Abstract:
A closure bar for a chair of a chair lift includes regions having an increased non-slip capability in order to prevent people from slipping out of the chair. At least a region of the closure bar pointing downwards when in a closed position has the higher non-slip capability. A chair of a chair lift having the closure bar is also provided.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. § 119, of Austrian patent Application A 2006/2006, filed Dec. 4, 2006; the prior application is herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a closure bar for a chair of a chair lift including side bars and a transverse bar, in which the transverse bar has a region that points towards the legs of a passenger, when in an operating position. The invention also relates to a chair of a chair lift including such a closure bar. 
         [0003]    Chairs for chair lifts have up to eight seats located next to one another. Such chairs have closure bars, which extend across the entire width of the chair, in order to prevent the passengers from falling or slipping out of the chair. Through the use of swivel axes located in the region of the backrest, the closure bars can be swiveled from a position in which they are located above the passengers, into a position in which the transverse bar extends in front of the passengers across their thighs. Furthermore, provision is additionally made on some closure bars for a number of foot rests, which corresponds to the number of seats. 
         [0004]    In the closed position, the closure bar, in particular the transverse bar, generally reliably prevents the passengers from falling out. However, due to the fact that the distance between the transverse bar and the seat is dimensioned in such a manner that large passengers with longer legs can also comfortably sit underneath the transverse bar, this distance is generally too large for smaller persons, so that it is possible for those smaller passengers to slip through underneath the transverse bar, in particular if the smaller persons, due to having shorter legs, are not capable of resting their legs on the foot rests. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a closure bar for a chair of a chair lift and a chair of a chair lift having the closure bar, which overcome the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices of this general type and with which the safety of the passengers on the chair lift is increased. 
         [0006]    With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a closure bar for a chair of a chair lift. The closure bar comprises side bars and a transverse bar. The transverse bar has a region pointing towards the legs of a passenger in an operating position of the transverse bar, and the transverse bar has remaining regions. The region pointing towards the legs of a passenger in an operating position at least partly has a higher non-slip capability than the remaining regions. 
         [0007]    With the objects of the invention in view, there is also provided a closure bar for a chair of a chair lift. The closure bar comprises two side bars each having a surface, and a transverse bar. The transverse bar has a region pointing towards the legs of a passenger in an operating position of the transverse bar. The region pointing towards the legs of a passenger in an operating position at least partly has a higher non-slip capability than the surface of the side bars. 
         [0008]    With the objects of the invention in view, there is furthermore provided a chair for a chair lift. The chair comprises at least one seat and a closure bar according to the invention. The closure bar swings or deviates to place the transverse bar transversely above the thighs of a passenger in the operating position. 
         [0009]    If, in the closed state, that is in the operating position, the region of the closure bar pointing downward to the legs of the passenger at least partly has a higher non-slip capability than is the case with the respective materials of the closure bars and the covers of the closure bars which are typical in the state of the art, and which materials can also be used in the invention for the remaining regions of the closure bar, the danger to the passengers of slipping through under the closure bar, is decreased. 
         [0010]    In accordance with another feature of the invention, the closure bar itself, in the region of increased non-slip capability, can either be formed of a material with increased non-slip capability or can be formed by an additional layer with an increased non-slip capability, so that an improved hold is ensured for persons in both cases. 
         [0011]    In accordance with a further feature of the invention, which is particularly reliable, the region having an increased non-slip capability extends holohedrally or all-over across the transverse bar, so that it is not only the regions of the transverse bar which directly face the passenger in the operating position that hinder slipping and falling out, if the passenger encompasses the transverse bar so as to hold on to it. 
         [0012]    Existing chair lift constructions can be simply and cost-efficiently retrofitted with closure bars according to the invention as well. 
         [0013]    Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. 
         [0014]    Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as constructed in a closure bar for a chair of a chair lift and a chair of a chair lift having the closure bar, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. 
         [0015]    The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF DRAWING 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic, longitudinal-sectional view of a chair of a chair lift structure including a closure bar according to the invention; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a closure bar according to the invention in a region facing the thighs of a passenger. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly, to  FIG. 1  thereof, there are seen only parts of a chair  1  of a chair lift, which are relevant for the invention. The remaining parts of the chair  1  can be constructed as is already known from the state of the art. It is thus only generally mentioned that the chair  1 , in addition to a closure bar  2 , has at least one seat  3 . In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, four seats  3  are mounted on a support frame which, if applicable, is connected through a joint with a support rod, at the upper end of which a device for respectively mounting and coupling of the chair  1  to a support and/or conveying rope is attached. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  shows parts of the chair  1  according to the invention including the closure bar  3 , which has two side bars, brackets or yokes  4  and a transverse bar, bracket or yoke  5 . In the illustrated embodiment, foot rests  6  are disposed at the transverse bar  5 . The closure bar  3  can be deviated or swung in such a manner that the transverse bar  5 , in its closed state, is disposed transversely above the thighs of a passenger. 
         [0020]      FIG. 2  shows a region of the transverse bar  5  which, in the operating position illustrated in  FIG. 1 , faces the thighs of a passenger. A region  7  of the transverse bar  5  shown herein which, in its closed state, points downwards and faces legs  13  of the passenger, has a higher non-slip capability than a region pointing upwards in its closed position, which is identified in  FIG. 2  with reference numeral  8 . 
         [0021]    In the alternative, the entire transverse bar  5  and its surface can respectively have a higher non-slip capability holohedrally or all-over about its periphery than the side bars  4 . 
         [0022]    In comparison with the respective materials and surface structures which are typically used for chair lifts, the region or regions have an increased non-slip capability and can be constructed in many different alternatives in terms of shape and surface extension, which can each be used individually or in combination with one another. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  illustrates three embodiments of regions having an increased non-slip capability. The left-hand region having an increased non-slip capability is formed in a linear manner, wherein lines  10   a  can run parallel or transverse to the longitudinal extension of the transverse bar  5 . In each case, it is possible for only lines which are parallel to one another to be provided, as well as lines  10   b  that intersect in lattice or grid form. Likewise, lines can be provided which are disposed at any angle relative to the illustrated lines. Within the scope of the invention other, e.g. undulated or serrated curves, are also possible in addition to or as an alternative to the illustrated straight lines. 
         [0024]    A middle region having an increased non-slip capability is illustrated as having dots  11 . Preferably, the lines  10   a ,  10   b  and the dots  11  are formed through the use of raised sections, which can additionally be made up of a material having a higher friction coefficient. A right-hand region  12  having an increased non-slip capability extends in a continuously laminar or smooth manner. 
         [0025]    In the illustrated embodiment, the regions having an increased non-slip capability are formed by an additional layer  9 , which is not directly formed by the closure bar  2 . This additional layer  9  can be a shell, such as, e.g., a foam shell, which can additionally be coated with a non-slip material in the relevant regions. Within the scope of the invention, provision can be made for the additional layer  9  to extend around the entire circumference of the transverse bar  5  or only across regions pointing downwards in the closed state of the closure bar  2 . 
         [0026]    Preferably, the region having an increased non-slip capability extends, in each case, across the width of a seat  3 , but it can also extend continuously across the entire width of the chair  1 . 
         [0027]    It can be seen from the present disclosure that the region having an increased non-slip capability can extend holohedrally or all-over, but it can also cover only regions of the transverse bar and of the respective covers, shells, etc. thereof. The region having the increased non-slip capability can be approximately ½, ⅓, ¼, ⅛ or 1/10 of the surface of the transverse bar  5 , for example. 
         [0028]    Depending on the material of the additional layer  9  having an at least partly increased non-slip capability such as, e.g., rubber, and the extension thereof across the closure bar, provision can be made for suitable measures for connecting these or additional non-slip layers attached thereon with the transverse bar  5 , either permanently or so as to be capable of being removed through the use of hook and loop fasteners, such as Velcro®. In addition to rubber, foils or non-slip fabrics can be used as examples of materials having a surface which can be smooth or profiled, if applicable. However, the surface can also have a different surface characteristic such as, e.g., rough, so as to achieve a higher non-slip capability. 
         [0029]    As an alternative to the present embodiments, it is also possible within the scope of the invention for the closure bar  2  itself, in the region having an increased non-slip capability, to be made up of materials which have an increased non-slip capability. All statements regarding material, shape and surface extension apply to this embodiment in the same way.