GB2058186A - Safety Barriers - Google Patents

Abstract

A safety barrier of the type positionable in doorways, stairways and so forth to prevent the passage of small children or animals comprises a frame (1) provided on two opposite sides with clamps (9, 10, 11, 12) so that it can be secured between walls 6, 7. To permit passage of an adult there is an openable gate (13) mounted on the frame (1) by means of hinges (14, 15). A latch mechanism (18, 19) holds the gate shut, but can be released by pushing against the upper end of a pivotal lever (20) in the direction of arrow (A). Movement of lever (20) is resisted by a relatively strong spring so that a small child pulling near the bottom of the lever cannot open the gate. A gate return spring (16) is provided, the latch mechanism (15, 19) operating automatically when the gate is closed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Safety Barriers This invention relates to safety barriers, and particularly to barriers of the type removably positionable in doorways, stairways and so forth to prevent the passage of small children or of animals.

Typically such a barrier is in the form of a frame provided on two opposite sides with clamps or the like which are used to locate the frame between the walls of a passage or the frame of à door. If it is desired to pass the barrier, it must be removed by releasing the clamps, the only alternative being to climb over the barrier. This has disadvantages in that it is difficult for the infirm, elderly, or merely somebody carrying for example a tray of food, to pass the barrier. After removal of the barrier which can be timeconsuming there will be a temptation not to perform the necessary steps to replace it.

According to the invention, there is provided a safety barrier comprising a frame provided on opposite sides thereof will means for releasably clamping the frame in a doorway, passageway, stairway or the like, wherein part of the barrier is in the form of a gate which is openable to produce a substantial reduction in effective height of the barrier, means being provided for releasably latching the gate in a closed position.

In this manner, whilst with the gate in a closed position an effective barrier is provided, temporary opening of the gate facilitates easy passage of an adult through the barrier.

Subsequent closing and latching of the gate will provide an effective barrier again.

The barrier may conveniently comprise a substantially U-shaped main frame, the upardly extending sides legs of which are provided with the clamping means, and within which is mounted the gate, hingedly connected to one of the legs, there being cooperating releasable latching means between the gate and the other of the legs. The main frame could comprise a single, integrated unit, or be fabricated from a plurality of components. The hinged connection can be of any desired type, and a return spring may be provided to close the gate automatically.

The gate preferably accounts for at least one half of the overall height of the barrier, which may for example be 1 metre high overall, and preferably accounts for all but the smallest portion possible permitting a rigid main frame construction.

With an openable gate, it is clearly desirable that for the barrier to be effective against children, the releasable latch should be such as to resist attempts by a child to open the gate. Whilst a number of "tamper-proof" latches or even keyoperated locks could be used, it should be borne in mind that these require a certain degree of manipulation by an adult which, when carrying a tray or the like, can be most inconvenient.

In a preferred arrangement, therefore, the latch can only be opened against the action of a fairly strong spring, and the release of the latch is effected by pushing against a lever extending a substantial distance above the height of the barrier, for example T metre. Whilst pushing against the upper end of the lever will enable the gate to be opened easily, this will not be the case for the lower end. Small children will be unable to reach the upper end of the lever and will therefore be unable to open the gate.

Although the spring which resists opening should be strong, there should be the least possible resistance to closing of the gate, and the latch should be operable under the action of the gate return spring, so as to engage automatically when the gate is closed.

In a preferred arrangement, the lever is pivotally mounted adjacent the upper end of one of the legs of the main frame, for movement laterally out of a vertical position so as to release the latch. This facilitates opening of the gate by means of an adult's arm pushed sideways against the lever. A strong spring acts between the lever and the main frame. A latch arm is pivotally mounted on the lever, and is capable of independent pivotal movement against the action of a relatively weak spring to permit the gate to close and be latched, when the lever is in the vertical position. In an alternative arrangement, the latch arm is pivotally mounted on the frame, but the lever carries an abutment such as a pin or the like, which lifts the latch arm when the lever is pivoted.

The clamping means preferably comprises, on each side of the frame, at least one abutment, which may for example be steel faced with rubber or plastics; provided with a threaded shank permitting the abutment to be screwed outwardly away from the frame. On at least one side of the frame there should be means permitting final adjustment to ensure correct tightening for efficient clamping. This could be in the form of cam operated means, for example, serving to urge the or each abutment away from the frame.

Alternatively, adjustment knobs could be threadedly mounted on the shanks, turning of which will urge the abutments outwardly by the final amount necessary for correct tightness.

It has been found that for effective clamping it is preferable that, on at least one side of the frame, there be two verticabie spaced abutments.

This prevents the frame from tilting about a horizontal axis. A particularly advantageous arrangement for mounting two abutments consists of a subframe, for example a U-section metallic portion, pivotally connected to the frame on a horizontal axis. Adjacent one end is threadedly mounted a first abutment and adjacent the other end is mounted the second abutment.

The first abutment is provided with an adjustment knob, and the arrangement is such that as this is tightened to urge its abutment outwardly, the pivotal action of the sub-frame automatically urges the second abutment outwardly.

Some embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a safety barrier in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a detailed view of a spring mechanism and a latch arm involved in the opening and closing of the gate of the barrier; Figure 3 is a side view of a latch catch on the gate of the safety barrier; Figure 4 is a side view of the spring mechanism and latch shown in Figure 2; Figure 5 is a detailed view of means for clamping the safety barrier in position; Figure 6 is a partial side view of the clamping means shown in Figure 5; Figure 7 is a detailed view of a hinge and a gate return spring of the safety barrier; Figure 8 is a detailed view of an alternative lever and spring mechanism;; Figure 9 is a detailed view of an alternative clamping means; and Figure 10 is a plan view of the clamping means shown in Figure 9.

Referring now to the drawings, the safety barrier shown in Figure 1 comprises a U-shaped main frame having two upwardly extending legs 2 and 3, and a base 4. The base and legs are made out of wood, and a U-section metal reinforcing member 5 is provided along the bottom. The barrier is positioned between the walls 6 and 7 of a passageway at the top of a set of stairs 8, and held in place by clamps 9 and 10 attached to leg 2 and clamps 11 and 12 attached to leg 3.

Within the U-shaped barrier is mounted a wooden gate 13, secured to leg 2 by means of hinges 14 and 15, and urged to the closed position by means of a bi-directionally acting return spring 16. The gate is thus openable in either direction but returns to a central position in the frame.

A member 17 of the gate 13, on the side opposite the hinges, is provided with a latch member 18 cooperable with a latch arm 19, to latch the gate in the closed, central position. The latch arm 19 is mounted on a lever 20 pivotally attached to the upper end of frame leg 3 by means of a pivot 21. Pivotal movement of lever 20 release the latch. The lever extends above the upper end of frame 1 and gate 13 by a substantial distance, the top of lever 20 being at about the height of a normal adults shoulder.

The arrangement of lever 20, latch arm 1 9 and latch member 18 is shown in greater detail with reference to Figures 2, 3 and 4. Lever 20 is mounted on a metallic mounting member 22, pivot pin 21 securing member 22 to the frame leg 3. Member 22 comprises two parallel interconnected flanges 23 and 24 between which lever 20 passes, being held in place by screws 25.

The lower end of flanges 23 and 24 receive the frame leg 3. Interconnection between flanges 23 and 24 is by means of walls 26 and 27 integrally formed therewith. The bottom end of lever 20 rests on the top surface of wall 26.

Within the spaced defined by walls 26 and 27 and flanges 23 and 24, the latch arm 19 is pivotally secured by means of a pin 28 extending between the two flanges. A relatively weak spring 29 acts between wall 26 and arm 29, being located in a recess 30 therein. This spring biases arm 19 downwardly, the wall 27 acting as a stop.

With the arrangement in the position as shown in Fig. 2, an open gate can be closed, inclined walls 31 or 32 on latch member 18 urging latch arm 19 upwardly until the gate is in the central position, at which point arm 19 drops down under the influence of spring 29 and gravity, into a recess 33 in member 18. The gate is then automatically latched closed and cannot be opened merely by pushing.

The dimensions and clearances should be such that a small child cannot use a finger to push latch arm 19 upwards against spring 29, when the gate is closed.

The lever 20 can be pivoted sideways about pin 21 in the direction of arrow A on figs. 1 and 2, against the action of a relatively strong spring 34, so as to release latch arm 10 from recess 33 and permit the gate to be opened. Spring 34 is secured to mounting member 22 by means of a pin 35 passing between flanges 23 and 24. The spring 34 passes into a bore 36 in frame leg 3 and is secured at its bottom end to the frame leg 3 by means of a screw 32. The strength of spring 34 is such that whilst lever 20 may be pivoted readily by force at its upper end by an adult, it cannot be pivoted by a small child who can only exert force lower down the lever. In the rest position, lever 20 is vertically disposed. The upper end 38 of leg 3 acts as a stop surface against the underneath of wall 27 to prevent over travel of lever 20 against the return action of spring 34.

The clamping means for the gate will now be described in more detail with reference to figs. 5 and 6 which show the arrangement of clamps 9 and 10. That of clamps 11 and 12, corresponds.

Each clamp 9 and 10 is in the form of a metal e.g.

steel plate 39, 40, respectively, provided with rubber facing 41,42 and a threaded shank 43, 44. The shanks are threadedly engaged in bushes 45 and 46 which in turn are mounted on a sub frame is of U-section and extends over the edge of frame leg 2. Sub frame 47 is secured to frame leg 2 by means of a pivot pin 48 nearer its lower end, and clamp 10, than its upper end, the pin passing through the leg 2. Leg 2 is provided with elongate slots 49 and 50 to receive the shanks 43 and 44.

The upper clamp 9 is provided with a tightening knob 51 threadedly engaged with shank 43 and held in place by a lip (not shown) on bush 45.

In use, the barrier is positioned between walls 6 and 7, and the clamps 9,10,11 and 12 coarsely adjusted by screwing out the shanks until the respective rubber faced plates engage the walls. The barrier is then locked in position by turning knob 51, and a like knob provided on clamp 11. As knob 51 is turned, shank 43 moves so as to urge rubber faced plate 39 outwardly, to tighten it against wall 6. At the same time, reaction causes sub-frame 47 to pivot about pin 48 so that its lower end is urged outwards to tighten rubber faced plate 40 against the wall 6.

A similar procedure takes place with clamps 11 and 1 2 on the other side of the barrier.

With the barrier in position and gate 13 latched closed, a small child or an animal cannot pass. An adult can however push against the upper end of lever 20, for example with an elbow if carrying a tray of food, to pivot it sideways and release latch arm 19 from recess 33, so that the gate can be opened in which ever direction is desired. The lever 20 subsequently returns to its upright position, and when the adult has passed, gate 13 is closed by spring 16 which is strong enough to overcome the relatively weak spring 29 urging latch arm 19 downwardly. When the gate is centrally positioned, the latch arm 19 reengages in recess 33 to hold the gate shut.

Return spring 16 acts in both directions, and is shown in more detail in Fig. 7. Thus, in frame leg 2 and part 52 of gate 13 there are provided bores 53 and 54. In these are respectively located nylon sleeves 55 and 56. Spring 16 is disposed in and between the two bores 53 and 54, the nylon sleeves ensuring that free movement is not hindered. In Fig. 8 there is shown an alternative lever arrangement. In this, the lever 57 is in the form of a metallic tube welded to a member 58 pivotally attached to a frame leg 3' by means of a pivot pin 60. A relatively strong L-shaped spring 61 extends up the inside of tube 52, engaging a wall thereof, and is clamped at the other end to leg 3' by means of a U-section clamp 62 secured to leg 3' by countersunk rivets or screws 63 and 64.

Clamp 62 carries a pair of mounting flanges 65 between which is mounted a latch arm 19' by means of a pivot pin 66. When lever 57 is in the vertical, rest position, arm 19' is movable against a spring 67 to permit closing of the gate the spring being located in arm 19' and having a curved portion slidably engaging the under surface of wall 68 of member 58. The downward extent of movement of arm 19' is limited by a stop pin 69 mounted on a side wall 70 of member 58. A stop pin 71, also provided on side wall 70, prevents over-return of the lever 57 under the action of spring 61, by engaging the upper part of leg 3'.

In use, pivotal movement of lever 57 in the direction of arrow A' on Fig. 8 cause member 58 to turn. As it does so, pin 69 moves upwardly, thereby causing latch arm 19' to move upwardly and release the gate.

In Figs. 9 and 10, an alternative clamping arrangement is shown, which can be used one or both sides of the barrier. As shown, there are two clamps 11 and 12' each comprising a metal plate 72, faced with rubber 73, and provided with a threaded shank 74. Each shank is threadedly engaged in a bush 75, secured to a U-section subframe 76. The shanks 74 pass into bores 77 in a frame leg 3'. Extending between the side plates of U-shaped section sub-frame 76, is a pivotal shaft 78 on which is mounted a cam 79.

A retaining member 80 is provided at one end of the shaft, and a control knob 81 at the other.

Thus, after shanks 74 have been screwed out to the approximate position for holding the barrier in place, a lever 82 of knob 81 can be turned, so that cam 79 acts against leg 3' to urge sub frame 76 outwardly and tighten the clamps 11' and 12' against the wall of a passageway of the like.

Suitable means, not shown, are provided for retaining the sub frame 76 attached to leg 3' when the barrier is not in use.

It is not necessary to have two clamps on both sides. It is for example possible to have two clamps on one side of the frame, and only one of the other. The single clamp could once again be a rubber faced plate with a threaded shank engaged in a bush secured to the frame.

Claims (15)

Claims

1. A safety barrier comprising a frame provided on opposite sides thereof with means for releasably clamping the frame in a doorway, passageway, stairway or the like, wherein part of the barrier is in the form of a gate which is openable to produce a substantial reduction in effective height of the barrier means being provided for releasably latching the gate in a closed position.

2. A safety barrier as claimed in claim 1, comprising a substantially U-shaped frame, upwardly extending legs of which are provided with the clamping means, and within which is mounted the gate, hingedly connected to one of the legs, the releasable latching means acting between the gate and the other of the legs.

3. A safety barrier as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the latching means is releasable against the action of a relatively strong spring by means of a lever extending a substantial distance above the height of the barrier.

4. A safety barrier as claimed in claim 3 wherein the lever is pivotally mounted adjacent the upper end of the barrier for movement laterally out of a substantially vertical position so as to release the latching means.

5. A safety barrier as claimed in claim 4 wherein the latching means includes a latch arm mounted whereby movement of the lever brings the latch arm into an unlatched position, the arm being capable of independent pivotal movement against the action of a relatively weak spring to permit the gate to close when the lever is in the substantially vertical position, the relatively weak spring then serving to urge the latch arm into a latched position.

6. A safety barrier as claimed in claim 5 wherein the latch arm is pivotally mounted on the lever.

7. A safety barrier as claimed in any preceding claim, including a gate return spring.

8. A safety barrier as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the clamping means comprises, on each side of the frame, at least one abutment which can be moved laterally outwards.

9. A safety barrier as claimed in claim 8 wherein on at least one side of the frame there are provided two, vertically spaced abutments.

10. A safety barrier as claimed in claim 8 or 9 wherein each abutment is provided with a shank threadedly engaged with a bush mounted on the frame.

11. A safety barrier as claimed in claims 9 and 10 wherein the two vertically spaced abutments are carried on a sub-frame mounted on the frame, to which sub-frame the bushes are secured.

12. A safety barrier as claimed in claim 11 wherein the sub-frame is movable with respect to the frame to tighten at least one of the abutments against a wall or the like.

13. A safety barrier as claimed in claim 12, wherein the sub-frame is pivotally mounted on the frame for movement about an axis intermediate the two abutments, one of said abutments having a tightening knob threadedly engaged on its shank whereby turning of the knob urges the abutment outwards away from the frame and simultaneously causes the sub-frame to pivot.

14. A safety barrier as claimed in claim 12, wherein a cam operate arrangement is provided for tightening the two abutments by moving the sub-frame outwardly away from the frame.

15. A safety barrier substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 7; or as modified with reference to Fig. 8, or Figs. 9 and 10.