US 11,753,278 B2
Stairlift rail and method of forming same
Allen Edward Brook, Waterford, WI (US); Terrence E. O'Brien, Oconomowoc, WI (US); Roy E. McDaniels, Watertown, WI (US); Scott Martin Hall, Sussex, WI (US); Matthew R. Peterson, Brookfield, WI (US); and Jeffrey Franklin Marcheske, Waukesha, WI (US)
Assigned to BRUNO INDEPENDENT LIVING AIDS, INC., Oconomowoc, WI (US)
Appl. No. 17/595,699
Filed by Bruno Independent Living Aids, Inc., Oconomowoc, WI (US)
PCT Filed May 28, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/034819
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 22, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/243233, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 3, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/886,620, filed on Aug. 14, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/855,119, filed on May 31, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0081257 A1, Mar. 17, 2022
Int. Cl. B66B 9/00 (2006.01); B66B 9/08 (2006.01)
CPC B66B 9/0846 (2013.01) 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of manufacturing a rail segment for use in a stairlift rail system, the method comprising:
providing an elongate straight tube comprising a first end, an opposite second end, and a longitudinal retaining slot extending from the first end to the second end, the tube being made of a first material;
providing an elongate rack comprising a first end, a second end, a base and a plurality of teeth extending from the base, the rack being made of a second material which is different from the first material;
inserting the rack into the slot thereby forming a mated rack and tube assembly;
anchoring the first end of the rack at or adjacent to the first end of the tube;
thereafter simultaneously bending and/or twisting the mated rack and tube assembly and thereby forming a curved rail segment; and
thereafter anchoring the second end of the rack at or adjacent to the second end of the tube.