Specific Handrail Configuration Patents (Class 198/337)
  • Patent number: 11975943
    Abstract: In a handrail including a carcass, a stretch inhibitor within the carcass, and a sliding layer bonded to the carcass, at least a portion of the carcass has a gas phase dispersed in a solid polymer matrix. The gas phase can reduce a density of the carcass by at least 5% or 10%, or about 15%, as compared to a density of the polymer matrix. The carcass can have a generally uniform distribution of gas bubbles in the polymer matrix, which can define a generally closed cell structure in the polymer matrix. The gas phase can be formed of particles of a syntactic foam dispersed in the polymer matrix. The handrail can further include a cover. The carcass and the cover can be formed of thermoplastic materials, and the cover can represent between 10 and 30% of the overall TPU required for the handrail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: EHC CANADA, INC.
    Inventors: Qingping Guo, Andrew Oliver Kenny, Reginald Anthony Butwell, James Ryan Sabadin, Jason Wong, Hani E. Naguib, Wanqiao Wang, Linghong Li, Ali Owais Anwer, Muhammad Abdul Samad Anwer
  • Patent number: 10124992
    Abstract: An endless handrail manufacturing method includes: a first step of cutting the dorsal part on one end side and the dorsal part on the other end side of a belt-like molded product to expose a tension member from the end portions; a second step of heating the product on the one end side, then removing the softened resin member, and then exposing a canvas from the end portion; a third step of heating the product with a heating jig to dent the abdominal part; a fourth step of applying an adhesive to the terminal on the one end side or the terminal on the other end side of the product, then fitting the former terminal to the latter terminal of the product; and a fifth step of supplementing a resin to the fitting portion, then hot pressing the fitting portion to fusion-bond the terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Takeyama, Atsuhiko Yoshida, Fumiya Murata
  • Patent number: 9290360
    Abstract: The endless escalator handrail is made up of a thermoplastic resin member having a first and a second curved portions and a joint section; a flat woven fabric bonded to an inner surface of the thermoplastic resin member; a first patch cloth having a base portion and a divergent portion, for being placed on the first curved portion side in the joint section; and a second patch cloth having a base portion and a divergent portion, for being placed on the second curved portion side in the joint section. The divergent potion of the first patch cloth is bonded onto the flat woven fabric at an inward side of the first curved portion, and the divergent potion of the second patch cloth is bonded onto the flat woven fabric at an inward side of the second curved portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Takeyama, Tomoko Hada, Atsushi Kawasaki, Yoshitomo Nishimura
  • Patent number: 8967364
    Abstract: The invention relates to a passenger conveyor comprising steps/pallets which are mounted to an endless drive member running between an upper conveying path and a lower return path, characterized in that at least one heating element is provided in the step/pallet, which heating element is connected to a power source. This solution prevents the building of ice surfaces on the steps/pallets of outdoor passenger conveyors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Hans Kleine-Brüggeney, Heinrich Zeiger
  • Patent number: 8960408
    Abstract: A moving walkway or escalator includes a handrail and a guide for the handrail. The handrail is driven by motor and moved along the longitudinal axis thereof at or on the guide. The handrail is guided at or on the guide along an arcuate portion of the guide while rotated or twisted about the longitudinal axis thereof, so that it can be guided more easily around curves of the moving walkway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Innova Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Pavel Vlasak
  • Patent number: 8820511
    Abstract: Modified handrails for use in escalators, moving walkways and other transportation apparatus are provided. Handrail can include a configuration for a cable array as a stretch inhibitor that reduces cable buckling under severe flexing conditions. Handrail can also include a configuration for first and second thermoplastic layers in the lip portions that reduces strain and bending stresses and increases fatigue failure life under cyclic loading conditions. Handrail can also include, for the stretch inhibitor, the use of cables comprising large outer strands and small inner strands that enable penetration and adhesion within the first layer and can reduce incidence of fretting or corrosion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: EHC Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: Viqar Haider, Andrew Oliver Kenny, Alexander Stuart Caunce
  • Patent number: 8800744
    Abstract: The invention relates to a handrail (1), used in particular for escalators or moving walkways, comprising a plurality of grip elements (10) or grip segments (10) arranged next to one another. The grip elements or grip segments (10) consist of a base body (11) that has an outer shell (12) or cover layer (12) and several inner chambers (15) delimited by the outer shell (12) or cover layer (12). The base body (11) has many or several reinforcing ribs (16 to 20 and 16? to 20?, 35 and 35? and 36 and 54). The outer shell or cover layer (12) is continuous in a grip region (13). The reinforcing ribs (16 to 20 and 16? to 20?, 35 and 35? and 36 and 54) divide the interior (15) into separate, independent chambers (21-24, 37-38, 55). This provides excellent thermal insulation and excellent soundproofing or noise insulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Thomas Illedits, Thomas Novacek, Michael Matheisl
  • Patent number: 8721949
    Abstract: A method of making a passenger conveyor handrail includes forming a drive member having a plurality of longitudinally spaced drive surfaces. The drive member has a longitudinal stiffness for maintaining a desired spacing between the drive surfaces. The drive member is inserted into a molding device. A gripping surface portion of the handrail is formed using the molding device such that the gripping surface portion and the drive member are secured together. Another method includes forming a belt drive member having a plurality of teeth that establish a plurality of longitudinally spaced drive surfaces. The belt has a longitudinal stiffness for maintaining a desired spacing between the drive surfaces. Each of the teeth extends across an entire width of the belt. The belt is secured to a gripping surface portion of the handrail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: John P. Wesson, John M. Milton-Benoit, Changsheng Guo, James R. Irish, Gopalakrishna Rajagopalan, Xiaomei Yu, Jun Ma, Foster P. Lamm, Justin R. Hawkes
  • Patent number: 8714338
    Abstract: A handrail (2) for an escalator or a moving sidewalk is designed such that the same consists only of a handle rail (3a) and a fitted tractive means (91, 9b) and has guiding surfaces (11h-11n) which are complementary to guiding surfaces (5f-5m) on a top side (7) of the balustrade. The handle rail (3a) or a cover of the handle rail (3a) is made of tire-resistant, non-flammable, or flame-retardant material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Michael Matheisl, Thomas Illedits, Thomas Novacek
  • Patent number: 8662280
    Abstract: A handrail (2) for an escalator or a moving sidewalk is designed such that the same consists only of a handle rail (3a) and a fitted tractive means (9a, 9b) and has guiding surfaces (11h-11n) which are complementary to guiding surfaces (5f-5m) on a top side (7) of a balustrade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Michael Matheisl, Thomas Illedits, Thomas Novacek, Martin Fritz
  • Publication number: 20130299305
    Abstract: A moving walkway or escalator includes a handrail and a guide for the handrail. The handrail is driven by motor and moved along the longitudinal axis thereof at or on the guide. The handrail is guided at or on the guide along an arcuate portion of the guide while rotated or twisted about the longitudinal axis thereof, so that it can be guided more easily around curves of the moving walkway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: INNOVA PATENT GMBH
    Inventor: Pavel Vlasak
  • Patent number: 8534445
    Abstract: A monitor, which may be closely associated with a handrail, may determine the amount of force applied to the handrail. The monitor may also determine the pattern in which force is applied to the handrail in order to assess how the user is contacting the handrail. The user's application of force to the handrail can be monitored along the course of movement along the handrail and may be compared to historical usage patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Intel-GE Care Innovations LLC
    Inventors: Julie Behan, Terrance Dishongh, Karol O'Donovan, Adrian Burns, Simon Roberts
  • Patent number: 8522952
    Abstract: Handrail having laterally bent edges which engage around laterally projecting ribs of a guide element such that the ends of the bent edges are situated at a clear distance from one another and each at a distance from a guide base of the guide element where the clear distance corresponds to a total gap size plus a width of the guide base and is chosen in consideration of the width of the guide base and the shrinkage and warpage phenomena occurring during operation to not exceed 8 mm, while a clear width of the bent edges is chosen to be greater than the width of the guide element at the ends of the laterally projecting ribs such that, considering tolerances of the width of the guide element at the ends of the ribs and the shrinkage and warpage phenomena occurring during operation of the handrail, not exceed 8 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Semperit AG Holding
    Inventor: Andre Wieczorek
  • Patent number: 8387780
    Abstract: An exemplary assembly includes at least one elongated tension member (32). A jacket covers at least some of the tension member (32). The jacket comprises a polymer material (68,64) including an adhesion enhancer (62) that facilitates adhesion between the tension member and the jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Xiaomei Yu, Gopal R. Krishnan, John P. Wesson, John M. Milton-Benoit
  • Patent number: 8360234
    Abstract: An exemplary assembly includes at least one elongated tension member (32). A jacket covers at least some of the tension member (32). The jacket comprises a polymer material (68,64) including an adhesion enhancer (62) that facilitates adhesion between the tension member and the jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Xiaomei Yu, Gopal R. Krishnan, John P. Wesson, John M. Milton-Benoit
  • Patent number: 8323544
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for pretreatment of slider layer for extruded handrails has a slider layer source, a means of conveying the slider layer to a heating module which subjects the slider layer to an elevated temperature for a residence time, and a means of conveying the slider layer to an extrusion die head. One or more control feeders may be implemented for maintaining portions of the slider layer in a substantially tension-free loop as the slider layer is conveyed from the slider layer source to the extrusion die head. A cooling zone may be included to ensure adequate cooling between the heating module and the extrusion die head. Means for reducing heat transfer between the extrusion die head and the slider layer is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: EHC Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: Viqar Haider, Andrew Oliver Kenny
  • Publication number: 20120279826
    Abstract: The invention provides a kit and method for the assembly of a stairlift guide rail, the kit comprising a plurality of sections of guide rail wherein the sections have predetermined standard dimensions. The kit preferably includes a plurality of sections of straight guide rail and a plurality of sections of curved guide rail. When fitted together according to the method of the invention, the plurality of sections of guide rail facilitate the construction of a stairlift guide rail assembly and a stairlift assembly, such that an operative is able to complete the full assembly on site. The stairlift assembly preferably also comprises load bearing means, typically in the form of seating means, chassis means and driving means. The kit and method of the invention offer significant advantages over the systems and methods of the prior art in terms of cost and time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventor: John Stewart Jakes
  • Publication number: 20120279827
    Abstract: A handrail assembly for an escalator system includes a handrail movable along a length of the escalator and a handrail guide assembly defining a travel path for the handrail. The handrail guide assembly includes a handrail guide and a plurality of sliding bearing supports interconnected to form a handrail chain and secured to the handrail guide. One or more sliding bearings extend at least partially through each sliding bearing support of the handrail chain. A shaft extends through each sliding bearing support and is in sliding contact with the one or more sliding bearings. One or more rollers are secured to at least one end of the shaft and is in rolling contact with the handrail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Wei Ge, Weifeng Shao, MingPing Jiang, Jun Li
  • Patent number: 8286782
    Abstract: An information display system for a conveying device, the information display system comprising a driving mechanism, a flexible display loop driven by the driving mechanism to travel in a closed loop, and an image forming module configured to provide media to at least a section of the flexible display loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Jia-Xing Lin, Tai-Ann Chen, Da-Wei Lee, Jung-Ya Hsieh
  • Patent number: 8240453
    Abstract: A film for cleaning guide rollers of escalator can be detachably stuck over a predetermined length in a direction of transporting of a handrail belt, to the endless handrail belt which is guided and transported by guide rollers installed at a lower side of steps of an escalator (E) and a belt guide which is installed at an upper side of the steps, and includes a removing film layer which scrapes substances adhered to an outer circumferential surface of the guide rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignees: Vistec Co., Ltd., Videca Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Nobuo Miyaji
  • Patent number: 8235199
    Abstract: A handrail has an outer shell at least partially coated with at least one layer of a metal and/or at least one metal compound, and is formed of a plurality of interconnected grip elements located on a power transmission chain or belt. Ends of adjacent grip elements can be pushed inside each other, allowing the grip elements to tilt with respect to each other, particularly in bent or curved sections, without deforming the elements. Each grip element may have an interior chamber or recess which overlaps an external chamfer or recess of an adjacent grip element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Thomas Illedits, Thomas Novacek, Michael Matheisl
  • Patent number: 8206528
    Abstract: A method of applying a film to an endless moving handrail comprises the steps of adhering a first film layer, having sufficient resilience to accommodate strains occurring on the surfaces of the endless moving handrail and including a barrier coating on at least one of top and bottom surfaces of the first layer, to a top surface of an endless moving handrail, and adhering a substantially transparent film layer over the first film layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: EHC Canada, Inc.
    Inventor: Naseer Mohammed Qureshi
  • Patent number: 8186498
    Abstract: There is provided a handrail for passenger conveyor in which it is possible to give a prescribed strength to a junction of a canvas and it is possible to prevent vibrations and noises which might be generated when a driving roller passes by the junction of the canvas. For this purpose, a canvas is provided along an inner surface of an annular core body having a C-shaped cross section, which is formed from a thermoplastic elastomer material, and a surface of each of adjacent end portions of the canvas in a junction is formed to be indented toward the core body side compared to surfaces of other portions which form an inner surface of a handrail. An application cloth is provided between the end portions of the canvas so as to cover a gap formed between the end portions of the canvas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Tokan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Kawasaki, Yuji Kawamura
  • Patent number: 8123020
    Abstract: An easily dismantled escalator outer decking, the escalator including a handrail system bracket and a balustrade panel, the escalator outer decking including cover plate (1), wherein the escalator outer decking also includes a first bracket (3) mounted on the handrail system bracket (5), a retention member (2) secured to the cover plate (1) and an insertion strip (8), wherein the retention member (2) is connected to the first bracket (3) in a manner of embedding or snapping, and the insertion strip (8) is wedged between the cover plate (1) and the balustrade panel (9); such that when the outer decking is disassembled, the cover plate (1) and the retention member (2) can be taken down together by putting away the insertion strip (8) first and then lifting the cover plate (1) and the retention member (2) or pushing them towards the balustrade panel (9). The escalator outer decking the present invention has good configuration and can be dismantled easily during maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Yongqing Fang, Jianguo Li, Mingping Jiang
  • Patent number: 8123373
    Abstract: People conveyor (2) having an endless people transportation band (4) and an endless handrail (6), a glass balustrade (8) arranged laterally to the transportation band (4) and supporting the handrail (6), and a profile (10, 12) having an U-shaped channel (38) for engaging the glass balustrade (8) and comprising an illumination cavity (44), wherein a plurality of LEDs is arranged in the illumination cavity (44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Andreas Vogt, Frank Wiegand, Frank Kirchhoff, Bernward Engelke
  • Patent number: 8006823
    Abstract: The invention encompasses a handrail for escalators or moving walkways that includes a grip piece of a thermoplastic elastomer including soft segments and hard segments and optionally a sliding layer arranged on the underside of the grip piece relative to the mounting orientation of the handrail. A ratio of the proportions of the soft segments to the hard segments is selected from a range with a lower limit of 1:1 and an upper limit of 9:1, or, in a variation, from a range with a lower limit of 1.5:1 and an upper limit of 6:1, or, in another variation, from a range with a lower limit of 2.5:1 and an upper limit of 4:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Semperit Aktiengesellschaft Holding
    Inventors: Armin Holzner, Herwig Miessbacher, Reinhard Zoernpfenning
  • Patent number: 7951254
    Abstract: A film bearing advertising can be applied to a moving handrail for a set period of time. The film bearing the advertising can include a first film layer and a first layer of adhesive on the underside of the first film layer, the film being generally elongated and having a width corresponding to a width of the moving handrail. The film can be aligned and adhered, continuously and progressively, to the handrail. The advertising can include a pattern repeated at regular intervals along the length of the film. The advertising can include at least one of text, images and logos. After the set period of time, the film can be removed. After removing the film, the surface of the handrail can be cleaned. A second film bearing second advertising can be applied for a second set period of time. First and second advertisers can be charged different advertising rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: EHC Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald H. Ball, Jeno Eppel, John McLeod
  • Publication number: 20110114443
    Abstract: Handrail which can be mounted on a guide element and which is intended for moving walkways, escalators or the like, in which an inner sliding surface (2) of the handrail (1) is supported such that it can slide or roll on the guide element (3), said handrail having laterally bent edges (4) which engage around laterally projecting ribs (5) of the guide element (3), which are straight or inclined by an angle ? or upwardly bent, to such an extent that the ends (6) of the bent edges (4) are situated at a clear distance C from one another and each at a distance—(C1 or C2)—from the guide base (7) of the guide element (3), characterized in that the clear distance C of the ends (6) of the bent edges (4) of the handrail (1) corresponds to the total gap size C1+C2 plus a width X of the guide base (7) at the relevant point and is chosen such that, taking into account the tolerances of the width X of the guide base (7) and the shrinkage and warpage phenomena which result during the operation of the handrail (1), the total
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: SEMPERIT AG HOLDING
    Inventor: Andre Wieczorek
  • Publication number: 20110083938
    Abstract: The invention relates to a handrail (1), used in particular for escalators or moving walkways, comprising a plurality of grip elements (10) or grip segments (10)arranged next to one another. The grip elements or grip segments (10) consist of a base body (11) that has an outer shell (12) or cover layer (12) and several inner chambers (15) delimited by the outer shell (12) or cover layer (12). The base body (11) has many or several reinforcing ribs (16 to 20 and 16? to 20?, 35 and 35? and 36 and 54). The outer shell or cover layer (12) is continuous in a grip region (13). The reinforcing ribs (16 to 20 and 16? to 20?, 35 and 35? and 36 and 54) divide the interior (15) into separate, independent chambers (21-24, 37-38, 55). This provides excellent thermal insulation and excellent soundproofing or noise insulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas Illedits, Thomas Novacek, Michael Matheisl
  • Publication number: 20110067973
    Abstract: A handrail (2) for an escalator or a moving sidewalk is designed such that the same consists only of a handle rail (3a) and a fitted tractive means (91, 9b) and has guiding surfaces (11h-11n) which are complementary to guiding surfaces (5f-5m) on a top side (7) of the balustrade. The handle rail (3a) or a cover of the handle rail (3a) is made of tire-resistant, non-flammable, or flame-retardant material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventors: Michael Matheisl, Thomas Illedits, Thomas Novacek
  • Publication number: 20110067974
    Abstract: The handrail has an at least partially coated outer shell (3). To allow the coating (15) to comprise at least one layer consisting of a metal and/or at least one metal compound, according to the invention the handrail is formed from a plurality of grip elements (1, 1?), located on a power transmission belt. Adjacent grip elements (1, 1?) can be pushed inside one another, tilting said grip elements (1, 1?) in relation to one another without producing deformations of said elements (1, 1?) in the bent region. For this purpose, each grip element (1) has an interior chamfer (8) or recess (8), which is used to overlap an external chamfer (9?) or recess (9?) of the adjacent grip element (1?), allowing the elements to be pushed inside one another or tilted in relation to one another. It is advantageous if the outer shell (3) is double-walled with an outer wall (17) and an inner wall (18).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas Illedits, Thomas Novacek, Michael Matheisl
  • Publication number: 20110067972
    Abstract: A handrail (2) for an escalator or a moving sidewalk is designed such that the same consists only of a handle rail (3a) and a fitted tractive means (9a, 9b) and has guiding surfaces (11h-11n) which are complementary to guiding surfaces (5f-5m) on a top side (7) of a balustrade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Michael Matheisl, Thomas Illedits, Thomas Novacek, Martin Fritz
  • Publication number: 20110061990
    Abstract: The invention relates to a handrail (1), used in particular for escalators or moving walkways and having a plurality or grip elements (2 and 2?) arranged next to one another. Each grip element (2) has an outer shell (10), cover layer (10) or casing (10) which is at least partially transparent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas Illedits, Thomas Novacek, Michael Matheisl
  • Publication number: 20100258403
    Abstract: Modified handrails for use in escalators, moving walkways and other transportation apparatus are provided. Handrail can include a configuration for a cable array as a stretch inhibitor that reduces cable buckling under severe flexing conditions. Handrail can also include a configuration for first and second thermoplastic layers in the lip portions that reduces strain and bending stresses and increases fatigue failure life under cyclic loading conditions. Handrail can also include, for the stretch inhibitor, the use of cables comprising large outer strands and small inner strands that enable penetration and adhesion within the first layer and can reduce incidence of fretting or corrosion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventors: Viqar Haider, Andrew Oliver Kenny, Alexander Stuart Caunce
  • Patent number: 7802670
    Abstract: Disclosed is a hand rail for a passenger conveying installation, such as e.g. an escaltor or a passenger conveyor, which has a flexible base body with two side lips for engaging around a guide rail, and in which at least one of the side lips has a profiled section, which may be guided in a track or guide groove of the guied rail, which secures the hand rail against slipping off the guide rail, characterised in that the profiled section of the side lips has a bulge-like thickening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Semperit AG Holding
    Inventors: Albrecht Dürrer, Herwig Miessbacher
  • Patent number: 7766150
    Abstract: A passenger conveyor handrail (30) includes a sliding layer (40) that is non-woven in some examples and non-fabric in other examples. A first polymer material is used to establish a body portion (32) of the handrail (30) to provide, for example, a gripping surface (34). The sliding layer (40) is secured to a surface (38) of the handrail (30) to cover at least a portion of that surface to meet the needs of a particular situation. Disclosed examples include a variety of configurations and a variety of techniques for applying such a sliding layer (40) to a handrail (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Changsheng Guo, John M. Milton-Benoit, John P. Wesson, James R. Irish, Foster P. Lamm
  • Publication number: 20100181164
    Abstract: There is provided a handrail for passenger conveyor in which it is possible to give a prescribed strength to a junction of a canvas and it is possible to prevent vibrations and noises which might be generated when a driving roller passes by the junction of the canvas. For this purpose, a canvas is provided along an inner surface of an annular core body having a C-shaped cross section, which is formed from a thermoplastic elastomer material, and a surface of each of adjacent end portions of the canvas in a junction is formed to be indented toward the core body side compared to surfaces of other portions which form an inner surface of a handrail. An application cloth is provided between the end portions of the canvas so as to cover a gap formed between the end portions of the canvas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicants: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Tokan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Kawasaki, Yuji Kawamura
  • Patent number: 7650981
    Abstract: A passenger conveyor handrail (30) includes a sliding fabric layer (36) having a low-friction coating (40) on at least one side (38) of the sliding fabric layer (36). One example includes the low-friction coating (40) on selected portions of the one side (38) of the sliding fabric layer (36). Another example includes a coating on both sides (38, 39) of the sliding fabric layer (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Changsheng Guo, John M. Milton-Benoit, John P. Wesson
  • Patent number: 7621389
    Abstract: A curvature-adjustable handrail length compensation device for an escalator or a moving walkway is provided. The device comprises a frame, handrail support mounted along a length of the frame, and springs mounted to the frame to elastically support the handrail support. Each handrail support includes a supporting rod movably mounted through the frame, a first supporting roller mounted to an end of the supporting rod to support the handrail, and a stopper formed at the other end of the supporting rod. The spring is provided between the frame and the first supporting roller, and biases the first supporting roller away from the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventor: Chan Jong Park
  • Patent number: 7614489
    Abstract: A passenger conveyor system (20) includes a handrail assembly (30) having a guidance (40) for guiding a moving handrail (32). The example guidance includes an extrusion and presents a continuous, uninterrupted guiding surface (44) along which the handrail (32) travels. In a disclosed example, a single-piece extrusion (50) extends along an entire length of a balustrade (34). A disclosed example includes a first material forming a body of the guidance (40) and a second material (70) establishing the guiding surface (44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Changsheng Guo, John M. Milton-Benoit, John P. Wesson, Foster P. Lamm
  • Patent number: 7614490
    Abstract: A passenger conveyor handrail (30) has a gripping surface (32, 42, 52, 62, 72, 82) with a generally circular cross-section. Disclosed examples include a toothed driven surface (34, 44, 54, 64, 74, 84) that is adapted to be engaged by a toothed driving member (28) for propelling the handrail in a desired direction. Disclosed examples include having the generally circular cross-section extend along an entire length of the handrail (30) corresponding to the closed loop path followed by the handrail during operation of a corresponding passenger conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: John M. Milton-Benoit, Mary Ann T. Valk, Bryan R. Siewert, Andre Picker, Matthias Steffen, Andreas Stuffel, Klaus Seehausen, Knuth Wallbaum
  • Patent number: 7594570
    Abstract: A handrail for one of an escalator and a people-mover the includes a cross-section formed by a first upper cross-sectional part and a second lower cross-sectional part, the first cross-sectional part that includes an upper belt structured and arranged to form a handle for individuals to be transported by one of the escalator and the people-mover, the second cross-sectional part that includes a lower belt structured and arranged to form an active connection with a guiding system and a driving system, and a connecting bridge that connects the upper belt to the lower belt, wherein the cross-section has a double “T” shape and the lower belt that includes side areas that extend beyond the connecting bridge as viewed in the cross section, and the side areas are wedge-shaped. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Semperit Aktiengesellschaft Holding
    Inventor: Herwig Miessbacher
  • Publication number: 20090218192
    Abstract: The invention encompasses a handrail for escalators or moving walkways that includes a grip piece of a thermoplastic elastomer including soft segments and hard segments and optionally a sliding layer arranged on the underside of the grip piece relative to the mounting orientation of the handrail. A ratio of the proportions of the soft segments to the hard segments is selected from a range with a lower limit of 1:1 and an upper limit of 9:1, or, in a variation, from a range with a lower limit of 1.5:1 and an upper limit of 6:1, or, in another variation, from a range with a lower limit of 2.5:1 and an upper limit of 4:1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: SEMPERIT AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT HOLDING
    Inventors: Armin Holzner, Herwig Miessbacher, Reinhard Zoernpfenning
  • Patent number: 7571797
    Abstract: The present invention provides a newel guide for supporting a handrail, comprising: a friction belt having a closed curved shape and including an outer surface in contact with an internal surface of the handrail; and a support member for supporting an inner surface of the friction belt to allow the friction belt to make an endless continuous movement around the support member. The support member includes a newel frame having a pair of plate members at its upper portion, wherein the plate members are separated from each other and extend in a longitudinal direction of the newel frame. An intermediate guide is mounted on the pair of plate members and has a depressed surface in contact with the inner surface of the friction belt. A pair of joint guides is mounted to the newel frame adjacent to both ends of the intermediate guide, wherein an end of the joint guide provides a support surface for supporting the endless continuous movement of the friction belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventor: Jin Koo Lee
  • Patent number: 7562759
    Abstract: A passenger conveyor handrail (30) includes a plurality of teeth (36) that interact with a toothed driving member (42). In a disclosed example, a low friction material (60) is placed near an end of the teeth (36) on the handrail (30). The low friction material (60) facilitates the teeth sliding along a guidance (70) but does not interfere with a desired engagement between the teeth(36) and corresponding teeth (46) on the driving member (42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Changsheng Guo, Klaus Seehausen, Bernward Engelke, Detlev Lindemeier, John M. Milton-Benoit, Bryan R. Siewert, Fabio P. Bertolotti, William S. Weiss, John P. Wesson, Paul A. Stucky, Andreas Stuffel
  • Publication number: 20090127067
    Abstract: A passenger conveyor handrail (30) includes a sliding layer (40) that is non-woven in some examples and non-fabric in other examples. A first polymer material is used to establish a body portion (32) of the handrail (30) to provide, for example, a gripping surface (34). The sliding layer (40) is secured to a surface (38) of the handrail (30) to cover at least a portion of that surface to meet the needs of a particular situation. Disclosed examples include a variety of configurations and a variety of techniques for applying such a sliding layer (40) to a handrail (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Changsheng Guo, John M. Milton-Benoit, John P. Wesson, James R. Irish, Foster P. Lamm
  • Publication number: 20090071798
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hand rail for an escalator or a moving walkway, comprising a flexible base body (1) with two lateral lips (2a, 2b) that wrap around a guide rail (4). The respective ends of the lateral lips are provided with a bulge (6a, 6b), which engages in a corresponding guide groove (8a, 8b) of the guide rail (4), thus securing the hand rail against lateral slippage. The invention also relates to a corresponding guide rail (4), which is equipped with a guide groove (8a, 8b) for guiding the lateral lips of the hand rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: SEMPERIT AG HOLDING
    Inventors: Albrecht Dürrer, Herwig Miessbacher
  • Publication number: 20090008217
    Abstract: A passenger conveyor handrail (30) is driven by a device (40) including a toothed drive belt (42). An example drive belt has a plurality of teeth (46) with an at least partially concave surface (50) for engaging teeth (36) on the handrail (30). A disclosed example also includes at least partially convex projections (52) near an end of each tooth on the drive belt (42). A driven surface (48) of the drive belt (42) includes a plurality of grooves (70) arranged to allow the drive belt to slip relative to a drive wheel (60) under certain loading conditions. The disclosed example arrangement facilitates proper engagement between a drive belt (42) and a toothed handrail (30) while avoiding vertical separation forces between them, which allows for eliminating pinching rollers that would otherwise engage a gripping surface (32) on the handrail (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Changsheng Guo, John M. Milton-Benoit, Bryan R. Siewert, Detlev Lindemeier, Klaus Seehausen, Bernward Engelke
  • Publication number: 20080302632
    Abstract: A passenger conveyor handrail (30) includes a sliding fabric layer (36) having a low-friction coating (40) on at least one side (38) of the sliding fabric layer (36). A disclosed example includes the low-friction coating (40) on selected portions of the one side (38) of the sliding fabric layer (36). Another disclosed example includes a coating on both sides (38, 39) of the sliding fabric layer (36). Various manufacturing techniques are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventors: Changsheng Guo, John M. Milton-Benoit, John P. Wesson
  • Publication number: 20080202890
    Abstract: A passenger conveyor handrail (30) has a gripping surface (32, 42, 52, 62, 72, 82) with a generally circular cross-section. Disclosed examples include a toothed driven surface (34, 44, 54, 64, 74, 84) that is adapted to be engaged by a toothed driving member (28) for propelling the handrail in a desired direction. Disclosed examples include having the generally circular cross-section extend along an entire length of the handrail (30) corresponding to the closed loop path followed by the handrail during operation of a corresponding passenger conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventors: John M. Milton-Benoit, Mary Ann T. Valk, Bryan R. Siewert, Andre Picker, Matthias Steffen, Andreas Stuffel, Klaus Seehausen, Knuth Wallbaum