ELEVATOR CONTROL ADAPTOR FOR HANDICAPPED USERS

Technical Field

This invention relates to an elevator system of the self-service type in which the elevator cars are controlled by the users of the system. More particularly, this invention relates to apparatus for converting or adapting the normal elevator controls, both the floor buttons and the car control buttons, for use by handicapped or other people who are unable to easily reach the location of the controls.

Description of the Prior Art

Elevator systems of the self-service type are widely known. Such a system is customarily installed in a multi-story building for transporting people and objects from one floor to another. A self-service elevator system is characterised by the absence of an elevator operator inside each of the cars. Rather, the passengers themselves control the operation of the cars.

A self-service elevator system usually has two types of control buttons which are actuable by the passengers. The first type will be referred to as the floor buttons and comprise directional "up" and "down buttons on each floor of the building. The appropriate button is actuated depending on whether the passenger wishes to go up or down in the building. The second type of control buttons will be referred to as the car control buttons. The car control buttons are located inside the elevator car and comprise a plurality of numbered buttons which correspond to the number of floors, in the building. Extra buttons, such as an alarm button or a door open button, may also be included in the car control buttons. Once a passenger enters the elevator car, he pushes the numbered button which corresponds to the floor to which he desires to travel.

In many self-service elevator systems, the car control buttons, and often the floor buttons as - well, are located at a height which is appropriate for actuation by a normal person. People who are extremely short as well as people who are disabled and confined to a wheelchair are often not able to reach the buttons to actuate them. Such people must either have a companion to actuate the buttons or must wait for someone to come along and assist them. As to such users, this obviously defeats the purpose of a self service elevator system. Moreover, governmental regulations now require that the controls of a self-service elevator system be easily usable by people confined to wheelchairs. Accordingly, there is a demonstrated need for an invention which would allow handicapped users to actuate the normal control buttons of an elevator system. However, prior to the present invention and to the best of Applicant's knowledge, no such device existed.

U.S. Patent No. 2 738 489 discloses elevator cars having an elevator control panel containing the elevator control buttons, mounted on a wall of the car and having also a duplicate control panel mounted remote from the elevator control panel.

The duplicate control panel is for use by passengers who on entering the car find -themselves separated, by other passengers, from the elevator control panel. However, in order to fulfill its purpose the duplicate control panel must be located at a position in the car remote from the elevator control panel. The elevator control panel and duplicate control panel are interconnected electrically.

U.S. Patent No. 3 939 725 discloses an arrangement where a rocker switch is actuated by a remote auxiliary rocker switch, the two switches being interconnected mechanically by a drive rod and a swing arm. However, there is no disclosure in this patent of the use of the arrangement in an elevator control.

Various devices have been proposed to allow small children or disabled people to actuate a light switch. Generally, such devices include an elongated rod which hangs downwardly from the switch and which is coupled to the switch. The switch may be thrown by pulling up or down on the rod. U.S. Patent Nos. 2 719 899 and 3 581 037 are examples of such devices.

Useful as the above-noted devices may be for throwing light switches, they are not suitable, and have never been proposed to the best of the Applicant's knowledge, for adapting elevator control buttons for use by handicapped people. Since many elevator control buttons are heat sensitive or push button type switches as opposed to a throw type of switch, the above-noted devices would not be operable for the actuation of the control buttons. They are designed only for use with throw type switches.

Italian Patent No. 316 604 discloses a device which apparently relates to the remote actuation of a push button type switch. This device comprises a crank arm having one leg in contact with the push button switch and a downwardly depending chain attached to the other leg. Pulling on the chain will rotate the crank arm inwardly to actuate the push button. However, the use of a plurality of downwardly extending chains hanging from the normal buttons of an elevator control system do not comprise a workable solution to the problems previously posed. Such chains would soon be entangled, vandalised or removed rendering the adaptation useless.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention now provides apparatus for adapting a pre-installed elevator control panel for use by handicapped operators who are unable easily to reach the elevator control panel, wherein the elevator control panel includes at least one selectively actuable primary control button, said apparatus comprising:

• an auxiliary control panel, at least one selectively actuable auxiliary control button mounted in the auxiliary control panel, characterised in that the auxiliary control panel is adapted to be mounted to overlie and cover the elevator control panel and to extend generally below the elevator control panel;
• the auxiliary button is mounted on the extension to be at an elevation which is different from that of the primary button so as to be more easily reached by the handicapped operators;
• mechanical linkage means intermediate said primary and auxiliary buttons for converting actuation of the auxiliary button into actuation of the primary button, whereby the primary button can be actuated from a remote location defined by the auxiliary button; and
• at least one false primary button located in the auxiliary control panel to overlie the primary button for actuation of the primary button by operators who are easily able to reach the elevator control panel.

In a preferred form of the invention both the primary and auxiliary buttons are of the push-button type actuated by an inward pushing movement on the face thereof, and wherein the mechanical linkage comprises a pivot rod mounted in the auxiliary panel and having outwardly extending first and second link arms, wherein the first link arm is secured to the auxiliary button such that an inward actuating movement of the auxiliary button rotates the pivot rod, and wherein the second link arm extends in front of the primary button such that rotation of the pivot rod causes the second link arm to contact and actuate the primary button. Each of the second link arms preferably has a false primary button for covering the primary button, the false primary button being spaced a small distance- in front of the primary button in an unrotated position of the pivot rod, whereby the primary button is actuated either by actuation of the auxiliary button or the false primary button.

The primary and auxiliary buttons are preferably spaced apart vertically in substantially identical arrays, and wherein each auxiliary button and its corresponding primary button are identically located in their respective arrays.

Brief Description of the Drawings

There is now described, by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, a preferred embodiment of the invention. This preferred embodiment is shown in Figures 5 to 8 of the drawings; Figures 1 to 4 are included to facilitate description of the embodiment shown in Figures 5 to 8 but the apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 4, because it does not include an auxiliary control panel which overlies and covers the elevator control panel, is not an embodiment of the invention. On the other hand, the embodiment shown in Figures 5 to 8 has an auxiliary control panel which overlies and covers the elevator control panel.

In the drawings:

• Fig. 1 is a partial perspective view of a set of car control buttons in a self-service elevator system;
• Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 1;
• Fig. 3 is a side elevational view, partly broken away and shown in cross section, of the apparatus of Fig. 1;
• Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of a portion of the apparatus of Fig. 1;.
• Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the car control buttons in a self-service elevator system, particularly illustrating an apparatus according to this invention for adapting the car control buttons for use by operators who are unable to easily reach them.
• Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the apparatus of Fig. 5;
• Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the mechanical linkage between the auxiliary and the false primary buttons of the apparatus of Fig. 5; and
• Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 7, taken along line 8-8 in Fig. 7, and particularly illustrating the adjustable button actuating member and abutment member on the second link arm.

Detailed Description

Before the apparatus 110 of the preferred embodiment of the invention is described, reference will first be made to the "basic" apparatus 10 shown in Figures 1 to 4 in order to facilitate subsequent description of the preferred embodiment.

Referring first to Figs. 1-4 an apparatus for for adapting the controls of a self-service elevator system for use by persons who are unable to normally reach the controls is generally illustrated as 10. Apparatus 10 is illustrated with a substantially planar elevator control panel 4 located inside one of the elevator cars in the system. Control ,panel 4 includes a plurality of car control buttons 1-3, labeled 1, 2, and 3, which correspond to certain floors of the building serviced by the elevator car. Normally, a person of normal height has no trouble in reaching and actuating the control buttons 1-3. Buttons 1-3 will be referred to as the primary buttons hereafter because they are the buttons which form part of the original equipment of the elevator system. However, very short people or handicapped people confined to wheelchairs often cannot reach the primary control buttons 1-3 to actuate them. Apparatus 10 allows such users to actuate primary buttons 1-3.

While apparatus 10 and 110 are illustrated for use with the car control buttons 1-3 (or 101-103) in elevator control panel, they are not limited for such use. Indeed, apparatus 10 (and apparatus 110) is meant to be usable with all of the control buttons in a self-service elevator system, both the car control buttons in the elevator cars themselves along with the floor buttons on each of the floors of the building serviced by the elevator. The floor buttons comprise the directional "up" or "down" buttons located on each floor of the building for summoning an upwardly or downwardly moving car to that floor. Moreover, the arrangement of buttons, of either the floor buttons or the car control buttons, can obviously vary in both number and arrangement from that illustrated in Figs. 1-4. Typically, the control buttons will, however, be arranged vertically spaced apart in a suitable array with either a single or double row of buttons in the car control buttons.

Referring now to Fig. 4, each of the primary buttons 1-3 are typically of the push button type and are mounted in control panel 4 in any appropriate manner for push type actuation. An electrical switch 5 underlies and is normally spaced from each of the primary buttons 1-3, as shown in Fig. 4. Switch 5 is contacted and actuated by its corresponding primary button 1, 2 or 3 when the button is pushed inwardly by a force normal to the face of the button. The direction of such a force normal to the face of the button. The direction of such a force is illustrated by the arrows A in Fig. 4. Each switch 5 includes a spring return therein which returns the primary button 1, 2 or 3 to its normal unactuated position after release of the button.

Apparatus 10 includes an auxiliary control panel 12. Control panel 12 is L-shaped having a first vertically extending portion 14 located along one side of elevator control panel 4 and a second horizontally extending portion 16 located beneath the bottom edge of elevator control panel 4. Horizontal portion 16 includes three auxiliary control buttons 1a, 2a, and 3a (the postscript "a" refers to auxiliary). A feature of apparatus 10 is that the number of auxiliary control buttons 1a, 2a and 3a correspond generally to the number of primary control buttons 1, 2 and 3 in the adjacent set of control buttons.

The auxiliary control buttons 1 a-3a are vertically spaced apart in an array located generally beneath the primary buttons 1-3. Auxiliary buttons 1a-3a are labelled identically to primary buttons 1-3, that is with the numerals 1, 2, or 3 printed on the face of the buttons, but they are arranged in a reverse order, namely, the auxiliary button 1a labelled 1 is positioned above the auxiliary button 2a labelled 2 and so on. Each auxiliary button 1a-3a structurally comprises a . circular face 18 located outside of auxiliary control panel 12. A stem 20 extends inwardly from the face 18 of each of the auxiliary buttons 1 a-3a to a location inside of auxiliary control panel 12.

Each of the auxiliary buttons 1 a-3a is mechanically linked or connected to a corresponding one of the buttons 1-3. This linkage is designed so that an inward actuating movement on any auxiliary button 1a-3a is transmitted to the corresponding primary button 1-3 for actuation of the primary button. Except for size and positioning the mechanical linkages between the auxiliary and primary buttons are identical. Therefore, only the linkage extending between auxiliary button 1 a and primary button 1 will be described in detail. This description will, however, suffice to describe the other linkages as well.

Preferably, the mechanical linkage referred to above comprises a generally vertical and elongated pivot rod 22. Pivot rod 22 is as long as the vertical distance between the auxiliary and primary buttons 1a and 1. Pivot rod 22 is suitably journaled for rotation about an axis extending through its length by at least two vertically spaced apart bearing mounts 24 and 26. Bearing mounts 24 and 26 and pivot rod 22 are contained inside the vertically extending portion 14 of auxiliary control panel 12. Bearing mounts 24 and 26 are of any conventional design.

First and second link arms 28 and 30 extend laterally to one side from the lower and upper ends of pivot rod 22. First link arm 28 is contained inside the horizontal portion 16 of auxiliary control panel 12 and is fixedly secured, as by welding, to the stem 20 of the auxiliary button 1a. The second link arm 30 at the upper end of pivot rod 22 extends out of the vertical portion 14 of control panel 12. Second link arm 30 has its "free" or outer end 32 positioned slightly above and immediately in front of the corresponding primary button 1. Outer end 32 of second link arm 30 is formed as a button actuating member having a planar face 34 opposed to the face of button 1.

The outer end 32 of second link arm 30 includes a false primary button 1 F (the postscript "F" refers to false). False primary button 1 F is the same size and shape as button 1 and is located immediately above primary button 1 to cover and hide button 1. See Fig. 1. The outer end 32 of second link arm 30 is located between the false primary button 1F and primary button 1. The purpose of false primary button 1 is to allow normal actuation of button 1 notwithstanding the interposition of second link arm 30.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the pivot rod 22 of each of the mechanical linkages between the corresponding primary and auxiliary buttons are identical except for different lengths which correspond to the different vertical distances between the sets of linked buttons. In addition, the mechanical linkages for the varying sets of linked buttons are nested together in the manner shown in Fig. 2 to avoid any interference with one another. This nesting ensures that no portion of one linkage crosses another linkage. While three primary buttons 1-3 and auxiliary buttons 1a-3a have been specifically discussed above, any other number of buttons could be coupled in the same way as noted earlier. For example, in Fig. 2, a similar coupling for a primary and an auxiliary alarm button is illustrated.

In the operation of apparatus 10, the auxiliary buttons 1 a-3a are all located at an elevation in the elevator car substantially below that of the primary buttons 1-3. This elevation is selected to be sufficiently low such that a person seated in a wheelchair would have no trouble in reaching any of the auxiliary buttons 1a-3a. Thus, assuming that a person confined to a wheelchair, or a short person, enters the elevator car and wishes to actuate primary button 1, all that is required is that the auxiliary button 1a be pushed inwardly. This rotates pivot rod 22 in a counterclockwise motion about its axis as indicated by the arrow B. Such rotation causes the second link arm 30 to rotate towards the button 1. The outer end 32 of second link arm 30 will engage primary button 1 and push the button inwardly to actuate the underlying switch. When the user. releases auxiliary button 1a, the spring return In switch 5, acting through button 1 on second link arm 30, will return the pivot rod to its normal unrotated position.

It will be seen, therefore, that by means of auxiliary button 1a a handicapped user is able to actuate primary button 1 even though he would not normally have been able to reach that button. When an array of auxiliary buttons similar to that described in apparatus 10 is located next to each array of primary buttons in the elevator system (both the floor buttons and all the car control buttons in the elevator cars) the use of apparatus 10 renders the elevator system truly self-service for all users. A handicapped person no longer need the aid of another person to operate the elevator system. In addition, apparatus 10 as described herein can be easily retrofitted to most existing elevator installations simply by installing auxiliary control panel 12 and the rest of the apparatus adjacent the regular elevator control panel 4. No extensive reworking of the elelvator system, such as tearing the elevator car apart to mount control panel 4 in a lower location, is required. Thus apparatus 10 accomplishes the purpose of adapting the elevator control system for use by a handicapped person in a relatively inexpensive manner.

One desirable feature of apparatus 10 is that the primary buttons 1-3 are still fully operable by a person of normal height. In this regard, a person of normal height entering the elevator car can actuate any of the primary buttons 1-3 simply by pushing inwardly on the corresponding false primary button 1F―3F. Therefore, the normal functioning of the elevator control system has not been changed even though it has been rendered more easily usable by handicapped persons.

While the placement of the auxiliary buttons 1a-3a has been illustrated in the drawings as being below that of the primary buttons 1-3, the relative positioning of these buttons could be reversed if the primary buttons 1-3 were placed relatively low in the elevator car such that actuation of the primary buttons was difficult for a person of normal height. In such a case, the person of normal height could be considered handicapped by virtue of having to bend down to actuate the primary buttons 1-3. In this latter event, the auxiliary buttons 1a-3a would be placed above the primary buttons 1-3 convenient to the user of normal height.

Referring now to Figs. 5-8, an embodiment of an apparatus according to this invention will be illustrated generally at 110. Apparatus 110 operates on the same general principles and has structure which is similar to apparatus 4, but includes a number of improved features. To ease the task of description, components of apparatus 110 which have counterparts to components of apparatus 10 will be described with the same reference numerals with the addition of a "100" prefix.

Apparatus 110 includes an auxiliary control panel 112 which is rectangular and of the same width as elevator control panel 4. Auxiliary panel 112 fits entirely around and covers elevator control panel 4 although it also extends below control panel 4. In such a case, the auxiliary control panel 112 is more tamper proof than control panel 12 since in that embodiment the second link arms 30 extend out of panel 12. This access to the second link arms 30 gives a vandal the opportunity to bend or otherwise damage the link arms. Since control panel 112 now completely encloses second link arms 130 and mounts the false primary buttons 101F-103F, this opportunity to vandalize has been removed.

In addition, an improved mechanical linkage extending between the auxiliary buttons 101a-103a and false primary buttons 101 F-103F is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. This mechanical linkage includes a plurality of closely spaced pivot rods 122. Pivot rods 122 are pivotably journaled in holes in top and bottom brackets 140 and 142. Top and bottom brackets 140 and 142 are removably secured by any suitable means to the top and bottom sides of auxiliary control panel 112. See Fig. 6. All the pivot rods 122 are now the same size extending the full length of control panel 122. This allows standardization in the manufacture of pivot rods 122.

Each of the first and second link arms 128 and 130 are now L-shaped such that the link arms project upwardly above the plane of pivot rods 122. The link arms. 128 and 130 have different lengths with the same length of link arm being used for the same auxiliary and false primary buttons. For example, auxiliary button 101a and false primary button 101F are fixedly secured to link arms 128 and 130 of the same length. The downwardly depending flange 129 of these link arms is fixedly secured, as by welding, to the same pivot rod 122. Link arms 128 and 130 may be manufactured out of a flat metallic stock material to decrease the cost of apparatus 110.

The arrangement of mechanical linkages illustrated in Figs. 5-8 allow the same order of auxiliary buttons 101a-103a to be used as is found in the primary buttons 101-103. Namely, button 101a is below button 102a just as button 101 is below button 102. This is advantageous since the same ordering of buttons is less confusing and more error free in operation than a reverse ordering as illustrated in Figs. 1-4. Consequently, the type of mechanical linkages illustrated in this embodiment will generally be preferred although it is not critical.

Another feature illustrated in Figs. 5-8 relates to use of an abutment member 150. A generally identical abutment member 150 extends downwardly from the outer end of each of the link arms 128 and 130. Abutment member 150 comprises a threaded securing member 152, such as a stove bolt or the like, threadedly secured to the outer end of link arms 128 and 130. The head 154 of securing member 152 is adapted to engage against the original elevator control panel 4 during rotation of pivot rod 122. Thus, abutment member 150 serves as a means for stopping rotation of the pivot rods 122 after a predetermined degree of travel. Abutment member 150 is threadedly adjustable relative to second link arm 130 simply by threading the member 150 in or out through a nut 156. Thus, the point at which head 154 engages against control panel 4 during rotation of pivot rod 122 can be adjusted.

In addition, each of the false primary buttons 101 F-103F are fixedly secured, as by welding, to the second arms 130 directly above the primary buttons 101-103. A button actuating member 160 in the shape of a threaded securing member 162, such as a stove bolt, is secured to the underside of the second link arm 130 and extend rearwardly toward the primary button 101. Again, the button actuating member 160 is longitudinally adjustable relative to the second link arm by threading member 160 in or out through a nut 166. Thus, the button actuating member 160 can be adjusted to vary the effective position of the second link arm 18 relative to the primary button 101 in the unrotated position of pivot rod 122.

Preferably, in the unrotated position of pivot rod 122, the button actuating member 160 is located closely above primary button 101 by a distance which is generally labeled as "X". Also, in the unrotated position of rod 122, head panel 154 of abutment member 150 is located above control panel 4 by a distance referred to as "Y". Preferably, "Y" is slightly greater than "X" so that during rotation of pivot rod 122 the button actuating member 160 will first actuate primary button 101 by pushing inwardly on button 101 and then the abutment member 150 will substantially immediately thereafter engage control panel 4. This prevents damage to the switch 5 underlying button 101 which damage might occur if unrestricted travel of the pivot rod 122 was allowed. While abutment member 150 has been described for use on both the first and second link arms 128 and 130, presence of the abutment member 150 - on only the second link arm 130 is essential.

Various modifications of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, if the primary buttons 1-3 are of the heat-sensing type rather than the push button type, the same U-shaped mechanical linkage could be used. However, inward movement of the second link arm 30 or 130 would have to energize some type of heating element located on the face of the primary buttons 1-3. For example, the second link arm 30 to 130 could form part of a switch which is closed by contact with the primary button to cause energization of a heating element therein. This heating element would then cause actuation of the switch 5.