# US 10,766,744 B2 · Elevator arrangement and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,766,744 B2 - Document ID: US10766744B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/994,237 - Filed: 2018-05-31 - Published: 2018-12-13 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-06-09 - Assignees: Kone Corporation - Applicants: KONE Corporation - Inventors: Jori Hägg; Gabriel Ciuculescu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10766744B2 ## CPC - B66B 11/0005: {Constructional features of hoistways} - B66B 9/00: Kinds or types of lifts in, or associated with, buildings or other structures (characterised by control systems B66B1/00; apparatus for raising or lowering persons on stages of theatres A63J5/12) - B66B 19/00: Mining-hoist operation - E04G 3/24: specially adapted for particular parts of buildings or for buildings of particular shape, e.g. chimney stacks or pylons (E04G3/28 takes precedence; {E04G1/362, E04G3/305 take precedence; scaffolding usable on slipways and in dry docks B63C5/02}) - E04G 3/28: Mobile scaffolds; Scaffolds with mobile platforms {(movable inspection or maintenance platforms for bridges E01D19/106, lifting devices for movable platforms, e.g. on vehicles B66F11/04)} - E04G 5/14: Railings - E04G 21/32: Safety or protective measures for persons during the construction of buildings (relating to scaffolds E04G5/00; climbing tools, e.g. climbing irons for masts A63B27/00; ropes or belts for life saving A62B1/16, A62B35/00) - E04G 2003/286: {mobile vertically} - B66B: ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS ({apparatus for raising or lowering persons on theatrical stages or the like A63J5/12} ; funicular railbound systems with rigid ground-supported tracks and cable traction, e.g. cliff railways, B61B9/00; arrangements of ammunition handlers in vessels B63G3/00; hoists, lifts, or conveyors for loading or unloading in general B65G; braking or detent devices controlling normal movements of winding drums or barrels B66D; ship-lifting devices E02C; garages for many vehicles with mechanical means for lifting vehicles E04H6/12; hoists for feeding ammunition or projectiles to launching apparatus or to loading mechanisms F41A9/00) - E04G: SCAFFOLDING; FORMS; SHUTTERING; BUILDING IMPLEMENTS OR AIDS, OR THEIR USE; HANDLING BUILDING MATERIALS ON THE SITE; REPAIRING, BREAKING-UP OR OTHER WORK ON EXISTING BUILDINGS ## Abstract An elevator arrangement, in particular a construction time elevator arrangement, includes a hoistway; an elevator car mounted in the hoistway; and a vertically movable support structure in the hoistway for supporting the elevator car, the movable support structure being mounted above the elevator car in the hoistway. The vertically movable support structure includes a first working platform, having a planar working area, and a protective cover above the first working platform for protecting elevator components and/or people below it from falling objects. The protective cover covers most of the cross section of the hoistway. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An elevator arrangement, comprising: a hoistway; an elevator car mounted in the hoistway; and a vertically movable support structure in the hoistway for supporting the elevator car, the movable support structure being mounted above the elevator car in the hoistway, the vertically movable support structure comprising: a first working platform, having a planar working area; and a protective cover above the first working platform for protecting elevator components and/or people below the first working platform from falling objects, the protective cover covering most of the cross section of the hoistway, wherein the protective cover comprises one or more displaceable cover parts forming part of the periphery of the protective cover, the displaceable cover parts being displaceable for increasing free space beside the protective cover, for creating a gap between the protective cover and an adjacent side wall of the hoistway. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The elevator arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the hoistway has a first side wall, and a second side wall, the elevator car being mounted in the hoistway between the first side wall and the second side wall, a first gap being formed between the car and the first side wall, and a second gap being formed between the car and the second side wall, the protective cover extending over the first and second gap covering most of the cross sectional areas of the first and second gap. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The elevator arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the elevator comprises vertically oriented car guide rails for guiding the movement of the elevator car, said guide rails comprising a first guide rail extending through said first gap, and a second guide rail extending through said second gap. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The elevator arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the protective cover extends in width direction of the hoistway closer to the first side wall than the first guide rail, and closer to the second side wall than the second guide rail. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The elevator arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the protective cover comprises a first opening through which the first guide rail extends, and a second opening through which the second guide rail extends. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The elevator arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the protective cover extends between the first side wall and the first guide rail, covering at least part of the gap formed between the first side wall and the first guide rail, and/or between the second side wall and the second guide rail, covering at least part of the gap formed between the second side wall and the second guide rail. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The elevator arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the car guide rails extend continuously from below the vertically movable support structure above the vertically movable support structure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The elevator arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the car guide rails extend continuously from below the vertically movable support structure above the vertically movable support structure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The elevator arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the protective cover comprises a first opening through which the first guide rail extends, and a second opening through which the second guide rail extends. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The elevator arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said one or more displaceable cover parts of the protective cover include one or more displaceable cover parts, which extend over the first gap and/or over the second gap. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The elevator arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the one or more displaceable cover parts include a displaceable cover part extending between the first side wall and the first guide rail covering at least part of the gap formed between the first side wall and the first guide rail, and/or a displaceable cover part extending between the second side wall and the second guide rail and covering at least part of the gap formed between the second side wall and the second guide rail. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The elevator arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the one or more displaceable cover parts include in depth direction of the hoistway on both sides of the first guide rail, a displaceable cover part extending in a width direction of the hoistway closer to the first side wall than the first guide rail, and/or the one or more displaceable cover parts include in depth direction of the hoistway on both sides of the second guide rail, a displaceable cover part extending in the width direction of the hoistway closer to the second side wall than the second guide rail. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The elevator arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the protective cover comprises a second working platform, the protective cover being provided with a balustrade bordering a planar working area of the second working platform. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A method comprising the steps of: providing an elevator arrangement as defined in claim 1; and thereafter using the elevator car for transporting passengers and/or goods; and thereafter hoisting the movable support structure higher in the hoistway; and thereafter using the elevator car again for transporting passengers and/or goods. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the method comprises, after said using and before said hoisting, displacing one or more displaceable cover parts of the protective cover for increasing free space beside the protective cover. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein said displacing comprises displacing one or more displaceable cover parts of the protective cover, the one or more displaceable cover parts extending over the first and/or second gap. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein said displacing comprises displacing a displaceable cover part extending between the first side wall and the first guide rail covering at least part of the gap fainted between the first side wall and the first guide rail, and/or displacing a displaceable cover part extending between the second side wall and the second guide rail and covering at least part of the gap formed between the second side wall and the second guide rail. ### Claim 18 (depends on 4) The elevator arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the protective cover extends between the first side wall and the first guide rail, covering at least part of the gap formed between the first side wall and the first guide rail, and/or between the second side wall and the second guide rail, covering at least part of the gap formed between the second side wall and the second guide rail. ### Claim 19 (depends on 4) The elevator arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the car guide rails extend continuously from below the vertically movable support structure above the vertically movable support structure.