ARRANGEMENT FOR THE CALL APPARATUS AND DISPLAY APPARATUS OF AN
ELEVATOR
The present invention relates to an arrangement for the call
apparatus and display apparatus of an elevator as defined in
the preamble of claim 1.
Elevators normally contain call apparatuses on the floor
levels, such as e.g. call pushbuttons, with which a call is
sent for receiving an elevator at the floor in question and
correspondingly elevator cars contain call apparatuses for
sending the elevator car to the desired destination floor. In
addition, the floor levels and elevator cars often contain
display apparatuses for displaying different information, such
as at least floor information. For various reasons many
structural solutions that are different both visually and in
their layout are used on both floor levels and in elevator
cars, which solutions comprise e.g. a different number of
pushbuttons and displays as well as displays of different
sizes.
A drawback with these prior-art call apparatuses and display
apparatuses is that they are inflexible with respect to
changes. For example, a different body part corresponding to
exactly the amount of call buttons in question and to their
placement is needed for each amount of call buttons, which
body part comprises apertures of suitable sizes and correct
positioning for the lead-throughs of the call buttons. There
is also the same problem if it is desired to replace the
display. The body part and other components of the apparatus
are dimensioned specifically for a certain display, in which
case in order to change the display to a different one, at

least a body part and possibly other components of the
apparatus must be changed.
The purpose of this invention is to eliminate the
aforementioned drawbacks and to achieve a simple and
inexpensive arrangement for the call apparatus and display
apparatus of an elevator, which arrangement can easily be
configured to correspond to the needs of different buildings
and of different groups of users. Additionally the purpose of
the invention is to achieve an arrangement for the call
apparatus and display apparatus of an elevator that enables a
number of different call button layouts and display layouts
and also color layouts. Additionally the purpose of the
invention is to achieve an arrangement in which one, or only a
few, universal, i.e. generic, body part is used, into which
different call button variations and display variations can be
disposed, and the shapes of the apertures and holes of which
can be covered from sight. The arrangement according to the
invention is characterized by what is disclosed in the
characterization part of claim 1. Other embodiments of the
invention are characterized by what is disclosed in the other
claims.
Some inventive embodiments are also discussed in the
descriptive section of the present application. The inventive
content of the application can also be defined differently
than in the claims presented below. The inventive content may
also consist of several separate inventions, especially if the
invention is considered in the light of expressions or
implicit sub-tasks or from the point of view of advantages or
categories of advantages achieved. In this case, some of the
attributes contained in the claims below may be superfluous
from the point of view of separate inventive concepts.

Likewise the different details presented in connection with
each embodiment of the invention can also be applied in other
embodiments.
One advantage of the arrangement according to the invention is
that call apparatuses and display apparatuses that are
different in their appearance but uniform in their style are
flexibly and easily achieved. Another advantage is that only
one or a few universal body parts can be used, into which
different call button variations, display variations and other
desired functions can easily be combined. Yet another
advantage is that any graphics whatsoever can be printed on
the film used, so that the basic color and basic pattern of
the call apparatuses and display apparatuses, as well as texts
giving different information, can easily be changed if
necessary. Another advantage is that various functions, such
as a video camera, RFID identifiers, etc, can easily be
obtained behind a covering film for the display.
In the following, the invention will be described in more
detail by the aid of two different examples of its embodiment
with reference to the attached drawings, wherein
Fig. 1 presents as an explosion drawing an oblique top view
of one call apparatus and display apparatus
according to the invention in the elevator car,
Fig. la presents a simplified cross-section of the frame,
Fig. 2 presents as an explosion drawing an oblique top view
of a second call apparatus and display apparatus
according to the invention in the elevator car,
Fig. 3 presents a front view of the top end of one body
part of a call apparatus and display apparatus

according to the invention provided with two display
elements,
Fig. 4 presents a front view of the top end of one body-
part of a call apparatus and display apparatus
according to the invention provided with one display
element,
Fig. 5 presents as an explosion drawing an oblique top view
of one call apparatus and display apparatus
according to the invention on the floor level,
Figs. 6a, 6b and 6c present an oblique side view and also a
front view of a call apparatus and display apparatus
according to the invention to be disposed in the
elevator car,
Figs. 7a and 7b present a front view of a second call
apparatus and display apparatus according to the
invention to be disposed in the elevator car,
Figs. 8a and 8b present a front view of a display apparatus
according to the invention to be disposed in the
elevator lobby,
Figs. 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, 9,e and 9f present a front view of some
call apparatuses and display apparatuses according
to the invention to be disposed in the elevator
lobby,
Fig. 9g presents an oblique side view of a call apparatus
and display' apparatus according to the invention to
be disposed in the elevator lobby, and
Figs. 10a and 10b present a front view of the bottom part of a
call apparatus and display apparatus according to
the invention, in which the call buttons are touch
buttons.
Fig. 1 presents as an explosion drawing a partly simplified
oblique top view of one call apparatus and display apparatus

1, i.e. a car call panel, according to the invention in the
elevator car. The car call panel 1 comprises at least a
rearmost wall fixing support 2, which is fixed to the wall of
the elevator car and correspondingly in connection with which
the other parts of the car call panel are fixed. The car call
panel 1 also comprises an essentially supportive body part 5,
which is made e.g. of metal and which comprises different
apertures 6, 7 and fixing holes 6a for the electronics and
other actuators 3 of the car call panel. The majority of the
actuators 3, such as the displays, microphone, loudspeaker,
fixing frames 4 of the call buttons and other corresponding
actuators, of the car call panel are fixed to the body part 5
and disposed between the wall fixing support 2 and the body
pat 5 such that the components of the actuators 3 that are
desired to be visible are visible or extend through the
apertures 6, 7. For example, the call buttons 8 are fitted to
extend from the apertures 7 of the body part 5 through to the
front side of the body part 5. In front of the body part 5 is
an essentially thin body-tinted film or thin sheet 9, which
comprises apertures 10 for the loudspeaker and if necessary
also for the microphone as well as apertures 11 for the call
buttons 8 used in this specific application. Further, in front
of the film 9 is an essentially transparent support plate 12
of corresponding size to but thicker than the film 9, which
support plate comprises apertures 13 for the loudspeaker, and
if necessary for the microphone, that essentially correspond
to the apertures 10 and 11 in the film 9 as well as apertures
14 for the call buttons 8 used in this specific application.
Outermost in the car call panel 1 is a frame 15, inside which
the aforementioned components can be disposed, and which is
fitted to press, with the inner surface (15a, Fig. la) of its
front edge, the support plate 12 and all the components behind
it towards the body part 5 and the wall fixing support 2, to

which the frame 15 can be fixed as invisibly as possible. The
frame 15 compresses the car call panel 1 to its normal
operating size and surrounds it from the sides, from below and
partly also from the front, thus forming a uniform package.
What is essential to the arrangement according to the
invention is, among other things, that the light permeability
of the film 9 in front of the body part 5 is selected
suitably, taking into account the strength of the light
produced by the display of the display elements that are the
actuators 3, and the strength of the ambient light affecting
the car call panel 1, e.g. the strength of the inner lights of
the elevator car. The light permeability of the film 9 is
selected to be such that the light produced by the displays of
the display elements that are the actuators 3 essentially
permeates the film 9, while on the other hand the ambient
light affecting the car call panel 1 is attenuated
sufficiently to cover the apertures and actuators behind the
film 9 from the sight of the passengers in the elevator car.
In this case the light produced by the display of the display
element can thus be seen as more powerful than the ambient
light at the same time as the film 9 covers all other features
of the body part under it from the passengers, except the
signs produced with the light in the one or more displays. The
film 9 can be manufactured as a separate, replaceable film or
it can be printed on the rear surface of the support plate
(12).
As a result of the foregoing, what is further essential to the
arrangement according to the invention is that the body part 5
could be made to be essentially universal, in which case only
a few, or in the best case only one, body part 5 is needed for
all, at least the most common, options for the number, size

and placement of the actuators 3. In this case the number,
size, shape and placement location of the apertures 6, 7 and
fixing holes 6a of the body part 5 is fitted to be such that
e.g. there can be one or more displays, they can be of
different sizes and their placement location in the top part
of the body part can within certain limits be varied. Likewise
there can be a different amount of the call buttons 8 and they
can be in different places than what is presented in the
embodiment according to Fig. 1. The apertures 7 of the body
part 5 that are made for the call buttons 8 are the width of a
number of call buttons and the shape of the apertures 7 is
selected such that the call buttons 7 can be threaded through
the apertures at many different points in the lateral
direction. In this case the call buttons 8 can be 2, 3 or 4 or
even more abreast, in addition to one vertical row. In this
way different call button matrixes can be made using, however,
the sane body plate 5. The matrix can be e.g. two or three
vertical rows of call buttons, below which is the row of three
special buttons presented in Fig. 1, which special buttons are
e.g. the opening and .closing buttons of the doors and also a
stop button. The call buttons 8 can also be disposed such that
at some point above the bottom row there are more or less
abreast than at the other points. In this case e.g. there can
be a number of call buttons 8 for some floor that however are
marked to convey to different rooms. The film 9 covers the
apertures 7 that remain unused, so that the visual appearance
of the car call panel 1 is always finished and neat.
The light permeability of the film 9 is influenced by the
thickness and the color of the film. Generally speaking, less
light passes permeates through dark colors than light colors.
The film 9 can be wholly of the same color and uniform in its
permeability throughout the whole area of the film or the film

9 can also be different in its permeability in different
points of the film. Differences in permeability can be
implemented with different colors or e.g. with variations in
the thickness of the color layer.
In addition to the permeability of light, different graphics,
patterns and decorations are made on the film 9 with different
colors. The car call panels 1 provided with films of different
colors and different patterns can thus be fitted preferably as
i
a visually suitable entity with respect to the other interior
decor of the elevator car and/or can be selected on the basis
of the wishes of customers. Different texts and other
information can also be printed onto the film. For example,
information concerning certain floors, and e.g. in the
aforementioned case, in which a number of call buttons 8 are
marked to convey to the same floor, the film 9 can be printed
with the additional information applying to these call
buttons.
As mentioned earlier, it is possible to conceal different
actuators, which are not desired to be visible either for
aesthetic reasons or for other reasons such as owing to the
risk of vandalism, behind the film 9. These types of actuators
can be e.g. a video camera, RFID identifiers, etc.
Fig. 2 presents a second call apparatus and display apparatus
according to the invention in the elevator car, i.e. a car
call panel 1. This differs from the car call panel according
to Fig. 1 in that the call buttons 8 are touch buttons or call
buttons that react to a light touch in some other
corresponding way, which do not need to be mechanically moved,
so that they are not fitted to pass through the film 9 and the
support plate 12. In this case both the film 9 and the support

plate 12 are intact at the point of the call buttons 8. In the
manner of Fig. 1, the film 9 of Fig. 2 can be a separate,
replaceable film or it can be printed on the rear surface of
the support plate 9.
Figs. 3 and 4 present two different display variations. The
solution according to Fig. 3 comprises two display elements 16
and 17, one above the other, both of which are suited to the
large and appropriately shaped aperture 6 in the body part 5.
Correspondingly, Fig. 4 comprises only one display element 16,
which in the figure is disposed in the top part of the
aperture 6 but could just as well be also in the bottom part
of the aperture 6. Although the display elements 16, 17
presented are similar in the figures and are based on so-
called seven-segments technology, they can be also be of
different models and based on different display technologies.
Fig. 5 presents one call apparatus and display apparatus, i.e.
a call button panel 17, according to the invention in the
elevator lobby, which apparatus comprises at least a universal
body part 18, which comprises at least one aperture 19 for the
actuators, such as the pushbuttons and indicator arrows or
corresponding, of the call button panel 17. In front of the
body part 17 is an essentially thin film 20 corresponding at
least in its permeability characteristics to the film 9, and
in front of this is an essentially transparent support plate
22 corresponding to the support plate 12. The film 20 and the
support plate 22 comprise apertures 21 and 23 corresponding to
the actuators disposed in the call button panel 17, which in
this example are apertures intended for call buttons.
Outermost in the call button panel 17 is a frame 24,
corresponding to the frame 15, which is fitted to enclose the
body part 18, the film 20 and the support plate 22 inside it

such that only the center part of the frame 24 is open. The
frame 24 is fixed to the body part 18 by means of one or more
fixing screws 25 or corresponding fixing elements.
It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that the
invention is not limited solely to the examples described
above, but that it may be varied within the scope of the
claims presented below. Thus, for example, in place of a
separate light-attenuating and body-tinted film, the
attenuation and graphics needed could be made with a separate
color layer, which is printed either on the surface of a
separate film or e.g. on the rear surface of the frontmost
support plate.

CLAIMS
1. Call apparatus and display apparatus (1, 17) of an
elevator, which apparatus comprises a body part (5, 18), which
comprises apertures (6, 7, 19) for at least the call buttons
(8) and other actuators (3), characterized in that the body
part (5, 18) is essentially universal such that the number,
size, shape and placement location of the apertures (6, 7, 19)
of the body part (5, 18) are arranged to be suited for the use
of more than one display variation and/or call button
variation, and in that an essentially thin light-attenuating
film-like layer (9, 20) is disposed in front of the body part
(5, 18), which layer is fitted to allow light produced by the
display element (16) through, but covers the apertures (6, 7,
19) and other features in the body part (5, 18).
2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the
apertures (7, 19) in the body part (5, 18) that are reserved
for the lead-through of the call buttons (8) are essentially
elongated in shape and in their lateral direction more than
two times longer than the size of the diameter of the call
buttons (8) used.
3. Arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that
the apertures (6) and the fixing holes (6a) in the body part
(5) that are reserved for the displays (8) are selected by at
least their size, shape, number and location to be such that
at least all the most common display elements (16) can be
fixed singly or together with one or more other display
element into the universal body part (5).

4. Arrangement according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in
that the light-attenuating film-like layer (9, 20) is a
separate, essentially thin colored film.
5. Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the film (9, 20) comprises apertures
(11, 21) for the call buttons (8) used in the specific
elevator application in question.
6. Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims,
characterized in that an essentially transparent support plate
(12, 22) is in front of the film (9, 20).
7. Arrangement according to claim 6, characterized in that the
support plate (12, 22) comprises apertures (14, 23) for the
call buttons (8) used in the specific elevator application in
question.
8. Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the light-attenuating film-like layer
(9, 20) is printed on the surface of a separate film.
9. Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the light-attenuating film-like layer
(9, 20) is printed on the rear surface of the support plate
(12, 22).
10. Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the graphics, such as text and/or
different patterns and/or different-colored patterns, are
printed on the film-like layer (9, 20).

The object of the invention is an arrangement
for the call apparatus and display apparatus of an elevator.
The arrangement (1, 17) comprises a body part (5,
18), which comprises at least call buttons (8) and other
actuators (3), such as apertures (6, 7, 19) for the display
elements (16). The body part (5, 18) is essentially universal
such that the number, size, shape and placement location
of the apertures (6, 7, 19) of die body part (5, 18) are
arranged to be suited for the use of as many display variations
and/or call button variations as possible, and in that
an essentially thin light-attenuating film-like layer (9,20)
is disposed in front of the body part (5, 18), which layer
is fitted to allow light produced by the display elements
through, but covers the apertures (6, 7, 19) and other features
in the body part (5, 18).