GB2225562A

GB2225562A - Support for moving handrail

Info

Publication number: GB2225562A
Application number: GB8922815A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roy Barnett; Paul Antony Wood
Original assignee: Dunlop Ltd
Current assignee: Dunlop Ltd
Priority date: 1988-10-26
Filing date: 1989-10-10
Publication date: 1990-06-06
Also published as: GB8825072D0; GB8922815D0

Abstract

A handrail support for a passenger conveyor or escalator comprises a strip of sheet material profiled to provide in cross-section an inverted U-shaped portion and upright U-shaped portions blending into outwardly projecting support arms for smooth engagement with the inner surface of a moving handrail. The support is fitted to the top of a glass panel or to a rib of a capping clamped to the glass panel. A lighting fixture may be incorporated into a portion of the capping. <IMAGE>

Description

SUPPORT FOR MOVING HANDRAIL This invention relates to supports for moving handrails such as are incorporated in the balustrade of a passsenger conveyor or escalator.

A balustrade for a passenger conveyor may be constructed from sheets of glass to the upper edge of which a support needs to be fastened to provide guidance for a moving handrail. The moving handrail is normally an endless strip of flexible material of C-shaped profile, and the support therefore needs to provide, in profile, a pair of outwardly extending arms to engage within the inner surfacer of the handrail so as to guide it without undue friction.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a support for a moving handrail which can be constructed inexpensively and which is easily and satisfactorily assembled in position, for example on the upper edge of a glass sheet forming part of a balustrade structure.

According to the invention, a support for a moving handrail comprises a profiled strip of sheet material formed in cross-section with a central inverted U-shaped portion comprising a base integral with two sides, each of which, respectively, forms one side of a portion of generally upright U-shaped profile, the outer side of which merges into an outwardly extending arm which is an integral part of the strip and is suitably profiled to guide and support the inner surface of a moving handrail.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-section through a handrail support for a passenger conveyor; Figure 2 is a cross-section through a balustrade incorporating a support as shown in Figure 1, together with a handrail and lighting supports, and Figure 3 is a similar view to that of Figure 2, showing an alternative balustrade and handrail support in accordance with the invention.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the handrail support is made from lengths of spring steel strip 10 rolled to a cross-section which incorporates a central inverted U-shaped portion having a base 11, and sides 15 and 16 which are angled slightly inwardly in their lower regions in order to grip the upper edge of a glass sheet 20 (see Figure 2). The sides 15 and 16 also form, respectively, the inner sides of portions 25,26 which are of generally upright U-shaped profile. The outer limbs 30,31 of the U-shaped portions 25,26 merge into outwardly extending arms 35,36 which have, in profile, rounded outer portions 37,38, lower recessed portions 40,41, upper flattened portions 43,44 and downwardly tilting upper flange portions 47,48.

The profile features of the outwardly extending arms 35,36 are specifically adapted to suit the inner profile of a handrail 50 for which the support is intended.

The circular profile within the arms 35,36 provides locations for a pair of short cylindrical pins 51,52 at the ends of each length of strip 10, the pins being located in adjacent lengths to join them together in precise alignment with one another, so as to provide a smooth continuous outside surface where it may contact the moving handrail.

The general profile of the structure described is easily obtained by rolling operations on a metal strip; alternatively the profile could be obtained by a plastics or metal extrusion process.

When assembled to a balustrade as shown in Figure 2, the inwardly tapering sides 15,16 are forced slightly apart so as to provide a firm grip on the glass, or on a rubber strip or series of strips provided on the upper edge and/or sides of the glass sheet to cushion the engagement between the handrail support and the glass. The open structure of the U-shaped portions 25,26, the upper regions of which are not covered by the upper portions of the outwardly extending arms 35, 36, provides ready access to fixing screws etc which may pass through the bases of portions 25, 26 to enable various attachments such as lighting fixtures to be secured to the handrail support.

Alternatively, as shown in Figure 2, the handrail support may be employed to hold in place a lighting fixture 55 incorporating an upwardly extending plate 56 having a hooked portion 57 extending over the top edge of the glass sheet 20, the rubber strips being omitted at this location.

The handrail support described above has the advantage that its profile provides an easily rolled section, the sides 15,16 having an effective grip on the glass sheet. It also provides convenient and effective means for supporting a lighting fixture by either of the methods mentioned above.

As shown in Figure 3, instead of mounting the handrail support directly on a glass sheet 60 forming a side panel of a conveyor, an aluminium capping is formed from extruded lengths 62 secured to a panel of at least one glass sheet 60 by shaped clamping plates 63. The plates 63 are tightened against the glass 60 at one end and the inside surfaces 64 of the lengths 62 at the other end by screws 66 engaging nuts 68 captive in a channel 69 formed in the extrusion. A rubber or plastics strip 71 protects the upper edges of the glass sheets to which the aluminium capping is fitted. The capping extends over a number of panels and provides a rigid structure on which the handrail support lengths 10 of Figure 1 are fitted to a longitudinally extending rib 73 of the extrusion in a similar way to that described above for fitment directly to the glass panels. This arrangement enables the centre-line of the handrail to be offset outside the conveyor (to the left as shown in Figure 3) relative to the glass panels.

The lower parts of the capping lengths 62 are provided with cover plates 74 having flanges 78,79 spring-fitted into a recess 81 of the capping, the flange 79 having a lip 83 to fit into a corresponding groove 84 in the recess wall.

Attachments for lighting fixtures may be made by the use of brackets attached by screws 66 or similar screws and nuts, suitable apertures being provided in the cover plates 74.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A support for a moving handrail comprising a profiled strip of sheet material formed in cross-section with a central inverted U-shaped portion comprising a base integral with two sides, each of which, respectively, forms one side of a portion of generally upright U-shaped profile, the outer side of which merges into an outwardly extending arm which is an integral part of the strip and suitably profiled to guide and support the inner surface of a moving handrail.

2. A support for a moving handrail according to Claim 1 wherein the sides of the central inverted Ushaped portion are angled inwardly in their lower regions in order to grip the upper edge of a member capable of being inserted therein.

3. A support for a moving handrail according to Claim 2 wherein the member comprises a sheet edge.

4. A support for a moving handrail according to Claim 2 wherein the member comprises a rib of a capping clamped to a panel.

5. A support for a moving handrail according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the outwardly extending arms have, in profile, rounded outer portions.

6. A support for a moving handrail according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the outwardly extending arms do not cover the upper regions of the said portions of generally upright U-shaped profile.

7. A support for a moving handrail according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the said profile strip is of spring steel.

8. A support for a moving handrail according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the profile within the arms is arranged to provide locations for pins to be located in the ends of adjacent lengths of said strip to join the lengths together in alignment with one another.

9. A support for a moving handrail constructed and arranged substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.

10. A balustrade for a passenger conveyor or escalator comprising a support for a moving handrail in accordance with any one of the preceding Claims wherein the central inverted U-shaped portion engages a member, such as a glass sheet.

11. A balustrade for a passenger conveyor or escalator in accordance with Claim 10 wherein the member comprises a rib formed on a capping clamped to a panel of at least one glass sheet, thereby securing the support to the capping.

12. A balustrade for a passenger conveyor or escalator according to Claim 10 or 11 comprising a lighting fixture which incorporates an upwardly extending plate having a hooked portion positioned inside the inverted U-shaped portion and extending over the top edge of the member, such as a sheet or a capping rib.

13. A balustrade for a passenger conveyor or escalator comprising a support for a moving handrail in accordance with any one of Claims 1-9.

14. A balustrade for a passenger conveyor or escalator constructed and arranged substantially as described and illustrated in Figure 2 or Figure 3 of the accompanying Drawings.