Safety guardrail with door easy to open

Abstract

An easy-to-open safety guardrail includes a transverse vertical frame member having an upper groove and a lower groove that are open toward an interior of the guardrail. The guardrail further includes a guardrail having a latch mechanism, the latch mechanism including: a vertically oriented link including a bottom plate having a slot defined therein and configured to be displaceable in a vertical plane; and a release lever having a protrusion slidably engaged within the slot. An upper outwardly-biased pin and a lower outwardly-biased pin are connected to the upper and lower portions of the link and extend laterally outwardly to engage the upper and lower grooves. The pin is configured to be displaceable in a horizontal plane.

Description

Cross-references to related applications

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 486,609, filed February 23, 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates generally to safety railings, and more specifically, to safety railings having easily openable doors. Background Technology

[0003] Safety railings are used as temporary barriers across doorways, staircases, windows, and similar openings to prevent children and animals from crossing them. In some situations, it can be difficult to reach or open the door associated with the railing when your hands are full, such as carrying groceries, holding a baby, or holding other items. Therefore, an easy-to-open safety railing is needed. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention, a simplified overview of the innovation is presented below. This overview is not a comprehensive summary of the invention. It is neither intended to identify key or essential elements of the invention nor to describe the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that follows.

[0005] The embodiments disclose a safety barrier that can be opened without the use of hands. The door of the safety barrier can be pivoted open using a user's foot via a release lever near the bottom of the safety barrier. In one embodiment, the release lever may be located in the middle or top of the safety barrier and can be released using other parts of the body, such as the elbow. In one embodiment, by actuating the release lever, a vertical link within the door frame causes a pin to retract from a groove on the barrier frame, thereby allowing the door to pivot and swing open. In some embodiments, the door can be pivoted open by actuating a latch near the top of the safety barrier and actuating the door of the barrier, thereby causing the pin to retract via a similar mechanism as described above, thereby allowing the door to pivot and swing open easily and efficiently.

[0006] An easily openable safety barrier includes a horizontal-vertical frame member having an upper recess and a lower recess facing an internal opening of the barrier. The barrier also includes a latching mechanism comprising: a vertically oriented link including a bottom plate having a slot defined therein and configured to be displaceable in a vertical plane; and a release lever having a protrusion slidably engaged within the slot. An upper outwardly biased pin and a lower outwardly biased pin are connected to the upper and lower portions of the link and extend laterally outward, thereby engaging the upper and lower recesses. The pins are configured to be displaceable in a horizontal plane.

[0007] These and other features and advantages will become apparent from reading the following detailed description and viewing the associated drawings. It should be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are explanatory in nature and not limiting of the claimed aspects. Attached Figure Description

[0008] The invention can be more fully understood by referring to the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

[0009] Figures 1A to 1B An example of an easy-to-install safety barrier implementation plan is provided.

[0010] Figures 2A to 2H An example of an implementation plan for an easily accessible safety barrier is provided.

[0011] Figures 3A to 3B Another implementation scheme for an easily accessible safety barrier is illustrated.

[0012] Figures 4A to 4B The upper pin assembly and lower pin assembly of an embodiment of a safety barrier door are depicted. Detailed Implementation

[0013] This subject matter is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which similar reference numerals are used to denote similar elements. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth for purposes of explanation in order to provide a full understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent, however, that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form to aid in the description of the invention.

[0014] Figures 1A to 1BAn embodiment of an easily installable safety barrier 10 is illustrated. As shown, the safety barrier 10 includes a space or opening 12 for accommodating a door 12. The door 12 of the safety barrier 10 can be attached to various frame elements, such as vertical posts 14A, 14B, 14C, 14D, or horizontal posts 14E. Although two vertical posts 14 are shown on each side of the door 12, it should be understood that more or fewer posts 14 may be present as needed, depending on the size of the doorway, staircase, or corridor. Furthermore, the door 12 can be mounted to the posts 14 or other parts of the frame of the safety barrier 10 by suitable mechanisms such as hinges and latches, which will not be described further herein. When the door 12 can be pivoted and swung open, passage is made to allow children and animals to pass through. Although the safety barrier 10 shown appears to be made primarily of metal, it should be understood that the safety barrier 10 can be made of any suitable material, including, for example, wood or plastic.

[0015] In one embodiment, the safety barrier 10 includes at least four mounting modules 20 positioned near each corner of the safety barrier 10. For example, the disclosed safety barrier 10 includes an upper left mounting module 20A, an upper right mounting module 20B, a lower left mounting module 20C, and a lower right mounting module 20D. Although four mounting modules 20 are shown, with two mounting modules near the upper portion of the safety barrier 10 and two mounting modules near the lower portion of the safety barrier 10, in some embodiments, the safety barrier 10 may have only upper mounting modules 20A, 20B or lower mounting modules 20C, 20D for mounting the safety barrier 10 to a doorway or passageway. In one embodiment, the safety barrier 10 may have only mounting modules near one side of the safety barrier 10 (e.g., 20A and 20C or the left side). In another embodiment, the safety barrier 10 may have only mounting modules 20B, 20D near the right side.

[0016] Figures 2A to 2H An example of an implementation scheme for an easily accessible safety barrier 10 is shown. For example... Figure 2AAs best shown, the safety barrier 10 includes a door 12 pivotally mounted (e.g., via hinges) to a frame 24 and a sliding lock 21 for securing the door 12 to the frame 24. In one embodiment, the safety barrier 10 includes a latching mechanism operated by a release lever 23 positioned near the bottom or lower portion of the door 12. The release lever 23 can be actuated using a user's foot as a foot-opening mechanism or using other parts of the user's body (e.g., the elbow). Although the release lever 23 is shown near the bottom or lower portion of the door 12, it should be understood that the release lever 23 can also be located near the top or upper portion of the door 12, such that the release lever 23 can be actuated without using the hand (e.g., the elbow). This can be particularly important, especially when the user's hands are carrying groceries or holding items such as a baby. In yet another embodiment, the release lever 23 can also be actuated or operated using the user's hand. In one embodiment, the foot opening mechanism may be located on the side where the sliding lock 21 of the safety barrier 10 is located, rather than on the hinge side (not shown), which would be the opposite side of the door 12.

[0017] like Figure 2B As shown, release lever 23 is operatively connected to vertical link 25, which may also be part of door 12. Actuating release lever 23 will cause vertical link 25 to engage certain elements, which in turn can engage or disengage other elements, thereby allowing door 12 of safety barrier 10 to swing open. This will be described in more detail in the following figures and discussion.

[0018] Figures 2C to 2E An example is shown of a mechanism for releasing the lower portion of door 12 from frame 24, while Figures 2F to 2G An example is shown of a mechanism for releasing the upper portion of door 12 from frame 24. For example... Figure 2C As shown, the release lever 23 includes a protrusion 26, which may optionally be an integrated portion of the release lever 23, while the vertical link 25 includes a plate 27, which may optionally be an integrated portion of the vertical link 25. The plate 27 may be part of the vertical link 25 and has a slot for receiving the protrusion 26. Although the lower and upper portions are shown and discussed separately, it should be understood that the door opening mechanism is integral because the vertical link 25 is a single-piece component. The separation of the parts is purely for illustrative purposes.

[0019] In such Figure 2CIn the locking configuration shown (e.g., door 12 locked to frame 24), the lower pin 28B of door 12 engages with the lower recess 29B of frame 24. It is this engagement, where pin 28B is received within recess 29B, that prevents door 12 from swinging freely from frame 24. When pin 28B extends into recess 29B, door 12 is locked to frame 24. When pin 28B retracts from recess 29B, door 12 can be unlocked from frame 24 and thus can pivot and swing freely. Pin 28B can be slidably and mechanically engaged with vertical link 25.

[0020] To unlock door 12 from frame 24, one can... Figure 2D The arrow in the diagram indicates the actuation of the release lever 23. In one embodiment, although the arrow is shown pointing to the right, it will be understood and appreciated that the release lever 23 can be actuated in any direction depending on the position of the slot in plate 27.

[0021] Now back Figure 2D Once the release lever 23 is actuated to the right as shown in the figure, the corresponding protrusion 26 is also actuated in the same direction. In this case, the protrusion 26... Figure 2C Move the initial position in Figure 2D The middle position is shown. Next, due to the slot in plate 27, protrusion 26 moves freely to the opposite end of the slot.

[0022] In other words, although the protrusion 26 was previously accommodated within one end of the slot of the plate 27, by moving the protrusion 26 to the middle of the slot, the protrusion 26 can slide / slide to the opposite end of the slot, which in turn allows the vertical link 25 to move, since the plate 27 is integrated as part of the vertical link 25.

[0023] During operation, once the vertical link 25 moves upward, due to its slidable and mechanical engagement with the pin 28B, the vertical link 25 can cause the pin 28B to retract from the groove 29B, as... Figure 2E As best illustrated. Once retracted, the lower pin 28B of door 12 no longer engages with the lower groove 29B of frame 24. Therefore, the lower portion of door 12 can now move freely relative to frame 24.

[0024] Now for reference Figures 2F to 2G This illustrates a mechanism for releasing the upper portion of door 12 from frame 24. Figure 2FA locking mechanism is shown (e.g., door 12 locks to frame 24), whereby the upper pin 28A of door 12 engages with the upper recess 29A of frame 24, similar to the lower pin / recess 28B / 29B combination discussed above. As discussed above, when the vertical link 25 moves upward due to the slots of protrusion 26 and plate 27, and because the upper portion of the vertical link 25 is slidably and mechanically engaged with the upper pin 28A, it similarly causes the upper pin 28A to retract from the upper recess 29A, as... Figure 2G As best illustrated. Therefore, when the upper pin 28A disengages from or retracts from the upper recess 29A, the upper portion of the door 12 is now free to move relative to the frame 24, as shown. Figure 2H As illustrated. In this case, this can be achieved even when the sliding lock 21 is in its extended and locked position. In other words, it is not necessary to first unlock the security gate 10 with the sliding lock 21, and the foot opening mechanism still allows the door 12 of the security gate 10 to pivot and swing open without first disengaging the sliding lock 21.

[0025] Figures 3A to 3B Another embodiment of the easily openable safety barrier 10 is illustrated. For example... Figure 3A As best illustrated, the user initially disengages the sliding lock 21 by retracting it (compare). Figure 2G and Figure 3A Once disengaged, the door 12 of the safety barrier 10 can be actuated upwards, such as... Figure 3B As indicated by the arrow in the diagram. It is not necessary to push the entire door 12 upwards; only the portion of door 12 closest to the sliding lock 21 needs to be pushed upwards. Due to the tapered profile of the pin 28 and the corresponding recess 29 (as best illustrated by the dashed circle), when the door 12 is actuated upwards, the pin 28 slides upwards and out of the recess 29. This can be done by the user's hand or foot. Once the pin 28 has slid upwards and out of the recess 29, the door 12 can be pivoted and swung open, similar to... Figure 2H The situation is illustrated. Those skilled in the art should understand that, although... Figure 3B Only the upper pin 28A and upper recess 29A are shown, but the corresponding lower pin 28B and lower recess 29B will also exhibit the same behavior, as both recesses 29 have similar tapered profiles. Those skilled in the art should also understand that this upward movement of the door 12 involves an actual force being applied to the frame of the door 12, as described above. Figures 2A to 2H The previously described foot-opening mechanism involves rod release via a vertical link 25. Therefore, even when the protrusion 26 is in the position of... Figure 2C The locked position shown can also be manually operated, and Figures 3A to 3B The foot opening mechanism does not require a protrusion 26 from Figure 2C Move to the position shown Figure 2D At the position shown, the gate 12 of the safety barrier 10 can pivot and swing freely to open. In some embodiments, it is possible to utilize, for example... Figures 2A to 2H and Figures 3A to 3B Various combinations of door opening mechanisms are shown.

[0026] Figure 4A and Figure 4B The upper and lower pin assemblies are depicted, showing pins 28A and 28B biased outwards, with corresponding biasing members 41 and 47 engaging the inward ends of pins 28A and 28B. Also shown, in an exemplary embodiment, a vertical biasing member 43 may be included to push the vertical link 25 downwards. Similarly, a horizontal biasing member 45 may be installed to push the release lever 23 inwards toward the guardrail 10.

[0027] While exemplary embodiments have been specifically shown and described, those skilled in the art will understand that changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the scope of the embodiments covered by the appended claims. For example, other useful implementations may be achieved by performing the steps of the disclosed technology in a different order and / or by combining the components of the disclosed system in a different manner and / or by replacing or supplementing them with other components. Therefore, other embodiments are also within the scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A latching mechanism for a guardrail, the guardrail being hinged to a first transverse vertical frame member, the latching mechanism comprising: A vertically oriented link, the link including a bottom plate having a slot defined therein and configured to be displaceable in a vertical plane; A release lever having a protrusion that slidably engages within the slot; A first pin, connected to the upper portion of the connecting rod and extending laterally toward the second transverse vertical frame member, the pin being displaceable in a horizontal plane and biased outward, the pin also having an outwardly extending end for engaging an upper groove associated with the upper portion of the second vertical frame member; and A second pin, connected to the lower portion of the connecting rod and extending laterally toward the second transverse vertical frame member, is displaceable in a horizontal plane and biased outwards. The pin also has an outwardly extending end for engaging a lower groove associated with the lower portion of the second vertical frame member. The vertically oriented connecting rod is moved upward, causing the first pin and the second pin to move laterally inward.

2. The latching mechanism of claim 1, wherein the upper groove and the lower groove are configured with vertical ramps.

3. A guardrail, the guardrail comprising: First horizontal and vertical frame components; The second horizontal vertical frame member has an upper groove and a lower groove that open toward the inside of the second horizontal vertical frame member; The guardrail has a first end and a second end, the first end being hingedly attached to the first horizontal vertical frame member; as well as A latching mechanism, associated with the second end, the latching mechanism comprising: A vertically oriented link, the link including a bottom plate having a slot defined therein and configured to be displaceable in a vertical plane; A release lever having a protrusion that slidably engages within the slot; A first pin, connected to the upper portion of the connecting rod and extending laterally toward the second transverse vertical frame member, the pin being displaceable in a horizontal plane and biased outward, the pin also having an outwardly extending end for engaging the upper recess; and A second pin, connected to the lower portion of the connecting rod and extending laterally toward the second transverse vertical frame member, is displaceable in a horizontal plane and biased outwards. The pin also has an outwardly extending end for engaging the lower groove. The vertically oriented link is moved upward, causing the first pin and the second pin to move laterally inward, thereby allowing the guardrail to open.

4. The guardrail of claim 3, wherein the upper groove and the lower groove are configured with vertical ramps such that engagement of the ramps with the first pin and the second pin causes the pins to shift inward.

5. A latching mechanism for a guardrail having a vertical frame member, the latching mechanism being operable to release the latch by vertical displacement and comprising: A rod that can be vertically displaced; as well as A first pin extends outward from the upper portion of the vertically displaceable rod and has an outwardly biased end, the outwardly biased end being capable of engaging a first groove associated with the upper portion of the vertical frame member. The first pin is displaceable in a horizontal plane. The upward displacement of the vertically movable rod causes the first pin to disengage from the first groove.

6. The latching mechanism of claim 5, further comprising: A second pin extends outward from the lower portion of the vertically displaceable rod and has an outwardly biased end, the outwardly biased end being capable of engaging a second groove associated with the lower portion of the vertical frame member. The second pin is displaceable in a horizontal plane. The upward displacement of the vertically movable rod causes the second pin to disengage from the second groove.

7. The latching mechanism of claim 5, further comprising: A plate, associated with the vertically displaceable rod, the plate having a slot defined therein.

8. The latching mechanism of claim 7, further comprising: A rod having a protrusion that slidably engages within the slot.

9. The latching mechanism of claim 8, further comprising: A second pin extends outward from the lower portion of the vertically displaceable rod and has an outwardly biased end, the outwardly biased end being capable of engaging a second groove associated with the lower portion of the vertical frame member. The second pin is displaceable in a horizontal plane. The upward displacement of the vertically movable rod causes the second pin to disengage from the second groove.

10. The latching mechanism of claim 9, wherein the upper groove and the lower groove are configured with vertical ramps such that engagement of the ramps with the first pin and the second pin causes the pins to shift inward.

11. A latching mechanism for a guardrail, the guardrail being hinged to a first transverse vertical frame member, the latching mechanism comprising: A vertically oriented link, the link including a bottom plate having a slot defined therein and configured to be displaceable in a vertical plane; A release lever having a protrusion that slidably engages within the slot; as well as At least one pin, connected to the link and extending laterally toward the second transverse vertical frame member, the pin being displaceable in a horizontal plane and biased outward, the pin also having an outwardly extending end for engaging at least one groove associated with the second vertical frame member; and The vertically oriented link is moved upward, causing at least one pin to move laterally inward.

12. The latching mechanism of claim 11, wherein the at least one pin comprises: A first pin is connected to the upper portion of the connecting rod; as well as The second pin is connected to the lower part of the connecting rod.

13. The latching mechanism of claim 11, wherein the at least one groove is configured with a vertical ramp such that engagement of the ramp with the at least one pin causes the pin to shift inward.

Images