Visual indicator for a pressurized barrier

A visual indicator for being mounted between a gated pressurized barrier and an upright surface, the gated pressurized barrier having a gate, a latch, and a latch receiver, the visual indicator comprising:

• a) a threaded shaft having first and second end portions, the first end portion extending into the gated pressurized barrier, the second end portion confronting the upright surface;
• b) a base portion and a slide portion engaged to each other and slideable to and away from each other, the base portion threadingly engaged to the threaded shaft, the slide portion sliding on the threaded shaft;
• c) a mechanical device engaged between the base portion and the slide portion and on the threaded shaft, the mechanical device being biased to continuously push the base portion and slide portion away from each other, the mechanical device being compressed when the slide portion is stopped from sliding axially on the threaded shaft by a portion of the gated pressurized barrier and, when the slide portion stops sliding axially, the base portion continues to rotate so as to move axially over a portion of the slide portion until the base portion reaches an indicated position on the slide portion that indicates that the latch and latch receiver have been drawn to an operating position relative to each other;
• d) wherein the mechanical device stores energy and subsequently releases it, the mechanical device comprising an elastic material, the mechanical device having first and second lengths, the first length being greater than the second length, the first length being under a first pressure, the second length being under a second pressure, the second pressure being greater than the first pressure;
• and
• e) wherein the base portion and the slide portion are each configured to rotate relative to said portion of the gated pressurized barrier during operation.

A pressurization-responsive visual indicator assembly for a pressure-mounted gate, comprising:

• a) a rotatable drive member threadingly engaged with a shaft;
• b) a follower member telescopically surrounding at least a portion of the shaft and being axially translatable relative to the shaft without threaded engagement;
• c) an elastic biasing member disposed between the drive member and the follower member;
• d) the follower member being configured to engage a frame portion of the pressure-mounted gate and become axially stationary relative thereto;
• e) the drive member being freely rotatable relative to the frame portion and configured to continue rotating after the follower member becomes axially stationary;
• f) wherein continued rotation of the drive member causes axial translation of the drive member relative to the follower member and compression of the elastic biasing member;
• g) the follower member including at least two differently appearing visual regions arranged axially;
• h) the drive member being structured to alter which of the differently appearing visual regions is externally visible only after the elastic biasing member reaches a predetermined compressed state corresponding to a proper latch-to-receiver operating position of the gate;
• and
• i) wherein the drive member and follower member are each rotationally movable relative to the frame portion during operation.