GB2492224A - Shelf mounted shielding apparatus to shield equipment from young children - Google Patents

Abstract

A shielding apparatus for mounting to an open-front cabinet 23 or to open-front shelving to shield entertainment equipment, e.g. DVD players, hi-fi, television decoders etc, from young children comprises a vertically orientated protective screen 3 which is mounted to a pair of spaced apart rods which are telescopically received and retained in sleeves carried by a pair of clamps 5 fitted in spaced relation to each other to a forward edge of a shelf of a cabinet or shelving. Each clamp includes a restraining mechanism, e.g. ratchet and pawl or a screw clamp, serving selectively to prevent movement of its rod relative to its sleeve, and a manually operable member adapted to release the restraining mechanism, whereby release of both restraining mechanisms is required to allow the screen to move forwardly away from the shelf front to allow manual access to the equipment shielded by it. The screen allows passage therethrough of an infra-red beam directed towards the screen by a hand-held remote control. When retracted, the screen prevents young children from accessing the equipment located on the shelf or in the cabinet.

Description

SHIELDING EQUIPMENT FROM YOUNG CHILDREN

This disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for shielding equipment from young children, and, more particularly, to apparatus adapted for mounting to an open-front cabinet or to open-front shelving for entertainment equipment to shield such equipment from young children.

The living room of a modem home is likely to include one or more pieces of entertainment equipment mounted in an open-front cabinet or on open-front shelving.

Examples include, but are not limited to, hi-fl units and components, DAB radios, satellite television decoders, FreeviewTM decoders, and video recorders and players of various formats, including, but not limited to, CD, DVD, Blu-rayT", and MP3.

Small children left alone in a living room, even for the shortest period, appear irresistibly attracted to such equipment. There is an evident need for apparatus that can shield such equipment from the attention of young children, both to avoid damage to the equipment and to avoid the child injuring or electrocuting themselves. Substituting a closed cabinet for an open-fronted cabinet or for open-front shelving, and locking such cabinet, is not a feasible solution, both on cost grounds and because such equipment is generally operated by a hand-held infra-red remote control by an adult from a seated position on the other side of the room from the equipment.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided apparatus adapted for mounting to an open-front cabinet or to open-front shelving for entertainment equipment to shield such equipment from young children, the apparatus comprising: a pair of clamps adapted to be fitted in spaced relation to each other to a forward edge of a shelf of such cabinet or shelving, each clamp including a sleeve mounting a rod arranged for telescopic movement into and out of the sleeve, the rod having a distal end and a proximal end; a protective screen adapted to be mounted to the distal ends of the rods so as to extend in a vertical orientation across the said open-front, and being formed of a material that allows passage therethrough of an infra-red beam directed towards the screen by a hand-held remote control for such equipment; and each clamp including a restraining mechanism serving selectively to prevent movement of its rod relative to its sleeve, and a manually operable member adapted to release the restraining mechanism, whereby release of both restraining mechanisms is required to allow the screen to move forwardly to allow manual access to the equipment shielded by it.

In one embodiment a first spring is located at the proximal end of the rod to bias the distal end of the rod forwardly out of the sleeve; and the restraining mechanism comprises a catch manually releasable against spring bias provided by a second spring.

However, the first such spring is merely optional rather than necessary, since, in the absence of the first spring a user may still move the screen forwardly of the edge of the cabinet or shelving manually when access to the entertainment equipment is required.

Further, the second spring is also not essential if the restraining mechanism is of a kind that will operate to prevent movement of the rod relative to the sleeve in both directions until released, whereupon movement is enabled in either direction, whether the first spring is present or not.

In one embodiment the catch serves as a pawl of a pawl and ratchet mechanism, the ratchet being mounted on the rod. However, a simple screw clamp operating on a side surface of the rod works perfectly well, and is simpler to construct.

Similarly in providing a method for protectively shielding entertainment equipment mounted in an open-front cabinet or on open front shelving from small children; the method may comprise mounting a protective screen to extend substantially across the open front of the cabinet or of the shelf, the screen being coupled to the distal ends of a pair of spaced rods arranged for telescopic motion in respective sleeves, the sleeves being clamped to the cabinet or shelving, and the rods being selectively prevented for movement relative to the sleeves by restraining mechanisms that require release by manually operable members to allow the rods and screen to move forwardly to allow physical access to the protectively shielded equipment, the screen being formed of a material that allows passage therethrough of an infra-red beam directed towards the screen by a hand-held remote control for such equipment.

Embodiment of shielding apparatus, constructed in accordance with our teaching are more particularly described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying generally schematic drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows soft cushioning edging formed as a continuous ring; Fig. 2 shows a protective screen; Fig. 3 shows the screen of Fig. 2 with the edging of Fig. 1 applied thereto; Fig. 4 shows a clamp and associated parts; Fig. 5 shows a shielding apparatus comprising two clamps as shown in Fig. 4 coupled to an edged screen as shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 6 shows an open-front cabinet; Fig. 7 shows the apparatus of Fig. 5 mounted to a shelf of the cabinet of Fig. 6, the apparatus being shown in the condition in which the protective screen shields equipment mounted on the said shelf; Fig. 8 shows a view generally similar to that of Fig. 7, but with the protective screen in a forward position in which manual access is permitted to equipment mounted on the said shelf; Fig. 9 is a scrap sectional view showing a pawl and ratchet mechanism of a catch.

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of a clamp; Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the clamp of Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the clamp of Figs. 10 and 11 with the rod withdrawn from its sleeve; Fig. 13 is a similar perspective view to Fig. 12 of the clamp of Figs. 10 to 12 with the rod inserted within the sleeve and shown in an extended condition; Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken along the line XIV-XIV in Fig. 10; Fig. 15 shows a different embodiment of clamp in a perspective view; Fig. 16 shows a side elevational view of the clamp of Fig. 15; Fig. 17 shows an exploded diagram of the clamp of Figs. 15 and 16; Fig. 18 shows an elevational view from the rear of the clamp of Figs. 15 to 17; Fig. 19 shows a side elevational view of the clamp of Figs. 15 to 18; and Fig. 20 shows an underneath plan view of the clamp of Figs. 15 to 19.

Soft protective edging 1 is formed from a rubber or elastomeric plastics material and configured so that it may be stretched slightly to fit around and over the edges 2 of a protective screen 3 cut to a desired shape. The screen includes openings 4 for a purpose to be explained. Screen 3 is formed of a material through which an infra-red beam from a hand-held entertainment equipment remote control may pass without being attenuated to such an extent as to be no longer operable. A suitable material is commercially available clear acrylic plastics material with a thickness of 0.5cm or less.

Clamp 5 shown in Fig. 4 is of generally G-form, having upper 6 and lower 7 limbs adapted respectively to extend above and below a shelf to which the clamp is fitted, and screw fittings 8, here two in number for mounting the clamp in a fixed position to such a shelf edge. The fittings may simply clamp the clamp 5 to the shelf, or may be formed as screws to be screwed into the material of the shelf from its underside. Upper limb 6 of the clamp comprises a sleeve 9 mounting a rod 10 arranged for telescopic movement into and out of the sleeve. Rod 10 has a distal end 11 and a proximal end 12. A spring 13 is located within the sleeve 9 at proximal end 12 of rod 10 to bias distal end 11 of the rod 10 forwardly and out of the sleeve. Distal end 11 of rod 10 is bolted to screen 3 using one of the openings 4. Also shown at 14 in Fig. 4 is a catch adapted until manually released to prevent movement of rod 10 forwardly under the bias of spring 13.

As best shown in Fig. 9, catch 14 suitably comprises a pawl 15, while rod 10 is formed with ratchet teeth 16 adapted to co-operate with the pawl 15 such that the pawl prevents forward movement of the rod 10 out of sleeve 9 unless released, while allowing reverse movement of the rod 10 into sleeve 9 if pushed in that direction against the bias of spring 13. Pawl 15 is reciprocally mounted in a housing 16 of the catch, the housing having a blind opening 17 mounting a spring 18 in its closed end 19 biasing the pawl 15 into contact with the ratchet teeth 16. The pawl suitably includes a projection 20 that extends through a slot 21 in a side wall 22 of the housing for manual operation to push the pawl upwardly against the bias of spring 18 to release the catch.

Fig. 6 shows an open-front cabinet 23 to a shelf 24 of which apparatus comprising a screen 3 and two clamps 5 may be fitted as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Fig. 7 shows the apparatus with respective rods 10 pushed as far into their respective sleeves 9 as possible so that screen 3 substantially covers the open space across the front of the shelf whereby a child is unable to reach entertainment equipment placed on that shelf With the screen so placed, an adult seated across the living room from the cabinet may control the protected entertainment equipment by operating the hand-held remote control.

When an adult requires physical access to the equipment, for example to change a DVD, they must release both catches 14 simultaneously so that springs 13 may push rods forwardly out of the sleeves 9, calTying the screen 3 with them to the open position shown in Fig. 8. They achieve this by using their respective hands to simultaneously lift both pawl projections 20 against the bias of their respective springs 18. As soon as they release the projections 20, the pawls 15 return under the bias of springs 18 back into operative relation with the ratchet teeth 16 on rods 10. With the ratchet teeth angled as shown in Fig. 9, the screen 3 can be returned to its Fig. 7 condition simply by pushing the screen towards the open front of the cabinet. Since young children will generally be unable simultaneously to release both catches 14, the arrangement described is essentially child-proof.

It will be appreciated that numerous variations of the apparatus described above will be possible. The screen may take other configurations and be formed of other materials, provided only that a beam from a remote control may pass through the screen without being attenuated to the extent that it is no longer operable. The springs providing bias for the rods and for the catches need not be helical springs, as illustrated for spring 18, but may take other forms. Engagement between the catch and its associated rod need not be via a pawl-and-ratchet, provided that engagement between catch and rod is sufficiently certain to prevent the rod moving forwardly until the catch is released. Thus in one alternative embodiment the catch may comprise a member with a manually tumable head received in a housing, the distal end of the member engaging the rod. The member may be a screw member received in an internally threaded housing. Alternatively, it may form a bayonet fitting with the housing. It will also be appreciated by a person of ordinary skill in this field, that the screen may shield equipment placed on a shelf below the shelf to which the clamp is applied.

When the apparatus is employed to shield entertainment equipment mounted on open-front shelving, the shield suitably includes wing portions to extend alongside the equipment into the shelving so that a child is prevented from access to the equipment from the sides as well as from the front.

An alternative embodiment of clamp 33 is shown in Fig. 9. It has a similar structure to clamp 5, and so like numerals are employed for like parts. Upper limb 6 of the clamp 33 comprises a sleeve 9 mounting a rod 10 arranged for telescopic movement into and out of the sleeve. Unlike clamp 5, there is no spring located in the sleeve 9 of clamp 33. As shown in Fig. 12 rod 10 has a distal end 11 and a proximal end 12. Distal end 11 of rod 10 is bolted to a screen (omitted from the drawings for clarity of illustration) using a fastener 25 attached to the distal end 11. It will be noted that in this embodiment, both the rod 10 and its associated sleeve 9 are of generally square cross-section. The proximal end 12 of rod 10 has slightly larger dimensions than the remainder, and a flat strip 26 is shown attached to the underside of square-section rod 10. As shown in Fig. 13 when the rod has been inserted into sleeve 9 during assembly of the clamp, shims 27 are inserted into the spaces remaining to the left, right and above rod 10 between the rod and the inner surface of the sleeve 9, and fastened in position by grub screws 28.

A restraining mechanism 29 is mounted on the top surface of sleeve 9 selectively to prevent movement of rod 10 relative to sleeve 9. As shown in Fig. 14 it does this by employing a screw clamp 30 provided with a manually operable member, here a handle 31 which may be turned to move a pad 32 on the end of screw clamp 30 into facial contact with the upper surface of rod 10. To release the restraining mechanism, the manually operable member is manually turned by its handle 31 to unscrew the screw clamp 30.

Fig. 15 shows a different embodiment of clamp 44. It has a similar structure to clamps 5 and 33. However, it differs in that the restraining mechanism 29 is now controlled by a screw fitting 34 in which a headed bolt 35 and is threadedly received in a nut 36 welded to upper surface 37 of upper limb 6 of sleeve 9.

In this embodiment the rod 10 is formed from a square-sectioned hollow extrusion 38 to which flat strips 39 are applied to the sides and a flat strip 26 applied to the underneath surface. A strip 40 is applied to the top surface of extrusion 38, and is provided with a longitudinal groove or cut-out 41 adapted to receive the end of headed bolt of screw fitting 34. This means that when headed bolt 35 is released just sufficiently for the rod 10 to slide forwardly, end 42 of groove or cut-out 41 will serve to prevent rod being fully extended out of sleeve 9.

The embodiment of Figs. 15 to 20 is significantly easier to manufacture, and uses less material, and so will be less expensive to fabricate. The screw fitting 34 is both simpler and less bulky than screw clamp 30 with its handle 31 and pad 32. Lower limb 7 in this embodiment is made by bending a flat bar into a generally U-shape 43, with one side of the U 43 forming the limb 7 proper and the other, and here longer, side of the U 43 being welded to the underside of sleeve 9.

In practice two such clamps 33 or 44 will be employed in spaced relation on a forward edge of a shelf of a cabinet or on shelving, with the protective screen (not illustrated) mounted to the distal ends of the rods and extending in a vertical orientation across an open-front of the cabinet or shelving, similar to the anangement shown in Fig. 7.

The screen need not be planar; a curved screen could be employed when the cabinet or shelving has a curved forward edge, but the spaced clamps must be mounted so as to be parallel to each other.

When an adult requires physical access to equipment positioned in the cabinet or on the shelving behind the screen, for example to change a DVD, they must release both restraining mechanisms 29 so that rods 10 can move freely in the sleeves 9, the adult can then manually move the screen attached to the distal ends 11 of the rods 10 forward allowing access to the equipment. When the adult no longer needs access the screen can be returned to its previous position, protecting the equipment, and both screw clamps 30 can be tightened to effectively hold the screen in place.

As before, when the apparatus is employed to shield entertainment equipment mounted on open-front shelving, the shield suitably includes wing portions to extend alongside the equipment into the shelving so that a child is prevented from access to the equipment from the sides as well as from the front.

Claims (7)

1. Claims 1. An apparatus adapted for mounting to an open-front cabinet or to open-front shelving for entertainment equipment to shield such equipment from young children, the apparatus comprising: a pair of clamps adapted to be fitted in spaced relation to each other to a forward edge of a shelf of such cabinet or shelving, each clamp including a sleeve mounting a rod arranged for telescopic movement into and out of the sleeve, the rod having a distal end and a proximal end; a protective screen adapted to be mounted to the distal ends of the rods so as to extend in a vertical orientation across the said open-front, and being formed of a material that allows passage therethrough of an infra-red beam directed towards the screen by a hand-held remote control for such equipment; and each clamp including a restraining mechanism serving selectively to prevent movement of its rod relative to its sleeve, and a manually operable member adapted to release the restraining mechanism, whereby release of both restraining mechanisms is required to allow the screen to move forwardly to allow manual access to the equipment shielded by it.
2. 2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein a first spring is situated at the proximal end of the rod to bias the distal end of the rod forwardly out of the sleeve; and the restraining mechanism comprises a catch manually releasable against spring bias provided by a second spring.
3. 3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the catch serves as a pawl of a pawl and ratchet mechanism, the ratchet being mounted on the rod.
4. 4. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the restraining mechanism comprises a screw clamp operating on a side surface of the rod.
5. 5. A method for protectively shielding entertainment equipment mounted in an open-front cabinet or on open front shelving from small children; the method comprising mounting a protective screen to extend substantially across the open front of the cabinet or of the shelf, the screen being coupled to the distal ends of a pair of spaced rods arranged for telescopic motion in respective sleeves, the sleeves being clamped to the cabinet or shelving, and the rods being selectively prevented for movement relative to the sleeves by restraining mechanisms that require release by manually operable members to allow the rods and screen to move forwardly to allow physical access to the protectively shielded equipment, the screen being formed of a material that allows passage therethrough of an infra-red beam directed towards the screen by a hand-held remote control for such equipment.
6. 6. An apparatus adapted for mounting to an open-front cabinet or to open-front shelving the supporting device, the apparatus being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
7. 7. A method for protectively shielding entertainment equipment mounted in an open-front cabinet or on open front shelving from small children, the method being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.