Abstract:
The present invention is directed to, inter alia, devices and methods for precision installation of elevator wall panels and intervening reveal strips in an elevator cab shell. Various embodiments comprise corner stays and intermediate stays with pre-installed clips thereon and with locating means installed thereon to facilitate accurate locating of adjacent stay(s) in order to greatly reduce the labor and time required to install the wall panels accurately. Further, various embodiments comprise pre-installed reveal strips on the stay(s) and that are interposed between each installed wall panel. Pre-installing the reveal strips further reduces the labor and time required at the installation site.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     None 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is directed to devices and methods for installing elevator cab interior wall panels. More particularly, an installation template for locating and installing elevator cab interior wall panels is provided. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The interior of finished elevator cab shells typically comprise wall panels installed and mounted thereon. Typically, to complete the installation of the wall panels on the elevator cab shell, zee-type clips are pre-installed on rear side of the wall panels. These pre-installed zee clips require, in turn, mating clips to be field installed onto the elevator cab shell. These mating clips require accurately measured locating on the elevator cab shell in order to precisely mate up with the pre-installed zee clip on rear of the wall panel for hanging and securing installation. 
     There are typically a plurality of wall panels installed according to the above described method within a given elevator cab. Each of the wall panels must align with the other wall panels, both vertically and horizontally, to provide maximum aesthetic benefit. As a result, each individual mating clip requires a significant amount of measurement effort to obtain the proper installation location. 
     In a typical elevator cab shell, a total of 7, e.g., wall panels may be installed, though the skilled artisan will recognize that more or less wall panels may be installed in certain cab shells. Each wall panel may comprise a series of zee mounting clips, perhaps 6-8 per panel. Each of the zee mounting clips requires a separately located and installed wall mounting clip, to which the zee mounting clips are individually secured when the wall panel is finally hung. Thus, in this example, the installer will need to measure, locate and install very accurately 42 to 56 wall mounting clips. This is a time consuming, laborious process. 
     Further, vertical strips that are typically stainless steel or the like and known in the industry as “reveals”, are typically installed in a vertical gap between successive wall panels to provide additional aesthetic benefit. These reveals also require precise measuring and installation so as to properly align with the adjacent wall panel(s), requiring further labor and time. 
     Thus, the current situation requires an installer of elevator cab wall panels and intervening reveal strips to be highly accurate in installation. This process is laborious, tedious and time consuming and, as a result, costly. 
     Various embodiments of the present invention address these, inter alia, problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to, inter alia, devices and methods for precision installation of elevator wall panels and intervening reveal strips in an elevator cab shell. Various embodiments comprise corner stays and intermediate stays with pre-installed clips thereon and with locating means installed thereon to facilitate accurate locating of adjacent stay(s) in order to greatly reduce the labor and time required to install the wall panels accurately. Further, various embodiments comprise pre-installed reveal strips on the stay(s) and that are interposed between each installed wall panel. Pre-installing the reveal strips further reduces the labor and time required at the installation site. 
     The figures and the detailed description which follow more particularly exemplify these and other embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are as follows: 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of one embodiment of the invention installed within an elevator cab shell; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a wall panel for an elevator cab shell; 
         FIG. 3 . is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4 . is a rear view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5 . is a side view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6 . is a top view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7 . is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8 . is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9 . is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10 . is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11 . is a top view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12 . is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13A . is a front view of one embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 13B  is a front view of one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a top view of an elevator cab shell  10  with one embodiment of the present invention installed on walls W within the elevator cab shell  10 . Thus, wall panels  12  are installed on various stays of the present invention that are mounted on the walls W of the elevator cab shell  10 , the walls W having a height, a floor and a ceiling as commonly understood by a person skilled in the art, the height being equal to the difference in distance or length between the ceiling and the floor as readily understood by the skilled artisan. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates one embodiment of a wall panel  12  that may be used with the embodiments of the stays of the present invention. Wall panel  12  comprises generally a top, a bottom, a height H which is the distance or length between top and bottom, right and left sides, a width W which is the distance or length between the right and left sides, a front side F, rear side R and a thickness T which is the distance or length between front side F and rear side R. A plurality of pairs of mounting clips  11  are shown mounted on the rear side R of wall panel  12 . In the illustrated embodiment, four pairs of mounting clips  11  are shown as pre-installed on the rear side R of wall panel  12 . The skilled artisan will recognize that the pre-installed plurality of pairs of mounting clips  11  may comprise a number of functional configurations. A particularly preferred but non-limiting pre-installed mounting clip comprising the plurality of pairs of mounting clips  11  comprises a zee-type clip which is well-known to the skilled artisan. Mounting clip  11  may comprise a pre-installed or pre-punched clip  11  or a clip  11  that is otherwise adhered to the wall panel  12  as the skilled artisan will readily recognize. 
     Generally, each of the pre-installed mounting clips in one of the pairs of the plurality of pairs of mounting clips  11  are precisely located in relation to the top, bottom, right and left sides of the wall panel  12 . This allows very precise installation using the present invention. 
     Generally, various embodiments of a stay  100 ,  200 ,  300  for mounting a wall panel  12  on a wall W within an elevator cab shell  12  are illustrated in  FIGS. 3-12 . 
       FIGS. 3-7  illustrate stay  100  comprising a front side  102 , a rear side  104 , a top  106 , a bottom  108 , a right side  110 , a left side  112 , and a center portion  114  that is vertically integrated and disposed between the right side  110  and the left side  112 . Stay  100  may comprise right side  110 , left side  112  and center portion  114  being substantially parallel with each other. 
     In addition, a plurality of through holes  113 , disposed on the right side  110 , and left side  112 , of the stay  100  are provided, as illustrated in pairs but may be in any configuration as understood by the skilled artisan. One half of through holes  113  pairs may be disposed on the right side  110  of stay  100  and the other half of the through holes  113  may be disposed on the left side  112  of the stay  100 . Through holes  113  are provided for securing the stay to the wall W of the elevator cab shell  10  with a fastener (not shown as this is known to the skilled artisan, e.g., screw and the like). 
     A plurality of pairs P of pre-installed mounting clips  115  are also provided, each pair P of pre-installed mounting clips comprising a first mounting clip and a second mounting clip mounted on the front side  102 , of the stay  100 , wherein the first mounting clip of each pair P is pre-installed on the right side  110 , of the stay at a distance D1, D2, D3, D4, from the top  106  of the stay  100 , wherein D1 represents the distance from the top-most pair P to the top  106  of the stay  100 , D2 represents the distance from the top  106  of the stay  100  to the pair P immediately below the topmost pair P, D3 represents the distance from the top  106  of stay  100  to the third pair P from the top  106  of stay  100  and D4 represents the distance from the top  106  of stay  100  to the lower-most pair P. Thus, a second mounting clip  115  of each pair P is pre-installed on the left side  112  of the stay  100  at the same distances, i.e., D1, D2, D3 and D4 from the top  106  of the stay  100  as the first mounting clip  115  of pair P. Pre-installed mounting clips  115  may comprise clips that are pre-punched in to the stays of the present invention or otherwise adhered to the stays of the present invention as will be readily understood by the skilled artisan. 
     In addition, stay  100  comprises at least one pre-installed locator  116  operatively connected to the stay  100 , the at least one pre-installed locator  116  comprising a connected end  118  whereby the pre-installed locator  116  is connected to the front side  102  of the stay  100 , a distal end  120  and a length L, whereby the pre-installed locator  116 , precisely locates the position for the installation of an adjacent stay on the elevator cab shell wall W. In this embodiment, pre-installed locator  116  is operatively connected to the left side  110  of the front  102  of stay  100 . 
     Pre-installed locator  116  may comprise a fixed deployed position as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , where the pre-installed locator  116  is fixed at angle α with respect to the edge E of stay  100 . Preferably, this angle α is fixed at 90 degrees. Alternatively, and most preferably, pre-installed locator  116  may comprise at least two positions, a stored position and a deployed position, wherein the pre-installed locator  116  is rotatable or otherwise moveable between the stored position and the deployed position. In this preferred embodiment, pre-installed locator  116  comprises a connector  119  that allows the locator  116  to rotate around connector  119  from the stored position as illustrated in, e.g.,  FIG. 3  to the deployed position illustrated in  FIG. 7 . As with the fixed position configuration for pre-installed locator  116  described above, the preferred angle α for the rotatably achieved deployed position is 90 degrees, though other angles are of course possible as will be appreciated by the skilled artisan. In practice, the pre-installed locator  116  when in the deployed position, either as a consequence of rotation away from the stored position or in the fixed position embodiment, is used to precisely mark the position, i.e., the precise horizontal distance, of an adjacent stay on the elevator cab shell wall W from the installed stay  100  during installation of wall panels  12 . 
     Various embodiments of the stay  100  further comprise a first lip  122  disposed at the bottom  108  of the right side  110  of the stay  100 , and a second lip  124  disposed at the bottom  108  of the left side  112  of the stay  100 , each of the first  122  and second  124  lips extending outwardly from the front side  102  of the stay  100  a distance that is equal to or less than the thickness T of the wall panel  12  as discussed supra in connection with  FIG. 2 . In certain embodiments, wall panels  12  may be supported by lips  122 ,  124  as will be described further infra during installation. 
       FIGS. 8-9  illustrate another stay embodiment  200  which is essentially a mirror image of stay  100  described above. Thus, stay  200  may comprise a front side  202 , a rear side  204 , a top  206 , a bottom  208 , a right side  210 , a left side  212 , and a center portion  214  that is vertically integrated and disposed between the right side  210  and the left side  212 . Stay  200  may comprise right side  210 , left side  212  and center portion  214  being substantially parallel with each other. 
     In addition, a plurality of through holes  213 , disposed on the right side  210 , and left side  212 , of the stay  200  are provided, as illustrated in pairs but may be in any configuration as understood by the skilled artisan. One half of through holes  213  pairs may be disposed on the right side  210  of stay  200  and the other half of the through holes  213  may be disposed on the left side  212  of the stay  200 . Through holes  213  are provided for securing the stay to the wall W of the elevator cab shell  10  with a fastener (not shown as this is known to the skilled artisan, e.g., screw and the like). 
     A plurality of pairs P of pre-installed mounting clips  215  are also provided, each pair P of pre-installed mounting clips comprising a first mounting clip and a second mounting clip mounted on the front side  202 , of the stay  200 , wherein the first mounting clip of each pair P is pre-installed on the right side  210 , of the stay at a distance D1, D2, D3, D4, from the top  206  of the stay  200 , wherein D1 represents the distance from the top-most pair P to the top  206  of the stay  200 , D2 represents the distance from the top  206  of the stay  200  to the pair P immediately below the topmost pair P, D3 represents the distance from the top  206  of stay  200  to the third pair P from the top  206  of stay  200  and D4 represents the distance from the top  206  of stay  200  to the lower-most pair P. Thus, a second mounting clip  215  of each pair P is pre-installed on the left side  212  of the stay  200  at the same distances, i.e., D1, D2, D3 and D4 from the top  206  of the stay  200  as the first mounting clip  215  of pair P. 
     In addition, stay  200  comprises at least one pre-installed locator  216  operatively connected to the stay  200 , the at least one pre-installed locator  216  comprising a connected end  218  whereby the pre-installed locator  216  is connected to the front side  202  of the stay  200 , a distal end  220  and a length L, whereby the pre-installed locator  216 , precisely locates the position for the installation of an adjacent stay on the elevator cab shell wall W. In this embodiment, pre-installed locator  216  is operatively connected to the right side  210  of the front  202  of stay  200 . 
     Pre-installed locator  216  may comprise a fixed deployed position as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , where the pre-installed locator  216  is fixed at angle α with respect to the edge E of stay  200 . Preferably, this angle α is fixed at 90 degrees. Alternatively, and most preferably, pre-installed locator  216  may comprise at least two positions, a stored position and a deployed position, wherein the pre-installed locator  216  is rotatable or otherwise moveable between the stored position of  FIG. 8  and the deployed position of  FIG. 9 . In this preferred embodiment, pre-installed locator  216  comprises a connector  219  that allows the locator  216  to rotate around connector  219  from the stored position as illustrated in, e.g.,  FIG. 8  to the deployed position illustrated in  FIG. 9 . As with the fixed position configuration for pre-installed locator  216  described above, the preferred angle α for the rotatably achieved deployed position is 90 degrees, though other angles are of course possible as will be appreciated by the skilled artisan. In practice, the pre-installed locator  216  when in the deployed position, either as a consequence of rotation away from the stored position or in the fixed position embodiment, is used to precisely mark the position, i.e., the precise horizontal distance, of an adjacent stay on the elevator cab shell wall W from the installed stay  200 . 
     Various embodiments of the stay  200  further comprise a first lip  222  disposed at the bottom  208  of the right side  210  of the stay  200 , and a second lip  224  disposed at the bottom  208  of the left side  212  of the stay  200 , each of the first  222  and second  224  lips extending outwardly from the front side  202  of the stay  200  a distance that is equal to or less than the thickness T of the wall panel  12  as discussed supra in connection with  FIG. 2 . In certain embodiments, wall panels  12  may be supported by lips  222 ,  224  during installation of wall panels  12 . 
       FIGS. 10-12  illustrate another stay embodiment  300 . Thus, stay  300  may comprise a front side  302 , a rear side  304 , a top  306 , a bottom  308 , a right side  310 , a left side  312 , and a center portion  314  that is vertically integrated and disposed between the right side  310  and the left side  312 . 
     Stay  300  comprises a corner piece for fitting on adjacent elevator cab shell walls W and may comprise right side  310 , left side  312  and center portion  314  wherein center portion comprises an angle β. Angle β preferably comprises 90 degrees, though other angles are within the scope of the invention as the skilled artisan will readily recognize. Note that 90 degrees in this context accommodates elevator shell walls W that are disposed at right angles to each other. In the case of non-right angled elevator walls W, angle β may be modified to complement the actual angle formed by the adjacent elevator walls W. Each angle β is within the scope of the present invention. 
     As a consequence of the center portion  314  comprising angle β, the right side  310  and left side  312  of stay  300  are not parallel with each other. Instead, right side  310  and left side  312  are, in the preferred case where angle β is substantially 90 degrees, the right side  310  and left side  312  are disposed at substantially 90 degrees to each other. 
     In addition, a plurality of through holes  313 , disposed on the right side  310 , and left side  312 , of the stay  300  are provided, as illustrated in pairs but may be in any configuration as understood by the skilled artisan. One half of through holes  313  pairs may be disposed on the right side  310  and the other half of the through holes  113  may be disposed on the left side  312  of the stay  300 . Through holes  313  are provided for securing the stay  300  to the wall W of the elevator cab shell  10  with a fastener (not shown as this is a well-known structure to the skilled artisan, e.g., screw and the equivalent). 
     A plurality of pairs P of pre-installed mounting clips  315  are also provided, each pair P of pre-installed mounting clips comprising a first mounting clip and a second mounting clip mounted on the front side  302 , of the stay  300 , wherein the first mounting clip of each pair P is pre-installed on the right side  310 , of the stay at a distance D1, D2, D3, D4, from the top  306  of the stay  300 , wherein D1 represents the distance from the top-most pair P to the top  306  of the stay  100 , D2 represents the distance from the top  306  of the stay  300  to the pair P immediately below the topmost pair P, D3 represents the distance from the top  306  of stay  300  to the third pair P from the top  306  of stay  300  and D4 represents the distance from the top  306  of stay  300  to the lower-most pair P. Thus, a second mounting clip  315  of each pair P is pre-installed on the left side  312  of the stay  300  at the same distances, i.e., D1, D2, D3 and D4 from the top  306  of the stay  300  as the first mounting clip  315  of pair P. 
     In addition, stay  300  in this embodiment comprises at least one pre-installed locator  316  operatively connected to the stay  300 . The at least one pre-installed locators  316  may comprise a first locator  316  operatively connected to the front  302  of the right side  310  of the stay  300  and a second locator  316  operatively connected to the front  302  of the left side  312  of the stay. Each of the at least one pre-installed locators  316  comprising a connected end  318  whereby the pre-installed locator  316  is connected to the respective side (right  310  or left  312 ) of the front side  302  of the stay  300 , a distal end  320  and a length L, whereby the pre-installed locator  316 , precisely locates the position for the installation of an adjacent stay on the elevator cab shell wall W. In the illustrated embodiment, two pre-installed locators  316  are operatively connected to the right side  310 , and the left side  312  of the front  302  of stay  300 , thus two adjacent stays may be located with this embodiment of stay  300 . Alternative embodiments may comprise one pre-installed locator  316  operatively connected to the right side  310  of the front  302  of stay  300 . Another alternative may comprise one pre-installed locator  316  operatively connected to the left side  312  of the front  302  of stay  300 . 
     Pre-installed locator  316  may comprise a fixed deployed position as illustrated in  FIG. 12 , where the pre-installed locator  316  is fixed at angle α with respect to the edge E of stay  300 . Preferably, this angle α is fixed at 90 degrees. Alternatively, and most preferably, pre-installed locator  316  may comprise at least two positions, a stored position and a deployed position, wherein the pre-installed locator  316  is rotatable or otherwise moveable between the stored position of  FIG. 10  and the deployed position of  FIG. 2 . In this preferred embodiment, pre-installed locator  216  comprises a connector  319  that allows the locator  316  to rotate around connector  219  from the stored position as illustrated in, e.g.,  FIG. 10  to the deployed position illustrated in  FIG. 12 . The preferred angle α for the rotatably achieved deployed position is 90 degrees, though other angles are of course possible as will be appreciated by the skilled artisan. In practice, the pre-installed locator  316  when in the deployed position, either as a consequence of rotation away from the stored position or in the fixed position embodiment, is used to precisely mark the position, i.e., the precise horizontal distance, of an adjacent stay on the elevator cab shell wall W from the installed stay  300 . 
     Various embodiments of the stay  300  further comprise a first lip  322  disposed at the bottom  308  of the right side  310  of the stay  300 , and a second lip  324  disposed at the bottom  308  of the left side  312  of the stay  300 , each of the first  322  and second  324  lips extending outwardly from the front side  302  of the stay  300  a distance that is equal to or less than the thickness T of the wall panel  12  as discussed supra in connection with  FIG. 2 . In certain embodiments wall panels  12  may be supported by lips  322 ,  324 . 
     Finally, a finishing stay  400  is provided in  FIGS. 13A and 13B  which are mirror images of each other. The embodiment in  FIG. 13A , stay  400 , provides a center portion  414  and a right side  410 . The embodiment in  FIG. 13B , stay  400 ′ provides a center portion and a left side  412 . The preferred embodiments are illustrated, though other embodiments may comprise a pre-installed locator on the right side  410  of  FIG. 13A  or a pre-installed locator on the left side  412  of  FIG. 13B , as those pre-installed locators are described above in connection with elements  116 ,  216  and  316 . In addition, stay  410  comprises a lip  422  on the bottom of the right side  410  in FIG.  13 A&#39;s embodiment and a lip  424  on the bottom of the left side  412  in FIG.  13 B&#39;s embodiment. Lips  422 ,  424  are configured in the same way with the same structure and function as lips  122 ,  124 ,  222 ,  224 , and  322 ,  324  described above. A single set of mounting clips  415 , as opposed to the pairs P of embodiments  100 ,  200  and  300 , are provided on either the front right side  410  of  FIG. 13A  or the front left side  412  of  FIG. 13B . Through holes  413  are provided on either the right side  410  of  FIG. 13A  or the left side  412  of  FIG. 13B  to secure stay  400  to the elevator cab shell wall W with fasteners. Stay  400  thus provides a finishing element as will be further described herein. 
     Various embodiments of the structure of the present invention having been described, we now turn to the method of installation. 
     With reference to the Figures, with particular reference to the top view of an elevator cab shell  10  comprising a plurality of stays  100 ,  200 ,  300 ,  400 ,  400 ′ installed therein with a plurality of wall panels  12  installed according to the above descriptions, a preferred installation method will now be described. 
     The installation may begin at a corner of the elevator cab shell, e.g., either at corner A or B with a measured installation of stay  300 . Stay  300  will thus be installed generally vertically within the corner A formed by two adjacent walls W using a fastener and through holes  313  to affix stay  300  to walls forming corner A. The pre-installed locator  316  operatively connected to right side  310  of stay  300  is used, either as a fixed deployed element or rotated out of a stored to the extended deployed position as described above, to locate the position of the next adjacent stay  200 . Proceeding along the back side of the elevator cab shell wall W between corner A and corner B, the next adjacent stay  200  is located by aligning the stay  200  against the distal end  320  of pre-installed locator  316  in deployed position and ensuring the stay  200  is substantially vertically aligned, with subsequent attachment and securement of the stay with fasteners and through holes  213  to elevator wall W. Next the next adjacent stay  100  or  200  (either stay  100  or  200  may be used in this case, subject to installer preference) is located using the pre-installed locator  216  on the previously installed stay  200  to locate the position of the next adjacent stay  100  or  200 , depending on the selection of stay  100  or  200  by the installer, in the same manner as described in connection with pre-installed locator  316  and stay  200 . Following location in the prescribed manner, the stay  100  or  200  is vertically aligned and affixed and secured to the elevator cab shell wall W by fasteners and through holes  113  or  213 , depending on the stay selected by the installer. Stay  300  in corner B may be installed at the same time as stay  300  for corner A or following installation of the final stay  100  or  200  along wall W between corners A and B. Once stay  300  is secured in corner B in the same way stay  300  was installed in corner A, the pre-installed locator  316  on the right side of stay  300  is used as described above to locate the next adjacent stay  100  or  200  along wall between corners B and C. Once stay  100  or  200  is located in this manner, it is vertically aligned and secured using fasteners and through holes  113  or  213 . 
     Next, proceeding along the left side of the elevator cab shell from corner A and toward corner D, the process is repeated for the second pre-installed locator  316 , i.e., the locator  316  on the left side  312  of stay  300  to locate the position of the next adjacent stay  100  or  200 , subject to the installer&#39;s selection of stay  100  or  200 , along wall between corners A and D. The next adjacent stay  100  or  200  is then vertically aligned after locating and affixed with fasteners and through holes  113  or  213  to the elevator wall W. In the illustrated embodiment, the final stay  400  on the wall W between corners A and D is then secured using through holes  413  and fasteners. 
     Finally, a finishing stay  400  according to the embodiment of  FIG. 13A  is secured against the corner D along the wall between corners A and D by fasteners securing engaging through holes  413  to elevator cab shell wall W. Similarly, a finishing stay  400 ′ according to the embodiment of  FIG. 13B  is secured against the corner C along the wall between corners B and C with fasteners engaging through holes  413  and elevator cab shell wall W. 
     As illustrated, the cab shell  10  on its back side, i.e., between corners A and B, requires two corner stays  300  and then two intermediate stays  100  or  200  therebetween to locate and support three wall panels  12 . Each of the two intermediate stays  100  or  200  between the corner A and corner B stays  300  may be located by the pre-installed locators  316  as the skilled artisan will readily understand. In certain cab shells  10 , however, more wall panels W than three may be required. In this case, the pre-installed locators of one or more of the intermediate stays  100  and/or  200  will be required to be employed to locate the next-adjacent intermediate stay  100  and/or  200  by placing the next-adjacent stay  100  and/or  200  next to the relevant extended locator  116  or  216 , with subsequent vertical alignment as described above. The methods of the present invention will allow for precise locating of any number of intermediate stays  100  or  200  using an initial corner stay  300  as the basis for locating the next intermediate stays  100  or  200  on both the right side and the left side of the corner stay  300 . The skilled artisan will readily appreciate the utility of the present invention and the versatility of intermediate stays  100  and  200 , depending on the configuration and needs of the particular elevator cab shell  12 . 
     At this point, following precise location and installation of stays  100 ,  200 ,  300 ,  400 ,  400 ′, the installation of wall panels  12  begins. Each wall panel  12  comprises, as described above, a plurality of pairs of zee-type mounting clips  11  mounted to the rear side of the panel. Each of these pre-mounted pairs of zee-type mounting clips  11  now matches precisely with the plurality of pairs of pre-installed mounting clips on the right or left sides of the now-installed stays  100 ,  200 ,  300 ,  400  or  400 ′ as discussed above. 
     Thus, beginning with the wall between corners D and A of FIG.  1 &#39;s elevator cab shell  10 , the first wall panel  12  is hung between stay  400  and the next adjacent stay  100  or  200 . Specifically, one half of the pairs of pre-installed zee-type clips  11  of the wall panel  12  is hung or otherwise connected or secured to the pre-installed mounting clips  415  on the right side of stay  400 . The other half of the pairs of pre-installed zee-type clips  11  of the wall panel  12  is hung or otherwise connected or secured to the pre-installed mounting clips  115  or  215  on the left side  112  or  212  of stay  100  or  200 , depending on installer&#39;s selection of stay  100  or  200  at this point in the installation. In addition, the wall panel  12  rests on lip  424  of stay  400  and lip  122  or  222  of stay  100  or  200 , depending on whether stay  100  or  200  is selected by the installer. 
     The next adjacent wall panel  12  along wall W from corners D to A comprising hanging one half of the pairs of the next wall panel W&#39;s pre-installed zee-type clips  11  to the pre-installed mounting clips  115  or  215  on the right side  110  or  210  of stay  100  or  200 , depending on installer&#39;s selection of stay  100  or  200 . The other half of the pairs of pre-installed zee-type clips  11  of wall panel W is hung on the pre-installed mounting clips  315  on the left side  312  of stay  300 . In addition, wall panel  12  rests on lip  124  or  224  of stay  100  or  200  and on lip  322  of stay  300 . 
     The installation may continue with attention to the wall spanning corners C to A of  FIG. 1 , though as the skilled artisan will readily understand, the installation may progress at different but substantially equivalent starting points, each equivalent installation method is within the scope of the present invention. Thus, beginning with the wall W between corners D and A of FIG.  1 &#39;s elevator cab shell  10 , the first wall panel  12  may be hung between stay  400 ′ and the next adjacent stay  100  or  200 , depending on which stay the installer selects for that position. Specifically, one half of the pairs of pre-installed zee-type clips  11  of the wall panel W is hung or otherwise connected or secured to the pre-installed mounting clips on the left side  412  of stay  400 ′. The other set of the pairs of pre-installed zee-type clips of the wall panel W is hung or otherwise connected or secured to the pre-installed mounting clips  115  or  215  on the right side  110  or  210  of stay  100  or  200 , again dependent on the installer&#39;s selection of stay  100  or  100 . In addition, the wall panel  12  rests on lip  422  of stay  400 ′ and lip  124  or  224  of stay  100  or  200 , depending on whether stay  100  or  200  is selected by the installer. 
     The next most adjacent wall panel  12  along wall W from corners C to B comprising hanging one half of the pairs of the next wall panel&#39;s  12  pre-installed zee-type clips  11  to the pre-installed mounting clips  115  or  215  on the left side  112  or  222  of stay  100  or  200 . The other half of the pairs of pre-installed zee-type clips  11  of wall panel  12  is hung on the pre-installed mounting clips  315  on the right side  312  of stay  300 . Wall panel  12  also rests on lip  122  or  222  of stay  100  or  200  and on lip  324  of stay  300 . 
     Finally, the wall panels  12  along wall W between corners A and B are hung and secured. First, one half of the pairs of the wall panel  12  pre-installed zee-type clips  11  are hung on or otherwise secured to the pre-installed mounting clips  315  on the right side  310  of stay  300  which is secured to corner A. The other half of the pairs of the pre-installed zee-type clips  11  are hung on the pre-installed mounting clips on the left side  212  of stay  200 . The wall panel  12  is also supported by lip  324  of stay  300  and lip  222  of stay  200 . 
     The next most adjacent wall panel  12 , moving from corner A to corner B comprises one half of the pairs of the wall panel&#39;s  12  pre-installed zee-type clips  11  being hung or secured to the pre-installed mounting clips  215  on the right side  210  of stay  200 . The other half of the pairs of the wall panel&#39;s  12  pre-installed zee-type clips  11  are hung on the pre-installed mounting clips  115  or  215  on the left side  112  or  212  of stay  100  or  200 , either stay  100  or stay  200  may be selected here, depending on the installer&#39;s selection and installation process as the skilled artisan will readily understand. The wall panel  12  is further supported on lip  224  of stay  200  and lip  122  or  222  of stay  100  or  200 , respectively. 
     The third and final wall panel  12  along wall W moving from corner A to corner B, and the panel  12  proximate to corner B is installed similarly. Thus, half of the pre-installed zee-type clips on wall panel  12  are hung or secured to the pre-installed mounting clips on the right side  110  or  210  of stay  100  or  200 . The other half of the pre-installed zee-type clips of wall panel  12  are hung on the pre-installed mounting clips on the left side  112  or  210  of stay  100  or  200 . Finally, this wall panel  12  is supported by lip  124  or  224  of stay  100  or  200 , depending on which stay  100  or  200  the installer selected, as well as lip  322  of stay  300 , completing wall panel  12  installation of wall between corners A and B. 
     In the case where the locators  116 ,  216 ,  316  are rotatable, the locators may be rotated down into the stored position before hanging the wall panels  12  as described herein. If locators  116 ,  216 ,  316  are not rotatable, wall panels  12  are simply installed over the locators  116 ,  216 ,  316 , as described above. 
     In each case, the wall panels  12  are supported by two stays, the right and left sides of the stays are covered by the secured and installed wall panels  12 , leaving the center portion  114 ,  214 ,  314 ,  414 , uncovered by wall panels  12  for visual effect. The center portions  114 ,  214 ,  314 ,  414  are commonly known as reveals and may be formed of a metal, e.g., stainless steel. The stays  100 ,  200 ,  300 ,  400 ,  400 ′ may be formed of metal. 
     Thus, a preferred method for the present invention for precisely locating and installing a wall panel between two vertically located and installed stays on a wall of an elevator cab shell having a ceiling and a floor, the wall panel having a front side, a rear side, a height, a width, a top side, a bottom side and a thickness may comprise: 
     providing a plurality of pairs of zee-type mounting clips mounted to the rear side of each of the plurality of wall panels; 
     providing a plurality of vertically mounted stays, each stay comprising
         a front side, a rear side, a top, a bottom, a right side, a left side and a center vertically disposed between the right side and the left side,   a plurality of pairs of pre-installed mounting clips, each pair of pre-installed mounting clips comprising a first and a second mounting clip mounted on the front side of the stay, each pair of pre-installed mounting clips being the same distance from the top of the stay, wherein the first mounting clip is pre-installed on the right side of the stay and the second mounting clip is pre-installed on the left side of the stay, and   at least one pre-installed locator operatively connected to the stay, the at least one pre-installed locator comprising a connected end whereby the locator is connected to the stay, a distal end and a length;   locating and installing a first stay of the plurality of stays in a substantially vertical position on the elevator cab shell;   locating and installing a second stay of the plurality of stays adjacent to and at a distance from the first located and installed stay using the length of the pre-installed locator on the first stay to determine the location for the second stay; and   hanging a wall panel between the first and second located and installed stays by mating the pre-installed mounting clips on the rear side of the wall panel with the pre-installed zee-type clips on each of the located and installed stays.       

     This preferred method may further comprise providing wall panels having a height that is approximately 1.5 inches less than the height of the walls elevator cab shell and locating the first stay on a wall of the elevator cab shell to achieve a clearance of about 0.5 inches from the bottom side of the wall panel to the elevator cab shell floor and about 1 inch from the top side of the wall panel to the elevator cab shell ceiling. 
     The invention has been described with reference to various specific and preferred embodiments and techniques. However, it should be understood that many variations and modifications may be made while remaining within the spirit and scope of the invention.