An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator load bearing member includes a plurality of load bearing cords and a woven fabric including a plurality of warp yarns along a length of the load bearing member and a plurality of weft yarns transverse to the length of the load bearing member. The woven fabric includes a central portion and lateral edge portions extending along the length of the load bearing member. The central portion includes the load bearing cords interlaced with the woven fabric. The lateral edge portions each include terminal ends of the weft yarns. The central portion has a first plurality of warp yarns situated between laterally outermost ones of the cords. The lateral edge portions have a second plurality of warp yarns between the laterally outermost ones of the cords and the terminal ends of the weft yarns.

A belt for suspending and/or driving an elevator car includes a plurality of tension elements extending longitudinally along a length of the belt, at least one tension element of the plurality of tension elements having one or more tension element coating layers applied thereto. A plurality of fibers are interlaced with the plurality of tension elements forming a composite belt structure. A belt coating at least partially encapsulates the composite belt structure. A method of forming a belt for suspending and/or driving an elevator car includes forming a plurality of tension elements and applying one or more coating layers to at least one tension element of the plurality of tension elements. A plurality of fibers are interlaced with the plurality of tension elements to form a composite belt structure. A belt coating is applied to the composite belt structure to at least partially encapsulate the composite belt structure.

An illustrative example assembly for making an elevator load bearing member includes a fabric having a plurality of fibers arranged with some of the fibers transverse to others of the fibers. A plurality of cords are configured to support a load associated with an elevator car. The cords are included in the fabric and have respective coatings. The coatings include a first coating material and a second coating material, or include different coating thicknesses such that some of the coatings have a different coating thickness than others of the coatings, or the coatings include the first coating material and the second coating material and some of the coatings have a different coating thickness than others of the coatings.

A belt for suspending and/or driving an elevator car includes a plurality of tension elements extending longitudinally along a length of the belt and a plurality of fibers interlaced with the plurality of tension elements forming a composite belt structure. A coating at least partially encapsulates the composite belt structure to improve two or more operational characteristics of the belt. A method of forming a belt for suspending and/or driving an elevator car includes forming a plurality of tension elements and arraying the plurality of tension elements longitudinally along a belt. A plurality of fibers are interlaced with the plurality of tension elements to form a composite belt structure. A coating is applied to at least partially encapsulate the composite belt structure to improve at least two operational characteristics of the belt.

A method of forming a belt for suspending and/or driving an elevator car includes arraying a plurality of tension elements longitudinally along a belt and interlacing a plurality of warp fibers and a plurality of weft fibers with the plurality of tension elements to form a composite belt structure. A coating is applied to at least partially encapsulate the composite belt structure. The coating includes a base coating material and at least one additive mixed with the base coating material to improve an operational characteristic of the belt.

A belt for suspending and/or driving an elevator car includes a plurality of tension elements extending along a length of the belt and a plurality of belt fibers transverse to the plurality of tension elements and interlaced therewith. The belt fibers define at least one traction surface of the belt. An edge fiber is located at a lateral end of the belt transverse to and secured to the plurality of belt fibers to secure the belt fibers in a selected position.

A belt for suspending and/or driving an elevator car includes a plurality of tension elements extending along a length of the belt and a plurality of belt fibers transverse to the plurality of tension elements and interlaced therewith. The belt fibers define at least one traction surface of the belt. An edge fiber is located at a lateral end of the belt transverse to and secured to the plurality of belt fibers to secure the belt fibers in a selected position.

A belt for an elevator system includes one or more tension members arranged along a belt width and extending longitudinally along a length of the belt, each tension member including a plurality of fibers extending along the belt length. A jacket material at least partially encapsulates the plurality of tension members. An elevator system includes a hoistway, an elevator car located in the hoistway and movable therein, and a belt operably connected to the elevator car to suspend and/or drive the elevator car along the hoistway. The belt includes one or more tension members arranged along a belt width and extending longitudinally along a length of the belt, each tension member including a plurality of fibers extending along the belt length. A jacket material at least partially encapsulates the plurality of tension members.

A string, rope, or strap with repetitively spaced openings/flexible eyelets from bifurcated braiding or weaving, or from cutting and sealing. The bifurcated openings are preferably created from a single rope or strap that is subsequently braided or weaved into two strings, ropes, or straps and then back into one. The frequent and periodic placement of these eyelets on the string, rope, or strap, allows the user to easily tie down items. The rope or strap is flexible enough to pull it in on its self, through its eyelets. The ends of the string, rope, or strap are finished into a hard tip.

A belt for suspending and/or driving an elevator car including a plurality of tension elements extending longitudinally along a length of the belt, and a plurality of yarns interlaced with the plurality of tension elements forming a composite belt structure. The plurality of yarns are formed from a self-extinguishing fluoroelastomer material. An elevator system includes a hoistway, an elevator car positioned in the hoistway and movable therein, a belt operably connected to the elevator car to suspend and/or drive the elevator car along the hoistway. The belt includes a plurality of tension elements extending longitudinally along a length of the belt and a plurality of yarns interlaced with the plurality of tension elements forming a composite belt structure. The plurality of yarns are formed from a self-extinguishing fluoroelastomer material.