Foldable chute with personnel protection feature

A chute comprising a first section having an outer end portion, a second section having an inner end portion, and means pivotally connecting said inner end portion of the second section to said outer end portion of the first section in a manner that allows the second section to be pivoted from a folded position with respect to said first section into a position of alignment with said first section, releasable interference means for blocking said second section from entering its position of alignment with said first section when said secondsection is pivoted from its folded position into an intermediate position near its position of alignment with said first section, said interference means comprising:

• (a) a blocking member pivotally mounted on said inner end portion of the second section and comprising an impact head that is normally positioned in a blocking position between the outer end portion of said first section and the inner end portion of said second section when the second section enters said intermediate position,
• (b) spring means biasing said impact head into said blocking position, and in which:
• (c) the blocking member further comprises an actuating portion through which releasing force can be applied to said blocking member to move the impact head out of said blocking position, and
• (d) movement of said impact head out of said blocking position allows the second chute section to pivot into its position of alignment with said first chute section.