ELEVATOR INCLUDING FALL PREVENTION SAFETY

HANDLE

Technical Field

[1] The present disclosure relates to an elevator including a fall prevention safety handle.

Background Art

[2] Elevators and lifts use power to carry people or goods up and down.

[3] Such an elevator includes a balance weight, a cable, and a fixation pulley device. An electric motor may drive the elevator, and a control device may stop the elevator at a desired position or move the elevator to a desired position.

[4] People or goods moved by an elevator are accommodated in a cage. An outer door provided to an entrance communicating with the cage, and an inner door provided to the cage are opened to receive people or goods.

[5] The inner door and the outer door are simultaneously operated by a control device.

When the cage is disposed at a set position, the inner door and the outdoor corresponding to the set position are simultaneously opened, so that people or goods can pass through the entrance.

[6] Thus, when the outdoor is opened in a state where the cage is not disposed at a desired position, that is, at a floor where a user is disposed, a hoistway through which the cage moves are exposed. Particularly, when the outdoor is pushed away from the indoor side to the hoistway, the outer door is easily opened to cause a falling accident.

[7] This is caused by a coupling structure of the outdoor to a wall. Although a safety structure is provided to the elevator, a user's carelessness or an excessive force easily damages the safety structure.

[8] To address these limitations, various safety devices are developed, but these safety devices require modification on the structure of an elevator or a discrete structure provided to an outdoor, which causes technical and economical limitations. Thus, it is difficult to apply safety devices to an elevator that has been already installed.

[9] Furthermore, most of the safety devices are configured to just prevent the opening of an outdoor, but have no safety device for preventing a falling accident after an outdoor is opened. Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[10] Embodiments provide an elevator including fall prevention safety handles that are disposed on both sides of an opening part of a wall provided with an outer door of the elevator such that a user quickly holds the safety handle before falling, so as to prevent a falling accident.

[11] Embodiments also provide an elevator including an auxiliary member providing an opening appearance and installed to a wall provided with an outer door of the elevator, and a fall prevention safety handle that a user can hold and that is provided to the auxiliary member such that a user quickly holds the safety handle before falling, so as to prevent a falling accident. Technical Solution

[12] In one embodiment, an elevator includes: a cage configured to carry a person or a load up and down; an inner door at a front surface of the cage, the inner door configured to be selectively opened; an outer door at an opening part that is provided to a wall corresponding to the inner door, the outer door being interlocked with the inner door to selectively open the opening part; and a plurality of fall prevention safety handles at left and right inner lateral surfaces of the opening part, the safety handle being elongated in an up-and-down direction such that a user holds the safety handle in emergency.

[13] In another embodiment, an elevator includes: a wall provided with an opening part through which a user passes; an outer door configured to selectively close the opening part; a cage configured to move up and down behind the outer door; an inner door provided to the cage and having a size corresponding to the outer door, the inner door configured to be opened and closed together with the outer door; a plurality of auxiliary members at left and right lateral surfaces of the opening part, the auxiliary member providing a partial appearance of the opening part; and a fall prevention safety handle at a side of the auxiliary member, the safety handle being elongated in an up- and-down direction such that a user holds the safety handle in emergency.

[14] The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

Advantageous Effects

[15] According to the embodiments, the elevator includes the fall prevention safety handles provided to the opening part through which a user passes. Since the safety handles are adjacent to the outer doors, when a user is exposed to a falling accident through the opened outer door, the user can stretch his/her hand to hold the nearest safety handle.

[16] Thus, although a user is exposed to an unpredictable fall accident, a user can stretch his/her hand by instinct to hold the handle, thereby greatly reducing falling accident rates.

[17] In addition, when a user holds the safety handle, the safety handle is elastically deformed and extended. Thus, even when the user's weight is instantaneously applied to the handle, a shock or load transmitted to the user is reduced to improve safety.

[18] In addition, in a simple manner where the safety handle is just installed to a wall of a building provided with an elevator that is already installed, or where the receiver recess is formed, and then the safety handle is installed to the receiver recess, the safety handle can be applied to any elevator.

[19] In addition, the auxiliary member provided with the safety handle simply replaces a previous auxiliary member provided to the wall.

[20] In addition, even when it is difficult to form the receiver recess in a concrete wall, the auxiliary member including the receiver recess can be installed to the concrete wall so as to conveniently install the safety handle. Brief Description of Drawings

[21] Fig. 1 is a front view illustrating an elevator according to an embodiment.

[22] Fig. 2 is a plan view illustrating an elevator according to an embodiment.

[23] Fig. 3 is a partial exploded perspective view illustrating an install structure of a safety handle according to an embodiment.

[24] Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a safety handle according to an embodiment.

[25] Fig. 5 is a plan view illustrating an elevator according to another embodiment.

[26] Fig. 6 is a plan view illustrating an elevator according to another embodiment.

[27] Fig. 7 is a plan view illustrating an elevator according to another embodiment.

[28] Fig. 8 is a partial exploded perspective view illustrating an install structure of a safety handle of the elevator of Fig. 7. Mode for the Invention

[29] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The spirit and scope of the present disclosure, however, shall not be construed as being limited to embodiments provided herein. Rather, it will be apparent that other embodiments that fall within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure may easily be derived through adding, modifying, and deleting elements herein.

[30] Fig. 1 is a front view illustrating an elevator 1 according to an embodiment. Fig. 2 is a plan view illustrating the elevator 1.

[31] Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the elevator 1 includes a cage 100 moving along a hoistway disposed in the up-and-down direction, and a wall constituting an interior of a building and providing an opening part 300 that functions as an entrance through which a user passes when the cage 100 stops at each of floors.

[32] The cage 100 with a rectangular parallelepiped shape holds a person or a load and is moved up and down with a balance weight and a rope that is wound by a winch (not shown). At this point, a guide rail guides the cage 100 and a control device positions the cage 100 at the opening part 300 provided to the wall 200 of a selected floor.

[33] The front surface of the cage 100, that is, a surface of the cage 100 facing the indoor space is provided with inner doors 120. The inner doors 120, which are opened or closed to allow a passenger to enter or leave the cage 100, includes a left one and a right one. The inner doors 120 are interlocked with outer doors 220 that will be described later.

[34] Alternatively, the inner doors 120 may be opened and closed in contact with each other, one of the inner doors 120 may be opened or closed in a sliding door structure, or the inner doors 120 may overlap each other and be opened or closed in a sliding door structure.

[35] The wall 200 is provided to each of floors of a building and formed of a material such as a concrete to separate an indoor space from a hoistway where the cage 100 moves. The opening part 300 of the wall 200 corresponds to the front surface of the cage 100.

[36] The outer doors 220 are disposed in the rear portion of the opening part 300, that is, between the cage 100 and the wall 200. The outer doors 220, which selectively close the space between the cage 100 and the opening part 300 and have a shape corresponding to the inner doors 120, are opened and closed synchronously with the inner doors 120 when the inner doors 120 are opened and closed.

[37] That is, when the inner doors 120 are closed from the left and right sides, the outer doors 220 are also closed from the left and right sides, and when the inner doors 120 have a sliding door structure, the outer doors 220 also have a sliding door structure.

[38] When the outer doors 220 are opened, the outer doors 220 are disposed at the rear surface of the wall 200 to completely open the opening part 300. When being closed, the outer doors 220 completely close the opening part 300.

[39] The opening part 300 has a size that corresponds to the size of the front surface of the cage 100, that is, the size of the inner doors 120 of the cage 100. Thus, when the outer doors 220 are opened and the opening part 300 is completely opened, the front surface of the cage 100 is completely opened to expose the inner space thereof.

[40] The opening part 300 has inner lateral surfaces with a predetermined width corresponding to the thickness of the wall 200, and the outer doors 220 are disposed behind the wall 200.

[41] The inner lateral surfaces of the opening part 300 may be perpendicular to the outer doors 220, or be inclined to the outer doors 220 to decrease the left-and-right distance of the opening part 300 from the indoor space to the cage 100. When the inner lateral surfaces of the opening part 300 are inclined to the outer doors 220, the appearance of the inner lateral surfaces is enhanced and a passenger is protected when hitting the cage 100. [42] The left and right surfaces of the opening part 300 are provided with receiver recesses 320, and a safety handle 400 is disposed in each of the receiver recesses 320. [43] Fig. 3 is a partial exploded perspective view illustrating an install structure of the safety handle 400 according to an embodiment. [44] Referring to Fig. 3, the receiver recess 320 is recessed inward at the lateral surface of the opening part 300. The receiver recess 320 may completely receive the safety handle 400 such that the safety handle 400 does not protrude from the lateral surface of the opening part 300. [45] The receiver recesses 320 is recessed from the front end of the opening part 300 to a position that is spaced apart from the front surface of the outer doors 220. The receiver recess 320 have an approximate right triangle cross section. The left lateral surface of the right triangle cross-section illustrated in Fig. 3 is perpendicular to the outer doors

220, and the rear surface is parallel to the outer doors 220. That is, the receiver recess

320 may be formed such that a surface perpendicular to the outer doors 220 cross a surface parallel to the outer doors 220 to form an edge. [46] The receiver recess 320 may be elongated from the upper end of the opening part 300 to the lower end thereof, or has a length that corresponds to the up-and-down length of the safety handle 400. Alternatively, the receiver recess 320 may be recessed along the entire width of the opening part 300 from the front end of the opening part 300 to the rear end thereof. [47] The safety handle 400, which is used for a user to hold, is installed in the receiver recess 320. The safety handle 400 may be fixed to one of the left surface and the rear surface of the receiver recess 320, or both ends of the safety handle 400 may be fixed to the upper and lower surfaces of the receiver recess 320. [48] Alternatively, the safety handle 400 may be installed such that a part that a user holds is spaced apart from the left and rear surfaces of the receiver recess 320. Thus, the user easily holds the safety handle 400.

[49] Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken from line I-I' of Fig. 3.

[50] Referring to Fig. 4, the safety handle 400 includes a handle part 420 that a user holds, extension parts 440 extending perpendicularly from the handle part 420, and install parts 460 bent outward from the extension part 440. [51] The handle part 420 has a bar shape with a predetermined diameter for a user to hold, and may be hollowed. The handle part 420 is elongated in the up-and-down direction, and may have a circular or polygonal cross-section. [52] To prevent slipping when a user holds the handle part 420, a material having a high friction coefficient, such as rubber, may be wound or applied around the periphery of the handle part 420, or a recess member or a protrusion member may be provided in the up-and-down direction to the periphery of the handle part 420.

[53] The upper and lower ends of the handle part 420 are provided with the extension parts 440. The extension part 440 spaces the handle part 420 a distance from the inner surfaces of the receiver recess 320 such that a user's hand easily passes through the distance. When the handle part 420 is long, the extension part 440 may be further provided between the upper and lower ends of the handle part 420. In this case, the extension part 440 may be provided in plurality.

[54] The extension part 440 may have the same cross-section as the handle part 420, and is hollowed to be filled with an elastic member 480 that will be described later.

[55] When the safety handle 400 is pulled, the elastic member 480 is extended to elastically deform the safety handle 400. One end of the elastic member 480 is fixed in the handle part 420, and the other end is fixed in the extension part 440.

[56] The handle part 420 and the extension part 440 are removable from each other.

Portions where the handle part 420 comes in contact with the extension part 440 constitute an oblique concave-convex structure corresponding to each other, so as to achieve selective coupling.

[57] Thus, when an external force is not applied to the safety handle 400, the elastic member 480 is maintained in a normal state where the handle part 420 is in contact with the extension part 440. When an external force is applied to the safety handle 400, the elastic member 480 is extended to space the handle part 420 from the extension part 440. When the external force is removed from the safety handle 400, the elastic member 480 is returned to the normal state, so that the handle part 420 is in contact with the extension part 440 again.

[58] The install part 460 protrudes outward in a flange shape at the end of the extension part 440. A coupling member such as a screw couples the safety handle 400 to the inner surface of the receiver recess 320 through the install parts 460.

[59] When the safety handle 400 is coupled to the inner upper and lower ends of the receiver recess 320, the install parts 460 may be removed from the safety handle 400. Even in this case, the elastic member 480 may be disposed in the handle part 420 to elastically deform the safety handle 400 with an external force.

[60] Alternatively, at least one portion of the safety handle 400 may be formed of an elastic material such as rubber, so that the safety handle 400 can be elastically deformed with the elasticity of the elastic material when an external force is applied to the safety handle 400.

[61] The upper part of the wall 200 and/or a side of the opening part 300 are provided with an operation button 240 for operating the elevator 1, and may be further provided with a display device 260 for displaying service information of the elevator 1. [62] Hereinafter, operation of the elevator 1 will now be described with reference to Figs.

1 to 4.

[63] To use the elevator 1, a user operates the operation button 240 of the wall 200 to position the cage 100 at a floor where the user is located. When the cage 100 arrives at the floor, the outer doors 220 and the inner doors 120 are simultaneously opened, so that the user is allowed to enter the cage 100.

[64] After the user enters the cage 100, position information about a desired floor is input.

When the cage 100 arrives at the desired floor, the inner doors 120 and the outer doors 220 are opened, so that the user can move to a desired position.

[65] When the cage 100 is not disposed at the floor where the user is located, a hoistway where the cage 100 moves is empty, so that a space disposed behind the outer doors 220 is also empty.

[66] In this state, when an external force due to a careless user or an accident is applied to the outer doors 220, the outer doors 220 may be damaged and opened. Thus, a user in contact with the outer doors 220 may fall to the hoistway where the cage 100 moves.

[67] However, if a user stretches out his/her hand just before falling to the hoistway, the user can hold the safety handle 400 that is adjacent to his/her position. That is, a user holds his/her surroundings by instinct before falling. At this point, the user can hold the handle part 420 adjacent to the user's hand.

[68] When the user holds the handle part 420, an instantaneous load is applied to the handle part 420. Accordingly, the elastic member 480 connecting the handle part 420 to the extension part 440 is extended, and the handle part 420 is extended from the extension part 440. Thus, an impact or load transmitted to the arm of a user is significantly absorbed, and the handle part 420 is prevented from going out of the user's hand.

[69] A user holds the handle part 420 to prevent a falling accident. After that, the handle part 420 is released, the restoring force of the elastic member 480 brings back the elastic member 480 in contact with the extension part 440 to restore the safety handle 400 to its original shape.

[70] Hereinafter, various embodiments other than the previous embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Since the following embodiments are substantially the same as the previous embodiments except for specific parts, detailed descriptions of elements having the same configuration as the previous embodiments will be omitted, and like reference numerals denote like elements.

[71] Fig. 5 is a plan view illustrating an elevator 2 according to another embodiment.

[72] Referring to Fig. 5, the wall 200 is provided with the opening part 300, and the left and right lateral surfaces of the opening part 300 are provided with receiver recesses 340. The safety handles 400 that a user can hold in emergencies are installed in the receiver recesses 340.

[73] The lateral surfaces of the opening part 300 are inclined to decrease in left-and-right distance rearward. The receiver recesses 340 are recessed inward in the inclined lateral surfaces of the opening part 300.

[74] The receiver recesses 340 may be formed along the entire width of the opening part

300. A surface extending from the front end of the receiver recess 340 to the inside of the receiver recess 340 and a surface extending from the rear end of the receiver recess 320 to the inside of the receiver recess 340 cross each other with an obtuse angle, and form an edge. That is, the receiver recess 340 has an obtuse triangle cross-section, so that a user's hand can easily access the receiver recess 340.

[75] Fig. 6 is a plan view illustrating an elevator 3 according to another embodiment. The left and right lateral surfaces of the opening part 300 of the wall 200 are provided with receiver recesses 360.

[76] The lateral surfaces of the opening part 300 with the receiver recesses 360 are inclined. The receiver recesses 360 are recessed inward from the inclined lateral surfaces of the opening part 300. The receiver recesses 360 have acute triangle cross- sections.

[77] Since the receiver recesses 360 are disposed at the front parts of the lateral surfaces of the opening part 300, the rear parts thereof naturally have stepwise protrusions 362. Thus, the stepwise protrusions 362 formed by the receiver recesses 320 are provided to the opening part 300 to function as handles for a user to hold.

[78] Just before falling, a user holds the stepwise protrusion 362 by inserting his/her hand into the stepwise protrusion 362 of the opening part 300. A pad formed of rubber or a material having a high frictional force to prevent a hand from slipping is attached to the stepwise protrusion 362.

[79] As described above, modifications can be made on the shapes of the receiver recess and the safety handle, and on other parts of the elevator according to various embodiments.

[80] Fig. 7 is a plan view illustrating an elevator according to another embodiment. Fig. 8 is a partial exploded perspective view illustrating an install structure of the elevator of Fig. 7.

[81] Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, the wall 200 is disposed between a hoistway where the cage 100 moves and an indoor space, and the opening part 300 through which a user passes is disposed in the wall 200. The opening part 300 is provided with the outer doors 220 that correspond to the inner doors 120 of the cage 100 and are selectively opened.

[82] Auxiliary members 500, providing the lateral appearance of the opening part 300, are installed at both sides of the opening part 300. The auxiliary members 500 are formed of metal such as stainless steel and bent to conform with the wall 200. The auxiliary members 500 constitute both the lateral surfaces of the opening part 300 and a portion of the front surface of the wall 200.

[83] The auxiliary members 500 are provided with inclined surfaces 520 that are disposed at positions corresponding to the lateral surfaces of the opening part 300. The inclined surfaces 520 extend from the front end of the wall 200 to the rear end thereof and decrease in left-and-right distance rearward.

[84] The auxiliary members 500 are provided with receiver recesses 540 that are used to fix the safety handles 400 and that have approximate triangle cross sections. The receiver recesses 540 may have the shapes as described the previous embodiments, provided that the receiver recesses 540 completely receive the safety handles 400.

[85] The safety handle 400 may be fixed through a coupling member such as a screw and spaced apart from the lateral surfaces of the receiver recess 540, so that a user can hold the safety handle 400.

[86] The auxiliary members 500 provided with the safety handles 400 may be installed to the wall 200 for the elevator 1 that is already installed and in service. In addition, the auxiliary members 500 may have various shapes according to the shape of the wall 200.

[87] Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art. Industrial Applicability

[88] According to the embodiments, the elevator includes the safety handle that a user holds in an unexpected falling accident, so as to improve safety.

[89]