Safety gate

A safety barrier for a passageway with spaced vertical side walls or frames, the barrier comprising:

• (a) a barrier element having spaced, parallel upper and lower frame elements joined at corresponding ends to a vertical side frame element,
• (b) a plurality of spaced barrier rungs extending between the upper and lower frame elements,
• (c) a frame assembly having a vertical side frame element and a lower frame element joined at their ends to provide an "L"-shaped configuration, the free end of this lower frame element secured to the free end of the lower frame element of the barrier element for relative axial slidable movement,
• (d) locking means associated with the lower frame elements for releasably locking them in selective relative positions,
• (e) a gate element mounted on the upper frame element of the barrier element and the lower frame element of the frame assembly for sliding axial movement in conjunction with the frame assembly relative to the barrier element and for pivotal movement between closed position with the plane of the gate element parallel to that of the barrier element, and opened position to permit passage of a person through the barrier, about a vertical axis extending between the upper frame element of the barrier element and the lower frame element of the frame assembly, the gate element being of a size and position when in closed position to obstruct passage between the barrier element and the side frame element of the frame assembly, and when in open position to permit such passage,
• (f) lock means associated with the gate element to releasably lock the gate in closed position, and
• (g) means associated with the safety barrier and adjustable to bear against the side walls or frames to secure the barrier in position across a passageway when the frame assembly and barrier element are locked in a predetermined position.