Mechanically actuated barrier system

A openable barrier for use with a horizontal surface comprising:

• a first support structure fixedly mounted to said horizontal surface at a first location, said first support structure having at least one exterior sidewall and an interior opening defined by said exterior sidewall;
• a second support structure fixedly mounted to said horizontal surface at a second location, said second support structure having at least one exterior sidewall having an aperture formed therein, an interior opening defined by said exterior sidewall and an interior sidewall supportably mounted by said exterior sidewall;
• latch means mounted to said interior sidewall and pivotable between first and second positions;
• a barrier mounted to said first support structure and pivotable between a first position in which said barrier impedes travel between said first and second support structures and in which a projection of said barrier engages said latch means to fixedly secure said barrier in said first position and a second position in which said barrier permits travel between said first and second support structures;
• a third support structure fixedly mounted to said horizontal surface at a third location, said third support structure having at least one exterior sidewall and an interior opening defined by said exterior sidewall;
• a lever pivotable between first and second positions, said lever having one end extending into said interior of said third support structure;
• first linkage means mechanically associating said lever end and said latch means, said first linkage means driving said latch means into said first position whereby said barrier is unlatched in response to pivoting said lever into said second position;
• a rotating member positioned in said interior opening of said first support structure, said rotating member having first and second ends;
• means, connected to said rotating member and said barrier, for pivoting said unlatched barrier into said second position in response to rotation of said rotating member in a first direction;
• spring means connected between said rotating member and said exterior sidewall of said first support structure, said spring means storing spring energy sufficient to pivot said barrier from said first position into said second position when said barrier is latched in said first position and releasing said stored energy when said barrier is unlatched, thereby rotating said rotating member in said first direction and pivoting said barrier into said second position;
• a fourth support structure supported beneath said horizontal surface, said fourth support structure having at least one sidewall defining an interior opening therein and a top wall pivotable between a first position generally planar with said horizontal surface and a second position projecting therefrom;
• second linkage means mechanically associating said top surface of said fourth support structure and said rotating member, said second linkage means driving said top surface into said second position in response to said rotation of said rotating member in said first direction and driving said rotating member in said second direction in response to an external force depressing said projecting top surface into said first position, said rotation of said rotating member in said second direction pivoting said barrier from said second position into said first position and storing sufficient spring energy in said spring means to pivot said barrier from said first position to said second position, said barrier pivoting into said first position pivoting said latch means into engagement with said barrier.

An openable barrier for use with a horizontal support surface, comprising:

• a first support structure having at least one sidewall and an interior opening defined therein and a second support structure having a latch means, at least one sidewall, an interior opening defined by said sidewall, and a rod means positioned within said second support structure for operatively disengaging said latch means, said first and second support structures fixedly mounted to said horizontal support surface and spaced apart from each other;
• a barrier mounted to said first support structure and pivotable between a first position in which said latch means of said second support structure securely engages said barrier thereby impeding travel between said support structures and a second position in which said barrier permits travel between said support structures;
• a first means, positioned at a first remote location and operatively connected with said rod means for actuating said rod means to operative disengagement of said latch means with said barrier;
• a pivoting means, positioned within said first support structure and operatively connected with said barrier, for pivoting said unlatched barrier into said second position;
• a second means, positioned at a second remote location and operatively connected with said barrier for pivoting said barrier from said second position to said first position, said second means being operable only when said barrier is in said second position;
• and
• spring means operatively connected to said first support structure, said second means and said pivoting means, said spring means storing spring energy provided by said second means sufficient to pivot said barrier from said first position into said second position when said barrier is pivoted from said second position to said first position by said second means and releasing said stored energy to said pivoting means when said barrier is unlatched, thereby pivoting said barrier from said first position to said second position.