Expandable safety barrier

An expandable, collapsible barrier, said barrier being selectively movable between a collapsed position, and a selectively expanded position;

• the barrier including:
• a first end post, a second end post, and an expandable, collapsible lattice structure extending between said first and second end posts, said lattice structure comprising a plurality of slats which are hingedly connected together to define two overlaid zig-zagging sets of slats, said two overlaid zig-zagging sets of slats each including two end slats defining an upper slat and a lower slat, said upper slat being hingedly connected to a respective end post near a top of said end post and said lower slat being hingedly connected to a sliding pivot near a bottom of said end post;
• a handle mounted to one of said first and second endposts, said handle including a first part extending outwardly of said end post and a second part depending from said first part and extending parallel to, and spaced from said end post, said handle second part having a free end;
• a handle receiving member mounted to the other of said first and second end posts, said handle receiving member positioned on said other of said end posts to receive the handle of a second barrier to hingedly interconnect two barriers, said barrier being sized such that it can be carried by holding onto said handle when said barrier is in said collapsed position:
• a latch bar pivotally mounted to one of said first and second end posts and a sleeve extending from the other of said first and second end posts;
• said latch bar having a slot which engages said sleeve to secure said barrier in said collapsed position:
• a base for each of said end posts;
• and
• a lamp and flag mounting bracket for mounting one or both of a lamp and a flag on said barrier, said lamp and flag bracket including a first tube and a second tube extending from said first tube;
• said first tube being telescopically received in one of said end posts to extend above said end post said first tube receiving one of said lamp and said flag and said second tube receiving the other of said lamp and said flag.

An expandable, collapsible barrier, said barrier being selectively movable between a collapsed position, and a selectively expanded position;

• the barrier including:
• a first end post, a second end post, and an expandable, collapsible lattice structure extending between said first and second end posts, said lattice structure comprising a plurality of slats which are hingedly connected together to define two overlaid zig-zagging sets of slats, said two overlaid zig-zagging sets of slats each including two end slats defining an upper slat and a lower slat, said upper slat being hingedly connected to a respective end post near a top of said end post and said lower slat being hingedly connected to a sliding pivot near a bottom of said end post;
• a handle mounted to one of said first and second endposts, said handle including a first part extending outwardly of said end post and a second part depending from said first part and extending parallel to, and spaced from said end post, said handle second part having a free end;
• a handle receiving member mounted to the other of said first and second end posts, said handle receiving member positioned on said other of said end posts to receive the handle of a second barrier to hingedly interconnect two barriers, said barrier being sized such that it can be carried by holding onto said handle when said barrier is in said collapsed position;
• a latch bar pivotally mounted to one of said first and second end posts and a sleeve extending from the other of said first and second end posts;
• said latch bar having a slot which engages said sleeve to secure said barrier in said collapsed position;
• a base for each of said end posts;
• and
• a lamp and flag mounting bracket for mounting one or both of a lamp and a flag to said barrier, said lamp and flag mounting bracket including first and second spaced apart legs, a back wall extending between said legs, and a flap extending between said legs from said back wall to a point forward of said legs to define a lip;
• said legs and back wall defining a channel sized to be telescopically received in said barrier end post, said lip acting as a stop;
• said first leg being shorter than said second leg;
• said first leg including a hole therein, said second leg including a lower hole and an upper hole;
• said lower hole of said second leg being vertically offset from said first leg hole;
• a lamp being secured to said second leg by a fastener extending through the upper hole of said second leg, a flag being mounted in said bracket by passing a pole of said flag through said lower hole of said second leg and said first leg hole.

In combination, an expandable, collapsible barrier and at least one accessory for mounting a signboard, a flag mounted to a flag pole, a lamp, or combinations thereof to said barrier;

• said barrier including:
• a first hollow end post, a second hollow end post, and an expandable, collapsible lattice structure extending between said first and second end posts;
• said lattice structure being selectively movable between a collapsed position and a selectively expanded position, said lattice structure comprising a plurality of hingedly connected slats, a majority of said slats being hingedly connected at an upper end to a first slat, at a bottom end to a second slat, and at its center to a third slat intermediate said first and second slats, said first, second, and third slats being substantially parallel to each other;
• said slats defining two overlaid zig-zagging sets of slats;
• said hingedly connected slats being separated from each other by a polyethylene spacer and pivotally connected by a pin which extends through said two slats and said spacer;
• said at least one accessory being chosen from a sign board bracket, a lamp and flag bracket, and combinations thereof;
• said signboard bracket including a generally U-shaped body portion to which said signboard is securable, said body portion including a first vertical portion, a horizontal portion extending from a top of said first vertical portion, and a second vertical portion spaced from said first vertical portion and depending from said horizontal portion and to which said signboard is secured, pair of spaced apart legs depending from said body first vertical portion;
• said legs being spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the diameter of said spacer and having an arcuate surface extending between said legs, said arcuate surface having a curvature substantially equal to the curvature of said spacer whereby said bracket, and hence said signboard, may pivot with respect to said spacer;
• said signboard remaining substantially level at all stages of expansion of said barrier without need to substantially adjust said signboard or bracket.