Method of applying a flexible film to a handrail and forming a joint between the ends of the film

Abstract

A film and a method of applying the film to a handrail of an escalator or moving walkway are provided. The film can be a single or double layered film. Printed matter, e.g. advertising, can be applied to or between the films. An apparatus and related method for applying the film are also included and rely on the motion of the handrail to unroll a supply of the film, with one or more rollers pressing the film onto the handrail. The film is stretched during application to prestretch and reduce tendency for compressive strains in use to cause wrinkling of the film and detachment from the handrail. To retain the ends of the film in relative position, a film cap is fused or bonded to end portions of the film.

1 . (canceled)  
     
     
         2 . (canceled)  
     
     
         3 . A method as claimed in  claim 22 , including providing the film as a first film layer including printed matter, and a first layer of adhesive on the first layer for adhering the film to the handrail.  
     
     
         4 . A method as claimed in  claim 3 , including providing the film with a second film layer and a second layer of adhesive bonding the second film layer on top of the first film layer.  
     
     
         5 . A method as claimed in  claim 4 , including providing printed matter between the first film layer and the second film layer.  
     
     
         6 . A method as claimed in  claim 3 ,  4  or  5 , including providing the printed matter as a pattern repeated at regular intervals along the length of the film.  
     
     
         7 . A method as claimed in  claim 4 , including forming each film layer from polyurethane with an approximate thickness in the range of 0.5 to 3 mil and providing the first and second layers of adhesive with an approximate thickness in the range of 0.25 to 1 mil.  
     
     
         8 - 12 . (canceled)  
     
     
         13 . A method as claimed in  claim 20 , including providing a strain to the film in the amount of substantially 6 percent.  
     
     
         14 . (canceled)  
     
     
         15 . A method as claimed in  claim 22 , including forming the film cap from a strip of transparent material.  
     
     
         16 . A method as claimed in  claim 15 , including forming each film layer and the strip of transparent material from thermoplastic elastomer, with a thickness of in the range 0.5 to 3 mil.  
     
     
         17 . A method as claimed in  claim 16 , including providing the ends portions of the film, and the film cap are all inclined at an angle to the axis of the handrail in the range 80-85°.  
     
     
         18 . A method as claimed in  claim 25 , the method further comprising: 
 (1) providing a film comprising a first film layer and first layer of adhesive on the underside thereof, the film being generally elongate and having width corresponding to the width of the handrail;    (2) aligning and adhering a first end of the film to a surface of the handrail;    (3) applying a substantially constant tension load to the film to provide a desired degree of strain to the film;    (4) moving the handrail relative to the film, to cause the prestretched film to adhere continuously and progressively to the handrail; and    (5) ensuring that the full width of the film is uniformly and smoothly adhered to the surface of the handrail.    
     
     
         19 . A method as claimed in  claim 18 , which includes providing a film having a width sufficient to wrap around the shoulders of the handrail, the method including progressively wrapping the film around the shoulders of the handrail by means of a plurality of pairs of rollers, each pair of rollers being mounted successively further apart and around the outside of the handrail.  
     
     
         20 . A method as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein step (3) comprises applying a strain to the film in the range of 5 to 8 percent.  
     
     
         21 . A method as claimed in  claim 18 , including overlapping end portions of the film to form a complete loop of film, prior to providing the film cap at the overlapped end portions of the film, and fusing the film cap to the end portions of the film.  
     
     
         22 . A method of forming a joint between two end portions of a film adhered as a continuous loop to the surface of a handrail, the method comprising: 
 (1) providing a film cap and adhering the film cap to surfaces of the end portions of the film; and    (2) fusing the film cap to the end portions of the film to maintain the end portions of the film in alignment.    
     
     
         23 - 24 . (canceled)  
     
     
         25 . A method as claimed in  claim 22 , the method comprising applying the film to the handrail in tension before adhering and fusing the film cap to end portions of the film.  
     
     
         26 . A method of applying a flexible film to a moving handrail, the method comprising: 
 (1) providing a film comprising a first film layer and a first layer adhesive on the underside thereof, the film being generally elongate and having a width corresponding to the width of the handrail;    (2) aligning and adhering a first end of the film to the surface of the handrail;    (3) applying a constant tension load to the film to provide a desired degree of strain to the film;    (4) moving the handrail relative to the film, to cause the film to adhere continuously and progressively to the handrail;    (5) ensuring that the full width of the film is uniformly and smoothly adhered to the surface of the handrail;    (6) applying a sufficient length of the film to enable end portion of the film to overlap one another; and    (7) providing a film cap attached to the end portions of the film, so as to at least reduce the tendency of end portions of the film to creep apart.    
     
     
         27 . A method of applying a flexible film to a moving handrail, the method comprising: 
 (1) providing a film comprising a first film layer and a first layer adhesive on the underside thereof, the film being generally elongate and having a width corresponding to the width of the handrail;    (2) aligning and adhering a first end of the film to the surface of the handrail;    (3) applying a constant tension load to the film to provide a desired degree of strength to the film;    (4) moving the handrail relative to the film, to cause the film to adhere continuously and progressively to the handrail;    (5) ensuring that the full width of the film is uniformly and smoothly adhered to the surface of the handrail;    (6) applying a sufficient length of the film to enable end portions of the film to overlap one another;    (7) providing a film cap attached to the end portions of the film, so as to at least reduce the tendency of end portions of the film to creep apart; and    (8) providing a film with a sufficient width to wrap around shoulders of the handrail, the method further comprising progressively wrapping film around the shoulders of the handrail as the film is applied to the handrail.    
     
     
         28 . A method as claimed in  claim 26  or  27 , the method further comprising attaching the film cap to the end portions of the film by fusing the film cap to the end portions.  
     
     
         29 . A method as claimed in  claim 28 , including providing the end cap as a transparent film cap.