GB651926A - Improvements in or relating to gates or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

651,926. Stair guards. HOPKINS & BUCKLAND, Ltd. July 24, 1948, Nos. 19862/48 and 589/49. [Class 20(iii)] [Also in Group I] A barrier or guard, particularly for fixing at the top or bottom of stairs to prevent accidents to children, comprises a rigid non-extensible framework having strut-like fixing means mounted at its top and expandible in the plane of the framework to locate the top of the gate by pressure on spaced abutments, with means preventing rotation of the framework about the fixing means. As shown in Fig. 1, two uprights a, a<SP>1</SP>, which are provided with feet a<SP>2</SP> are connected to a cross bar b and in the inverted U so formed a wire mesh grid c is attached as by welding at points d. The upper end of each upright is extended to form ring shaped sockets e, e' and a third such socket f<SP>1</SP> is attached to the bar b slightly off-centre. A tube g is secured in the sockets e, f<SP>1</SP> and slidably mounted in the outer end of this tube is an inner tube h which carries a rubber pad i<SP>2</SP> at its outer end in a cup i<SP>1</SP>. A series of holes are provided in the tube h so that it may be positioned by a pin j passing through a hole in the tube g. A rod m, Fig. 4 is secured in the inner end of tube g and slidably mounted over this rod and in the third socket e is a tube n which carries in its outer end a slidable inner tube p positioned by a pin p<SP>2</SP>. A cup q<SP>1</SP> carrying a rubber disc q<SP>2</SP> is adjustably fixed to the outer end of the tube n by means of a screw threaded pin. The tubes g, n are connected together by a lever k which is pivoted to the tube g and which has cam slots k<SP>2</SP> to engage a pin o carried by the tube n. The cam slots are arranged so that pressing the lever down forces the tubes g, n apart so that the rubber pads can engage both posts of a doorway or staircase to hold the gate in position; the tubes h, q and the cup q<SP>1</SP> are suitably positioned beforehand. The ends of the cam slots k<SP>2</SP> have a slight notch k<SP>3</SP> to provide an initial resistance to the raising of the lever k. In a modification the rod m may be omitted and the lever k pivoted to both tubes g, n to form a toggle the socket e having sufficient play to permit the misalignment of the tubes g, n when the lever k is raised to draw their ends together. In a further modification the tubes g, n are hinged together and a spring-pressed internal bolt is provided to lock the tubes in alignment. The Provisional Specification states that a hinge may be provided on one of the tubes g or n and a suction pad or other means used to attach the device to a door post, wall or other abutment.