Self-positioning and self-adjusting press guard

A safety device for protecting the operator of a machine, said machine having a work zone and a work bed with flange-lip members and a spring-loaded pivotal flange detent attached to said work bed, and being capable of receiving a work piece, said safety device comprising:

• (a) a generally U-shaped base having right and left flange members attached thereto, and having an upper surface, right and left lower surfaces for receiving a work piece in said work zone, and right and left inclined surfaces connecting said upper surface to each of said lower surfaces;
• (b) right and left support members mounted upon said base;
• (c) a barrier mounted upon said support members, said barrier further comprising an upper frame member, one or more lower frame members and a plurality of vertically-oriented rod members, said rod members being integrally attached to said upper frame member and to at least one lower frame member, wherein the lower portion of said barrier is angled in toward said machine for permitting the insertion of a work piece which is shorter than the overall width of said safety device;
• and,
• (d) right and left slotted gate means vertically slidably mounted upon said lower barrier frame member, each of said gate means having a front curved surface for sliding vertically upon contact from said work piece and for maintaining a height above said base corresponding to said work piece while said work piece remains in said work zone,
• said device being slidably attached to said machine by the engagement of said flange and flange-lip members and said flange members being held in engagement with said flange-lip members by said spring-loaded pivotal flange detent.