Elevator pad hanging apparatus and method

Abstract

A system for protecting an elevator including a plurality of wall panels. The system includes a first plurality of hangers each having a suspension portion and a hanger portion. A protective sheet having a plurality of holes along an edge thereof is fastened to the suspension portions by a plurality of snap fasteners inserted through both the aperture of a hanger and a hole of the plurality of holes. The hanger portion engages an upper edge portion of a wall panel of the plurality of wall panels. In some uses, the protective sheet is positioned between the suspension portion and the wall panel of the plurality of wall panels. The hanger portion may be embodied as a hook and the snap fasteners may be embodied as plastic rivets.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A method for protecting an elevator having a plurality of wall panels, the method comprising:
 providing a first plurality of hangers, each having a suspension portion and a hanger portion, the suspension portion defining an aperture;   making a plurality of holes along an upper edge of a protective sheet;   inserting a first snap fastener portion of a snap fastener through both a hole of the plurality of holes and the aperture of the suspension portion of a hanger of the first plurality of hangers;   engaging a second snap fastener portion of the snap fastener effective to capture the protective sheet and suspension portion of the hanger between the first and second snap fastener portions; and   engaging the hanger portion of the hanger with a wall panel of the plurality of wall panels.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein engaging the hanger portion of the hanger with the wall panel further comprises engaging the hanger portion with an upper edge of the wall panel. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the hanger portions each comprises a hook. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the hook comprises a horizontal portion perpendicular to the suspension portion and a vertical portion secured to the horizontal portion and extending downwardly therefrom, the method further comprising positioning an upper edge of the wall panel between the vertical portion and the suspension portion. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hanger portions each define an aperture and a slot extending from the aperture and having a width smaller than that of the aperture; and
 wherein engaging the hanger portion of the hanger with the wall panel further comprises inserting a post head fastened to the elevator through the aperture of the hanger portion and sliding a post secured to the post head into the slot of the hanger portion.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the suspension portion includes a front portion and a rear portion defining a gap therebetween;   the aperture defined by the suspension portion extends through the front and rear portions; and   engaging the second snap fastener portion of the snap fastener effective to capture the protective sheet and suspension portion of the hanger between the first and second snap fastener portions further comprises engaging the second snap fastener portion effective to capture the protective sheet in the gap between the front and rear portions having the snap fastener extending through both of the front and rear portions.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first snap fastener portion and the second snap fastener portion each comprise a portion of a plastic rivet. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first snap fastener portion and the second snap fastener portion each comprise a head such that the suspension portion of the hanger is captured between the head of the first snap fastener portion and the head of the second snap fastener portion. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising positioning the protective sheet between the suspension portion of the hanger and the wall panel. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein engaging the second snap fastener portion is performed by hand without tools. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the snap fastener is a first snap fastener and the hanger is a first hanger, the method further comprising:
 inserting a first snap fastener portion of a second snap fastener through a second hole of the plurality of holes and the aperture of the suspension portion of a second hanger of the plurality of hangers; and   engaging a second snap fastener portion of the second snap fastener effective to capture the protective sheet and suspension portion of the second hanger.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first and second snap fastener portions includes at least one circumferential barb and the other of the first and second snap fastener portions includes at least one internal circumferential groove positioned to selectively engage the at least one circumferential barb and hinder removal thereof. 
     
     
         13 . A system for protecting an elevator including a plurality of wall panels, the system comprising:
 a first plurality of hangers, each having a suspension portion and a hanger portion, the suspension portion defining an aperture;   a protective sheet having a plurality of holes along an edge thereof;   a plurality of snap fasteners, each snap fastener inserted through both the aperture of a hanger of the plurality of hangers and a hole of the plurality of holes of the protective sheet having the suspension portion and protective sheet captured between a pair of opposing heads of the each snap fastener.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the hanger portion engages an upper edge portion of a wall panel of the plurality of wall panels. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the protective sheet is positioned between the suspension portion and the wall panel of the plurality of wall panels. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the hanger portions each comprise a hook engaging the upper edge portion. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the hanger portions each define an aperture and a slot extending from the aperture of the hanger portion, the aperture of the hanger portion having a width smaller than that of the aperture; and   the elevator further comprises a plurality of posts having post heads secured to a distal end thereof, the post heads each being sized to fit through the aperture of the hanger portion but not the slot and the post being sized to fit within the slot.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the suspension portions of the first plurality of hangers each include a front portion and a rear portion defining a gap therebetween, the protective sheet being positioned in the gap; and   the aperture defined by the suspension portion extends through the front and rear portions; and.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein plurality of snap fasteners each comprise a first snap fastener portion and a second snap fastener portion, each having a head of the pair of opposing heads secured thereto. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein one of the first and second snap fastener portions defines a receiver having at least one internal circumferential groove and the other of the first and second snap fastener portions defines an insertable portion having at least one circumferential ridge, the insertable portion being sized to fit within the receiver having the at least one circumferential ridge engaging the at least one internal circumferential groove.