Handrail cleaning apparatus and method
OwnerOri Rosenbauminventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The disclosed preferred embodiment of the handrail cleaning device comprises a flexible bar which uses spring resilience force to press one or more reusable or disposable cleaning pads against the moving handrail of an escalator. The apparatus provides a lightweight, low cost apparatus that is simple to set-up and use and requires no external power. Additionally, the device is capable of cleaning and treating the handrails of common escalators during operation of the escalator. The device utilizes the motion of the escalator to perform the cleaning action. The simplicity of the device allows for multiple devices to be used simultaneously by a single operator.
Claims24
A device for cleaning a handrail at an exit newel of an escalator and a travelator during operation of the escalator and the travelator comprising:
- a spring arm;
- one or more cleaning pads;
- wherein the one or more cleaning pads are removably affixed to the spring arm, wherein the cleaning pads are deformable and shaped to firmly mate with a rubber portion of the handrail, wherein the spring arm has a flat portion which is placed on the floor adjacent the exit newel, wherein the spring arm maintains pressure on the one or more cleaning pads against the handrail during operation of the escalator and the travelator.
A method for cleaning an escalator and a travelator handrail comprising:
- providing a cleaning apparatus to an escalator hand rail comprising:
- a spring arm;
- one or more cleaning pads;
- wherein the one or more cleaning pads are removably affixed to the spring arm, wherein the cleaning pads are deformable and shaped to firmly mate with the rubber portion of the handrail, wherein the spring arm comprises at least a vertical positioning portion and a radial positioning portion;
- placing the cleaning apparatus in a position relative to the handrail at an exit newel of the escalator and the travelator that both of the vertical positioning portion and the radial positioning portion are in a flexed posture adjacent to the handrail such that the cleaning pads can be adjusted;
- adjusting the cleaning pads for optimal fit on the handrail;
- placing the cleaning pads into position on the moving handrail;
- and
- releasing flexure on the spring arm such that resiliency of the spring arm is transmitted to the cleaning pad assemblies to have cleaning pressure on the handrail.
An escalator and a travelator cleaning apparatus that has a self-adjustable spring arm operable to enable at least one cleaning pad to contact the handrail of the escalator and the travelator that have different constructions of the exit newel as the handrail curves from its upward facing position around a curved reversing portion comprising:
- a spring arm of a single continuous length made of a flexible resilient material having;
- a floor resting length which is substantially flat adapted to be oriented on a floor adjacent to the handrail to be cleaned and having a length extending away from the handrail to a distal end;
- a vertical position adjusting curve merging at the distal end of the floor resting length and curved to a substantially opposite direction where it merges to a vertical adjusting arm which is adapted to extend toward the handrail to a proximal end the proximal end having allowed vertical movement substantially by flexing of the vertical position adjusting curve and a radial adjusting curve merging from the proximal end of the vertical adjusting arm and an upper arm defining a merging from the radial adjusting curve and extending distally upwardly to a distal termination and the upper arm having at least one mounting position for mounting a cleaning pad and a cleaning pad mounted on the at least one mounting position;
- whereby flexing of the spring arm by a downward force at the distal termination provides flexing of both the vertical adjusting curve and the radial adjusting curve such that the upper arm will self-adjust upon release of the downward force to bring the cleaning pad into cleaning position at the handrail.
A method of cleaning the moving handrail of an escalator and a travelator wherein the handrail moves at an exit newel from a substantially upward facing position around a curve to a substantially downward facing position comprising:
- providing a handrail cleaning device comprising:
- a spring arm of a single continuous length made of a flexible resilient material having;
- a floor plate length which is substantially flat adapted to be oriented on a floor adjacent to the handrail to be cleaned and having a length extending away from the handrail to a distal end;
- a vertical position adjusting curve commencing at the distal end of the floor resting length and curved to a substantially opposite direction where it is attached to a vertical adjusting arm which extends toward the handrail to a proximal end the proximal end allowed vertical movement substantially by flexing of the vertical position adjusting curve and a radial adjusting curve commencing at the proximal end of the vertical adjusting arm and an upper arm curving upwardly away from the handrail a selected degree of curvature to a distal termination the upper arm having at least one mounting position for mounting a cleaning pad;
- a cleaning pad mounted on the at least one mounting position;
- placing the spring arm in a position relative to the handrail wherein flexing of the vertical adjusting curve and the radial adjusting curve results in the at least one handrail cleaning pad being in cleaning contact position to the handrail;
- maintaining the cleaning pad in the cleaning contact position as the handrail operates to pass by the cleaning pad to effect cleaning contact of the cleaning pad to the moving handrail.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.