US3809206A

US3809206A - Safety arrangement for escalator handrails and the like

Info

Publication number: US3809206A
Application number: US00251534A
Authority: US
Inventors: F Bredehorn; H Doge
Original assignee: RHEINSTAHL EGGERS KEHRHAHN
Current assignee: RHEINSTAHL EGGERS KEHRHAHN; Rheinstahl Eggers Kehrhahn dt GmbH
Priority date: 1972-04-27
Filing date: 1972-04-27
Publication date: 1974-05-07
Anticipated expiration: 1991-05-07

Abstract

A safety arrangement for escalators, moving sidewalks and the like includes a handrail cover defining an opening and including bounding parts movable between normal and released positions. An escalator handrail, or other movable component, moves through the opening into the handrail cover. The handrail defines with the bounding parts a clearance which, when the bounding parts are in their normal position, has a first cross-sectional area and constitutes a hazardous point of entry for fingers and hands. When the bounding parts are in their released position, the clearance between handrail and bounding parts has a larger second cross-sectional area facilitating the removal of finger or hands introduced into the clearance. The safety arrangement further includes a release arrangement positioned at the opening for normally preventing movement of the bounding parts to released position. The release arrangement is actuatable by a finger or hand introduced into the clearance for permitting movement of the bounding means to released position.

Description

Bredehorn et al.

[451 May 7,1974

[ SAFETY ARRANGEMENT FOR ESCALATOR HANDRAILS AND THE LIKE [75] Inventors: Friedrich Bredehorn, Hamburg;

Heinz Doge, Norderstedt, both of Germany [73] Assignee: Rheinstahl Eggers-Kehrhahn GmbH, Hamburg, Germany [22] Filed: Apr. 27, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 251,534

[52] US. Cl...... 198/16 R, 198/232 Primary Examiner-James B. Marbert Assistant Examiner-Joseph E. Valenza Attorney, Agent, or Firm- Michael S. Striker [57] 7 ABSTRACT A safety arrangement for escalators, moving sidewalks and the like includes a handrail cover defining an opening and including bounding parts movable between normal and released positions. An escalator handrail, or other movable component, moves through the opening into the handrail cover. The handrail defines with the bounding parts a clearance which, when the bounding parts are in their normal position, has a lnt. first cross-sectional area and constitutes a hazardous Field of sefll'ch 198/16, 232, 17, 18 point of entry for fingers and hands. When the bounding parts are in their released position, the clearance References Cited between handrail and bounding parts has a larger sec- UNITED STATES PATENTS ond cross-sectional area facilitating the removal of fin- 2,846,045 8/1958 Fowler 198/16 or hands introduced into the Clearance The Safety 3,670,862 6/1972 Kito 198/16 arrangement further includes a release arrangement positioned at the opening for normally preventing FOREl-GN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS movement of the bounding parts to released position. 1,169,629 l0/l960 Germany ..l 198/16 The release arrangement i actuatable b a finger or 718,701 ll/l954 Great Britain 198/232 I hand introduced into the Clearance for permitting movement of the bounding means to released position.

23 Claims, 4 Drawing; Figures i l 6 7 u [1i i l n i -\n I IT- h II :I is. l

l J 27 a 26 H a T: '1 I6 I F l l I W i f1 T i I' l 1 51 L: :4 ll ll 31 T, T 19 32 I 33 :l I F .4 l

SHEEI 1 BF 2 PATENTEDHAY 7 1914 Fly.

msmenm 1 914 3309206 SHEET 2 OF 2 1 SAFETY son ESCALATOR HANDRAILSANDTHE LIKE BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to escalators, moving sidewalks and the like, and particularly to the hazard presented by the moving components of such arrangemerits.

In a broad manner, the invention also relates to the general problem of mechanical arrangements having moving components and clearances surrounding moving componentsand con's'titutinghazardous points of entry for fingers and hands.

Still more particularly, the invention relates to the particular problems posed by the moving handrails of escalators and the like, particularly at the point of entry 1 Such prior-art constructions-are possessed of very significant disadvantages. In the first place, the presof the moving handrail into the handrail cover arrangement preliminary to its return" r'un within or below the sidewalls of the escalator.

The movinghandrails of escalators andthelike present an especially serious hazard in the ease of young children,- who frequently rest. their hands on the moving handrail in a playfulmanner. Often, children do not remove'their hands from the raileven after having alit from the moving steps of the'escalator, and instead permit their hands to rest on the moving handrail right up to the point where thernovinghandrail disappears into the handrail cover arrangement'for' its return run,

This can be exceedingly dangerous, because there inevitably exists between thehandrail and the bounding portions of the opening in the handrail cover a certain clearance which, although small, is usually large enough to receive the very small fingers of a small child. The existence of the clearance is for thejmost part unavoidable, in the first placebecause of ordinary manufacturing tolerances, and in the second place because of the need for a certain amount of expansion space to account for thermalexpansion of the crosssectional area of the handrail. Moreover, even if the clearance is only ,so large as to just permit entry of a child's finger, the action of the moving handrail itself can serve to drivethe finger deeper into the clearance and wedge it there. This hazardous situation is.clearly intolerable.

Attempts have been made to overcome these serious shortcomings of escalator handrail arrangements, and the like. Most of the prior-art constructions make use of an electrical switch actuatable by a finger or hand introduced into the clearance surrounding the handrail.

and adapted to shut off the escalator drive motor. In one known constructiomthe housingor cover arrangement for the handrail, at Born the points of emergence and disappearance of the handrail, comprises elastically yieldable handrail cover portions, near the rim of the opening through which the handrail passes. Electrical circuit breakers are mounted directly behind the yieldable handrail housing portions and are activated by a finger or hand introduced into the clearance sur rounding the handrail. Provision of the somewhat elastically yieldable portions is intended to lesses the wedging of an introduced finger deeper into the clearance under the action of the moving handrail, and is also intended to somewhat facilitate the withdrawal of the wedged finger after the motion of the handrail has stopped following activation of the circuit breaker.

ence of the circuit breaker for the drive motor presents a temptation for vandals and mischievious children, it

being possible to interrupt movement of the escalator,

or the like, by introducing into the clearance surrounding the handrail a knife, comb, stick or other such ob ject.

A second disadvantage of the prior-art constructions is that the mere provision of a circuit-breaker arrangement does not adequately prevent the occurrence of severe injuries. The mass of a chain of escalator steps, particularly when fully loaded, is very great. Thus, even when the drive motor is positively braked in response to introduction of a finger into the handrail clearance, the inertia of the moving arrangement will be considerable. Accordingly, whereas the stopping of the escalator steps and handrail may follow very quickly, it will in general not occur quickly enough to prevent wedging to some small extent of a finger or hand into the handrail clearance. It hardly need be explained that even limited wedging, due to finite braking time, can be sufficient to result in breaking of fingers, or at the very least will result in difficult and painful withdrawal of the wedged fingers, and thereby in a frightening experience.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly the generaly object of the presentinvention to overcome the above-outlined shortcomings of the prior-art constructions.

It is a more particular object to provide a novel safety arrangement for escalator handrails, and the like, which overcomes these shortcomings.

'It is still another object to provide a safety arrangement which to the greatest possible extent prevents this possibility of damage to fingers or hands introduced into the clearance surrounding the escalator handrail at the point where the handrail disappears into the handrail cover arrangement for its return run.

It is another object to provide a safety arrangement whose design forestalls to the greatest possible extent actuation by vandals and mischievious persons.

It is a related object to provide a safety arrangement which is difficult to actuate except by the actual introduction into the clearance adjacent the handrail of objects having the general dimensions of fingers and an orientation relative to the handrail similar to that of fingers resting upon the escalator handrail.

It is an additional object to provide a safety arrangement including motor control means for the drive motor of the escalator, or the like, and actuatable by the introduction of a finger or fingers into the clearance adjoining the escalator handrail.

It is a further object to provide a safety arrangement wherein the cross-sectional area of the clearance adjacent the moving handrail is quickly and substantially increased upon introduction into the clearance of a finger or fingers, the increased cross-sectional area facilitating quick removal of the fingers.

It is still another object to provide a safety arrangement employing few and simple parts.

It is yet another object to provide a safety arrangement which is inconspicuous except when actuated by the introduction of a finger or fingers into the clearance adjoining the escalator handrail, or the like.

These and other objects of the invention are met by a safety arrangement comprising cover means defining an opening and including bounding means movable between normal and released positions. The opening may, for example, be the opening into which an escalator handrail disappears for its return run. The construction furthermore includes a component movable through the opening into the cover means and defining with the bounding means a clearance. The movable component may be the escalator handrail, for example, and the clearance may be the hazardous clearance adjoining the handrail at the point along its travel where the handrail disappears for its return run. The clearance has a first cross-sectional area when the bounding means is in normal position. The clearance has a larger second cross-sectional area when the bounding means is moved to its released position, in this way facilitating the withdrawal of fingers or hands caught in the clearance and/or wedged by the moving component against the bounding means or cover means. Finally, the safey arrangement includes release means positioned at the opening and normally preventing movement of the bounding means to its released position. The release means is actuatable by a finger or hand introduced into the clearance for permitting movement of the bounding means to its released position.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bounding means has the form of a pair of mirror-symmetrical pivotable flaps located, for example, at the opening into which'the escalator handrail disappears for its return run, and blending inconspecuously, when in normal position, with the surrounding structure of the handrail cover means. According to the illustrated embodiment, the pivotable flaps and handrail define a clearance, and release means is provided immediately behind and downstream of the clearance. The introduction of a hand into the clearance actuates the release means, permitting pivotal movement of the bounding flaps in a sense greatly increasing the size of the clearance. The large increase in the size of the clearance on the one hand permits easy withdrawal of a finger or hand inadvertently introduced therein and, furthermore, greatly reduces the possibility of a finger or hand becoming wedged in the clearance subsequent to its introduction thereinto. In the illustrated embodiment, the release means is furthermore connected with motor control means, causing motor stoppage, or another suitable form of motor control appropriate for the circumstances, subsequent to activation by fingers I or hands.

According to the illustrated embodiment, the clearthe position and orientation of the release means relative to the clearance, and relative to other components, are so selected as to make difficult the actuation of the release means except by the actual introduction of fingers into the clearance. According to the illustrated embodiment, this is accomplished mechanically by creating a limited actuation zone configurated and dimensioned to correspond to the size and orientation of fingers actually resting on the escalator handrail and inadvertently introduced into the clearance, and furthermore configurated and dimensioned to positively prevent actuation by objects having certain dimensions and orientations which would not be characteristic of fingers and hands introduced into the clearance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a front view of part of an escalator showing in cross section an escalator handrail entering the handrail cover arrangement for its return trip, together with a safety arrangement according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional top view, taken along line II-II of FIG. 1 of the safety arrangement of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the arrangement of FIG. I, seen from within the handrail cover arrangement; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view, taken along line IV--IV in FIG. 1, through the components forming the safety arrangement of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a front, or external, view of the handrail cover arrangement of an escalator, moving sidewalk, or the like. The handrest surface portion of handrail 1 will of course be accessible to passengers along the length of the escalator, between the points of embarkation and disembarkation. Past the point of disembarkation, the handrail turns downwardly and disappears into the handrail cover arrangement 2 with an up-side-down orientation. This is the orientation shown in FIG. 1. Presumably, the hands of passengers will have been lifted off the handrest surface upon or soon after reaching the point of disembarkation. Young children, however, frequently continue to rest their hands upon the handrest surface of the handrail, right until their hands reach the point at which the handrail disappears into the handrail cover portion 2.

The handrail cover portion 2 includes bounding means 3, 4 bounding at least a portion of the opening 'through which the handrail 1 enters the handrail cover portion. The bounding means, in the illustrated embodiment, comprise hinged, L-shaped

flaps

3, 4 mirror-symmetrically disposed at the mouth of the cover means opening and respectively pivotable about spaced pivot axes. The bounding means includes the

hingers

6, 7 for the bounding flaps 3, 4 as well as the portions of cover arrangement 2 located (as seen in FIG. 1) just below the L-shaped

flaps

3, 4. It is the general concept of the illustrated arrangement that, when a finger or fingers are introduced into the clearance between the handrail 1 and bounding

flaps

3, 4, the flaps will be permitted to pivotably yield in direction of handrail movement, greatly enlarging the space between the handrail and cover arrangement, and facilitating removal of fingers or hands caught in the clearance.

Located immediately downstream of first bounding flaps 3, 4 is a pair of pivotable L-shaped second flaps 11, 12 substantially parallel to the

first flaps

3, 4. Flaps ll, 12 pivot about the same axes as

flaps

3, 4, and have approximately the same dimensions. Each of the flap pairs 3, 4 and 1 l, 12 defines a C-shaped rim, and each flap pair is provided along such rim with a pair of J- shaped

rim members

14, 16, which advantageously may be upholstered, or in other manner adapted to provide a somewhat cushioned edge region. It is important to note that, whereas the

flaps

3, 4 and ll, 12 have approximately the samedimensions, the C-shaped gaps which they respectively define with handrail l are of different widths. The C-shaped gap between

flap pair

3, 4 and handrail 1 has a width b somewhat greater than one fingerbreadth (l fingerbreadth 34 inch). In contrast, the C-shaped gap between

flap pair

11, 12 and handrail 1 has a width a somewhat less than one fingerbreadth. The reason for these dimensions will become apparent below.

Flap pair

11, 12 constitutes part of the release means of this embodiment. Specifically, and as will be explained, flaps 3, 4 are released, permitting pivotal movement thereof in direction of handrail movement, only when one or both of

flaps

11, 12 are first pushed in direction of handrail movement. Accordingly, flaps ll, 12 form part of actuating means for the release means. Flaps ll, 12 permit and prevent movement of

flaps

3, 4 to released position indirectly, by means of intermediate activating means 18. Means 18 comprises a flat horizontal portion of generally rectangular configuration identified by numeral 30, seen from above in FIG. 2, and seen from theside in FIG. 4. At each end of flat portion 30 is provided a hole through which passes a bolt 32 (see FIG. 1). Each of bolts 32 also passes through the flat horizontal portion of a U-shaped profile member 31 which is welded or in other suitable manner connected 'to the interior wall surface of cover arrangement 2. Thus, the flat horizontal portion 30 of activating means 18 derives support from the actual cover arrangement 2, via profile'member 31 and bolts 32.

In the illustrated embodiment,activating means 18 is vertically movable along a path defined by bolts 32, but is biased by springs 19 to an upper extreme position limited by the provision on bolts 32 of nuts 34.

Activating means 18 further includes an upwardly extending flat detent member 23 of generally pentagonal configuration. The upper peak of detent member 23, as best seen in FIG. 3, extends into the path of pivotal movement of

flaps

3, 4 and thereby normally prevents such pivotal movement.

Activating means 18 further includes two inclined members 24 having sloped upper edges. As best seen in FIG. 4, in normal condition of the illustrated safety arrangement, the lower edges of

flaps

11, 12 will rest upon the'upper inclined edges of members 24. If fingers are introduced into the clearance between the flaps and the handrail l, and if a finger or fingers reaches and pushes back one or both of flaps l1 and 12, the pivoting movement of flaps 11 and/or 12 will enforce a downwards movement of the intermediate activating means 18..The immediate consequence of such downward movement of means 18 is that detent member 23 thereof will move to its releasing position and be withdrawn downwardly out of the path of pivoting movement of

flaps

3 and 4, and thereby effect the release of such flaps. As a further consequence of the downward movement of activating means 18, the projecting member 21 thereon will be forced to press down upon microswitch 22 of motor control means 17, causing the escalator motor to stop.

- the handrail, then clearly the release of

pivotable flaps

3 and 4 will permit continued penetration of the fingers or hand deeper into the clearance. The pivotal movement of

flaps

3, 4 in direction of the slowing-down handrail counteracts the wedging effect, in that the flaps do not offer the resistance necessary to wedge the fingers or hand, and instead simply yield away. Moreover, at the same time as

flaps

3, 4 yield in direction of handrail movement, they will also separate, producing a greatly enlarged clearance facilitating the quick withdraw] of the fingers or hand.

Assuming, now, that after release of the

flaps

3, 4 the hand has been withdrawn, the recovery action is quick and simple. A finger no longer pressing against the inner flaps ll, 12, there will be no downwards force on intermediate activating means 18 to resist the upward biasing force of biasing springs 19', and accordingly activating means 18 will be pushed upwards by springs 19. The upward movement of means, 18 enforces a return movement of

flaps

11, 12, by virtue of the forcetransmitting relationship between the sloped upper edges of members 24 and the lower edges of

flaps

11, 12. As flaps 11, 12 return to their normal position, they force a return movement of

flaps

3, 4 by virtue of spacing screws 13 (see FIG. 2). Shortly after

flaps

3, 4 are restored to normal position, detent member 23 on upwardly moving activating member 18 will move into the path of pivotal movement of

flaps

3, 4, and thereby again prevent movement of the

flaps

3, 4 to released position thereof.

Although not explicitly illustrated, it is very advantageous to provide biasing means for flap pairs 3, 4 and 11, 12 which tend always to return these flaps to normal position. By use of such biasing means, the return of the safety arrangement to normal condition will occur in speedier and more decisive fashion.

In the illustrated construction, the normal position of activating means 18 is adjustable by means of bolts 32 and nuts 34. Such adjustment enables activation of control means 17 and permits release of

flaps

3, 4 in re sponse to different predetermined amounts of pivotal movement of actuating flaps 11, 12.

It is'an important feature of the illustrated construction that the

flaps

3, 4 and 11, 12 in cooperation with intermediate activating means 18,. define a preselected limited actuation zone. In the illustrated construction, such limited actuation zone is established by suitable selection of the widths b and a of the respective gaps between handrail land flap pairs 3, 4 and 11, 12. Predetermined gap distance b must necessarily be somewhat larger than a fingerbreadth, in order to permit a finger inadvertently entering the clearance to penetrate Likewise, the second gap width of the C-shaped gap between handrail 1 and flaps 1 1, 12 is of importance in establishing the limited actuation zone. It is very advantageous for the second distance a to be less than predetermined first distance b. If the width a were greater than a fingerbreadth, then a finger resting on the handrail 1 would pass through the gap between the handrail and

actuatingflaps

11, 12, and would accordingly not push

actuatingflaps

11, 12 back.-In this way, a hand wedged in the gap between handrail l and flaps 3, 4 would stay wedged and not be released by a release movement of

flaps

3, 4. Likewise, the fingers of the wedged hand, once past the actuating flaps ll, 12, would be unable to push those flaps back, and a release could in no way occur. Clearly, therefore, the width a must be at least somewhat less than a fingerbreadth.

At the same time, however, the width a is advantageously considerably greater than zero, because the gap between actuating flaps ll, 12 and handrail 1 constitutes a zone of no actuation. Accordingly, a knife, comb or stick inserted into the gap between handrail l and flaps 3, 4 will not thereafter effect escalator halting if the knife or stick subsequently enters the gap between handrail and flaps ll, 12. Thus, the non-zero gap width a very substantially reduces the activation zone behind the

flaps

3, 4 with respect to inserted objects in general, without, however, reducing the useful activation zone with respect to objects having the dimensions and orientation of fingers in adverently introduced into the gap between handrail l and .

flaps

3, 4. Specifically, the activation zone will, in the illustrated construction, constitute a clearanceof C-shaped crosssection having a thickness a-b "711 inch. It will be appreciated that knives and the like introduced into the handrail clearance will not cause escalator halting unless accurately aimed, and that moreover a poorly aimed knife or the like, having entered the gap between handrail l and flaps 11, 12 cannot thereafter actuate the release means by mere lateral deflection with respect to flaps l 1, 12, because

flaps

11, 12 can depress activating means 18 only when they are pushed back in direction of handrail movement.

The illustrated embodiment should be considered as merely exemplary, inasmuch as very many rather substantial changes may be made without departing from the broad concept of the invention.

Thus, whereas

flaps

3, 4 and ll, 12 have been illustrated as swingable about pivot axes transverse to the handrest surface portion of handrail 1, they could equally well be swingable about horizontal pivot axes. Likewise, whereas the

flaps

3, 4 and 11, 12 have been shown as pairs of mirror-symmetrical flaps, disposition in twos is of course by no means absolutely necessary, although at present considered particularly advantageous.

Likewise, in the illustrated embodiment the invention has been applied to the handrail arrangement of an escalator or moving sidewalk. However, it is'by no means limited to such narrow application. The invention is equally applicable, for instance, to the sliding doors of elevators, conveyors in general, and indeed to any mechanical arrangement including a movable component adjoined by a clearance constituting a hazardous point of entry for fingers and hands.

Moreover, in the illustrated embodiment the motor control action effected by the introduction into the handrail clearance is simple escalator halting. However, other modes of motor control are of course possible, including for example reversing and slowing-down, as well as others which will be appropriate and suggest themselves for various other specific applications.

It is most of all to be emphasized that a main concept of the invention is that of providing a limited actuation zone downstream of the bounding flaps 3, 4. Whereas such zone, in the illustrated embodiment, is defined by mechanical actuators and blocking means, the invention is not limited in scope to such mechanical expedients. For example, the invention comprehends the provision of photoelectric actuating means so disposed as to define a limited actuation zone analogous to that established by mechanical means in the illustrated embodiment. Alternatively, the invention comprehends the provision of thermoelectric actuating means directly responsive to the heat of an introduced finger or hand and again defining a limited actuation zone. The broad concept, according to the invention, of a limited actuation zone is therefore to be understood as being capable of realization in any suitable manner and by means of any suitable transducer action.

Finally, it is to be emphasized that the invention need not be limited to the provision of pivotable flaps. The

external bounding means 3, 4 could equally well consist of laterally slidable members which, for example, could be slidable, when released, in direction away from the handrail 1, and in that manner effecting an enlargement of the clearance between handrail and bounding means.

Also, the illustrated construction makes use of manually displaceable components. However, it is likewise possible to make some of the illustrated components, or their equivalents, automatically operative. For instance the bounding means need not simply be released by the withdrawal of the detent means 23; it could be positively displaced by motor action. Likewise, instead of being pushed back by an introduced hand, the

flaps

3, 4 or their equivalents, could be made to fling back under the force of biasing springs, etc.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a safety arrangement for the handrails of escalators, moving sidewalks and the like, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that othersrcan by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:

1. Safety arrangement for escalators, moving sidewalks, and the like, comprising cover means defining an opening and including bounding means movable between normal and released positions; a component movable through said opening into said cover, means and defining with said bounding means a clearance which, when said bounding'r'neans is in said normal position, has a first crosssectional area and constitutes a hazardous point of entry for fingers and hands and which, when said bounding means is in said released position, has a larger second cross-sectional area facilitating the removal of fingers or hands introduced into said clearance; and release means positioned at said opening for normally preventing movement of said bounding'means to said released position, and actuatable by a finger or hand introduced into said clearance for permitting movement of said bounding means to said released position, said release means comprising detent means movable into the path of saidbounding means.

2. Safety arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said release means includes actuating means displaceable by a finger or hand introduced into said clearance.

3. Safety arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said component is a handrail and whereintsaid cover means is a handrail cover means.

4. Safety arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said bounding means comprises flap means.

5. Safety arrangement for escalators, moving sidewalks, and the like, comprising cover means defining an opening and including bounding means comprising a pair of mirror-symmetrical flaps pivotable about spaced pivot axes and movable between normal and released positio ns, a component movable through said opening into said cover means and defining with said bounding means a clearance which, when said bounding means is in said normal position, has a first crosssectional area and constitutes a hazardous point of entry for fingers and hands and which when said bounding means is in said released position, has a larger second cross-sectional area facilitating the removal of fingers or hands introduced into said clearance; and release means positioned at said opening for normally preventing movement of said bounding means to said released position, and actuatable by a finger or hand introduced into said clearance for permitting movement of said bounding means to said released position.

6. Safety arrangement for escalators, moving sidewalks, and the like, comprising cover means defining an opening and including bounding means movable between normal and released positions; a component movable through said opening into said cover means and defining with said bounding means a clearance which, when said bounding means is insaid normal position, has a first cross-sectional area and constitutes a hazardous point of entry for fingers and hands and which, when said bounding means is in'said released position, has a larger second cross-sectional area facilitating the removal of fingers or hands introduced into said clearance; and release means positioned at said opening for normally preventing movement of said bounding means to said released position, and actuatable by a finger or hand introduced into said clearance for permitting movement of said bounding means to said released position, said release means comprising detent means movable into the path of said bounding means and actuating means operatively associated with said detent means and displaceable by a finger or hand introduced into said clearance.

7. Safety arrangement as defined in claim 6, wherein said actuating means and said detent means are connected in force-transmitting relationship. I

8. Safety arrangement as defined in claim 1, and further comprising motor control means operatively associated with said release means.

9.,Safety arrangementas defined in claim 8, wherein said motor control means comprises electrical switch means controlled bysaid release means.

10. Safety arrangement as defined in claim 8, wherein said release means is connected in forcetransmitting relationship with said switch means.

11. Safety arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said component is a handrail having a handrest surface portion, and wherein said bounding means comprises flap means pivotable about an axis normal to said handrest surface portion.

12. Safety arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said component is a handrail movable through said opening in a predetermined direction.

13. Safety arrangement as defined in claim 12, wherein said bounding means comprisesflap means pivotable about an axis transverse to said predetermined direction.

14. Safety arrangement as defined in claim '1, wherein said bounding means when in said normal position is spaced from said movable component a predetermined distance, and wherein said release means comprises actuating means downstream of said bounding means, and wherein the relative positions of said bounding means and actuating means define a preselected limited actuationzone, whereby to make difficult actuation of said release means except by objects having the general dimensions and orientation of fingers introduced into said clearance.

15. Safety arrangement as defined in claim 14, wherein said actuating means is spaced from said movable component a second distance less than said predetermined distance.

16. Safety arrangement as defined in claim 15, I

wherein the difference between said predetermined distance and said second distance is equal to substantially one fingerbreadth.

17. Safety arrangement as defined in claim 15,

wherein said second distance is less than one fingerbreadth.

18. Safety arrangement for escalators, moving sidewalks, and the like, comprising cover means defining an opening and including bounding means comprising first pivotable fiap means movable: between normal and released positions; a component movable through said opening into said cover means and defining with said bounding means a clearance which, when said bounding means is in said normal position, has a first crosssectional area and constitutes a hazardous point of entry for fingers and hands and which, when said bounding means is in said released position, has a larger second cross-sectional area facilitating the removal of fingers or hands introduced into said clearance; and release means positioned at said opening for normally preventing movement of said bounding means to said released position, and actuatable by a finger or hand introduced into said clearance for permitting movement of said bounding means to said released portion, said bounding means when in said normal position being spaced from said movable component a predetermined distance, and said release means comprising actuating means including second pivotable flap means located downstream of said bounding means, with said bounding means and said actuating means being so positioned relative to each other as to define a preselected limited actuation zone, whereby to make difficult actuation of said release means except by objects having the general dimensions and orientation of fingers introduced into said clearance.

19. Safety arrangement as defined in claim 18, wherein said first and second flap means comprise parallel first and second flaps 20. Safety arrangement for escalators, moving sidewalks, and the like, comprising cover means defining an opening and including bounding means comprising first pivotable flap means movable between normal and released positions; a component movable through said opening into said cover means and defining with said bounding means a clearance which, when said bounding means is in said normal position, has a first crosssectional area and constitutes a hazardous point of entry for fingers and hands and which, when said bounding means is in said released position, has a larger second cross-sectional area facilitating the removal of fingers or hands introduced into said clearance; and release means comprising second pivotable flap means positioned at said opening downstream of said first pivotable flap means and operative for normally preventing movement of said bounding means'to said released position, and actuatable by a finger or hand introduced into said clearance for permitting movement of said bounding means to said released position.

21. Safety arrangement as defined in claim 20, wherein said release means further comprises intermediate activating means operatively associated with said second flap means and with said motor control means for activating the latter, and having detent means for normally preventing pivotal movement of said first flap means and movable to a releasing position for permitting pivotal movement of said first flap means, and wherein pivotal movement of said second flap means causes activation of said motor control means by said intermediate activating means and causes simultaneous movement of said detent means to said releasing position thereof.

22. Safety arrangement as defined in claim 21, wherein said intermediate activating means is resiliently biased to a position deactivating said motor control means and preventing pivotal movement of said first flap means.

23. Safety arrangement as defined in claim 22, wherein said intermediate activating means is adjustable for effecting activating of said motor control means and for permitting pivotable movement of said first flap means in response to different amounts of pivotal movement of said second flap means.

Claims

1. Safety arrangement for escalators, moving sidewalks, and the like, comprising cover means defining an opening and including bounding means movable between normal and released positions; a component movable through said opening into said cover means and defining with said bounding means a clearance which, when said bounding means is in said normal position, has a first crosssectional area and constitutes a hazardous point of entry for fingers and hands and which, when said bounding means is in said released position, has a larger second cross-sectional area facilitating the removal of fingers or hands introduced into said clearance; and release means positioned at said opening for normally preventing movement of said bounding means to said released position, and actuatable by a finger or hand introduced into said clearance for permitting movement of said bounding means to said released position, said release means comprising detent means movable into the path of said bounding means.

3. Safety arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said component is a handrail and wherein said cover means is a handrail cover means.

5. Safety arrangement for escalators, moving sidewalks, and the like, comprising cover means defining an opening and including bounding means comprising a pair of mirror-symmetrical flaps pivotable about spaced pivot axes and movable between normal and released positions, a component movable through said opening into said cover means and defining with said bounding means a clearance which, when said bounding means is in said normal position, has a first cross-sectional area and constitutes a hazardous point of entry for fingers and hands and which when said bounding means is in said released position, has a larger second cross-sectional area facilitating the removal of fingers or hands introduced into said clearance; and release means positioned at said opening for normally preventing movement of said bounding means to said released position, and actuatable by a finger or hand introduced into said clearance for permitting movement of said bounding means to said released position.

6. Safety arrangement for escalators, moving sidewalks, and the like, comprising cover means defining an opening and including bounding means movable between normal and released positions; a component movable through said opening into said cover means and defining with said bounding means a clearance which, when said bounding means is in said normal position, has a first cross-sectional area and constitutes a hazardous point of entry for fingers and hands and which, when said bounding means is in said released position, has a larger second cross-sectional area facilitating the removal of fingers or hands introduced into said clearance; and release means positioned at said opening for normally preventing movement of said bounding means to said released position, and actuatable by a finger or hand introduced into said clearance for permitting movement of said bounding means to said released position, said release means comprising detent means movable into the path of said boundinG means and actuating means operatively associated with said detent means and displaceable by a finger or hand introduced into said clearance.

7. Safety arrangement as defined in claim 6, wherein said actuating means and said detent means are connected in force-transmitting relationship.

9. Safety arrangement as defined in claim 8, wherein said motor control means comprises electrical switch means controlled by said release means.

10. Safety arrangement as defined in claim 8, wherein said release means is connected in force-transmitting relationship with said switch means.

13. Safety arrangement as defined in claim 12, wherein said bounding means comprises flap means pivotable about an axis transverse to said predetermined direction.

14. Safety arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said bounding means when in said normal position is spaced from said movable component a predetermined distance, and wherein said release means comprises actuating means downstream of said bounding means, and wherein the relative positions of said bounding means and actuating means define a preselected limited actuation zone, whereby to make difficult actuation of said release means except by objects having the general dimensions and orientation of fingers introduced into said clearance.

16. Safety arrangement as defined in claim 15, wherein the difference between said predetermined distance and said second distance is equal to substantially one fingerbreadth.

17. Safety arrangement as defined in claim 15, wherein said second distance is less than one fingerbreadth.

18. Safety arrangement for escalators, moving sidewalks, and the like, comprising cover means defining an opening and including bounding means comprising first pivotable flap means movable between normal and released positions; a component movable through said opening into said cover means and defining with said bounding means a clearance which, when said bounding means is in said normal position, has a first cross-sectional area and constitutes a hazardous point of entry for fingers and hands and which, when said bounding means is in said released position, has a larger second cross-sectional area facilitating the removal of fingers or hands introduced into said clearance; and release means positioned at said opening for normally preventing movement of said bounding means to said released position, and actuatable by a finger or hand introduced into said clearance for permitting movement of said bounding means to said released portion, said bounding means when in said normal position being spaced from said movable component a predetermined distance, and said release means comprising actuating means including second pivotable flap means located downstream of said bounding means, with said bounding means and said actuating means being so positioned relative to each other as to define a preselected limited actuation zone, whereby to make difficult actuation of said release means except by objects having the general dimensions and orientation of fingers introduced into said clearance.

19. Safety arrangement as defined in claim 18, wherein said first and second flap means comprise parallel first and second flaps.

20. Safety arrangement for escalators, moving sidewalks, and the like, comprising cOver means defining an opening and including bounding means comprising first pivotable flap means movable between normal and released positions; a component movable through said opening into said cover means and defining with said bounding means a clearance which, when said bounding means is in said normal position, has a first cross-sectional area and constitutes a hazardous point of entry for fingers and hands and which, when said bounding means is in said released position, has a larger second cross-sectional area facilitating the removal of fingers or hands introduced into said clearance; and release means comprising second pivotable flap means positioned at said opening downstream of said first pivotable flap means and operative for normally preventing movement of said bounding means to said released position, and actuatable by a finger or hand introduced into said clearance for permitting movement of said bounding means to said released position.