A barrier-free grip

For more than 125 years, FSB has been occupied with gripping and handles. Design and ergonomics are basic ingredients in the development of these products, destined to serve people as extensions of their hands – like tools.

We have applied our expertise in the area of door handles to the design of barrier-free products for sanitary installations and, with the ErgoSystem, established a product line that is completely oriented towards the needs of disabled and elderly persons. This system of handles offers optimal assistance to people in helping themselves and thus performs an important social function. It encourages activity and provides safety, thus improving the quality of life. An expertise prepared by the German Society for Geriatric Engineering explicitly confirms the excellent functionality of the ErgoSystem.

The design concept

The laws of ergonomics have been consistently applied to the diagonal-oval ErgoSystem. The form and function of ErgoSystem products are in harmony. The tilted, oval handholds offer a particularly high level of gripping comfort according to ergonomic principles. Their form is designed to fit the human anatomy.

In holding on to objects, a basic distinction is made between touching and clasping. Where someone touches an object, contact between the fingers and the object is made only at certain points. Consequently, force transmission from the hand to the object occurs only at these points of contact. By contrast, a clasping grip brings the entire surface of the palm into contact with the object, so that the hand can also transmit its force through the entire surface. Clasping is the most common method to take hold of something: every human being uses it instinctively when forced to hold or support his own body weight. An oval cross-section is particularly well adapted to the anatomy of the hand. When clasping an object with an oval cross-section, the hand gets a positive locking grip around it. The strain is evenly distributed among all fingers, and all joints, including the wrist, are optimally utilized. This means that the hand needs to exert considerably less force than for a grip on a circular cross-section to prevent it from twisting while holding on to the handle. The oval shape offers the firmest possible grip with the least possible strain on the muscles.

Consequently, an oval cross-section is a natural and therefore ideal form for handholds, especially if the oval is tilted by 45° to a diagonal position. This comes as a logical consequence of the 3-dimensional arm movement resulting from the simultaneous search for direction and support. The movement to grab a support handhold takes a diagonal direction, beginning at the shoulder joint and ending with clasping the handhold. In this way, a stable triangle is formed between the hand, the shoulder and the place on which the person is standing. This provides optimal force transmission from the body through the arm to the hand.

Therefore no additional recessed grips are needed to assist the transmission of force. Special anti-slip surfaces are also unnecessary. Sturdy fastening roses give the user a feeling of security. The material used, stainless steel, is unrivalled for strength and corrosion resistance. It shows hardly any traces of scratching, knocks or abrasion even after long-term continuous use. The special form language of oval-shaped handholds and the design of the joining elements give these products an appearance of light weight and elegance.

Systematic gripping safety

The characteristic design concept of this functional handhold system is followed through in the accessories that have been added to the range. Thus a consistent design concept has been created which includes shower cabins, bath tubs, washstands and toilets. Here also, product development based on knowledge about gripping has led to individual solutions: for example, the toothbrush tumbler is inclined towards the user when placed in its bracket, the handle of the toilet brush takes a convenient position in its stand and re-adjusts itself automatically when placed back after use. This reduces the necessary arm and hand movements to a minimum. The high quality of the ErgoSystem is the sum of its supportive, functional solutions and its unobtrusive, consistent design.