Cross-Reference to Related Application:

[00001] The present application claims the benefit of the filing date of Chinese Application No. 202110187201.7 filed on February 18, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHINICAL FIELD

[00002] The present application relates generally to escalator balustrades, and more particularly to a unique system for cantilevering a movable handrail on vertical glass panels that extend from an escalator housing to vertically above the movable handrail.

BACKGROUND

[00003] A typical escalator balustrade includes one or more vertical glass panels that extend in a lengthwise direction along both sides of a step or a conveyor band. An upper side of each of the vertical glass panels includes a movable handrail mounted thereon wherein the movable handrail rotates freely on the top of and along the length of the vertical glass panel. A lower side of each of the vertical glass panels is clamped in a balustrade deck, sill, or escalator housing which covers any attachment elements of the vertical glass panels at both sides of such panels. The balustrade deck or sill includes an outer sheet metal or profile cover which in cross- section is generally horizontally arranged and an inner cover arrangement that is vertically disposed at the region of the step or the conveyor band.

[00004] Since the movable handrail is positioned at the top or upper side of each of the vertical glass panels, the height of each of the vertical glass panels is limited by the position of the handrail and the position of the handrail is determined by the average height of the escalator user. The height of the vertical glass panels corresponds with the elevation of the movable handrail required for these persons. As a result, the height of the vertical glass panels cannot be extended in this configuration.

[00005] One solution to this problem includes building a second glass barrier outboard of the movable handrail and the vertical glass panels. This second glass barrier is taller than the inner vertical glass panels that support the movable handrail. The second glass barrier is typically mounted using additional vertical supports that are attached to the escalator housing. Adding a second outer glass barrier and vertical supports outside of the inner glass barrier are costly and visually unattractive.

[00006] Therefore, further contributions in this area of technology are needed to improve the safety of escalator balustrades. Therefore, there remains a significant need for the apparatuses, methods and systems disclosed herein.

SUMMARY

[00007] One embodiment is a unique system, method, and apparatus for a balustrade assembly that includes a sufficiently tall balustrade panel that blocks and prevents persons from falling over the balustrade panel while riding an escalator, passenger conveyor, or other types of moving walkways (collectively hereinafter “escalator”). The height of the balustrade panel can vary according to the desired installation. The balustrade assembly includes a support attached to the balustrade panel for a moving handrail that a person could grasp while riding on the escalator. The height of the balustrade panel is not limited by the location of the support and the moving handrail as in other prior art balustrade assemblies that mount the moving handrail on an upper or cantilever end of the vertical balustrade panel. For the present application, the support has a balustrade connection portion that is attached or mounted on a mid-point of the balustrade height of the balustrade panel to thereby cantilever the moving handrail a distance from the balustrade panel at an elevation that is suitable for passengers to grasp the moving handrail while riding the escalator. The support includes a handrail connection portion to retain the movable handrail thereon and cantilever the movable handrail a distance away from the balustrade panel. [00008] The balustrade panel includes a cantilever end opposite a support end, and a mid point that is located between the cantilever end and the support end. The support end is installed in an escalator machinery housing or other housing associated with other types of moving walkways or passenger conveyors. The balustrade assembly can be assembled with an existing escalator with installation of the support end of the balustrade panel into the escalator machinery housing to retrofit an existing escalator with a taller balustrade panel. A clamp connection mechanism or other type of connection mechanism can be used with the support end of the balustrade panel to mount the balustrade panel with the escalator machinery housing.

[00009] The balustrade panel is a continuous single panel that spans vertically between the support end assembled with the escalator machinery housing and the cantilever end extending above the movable handrail. The balustrade panel includes a safety portion that extends above the mid-point to the cantilever end such that the safety portion is of adequate height to block or prevent a person from falling over the balustrade panel while the person is riding the escalator.

As such, the safety portion is a portion of the balustrade panel that extends vertically upright from the moving handrail. The safety portion of the balustrade panel projects above the movable handrail by more than about 25 centimeters however in other embodiments the amount of projection of the safety portion can be more or less than 25 centimeters. The balustrade height is typically between 1 meter and 2 meters but can be other heights.

[00010] The midpoint includes any position between the cantilever end and the support end of the balustrade panel. Generally, the midpoint is selected to position the moving handrail at a height that corresponds to an elevation of a user’s hand on the moving handrail while the user is standing on and riding the escalator. In one form, the balustrade panel is a continuous single panel with a length that corresponds to a length of the escalator machinery housing for the escalator. In other forms, the balustrade panel includes a plurality of the balustrade panels assembled along the length of the escalator machinery housing.

[00011] A first embodiment of the balustrade panel includes a straight panel wherein the clamping mechanism within the escalator machinery housing is repositioned and used with the balustrade panel. In other embodiments, a new clamping mechanism is provided with the balustrade assembly for mounting the balustrade panel with the escalator machinery housing. [00012] A second embodiment of the balustrade panel includes a lower straight portion offset from an upper straight portion with a curved portion that connects the lower straight portion to the upper straight portion. In one embodiment, the upper straight portion is the safety portion. In other embodiments, the upper straight portion is taller than the safety portion. The curved portion has one or more radii sized to vertically align the movable handrail with the lower straight portion and the support end when the movable handrail is mounted on the support. The radii of the curved portion can be the same or different. In one form, the curved portion includes a first radius of 90 millimeters and a second radius of 90 millimeters that together form an elongated S shape. The curved portion of the balustrade panel enables replacing existing straight balustrade panels with new curved balustrade panels of the present application in the same position as the existing balustrade panel. The curved portion is bent away from the lower straight portion such that the moving handrail is aligned with the lower straight portion. The moving handrail is cantilevered from the mid-point or the upper straight portion so that the safety portion of the balustrade panel can extend to a desired height. In one form, all of the existing clamping mechanisms can be re-used so one can simply change the new curved balustrade panel and support for the existing shorter straight balustrade panel. In other forms, new clamping mechanisms are provided with the balustrade assembly. The safety portion of the balustrade panel extends vertically as high as desired above the moving handrail.

[00013] Both embodiments are simple economic solutions for retrofitting an existing escalator with a taller balustrade panel with the support for the moving handrail that is cantilevered from a mid-portion or mid-point of the balustrade panel. The embodiments can be used with any newly installed escalators or moving walkways as well.

[00014] The balustrade panel can include one or more layers of toughened glass, heat strengthened glass, ionoplast polymer, or other glass laminating interlayer materials. In one form, the ionoplast polymer layer is sandwiched between layers of heat strengthened glass or toughened glass. In one form, the ionoplast polymer layer is 1.52 millimeters thick, and the layers of heat strengthened glass or toughened glass are 4 or 5 millimeters thick. The one or more layers typically each have a thickness less than 10 millimeters however in other forms the layers can be thicker. The thickness of the layers can be increased for an added degree of safety. The balustrade panel supports lateral and vertical loads that are typically applied to balustrade panels. Additionally, the balustrade panel is strong enough to withstand the weight or load applied thereto by the movable handrail including a moment-force due to the cantilevered moving handrail that is mounted on the support attached to the balustrade panel.

[00015] The present application discloses various types of supports that can be used with any of the balustrade panels and moving handrails. It is contemplated that the supports may include other mechanical fasteners or bonding agents to connect with the any of the balustrade panels and support the moving handrails.

[00016] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the illustrative embodiments. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter. Further embodiments, forms, objects, features, advantages, aspects, and benefits shall become apparent from the following description and drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[00017] The concepts described herein are illustrative by way of example and not by way of limitation in the accompanying figures. For simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements illustrated in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. Where considered appropriate, references labels have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.

[00018] Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a balustrade assembly of the present disclosure.

[00019] Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a balustrade assembly of the present disclosure.

[00020] Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of a balustrade assembly of the present disclosure.

[00021] Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment of a balustrade assembly of the present disclosure.

[00022] Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a fifth embodiment of a balustrade assembly of the present disclosure.

[00023] Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a sixth embodiment of a balustrade assembly of the present disclosure.

[00024] Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a support of Figures 1 and 4.

[00025] Figs. 8a and 8b are perspective exploded views of the support of Figure 7.

[00026] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a support of Figures 2 and 5.

[00027] Fig. 10 is a perspective exploded view of the support of Figure 9.

[00028] Fig. 11 a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of a support of Figures 3 and

6

[00029] Fig. 12 is a perspective exploded view of the support of Figure 11.

[00030] Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a seventh embodiment of a balustrade assembly of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS [00031] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, any alterations and further modifications in the illustrated embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates are contemplated herein.

[00032] The present application includes a first embodiment of a balustrade assembly 100 illustrated in Figure 1. The balustrade assembly 100 includes a balustrade panel 102 and a moving handrail support 104. The balustrade panel 102 has a cantilever end 106 opposite a support end 108 with a balustrade height that spans between the cantilever end 106 and the support end 108. The balustrade panel 102 is a continuous single panel that spans between the cantilever end 106 and the support end 108. The balustrade height is between 1 meter and 2 meters but can be any height that is appropriate to prevent persons from falling over the balustrade panel 102. The support end 108 is configured for assembly with an escalator machinery housing 110. The support end 108 can be assembled with the escalator machinery housing 110 with one or more clamp connection mechanisms 112. The clamp connection mechanism 112 is only one type of connection mechanism, other types of connection mechanisms can be used with the support end 108 of the balustrade panel 102 to mount the balustrade panel 102 with the escalator machinery housing 110. Adjacent the escalator machinery housing 100 is a plurality of escalator steps 114 in which persons are able to stand on to ride the escalator.

[00033] The balustrade panel 102 includes a mid-point 116 that is defined as the location in which the support 104 is attached to the balustrade panel 102. The mid-point 116 can be any position on the balustrade panel 102 between the cantilever end 106 and the support end 108.

The mid-point 116 includes a hole 118 sized to receive a balustrade connection portion 132 of the support 104. As described in more detail below, the support 104 is configured to retain a movable handrail 120 on the support 104. It is understood that the movable handrail 120 traverses along a length of the escalator housing 110 as a loop as illustrated by movable handrail 120. The balustrade panel 102 includes a safety portion 122 that extends above the movable handrail 120 and the support 104. In one form, the safety portion 122 extends or projects above the movable handrail 120 by more than about 25 centimeters however, the safety portion 122 can be any length that is desirable.

[00034] The support 104 is further illustrated in Figures 7 and 8. The support 104 includes a male pin 130, a female pig nose 140, a handrail fixing 150, a T section member 160, a bolt 170, a washer 180, and a bushing 190. Each of these elements will be described next.

[00035] The male pin 130 has a balustrade connection portion 132 opposite a handrail connection portion 134 with a shaft 136 that spans there between. The balustrade connection portion 132 is configured to extend through the hole 118 in the mid-point 116 of the balustrade panel 102. The balustrade connection portion 132 is threaded for insertion into and engagement with an internally threaded bore 142 (not illustrated) of the female pig nose 140. The male pin 130 includes a flange 138 adjacent the balustrade connection portion 132 wherein the flange 138 is configured to rest against the balustrade panel 102. In the illustrated embodiment, one of the washers 180 is positioned between the balustrade panel 102 and the flange 138 when the male pin 130 is assembled with the balustrade panel 102. The handrail connection portion 134 is threaded for insertion into and engagement with an internally threaded bore 152 of the handrail fixing 150. When the male pin 130 is assembled with the balustrade panel 102, the shaft 136 has a length that cantilevers away from the balustrade panel 102 to thereby cantilever the movable handrail 120 a distance from the balustrade panel 102. The shaft 136 is tapered from the flange 138 to the handrail connection portion 134 but can be non-tapered in other embodiments.

[00036] The female pig nose 140 includes a cap end 144 for engagement with balustrade panel 102 and an insertion portion 146 sized to fit in the hole 118 of the balustrade panel 102. One of the washers 180 is positioned between the cap end 144 and the balustrade panel 102. The insertion portion 146 includes an internally threaded bore 142 sized to threadingly receive and mate with the balustrade connection portion 132 to thereby retain the male pin 130 onto the balustrade panel 102. The insertion portion 146 is sized to fit within and nest with the bushing 190 that is also positioned in the hole 118.

[00037] The handrail fixing 150 includes an internally threaded bore 152 that is sized to threadingly receive and mate with the handrail connection portion 134. The handrail fixing 150 has an extended portion 156 that is configured for attachment to the T section member 160. In the illustrated embodiment, the extended portion 156 is welded to the T section member 160 to retain the two elements together. In other embodiments, the extended portion 156 may be attached to the T section member 160 by alternative means or mechanisms such as fasteners. [00038] The T section member 160 includes a horizontal leg 162 attached to a vertical leg 164. The vertical leg 164 includes a plurality of threaded bolt holes 166 that are positioned at an increment wherein the plurality of threaded bolt holes 166 are sized to receive a plurality of the bolts 170. For example, the increment can be 200 mm or another increment as desired. The bolt 170 connects the T section member 160 with the movable handrail 120 via the threaded bolt hole 166. The vertical leg 164 is further sized to receive and retain the movable handrail 120 thereon. The movable handrail 120 is further attached to the vertical leg 164 with clamps or other attachment mechanisms.

[00039] The present application includes a second embodiment of a balustrade assembly 200 illustrated in Figure 2. The balustrade assembly 200 is similar to the balustrade assembly 100 in all aspects unless noted otherwise. The balustrade assembly 200 includes a balustrade panel 202 and a support 204. The balustrade panel 202 is similar to the balustrade panel 102, except the balustrade panel 202 does not include the hole 118 at a mid-point 216.

[00040] The support 204 is further illustrated in Figures 9 and 10. The support 204 includes some of the same elements as the support 104. The support 204 includes a female pin 230, a threaded cap 240, a handrail fixing 250, a T section member 260, and a bolt 270. Each of these elements will be described next.

[00041] The female pin 230 has a balustrade connection portion 232 opposite a handrail connection portion 234 with a shaft 236 that spans there between. The balustrade connection portion 232 is configured to mount onto the mid-point 216 of the balustrade panel 202. The balustrade connection portion 232 is internally threaded (not illustrated) to engage with an externally threaded portion 242 of the threaded cap 240. The handrail connection portion 234 is internally threaded to receive one of the bolts 270 that also passes through a bore 252 of the handrail fixing 250. In some forms, the bore 252 may be internally threaded to engage with the bolts 270. When the female pin 230 is assembled with the threaded cap 240 which is mounted on the balustrade panel 202, the shaft 236 has a length that cantilevers away from the balustrade panel 202 to thereby cantilever the movable handrail 220 a distance from the balustrade panel 202. The shaft 236 is tapered from the balustrade connection portion 232 to the handrail connection portion 234 but can be non-tapered in other embodiments.

[00042] The threaded cap 240 includes a cap end 244 for engagement with balustrade panel 202. The cap end 244 has a substantially flat face such that the cap end 244 can be bonded to the balustrade panel 202 at the mid-point 216 to thereby mount the support 204 to the balustrade panel 202. One example of a bonding agent that can be used to mount the cap end 240 on the mid-point 216 includes a silicone film however other bonding agents can be used in other embodiments. The threaded cap 240 includes an externally threaded portion 242 sized to threadingly engage and mate with the balustrade connection portion 232 to thereby retain the female pin 230 onto the balustrade panel 202.

[00043] The handrail fixing 250 includes a bore 252 that is sized to receive the bolt 270 to attach the handrail fixing 250 to the female pin 230 as the bolt 270 is assembled through the bore 252 and into the internally threaded portion of the handrail connection portion 234 of the female pin 230. The handrail fixing 250 has an extended portion 256 and a threaded portion 258 that is configured for attachment into a handrail fixing hole 268 in the T section member 260 to retain the handrail fixing 250 to the T section member 260. In other embodiments, the handrail fixing 250 may be attached to the T section member 260 by alternative means or mechanisms such as fasteners or by welds.

[00044] The T section member 260 includes a horizontal leg 262 attached to a vertical leg 264. The vertical leg 264 includes a plurality of threaded bolt holes 266 that are positioned at an increment wherein the plurality of threaded bolt holes 266 are sized to receive a plurality of the bolts 270. For example, the increment can be 200 mm or another increment as desired. The bolt 270 connects the horizontal leg 262 and vertical leg 264 of the T section member 260 via the threaded bolt hole 266. The vertical leg 264 is further sized to receive and retain the movable handrail 220 thereon. The movable handrail 220 is further attached to the vertical leg 264 with clamps or other attachment mechanisms. The horizontal leg 262 includes a plurality of handrail fixing holes 268 that are threaded and sized to receive and mate with the threaded portion 258 of the handrail fixing 250 to retain the T section member 260 on the handrail fixing 250.

[00045] The present application includes a third embodiment of a balustrade assembly 300 illustrated in Figure 3. The balustrade assembly 300 is similar to the balustrade assembly 100 in all aspects unless noted otherwise. The balustrade assembly 300 includes a balustrade panel 302 and a support 304. The balustrade panel 302 is similar to the balustrade panel 102, however the balustrade panel 302 is a continuous single panel with a length that corresponds to a length of the escalator machinery housing 310. The balustrade panel 302 includes a plurality of holes 318 that span along the length of the balustrade panel 302. The plurality of holes 318 are sized and positioned to align with a plurality of mounting holes 338 in a bracket 330 of the support 304 when the bracket 330 is assembled with the balustrade panel 302.

[00046] The support 304 is further illustrated in Figures 11 and 12. The support 304 includes a bracket 330, a first female pig nose 370, a second female pig nose 372, a plate 340, a bushing 390, and a nylon strip 392. Each of these elements will be described next.

[00047] The bracket 330 generally includes 3 legs bent to form a U shape wherein a first leg corresponds to a balustrade connection portion 332, a second leg corresponds to a handrail connection portion 334, and a third leg corresponds to a shaft 336 that spans between the balustrade connection portion 332 and the handrail connection portion 334. The balustrade connection portion 334 is configured to mount onto the mid-point 316 of the balustrade panel 302 and is substantially flat to rest against the balustrade panel 302. One of the nylon strips 392 can be positioned between the balustrade connection portion 334 and the balustrade panel 302. The balustrade connection portion 332 includes a plurality of mounting holes 338 spaced along the length of the balustrade connection portion 332. For example, the plurality of mounting holes 338 can be spaced at 300 mm centers, however in other embodiments the spacing may be different. The plurality of mounting holes 338 are sized and positioned to align with the plurality of holes 318 in the balustrade panel 302. The second leg that includes the handrail connection portion 334 is configured to retain the movable handrail 320 thereon.

[00048] The first female pig nose 370 includes a cap end 374 for engagement with both of the plate 340 and a second of the nylon strips 392 that is placed against the balustrade panel 302. The first female pig nose 370 includes an insertion portion 376 sized to fit in the bushing 390 that is positioned in the hole 318 of the balustrade panel 302. The insertion portion 376 is externally threaded and sized to also fit into an internally threaded bore 380 of the second female pig nose 372 that is also inserted into the bushing 390 and the hole 318 of the balustrade panel 302. The insertion portion 376 threads with the internally threaded bore 380 to connect the second female pig nose 372 to the first female pig nose 370 to thereby mount the second nylon strip 392 and the plate 340 onto an outer face 328 of the balustrade panel 302 and also mount the balustrade connection portion 332 of the bracket 330 onto an inner face 329 of the balustrade panel 302.

[00049] The second female pig nose 372 includes a cap end 382 for engagement with the balustrade connection portion 332 of the bracket 330 and the inner face 329 of the balustrade panel 302. The second female pig nose 372 includes an insertion portion 386 sized to fit in the bushing 390 in the hole 318 of the balustrade panel 302. The insertion portion 386 includes an internally threaded bore 380 that is sized to receive and thread with the insertion portion 376 of the first female pig nose 370 that is also inserted into the bushing 390 and the hole 318 of the balustrade panel 302 to connect the second female pig nose 372 to the first female pig nose 370 and mount the second nylon strip 392 and the balustrade connection portion 332 of the bracket 330 onto the balustrade panel 302.

[00050] The plate 340 has a length that corresponds to the length of the balustrade connection portion 332 of the bracket 330 and the balustrade panel 302. The plate 340 includes a plurality of mounting holes 342 that are spaced the same as the plurality of mounting holes 338 of the balustrade connection portion 332 of the bracket 330 and are also spaced the same as the plurality of holes 318 in the balustrade panel 302 so that the mounting holes 342, 338, and 318 align when the plate 340 and bracket 330 are assembled with the balustrade panel 302.

[00051] The nylon strip 392 includes a plurality of holes 394 along the length thereof.

The plurality of holes 394 are positioned and sized to align with the plurality of mounting holes 338 in the balustrade connection portion 334 of the bracket 330 and the plurality of holes 318 in the balustrade panel 302.

[00052] A fourth embodiment of a balustrade assembly 400 illustrated in Figure 4. The balustrade assembly 400 includes a balustrade panel 402 and a support 104. The balustrade panel 402 has a cantilever end 406 opposite a support end 408 with a balustrade height that spans between the cantilever end 406 and the support end 408. The balustrade panel 402 is a continuous single panel that spans between the cantilever end 406 and the support end 408. The balustrade height is between 1 meter and 2 meters but can be any height that is appropriate to prevent persons from falling over the balustrade panel 402. The support end 408 is configured for assembly with an escalator machinery housing 410. The support end 408 can be assembled with the escalator machinery housing 410 with one or more clamp connection mechanisms 412. The clamp connection mechanism 412 is only one type of connection mechanism, other types of connection mechanisms can be used with the support end 408 of the balustrade panel 402 to mount the balustrade panel 402 with the escalator machinery housing 410. Adjacent the escalator machinery housing 400 is a plurality of escalator steps 414 in which persons are able to stand on to ride the escalator.

[00053] The balustrade panel 402 includes a mid-point 416 that is defined as the location in which the support 104 is attached to the balustrade panel 402. The balustrade panel 402 includes a lower straight portion 424 offset a distance from an upper straight portion 426 with a curved portion 428 that connects the lower straight portion 424 to the upper straight portion 426. The mid-point 416 is positioned on the balustrade panel 402 above the curved portion 428 and on the upper straight portion 426. The mid-point 416 includes a hole 418 sized to receive a balustrade connection portion 132 of the support 104, as described in more detail above with respect to Figures 7 and 8. As described in more detail below, the support 104 is configured to retain a movable handrail 420 on the support 404. It is understood that the movable handrail 420 traverses along a length of the escalator housing 410 as a loop as illustrated by movable handrail 420. The balustrade panel 402 includes a safety portion 422 that extends above the movable handrail 420 and the support 104. In one form, the safety portion 422 extends or projects above the movable handrail 420 by more than about 25 centimeters however, the safety portion 422 can be any length that is desirable to prevent people from falling over the balustrade panel 402 while riding the escalator. In one embodiment, the upper straight portion 426 is the safety portion. In other embodiments, the upper straight portion 426 is taller than the safety portion 422. The curved portion 428 includes a first radius R1 adjacent a second radius R2 wherein the first and second radii R1 and R2 are sized to vertically align the movable handrail 420 with the lower straight portion 424 and the support end 408 when the movable handrail 420 is mounted on the support 104. The first and second radii R1 and R2 can be the same or different. In one form, the first radius R1 is 90 millimeters and the second radius R2 is 90 millimeters that together form an elongated S shape for the curved portion 428. The curved portion 428 of the balustrade panel 402 enables replacing existing balustrade panels with new curved balustrade panels 402 of the present application in the same position as the existing balustrade panel because the curved portion 428 aligns the moving handrail 420 with the lower straight portion 424, and the safety portion 422 extends to a desired height that is not limited by the location of the moving handrail 420. The curved portion 428 extends below the safety portion 422 towards the support end 408, wherein the first radius R1 and the second radius R2 are sized to vertically align the movable handrail 420 with the support end 408.

[00054] A fifth embodiment of a balustrade assembly 500 is illustrated in Figure 5. The balustrade assembly 500 is similar to the balustrade assembly 400 in all aspects unless noted otherwise. The balustrade assembly 500 includes a balustrade panel 502 and a support 204. The balustrade panel 502 is similar to the balustrade panel 402, except the balustrade panel 502 does not include the hole 118 at a mid-point 516. The support 204 is further illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 as discussed above.

[00055] A sixth embodiment of a balustrade assembly 600 is illustrated in Figure 6. The balustrade assembly 600 is similar to the balustrade assembly 400 in all aspects unless noted otherwise. The balustrade assembly 600 includes a balustrade panel 602 and a support 304. The balustrade panel 602 is similar to the balustrade panel 402, however the balustrade panel 602 is a continuous single panel with a length that corresponds to a length of the escalator machinery housing 610. The balustrade panel 602 includes a plurality of holes 618 that span along the length of the balustrade panel 602. The plurality of holes 618 are sized and positioned to align with a plurality of mounting holes 338 in a bracket 330 of the support 304 when the bracket 330 is assembled with the balustrade panel 602. The support 304 is further illustrated in Figures 11 and 12.

[00056] A seventh embodiment of a balustrade assembly 700 illustrated in Figure 13. The balustrade assembly 700 is similar to the balustrade assembly 200 in all aspects unless noted otherwise. The balustrade assembly 700 includes a balustrade panel 702 and a support 704. The balustrade panel 702 has a cantilever end 706 opposite a support end 708 with a balustrade height that spans between the cantilever end 706 and the support end 708. The balustrade panel 702 is a continuous single panel that spans between the cantilever end 706 and the support end 708.

[00057] The support end 708 is configured for assembly with an escalator machinery housing 710. The support end 708 can be assembled with the escalator machinery housing 110 with one or more clamp connection mechanisms 712 and an escalator receiving mechanism 714 that receives the one or more clamp connection mechanisms 712. The clamp connection mechanism 712 is only one type of connection mechanism, other types of connection mechanisms can be used with the support end 708 of the balustrade panel 702 to mount the balustrade panel 702 with the escalator receiving mechanism 714 and/or the escalator machinery housing 710. The clamp connection mechanism 712 can be a pre-existing or a new clamp connection mechanism. The clamp connection mechanism 712 includes a pair of legs 718 sized to receive the support end 708 therein. The pair of legs 718 are oriented at an angle A as measured from a centerline L of an insertion member 719 of the clamp connection mechanism 712. The balustrade panel 702 is similar to the balustrade panel 202, except the balustrade panel 702 is positioned at the angle A relative to the centerline L. The balustrade height as measured relative to the centerline L is between 1 meter and 2 meters but can be any height that is appropriate to prevent persons from falling over the balustrade panel 102.

[00058] The support 704 is similar to support 204 in all aspects unless noted otherwise. The support 704 includes all of the parts of the support 204 however a female pin 730 is slightly different in shape as the female pin 230. The female pin 730 includes a shaft 736 that cantilevers away from the balustrade panel 702 to thereby cantilever the movable handrail 720 a distance from the balustrade panel 702. The shaft 736 is tapered from a balustrade connection portion 732 to the handrail connection portion 734 to account for the angle A in which the balustrade panel 702 is mounted such that a movable handrail 720 is positioned substantially horizontal. [00059] In one form, all of the existing clamping mechanisms can be re-used so a new taller balustrade panel 102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, or 702 and corresponding support 104, 204, 304, or 704 can be used to replace an existing shorter balustrade panel. In other forms, new clamping mechanisms are provided with the balustrade assembly.

[00060] As is evident from the figures and text presented above, a variety of aspects of the present disclosure are contemplated. According to one aspect, a balustrade assembly, comprising: a balustrade panel having a balustrade height that spans between a cantilever end and a support end, the support end configured for assembly with an escalator machinery housing; and a support having a balustrade connection portion that attaches to a mid-point of the balustrade height of the balustrade panel, the support having a handrail connection portion to retain a movable handrail thereon; wherein the balustrade panel includes a safety portion that extends vertically above the mid-point to the cantilever end.

[00061] In one embodiment, the safety portion of the balustrade panel projects above the movable handrail by more than about 25 centimeters. [00062] In one embodiment, the balustrade panel includes one or more layers of toughened glass, heat strengthened glass, ionoplast polymer, or laminated glass. In one embodiment, the one or more layers each have a thickness less than 10 millimeters.

[00063] In one embodiment, the balustrade panel is a continuous single panel that spans between the cantilever end and the support end.

[00064] In one embodiment, the balustrade height is between 1 meter and 2 meters.

[00065] In one embodiment, the balustrade panel is a continuous single panel with a length that corresponds to a length of the escalator machinery housing.

[00066] In one embodiment, the balustrade panel includes a curved portion that extends below the safety portion towards the support end, the curved portion having a radius sized to vertically align the movable handrail with the support end. In one embodiment, the radius of the curved portion includes one or more radii.

[00067] In one embodiment, the support includes a male pin that spans between the balustrade connection portion and the handrail connection portion, the balustrade connection portion extends through a hole in the mid-point of the balustrade panel, the support further includes a handrail fixture attached to the handrail connection portion of the male pin, the handrail fixture is configured to retain the movable handrail thereon.

[00068] In one embodiment, the support includes a female pin that spans between the balustrade connection portion and the handrail connection portion, the balustrade connection portion is bonded to the mid-point of the balustrade panel, the support further includes a handrail fixture attached to the handrail connection portion of the female pin, the handrail fixture configured to retain the movable handrail thereon.

[00069] In one embodiment, the support further includes a T shaped member connected to the handrail fixture, the T shaped member retains the movable handrail thereon.

[00070] In one embodiment, the support includes a bracket having a first leg that includes the balustrade connection portion that is attached to the balustrade panel, a second leg that includes the handrail connection portion configured to retain the movable handrail thereon, and a third leg that spans between the balustrade connection portion and the handrail connection portion.

[00071] According to another aspect, a balustrade assembly, comprising: a balustrade panel having a balustrade height that spans between a cantilever end and a support end, the support end configured for assembly with an escalator machinery housing; and a support having a balustrade connection portion that attaches to the balustrade panel at a mid-point of the balustrade height of the balustrade panel, the support having a length that cantilevers away from the balustrade panel, the support having a handrail connection portion that retains a handrail configured for movement along the handrail connection portion; wherein the balustrade panel includes a safety portion that extends above the handrail.

[00072] In one embodiment, the safety portion of the balustrade panel projects above the movable handrail by more than about 25 centimeters.

[00073] In one embodiment, the balustrade panel includes one or more layers of toughened glass, heat strengthened glass, ionoplast polymer, or laminated glass.

[00074] In one embodiment, the one or more layers each have a thickness less than 10 millimeters.

[00075] In one embodiment, the balustrade panel is a continuous single panel that spans between the cantilever end and the support end.

[00076] In one embodiment, the balustrade height is between 1 meter and 2 meters.

[00077] In one embodiment, the balustrade panel is a continuous single panel with a length that corresponds to a length of the escalator machinery housing.

[00078] In one embodiment, the balustrade panel includes a curved portion that extends below the safety portion towards the support end, the curved portion having a radius sized to vertically align the movable handrail with the support end.

[00079] In one embodiment, the radius of the curved portion includes one or more radii.

[00080] In one embodiment, the support includes a male pin that spans between the balustrade connection portion and the handrail connection portion, the balustrade connection portion extends through a hole in the mid-point of the balustrade panel, the support further includes a handrail fixture attached to the handrail connection portion of the male pin, the handrail fixture is configured to retain the movable handrail thereon.

[00081] In one embodiment, the support includes a female pin that spans between the balustrade connection portion and the handrail connection portion, the balustrade connection portion is bonded to the mid-point of the balustrade panel, the support further includes a handrail fixture attached to the handrail connection portion of the female pin, the handrail fixture configured to retain the movable handrail thereon. [00082] In one embodiment, the support further includes a T shaped member connected to the handrail fixture, the T shaped member retains the movable handrail thereon.

[00083] In one embodiment, the support includes a bracket having a first leg that includes the balustrade connection portion that is attached to the balustrade panel, a second leg that includes the handrail connection portion configured to retain the movable handrail thereon, and a third leg that spans between the balustrade connection portion and the handrail connection portion.

[00084] According to another aspect, a kit, comprising: a balustrade assembly for an escalator machinery housing, the balustrade assembly comprising a continuous balustrade panel, the balustrade panel having a balustrade height that spans between a cantilever end and a support end; a support configured to mount a movable handrail thereon, the support attachable only to the balustrade panel at a mid-point of the balustrade height to cantilever the movable handrail away from the balustrade panel, wherein the balustrade panel includes a safety portion that extends above the mid-point to the cantilever end; and a clamping mechanism configured to mount the support end of the balustrade panel in the escalator machinery housing.

[00085] In one embodiment, the balustrade panel is a continuous single panel with a length that corresponds to a length of the escalator machinery housing.

[00086] In the above description, certain relative terms may be used such as “up,” “down,” “upper,” “lower,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “left,” “right,” “proximal,” “distal,” and the like.

These terms are used, where applicable, to provide some clarity of description when dealing with relative relationships. But, these terms are not intended to imply absolute relationships, positions, and/or orientations. For example, with respect to an object, an “upper” surface can become a “lower” surface simply by turning the object over. Nevertheless, it is still the same object. [00087] Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment. Similarly, the use of the term “implementation” means an implementation having a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, however, absent an express correlation to indicate otherwise, an implementation may be associated with one or more embodiments.

[00088] The described features, structures, advantages, and/or characteristics of the subject matter of the present disclosure may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments and/or implementations. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to impart a thorough understanding of embodiments of the subject matter of the present disclosure. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the subject matter of the present disclosure may be practiced without one or more of the specific features, details, components, materials, and/or methods of a particular embodiment or implementation. In some instances, the benefit of simplicity may provide operational and economic benefits and exclusion of certain elements described herein is contemplated as within the scope of the invention herein by the inventors to achieve such benefits. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments and/or implementations that may not be present in all embodiments or implementations. Further, in some instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the subject matter of the present disclosure. The features and advantages of the subject matter of the present disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the subject matter as set forth hereinafter.

[00089] The present subject matter may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.