Safety gate
First Claim
1. A safety gate for obstructing an opening having a width and a pair of opposing members defining the width, the gate comprising:
- at least one panel constructed and arranged to be positioned within the opening, the panel including an outer rail;
first and second bumpers mounted on the outer rail and being movable in a first direction between an extended position and a retracted position, the gate to be secured in the opening when the first and second bumpers are moved to the extended position, the gate to be released from the opening when the first and second bumpers are moved to the retracted position;
a drive member slidably mounted on the outer rail and movable in the second direction the first and second bumpers being coupled to the drive member; and
first and second springs mounted on the drive member adjacent the first and second bumpers and being moveable in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction between a first position and a second position, the first and second springs being constructed and arranged to independently bias, respectively the first and second bumpers toward the extended position when the springs are moved toward the first position in the second direction.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A safety gate for use in obstructing doorways, passageways and similar openings to restrict the movement of children. The safety gate includes a panel that can be readily secured in and removed from the opening by extending and retracting a bumper mounted on an outer rail of the panel. The bumper is biased to the extended position in a first direction by a spring that is moved in a second direction transverse to the first direction. The gate can include a pair of extendable bumpers and a pair of springs that independently bias the bumpers to the extended position when moved in the transverse second direction relative to the bumpers. The spring can be a leaf spring having one end attached to a drive member, which can be moved in the first direction, and an opposite end that is slidably supported on a surface of the drive member. The panel can include a pair of panels that slide relative to each other to vary the effective width of the gate so as to correspond to the width of an opening within which the gate is to be positioned.
72 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A safety gate for obstructing an opening having a width and a pair of opposing members defining the width, the gate comprising:
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at least one panel constructed and arranged to be positioned within the opening, the panel including an outer rail; first and second bumpers mounted on the outer rail and being movable in a first direction between an extended position and a retracted position, the gate to be secured in the opening when the first and second bumpers are moved to the extended position, the gate to be released from the opening when the first and second bumpers are moved to the retracted position; a drive member slidably mounted on the outer rail and movable in the second direction the first and second bumpers being coupled to the drive member; and first and second springs mounted on the drive member adjacent the first and second bumpers and being moveable in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction between a first position and a second position, the first and second springs being constructed and arranged to independently bias, respectively the first and second bumpers toward the extended position when the springs are moved toward the first position in the second direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A safety gate for obstructing an opening having a width and a pair of opposing members defining the width, the gate comprising:
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at least one panel constructed and arranged to be positioned within the opening, the panel including an outer rail; at least one bumper mounted on the outer rail and being moveable in a first direction between an extended position and a retracted position, the gate to be secured in the opening when the at least one bumper is moved to the extended position, the gate to be released from the opening when the at least one bumper is moved to the retracted position; and at least one spring mounted on the outer rail and being moveable in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction between a first position and a second position, the at least one spring being constructed and arranged to bias the at least one bumper toward the extended position when the spring is moved toward the first position in the second direction, the at least one spring being constructed and arranged to be compressed in the first direction when the spring is moved toward the first position in the second direction, wherein the at least one bumper includes a plunger having a cam surface disposed adjacent the at least one spring, the at least one spring engaging the cam surface when the spring is moved toward the first position.
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10. A safety gate for obstructing an opening having at least one vertical member, the gate comprising:
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a panel constructed and arranged to be positioned within the opening, the panel including an outer rail; at least one bumper mounted on the outer rail and being movable between an extended position to be engaged with the vertical member of the opening and a retracted position to be disengaged from the vertical member; a drive member mounted on the outer rail and being movable between a first position and a second position; and at least one leaf spring coupled to the drive member and disposed adjacent the at least one bumper, the at least one leaf spring being constructed and arranged to bias the bumper toward the extended position when the drive member is moved toward the first position. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A safety gate for obstructing an opening having a pair of opposing members, the gate comprising:
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a panel constructed and arranged to be positioned within the opening; engaging means for frictionally engaging one of the opposing members of the opening when the gate is positioned in the opening, the engaging means being mounted to the panel to move in a first direction; actuating means for moving the engaging means in the first direction, the actuating means being mounted on the panel adjacent the engaging means to move between a locked position and an unlocked position in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction; and spring means for biasing the engaging means in the first direction against the opposing member when the actuating means is moved toward the locked position, the spring means being mounted on the actuating means to be moved between the locked position and the unlocked position. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification