Openable elevator car wall panels

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11235951-B2
Application number	US-201916400430-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 1, 2019
Priority date	May 3, 2018
Publication date	Feb 1, 2022
Grant date	Feb 1, 2022

Abstract

Elevators and elevator car wall panel systems are provided herein. The systems include an elevator car frame, at least two wall panels pivotally connected to the frame, a connecting element operably connecting the at least two wall panels, and an actuation element operably connected to the connecting element, wherein the actuation element is operable to transition the at least two wall panels from a closed state to an open state.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An elevator car wall panel system comprising:
an elevator car frame;
at least two wall panels pivotally connected to the frame;
a connecting element operably connecting the at least two wall panels; and
an actuation element operably connected to the connecting element, wherein the actuation element is operable to transition the at least two wall panels from a closed state to an open state,
wherein each wall panel is pivotally connected to the connecting element by a respective connector.

2. The elevator car wall panel system of claim 1 , further comprising a locking element arranged to lock the at least two wall panels in the closed state.

3. The elevator car wall panel system of claim 1 , wherein the connecting element is a rigid rod.

4. The elevator car wall panel system of claim 1 , wherein each connector comprises a bracket and a connector extension.

5. The elevator car wall panel system of claim 4 , wherein each connector extension is a part of the connecting element.

6. The elevator car wall panel system of claim 1 , wherein the actuation element comprises at least one sliding pivot and at least one rotating pivot.

7. An elevator car comprising:
an elevator car frame;
an elevator car wall panel system having:
at least two wall panels pivotally connected to the frame;
a connecting element operably connecting the at least two wall panels; and
an actuation element operably connected to the connecting element, wherein the actuation element is operable to transition the at least two wall panels from a closed state to an open state,
wherein each wall panel is pivotally connected to the connecting element by a respective connector.

8. The elevator car of claim 7 , wherein the elevator car includes a passenger space, wherein the at least two wall panels are aesthetic panels of the passenger space.

9. The elevator car of claim 7 , wherein the connecting element is located at at least one of a ceiling and a floor of the elevator car.

10. The elevator car of claim 7 , further comprising a locking element arranged to lock the at least two wall panels in the closed state.

11. An elevator system comprising:
an elevator car having an elevator car frame;
an elevator car wall panel system having:
at least two wall panels pivotally connected to the frame;
a connecting element operably connecting the at least two wall panels; and
an actuation element operably connected to the connecting element, wherein the actuation element is operable to transition the at least two wall panels from a closed state to an open state,
wherein the elevator car is positioned within an elevator shaft of the elevator system, and
wherein each wall panel is pivotally connected to the connecting element by a respective connector.

12. The elevator system of claim 11 , wherein when the at least two wall panels are opened, at least a portion of the wall panels extends into the elevator shaft.

13. The elevator system of claim 11 , further comprising at least one elevator component located within the elevator shaft, wherein when the at least two wall panels are opened, the at least one elevator component is accessible from the passenger space.

14. The elevator system of claim 11 , wherein the elevator car includes a passenger space, wherein the at least two wall panels are aesthetic panels of the passenger space.

15. The elevator system of claim 11 , further comprising a locking element arranged to lock the at least two wall panels in the closed state.

16. The elevator system of claim 11 , wherein the connecting element is a rigid rod.

17. The elevator system of claim 11 , wherein the actuation element comprises at least one sliding pivot and at least one rotating pivot.

Assignees

• Otis Elevator Co

Inventors

• Convard Emmanuel
• Gressien Christele

Classifications

• B66B11/0226 Primary

  Constructional features, e.g. walls assembly, decorative panels, comfort equipment, thermal or sound insulation · CPC title

• B66B11/0253 Primary

  Fixation of wall panels · CPC title

• B66B11/0246

  Maintenance features (devices facilitating maintenance in general B66B5/0087) · CPC title

• B66B11/0206

  Car frames · CPC title