ELEVATOR CABIN.

Abstract

An elevator car (1) comprises car walls (2, 3, 4) forming an interior space for passengers. A handrail 7 designed as a backrest for passengers is arranged in the interior space. The handrail (7) has a leaning surface with a height (H) of at least 15 cm and is inclined at an angle (α) relative to the vertical, which lies between 5° and 20°. The handrail 7 is L-shaped, with one of the handrail sections (11) being significantly shorter than the other handrail section (12).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an elevator car for an elevator. Elevators for transporting passengers and goods contain elevator cars that can be moved up and down in an elevator shaft. The cars can be moved by means of support means, for example in the form of suspension cables or belts, using a drive unit. Typically, the elevator car has a cuboid-shaped car body comprising a floor, doors, walls (side walls, rear wall), and ceiling. Passengers stay inside the car body during the car ride. Handrails are often provided in the cars, which passengers, for example, elderly people, can hold on to, thus ensuring their well-being and sense of security.

[0002] It is an object of the present invention to provide an elevator car with a handrail in the interior of the car, which is characterized by improved comfort. This object is achieved according to the invention with an elevator car having the features of claim 1. The elevator car comprises car walls forming an interior space for passengers and / or goods. The car walls can be two opposing side walls and a rear wall connecting them. By designing the handrail as a restraint for passengers, the comfort of the handrail is improved. Passengers can comfortably lean against the handrail during a car ride. Comfortable seating for passengers is particularly useful when passengers are trapped in the car during an unplanned, extended downtime.

[0003] The backrest preferably defines a leaning area for the passenger's buttocks and / or lower back. The handrail can be designed for a model person. Depending on the geographical area of ​​use and other demographic factors, this model person could be an adult with a height of, for example, 175 cm.

[0004] From an ergonomic point of view, it is advantageous and particularly pleasant in terms of comfort if the handrail has a leaning surface with a height of at least 15 cm, preferably at least 20 cm. If necessary, the height of the handrail's leaning surface can even be 30 cm or more. Thanks to the comparatively large leaning surface, the passenger can sit or lean comfortably on the handrail for a relatively long time if necessary. Such a handrail gives the passenger a feeling of comfort similar to that in a lounge. A further advantage of a handrail designed as a backrest for passengers with a comparatively high leaning surface is improved safety. The handrail can serve as a crash pad that can catch people in the event of a fall.

[0005] The handrail designed as a backrest for passengers can have an upper edge that forms a handle area that passengers can hold on to if necessary. The upper edge closes the handrail at the top. The upper edge of the handrail can, for example, be at a height of approximately 80 cm (preferably between 70 and 100 cm) above the step-on area of ​​the car floor. Handrails of this height are also known and common in conventional elevator cars with handrails. For the handrail designed as a backrest for passengers, it can have a raised upper edge to support at least the lower back of passengers. The upper edge can be at a height of 90 to 110 cm above the car floor. This allows the passenger to comfortably lean against the handrail even with their lower back.

[0006] The handrail designed as a backrest for passengers can have a lower edge that is less than 70 cm and preferably less than 60 cm from the access area of ​​the cabin floor. Thus, the handrail designed as a backrest for passengers can extend so far down to the access area of ​​the cabin floor that the lower edge is comparatively close to the cabin floor, i.e. less than 60 cm from the access area of ​​the cabin floor. An edge here does not mean a sharp edge; the edge can of course be rounded. However, the edge could also have a rectangular outer contour in cross-section. Other shapes for the handrail are also conceivable. Instead of the aforementioned lower edge, the handrail could also have a different lower end that is less than 60 cm from the access area of ​​the cabin floor.The comfort for passengers and the safety of the handrail can be further increased in this way.

[0007] The handrail designed as a backrest for passengers can comprise a leaning surface that runs essentially plane-parallel to the adjacent vertical cabin wall. Particularly from an ergonomic point of view, it can be advantageous if the handrail designed as a backrest for passengers is inclined relative to the vertical with respect to its leaning surface, with the angle of inclination of the leaning surface relative to the vertical being between 5° and 20°, and preferably between 5° and 15°. With such an inclined handrail, the leaning surface is directed slightly upwards for comfortable leaning. In other words, the surface normal of the leaning surface points upwards. This handrail is characterized by particularly favorable ergonomics.

[0008] The leaning surface can have a constant angle of inclination across essentially the entire height of the handrail. However, it is also conceivable for the leaning surface to have a varying angle of inclination relative to the vertical across the height. For example, the handrail can have an angle of inclination relative to the vertical in the area of ​​the upper end or the end facing the upper edge that is greater than the angle of inclination of the handrail in the area of ​​the lower end.

[0009] The handrail can have a concave, convex or flat external shape in its vertical cross-section with respect to its leaning surface.

[0010] If the elevator car comprises two car walls connected by a corner, it may be advantageous for the handrail to span the corner to have an L-shape in plan view. The L-shaped handrail is adapted to the corner and allows for comfortable leaning against the handrail in the corner area. The L-shaped handrail, which is assigned to two side walls, is preferably formed in one piece. Alternatively, it would also be conceivable for the handrail to have a U-shape in plan view, whereby the handrail acts on three car walls.

[0011] It is advantageous if the L-shaped handrail has two handrail sections, each assigned to a cabin wall and each extending in a horizontal direction, wherein one handrail section is shortened compared to the other handrail section.

[0012] It can be particularly advantageous if the L-shaped handrail for forming a single seat in the corner has a short handrail section extending in the horizontal direction with a side length measured in the horizontal direction of a maximum of 50 cm and preferably a maximum of 40 cm.

[0013] To improve comfort, it can be advantageous if the handrail is covered or upholstered with a textile material, at least in the area where it is leaning. Textile materials can be woven, knitted, braided, stitch-bonded, nonwoven, and felt. Instead of textile materials, leather or synthetic leather are also conceivable.

[0014] Furthermore, the handrail designed as a passenger rest can have padding, for example, made of foam material. The foam material could be arranged between the textile material that forms the outer surface and a support structure for the handrail.

[0015] If the elevator car includes a car wall to which the handrail is attached, it can be advantageous to further improve comfort if the car wall is covered with a textile material in at least one wall area or segment above the handrail to form a textile backrest for passengers. This means that the upper back area is also provided with a comfortable leaning surface thanks to the textile wall surface. The car wall can be completely covered with textile material. The car wall can also be divided vertically into two or more wall segments. A lower wall segment, which is arranged below the handrail, can be equipped with no textile covering. An upper wall segment of the car wall arranged above this wall segment can be covered with textile material. The upper wall segment covered with textile material can reach up to the car ceiling.It is of course also conceivable to provide a non-textile wall segment above the upper textile wall segment.

[0016] The handrail can have a shell-like profile body to provide a support structure for the handrail. The profile body can be made of metallic materials, for example. For example, the profile body can be formed from one or more metal sheets. It is also conceivable for the profile body to be formed as an injection-molded part made of a plastic. The profile body can be covered or upholstered with the textile material.

[0017] Further individual features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the drawings. They show: Fig. 1 a highly simplified schematic representation of an elevator car according to the invention, Fig. 2 a simplified perspective view of another elevator car, and Fig. 3 a perspective view of a handrail for the Fig. 2 elevator car shown.

[0018] Fig. 1 shows an elevator car, designated 1. Elevators are used for vertical transport in multi-story buildings. The buildings have elevator shafts in which the elevator car 1 can be moved up and down to individual floors. The movement of the elevator car 1 is effected via support means (not shown here) to which the elevator car 1 is attached; the support means can be one or more support ropes or support belts. The elevator car 1 can, for example, be self-supporting or arranged in a support structure, such as a support frame. Fig. 1 The elevator car 1 shown here has, in a simplified form, a cuboid-shaped car body and comprises a car floor 5, car walls, and a ceiling. These car walls comprise opposing side walls 2, 3 and a rear wall 4 connecting the side walls. Furthermore, the elevator car 1 has a door (not shown) that closes off the open front and thus the interior of the elevator car 1.

[0019] A special handrail 7 is attached to the side wall 3. The handrail 7 is characterized by the fact that it is designed as a backrest for passengers. The person can thus comfortably lean against the handrail 7 and Fig. 1 The passenger can remain in the cabin in the seat-like, but still more or less upright, position shown. The handrail 7 has a leaning surface with a comparatively high height. To enable comfortable support of the person, the height H of the handrail 7, designed as a backrest for passengers, is at least 15 cm and preferably at least 20 cm.

[0020] The handrail 7 has an upper edge 9, which forms a handhold area that passengers can hold on to if necessary. Furthermore, the handrail 7 has a lower edge 10 that extends downwards to the access area of ​​the cabin floor so that the lower edge 10 is less than 60 cm from the access area of ​​the cabin floor 5. The distance D of the lower edge 10 to the cabin floor 5 is designated D.

[0021] The handrail 7, designed as a backrest for passengers, is evidently inclined relative to the vertical with respect to its leaning surface. The corresponding angle of inclination relative to the vertical of the leaning surface is designated α. The angle of inclination α of the slightly upward-facing leaning surface is between 5° and 20° and preferably between 5° and 15°.

[0022] Fig. 2 shows a variant of the handrail 7 designed as a backrest for passengers, in which the handrail 7 is arranged in a corner area. The car walls 3 and 4 of the elevator car 1 are connected to one another via a corner 6. The handrail 7 has an L-shape in plan view to bridge the corner 6. The L-shaped handrail 7 has two handrail sections 11, 12, each assigned to a car wall 3, 4 and each extending in a horizontal direction. The handrail section 11, which in the present case is assigned to the rear wall 4 as an example, is shortened compared to the other handrail section 12. Because the L-shaped handrail 7 has a short handrail section 11 with a side length of a maximum of 50 cm and preferably a maximum of 40 cm, an advantageous individual seat is available in the corner.

[0023] The handrail 7 can be covered or upholstered with a textile material, at least in the area of ​​the leaning surface 8. Instead of textile materials, fleece, leather, synthetic leather, or other materials commonly used, for example, in seating furniture are also conceivable. In addition to aesthetic advantages, the textile leaning surface 8 has the advantage that it is less likely for people leaning against it to slip, which ultimately also has a positive effect on personal safety.

[0024] The cabin walls can be segmented. In Fig. 2 Horizontal dividing lines for defining the segments in the cabin walls 3 and 4 are indicated by dashed lines. The cabin wall 3, 4 can be covered, at least in the wall segment designated 8 above the handrail 7, with a textile material to form a textile backrest for passengers. Instead of textile materials such as woven, knitted, braided, nonwoven, and felt, leather or artificial leather are also conceivable. Materials such as those commonly used for covering seating furniture can be used as desired.

[0025] Cabin walls 2, 3, and 4 can be constructed in multiple parts, each consisting of a lower wall panel and an upper wall panel. These panels are horizontally abutting wall panels and can define wall segments. The wall panels can each be made of metal sheets and manufactured from a single sheet cut.

[0026] Structural details of a handrail 7 designed as a backrest for passengers are shown in Fig. 3 The handrail 7 has a shell-like profile body 13 for providing a support structure for the handrail 7. Reference numeral 14 denotes a connecting element by means of which the handrail 7 can be attached to the cabin wall, for example, by means of screws. The profile body 13 can be formed from sheet metal.

Claims

1. Lift car (1) with a handrail (7) arranged inside, characterized in that the handrail () is designed as a backrest for passengers.

2. Elevator car (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the handrail (7) designed as a backrest for passengers has a leaning surface (8) with a height (H) of at least 15 cm and preferably at least 20 cm.

3. Elevator car (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the handrail (7) designed as a backrest for passengers has a lower edge (10), wherein the lower edge (10) is less than 60 cm from the access surface of the cabin floor (5).

4. Elevator car (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the handrail (7) designed as a backrest for passengers is inclined with respect to its leaning surface (8) relative to the vertical, wherein the angle of inclination (α) of the leaning surface (8) relative to the vertical is between 5° - 20° and preferably between 5° - 15°.

5. Elevator car (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the elevator car (1) comprises two car walls (3, 4) connected to one another via a corner (6), wherein the handrail (7) designed as a backrest for passengers has an L-shape in plan view for bridging the corner (6).

6. Elevator car (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the L-shaped handrail (7) has two handrail sections (11, 12) each assigned to a cabin wall (3, 4), wherein one handrail section (11) is shortened compared to the other handrail section (12).

7. Elevator car (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the L-shaped handrail (7) for forming a single seat in the corner has a short handrail section (11) with a side length of a maximum of 50 cm and preferably a maximum of 40 cm.

8. Elevator car (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in thatthe handrail (7) designed as a backrest for passengers is covered or upholstered with a textile material at least in the area of ​​the leaning surface (8).

9. Elevator car (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that a cabin wall (3, 4) is covered at least in one wall segment (12) above the handrail (7) designed as a backrest for passengers with a textile material to form a textile backrest surface.

10. Elevator car (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the handrail (7) has a shell-like profile body (13) for providing a support structure for the handrail.