Child safety barriers

• US 7,178,792 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2002
• Issued: 02/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The First Years Incorporated (TOMY Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: The First Years Incorporated (TOMY Company Limited)
• Inventors: Hagerty, Thomas A., Hotaling, Bryan R., Monahan, Robert D., Sidman, Ronald J., Rossman, Jon R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brittain; James R.
• Application Number:
  US10/126,304
• Publication Number:
  US 20030197164A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,768 Days
• Field of Search: 254/1, 254/24, 256/73, 256/1, 256/24, 160/300, 160/301, 160/302, 160/290.1, 160/10, 160/7
• US Class Current: 256/73
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/002 Safety guards or gates
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/08 Roll-type closures roller blinds E06B9/40; operating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures E06B9/56; usable only as awnings E04F10/06

Abstract

A child safety gate includes a flexible barrier that is retractable into a housing and extendable across a passageway to inhibit passage by a child. An electrically operable extension lock solenoid inhibits barrier extension until activated by a parent. The gate includes a motion sensor, a night light, a child monitor and an interactive audio-visual display.

Claims

1. An adjustable width child safety device comprising:

a housing mountable to a surface on one side of a passageway;

a main shaft coupled to the housing for rotation about an axis;

a flexible barrier secured to the main shaft at an inner edge of the barrier, the barrier being extendable across the passageway to inhibit passage by a child;

an electrically operable extension lock adapted to prevent extension of the barrier from the housing until electrically unlocked;

a barrier stop member coupled to the main shaft and arranged to prevent rotation of the main shaft when locked; and

an electric switch disposed at a distal end of the flexible barrier, the switch operable to unlock the extension lock.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the lock permits retraction when locked.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the lock comprises a solenoid biased toward a locking position.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the lock is disposed within the housing.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the lock includes a pawl biased to inhibit rotation of the shaft, and retractable to permit shaft rotation.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a motion sensor located on the exterior of the device.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the motion sensor is responsive to motion only above a predetermined height relative to the device.

8. The device of claim 7, further comprising an audible alarm triggered by the motion sensor.

9. The device of claim 7, further comprising a radio transmitter triggered by the motion sensor.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising a microphone and adapted to release the lock in response to a recognized verbal command.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising an intercom disposed on the housing.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising a built in audio device.

13. The device of claim 12, further comprising a built in video device.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising a cartoon character depicted on the exterior surface of the barrier.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the barrier comprises:

a plurality of light emitting diodes on the exterior surface of the barrier; and

a sensor electrically connected to the plurality of light emitting diodes.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes illuminate when triggered by the sensor.

17. The device of claim 16, further comprising a noise generating device electrically connected to the sensor.

18. A child safety gate releasably securable across a passageway to block passage of young children, the gate including:

a housing mountable to a surface on one side of the passageway;

a main shaft coupled to the housing for rotation about an axis;

a flexible barrier secured to the main shaft at an inner edge of the barrier, the barrier being extendable across the passageway to inhibit passage by the child;

an interactive visual display comprising;

a light electrically connected to a power source and positioned on the barrier; and

a sensor electrically connected to the light, wherein the sensor is responsive to a sound of the child; and

an electrically operable extension lock adapted to prevent extension of the barrier from the housing until electrically unlocked.

19. The gate of claim 18, wherein the lock permits retraction when locked.

20. The gate of claim 19, further comprising a barrier stop member coupled to the main shaft and arranged to prevent rotation of the main shaft when locked.

21. The gate of claim 20, further comprising an electric switch operable to unlock the extension lock.

22. The gate of claim 21, wherein the switch is disposed at a distal end of the flexible barrier.

23. The gate of claim 18, wherein the lock comprises a solenoid biased toward a locking position.

24. The gate of claim 18, wherein the lock is disposed within the housing.

25. The gate of claim 18, wherein the power source comprises a battery enclosed within the gate.

26. The gate of claim 18, further comprising a sensor responsive to a touch of the child.

27. The gate of claim 18, further comprising a sensor responsive to a movement of the child.

28. The gate of claim 18, further comprising a sound device connected to the sensor, the sound device producing sound when engaged by the sensor.

29. An adjustable width child safety device comprising:

a housing mountable to a surface on one side of a passageway;

a main shaft coupled to the housing for rotation about an axis;

a flexible barrier secured to the main shaft at an inner edge of the barrier, the barrier being extendable across the passageway to inhibit passage by a child;

an electrically operable extension lock adapted to prevent extension of the barrier from the housing until electrically unlocked; and

a microphone, wherein the safety device releases the lock in response to a recognized verbal command.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein the lock permits retraction when locked.

31. The device of claim 29, further comprising an electric switch operable to unlock the extension lock.

32. The device of claim 29, further comprising a built in audio device.

33. An adjustable width child safety device comprising:

a housing mountable to a surface on one side of a passageway;

a main shaft coupled to the housing for rotation about an axis;

a flexible barrier secured to the main shaft at an inner edge of the barrier, the barrier being extendable across the passageway to inhibit passage by a child;

an electrically operable extension lock adapted to prevent extension of the barrier from the housing until electrically unlocked;

a built in audio device; and

a built in video device.

34. An adjustable width child safety device comprising:

a housing mountable to a surface on one side of a passageway;

a main shaft coupled to the housing for rotation about an axis;

a flexible barrier secured to the main shaft at an inner edge of the barrier, the barrier being extendable across the passageway to inhibit passage by a child;

an electrically operable extension lock adapted to prevent extension of the barrier from the housing until electrically unlocked; and

a barrier stop member coupled to the main shaft and arranged to prevent rotation of the main shaft when locked;

wherein the lock comprises a solenoid biased toward a locking position.

35. The device of claim 34, wherein the lock permits retraction when locked.

36. The device of claim 34, wherein the lock is disposed within the housing.

37. The device of claim 34, wherein the lock includes a pawl biased to inhibit rotation of the shaft, and retractable to permit shaft rotation.