GB2214551A - Safety barrier - Google Patents

Abstract

A safety barrier which is positioned between opposed supports has a frame assembly comprising upper and lower frame elements (1, 2) which extend and are secured by securing means between the opposed supports. The securing means may be provided top and bottom of the frame, and may be on one side only with buffers (59, 60) only on the opposite side, the securing means comprising cams (53), that are actuable by a handle (56) to urge the distal face (49) of a laterally projecting rod (48) of the securing means to exert an outward compressive pressure on the support, thus holding the barrier securely. <IMAGE>

Description

"Safety Barrier" This invention relates to a safety barrier.

This invention has particular application as a means to limit the movement of children and pets, especially as a barrier to those areas such as stairways and kitchens that are potentially treacherous for the young and household animals.

Safety barriers should be simple to store or transport when required, and also be readily installed and easily movable to provide access for parents and owners, whilst still limiting the movement of children and pets. They must also conform to British Safety Standards (B.S.4125, 1982), particularly in that the frame should be able to withstand considerable force, be resistant to bending stress and be secured tightly to its supports. Most child safety barriers are constructed from metal, to give this required strength, and generally by welding a single rigid frame. However, there are then problems of storage and transportation due to this rigidity and an increased need for effective securing means due to the increased weight or the barrier and/or number of components.Tightly securing the barrier may not only prove too much for a person of restricted strength but may also cause damage to the supports and be so time-consuming to fit that it remains in place when not needed, becoming an obstacle to adults. It is additionally inconvenient for single-component rigid-frame barriers to be painted in more than one colour.

According to the present invention there is provided a safety barrier for positioning between opposed supports, said safety barrier having a frame assembly comprising upper and lower frame elements which extend and are secured between the opposed supports, a first side element and a second side element each of which has upper and lower extensions, the upper extensions being adjacent to a lower surface of the upper frame element and the lower extensions being adjacent to an upper surface of the lower frame element, and a first bar member and second bar member, each of which engages the upper and lower frame elements and both extensions of one side member.

Preferably, the frame assembly is provided with independently adjustable securing means on at least one side portion for securing within the passageway.

More preferably, the independently adjustable securing means are provided for at least two corners of said frame assembly.

Preferably, each securing means comprises a member projecting laterally from the side of said safety barrier, said projecting member being adjustable to engage and disengage the sides of the passageway; said securing means having adjustable means to prevent extension or retraction of said projecting member.

Preferably, each projecting member comprises a shank extending from the side of the frame assembly, said shank having a rubber or plastics material face located distally to engage the side of the passageway, extension of the adjustable means exerting outward compressive pressure thereon.

The height of the side elements determines the distance between upper and lower frame elements and preferably, the side elements are of a rigidity and strength so as not to bend and thus diminish in height.

Preferably, the bar members pass through the upper and lower frame elements and through extensions of the side members, and possess a swollen head preventing their complete passage.

Most preferably, there are a plurality of bar members.

Preferably, the bar members are in the form of long bolts with smooth shanks and screw-threaded bases to which wing nuts may be attached.

The gap between adjacent side elements may be relieved by another long bolt, or a vertical rod, or a mesh.

The vertical rod may have a swollen head and pass through the upper frame element but only rest on or in a recess of the upper surface of lower frame element, or the vertical rod may be held in corresponding recesses on the upper and lower frame elements.

Preferably, a plurality of vertical rods are fixed to or in the frame.

Preferably, feet are attached to the lower frame member, thereby giving ground clearance to the securing means located at either side of said lower frame element.

Preferably, said feet are removably attached to the base of said long bolts passing through the lower frame element.

Preferably, the safety barrier is provided in kit form for user-selected assembly with the aid of guidance leaflet.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a safety barrier for positioning between opposed supports, said barrier having securing means actuable by a lever member, said securing means comprising a projecting member, the distal face of which is urged against a support by cam means that urges or not in response to the position of said lever member with which it communicates.

Preferably, the projecting member comprises a rubber or plastics distal face, a screw-threaded adjuster such that the projecting member is adjustable to engage or disengage the opposed supports, and a proximal thrust face that receives the cam means.

Preferably, the cam means is provided on a bellcrank lever having a cam profile, a common shaft with the lever member and an attachment for the reciprocal rod; most preferably there are two bellcrank levers.

Preferably, there are two securing means one at top and bottom corner of one side of the barrier.

Preferably, the cam profiles of the two securing means are linked by a reciprocal rod.

Preferably, the lever member is in the form of a plastics or rubber covered handle moveable out from an upright to horizontal position i.e. through 900.

Preferably, the reciprocal rod forms a bar of a grill of the barrier, said rod having a side bracket to relieve a clearance between grill and support.

Preferably, the frame assembly is constructed from steel but it may also be made from plastics, wood, or fibre-glass materials.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a first embodiment of a safety barrier according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded diagram of the barrier of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is upper and lower frame elements of the barrier of Figs 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is side elements of the barrier of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 5 is vertical rods of the barrier of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 6 is bar members of the barriers of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 7 is fastenings for the barrier of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 8 is a clamping device for the barrier of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 9 is feet of the barrier of Figs. l and 2; Fig. 10 is a second embodiment of a safety barrier according to the present invention; Fig. 11 is a third embodiment of a safety barrier according to the present invention;; Fig. 12 is an enlarged part plan view of the barrier of Fig. 11; Fig. 13 is an enlarged part front elevation of the barrier of Fig.11; and Fig. 14 is an enlarged part side elevation of the barrier of Fig. 11.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 9 of the drawings, there is provided a safety barrier constructed from a kit of parts, the constructed frame 3 of which is substantially rectangular and comprises an upper frame element 1, a lower frame element 2, two side elements 6, 7 and a central grill of vertical bars 26, 27, 28, 29. The completed frame 3 is positioned between two opposed upright supports, such as in a doorway, passageway or the like, and held in place by adjustable clamps 5 which are provided at each corner; the clamps 5 at the base of the frame 3 are kept clear of the floor by the attachment of feet 42, 43 to the lower frame element 1.

The upper and lower frame elements 1, 2 are identical hollow metallic sections, each with two central cylindrical recesses 10,10', 11,11' and four unobstructed cylindrical bores 8,8' 9,9' 12,12' 13,13' two at each end of the frame element 1, 2. The side elements 6, 7 each compise, firstly, a bracket with substantially horizontally upper extensions 14 and lower extensions 15, each of which has two bores 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, and, secondly, a side attachment 16, 17 which, when the frame 3 is in use, relieves the clearance between the edge of the frame 3 and adjacent upright support. Two vertical bars 28, 29 of the grill 4 are in the form of long bolts with rounded heads 30, 31 and screw-threaded bases 32, 33, whereas the other two vertical bars 26, 27 are in the form of unspecialised rigid rods.

The clamps 5 of the barrier comprise a threaded shank 40 fitted distally with a rubber face 38 and a threaded turning knob 39 and fitted proximally with a plug 41 that engages with the upper or lower frame element 1, 2 to which the clamp 5 is attached.

In order to assemble the various parts of the kit into a completed frame 3, the side elements 6, 7, and upper and lower frame elements l, 2 are positioned such that the vertical bars that are in the form of long bolts 28, 29 may be passed through channels of aligned bores 8/22/8' and 13/25/13' respectively. The two feet 42, 43 are mounted onto the threaded ends 32, 33 of the long bolts 28, 29, followed by wing nuts 34, 35. Before the wing nuts 34, 35 are tightened and the upper and lower frame elements 1, 2 consequently pulled as close as possible, the gap-filling rigid rods 26, 27 are inserted centrally to complete the grill 4. The whole assembly is kept together by the tightening of the wing nuts 34, 35.To prevent the rotation of the side elements 6, 7 around the axis of the long bolts 28, 29, four pairs of additional fastening nuts 36 and bolts 37 are inserted through aligned bores 19/9 and 20/12 at the top of the frame 3 and 23/9' and 24/12' at the bottom.

Lastly, the clamps 5 are inserted into the hollow ends of the upper and lower frame elements 1, 2 and adjusted by means of knob 39 until the rubber faces 38 abut the upright supports; the knob 39 is further rotated until the clamps exert an outward compressive pressure on the supports and the frame 2 therefore held securely in place.

To dismantle, the nuts 36 and bolts 37 of the additional fastenings are removed first, followed by the wing nuts 34, 38, and then the entire frame 3 comes apart into its various components.

Referring now to Fig. 10 of the drawings, there is shown a second embodiment of the safety barrier wherein there are only two clamps 5 and the additional fastening nuts 36 and bolts 37 are replaced with either vertical bars in the form of long bolts (not shown) or the bores 9, 9', 12 and 12' are restricted to cylindrical recesses and vertical gap-filling rods 44, 45 inserted.

Referring now to Figs. 11 to 14 of the drawings, there is shown a third embodiment of the safety barrier, wherein there is provided rapidly actuated and effective securing means which enables a person of restricted strength or with a single free hand to firmly fit the safety barrier between two opposed supports. The securing means are clamps 46, 47 provided at top and bottom of one side only of the barrier, each clamp 46, 47 comprising a projecting shaft 48 with a rubber materials face 49 located distally. The shafts 48 are distally screw-threaded and the barrier loosely fitted by an adjustment of the screw-threads affecting the extent of the shafts' 48 projection. The shaft 48 is additionally provided with a thrust face 50 adjacent to and abutting the screw-threaded adjusters 51.The face 50 is acted upon by two cam profiles 52 of a pair of bellcrank levers 53, lying to front and back of the associated frame elements 1 or 2. The upper pair of bellcrank levers 53 share their shaft 55 with a handle 56, which, when moved upright, turns the cam profile 52 away from the thrust plate 50, whereas when moved to the horizontal, the cam profile 52 urges against the thrust plate 50 such that an outward compressive pressure is exterted the screw-threaded adjuster 51 and in turn the rubber face 49 and the supports. The upper pair of bellcrank levers 53 communicate with the lower pair 54 through a reciprocal rod 57, which also functions as a gapfilling element having to one side a bracket-shaped attachment 58 to relieve the clearance between the grill of the barrier and the support.

In use, the handle is raised and the screw-threaded adjusters 51 of the clamps 46, 47, and those of buffers 59, 60 placed at top and bottom of the other side of the frame 3, are adjusted such that the barrier is loosely fitted.

The handle 56 is then lowered and consequently the rubber faces 49 urged against the supports and the barrier fitted firmly in place.

The embodiments hereindescribed are mainly of metal materials, but plastics, woods, fibre-glass or other such materials may be used.

Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (8)

1. A safety barrier for positioning between opposed supports, said safety barrier having securing means actuable by a lever member, said securing means comprising a projecting member, the distal face of which is urged against the support by cam means that urges or relaxes in response to the position of said lever member with which it communicates.

2. A barrier according to Claim 1, wherein the cam means is provided on a bellcrank lever having a cam face, a shaft in common with the lever member, and an attachment for the reciprocal rod.

3. A barrier according to Claims 1 and 2, wherein the projecting member comprises a rubber or plastics distal face, a screw-threaded adjuster such that the projecting member is adjustable to engage or disengage opposed supports, and a proximal thrust face that receives a cam profile of the cam means.

4. A barrier according to Claims 1 to 3, wherein there are at least two securing means, one at top and one at bottom, on one side of the frame.

5. A barrier according to Claim 4, wherein the cam means of the securing means are linked by a reciprocal rod.

6. A barrier according to Claims 1 to 5, wherein the lever member is in the form of plastics or rubber covered handle movable from an upright to a horizontal position.

7. A barrier according to Claims 1 to 6, wherein the reciprocal rod forms the bar of a grill of the barrier, said rod having a bracket to relieve a clearance between grill and support.

8. A barrier according to Claim 1 and substantially as herein described.