# US 2014/0150349 A1 · Adjustable width barrier > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150349 A1 - Document ID: US20140150349A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/038,670 - Filed: 2013-09-26 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2010-12-14 - Assignees: Munchkin, Inc. - Applicants: Munchkin, Inc. - Inventors: Adam John Yates; Steven Bryan Dunn; Mark A. Hatherill; Rodolfo Gastelum; Thomas Birkert - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150349A1 ## CPC - E06B 9/06: collapsible or foldable, e.g. of the bellows or lazy-tongs type (bellows-type doors E06B3/94; roll-type grilles E06B9/18) - A01K 1/035: Devices for use in keeping domestic animals, e.g. fittings in housings or dog beds - E06B 9/0653: {stored side by side in the closing plane} - E06B 11/02: Gates; Doors - E06B 2003/7096: {with possibilities to alter the extension of the door} - E06B: FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES (shades or blinds for greenhouses A01G9/22; curtains A47H; lids for car boots or bonnets B62D25/10; skylights E04B7/18; sunshades, awnings E04F10/00) - A01K: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS ## Abstract A barrier has an expandable width barrier having opposing first and second ends. A locking arm is pivotably coupled to the expandable width barrier at the first end and slidably coupled to the expandable width barrier at the second end. The locking arm may be an adjustable-length construction. The pivoting of the locking arm causes the barrier to move between locked and unlocked states. When the locking arm is pivoted to lock the barrier, it causes the barrier to linearly expand a supplemental amount and fits the barrier to opposing sides of a passageway opening. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-32. (canceled) ### Claim 33 A method of installing the expandable barrier, comprising: linearly sliding a first panel of the expandable barrier relative to a second panel, wherein the expandable barrier comprises a first lateral end and a second lateral end, the lateral ends being on opposing sides of the expandable barrier relative to a horizontal axis; and rotating a locking member having a first end pivotally coupled to the first panel at a first location disposed on the first lateral end, to push the first panel away from the second panel; and sliding a second end of the locking member in a linear direction when moving between a locked and unlocked state. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The method of installing the expandable barrier as recited in claim 33, further comprising: sliding the second end of the locking member in the linear direction along a track. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The method of installing the expandable barrier as recited in claim 34, wherein the sliding the second end of the locking member is in a substantially vertical direction. ### Claim 36 (depends on 34) The method of installing the expandable barrier as recited in claim 34, further comprising: pushing downward on the locking member to overcome a resistance of at least one detent provided on the track. ### Claim 37 (depends on 33) The method of installing the expandable barrier as recited in claim 33, further comprising: sliding a first arm of the locking member along a second arm telescopically coupled to the first arm. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The method of installing the expandable barrier as recited in claim 37, further comprising: locking the relative movement of the first arm and the second arm. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The method of installing the expandable barrier as recited in claim 38, wherein the second arm includes a biased stop member configured to engage the first arm at a plurality of incrementally fixed positions along the length of the first arm. ### Claim 40 A method of installing an expandable barrier, comprising: linearly sliding a first panel of the expandable barrier relative to a second panel, wherein the expandable barrier comprises a first lateral end and a second lateral end, the lateral ends being on opposing sides of the expandable barrier relative to a horizontal axis; providing a locking member having a first end pivotally coupled to the first panel; sliding a second end of the locking member within a guide provided on the second panel; and locking the expandable barrier by rotating the locking member downwardly. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The method of installing the expandable barrier as recited in claim 40, further comprising: compressing at least one compressible member provided on the first lateral end and at least one compressible member provided on the second lateral end. ### Claim 42 (depends on 40) The method of installing the expandable barrier as recited in claim 40, further comprising: maintaining the locking member in an unlocked position when sliding the first panel relative to the second panel by providing at least one detent engagable with the second end of the locking member. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The method of installing the expandable barrier as recited in claim 42, further comprising: pushing downward on the locking member to overcome a resistance of the at least one detent provided on the guide. ### Claim 44 (depends on 40) The method of installing the expandable barrier as recited in claim 40, further comprising: moving the expandable barrier between a locked and unlocked state by adjusting a horizontal distance between opposing ends of the first and second panels, wherein the horizontal distance is a function of a length of the guide and a length of the locking member. ### Claim 45 (depends on 44) The method of installing the expandable barrier as recited in claim 44, further comprising: moving the second end of the locking member in a substantially vertical and linear direction relative to the horizontal distance when moving between the locked and unlocked state. ### Claim 46 (depends on 40) The method of installing the expandable barrier as recited in claim 40, further comprising: sliding a first arm of the locking member along a second arm telescopically coupled to the first arm. ### Claim 47 (depends on 46) The method of installing the expandable barrier as recited in claim 46, further comprising: locking the relative movement of the first arm and the second arm. ### Claim 48 (depends on 47) The method of installing the expandable barrier as recited in claim 47, wherein the second arm includes a biased stop member configured to engage the first arm at a plurality of incrementally fixed positions along the length of the first arm. ### Claim 49 (depends on 40) The method of installing the expandable barrier as recited in claim 40, further comprising: viewing a visual indicator to provide user feedback of at least one of the locked or unlocked states. ### Claim 50 A method of installing an expandable barrier, comprising: linearly sliding a first panel of the expandable barrier relative to a second panel, wherein the expandable barrier comprises a first lateral end and a second lateral end, the lateral ends being on opposing sides of the expandable barrier relative to a horizontal axis; providing a locking member having a first end and a second end; sliding the second end of the locking member within a guide provided on the second panel when moving between a locked and unlocked state; and locking the expandable barrier by rotating the locking member downwardly. ### Claim 51 (depends on 50) The method of installing the expandable barrier as recited in claim 50, wherein sliding the second end of the locking member within a guide is in a substantially vertical direction. ### Claim 52 (depends on 50) The method of installing the expandable barrier as recited in claim 50, wherein the locking member rotates downwardly towards a substantially horizontal position.