Low-profile threshold barrier

• US 8,615,931 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2011
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Munchkin Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Munchkin Incorporated
• Inventors: Dunn, Steven Bryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, Katherine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Denion, Scott
• Application Number:
  US13/303,091
• Publication Number:
  US 20130125470A1
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 49/50, 49/57, 49/55, 494/63, 494/65, 160/180, 160/215
• US Class Current: 49/465
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 1/00 Knobs or handles for wings; Knobs, handles, or press buttons for locks or latches on wings E05B5/00, E05B7/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 1/52 Frames specially adapted for doors
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/002 Safety guards or gates
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/36 with a single vertical axis of rotation at one side of the opening, or swinging through the opening wings requiring lifting before opening E06B3/52
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/02 Shutters, movable grilles, or other safety closing devices, e.g. against burglary louvre windows or grilles E06B7/08; lamellar blinds E06B9/26
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/04 of wing type, e.g. revolving or sliding trap doors; louvre doors or windows E06B7/08

Abstract

A low-profile barrier and method of installation is provided including a barrier door located in an opening defined by a frame having a pair of upwardly extending arms connected to a lower cross member. In an un-installed position, the lower cross member has a curvature biasing the upwardly extending arms outward. In an installed position, the curvature of the lower cross member is compressed to zero so that the lower cross member lays flat against a lower surface.

Claims

1. A barrier, comprising:

a frame having a pair of upright frame members connected to a lower cross member with a longitudinal axis running substantially in the direction of a greatest dimension of the lower cross member, the lower cross member having an upper member surface and a lower member surface; and

a barrier door connected to one of the upright frame members,

wherein, both the upper and lower member surfaces of the lower cross member have a predetermined curvature that extends substantial along the longitudinal axis such that the lower cross member is non-parallel with the longitudinal axis in an uninstalled position.

2. The barrier recited in claim 1, wherein a pair of gussets are disposed between the upright frame members and the lower cross member.

3. The barrier recited in claim 1, wherein the barrier door includes at least an upper barrier member and a lower barrier member connected to each other by a plurality of vertical barrier members.

4. The barrier recited in claim 1, wherein the barrier door is pivotally attached to at least one of the upright frame members by an upper hinge and a lower hinge that pivots about a pivot axis.

5. The barrier recited in claim 1, where in the uninstalled position, the upright frame members extend from the lower cross member at a predetermined outward angle of 90 degrees or greater.

6. The barrier recited in claim 1, where in an installed position, at least one of the upright frame members extends from the lower cross member at an angle of approximately 90 degrees.

7. The barrier recited in claim 2, where in an installed position, at least one of the upright frame members and a gusset extends from the lower cross member at an angle of approximately 90 degrees, and

an axial length of the gusset lies in a substantially horizontal position.

8. The barrier recited in claim 1, where in an installed position, the predetermined curvature is absent and the lower cross member lays flat against a lower surface.

9. The barrier recited in claim 2, wherein during installation, a force is gradually applied inward by a plurality of adjustable fasteners against a spring bias force in the upright frame members until:

the upright frame members extend substantially perpendicular to the lower cross member, and the lower cross member lies flush against a lower surface; and

an axial length of the gussets approaches a substantially horizontal position.

10. The barrier recited in claim 1, wherein the lower cross member is a thin low-profile bar with a beveled upper surface.

11. The barrier recited in claim 10, wherein the lower member surface of the thin low-profile bar is flat.

12. The barrier recited in claim 10, wherein the lower member surface of the thin low-profile bar further comprises a convex recess into which a rigid support bar is fastened.

13. The barrier recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a handle mounted to the barrier door that mates with a catch mechanism disposed on at least one of the upright frame members; and

a latch provided on the barrier door to further secure the barrier door to the frame.

14. A barrier assembly, comprising:

a frame having a pair of upright frame members connected to a low-profile lower cross member with a longitudinal axis running substantially in the direction of a greatest dimension of the lower cross member, the low-profile lower cross member having an upper member surface and a lower member surface; and

a barrier door pivotally connected to one of the upright frame members,

wherein, both the upper and lower member surfaces of the low-profile lower cross member have a predetermined curvature that extends substantially along the longitudinal axis such that the lower cross member is non-parallel with the longitudinal axis in an uninstalled position.

15. The barrier assembly recited in claim 14, wherein a pair of gussets are disposed between the upright frame members and the low-profile lower cross member.

16. The barrier assembly recited in claim 14, where in the uninstalled position, the upright frame members extend from the low-profile lower cross member at an outward angle of 90 degrees or greater.

17. The barrier assembly recited in claim 16, where in the installed position:

at least one of the upright frame members and a gusset disposed between the upright frame members and the low-profile lower cross member extends from the low-profile lower cross member at an angle of approximately 90 degrees;

an axial length of the gusset lies in a substantially horizontal position; and

the curvature in the low-profile lower cross member is absent and the low-profile lower cross member lays flat against a lower surface.

18. The barrier assembly recited in claim 14, wherein the low-profile lower cross member is a thin low-profile bar having a beveled upper surface.

19. A low-profile barrier assembly, comprising:

a frame having a lower cross member having an upper member surface and a lower member surface, the lower cross member connected at its ends to a pair of gussets, the gussets connected to a pair of upright frame members, wherein a longitudinal axis runs substantially in the direction of a greatest dimension of the lower cross member; and

a barrier door connected to one of the upright frame members,

wherein, both the upper and lower member surfaces of the lower cross member have a predetermined curvature that extends substantially alone the longitudinal axis such that the lower cross member is non-parallel with the longitudinal axis in an uninstalled position.

20. The low-profile barrier assembly recited in claim 19, wherein the lower cross member is:

a thin low-profile bar having a beveled upper surface; and

connected to the gussets by a threaded fastener.