Back to results
US 9,598,896 B1Granted
Retractable barrier assembly
OwnerMarc D Pichikinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments for barrier assemblies and setup configuration of these barrier assemblies are disclosed. The barriers are used to block the entry of children or animal into areas in which their safety may be jeopardized. The barrier assemblies contain a sheet configured for outstretching and for retraction into a roll form, and for being maintained under tension in an outstretched form. A locking assembly prevents the sheet from accidentally retracting. The barrier assemblies are configured for indoor use by means of attaching to walls and stair posts as well as for outdoor use by anchoring the barrier assembly to the ground.
Claims23
A first barrier assembly comprising:
- a sheet wound into a sheet roll having a hollow center to form a retracted configuration, said sheet being configured for unwinding from the sheet roll to form an outstretched barrier, said sheet having a leading edge;
- a pullout frame having a handle tube and an attaching bar, said leading edge of the sheet being attached to an attaching bar;
- a base housing adapted for placement onto a ground surface, said base housing containing a rear vertical extension and a front vertical extension;
- a tie rod having a hollow center, a top opening and a bottom opening, said bottom opening being adapted for placement onto the rear vertical extension of the base housing;
- a reel tube adapted to fit inside the sheet roll, said reel tube being adapted to slide over the front vertical extension of the base frame;
- a torsion spring roll adapted to tightly fit inside the reel tube;
- said torsion spring roll being adapted for applying tension onto the outstretched barrier;
- and
- a locking assembly attached to the top of the sheet roll and the top of the tie rod, said locking assembly comprising:
- an upper housing member;
- a middle housing member having a bottom opening and a plurality of teeth;
- a compression spring placed inside the middle housing member;
- a gear member having a center opening and a plurality of teeth, said gear member being placed inside the middle housing member over the compression spring;
- and
- a knob adapted for placement onto a top side of the upper housing member, said knob being configured for switching between a lock position and an unlock position, wherein, in the lock position, the knob applies a downward pressure on the gear,
- said upper housing member and middle housing member combining to form an enclosure, said gear member and said compression spring being contained inside said enclosure, said enclosure being placed onto the top of the sheet roll and the top of the reel tube such that the gear member is engaged with a slot disposed at the top of the reel tube, and such that in the lock position the gear locks the barrier assembly and prevents movement of the sheet and, in the unlock position, sheet movement is unrestrained.
13 more elements
A fifth barrier assembly comprising:
- a sheet wound into a sheet roll having a hollow center to form a retracted configuration, said sheet being configured for unwinding from the sheet roll to form an outstretched barrier, said sheet having a leading edge;
- a pullout frame having a handle tube and an attaching bar, said leading edge of the sheet being attached to the attaching bar;
- a base frame having a base housing adapted for placement onto a ground surface, said base housing containing a rear vertical extension and a front vertical extension;
- a tie rod having a hollow center and having a top opening and a bottom opening, said bottom opening being adapted for placement onto the rear vertical extension of the base housing, wherein the tie rod of the fifth barrier assembly is attached to a first wall, wherein attaching the tie rod of the fifth barrier assembly to the first wall is accomplished by at least one u-shaped bracket attached to the first wall, said u-shaped bracket having a curved arm for clasping the tie rod of the fifth barrier assembly;
- wherein the handle tube of the fifth barrier assembly is attached to a side of a door, said side of the door being adjacent to the first wall in a closed position of said door, wherein attaching the handle tube of the fifth barrier assembly to the door is accomplished by at least one u-shaped bracket attached to the side of the door said u-shaped bracket attached to the side of the door having a curved arm for clasping the handle tube of the fifth barrier assembly, and wherein opening the door results in outstretching the sheet under tension and wherein closing the door results in the retraction of the sheet;
- a reel tube adapted to tightly fit inside the sheet roll, said reel tube being adapted to slip onto the front vertical extension of the base frame;
- a torsion spring adapted to tightly fit inside the reel tube;
- said torsion spring being adapted for applying tension onto the outstretched barrier;
- and
- a housing assembly attached to the top of the sheet roll and the top of the tie rod.
7 more elements
A sixth barrier assembly comprising:
- a sheet wound into a sheet roll having a hollow center to form a retracted configuration, said sheet being configured for unwinding from the sheet roll to form an outstretched barrier, said sheet having a leading edge;
- a pullout frame having a handle tube and an attaching bar, said leading edge of the sheet being attached to the attaching bar;
- a base frame having a base housing adapted for placement onto a ground surface, said base housing containing a rear vertical extension and a front round opening;
- a tie rod having a hollow center and having a top opening and a bottom opening, said bottom opening being adapted for placement onto the rear vertical extension of the base housing;
- a reel tube adapted to fit inside the sheet roll, and a bottom of the reel tube being adapted to slip through the front round opening in the base frame;
- and
- a locking assembly attached to the top of the sheet roll and the top of the tie rod, said locking assembly comprises:
- an upper housing member;
- a middle housing member having a bottom opening and a plurality of teeth;
- a compression spring placed inside the middle housing member;
- a gear member having a center opening and a plurality of teeth, said gear member being placed inside the middle housing member over the compression spring;
- and
- a knob adapted for placement onto a top side of the upper housing member, said knob being configured for switching between a lock position and an unlock position, said upper housing member and middle housing member combining to form an enclosure, said gear member and said compression spring being contained inside said enclosure, said enclosure being placed onto the top of the sheet roll and the top of the reel tube such that the gear member is engaged with a slot disposed at the top of the reel tube, and such that in the lock position the gear locks the barrier assembly and prevents movement of the sheet and, in the unlock position, sheet movement is unrestrained.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.