 such that the secondary rail 60 (i.e., at least a portion thereof) is substantially parallel to the stair treads 26. It is to be understood relative to the version depicted that the secondary rail 60, relative to the primary rail 30, is restricted to pivotal motion.

At least one version including a secondary rail 60 further includes a secondary post 80 that extends lengthwise between secondary-post top and bottom ends 82 and 84. The secondary-post bottom end 84 is pivotably mounted to the wall 15 for angular displacement of the secondary post 80 between secondary-post deployed and storage positions about a fixed secondary-post pivot axis A_SP that extends substantially parallel to the primary-rail and primary-post pivot axes A_PR and A_PP (i.e., perpendicularly to the wall 15). The secondary-post deployed and storage positions are such that the secondary-post top end 82 is disposed at, respectively, higher and lower elevations relative to the stair treads 26. In an environment associated with a basement staircase 20 and a bulkhead 100, the secondary-post deployed and storage positions are more specifically such that the secondary-post top end 82 is disposed, respectively, above and below the closure plane P_C. The secondary post 80 is illustratively depicted in the secondary-post deployed position in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, and in the secondary-post storage position in FIGS. 5 and 6.

In a manner analogous to the manner in which the primary rail 30 and primary post 40 can be selectively coupled for mutual support, so too can the secondary rail 60 and secondary post 80 be selectively coupled to each other, thereby maintaining and mutually supporting one another in, respectively, the secondary-rail and secondary-post deployed positions. When selectively decoupled, the secondary rail 60 and secondary post 80 can be angularly displaced into, respectively, the secondary-rail and secondary-post storage positions. With principal reference to FIG. 3, it will be appreciated that selective coupling of the secondary rail 60 and secondary post 80 is facilitated by a pin-and-socket arrangement. More specifically, a secondary-rail pin 65 extends from the secondary-rail bottom surface 64. A secondary-rail-pin socket 85 configured for removably receiving the secondary-rail pin 65 is defined within the secondary-post top end 82. When the secondary rail 60 and secondary post 80 are pivoted into specific angular orientations, the secondary-rail pin 65 is aligned with and inserted into the secondary-rail-pin socket 85 thereby supporting the secondary rail 60 and the secondary post 80 in their deployed orientations, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The foregoing is considered to be illustrative of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since modifications and changes to various aspects and implementations will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, it is to be understood that the foregoing does not limit the invention as expressed in the appended claims to the exact constructions, implementations and versions shown and described.

Claims

1. A collapsible handrail system configured for mounting to a wall adjacent a staircase extending upwardly from a staircase bottom to a staircase top and having stair treads and stair risers with widthwise extents oriented perpendicularly to the wall, the handrail system comprising: an elongated primary rail having primary-rail top and bottom surfaces extending between primary-rail upper and lower ends, the primary-rail lower end being pivotably mounted to the wall such that the primary rail can be angularly displaced between primary-rail deployed and storage positions about a fixed primary-rail pivot axis that extends perpendicularly to the wall and substantially parallel to the widthwise extent of the stair treads, the primary-rail pivot axis furthermore being fixed in a location more proximate to the staircase bottom than to the staircase top; anda primary post having primary-post top and bottom ends, the primary-post bottom end being pivotably mounted to the wall such that the primary post can be angularly displaced between primary-post deployed and primary-post storage positions about a fixed primary-post pivot axis that extends substantially parallel to the primary-rail pivot axis, wherein(i) the primary-rail deployed and storage positions are such that the primary-rail upper end is disposed at, respectively, higher and lower relative elevations;(ii) the primary-post deployed and storage positions are such that the primary-post top end is disposed at, respectively, higher and lower relative elevations;(iii) the primary rail and primary post can selectively couple such that, when in, respectively, the primary-rail and primary-post deployed positions, the primary-post top end supports and maintains the primary rail in the primary-rail deployed position; and(iv) the deployed primary rail and primary post can selectively decouple such that they can be angularly displaced into, respectively, the primary-rail and primary-post storage positions.

2. The handrail system of claim 1, wherein (i) the staircase adjacent the wall to which the primary rail and primary post are mounted is a basement staircase situated below a bulkhead including at least a first bulkhead door;(ii) the first bulkhead door is pivotable between open and closed positions;(iii) when the first bulkhead door is in the closed position, it extends along a closure plane that is spatially disposed over the basement staircase;(iv) when the primary rail and primary post are in, respectively, the primary-rail and primary-post storage positions, neither the primary rail nor the primary post extends above the closure plane; and(v) when the primary rail and primary post are in, respectively, the primary-rail and primary-post deployed positions, and selectively coupled, at least the primary-rail upper end is disposed above the closure plane.

3. The handrail system of claim 2 further comprising a secondary rail having secondary-rail top and bottom surfaces extending between secondary-rail first and second ends, wherein (i) the secondary-rail first end is pivotably attached to the primary-rail upper end for angular displacement relative to the primary rail about a secondary-rail pivot axis between secondary-rail deployed and storage positions;(ii) the secondary-rail storage position is such that the secondary rail is folded back over the primary rail such that the secondary-rail top surface is disposed above the primary-rail top surface; and(iii) the secondary-rail deployed position is such that, when the primary rail is in the primary-rail deployed position, and the secondary rail is in the secondary-rail deployed position, the secondary rail (a) is disposed above the closure plane, (b) extends away from the primary-rail upper end, and (c) defines a secondary-rail deployment angle with the primary rail such that at least a portion of the secondary rail is substantially parallel to the stair treads.

4. The handrail system of claim 3 further comprising a secondary post having secondary-post top and bottom ends, the secondary-post bottom end being pivotably mounted to the wall for angular displacement of the secondary post between secondary-post deployed and storage positions about a fixed secondary-post pivot axis that extends substantially parallel to the primary-rail and primary-post pivot axes, wherein (i) the secondary-post deployed and storage positions are such that the secondary-post top end is disposed, respectively, above and below the closure plane;(iii) the secondary rail and secondary post can selectively couple such that, when in, respectively, the secondary-rail and secondary-post deployed positions, the secondary-post top end supports and maintains the secondary rail in the secondary-rail deployed position; and(iv) the deployed and mutually coupled secondary rail and secondary post can selectively decouple such that they can be angularly displaced into, respectively, the secondary-rail and secondary-post storage positions.

5. The handrail system of claim 4 wherein at least one of (i) selective coupling of the primary rail and primary post is facilitated by a primary-rail pin extending from one of the primary rail and the primary post and a primary-rail-pin socket configured for removably receiving the primary-rail pin and defined within the other of the primary post and the primary rail; and(ii) selective coupling of the secondary rail and secondary post is facilitated by a secondary-rail pin extending from one of the secondary rail and the secondary post and a secondary-rail-pin socket configured for removably receiving the secondary-rail pin and defined within the other of the secondary post and the secondary rail.

6. A collapsible staircase handrail system comprising: an elongated primary rail extending lengthwise between primary-rail upper and lower ends, the primary rail being pivotably mounted adjacent the staircase for angular displacement about a spatially-fixed primary-rail pivot axis between primary-rail deployed and storage positions, the primary-rail deployed and storage positions being such that that the primary-rail upper end is disposed at, respectively, higher and lower elevations; andan elongated primary post extending lengthwise between primary-post top and bottom ends, the primary post being pivotably mounted adjacent the staircase for angular displacement about a spatially-fixed primary-post pivot axis between primary-post deployed and storage positions, the primary-post deployed and storage positions being such that the primary-post top end is disposed at, respectively, higher and lower relative elevations, the primary post being furthermore selectively couplable to the primary post such that the primary post and primary rail are maintained in, respectively, the primary-post and primary-rail deployed positions.

7. The handrail system of claim 6 further comprising a secondary rail extending between secondary-rail first and second ends, the secondary-rail first end being pivotably attached to the primary-rail upper end for angular displacement relative to the primary rail about a secondary-rail pivot axis between secondary-rail deployed and storage positions, the secondary-rail storage position being such that the secondary rail is folded over the primary rail.

8. The handrail system of claim 7 further comprising a secondary post extending lengthwise between secondary-post top and bottom ends, the secondary-post being pivotably mounted adjacent the staircase for angular displacement about a spatially-fixed secondary-post pivot axis between secondary-post deployed and storage positions, the secondary-post deployed and storage positions being such that the secondary-post top end is disposed at, respectively, higher and lower relative elevations, the secondary post being furthermore selectively couplable to the primary post such that the secondary post and secondary rail are maintained in, respectively, the secondary-post and secondary-rail deployed positions.

9. The handrail system of claim 8 wherein the primary-rail, primary-post, and secondary-post pivot axes are mutually parallel.

10. The handrail system of claim 9 wherein primary-rail, primary-post, and secondary-post are independently mounted to a vertical staircase wall adjacent the staircase, and wherein the primary-rail, primary-post, and secondary-post pivot axes extend perpendicularly to the staircase wall.