US3842961A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable speed handrail
Assignee: Johns Hopkins University
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Filing: 1973-05-31
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Granted: 1974-10-22
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Expires: 1993-05-31
Abstract
Abstract A variable speed handrail comprising a continuous sleeve formed of a resilient material capable of bellows-like longitudinal expansion and contraction and being further resistant to buckling or compression due to radially-directed pressures. A variable pitch screw drive mechanism is utilized to impart differential velocities to the sleeve at points along the sleeve, the sleeve serving normally as a hand-grip for passengers being moved along a variable speed walkway to assure passenger stability during acceleration of the walkway from boarding to traveling velocity. The sleeve is fitted with spaced rib-like members which serve to expand and contract the sleeve at selected locations along the handrail in response to the pitch of the screw drive mechanism and synchronously with the variable speed motion of the associated walkway.
Inventors
- 👤 R Burson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 20:27
CPC Classifications
B; B66; B66B; B66B23/00; B66B23/22; B66B23/24; B66B23/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
A variable speed handrail comprising: a longitudinally deformable sleeve member having a surface for reception of the hands of users of the handrail and which surface is movable at differing speeds at various points thereon; means for deforming the sleeve member longitudinally of its length so as to cause selected spaced points on the aforesaid surface of the sleeve member to move at differing speeds; carriage members joined to the sleeve member at spaced points along its length, said carriage members being driven by the aforesaid means at differing speeds at predetermined positions along the sleeve member so as to deform said sleeve member longitudinally of its length, thereby causing spaced points on the surface of the sleeve member to move at differing speeds; and, chain means releasably connected to the carriage members for moving said carriage members along portions of the handrail, the chain means comprising a link chain having pivotable ratchet-like members connected to selected links of said chain, one each of the ratchet-like members engaging one each of the carriage members to provide releasable connection between the chain and the carriage members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
A variable speed handrail comprising: a longitudinally deformable sleeve member having a surface for reception of the hands of users of the handrail and which surface is movable at differing speeds at various points thereon; means for deforming the sleeve member longitudinally of its length so as to cause selected spaced points on the aforesaid surface of the sleeve member to move at differing speeds; carriage members joined to the sleeve member at spaced points along its length, said carriage members being driven by the aforesaid means at differing speeds at predetermined positions along the sleeve member so as to deform said sleeve member longitudinally of its length, thereby causing spaced points on the surface of the sleeve member to move at differing speeds; and, chain means releasably connected to the carriage members for moving said carriage members along portions of the handrail, the chain means comprising a link chain having pivotable ratchet-like members connected to selected links of said chain, one each of the ratchet-like members engaging one each of the carriage members to provide releasable connection between the chain and the carriage members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The variable speed handrail of calim 1 and further comprising spring means disposed internally of the sleeve member for resisting axial deformation of the sleeve member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The variable speed handrail of calim 1 and further comprising spring means disposed internally of the sleeve member for resisting axial deformation of the sleeve member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
The variable speed handrail of claim 1 wherein the sleeve member is comprised of a plurality of deformable sections which expand longitudinally to increase their proportional contributions to the total surface area of the sleeve member on acceleration of said sleeve member and contract longitudinally to decrease their proportional contributions to the total surface area of the sleeve member on deceleration of said sleeve member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The variable speed handrail of claim 1 and further comprising: spring means connecting adjacent carriage members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The variable speed handrail of claim 1 wherein the means for deforming the sleeve member comprise at least one variable pitch screw mechanism, the screw having a groove so pitched that the carriage members are driven by said mechanism at differing speeds along the length of said mechanism.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The variable speed handrail of claim 1 and further comprising: track means engageable with the carriage members and providing surfaces on which said carriage members are supported during movement thereof along the handrail.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The variable speed handrail of claim 6 wherein the track means and the sleeve member are formed in a continuous loop.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
The variable speed handrail of claim 1 wherein successive carriage members are closely spaced when loci on the surface of the sleeve member are traveling at a constant relatively low speed and are progressively separated to relatively greater spacings during acceleration of the loci on the surface of the sleeve member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The variable speed handrail of claim 1 and further comprising: a guideway member in which the chain means are disposed along portions of the handrail.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The variable speed handrail of claim 9 and further comprising: camming means on the guideway member for biasing the ratchet-like members to a horizontal position on disconnection of the ratchet-like members from the carriage members.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
122 words
A variable speed handrail comprising: a member having a surface for the reception of the hands of a user of the handrail; carriage means joined to the member at spaced points along its length; means for moving the carriage means and thus the member at differing speeds at various points of the handrail so as to cause spaced points on the surface of the member to move at differing speeds; and, chain means releasably connected to the carriage means for moving said carriage means along portions of the handrail, the chain means having pivotable ratchet-like members disposed at spaced points of the chain, the ratchet-like membErs engaging the carriage means to provide releasable connection between the chain means and the carriage means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
122 words
A variable speed handrail comprising: a member having a surface for the reception of the hands of a user of the handrail; carriage means joined to the member at spaced points along its length; means for moving the carriage means and thus the member at differing speeds at various points of the handrail so as to cause spaced points on the surface of the member to move at differing speeds; and, chain means releasably connected to the carriage means for moving said carriage means along portions of the handrail, the chain means having pivotable ratchet-like members disposed at spaced points of the chain, the ratchet-like membErs engaging the carriage means to provide releasable connection between the chain means and the carriage means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-21 | 1978-04-22 | 1978-10-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-21 | 1982-04-22 | 1982-10-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-21 | 1986-04-22 | 1986-10-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |