Patent Publication Number: US-2006005475-A1

Title: Inflatable structure for protecting an elevator interior

Description:
BACKGROUND  
      The present invention relates to an inflatable structure for protecting an elevator interior.  
      Generally elevators are susceptible to damage when used during construction or for movement of furniture or equipment. Typically, one elevator in a bank of elevators is designated as a freight elevator. The freight elevator is normally sparsely finished in order to avoid any chance of damage to high quality finish materials. In certain circumstances more than one elevator may be required for movement of construction personnel equipment. In these circumstances, one of the non-freight elevators is employed. Currently, the interior of the non freight elevator cab is typically protected by preparing a protective framework or shell. The protective shell is formed from plywood and other wooden support members.  
      The construction of the protective framework is time consuming and expensive. The protective wooden framework must be painstakingly constructed to match the specific dimensions of the elevator cab for each project and then is discarded upon completion of the project. Thus, there is no efficiency cost savings achieved through multiple uses of the protective framework.  
      In other instances, elevators are covered or protected by pads that are hung in the interior of the elevator cab or room. These conventional pads typically require permanent connecting devices which are unsightly and, therefore, normally present only in freight elevators.  
      Another drawback to conventional hanging mats used to protect the interior of an elevator is that the conventional mats require pre-existing hooks or attachments. These preexisting attachments detract from the aesthetic nature of the elevator, especially in the use of office buildings where the architecture and the design of the elevator is important. Such conventional hanging pads detracts from the aesthetic nature of a building&#39;s design.  
      Other conventional elevator protection devices only protect the entryway or the doorjamb. These devices only protect the interior edge of an elevator door that is adjacent to the doorjamb or door frame of the elevator. These conventional protection devices, however, do not protect the elevator interior.  
      Another drawback to conventional elevator protecting devices is that they are not specifically dimensioned or configured for a particular elevator. An external company will bring in protecting pads or a protection framework that is not sized specifically for the elevator in use. Thus, the elevator protection that is used in such conventional devices may not completely cover and protect the elevator cab. Thus dents and scratches and other more serious damage may occur during use of the elevator for construction or moving.  
     SUMMARY  
      According to an embodiment of the invention a device for protecting an elevator cab from damage is described. The device for protecting an elevator cab includes a protective barrier positioned adjacent the walls of the cab to prevent equipment from contacting the walls of the cab directly. The barrier includes inflatable panels configured to be transported to the cab in an un-inflated condition and inflated in place.  
      According to another embodiment of the present invention a structure for protecting an elevator cab includes an inflatable wall configured to be positioned adjacent a wall of the cab.  
      According to another embodiment of the present invention a structure for protecting an elevator interior includes an inflatable shield configured to be positioned adjacent interior walls of the elevator and cover the interior walls of an elevator. The shield is configured to collapse into a storage position.  
      It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, appended claims, and the accompanying exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, which are briefly described below.  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an inflatable wall for protecting an elevator according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  shows a sectional view of an inflatable wall according to another embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  is a view of an inflatable wall according to an embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 4  is a top sectional view of an inflatable wall according to another embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view of an inflatable wall and cover according to an embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 6  is a top sectional view of an inflatable wall and cover according to  FIG. 5 .  
       FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the inflatable wall and cover according to  FIG. 5 .  
       FIG. 8  shows an embodiment of the present invention of a corner connection of an inflatable wall.  
       FIG. 9  shows the corner connection of an inflatable wall according to another embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 10  is a view of an inflatable room shield in an elevator room according to an embodiment of the invention.  
       FIG. 11  shows the inflation steps of the inflatable wall.  
       FIG. 12  shows a view of an inflatable wall and attachment mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. Referring now in detail to the drawing figures wherein like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the several views.  
       FIG. 1  shows a structure  100  for protecting an elevator cab including an inflatable wall  110 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. This inflatable wall  110  is configured to be positioned adjacent a wall  50  of an elevator cab.  
      The wall  110  may be configured to be free-standing or may be configured to attach by hook and pile or other attachment means to the elevator wall  50  in order to support the inflatable structure within the elevator cab. The inflatable wall  110 , as shown in  FIG. 12 , may also comprise suction cups  180  on a side adjacent to or proximate an elevator wall  50  in order to attach the inflatable wall  110  to the elevator wall. The suction cups would allow a non-damaging attachment of the inflatable wall  110  to the elevator wall.  
      The inflatable wall  110  may also include a plurality of panels  112 . These panels  112  may be connected together separately. The panels  112  may be seamed together along the vertical or horizontal direction of the panels  112 . The panels  112  may be seamed together to prevent any airflow between the panels  112 .  
      According to another embodiment of the invention the plurality of panels  112  may be integrally formed. The panels  112  may also be formed together, by sewn seams or any other suitable method, in a manner that permits the inflatable wall  110  to be inflated through one inflation opening. The plurality of panels  112  that comprise the inflatable wall  110  may be formed of separate sections and then molded or joined together by other known means. The plurality of panels  112  may also be welded together to form an inflatable wall  110 .  
      The inflatable wall  110  may be comprised of heavy duty resilient plastic or rubber. The inflatable wall  110  may also be comprised of any other material capable of being sufficiently abrasion and puncture resistant. Some examples of suitable materials include rubber or vinyl.  
      Furthermore the inflatable wall  110 , according to another embodiment, may comprise several inflatable panels attached together to form the three walls within an elevator cab and/or a fourth wall to create the room of the elevator cab. The panels may attach together at the corners of the cab. The first panel  112  and second panel  114  may be integrally formed, or, alternatively, may be connected by a snap connection, by an adhesive or any other suitable connecting method.  
      According to another embodiment of the invention as shown in  FIG. 9 , two panels  112 ,  114  may be joined together in a corner by a separate connecting piece  116 . The connecting piece  116  is positioned in the vertical direction in a corner of the elevator. One side of the connecting piece  116  is attached to the first panel  112 . The second panel  114  is attached on a second side of the vertical connecting piece  116 . This connecting piece  116  may be integrally formed with the first and second panels or it may be removably attached to the panels. The connecting piece  116  may be attached with a loop and pile structure, adhesive, snaps or any other suitable fastener. The connecting piece may be inflatable or non-inflatable  
      According to another embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 2 , an inflatable wall  110  may include a support base  150 . The support base  150  may be attached at a bottom edge of the inflatable wall  110  adjacent an elevator floor. The support base  150  helps balance the room shield  200  and creates a more durable protecting device along the floor. The support base  150  may increase the longevity of the elevator protection device. The support base  150  may also include an upper extending edge  152  to further support and protect the inflatable wall  110 .  
      An inflatable wall  110  may also be used to protect the ceiling of an elevator room.  
      The inflatable wall  110  may also include an opening on a fourth wall adjacent to the elevator door. The opening  120  in the inflatable wall  110  is configured to allow use of the control panel of an elevator. The inflatable wall  110  may also include a cover  122  to protect the control panel and still allow an elevator operate to adequately use any of the control buttons such as the floor level, the stop button, and the elevator emergency button. The cover  122  still protects the elevator control panel from dust, scratches, or from other damage due to the moving of equipment within an elevator. The cover  122  may be removably attached to the inflatable wall  110  by loop and pile configuration, as shown in  FIG. 7 , or any other suitable adhesive or mechanical fastener. The cover  122  may be a clear plastic or any other suitable material to allow visual indication of the control panel as well as for the user to adequately choose and select any buttons or controls that are needed or required.  
      Similarly, the inflatable wall  110  can include an opening for ventilation devices, such as for the ceiling, similar to that shown in  FIG. 10 . Additionally, the opening in the inflatable wall  110  for the ceiling may include a cover that is perforated to allow airflow and yet to still protect the elevator ceiling. Further, the inflatable wall  110  may include an opening for the floor level/directional indication that is generally positioned above an elevator door.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 11   a - 11   e , the inflatable wall  110  is inflatable from a closed storage position, displayed in  FIG. 11A . The inflatable wall  110  may then be unfolded and inflated to an in-use position as shown in  FIG. 11E .  
      Another embodiment is shown in  FIG. 10 . This embodiment is similar in many respects to the previous embodiments, except the structure protecting an elevator interior may comprise an inflatable room shield  200  comprising a single structure configured to protect the interior of an elevator, as opposed to individual walls that may be attached together. The modifications of each embodiment could be incorporated separately or in combination into a different embodiment.  
      This inflatable shield  200  may comprise an upright inflatable structure that covers the interior walls of an elevator. The inflatable room shield  200  may be comprised of a plurality of panels  202 , similar to the panels  112 . The inflatable shield  200  may be configured for a particular elevator. When the elevator is designed and built the inflatable protecting device  200  may be designed to fit the specific dimensions of the elevator, so that the elevator will be protected adequately.  
      According to the embodiment as shown in  FIG. 10  an inflatable room shield  200  is provided for protecting an elevator. The inflatable room shield  200  includes three walls. The room shield  200 , according to other embodiments of the invention, may also include a ceiling wall, and/or a fourth wall.  
      The ceiling wall  220  may be removably attached to the room shield  200  or integrally formed. The ceiling shield  220  may also include a gap or an opening  222  for ventilation devices in order to adequately ventilate the elevator while in use. Additionally the opening  222  in the ceiling wall  222  may include a cover  223  that is perforated to allow airflow and yet to still protect the elevator ceiling.  
      The inflatable room shield  200  may also include a gap or opening  217  on a fourth wall  216  adjacent to the elevator door. The gap  217  in the fourth wall  216  is configured to allow use of the control panel of the elevator. The protecting device  200  may also include a cover  218  to protect the control panel, similar to that shown in  FIGS. 5-7 . The cover  218  still protects the elevator control panel from dust, scratches, or from other damage due to the moving of equipment within an elevator. The protecting structure or room shield  200 , as shown in  FIG. 10 , may also include an opening  219  to allow users to identify the floor level as shown above the doors. In several elevators the floor level or up or down arrows are indicated in lights above the door of an elevator. The elevator wall protecting device  200  may include a clear plastic or other suitable cover. The room shield  200  may also just include an opening  219  to allow users to visually identify which floor the elevator is on at that moment, without a cover.  
      In addition, the protecting structure may include a protrusion  240  that extends from a door opening. The protrusion  240  is configured to protect the interior edge of an elevator door adjacent to the door frame when the elevator door is open. This protrusion  240  is integrally formed with a room shield  200  or may be removably attached. This protrusion  240  protects the doorjamb when furniture or other items are being moved in or out of an elevator. This protrusion  240  may move from an extended position to a retracted position in order to allow the elevator doors to close. The protrusion  240  may extend when the elevator doors are open to allow occupants or furniture or other items to move in or out of the elevator.  
      The inflatable wall  110  or the inflatable room shield  200  may include a sealable opening  170  configured to receive air to inflate the room shield  200  and/or inflatable wall  110 . The inflatable wall  110  or room shield  200  may include several sealable openings depending upon the connecting nature of the panels  112  forming the inflatable wall  110 .  
      The placement of a sealable opening depends on the configuration of the panels  112 . Any suitable amount of openings may be used. An advantage of having a plurality of panels  112  that are attached in such a manner to prevent airflow between individual panels  112  is that if one panel should tear or rupture, the remaining panels  112  would still be usable. The inflatable wall  110  may comprise an inner valve such as the conventional spring or check valve or any other type used in inner tubes or vehicle tires or air mattresses or any other type of air valve suitable.  
      The inflatable room shield  200  is configured to fit inside an elevator when in the in-use, inflated position and fit adjacent to interior walls of the elevator. The structure protecting an elevator  200  is configured to be portable so that after use, the inflatable room shield  200  may be deflated and folded up into a storage position allowing the user to store. The inflatable shield  200  is configured so that it may be inflated when inside of an elevator room and to adequately cover and protect the walls of an elevator interior room.  
      The shape of the inflated structure is determined primarily by the shape of the elevator wall that the inflatable wall  110  is adjacent to. The bottom section of an inflatable wall  110  may be of equal, or preferably greater than, the width of the upper portion of the inflatable wall  110  in order to more accurately balance the inflatable wall  110  when in the inflated position.  
      Given the disclosure of the present invention, one versed in the art would appreciate that there may be other embodiments and modifications within the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, all modifications attainable by one versed in the art from the present disclosure within the scope and spirit of the present invention are to be included as further embodiments of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is to be defined as set forth in the following claims.