Abstract:
The present invention relates to an extendable and retractable elevator pad system comprising at least one motor, wherein the motor is attached to an elevator; a plurality of mounts, wherein at least one of the mounts is connected to the motor; a first plurality of shafts, wherein the shafts have a predetermined section with grooves and at least one of the first plurality of shafts connects to the mount which is connected to the motor; a plurality of gears, wherein the gears are sized to mate with the grooved section of the first plurality of shafts; a second plurality of shafts, wherein the second plurality of shafts are mated with the plurality of gears; and a series of pads, wherein the pads are connected to at least the second plurality of shafts.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The invention generally relates to an apparatus and method for extracting and retracting pads, and more particularly to extracting and retracting pads in an elevator. 
         [0002]    Freight elevator also known as goods lift are a kind of elevator used to carry goods. These usually have rugged interior finishes to prevent any damage to the elevator while loading and unloading of the goods. However, office and apartment buildings lack a freight elevator and in these buildings a normal passenger elevator is used to carry both passengers and goods. 
         [0003]    Interiors of passenger elevators are prone to damage as they are made to carry passengers and not large and bulky goods. These are usually made of wood, fabric or steel that could be easily scratched by large and bulky goods, causing damage to the interiors. Some buildings may have elevators with expensive interiors to increase the ornamental valve. 
         [0004]    Thus to protect the interiors of an elevator from damage while carrying large and bulky goods, It&#39;s a common practice to suspend pads over the walls of the lift. These pads are specialized protective pads and are installed manually each time a person used the elevator to carry the large or bulky goods. These pads are generally held by a row of hooks which are screwed into the elevator wall. 
         [0005]    Therefore, a manual process of installation of the pads to cover the elevator walls is quite laborious and time consuming. Particularly during the day time when elevators are used the most. This creates an inconvenience to the person moving the large or bulky goods and other people trying to use the elevator. Moreover, these pads are loosely supported to the wall of elevator which may come unhooked from the wall, adding additional labor due to the reinstalling of the pads. Furthermore, these pads need a safe location to be stored so they are protected when not in use and are protected from being stolen. 
         [0006]    Therefore, an apparatus which can be installed in the elevator that can extend and retract the pads is desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    Aspect of an embodiment of the present invention include an extendable and retractable elevator pad system comprising at least one motor, wherein the motor is attached to an elevator; a plurality of mounts, wherein at least one of the mounts is connected to the motor; a first plurality of shafts, wherein the shafts have a predetermined section with grooves and at least one of the first plurality of shafts connects to the mount which is connected to the motor; a plurality of gears, wherein the gears are sized to mate with the grooved section of the first plurality of shafts; a second plurality of shafts, wherein the second plurality of shafts are mated with the plurality of gears; and a series of pads, wherein the pads are connected to at least the second plurality of shafts. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of the pad extraction and retraction assembly, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0009]    As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the present invention may be embodied as a system, apparatus or method. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may receive the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may receive the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer readable medium(s) having computer readable program code/instructions embodied thereon. 
         [0010]    Embodiments of the present invention recognize that current elevators designed for passengers do not account for padding to protect the elevator in the event the passengers want to move a large or bulky item. Generally, the passengers have to be careful, but this does not always work and the elevator can get damaged. Some elevators have pads which have to manually installed but this is both difficult and time consuming. 
         [0011]    Embodiments of the present invention help reduce the need to install the pads in the elevator. Embodiments of the present invention add a motorized system to extract and retract the pads with ease. 
         [0012]    Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and apparatus to provide for a motorized set of pads that can be extracted and retracted with ease so when a passenger is moving a large or bulky item they can easily extract the pads, and retract them when they have moved the item to return the elevator to a clean and ascetically pleasing look. 
         [0013]    The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the FIGURES. 
         [0014]    The present invention, has as its principal object to provide an apparatus and method for extending and retracting of pads in an elevator. The present invention in one embodiment may be installed in the elevator when built. In additional embodiments, the present invention is retrofit into the elevator. The present invention can be used to cover either any predetermined number of the walls of the elevator by either adding or removing pads. 
         [0015]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the illustration of an extraction and retraction assembly in a perspective view. The extraction and retraction assembly  100  is comprised of motor  102 , shafts  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110 , gears  112 ,  114 ,  116 ,  118 , mounts  120 ,  122 ,  124 ,  126 , a switch, a power supply, and at least one pad (not shown). 
         [0016]    The motor  102  is designed to attached to one of mounts  120 ,  122 ,  124 , or  126  and provide enough power to extract and retract the pad and/or pads. The motor  102  controls the retraction and extraction of the pads by rotating either shaft  106 , shaft  108 , or if two motors are used both shafts  106  and  108 . For example, if the motor  102  is attached to mount  120  then it will rotate shaft  106  and if the motor is attached to mount  124  then it will rotate shaft  108 . The type of motor  102  which is installed determines the speed, and rotational strength. These characteristics of the motor  102  determine the type of pads which can be used. The motor should have adequate power and speed to extract and retract the pads which are installed. In one embodiment, motor  102  is reversible to allow for the extraction and retraction of the pad(s). In one embodiment, the motor  102  has a capacity of 0.5 V. In additional embodiments, the motor  102  has a capacity that is great than or less than 0.5V. In some embodiments, more than one motor is used and is connected to either the same or different mounts. 
         [0017]    Shafts  106  and  108  are sized to connect mount  120  to mount  126  and mount  122  to mount  124  respectively. Shafts  106  and  108  have a predetermined section of the shaft which is grooved with teeth to interact with gears  112  and  114  respectively. The depth of the grooves and the length of the grooves along the shafts is predetermined based on the intended uses of the assembly. This can be modified based on, but not limited to, the size of the elevator, the size and weight of the pads, and the like. In additional embodiments, the grooved section of shafts  106  and  108  may have a varying depth or length. In additional embodiments, the grooved section of shafts  106  and  108  may be a heliacal extrusion that extends a predetermined distance of the shaft. 
         [0018]    Shafts  104  and  110  are sized to fit between shafts  106  and  108 . A predetermined distance from the ends of shafts  104  and  110  a gear is secured to each end of the shaft. The gears interface with the grooved section of shafts  106  and  108  to allow the entire assembly to rotate with the use of one motor. In one embodiment, both shafts  104  and  110  have a gear of equal size on each end. In additional embodiments, shafts  104  and  110  may have fewer than two gears and the gears may be of varying sizes. 
         [0019]    Shafts  104 ,  106 ,  108 , and  110  are designed to be strong enough to handle the rotational torsion and the weight of the pads. In one embodiment, the shafts are made from aluminum. In additional embodiments, the shafts are made from steel, brass, bronze, copper, stainless steel alloys, plastics, composites, and the like. Shafts  104 ,  106 ,  108 , and  110  are designed with connection means for the pad to attached to the shafts. In one embodiment, the connection means can be hooks, clasps, latches, snaps, grommets and studs, or the like. In additional embodiments, the connection means can be an opening in the shaft with the pad connects to through a hook or hook like feature of the pad. 
         [0020]    Gears  112 ,  114 ,  116 , and  118  are designed to attached to shafts  104  and  110 , and designed to mate with the grooved section of shafts  106  and  108 . Gears  112 ,  114 ,  116 , and  118  have a predetermined number of teeth or notches to coincide with the grooved sections of shafts  106  and  108 . The teeth or notches on gears  112 ,  114 ,  116 , and  118  also have a predetermined depth and thickness to coincide with the grooved section of shafts  106  and  108 . In some embodiments, gears  112 ,  114 ,  116 , and  118  are made out of steel, brass, copper, steel alloy, aluminum, plastic, polymers, composites or other material that can handle the load of the pads, and the forces exerted on the gears. In one embodiment, gears  112 ,  114 ,  116 , and  118  are attached to the shafts with the use of a pin, set screw, keyways, splines, shaft collars, welding, adhesive, pressure fit, or the like. In one embodiment, gears  112 ,  114 ,  116 , and  118  are of equal size and teeth depth. In additional embodiments, gears  112 ,  114 ,  116 , and  118  are of varying sizes and teeth depth. 
         [0021]    In some embodiments, the grooved section of shaft  106  and  108  and the gears  112 ,  114 ,  116 , and  118  for a spur gear system, a straight bevel gear system, a spiral bevel gear system, a worm gear set, a herringbone gear system, a helical gear system, or the like. 
         [0022]    Mounts  120 ,  122 ,  124 , and  126  are designed to receive shafts  106  and  108 , and to permit shafts  106  and  108  to rotate. Mounts  120 ,  122 ,  124 , and  126  are designed to handle the weight of the assembly, and permit the shafts to rotate. In the shown embodiment, motor  102  is connected to mount  126  which controls the movement of the assembly. In additional embodiments, motor  102  is connected to mount  120 ,  122 ,  124 , or  126 . In additional embodiments, mounts  120 ,  122 ,  124 , and/or  126  are connected to a motor. In one embodiment, mounts  120 ,  122 ,  124 , and  126  permit shafts  106  and  108  to rotate freely without the use of the motor. In additional embodiments, mounts  120 ,  122 ,  124 , and  126  do not rotate freely without the assistance of the motor. In some embodiments, mounts  120 ,  122 ,  124 , and  126  are made out of steel, brass, copper, steel alloy, aluminum, plastic, polymers, composites or other material that can handle the load of the pads, and the forces exerted on the gears. In one embodiment, mounts  120 ,  122 ,  124 , and  126  are attached to the shafts with the use of a pin, set screw, keyways, splines, shaft collars, welding, adhesive, pressure fit, or the like. 
         [0023]    The power supply is designed to provide enough power to the motor  102  to adequately operate the assembly. The power supply supplies enough power to allow the motor to extend and retract the pads from their starting position to their stopping position. In one embodiment, the power supply is an additional element of the elevator. In another embodiment, the assembly uses the power source of the elevator to supply the necessary power to the motor  102 . 
         [0024]    The switch, is used to activate the motor  102  which in turn extracts or retracts the pads. The switch can be located in the elevator, on site in the building (at a security desk or main office), or can be controlled wirelessly with a controller. 
         [0025]    The present invention can be modified depending on the type of elevator the invention is installed in. For instance, if the elevator had two doors or one door, the width and depth of the elevator, or the walls which are desired to be protected. This can be as simple as extending or contracting shafts  104 ,  106 ,  108 , or  110 . Or can require additional shafts, gears, and mounts to allow the system to cover all the desired surfaces. 
         [0026]    While this invention has been described in conjunction with the various exemplary embodiments outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0027]    It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.