GB2144470A

GB2144470A - Safety gate

Info

Publication number: GB2144470A
Application number: GB08414512A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Peter Collins
Original assignee: HAGO PROD Ltd
Current assignee: HAGO PROD Ltd
Priority date: 1983-08-03
Filing date: 1984-06-07
Publication date: 1985-03-06
Also published as: GB8320886D0; GB8414512D0

Abstract

A safety gate 1, has adjustable uprights 2, connected by links 5 to abutment members 6, which are wedged in an opening by depressing the gate so that the links go over-centre. The gate is released by lifting. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Safety gate This invention relates to a safety gate for fitment between spaced supports, for example for use in doorways, stairways and the like.

Child safety barriers for placing in doorways have conventionally been of two types. They are either free standing barriers, which can be placed across a doorway or top of a stairway or in the form of gates which are fixed in position in the doorway, stairway or wherever.

Both of these types have disadvantages, however. The free standing type barriers can often be easily knocked over or pushed out of the way. The gate type barriers require that supports be fixed to the wall wherever they are to be used, and so cannot readily be moved to a different location.

According to the present invention there is provided a safety gate for fitment between spaced supports, the gate comprising a barrier member having a side face for engaging a first support, and an abutment member having an abutment face engaging a second support, the abutment member being pivotally connected to the barrier member so that pivotal movement between them causes extension or contraction of the distance between the side face and the abutment face. Preferably the abutment member is connected to the barrier member through an over centre linkage, for example by means of spaced parallel pivot rods whose opposite ends are pivotally located on the abutment member and the barrier member.

Most preferably the over centre linkage is in the form of a parallelogram linkage.

Preferably also the barrier member includes a further abutment member which is pivotally connected to a main barrier portion of the barrier member, said further abutment member having said side face for engaging the first support.

The barrier member is preferably adjustable in width so that the gate can fit between supports which are of non-standard spacing.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a safety barrier in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged front view of part of the barrier of Fig. 1 in the shut position; Figure 3 is an enlarged front view of part of the barrier of Fig. 1 in the open position.

Referring to the drawings, the safety gate of this embodiment of the invention has a central frame 1 made of wire rod. A pair of tubular metal side members 2 are mounted on a pair of horizontal crossrails 3 on the frame 1, the crossrail 3 ends being screw threaded and passing through bores in the side members 2.

Corresponding screw-threaded adjusters 4 are mounted on the crossrails 3 inboard of the side members 2 for setting the desired spacing between the opposite side members 2. A pair of pivot rods 5 connect each side member 2 to a respective tubular abutmenmt member 6. The horizontal crossrails 3 have end caps 7 fitted to retain the side members 2 on the crossrails 3.

In use the safety gate is first positioned between the two side posts of a doorway. The threaded adjusters 4 are then turned so as to bring the abutment members 6 into contact with the door posts. The frame 1 is then lifted slightly and the adjusters 4 moved slightly further out to maintain the abutment members 6 in position against the door posts. This puts the abutment members 6 and side members 2 in relationship to each other as shown in Fig.

3. At this stage the base of each abutment member 6 is resting on the ground while the base of each side member 2 is a small distance above the ground. To fix the barrier in position it is now a simple matter of pushing the frame 1 downwards so that the pivot linkages 5 go over centre and the base of each side member 2 comes into contact with the ground. At the same time the abutment members 6 are pushed tightly against the posts and held there by friction. The barrier is now in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and is held firmly in position by the compression force in the pivot linkages 5. To open the barrier again the frame 1 is lifted up to cause the pivot linkages 5 to go back over centre and hence release the compression.The initial position of the adjusters 4 can be easily varied to adjust the overall width of the gate for different widths of doorways, passageways, or whatever and to allow the barrier to be tensioned to a greater or lesser degree in use.

Thus the safety gate of this embodiment of the invention provides a barrier which is quickly and easily put into effect without the use of screws or other fixing means. The use of the gate does not cause defacing or damage to the doorway as it is held in position by wedging within the doorway with the planar side faces of the abutment members 6 engaging the planar side faces of the doorway.

If the safety gate is to be used elsewhere, for example in a different doorway or stairway it can be very easily disengaged and carried to its new location. The adjusters 6 allow simple alteration of the overall width of the gate to fit a range of doorway or stairway widths.

1. A safety gate for fitment between spaced supports, the gate comprising a barrier member having a side face for engaging a first support, and an abutment member having an abutment face for engaging a second support, the abutment member being pivotally

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Safety gate This invention relates to a safety gate for fitment between spaced supports, for example for use in doorways, stairways and the like. Child safety barriers for placing in doorways have conventionally been of two types. They are either free standing barriers, which can be placed across a doorway or top of a stairway or in the form of gates which are fixed in position in the doorway, stairway or wherever. Both of these types have disadvantages, however. The free standing type barriers can often be easily knocked over or pushed out of the way. The gate type barriers require that supports be fixed to the wall wherever they are to be used, and so cannot readily be moved to a different location. According to the present invention there is provided a safety gate for fitment between spaced supports, the gate comprising a barrier member having a side face for engaging a first support, and an abutment member having an abutment face engaging a second support, the abutment member being pivotally connected to the barrier member so that pivotal movement between them causes extension or contraction of the distance between the side face and the abutment face. Preferably the abutment member is connected to the barrier member through an over centre linkage, for example by means of spaced parallel pivot rods whose opposite ends are pivotally located on the abutment member and the barrier member. Most preferably the over centre linkage is in the form of a parallelogram linkage. Preferably also the barrier member includes a further abutment member which is pivotally connected to a main barrier portion of the barrier member, said further abutment member having said side face for engaging the first support. The barrier member is preferably adjustable in width so that the gate can fit between supports which are of non-standard spacing. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a safety barrier in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged front view of part of the barrier of Fig. 1 in the shut position; Figure 3 is an enlarged front view of part of the barrier of Fig. 1 in the open position. Referring to the drawings, the safety gate of this embodiment of the invention has a central frame 1 made of wire rod. A pair of tubular metal side members 2 are mounted on a pair of horizontal crossrails 3 on the frame 1, the crossrail 3 ends being screw threaded and passing through bores in the side members 2. Corresponding screw-threaded adjusters 4 are mounted on the crossrails 3 inboard of the side members 2 for setting the desired spacing between the opposite side members 2. A pair of pivot rods 5 connect each side member 2 to a respective tubular abutmenmt member 6. The horizontal crossrails 3 have end caps 7 fitted to retain the side members 2 on the crossrails 3. In use the safety gate is first positioned between the two side posts of a doorway. The threaded adjusters 4 are then turned so as to bring the abutment members 6 into contact with the door posts. The frame 1 is then lifted slightly and the adjusters 4 moved slightly further out to maintain the abutment members 6 in position against the door posts. This puts the abutment members 6 and side members 2 in relationship to each other as shown in Fig. 3. At this stage the base of each abutment member 6 is resting on the ground while the base of each side member 2 is a small distance above the ground. To fix the barrier in position it is now a simple matter of pushing the frame 1 downwards so that the pivot linkages 5 go over centre and the base of each side member 2 comes into contact with the ground. At the same time the abutment members 6 are pushed tightly against the posts and held there by friction. The barrier is now in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and is held firmly in position by the compression force in the pivot linkages 5. To open the barrier again the frame 1 is lifted up to cause the pivot linkages 5 to go back over centre and hence release the compression.The initial position of the adjusters 4 can be easily varied to adjust the overall width of the gate for different widths of doorways, passageways, or whatever and to allow the barrier to be tensioned to a greater or lesser degree in use. Thus the safety gate of this embodiment of the invention provides a barrier which is quickly and easily put into effect without the use of screws or other fixing means. The use of the gate does not cause defacing or damage to the doorway as it is held in position by wedging within the doorway with the planar side faces of the abutment members 6 engaging the planar side faces of the doorway. If the safety gate is to be used elsewhere, for example in a different doorway or stairway it can be very easily disengaged and carried to its new location. The adjusters 6 allow simple alteration of the overall width of the gate to fit a range of doorway or stairway widths. CLAIMS

1. A safety gate for fitment between spaced supports, the gate comprising a barrier member having a side face for engaging a first support, and an abutment member having an abutment face for engaging a second support, the abutment member being pivotally connected to the barrier member so that pivotal movement between them causes extension or contraction of the distance between the side face and the abutment face.

2. A safety gate according to Claim 1, wherein the abutment member is connected to the barrier member through an overcentre linkage.

3. A safety gate according to Claim 2, wherein the barrier member and the abutment member are connected through spaced parallel pivot rods.

4. A safety gate according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the barrier member includes a further abutment member which is pivotally connected to a main barrier portion of the barrier member, said further abutment member having said side face for engaging the first support.

5. A safety gate according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the barrier member is adjustable in width.

6. A safety gate according to Claim 5, wherein the barrier member has a side support which is connected to the remainder of the barrier member through a screw-threaded connection adjustable to alter the distance between them.

7. A safety gate for fitment between spaced supports, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.