Patent ID: 8302654
Filing Date: 2012-11-06
Classification: E05F,E06B

Abstract:
1. A barrier for an opening defined by a top header, a pair of side walls and a bottom threshold, the barrier adapted to be secured to the top header and be upwardly movable into a storage position proximate to the top header thereof and downwardly movable into a closed position to form a wall substantially blocking the opening, the barrier comprising: a plurality of side frames including first and second side frames secured to and extending along the height of each side wall, each side frame having a longitudinal channel therealong facing inward toward the opening; a plurality of wall panels each supported by a rectangular frame comprising a pair of upright panel members, one at each end of the wall panel, each upright panel member having a first end and a second end, and a plurality of horizontal panel members, the plurality of wall panels extending between two adjacent and inward facing side frames; a plurality of upright side wall members at each end of the plurality of wall panels between the upright panel members and the side frames, each upright side wall member having a first end and a second end and being associated with a corresponding upright panel member proximate thereto; the upright side wall members and the corresponding upright panel members proximate to each side frame being configured so that the second end of a first upright side wall member pivotally engages the first end of a second upright panel member, the first end of a second upright side wall member, corresponding to the second upright panel member, pivotally engages the second end of a first upright panel member corresponding to the first upright side wall member, the second end of the second upright side wall member pivotally engages the first end of a third upright panel member and the second end of the second upright panel member engages the first end of a third upright side wall member corresponding to the third upright panel member, so as to form a pantograph structure movable from a collapsed, substantially flat configuration in the storage position to an extended, substantially vertical configuration in the closed position in which the first end of the first upright panel member is substantially adjacent to the second end of the second upright panel member; and a locking mechanism mounted at the first end of the second upright side wall member and adapted to engage a catch pin situated on the second end of the first upright side wall member when the barrier is substantially in the closed position, the locking mechanism on the second upright side wall member including a motor adapted to rotate a latch thereon to engage the catch pin on the first upright side wall member such as to pull the wall panels associated with the first and second upright panel members into substantially planar alignment.