Patent Publication Number: US-7721653-B1

Title: Combined subway wall and door assembly and associated method

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/850,821, filed Oct. 12, 2006, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not Applicable. 
   REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
   Not Applicable. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Technical Field 
   This invention relates to subway door assemblies and, more particularly, to a combined subway wall and door assembly for providing a safe passageway to ingress and egress a subway train from an adjacent platform. 
   2. Prior Art 
   The first subway, which began operating in 1863 in London, England, used steam locomotives. The subway was successful and it expanded, converting to electricity in about 1896. The first electric subway line in the United States opened in Boston, Mass., in 1897 to immediate success. New York City followed in 1904 with approximately nine miles of subway track. New York&#39;s subway system, is now one of the world&#39;s largest, covering hundreds of miles. Subways primarily serve highly populated metropolitan areas. Because of this core of passengers, subways have not been as challenged as other forms of mass transit to maintain their rider base during the past half-century. In addition, such systems are comparatively environmentally-sound and inexpensive to operate and their use helps mitigate traffic congestion. Although subways provide millions of individuals with an affordable and efficient way to commute, subways are inherently dangerous and many individuals are injured or killed each year. Most accidents result from individuals accidentally falling or intentionally jumping onto the rails, ahead of an oncoming subway. Although a few individuals survive, death is invariably the result of jumping in front of a fast-moving subway train, hurtling into the subway station at nearly 40 mph. Based on the above mentioned needs, it would be advantageous to provide a means for increasing public safety on subway platforms. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,926,462 to Fuganti discloses a safety barrier for road use that comprises a barrier element which can be displaced between an operative position, above the road surface, and an inoperative position, in which it does not substantially project above the road surface. Preferably provided is a number of sets of aligned barrier elements, rigidly connected to one another, the adjacent sets being connected together by articulated connecting structures which enable one set of barrier elements to be displaced between its inoperative position and its operative position without modifying the positions of the adjacent sets. In this way, one or more stretches of the barrier can be brought into the inoperative condition, leaving the adjacent stretches of barrier in the normal operative condition. Unfortunately, this prior art example does not prevent the specific dangers associated with subway platforms. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,056,038 to Foster discloses a safety barrier comprising a support, a partition frame hingedly connected to the support, and a retractable membrane attached to one end of the partition frame. The partition frame and the support can be extended across an opening, such as a doorway, to securely position the barrier within the opening. The partition frame includes a first member hingedly connected to the support and a second member slidingly engaged to the first member. The retractable member may be deployed toward an opposite end of the partition frame to close off the opening. Unfortunately, this prior art example does not automatically biased to an open position when it becomes appropriate for a user to enter the blocked opening. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,649,396 to Carr discloses a semaphore type loading dock safety barrier for use across a vehicle passageway to prevent accidentally driving a vehicle off the end of the loading dock. A barrier mount is attached to a guidepost inside the loading dock doorway and is horizontally rotatable about a vertical axis. A rigid barrier arm is rotatably affixed to the barrier mount so that the barrier arm raises and lowers vertically in a semaphore arm fashion. The barrier arm is typically constructed from an I-beam or box beam and is of sufficient strength to resist vehicle impact. A receiving rest is attached to an opposite guidepost inside the loading dock doorway and is horizontally rotatable about a vertical axis and positioned to receive the free end of the barrier arm. The receiving rest has locking means on the receiving rest to lock the free end of the barrier arm in the receiving rest so that upon vehicle impact with the barrier arm deformation of the barrier arm and rotation of the barrier mount and receiving rest about their respective vertical rotation axes occurs while retaining the barrier arm in a locked relationship with the receiving rest. Unfortunately, this prior art example does not prevent the specific dangers associated with subway platforms. 
   Accordingly, the present invention is disclosed in order to overcome the above noted shortcomings. The present invention is convenient and easy to use, durable in design, and designed for providing a safe passageway to ingress and egress a subway train from an adjacent platform. The present invention is simple to use and designed for many years of repeated use. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for providing a safe passageway to ingress and egress a subway train from an adjacent platform. These and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are provided by a combined subway wall and door assembly. 
   A combined wall and door assembly includes a static wall assembly including a segmented support frame with a rectilinear shape. Such a support frame includes a first plurality of horizontally disposed support members situated along segmented end-to-end longitudinal relationships along a ground surface of the subway platform. A plurality of vertically disposed support members are equidistantly spaced between adjacent ones of the first plurality of support members and directly connected thereto respectively and a second plurality of horizontally disposed support members are effectively situated along the segmented end-to-end longitudinal relationship above the ground surface of the subway platform. Such a second plurality of support members are directly connected to top ends of the vertically disposed support members. 
   The static wall assembly further includes a plurality of transparent fiberglass panels directly coupled to the support frame and spaced along an entire longitudinal length of the support frame. A plurality of door assemblies conveniently includes a plurality of raised access ports statically affixed to selected areas of the support frame, and a plurality of horizontally slidable access doors operably engaged with the access ports and positioned generally between the segmented support frame. 
   The assembly further includes a mechanism for automatically biasing the access doors between open and closed positions when the subway train arrives and leaves a train terminal respectively such that passengers are prohibited from premature ingress and egress of the subway train during a schedule stop. Such an automatic biasing mechanism includes a plurality of sensors positioned at selected portions of the wall assembly. Each of such sensors advantageously generates and transmits an input signal when the subway train reaches the terminal. Each of such input signals has a true value when the access doors are aligned with the subway train, and each of the input signals have a false value when the access doors are not aligned with the subway train. 
   The automatic biasing mechanism further includes a logic gate directly coupled to the sensors and receiving the input signals. Such a logic gate effectively generates and transmits a true output signal when all of the input signals have the true values respectively, and the logic gate generates and transmits a false output signal when at least one of the input signals have a false value. At least one light array is electrically coupled directly to the access ports. 
   The automatic biasing mechanism further includes a control switch electrically coupled to the logic gate and responsive to the output signal. Such a control switch generates and transmits first and second control signals for toggling the light-emitting members between first and second colors when the logic gate output signal is true and false respectively. The control signal further generates and transmits a third control signal upon receipt of the true output signal from the logic gate. An actuator assembly is operably coupled directly to the control switch and the access ports respectively. Such an actuator assembly conveniently causes the access doors to slidably adapt between the open and closed positions when the control switch generates and transmits the third control signal. 
   The actuator assembly includes a single and unitary bracket extending upwardly from the first plurality of support members up to a termination point located above the second plurality of support members respectively. A plurality of guide tracks is directly anchored to respective top portions of the brackets and is registered parallel to the first and second pluralities of support members respectively. A plurality of casters is rotatably connected to the guide tracks and extends downwardly therefrom such that the casters become directly abutted against top edges of the access doors respectively. Such casters advantageously rotate along clockwise and counter clockwise directions when the control switch transmits the third control signal and thereby cause the access doors to linearly travel along lateral and medial directions within respect to the brackets respectively. 
   The support frame effectively remains stationary while the access doors are biased between the open and closed positions, and lateral and medial top corners of the access doors are engaged with the casters when the access doors are situated at the closed and open positions respectively. 
   A method for utilizing a combined wall and door assembly to provide a safe ingress and egress passageway for a subway train from an adjacent platform includes the steps of: providing a static wall assembly by providing a segmented support frame has a rectilinear shape, and directly coupling a plurality of transparent fiberglass panels to the support frame by spacing the fiberglass panels along an entire longitudinal length of the support frame; providing a plurality of door assemblies by statically affixing a plurality of raised access ports to selected areas of the support frame, and operably engaging a plurality of horizontally slidable access doors with the access ports by positioning the access doors generally between the segmented support frame; and automatically biasing the access doors between open and closed positions when the subway train arrives and leaves a train terminal respectively such that passengers are prohibited from premature ingress and egress of the subway train during a schedule stop. 
   The method further includes the steps of: positioning a plurality of sensors at selected portions of the wall assembly; directly coupling a logic gate to the sensors; electrically coupling at least one light array directly to the access ports; electrically coupling a control switch to the logic gate; operably coupling an actuator assembly directly to the control switch and the access ports respectively; each of the sensors generating and transmitting an input signal when the subway train reaches the terminal; each of the input signals has a true value when the access doors are aligned with the subway train; each of the input signals have a false value when the access doors are not aligned with the subway train; the logic gate receiving the input signals and generating and transmitting a true output signal when all of the input signals have the true values respectively; the logic gate generating and transmitting a false output signal when at least one of the input signals have a false value; the control switch is responsive to the output signal and generating and transmitting first and second control signals for toggling the light-emitting members between first and second colors when the logic gate output signal is true and false respectively; the control signal further generating and transmitting a third control signal upon receipt of the true output signal from the logic gate; and the actuator assembly causing the access doors to slidably adapt between the open and closed positions when the control switch generates and transmits the third control signal. 
   The method further includes the steps of: situating a first plurality of horizontally disposed support members along segmented end-to-end longitudinal relationships along a ground surface of the subway platform; equidistantly spacing a plurality of vertically disposed support members between adjacent ones of the first plurality of support members by directly connecting the vertically disposed support members thereto respectively; situating a second plurality of horizontally disposed support members along a segmented end-to-end longitudinal relationship above the ground surface of the subway platform; and directly connected the second plurality of support members is to top ends of the vertically disposed support members. 
   The method further includes the steps of: extending a single and unitary bracket upwardly from the first plurality of support members up to a termination point located above the second plurality of support members respectively; directly anchoring a plurality of guide tracks to respective top portions of the brackets by registering the guide tracks parallel to the first and second pluralities of support members respectively; rotatably connecting a plurality of casters to the guide tracks by extending the casters downwardly therefrom such that the casters and directly abut top edges of the access doors respectively; and the casters rotating along clockwise and counter clockwise directions when the control switch transmits the third control signal and thereby cause the access doors to linearly travel along lateral and medial directions within respect to the brackets respectively. 
   The method further includes the steps of: maintaining the support frame stationary while the access doors are biased between the open and closed positions; and engaging lateral and medial top corners of the access doors with the casters when the access doors are situated at the closed and open positions respectively. 
   There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
   It is noted the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
     The novel features believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a combined subway wall and door assembly with the access doors in a closed position, in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of a combined subway wall and door assembly with the access doors in an opened position, in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a panoramic view of a combined subway wall and door assembly, in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a bottom planar view of a combined subway wall and door assembly, in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of a combined subway wall and door assembly with the access doors in a closed position, taken along line  5 - 5 , as seen in  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of a combined subway wall and door assembly with the access doors in an opened position, taken along line  6 - 6 , as seen in  FIG. 4 ; and 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic block diagram of an automatic biasing mechanism, in accordance with the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiment set forth herein. Rather, this embodiment is provided so that this application will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the true scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the figures. 
   The assembly of this invention is referred to generally in  FIGS. 1-7  by the reference numeral  10  and is intended to protect a combined subway wall and door assembly. It should be understood that the assembly  10  may be used to protect many different types of platforms and should not be limited in use with only those types of platforms mentioned herein. 
   Referring initially to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5  and  6 , a combined wall and door assembly  10  includes a static wall assembly  20  including a segmented support frame  21  with a rectilinear shape. Such a support frame  21  includes a first plurality of horizontally disposed support members  22  situated along segmented end-to-end longitudinal relationships along a ground surface of the subway platform. A plurality of vertically disposed support members  23  are equidistantly spaced between adjacent ones of the first plurality of support members  22  and directly connected, without the use of intervening elements, thereto respectively, and a second plurality of horizontally disposed support members  24  are situated along the segmented end-to-end longitudinal relationship above the ground surface of the subway platform. Such a second plurality of support members  24  are directly connected, without the use of intervening elements, to top ends of the vertically disposed support members  23 . The wall assembly  20  extends along the entire platform to prevent passengers from accessing the platform before the subway arrives. 
   Referring again to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5  and  6 , the static wall assembly  20  further includes a plurality of transparent fiberglass panels  25  directly coupled, without the use of intervening elements, to the support frame  21  and spaced along an entire longitudinal length of the support frame  21 . A plurality of door assemblies  26  includes a plurality of raised access ports  27  statically affixed to selected areas of the support frame  21 , and a plurality of horizontally slidable access doors  28  operably engaged with the access ports  27  and positioned generally between the segmented support frame  21 . The doors  28  allow access to the platform when the subway arrives. 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , the assembly  10  further includes a mechanism  29  for automatically biasing the access doors between open and closed positions when the subway train arrives and leaves a train terminal respectively which is essential such that passengers are prohibited from premature ingress and egress of the subway train during a schedule stop. Such an automatic biasing mechanism  29  includes a plurality of sensors  30  positioned at selected portions of the wall assembly  20 . Each of such sensors  30  generates and transmits an input signal when the subway train reaches the terminal. Each of such input signals has a true value when the access doors  28  are aligned with the subway train, and each of the input signals have a false value when the access doors  28  are not aligned with the subway train. 
   Referring again to  FIG. 7 , the automatic biasing mechanism  29  further includes a logic gate  31  directly coupled, without the use of intervening elements, to the sensors  30  and receiving the input signals. Such a logic gate  31  generates and transmits a true output signal when all of the input signals have the true values respectively, and the logic gate  31  generates and transmits a false output signal when at least one of the input signals have a false value. At least one light array  32  is electrically coupled directly, without the use of intervening elements, to the access ports  27 . 
   Referring again to  FIG. 7 , the automatic biasing mechanism  29  further includes a control switch  33  electrically coupled to the logic gate  31  and responsive to the output signal. Such a control switch  33  generates and transmits first and second control signals for toggling the light-emitting members  32  between first and second colors when the logic gate  31  output signal is true and false respectively. The control signal further generates and transmits a third control signal upon receipt of the true output signal from the logic gate  31 . An actuator assembly  34  is operably coupled directly, without the use of intervening elements, to the control switch  33  and the access ports  27  respectively. Such an actuator assembly  34  causes the access doors  28  to slidably adapt between the open and closed positions when the control switch  33  generates and transmits the third control signal. The automatic biasing mechanism  29  opens the access doors  28  when the subway train arrives at the station, and closes the doors  28  when the subway train exits the station. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the actuator assembly  34  includes a single and unitary bracket  35  extending upwardly from the first plurality of support members  22  up to a termination point located above the second plurality of support members  24  respectively. A plurality of guide tracks  36  is directly anchored, without the use of intervening elements, to respective top portions of the brackets  35  and is registered parallel to the first and second pluralities of support members  22 ,  24  respectively. A plurality of casters  37  is rotatably connected to the guide tracks  36  and extends downwardly therefrom which is vital such that the casters  37  become directly abutted, without the use of intervening elements, against top edges of the access doors  28  respectively. Such casters  37  rotate along clockwise and counter clockwise directions when the control switch  33  transmits the third control signal and thereby cause the access doors  28  to linearly travel along lateral and medial directions within respect to the brackets  35  respectively. The actuator assembly  34  enables the doors to glide open and closed when activated by the automatic biasing mechanism  29 . 
   The support frame  21  remains stationary while the access doors  28  are biased between the open and closed positions, and lateral and medial top corners of the access doors  28  are engaged with the casters  37  when the access doors  28  are situated at the closed and open positions respectively. 
   The assembly includes a sliding door assembly and retaining walls that are installed on subway loading platforms, which is advantageous to effectively prevent individuals from proceeding beyond the loading platform when it is unsafe to do so. The door panels and wall panels are produced from sturdy fiber glass materials and enclosed within an aluminum alloy frame. Of course, such panels and frame can be produced from a variety of suitable materials, as is obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art. The sliding doors and retaining walls are solid enough to effectively resist push and prevent passengers from entering the rail area. 
   A status and warning light assembly are conveniently positioned above the sliding doors, which advantageously allow a passenger waiting on the platform to easily see the warning lights. Of course, such lights can be positioned in any suitable position on the system, as is obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Such lights visually indicate when it is unsafe to pass through the doors and the doors are locked, or when the doors are unlocked and can be safely passed through. The light indicating that the doors are locked is covered by a red lens and the light indicating the doors are unlocked is covered by a green lens. The lights and door locking mechanism are effectively controlled by a sensing assembly that is advantageously activated by an oncoming subway train. The doors remain locked and the red light illuminates until the oncoming train is adjacent to the platform and completely stationary. When the train is stationary and it is safe to board the train, the green light illuminates and the doors unlock. The retaining wall and sliding doors, when installed, effectively extend from the entry wall along the edge of the platform to an area immediately to the rear of the last subway car door. 
   The present invention, as claimed, provides the unexpected and unpredictable benefit of a system that is convenient and easy to use, is simple to install, and is a practical and much needed safety system that would greatly increase subway safety for anyone that rides subways. The system is simple to operate and easy to understand. Additionally, the system is sturdy and durable, as well as economical and aesthetically pleasing. 
   In use, a method for utilizing a combined wall and door assembly  10  to provide a safe ingress and egress passageway for a subway train from an adjacent platform includes the steps of: providing a static wall  20  assembly by providing a segmented support frame  21  has a rectilinear shape, and directly coupling, without the use of intervening elements, a plurality of transparent fiberglass panels  25  to the support frame  21  by spacing the fiberglass panels  25  along an entire longitudinal length of the support frame  21 ; providing a plurality of door assemblies  26  by statically affixing a plurality of raised access ports  27  to selected areas of the support frame  21 , and operably engaging a plurality of horizontally slidable access doors  28  with the access ports  27  by positioning the access doors  28  generally between the segmented support frame  21 ; and automatically biasing the access doors  28  between open and closed positions when the subway train arrives and leaves a train terminal respectively such that passengers are prohibited from premature ingress and egress of the subway train during a schedule stop. 
   In use, the method further includes the steps of: positioning a plurality of sensors  30  at selected portions of the wall assembly  20 ; directly coupling, without the use of intervening elements, a logic gate  31  to the sensors  30 ; electrically coupling at least one light array  32  directly, without the use of intervening elements, to the access ports  27 ; electrically coupling a control switch  33  to the logic gate  31 ; operably coupling an actuator assembly  34  directly, without the use of intervening elements, to the control switch  33  and the access ports  27  respectively; each of the sensors  30  generating and transmitting an input signal when the subway train reaches the terminal; each of the input signals has a true value when the access doors  28  are aligned with the subway train; each of the input signals have a false value when the access doors  28  are not aligned with the subway train; the logic gate  31  receiving the input signals and generating and transmitting a true output signal when all of the input signals have the true values respectively; the logic gate  31  generating and transmitting a false output signal when at least one of the input signals have a false value; the control switch  33  is responsive to the output signal and generating and transmitting first and second control signals for toggling the light-emitting members between first and second colors when the logic gate  31  output signal is true and false respectively; the control signal further generating and transmitting a third control signal upon receipt of the true output signal from the logic gate  31 ; and the actuator assembly  34  causing the access doors  28  to slidably adapt between the open and closed positions when the control switch  33  generates and transmits the third control signal. 
   In use, the method further includes the steps of: situating a first plurality of horizontally disposed support members  22  along segmented end-to-end longitudinal relationships along a ground surface of the subway platform; equidistantly spacing a plurality of vertically disposed support members  23  between adjacent ones of the first plurality of support members  22  by directly connecting, without the use of intervening elements, the vertically disposed support members  23  thereto respectively; situating a second plurality of horizontally disposed support members  24  along a segmented end-to-end longitudinal relationship above the ground surface of the subway platform; and directly connected, without the use of intervening elements, the second plurality of support members  24  is to top ends of the vertically disposed support members. 
   In use, the method further includes the steps of: extending a single and unitary bracket  35  upwardly from the first plurality of support members  22  up to a termination point located above the second plurality of support members  24  respectively; directly anchoring, without the use of intervening elements, a plurality of guide tracks  36  to respective top portions of the brackets  35  by registering the guide tracks  36  parallel to the first and second pluralities of support members  22 ,  24  respectively; rotatably connecting a plurality of casters  37  to the guide tracks  36  by extending the casters  37  downwardly therefrom such that the casters  37  and directly abut, without the use of intervening elements, top edges of the access doors  28  respectively; and the casters  37  rotating along clockwise and counter clockwise directions when the control switch  33  transmits the third control signal and thereby cause the access doors  28  to linearly travel along lateral and medial directions within respect to the brackets  35  respectively. 
   In use, the method further includes the steps of: maintaining the support frame  21  stationary while the access doors  28  are biased between the open and closed positions; and engaging lateral and medial top corners of the access doors  28  with the casters  37  when the access doors  28  are situated at the closed and open positions respectively. 
   While the invention has been described with respect to a certain specific embodiment, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. 
   In particular, with respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the present invention may include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation. The assembly and use of the present invention are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art.