ELEVATORS

**Definition:** This place covers:

Transporting apparatus of the types specified herein for people or discrete loads when used in conjunction with buildings, complexes of buildings, mines, or similar scale manmade structures or natural formations (e.g. caves).

Elevating apparatus (i.e., elevators or lifts) for shifting a discrete load (e.g., person(s), freight), in its entirety, a significant distance (e.g., at least the height of a normal floor of a building) from an entry level (e.g., landing) to a vertically spaced exit level along a shaft. To be proper for this subclass, the elevating apparatus must include:

Conveying apparatus (i.e., an assemblage of elements for moving a load along a predetermined path) for transporting pedestrians (i.e., escalators or moving walkways) from an entrance location to at least one horizontally spaced egress location. To be proper for this subclass, the conveying apparatus must:

Components of the elevating or conveying apparatus when:

Ancillary devices (e.g., elevator call registration systems) for either the elevating or conveying apparatus which are:

Explanatory Notes or Graphics

(1) Note. Examples of special adaptations for escalators or moving walkways that facilitate the transport of pedestrians are:

(2) Note. Elevating or conveying apparatus otherwise proper for the definition which is either specially modified for use with, or combined with, apparatus for doing work on or treating (e.g., machine tools, furnaces) the discrete loads being carried (e.g., tools shaping load during elevation) are covered in appropriate subclasses for this subject matter.

(3) Note. The load support surfaces of elevators or lifts are intended to support their loads only for a short period of time during handling. Surfaces intended to either support an article in a non-use storage location, support a useable machine or tool, or move one portion of a machine or article relative to another portion thereof are covered in appropriate subclasses for this subject matter.

(4) Note. The discrete load transported by the elevating apparatus of this subclass is either

**Limiting references (this place does not cover):** - Life-saving devices used as an alternative to normal egress means (e.g., stairs) during rescue to lower persons in cages, bags, or similar supports from buildings or other structures -> A62B1/02 - Amusement rides (e.g., roundabouts, and Ferris wheels) that are, or may include as a part of their structure, elevating or conveying apparatus -> A63G - Arrangements of ammunition handlers in military-type sea vessels -> B63G - Equipment for handling freight or for facilitating passenger embarkation or the like to aircraft -> B64D9/00 - Hoists, lifts, or conveyors for loading or unloading in general -> B65G - Hoists, lifts, or conveyors for storing articles, individually or in orderly arrangement, in warehouses or magazines -> B65G1/00 - Braking or detent devices controlling normal movements of winding drums or barrels for capstans, hoist, or winches -> B66D - Lifting or elevating devices for ships -> E02C - Multi-vehicle garages provided with mechanical means for lifting vehicles -> E04H6/12 - Hoists for feeding ammunition or projectiles to launching apparatus or to loading mechanisms for weapons -> F41A9/00

**Glossary:** - Drive means: means for supplying motive force to an element to be moved which includes both force generating means (e.g., motor) and structural linkage (e.g., gears) needed to transmit the force from the generating means to the element. - Landing: an in situ floor within a structure (e.g., building) (a) that is located adjacent to an elevator shaft or the entrance or egress points of the conveying apparatus' path and (b) to or from which a load (e.g., passenger, cargo, pedestrian) transfers during the charging or discharging of the load-underlying support surface of an elevator or conveying apparatus. - Shaft: a long, narrow, in situ passageway within a structure (e.g., building, ship, mine) which defines the fixed path between the vertically spaced load entrance and exit levels traveled by the load-underlying support surface of an elevator. - dumbwaiter: a very small elevator or lift (e.g., normally the support is too small for a person) for moving housekeeping or food items between floors