US 12,559,991 B2Granted

Minimalist secondary barrier

AssigneesAirbus Operations GmbH, Airbus Americas, Inc.

InventorsFrank Cordes, John Brewster, Cary Brown

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Abstract

Systems and methods for providing a barrier assembly that prevents access to a secure area can include a panel movable between an open position and a closed position in which the panel substantially obstructs a passageway, but where the panel width is less than the width of the passageway. A first locking pin is movable from a retracted position within the panel to an extended position protruding out of the top edge of the panel, and a second locking pin is movable from a retracted position within the panel to an extended position protruding out of the bottom edge of the panel. An actuator is on or within the panel and is configured to trigger extension of the locking pins to respective extended positions when the actuator contacts a stopper in the passageway. The barrier assembly can further prevent retraction of the locking pins for a predetermined time delay.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A barrier assembly configured to prevent access to a secure area, the barrier assembly comprising:

a panel movable between an open position and a closed position in which the panel substantially obstructs a passageway, wherein the panel has a width that is less than a width of the passageway;
a first locking pin movable between a retracted position within a top edge of the panel and an extended position protruding out of the top edge of the panel, wherein the first locking pin is configured to be secured in a first pin receiver in an upper structural part of the passageway when in the extended position;
a second locking pin movable between a retracted position within a bottom edge of the panel and an extended position protruding out of the bottom edge of the panel, wherein the second locking pin is configured to be secured in a second pin receiver that is in a lower structural part of the passageway when in the extended position;
one or more pin biasing element configured to apply a biasing force that urges one or both of the first locking pin or the second locking pin towards the respective extended positions;
a release latch movable between an engaged position in which the release latch engages one of the first locking pin or the second locking pin to hold the first locking pin and the second locking pin in respective retracted positions against the biasing force and a disengaged position in which the release latch is disengaged from the one of the first locking pin or the second locking pin;
and
an actuator on or within the panel, wherein the actuator is configured to move the release latch to the disengaged position and allow the extension of the first locking pin and the second locking pin to the respective extended positions.

4 more elements

A method for preventing access to a secure area, the method comprising:

moving a panel to a closed position in which the panel substantially obstructs a passageway, wherein the panel is hingedly connected to a first wall of the passageway;
and
in response to moving the panel to the closed position:
moving a first locking pin from a retracted position within a top edge of the panel to an extended position protruding out of the top edge of the panel, wherein the first locking pin is secured in a first pin receiver in an upper structural part of the passageway;
and
moving a second locking pin from a retracted position within a bottom edge of the panel to an extended position protruding out of the bottom edge of the panel, wherein the second locking pin is secured in a second pin receiver that is in a lower structural part of the passageway;
wherein the panel has a width that is less than a width of the passageway such that, when the panel is in the closed position, the first locking pin is secured in the first pin receiver, and the second locking pin is secured in the second pin receiver, an edge of the panel is spaced apart by a gap from a second wall of the passageway opposing the first wall;
wherein moving the first locking pin and the second locking pin to respective extended positions is triggered by contacting an actuator on or within the panel with a stopper that is in the passageway at a position corresponding to the panel being in the closed position;
and
wherein moving the first locking pin and the second locking pin to respective extended positions comprises:
upon contacting the actuator with the stopper, moving a release latch from an engaged position in which the release latch engages one of the first locking pin or the second locking pin to hold the first locking pin and the second locking pin in respective retracted positions to a disengaged position in which the release latch is disengaged from the one of the first locking pin or the second locking pin;
and
applying a biasing force that urges one or both of the first locking pin or the second locking pin towards the respective extended positions.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.