Embossed panels with decorative laminate for elevator cars

• US 6,564,908 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2000
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inventio AG (Schindler Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Inventio AG (Schindler Holding AG)
• Inventors: Sanchez, Emilio A., Chittum, James H., Leonard, William T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brahan, Thomas J.
• Application Number:
  US09/576,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20020195297A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• Field of Search: 187/401, 187/414, 428/551, 527/831.9
• US Class Current: 187/414
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 11/0226 Constructional features, e.g. walls assembly, decorative panels, comfort equipment, thermal or sound insulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12049 Nonmetal component

Abstract

A wall panel assembly for use as an interior wall of an elevator car includes a wall panel embossed to form a central portion, a decorative panel having an ornamental front surface, and an adhesive material adhering the decorative panel to the wall panel. When the wall panel is installed in an elevator car, the decorative panel ornamental front surface is visible to passengers. The decorative panel can be formed of a flexible laminate material to follow the contour of the central portion. The central portion is surrounded by a rib or curved portion to hide an edge of the decorative panel.

Claims

1. An elevator car interior wall panel assembly comprising:

an interior wall panel formed from a single sheet of metal material having a thickness suitable for embossing and a front surface extending generally parallel to a rear surface, said wall panel having a generally planar peripheral portion adjacent a central portion, said peripheral portion and said central portion being joined by an embossed intermediate portion displaced from a plane of said peripheral portion, said intermediate portion increasing a structural rigidity of said wall panel;

a decorative panel having an ornamental front surface and an opposed rear surface facing said wall panel front surface, said decorative panel front and rear surfaces being joined by an edge; and

an adhesive material applied to at least one of said wall panel front surface central portion and said decorative panel rear surface and permanently adhering said decorative panel to said wall panel front surface central portion with said decorative panel edge being adjacent said wall panel intermediate portion whereby when said wall panel is installed in an elevator car, said decorative panel ornamental front surface faces an interior of the elevator car and said decorative panel edge is bidden from view by said wall panel intermediate portion.

2. The wall panel assembly according to claim 1 wherein said intermediate portion is a rib protruding from said plane of said peripheral portion.

3. The wall panel assembly according to claim 1 wherein said central portion is recessed from said plane of said peripheral portion.

4. The wall panel assembly according to claim 3 wherein said intermediate portion is curved.

5. The wall panel assembly according to claim 1 wherein said peripheral portion surrounds said central portion.

6. The wall panel assembly according to claim 1 wherein said decorative panel is formed of a laminate material.

7. The wall panel assembly according to claim 6 wherein said laminate material is a vinyl material.

8. An elevator car interior wall panel assembly comprising:

an interior wall panel having a thickness suitable for embossing and a front surface with a peripheral portion connected to a central portion by an embossed intermediate portion, said intermediate portion being displaced from a plane of said peripheral portion to increase a structural rigidity of said wall panel, said wall panel being formed from a single sheet of material of generally uniform thickness;

a decorative panel having an ornamental front surface joined to an opposed rear surface by an edge; and

an adhesive material applied between said wall panel front surface central portion and said decorative panel rear surface and adhering said decorative panel to said wall panel with said decorative panel edge adjacent said intermediate portion whereby when said wall panel is installed in an elevator car, all of said decorative panel ornamental front surface faces an interior of the elevator car and said decorative panel edge is hidden from view by said intermediate portion.

9. The wall panel assembly according to claim 8 wherein said decorative panel is formed of a flexible laminate material.

10. The wall panel assembly according to claim 9 wherein said central portion extends in a plane parallel to and spaced from said plane of said wall panel front surface peripheral portion.

11. The wall panel assembly according to claim 8 wherein said wall panel is embossed to form said intermediate portion as at least one rib adjacent said central portion.

12. The wall panel assembly according to claim 8 wherein said peripheral portion surrounds said central portion.

13. An elevator car interior wall panel assembly comprising:

an interior wall panel having a thickness suitable for embossing and a front surface with a peripheral portion surrounding and being connected to a central portion by an embossed intermediate portion, said intermediate portion being displaced from a plane of said peripheral portion, said wall panel being formed from a single sheet of material;

a decorative panel having an ornamental front surface connected to an opposed rear surface by an edge; and

an adhesive material applied between said wall panel front surface and said decorative panel rear surface and adhering said decorative panel to said wall panel central portion whereby when said wall panel is installed in an elevator car, said decorative panel ornamental front surface faces an interior of the elevator car and said edge is hidden from view by said intermediate portion.

14. The wall panel assembly according to claim 13 wherein said intermediate portion includes a rib protruding beyond said plane of said wall panel front surface peripheral portion.

15. The wall panel assembly according to claim 13 wherein said central portion is recessed from said plane of said wall panel front surface peripheral portion and said intermediate portion is a curved portion connecting said central to said peripheral portion.