Patent Publication Number: US-10315888-B2

Title: Firefly type end cover

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to an escalator or travelator system, and more particularly, to an end cover of an anti-clamping device for an apron board used for an escalator or a travelator. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     An anti-clamping device for an apron board is widely used in an apparatus such as an escalator or a travelator for safety protection, in order to prevent the object carried by the user or a part of the body thereof from being caught between the escalator or the travelator and its bezel. For example, in the China National Standard GB 16899-2011 issued and carried out on Jul. 29, 2011 (“Safety Code for Construction and Installation of Escalators and Travelators”), mandatory requirements are clearly set forth for the aforementioned anti-clamping device for an apron board. For example, in the drawings (partially shown in  FIG. 1  of the present disclosure, taking millimeter as the unit) in Section 5.5.3.4 of this Standard, specific sizes of the anti-clamping device for an apron board (for example, including an apron board brush) are limited. For example, a flexible member  1  and a rigid member  2  of the anti-clamping device for an apron board should meet a certain size relationship and scale requirement, and should meet a certain cooperating relationship with a step  3  of the escalator. 
     In the above Standard GB 16899-2011, a rear end part of the anti-clamping device for an apron board (also referred to an “end cap”) is further limited. For example, it is clearly disclosed on Page 20 of the text of this Standard “the rear end part of the anti-clamping device for an apron board should be gradually reduced and connected with the apron board smoothly. The endpoint of the anti-clamping device for an apron board should be located at a position greater than 50 mm and smaller than 150 mm in front of an intersection line between a comb and a tread (the step side).”  FIG. 2  illustratively shows a schematic view of an anti-clamping device  14  for an apron board including an end cover  12  in the prior art. It can be viewed from the figure that, the end cover may be installed on one end of the anti-clamping device for an apron board, as a transition between the anti-clamping device for an apron board and the apron board. 
     However, in the case of improper installation, there may be a large clearance between the step and the apron board and the anti-clamping device for an apron board, which still has a risk in safety. 
     On the other hand, there are also requirements on lighting the escalator or travelator in this field. Out of consideration for personal and property safety, many countries generally require for setting necessary lighting devices around the escalator or travelator system or on the system. For example, in the existing technical configuration shown in  FIG. 3 , a comb lamp  26  is disposed at a position near the boundary between the comb  24  and the step  22  (i.e., the tread) to illuminate the boundary, so as to attract the attention of users, and to avoid accidents. 
     However, during lighting through a comb lamp, a hole needs to be drilled for example on the apron board for installing the comb lamp, which at least leads to the problems in many aspects: first, it is difficult to drill holes on the apron board of an older escalator or travelator, the workload is increased, and the cost of installation and maintenance is increased; second, drilling may also reduce the overall strength of the apron board and the escalator system, resulting in a potential safety risk; third, the comb lamp also needs to meet the requirements in standards or laws, thereby reducing the interchangeability and further increasing the cost. 
     In addition, in the poor lighting conditions, it is further expected to enhance the lighting effect of the comb lamp. For example, when it is required to achieve a higher lighting level such as 50 lux or higher on the boundary between the comb and the step during the stair measurement, the existing lighting devices are expected to be enhanced and improved. 
     Therefore, in this field, there are requirements on an improvement to the safety and lighting function of the escalator or travelator at a low cost, and in addition, in this field, there are further requirements on simply and conveniently adding a fixed lighting source in the comb region during the rehabilitation operations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to enhance the safety and lighting function of escalators or travelators by means of a convenient installation manner at a low cost, the present application provides an end cover having a further safety protection and lighting effect, which can be used in cooperation with a standard apron board protection device in the existing technology or the non-existing technology. 
     According to a first aspect, an end cover of an anti-clamping device for an apron board is provided, which includes a body made of a transparent material or a translucent material; one or multiple LED lighting lamp(s) is(are) provided in the interior of the body; and a coupling member formed on at least a part of the body, which cooperates with at least a part of the anti-clamping device to form a detachable connection between the body and the anti-clamping device. As for the composing parts of the end cover, the size from a first end of the body to a second end thereof is gradually reduced so as to form a smooth transition between the apron board and the anti-clamping device. 
     According to a second aspect, an escalator system is provided, which includes the end cover of an anti-clamping device for an apron board according to the first aspect. 
     According to a third aspect, a travelator system is provided, which includes the end cover of an anti-clamping device for an apron board according to the first aspect. 
     The escalator system or travelator system employing the end cover according to the present application can reduce the clearance between the step and the apron board and prevent objects or uses&#39; bodies from being caught therein. In addition, by using the above end cover and the escalator system or travelator system having the end cover, the present application, independent of or attaching to the comb lamp, provides an enhanced lighting effect in the vicinity of the boundary from the comb to the step and increases the safety in use. In addition, as compared with the comb lamp to be added by drilling holes, the present application only needs to replace the end cover for the existing escalator system or travelator system, thereby reducing the cost rather than decreasing the strength of the apron board. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present application can be better understood by reading the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, and in all the accompanying drawings, similar reference numerals indicate similar parts. In the figures: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view, which illustrates an anti-clamping device for an apron board and the relationship thereof with a step component in the prior art; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a combination of an end cover and the anti-clamping device for an apron board according to the prior art; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of illuminating the boundary between a comb and a step according to the prior art; 
         FIGS. 4A-4B  are schematic views of the end cover for an anti-clamping device for an apron board configured in a single row according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIGS. 5A-5B  are schematic views of the end cover for an anti-clamping device for an apron board configured in double rows according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view of a cross section of a rigid member of the anti-clamping device cooperated with the end cover in the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     To describe the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention more clearly, the following makes a further detailed description on the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. 
     For simplicity, some technical features that are well-known to persons skilled in the art are omitted in the following description. 
       FIGS. 4A-4B  are a front view and a stereogram respectively illustratively show the end cover  30  for an anti-clamping device for an apron board configured in a single row according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the embodiment shown in the figure, the end cover  30  is mainly composed of two parts: a body  32  of the end cover and a tongue-shaped member  34  of the end cover, wherein the body  32  and the tongue-shaped member  34  are preferably made up of a transparent or translucent material, such as made of transparent plastic. Preferably, the tongue-shaped member  34  is formed on one end of the body  32 , for example, on a first end, as shown in  FIG. 4 . Those skilled in the art can be aware of that, the tongue-shaped member  34  may also be located at other locations of the body  32 , such as the central part of the body. 
     In accordance with an embodiment, one or multiple LED lighting lamp(s)  36  are provided in the interior of the body  32 , the light of the LED lamp  36  may penetrate the body  32  to illuminate for example a boundary between a comb and a step (the position of the boundary may be known by referring to the boundary between the step  22  and the comb  24  in  FIG. 3 ). Although a certain number of LED lamps are shown in the figure, which are linearly ordered in the substantially central part of the body  32 , a larger or smaller number of LED lamps may also be used as needed, which are arranged at any appropriate locations of the body, for example, some LED lamps may be located on the inner surface of the body to enhance lighting. According to a preferred embodiment, the multiple LED lamps are of different colors, to play as a role of further warning. According to another preferred embodiment, the multiple LED lamps of different colors are placed at a certain interval, and the multiple LED lighting lamps flash alternately during the operation for further warning the users. 
     In accordance with an embodiment, through the cooperation between the tongue-shaped member  34  and at least a part of the anti-clamping device for an apron board in the prior art (see  FIG. 6 ), the end cover  30  can be coupled (for example, be inserted) to one end of the anti-clamping device to form a detachable connection. In addition, the detachable connection can also be implemented in other manners, such as an interference fit connection, a buckling connection, and a bonding connection, to further increase the firmness of the connection between the end cover and the anti-clamping device. 
     More preferably, the detachable connection is formed on the above-mentioned first end of the body, and the size of the body  32  from the first end to the opposite second end is gradually reduced, so that the end cover can be used as a transition between the apron board and the anti-clamping device (not shown). 
     According to an embodiment, the body  32  and the tongue-shaped member  34  are formed integrally; and according to another embodiment, the body  32  and the tongue-shaped member  34  are manufactured separately and are connected by means of bonding. 
     According to an embodiment, as show in  FIG. 4B , a through hole or a half-through hole is arranged at the central or other locations of the body  32 , and a fastener is inserted into the through hole or the half-through hole to better fix the end cover  30  to the anti-clamping device that is not shown. In addition, the skilled persons can be aware of, a boss, a thread, or other structures in the through hole or the half-through hole, which cooperate with the fastener such as a bolt and a screw, can be arranged to play a better role in locating and fixing. 
     Preferably, after the installation of the end cover and the apron board protection device is complete, the distance between the end cover and the boundary from the comb to the step is between 50-150 mm, preferably between 60-120 mm, and more preferably 100 mm. 
     Persons skilled in the art can be aware of that, the shape and material of the above body  32  and the tongue-shaped member  34  are merely illustrative, which may be of any shape and made of any appropriate material that can realize the functions described in this disclosure, for example, the body  32  can accommodate any appropriate number of LED lamps  36  and is transparent, the tongue-shaped member  34  is capable of detachably connecting/coupling with the anti-clamping device for an apron board in the prior art, and so on. 
       FIGS. 5A-5B  are schematic views of the end cover  40  for the anti-clamping device for an apron board configured in double rows according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the principle for arranging the body  42 , the tongue-shaped member  44 , and the LED lamp  46  is substantially the same as that for arranging the end cover shown in  FIG. 4 , and the difference thereof merely lies in that the embodiment of  FIG. 5  is applicable to the anti-clamping device for an apron board configured in double rows, while the embodiment in  FIG. 4  is applicable to the anti-clamping device for an apron board configured in a single row. Both the anti-clamping devices for an apron board configured in a single row and in double rows are familiar to persons skilled in the art, and persons skilled in the art, by reading the present invention, can understand how to use the corresponding anti-clamping device to cooperate with the end cover  30  or  40  of the present application, and are able to understand that the discussion and explanation about  FIGS. 4A-4B  in this disclosure are also applicable to  FIG. 5A-5B  correspondingly. 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic view of a cross section of a rigid member  50  of the anti-clamping device cooperated with the end cover in the embodiment of the present disclosure. As described above, the tongue-shaped member  34  of the end cover can cooperate therewith to form a detachable connection. In the embodiment of  FIG. 6 , the tongue-shaped member  34  is applicable to be inserted into a groove  52 , so that the end cover is “installed” on one end of the anti-clamping device. 
     Persons skilled in the art can understand that, the specific connection manner between the anti-clamping device and the end cover in the embodiment in this disclosure may differ according to different end covers, so that the detachable connection finally formed between the anti-clamping device and the end cover includes one or more of a plug-in connection, an interference fit connection, a buckling connection, and a bonding connection. 
     According to the further embodiment of this disclosure, in order to supply power to electronic devices (for example, LED lamps  36  and  46 ) in the bodies  32  and  42 , any existing or future developed manners may be adopted to establish an electrical coupling between the end cover and the anti-clamping device. For example, a wired cable is adopted to connect the anti-clamping device and the end cover, to supply power. For another example, the electrical coupling is established in a wireless manner between the anti-clamping device and the end cover (at this time, a wireless transmit/receive unit may be additionally provided between the anti-clamping device and the end cover) to supply power. In a word, the wired and wireless power supply manners that are well known in the art and developed in the future may be used as the electrical coupling manner between the end cover and the anti-clamping device according to the requirements of actual situations. 
     Therefore, persons skilled in the art will also be aware of that, the “coupling” and “connection” mentioned in the specification and claims not only include various mechanical couplings/connections specifically described above, but also include a wired or wireless electrical coupling. That is to say, the terms “coupling” and “connection” ever mentioned in this disclosure should be understood in the most general way according to the context, rather than being explained in a narrow sense. 
     Persons skilled in the art can further understand that, the features of different embodiments can be used in combination, and all the technical features of the same embodiment are not necessarily reflected entirely in a specific implementation. For example, although the holes can be drilled in the bodies  32  and  42  to promote the fixing between the body and the protection device, in order to save cost and/or meet the requirements such as standardization, it is completely possible to drill no hole or drill one or multiple holes strictly according to the standard size and location. For another example, although the end cover is preferably a plastic material, but any other transparent/translucent material that can meet the safety standards in terms of hardness or the like can also be used. 
     To sum up, the present written description uses examples to disclose the present invention including an optimal mode, and enables persons skilled in the art to practice the present invention, including the method for fabricating and using any device or system and executing any combination thereof. However, the patentable scope of the present invention can be defined by the claims, and may include other examples that can be thought of by persons skilled in the art. 
     LIST OF COMPONENTS 
       1  Flexible member 
       2  Rigid member 
       3  Step 
       12  End cover 
       14  Anti-clamping device for an apron board 
       22  Step 
       24  Comb 
       26  Comb lamp 
       30  Schematic view of the end cover 
       32  Body of the end cover 
       34  Tongue-shaped member of the end cover 
       36  LED lamp 
       40  Schematic view of the end cover 
       42  Body of the end cover 
       44  Tongue-shaped member of the end cover 
       46  LED lamp 
       50  Schematic view 
       52  Groove in which the end cover can be inserted