Patent ID: 6345475
Filing Date: 2002-02-12
Classification: E04F,E05F

Abstract:
In a protective barrier system for a staircase, said staircase having a length and width, which said barrier system includes a plurality of barriers spaced along the length of said staircase, each said barrier extending from a wall or railing adjacent the staircase toward the centermost portion of the width of said staircase, the improvement in said barriers comprising:each said barrier having a generally rectangular frame, said frame including inner and outer vertical legs, each of said legs having an upper end and a lower end, an upper horizontal arm extending between and attached to said inner and outer vertical legs adjacent to their upper ends, a lower horizontal arm extending between and attached to said inner and outer vertical legs adjacent to their lower ends, said inner and outer vertical legs and said upper and lower horizontal arms forming the major planar surface of said barrier; a barrier screen carried by said frame; a top hinge pin extending from said upper end of said inner vertical leg, said top hinge pin adapted to rotatably engage an upper support bracket attached to said wall or railing; a bottom hinge pin extending from said lower end of said inner vertical leg, said bottom hinge pin adapted to rotatably engage a lower support bracket attached to said staircase; said barrier being pivotable between a first position where its major planar surface is substantially parallel to said wall or rail to a second position where its major planar surface is substantially perpendicular to said wall or rail; and a latch pin extending from said lower end of said outer vertical leg, a latch receptacle attached to said staircase and adapted to engage said latch pin in locking engagement upon said barrier being pivoted from said first position to said second position and to disengage said latch pin from locking engagement when said barrier is pivoted from said second position to said first position.