Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1144508
This invention relates to escalators. In particular,
this invention relates to a demarkation strip for the side
edges of escalator steps. L
PRIOR ART
In escalators, it is necessary to provide a clearance
gap between the side edges of the escalator steps and the
skirts which define the side edges of the escalat~r path.
Portions of footwear, particularly rubber footwear, do, from
time to time, become lodged in the gap formed between the
side edges of the step and the skirt and injuries have
resulted from this problem . Despite the fact that this
problem has existed for many years, no satisfactory solution
to the problem has been offered.
I have found that by inserting a demarkation rail
on the outermost tread grooves of each step, this problem is
largely alleviated by the fact that the demarkation rail
alerts the passengers both visually and physically when their
footwear is resting in this hazardous area.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention,
a demarkation strip for an escalator step having front-to-back
tread grooves formed therein comprises an elongated body of
extruded plastics material having, in cross-section, a leg
proportioned to provide an interference fit within said ~read f
grooves and a head portion extending across an upper end of the
.;,
leg to form shoulders at opposite sides of the leg arranged to
support the strip on a step with the leg located within a
tread groove, said head portion having oppositely disposed side
edges at opposite sides of the leg and an upper face extending
between said side edges, at least a portion of said upper
face being angularly inclined upwardly and inwardly from a
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4S08
first of said side edges of said head portion, said body
having a front end and a back end, said head portion having
a front face and back face at the front and back ends of the
body, respectively, said front face being forwardly and
upwardly inclined and said back face being rearwardly and
upwardly inclined by the front and back faces of successive
demarkation rails may overlie and nest with one another in
use along a substantially flat run of an escalator.
Accordingly to a further aspect of the present
invention, there is provided an escalator assembly which
comprises an endless step assembly having a plurality of steps
each having oppositely disposed side edges, each step having
front-to-back tread groovrs formed therein which include
outermost grooves adjacent each side edge, oppositely
disposed skirts extending along a length of escalator run in
a spaced relationship with the side edges of each step, a pair
of longitudinally elongated rails each having a longitudinally
elongated leg portion and a longitudinally elongated head
portion arranged in a generally T-shaped configuration in
which the leg portion depends from the head portion, said
rails being located one at each side edge of each step with
its leg portion disposed within one of said outermost grooves
and one edge of the head portion extending to the adjacent
side edge of the step, said head portion having a sufficient
height to elevate an edge of an item of footwear resting
thereon in use to an appreciable extent whereby to alert the
wearer to the prox1mity of the side edge of the step.
The invention will be more clearly understood after
reference to the following detailed specification read in
conjunction with the drawings wherein:
1:~44~iV8
Figure 1 is an end view of a demarkation strip
constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present
nventlon;
Figure 2 is a side view of the strip of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a pictorial illustration of a portion
of an escalator run;
Figure 4 is an end view of a portion of an escalator
illustrating the manner in which the demarkation strip is
mounted and its effect;
Figure 5 is a side view of an escalator run
illustrating the manner in which the demarkation strips are
mounted and
Figure 6 is an end view of a portion of an escalator
run in which the step portions are substantially horizontally
oriented.
With reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings,
, reference numeral 10 refers generally to a demarkation strip
constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention. The strip 10 consists of an extruded body of plastics
material, such as
The body 10 has a leg portion 12 and a head portion 14
which are integrally formed and which provide a generally
T-shaped cross-section. The head portion 14 hasoppositely
disposed side edges 16 and 18 and upper face panels 20 and
22 of which the panel 22 is angularly inclined upwardly from
the side edge 16. The thickness T of the head portion is,
preferably, about 1/4 inch and the width W of the upper panel
20 is, preferably, about 1/4 inch and the angle of inclination
~ of the upper face 22 is, preferably, about 45. These
proportions are selected to ensure that the head portion of
the demarkation step is sufficiently large to be readily
detected when tread upon in use as will be described hereinafter.
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The head portion 14 has a back face 24 which is
upwardly and inwardly inclined and a front face 26 which is
upwardly and outwardly inclined to provide nesting faces
with successive escalator demarkation strips as will be
described hereafter. ~he front and back faces 24 and 26 are
inclined at an angle ~ 1 which is, preferably, about 45
so as to be readily nestable.
Because the head portion 14 is not symmetrical with
respect to the leg portion 12, right and left-hand strips
are provided for use in association with the right and left-hand
edges of the escalator.
The leg portion 12 has a thickness W proportioned to
fit in an interference fit within the outermost tread grooves
32 of a conventional escalator step 30. The upper step in
Figure 3 shows the grooves 32 prior to mounting of the strip
10 which is shown as being mounted in the outermost grooves of
the lower step 30. It will, however, be understood that strips
10 are mounted one at each edge of each escalator step such
that, as shown in Figure 4, the leg portion 12 fits in the
, 20 outermost groove 32 and the side edge 18 is disposed substantially
in alignment with the outer side edge 36 of the outer tread of
the escalator step. It will be noted that, while a gap 38
remains between the outer side edge 36 of the rail and the
skirt 40, the sole 42 of an item of footwear, such as a shoe 40,
will be elevated along one edge to an appreciable extent so
that the wearer will be alerted to the proximity of the
edge of the step and will be subjected to some minor discomfort
and, thereby, encouraged to re-position the foot away from the
; side edge of the escalator run.
As shown in Figure 6, the gap 50 formed between the
oppositely disposed end faces 24 and 26 of successive demarkation
strips is minimized by reason of the mating angular inclination
of faces 24 and 26.
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In order to enhance the visual significance of the
demarkation strip, the strips are, preferably, formed from
a brightly coloured material, such as a bright yellow or the
like.
From the foregoing, it will be apparent that
demarkation strips of the present invention may readily be
secured to existing escalator steps so as to provide clear
demarkation of the side edges of the escalator steps.
From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the
present invention provides a simple and inexpensive demarkation
strip which provides for the effective demarkation of the
side edges of esca]ator steps without requiring substantial
expenditures in manufacture and installation costs. The
; strips can readily be removed and replaced when worn.
Because the strips have a substantial height, they provide a
physical demarkation as well as a visual demarkation of the
side edges of the escalator step in use.
These and other advantagés of the present invention
will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
