Detachable panel for an elevator panel assembly

Abstract

An elevator panel assembly comprises a detachable panel (4), for covering a front surface of an elevator car panel (2b), and a separation member (7). The separation member (7) comprises a head portion (7a) received against a back surface of the detachable panel (4). The detachable panel (4) is magnetically attachable to the elevator car panel (2b) and comprises a through hole (9) which is smaller than the head portion (7a) of the separation member (7) and arranged to sit directly over the head portion (7a). The separation member (7) is configured so that a tool inserted through the through hole (9) engages with the head portion to apply a mechanical force, causing the head portion (7a) to push against the back surface of the detachable panel (4).

Claims

1. An elevator panel assembly, comprising: a detachable panel (4) for covering a front surface (12b) of an elevator car panel (2b), wherein the detachable panel (4) is magnetically attachable to the elevator car panel (2b); a separation member (7) comprising a head portion (7a) received against a back surface (12a) of the detachable panel (4); wherein the detachable panel (4) comprises a through hole (9) which is smaller than the head portion (7a) of the separation member (7) and arranged to sit directly over the head portion (7a); and wherein the separation member (7) is configured so that a tool inserted through the through hole (9) engages with the head portion (7a) to apply a mechanical force, causing the head portion (7a) to push against the back surface of the detachable panel (4).

2. The elevator panel assembly of claim 1, wherein the back surface of the detachable panel (4) further comprises a recessed portion (8), surrounding the through hole (9) and sized to contain the head portion (7a) of the separation member (7).

3. The elevator panel assembly of claim 1, wherein the detachable panel (4) comprises at least one magnetic element permanently attached to the back surface (12a) of the detachable panel (4).

4. The elevator panel assembly of claim 3, wherein the detachable panel (4) comprises four magnetic elements, arranged towards four corners of the back surface of the detachable panel (4).

5. The elevator panel assembly of claim 3, wherein the through hole (9) is arranged close to the at least one magnetic element.

6. The elevator panel assembly of claim 1, wherein the through hole (9) is arranged close to an edge of the detachable panel (4).

7. The elevator panel assembly of claim 1, wherein the separation member (7) is a screw.

8. The elevator panel assembly of claim 1, wherein the head portion (7a) of the separation member (7) is substantially flat.

9. The elevator panel assembly of claim 1, comprising two separation members (7), wherein the detachable panel (4) comprises two corresponding through holes (9) for the two separation members (7).

10. The elevator panel assembly of claim 1, wherein the detachable panel (4) comprises a cut-out (5).

11. An elevator car panel assembly comprising an elevator panel assembly as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising an elevator car panel (2b) covered by the detachable panel (4), wherein the elevator car panel (2b) comprises a ferromagnetic material.

12. The elevator car panel assembly of claim 11, wherein the separation member (7) further comprises a body portion (7b) and wherein the elevator car panel (2b) contains an elevator car panel hole (10) arranged to receive the body portion (7b) of the separation member (7).

13. An elevator system comprising an elevator panel assembly as claimed in claim 1 and an elevator car.

14. A method of detaching a detachable panel (4) from a front surface (12b) of an elevator car panel (2b) to which a back surface (12a) of the detachable panel (4) is magnetically attached, wherein a separation member (7) comprising a head portion (7a) is received against the back surface (12a) of the detachable panel (4) and the detachable panel (4) comprises a through hole (9) which is smaller than the head portion (7a) of the separation member (7) and arranged to sit directly over the head portion (7a), the method comprising: inserting a tool through the through hole (9) in the detachable panel (4); and engaging the tool with the head portion (7a) of the separation member (7) to apply a mechanical force, causing the head portion (7a) to push against the back surface (12a) of the detachable panel (4) and thereby create a separation from the front surface (12b) of the elevator car panel (2b).

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: using the separation to apply a force sufficient to overcome the magnetic attraction between the elevator car panel (2b) and the detachable panel (4); and removing the detachable panel (4).

Description

DRAWING DESCRIPTION

(1) Certain preferred examples of this disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a cut-away view of an elevator car including a car operating panel.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a detachable panel according to the present disclosure.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic drawing showing an aerial view of an elevator car interior including decorative panels and a detachable panel according to the present disclosure.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a more detailed view of part of the middle panel of FIG. 3.

(6) FIG. 5 shows a cross-section of an elevator panel and a detachable panel, positioned flush against each other, with a separating member positioned between the panels.

(7) FIG. 6 shows a cross-section of an elevator panel and a detachable panel, after they have been separated by a separating member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) FIG. 1 shows a cut-away view of an elevator car 1 including a car operating panel (COP) 2a located in or on an elevator car panel 2b, as is visible in the Figure. In many elevator cars it is desirable that a maintenance person can access the various electronics behind the car operating panel 2a, as required. In particular the elevator car panel 2b on or in which the car operating panel 2a is situated can be hinged on one side to allow access. It is often desirable to affix decorative panels, such as decorative panel 3, to the interior walls of an elevator car 1, to improve the appearance of the car interior for a passenger. It is therefore desirable to affix a decorative panel over the elevator car panel 2b on which the car operating panel 2a is present, which matches the other decorative panels 3 which are affixed to the interior of the elevator car 1. Furthermore, as will be explained in more detail below, it can be desirable for a decorative panel to be attached to and detachable from the elevator car panel 2b. Although such panels here are referred to as “decorative” panels, it is to be understood that this term is not intended to be limiting but is simply one example of the function such a panel might fulfil. The description and features described below apply equally to any detachable panel, whether it is also a decorative panel or not. A detachable panel according to the present disclosure could not be decorative or could fulfil a particular function, other than being decorative.

(9) FIG. 2 shows a detachable panel 4 in the form of a decorative panel suitable to be affixed onto the elevator car panel 2b, over the car operating panel 2a, as shown in FIG. 1. Although the other decorative panels, such as the decorative panel 3 of FIG. 1, can be formed as a single piece, the detachable panel 4 includes a cut-out portion 5, sized so as to allow the control buttons of the COP 2a to protrude through the cut-out 5 and therefore be accessible for use by a user.

(10) FIG. 3 shows an aerial view of the interior of the elevator car 1 including a car operating panel (not seen) located on or in an elevator car panel 2b, which has a detachable panel 4 attached over it. The car wall additionally has decorative panels 3 affixed to it. This view demonstrates an issue that arises with this arrangement of decorative panels, as indicated within the circle 30. The opening of the elevator car panel 2b is restricted due to the detachable panel 4 contacting with the adjacent decorative panel 3 at the hinges of the elevator car panel 2b which is being opened. Thus it is beneficial for the detachable panel 4 to be detached before opening the elevator car panel 2b.

(11) Although this issue is explained in the context of a car operating panel, it is of course equally relevant in the case of any elevator panel which is hinged for opening and on which a decorative panel is to be affixed. The present disclosure presents a solution which allows a decorative panel to be removable from an elevator panel but also to be fixed neatly in position, without any gaps which are unsightly and which would allow anyone to remove the panel and could therefore present a vandalism risk.

(12) In order to resolve this issue, the detachable panel 4 includes one or more magnetic elements 6, as shown in FIG. 2. The elevator car panel 2b, on which the car operating panel 2a is present, comprises a ferromagnetic material, so that the force of the magnetic elements 6 provides a magnetic attraction force which is sufficiently strong to hold the detachable panel 4 against the elevator car panel 2b. The detachable panel 4 is sized to fit exactly over the elevator car panel 2b, and to make visible the car operating panel 2a, or a section of it, as desired, e.g. through the cut-out 5 (as previously described). In position the detachable panel 4 therefore does not have any gaps around the edges, and sits neatly flush against the car operating panel 2a and the adjacent decorative panels 3. A maintenance person is not therefore able to easily insert their hands or a tool behind the detachable panel 4, in order to remove it so that the elevator car panel 2b may be opened. This does create a better visual effect to a passenger and reduces the risk of a passenger being able to tamper with the detachable panel 4.

(13) In order to allow the detachable panel 4 to be separated from the elevator car panel 2b, a separation member is provided, which could, for example, be a screw. The action of this separation member is described in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

(14) FIG. 4 shows a part of the detachable panel 4 of FIG. 2 in more detail. Two of the four magnetic elements 6 are shown, as is the cut-out 5. The detachable panel 4 also includes a recessed portion 8, in which some material of the detachable panel is removed to form a recess which is sized so as to accommodate a separation member. The depth of the recessed portion 8 is smaller than the total thickness of the detachable panel 4, so that the recessed portion 8 is not visible on the outer surface of the detachable panel 4. However, within the recessed portion 8, there is formed a through hole 9. The through hole 9 has a smaller surface area than the recessed portion, and does pass through the whole thickness of the detachable panel 4.

(15) The magnetic elements 6 are arranged towards the corners of the detachable panel 4. The recessed portion 8, and the through hole 9 within the recessed portion 8, are located close to one of the magnets. This provides the advantage that the separation force produced by the separation member is applied close to the magnetic force which is holding the detachable panel 4 against the underlying elevator car panel 2b. This allows the force provided by the separation member more effectively separate the detachable panel 4 from the elevator car panel 2b of the elevator car.

(16) Moreover, the recessed portion 8 and the through hole 9 are located close to one edge of the detachable panel 4. This allows the separation member, which pushes on the recessed portion 8, to lift the very edge of the detachable panel 4. This is particularly advantageous as lifting the detachable panel 4 close to the edge creates a separation at the edge of the detachable panel 4, into which a maintenance person can insert a tool, or their fingertips, in order to apply a force and thereby separate the detachable panel 4 from the elevator car panel 2b.

(17) FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the detachable panel 4, held in position by magnets (not shown) against the elevator car panel 2b. The separation member comprises a head portion 7a, which fits neatly into the recessed portion 8, allowing the detachable panel 4 to sit closely flush against the elevator car panel 2b of the elevator car.

(18) The separation member 7 additionally comprises a body portion 7b. If the separation member 7 is a screw, the body portion 7b comprises the screw thread. The body portion 7b of the separation member 7 is inserted into a second hole, referred to as the elevator car panel hole 10 formed in the elevator car panel 2b of the elevator car.

(19) FIG. 6 shows the detachable panel 4 after its back surface 12a has been separated from a front surface 12b of the elevator car panel 2b of the elevator car by the action of the separation member 7. In order to separate the panels, a screwdriver, or similar appropriate tool, is inserted through the through hole 9 in the detachable panel 4. Through this through hole 9, the tool can access the head portion 7a of the separation member 7. In some examples the separation member 7 is a screw. In this case a screwdriver can be used to engage with the screw 7. The screwdriver is inserted into the thread on the head of the screw 7, and the screwdriver is turned in the appropriate direction, causing the separation member 7 to move in a direction out of the elevator car panel 2b, such that the body portion 7a is partially, or fully, removed from the elevator car panel hole 10, present in the elevator car panel 2b. In other examples, the separation member 7 is an expandable member 7 which is engaged by an appropriate tool, so as to apply a force against the back surface of the detachable panel 4. In this case a tool other than a screwdriver could be used. For example the separation member 7 could be a latched spring and a small tool, for example a pin, could be inserted through the through hole 9 and used to disengage a latch, causing the spring to expand, and push on the detachable panel 4.

(20) When a tool engages with the separation member 7, this causes the head portion 7a of the separation member 7 to push on the detachable panel 4, specifically on the recessed portion 8 in which the head portion 7a is located, pushing the panels apart and creating a separation between them. It is then possible for a maintenance person to insert an appropriate tool between the detachable panel 4 and the adjacent panels 3, and to apply sufficient force to overcome the magnetic attraction of the magnets to the elevator car panel 2b, and to separate the detachable panel 4 from the elevator car panel 2b. The tool can be any suitable tool able to separate the detachable panel 4 from the elevator car panel 2b. It could for example be a screwdriver, or a crowbar, or alternatively a maintenance person could insert their fingertips into the separation and apply the separation force manually. The maintenance person is thus able to remove the detachable panel 4 from the elevator car panel 2b, and is then able to freely open the elevator car panel 2b as required, without the detachable panel 4 causing any restriction.

(21) It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the disclosure has been illustrated by describing one or more specific aspects thereof, but is not limited to these aspects; many variations and modifications are possible, within the scope of the accompanying claims.