HK1191314B

HK1191314B - Elevator cab wall panel

Info

Publication number: HK1191314B
Application number: HK14104486.7A
Authority: HK
Inventors: Christele GRESSIEN; Emmanuel CONVARD
Original assignee: Otis Elevator Company
Filing date: 2011-03-04
Publication date: 2017-05-19

Description

Elevator car wallboard

Technical Field

Background

Elevator cars carry passengers between different floors, for example, in a building. The interior of the elevator car may be decorated in different styles. Many elevator cars include a car operating panel that allows a passenger to select the floor to which he wants to be carried. The car operating panel is typically designed to have a finished appearance that conforms to the interior of the car.

Various challenges may exist when assembling an elevator car. For example, it is sometimes necessary to design custom pieces to accommodate changes in car size. Custom pieces designed for different car sizes have the disadvantage of increasing expense and requiring a larger inventory of available parts for the installer.

Disclosure of Invention

An exemplary elevator car wall panel includes a plurality of panel members that are selectively movable relative to one another to adjust the size of the panel. The plate is useful for selectively covering a gap in an elevator car between the car operating plate and a nearby surface. In this gap, the wall plate provides the final wall surface.

An exemplary elevator car includes a floor, a ceiling, and a plurality of walls between the floor and the ceiling. A car operating plate is supported on one of the walls with a gap adjacent the car operating plate between the car operating plate and at least one of the floor or ceiling. The wall panel includes a plurality of panel members selectively movable relative to each other to adjust the size of the wall panel for selectively covering a gap adjacent the car operating panel. In the gap, the wall plate provides a final wall surface.

An exemplary method of covering a gap between a car operating plate and a nearby surface in an elevator car includes positioning a plurality of plate members between the car operating plate and the nearby surface. The plate members are then allowed to move relative to each other until the plate members cover the gap and provide a final surface for covering the gap.

The various features and advantages of the disclosed embodiments of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows.

Drawings

Figure 1 schematically illustrates selected portions of an elevator car designed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 schematically illustrates an example wall panel including panel members in a first position relative to one another, designed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Fig. 3 schematically illustrates the example wall panel of fig. 2 with the panel members in a second position relative to each other.

Fig. 4 schematically illustrates selected features of the example of fig. 2.

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates selected features of FIG. 4 in another position.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates selected portions of an elevator car 20. In this example, the car 20 includes elevator car doors 22 that are movable in a known manner to allow access to the interior of the elevator car. One wall portion 24 is on one side of the door 22 while the other wall portion 26 is on the opposite side of the door 22. In this example, a car operating plate 28 is provided on the wall portion 26. For example, the car operating panel 28 allows passengers to select a desired destination.

The wall panel 30 is positioned between the car operating panel 28 and the floor 32 of the elevator car 20. When the car operating plate 28 is installed, there is a gap S in the elevator car between the car operating plate 28 and nearby surfaces, such as the surface of the floor 32. The wall plate 30 covers the gap S and provides a final surface in the gap S. When the example wall plate 30 is installed, nothing more need be done to finish the gap S.

The wall panels 30 have selectively adjustable outer dimensions to accommodate different sized gaps S in different elevator cars. This gap S between the bottom of the car operating plate 28 and the elevator car floor 32, for example, can vary among different elevator cars. The example wall panel 30 facilitates economical assembly and installation of the elevator car 20 by providing the ability to easily fill the gap S and cover it with the final surface provided by the wall panel 30.

It should be noted that the gap S shown in fig. 1 is illustrated for discussion purposes. The relative proportions or sizes of the different features of the illustrated elevator car 20 may be different than those shown in the illustration. For example, the car operating plate 28 may vary in size relative to the wall plate 26. The size of the gap S may be e.g. around 10 to 15 mm high and 500 mm wide when viewed from the inside of the elevator car.

As can be appreciated from fig. 2, the wall plate 30 contains a plurality of plate members 34. Four plate members 34A, 34B, 34C and 34D are shown. In other examples of the wall plate 30, a different number of plate members may be included. In fig. 2, the plate members 34 are pressed relatively tightly together to form a first outer dimension H1. In this first, retracted position, the plurality of major panel portions 36A, 36B, 36C and 36D form a final surface for covering a gap S having a size corresponding to the first outer dimension H1. In the retracted position shown in fig. 2, the major panel portions 36 are received adjacent one another and collectively provide a final surface for covering the gap S.

Fig. 3 shows the plate member 34 in a second, expanded position. As shown in fig. 3, the plate member 34 includes a primary plate portion 36 and secondary plate portions 38A, 38B, 38C, and 38D, respectively. In the expanded position of fig. 3, the major and minor plate portions 36, 38 collectively define a second, larger outer dimension H2.

By comparing fig. 2 and 3, it is possible to see how the wall panel 30 can be adjusted to accommodate different sizes of the gap S in the elevator car between the car operating panel 28 and the nearby surface to cover the gap and provide a final surface across it. In the example of fig. 3, the major plate portion 36 and the minor plate portion 38 provide the final surfaces when the wall plate 30 is properly positioned within the elevator car.

In the example of fig. 2 and 3, the wallboard member 34 is automatically movable from the retracted position shown in fig. 2 to the expanded position shown in fig. 3. Fig. 4 schematically illustrates one example arrangement for providing this automatic movement. A plurality of biasing members 40 selectively urge the plate members 34 away from one another into the expanded position of fig. 3. In this example, the biasing member 40 comprises a spring having a first end 42 fixed to one of the plate members and a second end 44 received against a reaction surface 46 on an adjacent one of the plate members. In one example, the plate member 34 and the spring 40 are integrally formed together as a single piece. One exemplary embodiment includes a plastic panel member 34 and a plastic spring 40.

The illustrated example includes a limiting member for limiting the amount of expansion or adjustment of the plate members 34 relative to each other. In this example, each restraining member includes a stem 50 connected to one of the plate members 34. The stem 50 is at least partially received through a slot 52 in an adjacent one of the plate members 34. Since the plate members 34 are movable relative to each other, the spine 50 moves through the slot 52.

Each example restraining member includes a stop surface 54 that is received against the reaction surface 46 on an adjacent one of the plate members 34 when the biasing member 40 urges the plate members 34 away from each other to the furthest possible distance formed by the length of the stem 50.

As can be understood from the illustration, the example wall panel 30 accommodates different sizes of the gap S in the elevator car between the car operating panel 28 and the nearby surface. There may be different expanded positions between a contracted position, in which the major plate portions 36 are received adjacent and abutting each other in one example, and a most distal expanded position, in which the major plate portions 36 are separated from each other by a maximum desired distance in the expanded position, with the minor plate portions 38 covering the distance between adjacent major plate portions 36.

Installing the example wall plate 30 according to the example embodiment is a relatively simple task. The plate members 34 are compressed relative to each other by the biasing members against the biasing member 40 to a retracted position such as shown in fig. 2. The wall panel 30 is then positioned within the elevator car between the car operating panel 28 and a nearby surface, such as a floor 32. The plate members 34 are then allowed to automatically move relative to each other by the action of the biasing member 40 until the plate members 34 move to the expanded position having an outer dimension approximately equal to the corresponding dimension of the gap S. In other words, the wall members 34 automatically move to positions relative to each other to cover the gap S and provide a final surface within the elevator car between the car operating plate 28 and a nearby surface, such as the floor 32.

The preceding description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed examples may become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not necessarily depart from the essence of this invention. The scope of legal protection given to this invention can only be determined by studying the following claims.

Claims

1. An elevator car wall panel comprising:

a plurality of plate members selectively movable relative to each other to adjust the size of the plates for selectively covering a gap in an elevator car between a car operating plate and a nearby surface and providing a final wall surface in the gap;

wherein the panel members are movable relative to each other between a collapsed position in which the wall panel has a first outer dimension and an expanded position in which the wall panel has a second, larger outer dimension; and is

Wherein the content of the first and second substances,

the plate members each comprising a major plate portion and a minor plate portion;

the major panel portions are received adjacent one another and collectively provide the final wall surface when the panel members are in the retracted position; and is

The primary plate portion and the secondary plate portion collectively provide the final wall surface when the plate member is in the expanded position.

2. The elevator car wall panel of claim 1, wherein the panel member is selectively movable to a plurality of expanded positions between the retracted position and a furthest expanded position.

3. An elevator car wall panel as claimed in claim 1, comprising:

a plurality of biasing members biasing the plate member toward the expanded position.

4. An elevator car wall panel as claimed in claim 3 in which the biasing member comprises a spring urging the panel members away from each other.

5. An elevator car wall panel as claimed in claim 3, comprising:

a plurality of stop members limiting an amount of movement of one of the plate members away from an adjacent one of the plate members.

6. The elevator car wall panel according to claim 5, wherein the stop member comprises a stem having one end secured to one of the plate members, the stem being at least partially received through a slot in an adjacent one of the plate members, each stop member comprising a stop surface received against the adjacent one of the plate members to form a furthest extent to which the corresponding one of the biasing members urges the one of the plate members away from the adjacent one of the plate members.

7. An elevator car, comprising:

a base plate;

a top plate above the bottom plate;

a plurality of walls between the floor and the ceiling;

a car operating plate supported on one of the walls with a gap adjacent the car operating plate between the car operating plate and at least one of the bottom plate or the top plate; and

a wall panel including a plurality of panel members selectively movable relative to each other to adjust a size of the wall panel for selectively covering the gap adjacent the car operating panel and providing a final wall surface in the gap;

wherein the panel members are movable relative to each other between a collapsed position in which the wall panel has a first outer dimension and an expanded position in which the wall panel has a second, larger outer dimension;

wherein:

the plate members each comprising a primary plate portion and a secondary plate portion;

8. The elevator car of claim 7, wherein the plate member is selectively movable to a plurality of expanded positions between the retracted position and a furthest expanded position.

9. The elevator car of claim 7, comprising:

10. The elevator car of claim 9, wherein the biasing member comprises a spring urging the plate members away from each other.

11. The elevator car of claim 9, comprising:

12. The elevator car of claim 11, wherein the stop members comprise spines having one end secured to one of the plate members, the spines being at least partially received through slots on an adjacent one of the plate members, the stop members each comprising a stop surface received against the adjacent one of the plate members to form a furthest extent to which the corresponding one of the biasing members urges the one of the plate members away from the adjacent one of the plate members.

13. The elevator car of claim 7, wherein the plate member automatically moves to an expanded position corresponding to the wall panel covering the gap.

14. A method of covering a gap in an elevator car between a car operating plate and a nearby surface, comprising the steps of:

positioning a plurality of plate members between the car operating plate and the nearby surface; and

allowing the plate members to move relative to each other until the plate members cover the gap and provide a final surface for covering the gap;

urging the plate members together to a retracted position in which the plate members collectively form a first outer dimension at most equal to a corresponding dimension of the gap;

positioning the plate member between the car operating plate and the nearby surface when the plate member is in the retracted position; and is

Moving the plate members to an expanded position in which the plate members collectively form a second, larger outer dimension equal to the corresponding dimension of the gap; wherein

the major plate portions are received adjacent one another and collectively provide the final surface when the plate members are in the retracted position; and is

The primary plate portion and the secondary plate portion collectively provide the final surface when the plate member is in the expanded position.

15. The method of claim 14, comprising: allowing the plate members to automatically move to an expanded position in which the plate members collectively form a second, larger outer dimension equal to the corresponding dimension of the gap.