Elevator Car L-Shaped Backrest Handrail for Extended Downtime

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Solution Overview

Problem

Elevator cars lack a handrail design that provides enhanced comfort and safety for passengers, particularly during unplanned extended downtimes, and existing handrails do not adequately support the passenger's back or offer a comfortable leaning surface.

Innovation Solution

The elevator car incorporates a handrail designed as a backrest with a high leaning surface, adjustable height, and ergonomic incline, covered with textile material, which can also serve as a crash pad and provides a handle area for support, integrated with the car walls to form a comfortable seating area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional handrails are used, then the basic safety function is provided, but passenger comfort during extended downtimes is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepassenger comfortVSAvoidextended downtime
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The handrail is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as a traditional handhold for safety, provides a comfortable backrest for prolonged waiting periods, and creates a lounge-like seating area. This multi-functionality allows the same structure to address both safety requirements and comfort needs during extended downtimes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If the handrail is designed with a high leaning surface, then passenger comfort is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepassenger comfortVSAvoidhandrail structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The handrail structure merges the handhold function with the backrest function into a single integrated component. The leaning surface is incorporated directly into the handrail body, eliminating the need for separate seating structures and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining enhanced comfort

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If the handrail is inclined relative to the vertical, then ergonomic comfort is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveergonomic comfortVSAvoidinclination angle
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The handrail is designed with a specific inclination angle parameter (5° to 20° relative to vertical) that optimizes ergonomic comfort. This parameter change transforms the traditional vertical handrail into an ergonomically optimized structure that naturally guides passengers into a comfortable leaning position while remaining manufacturable

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4610209A1Elevator car
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 INVENTIO AG
  • EP4610209A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4610209A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4610209A1 patent drawing

AI summary

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).