Elevator with adjustable top edge railing members

• US 6,543,584 B1
• Filed: 09/03/1999
• Issued: 04/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Kamimura, Kosei, Miyakoshi, Kazuaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Lillis, Eileen D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chin, Paul T.
• Application Number:
  US09/389,473
• Time in Patent Office: 1,313 Days
• Field of Search: 187/401, 187/414, 187/250, 187/313, 187/244, 182/113, 182/152, 256/1, 256/59, 256/65.01, 256/65.14, 256/67
• US Class Current: 187/401
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 5/0081 by preventing falling by means of safety fences or handrails, being operable or not, mounted on top of the elevator car

Abstract

An elevator including a cage configured to ascend and descend in an elevator shaft, and at least one railing member disposed along at top edge of the cage and configured to be adjustable in height so that during performance of maintenance by a maintenance person, the railing is adjusted to be in an upright position, and is otherwise maintained in a position lower than a highest protruding object existing on the top of the cage.

Claims

1. An elevator comprising:

a cage configured to ascend and descend in an elevator shaft;

at least one stand provided on a top of the cage; and

at least one railing member mounted on the at least one stand through a hinge and configured to be adjustable in height by being folded at the hinge toward a center of the cage and to stand upright,

wherein said at least one railing member comprises;

a pair of first railing members each including a folding railing and disposed on said cage along opposite first and second side edges of said cage, and

a second railing member disposed on said cage along a third side edge of said cage,

said pair of first railing members configured to raise up causing said second railing member to also raise up;

said first railing members and said second railing member configured to be set at a desired position before a maintenance worker stands on said cage.

2. the elevator as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a connecting member configured to intergrate adjacent of said first and second railing members.

3. The elevator as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a lock member configured to lock one of said first railing members at a desired position,

said first railing members being connected with said second railing member so as to be set at said desired position in unison.

4. The elevator as recited in claim 3, wherein:

said second railing member comprises a chain member.

5. The elevator as recited in claim 3, wherein:

said second railing member comprises a folding railing.

6. The elevator as recited in claim 3, wherein said second railing member comprises:

a pair of first plates each pivotably connected at one end thereof to respective back side ends of said first railing members, and

a parallel plate pivotably connected at opposite ends thereof to respective other ends of said first plates,

said first plates and said parallel plate configured such that, with the folding of said first railing members, said parallel plate moves downward.

7. The elevator as recited in claim 3, wherein said second railing member comprises:

a pair of cams attached to respective back side ends of respective of said first railing members, and

plate extending between said first railing members and having at least one split rail configured to guide said cams, said plate and said cams configured such that with the folding of said first railing member, said plate moves downward.

8. The elevator as recited in claim 3, wherein said second railing member comprises:

an elastic member having opposite ends connected to respective back side ends of said first railing members, said elastic member configured to expand and contract such that with the folding of said first railing members, said elastic member moves downward.

9. The elevator as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

means for prohibiting a normal operation of said cage as long as said railing is not positioned lower than a highest protruded object on said cage.

10. An elevator comprising:

a cage configured to ascend and descend in an elevator shaft; and

at least one railing member disposed on said cage along a top edge of the cage and configured to be adjustable in height,

wherein said at least one railing member comprises;

a pair of first railing members each including a folding railing and disposed on said cage along the opposite top side edges thereof, and

a second railing member disposed on said cage along the top back side edge thereof,

said first railing members and said second railing member configured to be set at a desired position before a maintenance worker stands on said cage;

the elevator further comprising;

a lock member configured to lock one of said first railing members at a desired position,

said first railing members being connected with said second railing member so as to be set at said desired position in unison; and

wherein said second railing member comprises;

a pair of levers each pivotably connected at one end thereof to respective back side ends of said first railing members, and connected together at other ends thereof, said pair of levers configured such that with the folding of said first railing member, said other ends turn downward.