Mesh barrier assembly

A pressure fit mesh gate having an outer casing and a mesh barrier door. The outer casing has a pair of upright frame elements connected to a lower cross element. The mesh barrier door is positioned within the outer casing. The mesh barrier door is hingedly connected to one of the upright frame elements. The barrier door has a frame including a first side member and a second side member friction fit connected at their ends by corner joints to an upper member and a lower member. At least one of the corner joints is a two-part corner joint. The two-part corner joint has a first extension that is friction fit into a first end of one of the members, and a second extension friction fit into an adjacent end of another one of the members.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject disclosure relates to barrier devices. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a mesh panel barrier.

BACKGROUND

Falls are a leading cause of injuries to children and toddlers in the home. Safety gates can be used around the home to prevent children from entry into a staircase region or keep the children in a safe area in the home where they can be watched by a caregiver. Additionally, safety gates can be used to prevent movement of small household pets into unwanted spaces or rooms. However, traditional safety gates, such as mesh barrier type gates are often times difficult to transport and assemble, making it unduly cumbersome to try to move the gate to another location. Previous attempts at solving these deficiencies often resulted in gates with decreased structural stability.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Particular embodiments of the present invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the figures.

FIG. 1illustrates an exemplary mesh barrier assembly100in accordance with aspects described herein. The mesh barrier assembly has a barrier or barrier door10hingedly attached to an outer casing or support structure11by an upper hinge18and a lower hinge20. The barrier10includes a mesh panel30and a barrier door or mesh panel frame40. The support structure11includes a first upright frame element or vertical support structure12, a second upright frame element or vertical support structure14, a lower cross element or horizontal support structure15, a plurality of adjustable fasteners16, a barrier latch22and a stopper70.

The mesh barrier assembly100may be installed between two walls, a door frame, etc. by positioning the mesh barrier assembly100such that the plurality of adjustable fasteners16rest abuttingly against the walls or door frames. The plurality of adjustable fasteners16may then be tightened or loosened to create a friction fit such that the fasteners16do not move relative to the walls or door frame when the mesh barrier assembly100is in use.

Generally, the barrier10may be opened by releasing the barrier latch22and pivoting the barrier10about the upper and lower hinges18,20. The stopper70may prevent the barrier10from opening outwards, inwards, or both while in a locked position.

The mesh panel30may be constructed out of any flexible or rigid mesh materials, or may alternatively be made of a fabric or suitable material. The mesh panel30may have any suitable size, shape or configuration to provide a barrier preventing children, infants or animals from crossing though the barrier. The mesh panel30may be a single construction, or may alternatively have a first material extending from a center of the mesh panel30and a second material proximate to the edges of the mesh panel30, or any combination of materials.

The mesh panel30may also include different designs on one or both faces. These designs may be formed by apertures in the mesh, different materials which compose the mesh panel30, different mesh densities used throughout the mesh panel30, and materials permanently or removably attached to the face of the mesh panel30, or any other suitable method by which to add the design to the mesh panel30.

FIG. 2depicts a front view of the mesh barrier assembly100having the barrier10with the integrated mesh panel30and mesh panel frame40or barrier door frame. The mesh panel frame40includes a lower frame member44a, a first side frame member44b, an upper frame member44c, a second side frame member44d, a first corner joint or first corner member50, a second corner member52, a third corner member54and a fourth corner member56which receive and secure the mesh panel30into the barrier10.

FIG. 3shows a front view of the mesh panel30. The mesh panel30includes four edges31which may be folded towards a center of the mesh panel30to form folds34. The edges31are then attached to an inner face30aof the mesh panel30at a sealing location32by heat sealing, metal fixtures, sewing, knotting, or any other suitable method for attaching the edges31to the inner face30a. Each fold34forms a substantially cylindrical pocket36having openings36aon corners of the mesh panel30as shown. Each of the pockets36is sealed along its length at an inner location35where the mesh panel30is two layers thick and sealed by one of the previously mentioned methods.

FIGS. 4-5illustrate a first step of assembling the barrier10by inserting a first rod42ainto a first fold34of the mesh panel30. The first rod42ahas an outer diameter barely smaller than the inner diameter of the pocket36and opening36a. As such, the opening36areceives a first end the first rod42a. As the first rod42ais inserted into the pocket36, the mesh panel30will remain two layers of mesh thick at the inner location35. When the first rod42ais completely inserted into the pocket36, the length of pocket36and the length of the first rod42amay be coincident to one another. Whereas before the first rod42ais inserted into the pocket36, the first fold34which forms the pocket36will be flexible; however, after the first rod42ais inserted the first fold34will grip the first rod42aand may be substantially cylindrical encompassing an outer surface of the first rod42a.

FIGS. 6-8show a second step of assembling the barrier10by attaching a lower frame member44ato the mesh panel30and rod42acombination. As shown inFIG. 6, the lower frame member44asecures and receives the first fold34which in stiffened by the first rod42a. The lower frame member44aslides over the combination of the fold34and first rod42auntil a length of the lower frame member44ais substantially congruent to the length of the first rod42a.

FIG. 7depicts a detailed view of the lower frame member44aafter receiving the fold34and first rod42acombination. As shown, the lower frame member44a(as well as a first side frame member44b, an upper frame member44cand a second side frame member44d) includes a frame member body46and a round track48with overhang portions49. The round track48is substantially coincident to both the fold34and the first rod42awhen the barrier10is assembled. The overhang portions49prevent the first rod42afrom sliding out through an opening47of the round track48. This configuration traps the mesh panel30between the first rod42aand the lower frame member44a. Such a configuration may be embodied as a tongue and groove mating system, a projection and channel mating system and/or any other suitable mating connection according to this subject disclosure. As shown inFIG. 8, when the lower frame member44ais being installed, the sealed portion35of the mesh panel30slides within the opening47.

FIGS. 9-10show a third step of assembling the barrier10by inserting a first corner joint or member50into the lower frame member44a. The first corner member50includes a first friction fit stopper, an arm, or an extension50a, a second friction fit stopper50cand the lower hinge20. As the first corner member50is being installed, the first friction fit stopper50ais secured and received by the frame member body46of the lower frame member44a.

As shown in greater detail inFIG. 10, an outer surface50bof the first friction fit stopper50ahas a substantially similar shape to the inner surface of the lower frame member44a. When the first corner member50is completely installed, the first friction fit stopper50amay be completely held by a friction fit with the lower frame member44a. The frame member body46may also be flush with an exposed portion51of the first corner member50.

FIG. 11depicts a fourth step of assembling the barrier10by inserting a second rod42binto a second fold36of the mesh panel30. Similar to the first step as shown and described inFIGS. 4-5, the second rod42bslides into the pocket36formed by the fold34until a length of the second rod42bis substantially congruent to a length of the pocket36.

FIG. 12shows a fifth step of assembling the barrier10by attaching a first side frame member44bto the mesh panel30and second rod42bcombination. Similar to the second step as shown and described inFIGS. 6-8, the first side frame member44bslidingly receives and secures the fold34and second rod42b. Then, the first side frame member44breceives and secures the second friction fit stopper50cof the first corner member50. Similarly, the first side frame member44bmay be substantially flush with the exposed portion51of the first corner member50.

FIG. 13illustrates a sixth step of assembling the barrier10by inserting a second corner member52into the first side frame member44b. The second corner member52includes a first friction fit stopper52a, a second friction fit stopper52band the upper hinge18. The first friction fit stopper52ais secured and received by the first side frame member44b, as similarly shown and described in the third step inFIGS. 9-10.

FIG. 14depicts a seventh step of assembling the barrier10by inserting a third rod42cinto a third fold34of the mesh panel30. Similar to the first step as shown and described inFIGS. 4-5, the third rod42cslides into the pocket36formed by the fold34until a length of the third rod42cis substantially congruent to a length of the pocket36.

FIG. 15shows an eighth step of assembling the barrier10by attaching an upper frame member44cto the mesh panel30and rod42ccombination. Similar to the second step as shown and described inFIGS. 6-8, the upper frame member44cslidingly receives and secures the fold34and third rod42c. Then, the upper frame member44creceives and secures the second friction fit stopper52bof the second corner member52. Similarly, the upper frame member44cmay be substantially flush with the exposed portion53of the second corner member52.

FIG. 16illustrates a ninth step of assembling the barrier10by inserting a third corner member54into the upper frame member44c. The third corner member54includes a first friction fit stopper54a, a second friction fit stopper54band the latch22. The first friction fit stopper54ais secured and received by the upper frame member44c, as similarly shown and described in the third step inFIGS. 9-10.

FIG. 17depicts a tenth step of assembling the barrier10by inserting a fourth rod44dinto a fourth fold34of the mesh panel30. Similar to the first step as shown and described inFIGS. 4-5, the fourth rod42dslides into the pocket36formed by the fold34until a length of the third rod42dis substantially congruent to a length of the pocket36.

FIG. 18shows an eleventh step of assembling the barrier10by attaching a second side frame member44dto the mesh panel30and rod42dcombination. Similar to the second step as shown and described inFIGS. 6-8, the second side frame member44dslidingly receives and secures the fold34and fourth rod42d. Then, the second side frame member44dreceives and secures the second friction fit stopper54bof the third corner member54. Similarly, the second side frame member44dmay be substantially flush with the exposed portion55of the third corner member54.

FIGS. 19-21illustrate a first exemplary embodiment of installing a fourth and final two-piece corner joint150(as illustrated inFIG. 21). The corner joint150is embodied as a two-part assembly having a first part56having a first base56aand a first arm or extension56b, and a second part57having a second base57aand a second arm or extension57b. The first part56being connected to the second part57during assembly.

FIG. 19illustrates a first exemplary embodiment of a twelfth step of assembling the barrier10by inserting a first arm56bcontoured to fit into a first end46aof frame member body of the second side frame member44dmuch like in the prior examples discussed above. The first part56of the two-piece corner joint150includes an elongated projection or fitting56cextending opposite of the first arm56b. The first arm or extension56bis secured and received within an end46ain the frame member body of the second side frame member44dby a friction fit. As shown in position inFIG. 20, the elongated projection or fitting56cextends transverse or substantially perpendicular to an axial length of the second side frame member44d. The elongated projection or fitting56cextends out from the end46aof the frame member body a predetermined distance and is adapted to receive a mating portion constructed on the second part57of the two-piece corner joint150.

FIG. 20depicts a thirteenth step of assembling the barrier10by inserting the second part57of the two-piece fourth corner joint150or member into an adjacent end46bof the lower frame member44a. The arm or extension57bof the second part57of the corner joint150or member is secured and received within an adjacent end46bdisposed in the lower frame member44aby a friction fit as discussed above in the prior examples. The second part57includes an elongated track57cwhich includes overhang portions (similar to overhang portions47) which secure and simultaneously receive the elongated projection or fitting56cof the first part56as the elongated track57con the second part57is inserted into the adjacent end46bof the lower frame member44a. The second part57also includes an aperture67adapted to receive a stopper70(as shown inFIG. 25) to allow or disallow the barrier door30to open and close in a predetermined direction. It is to be understood that the mating connection securing the two-piece corner joint150together composed of the first part56and the second part57may be made in a variety of different ways, such as with a projection and channel combination, a tongue and groove connection, a fastener and/or any other suitable friction fit and/or mating connection between the first part56and the second part57of the two-piece corner150or joint member.

FIG. 21shows a fourteenth and final step of assembling the barrier10by inserting a fastener58into and through the second part57and into the first part56of the fourth corner joint member150in order to secure the two parts56,57together. The fastener58may be a screw, bolt and nut, magnet, clamp, rivet, or any other suitable fastener to secure the first part56to the second part57of the fourth corner joint member150.

FIGS. 22-25illustrate a second exemplary embodiment of installing a fourth and final corner150member250(as shown and assembled inFIG. 24).

FIG. 22illustrates a second exemplary embodiment of the twelfth step of assembling the barrier10by inserting a two-piece fourth corner joint250. The two-piece fourth corner joint250includes a first member60and a second member65. The first member60is pressed into the adjacent end46bof the lower frame member44a. The first member60is secured and received by the lower frame member44aby a friction fit. The first member60also includes a base60ahaving an arm or extension62extending from the base60a. An aperture or encircled channel64is disposed substantially perpendicular to an axial length of the first member60adjacent to the base60athat the encircled channel64is aligned with an opening end46aof the frame member body44d. An aperture66is provided in the first member60to receive a fastener66. The aperture66may also be used to fasten a stopper70to the corner joint250in assembly such that the fastener66is adapted to secure the stopper70and the first60and second65members together by the single fastener66.

FIG. 23depicts a thirteenth step of assembling the barrier10by inserting the second member65through the channel64in the first member60and into the end46aof the second side frame member44d. A lower edge65aof the second member65abuts against a base60aend of the first member60when the second member65is fully secured and received by the second side frame member44d(as shown inFIG. 24). Furthermore, the second member65has an aperture667which is substantially aligned with the aperture66when installed.

FIG. 24shows a front view of the assembled barrier10as constructed after the thirteenth step ofFIG. 23. As shown, the second member65is shown disposed in the channel64substantially in hidden line. The axial length of the extending second member65is shown substantially perpendicular to the axial length of the extending first member60.

FIG. 25illustrates a perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of the fourteenth step of assembling the barrier10by inserting a fastener66into the aperture67in the corner stopper65and the first members56/60and the second members57/65of the corner joints150/250. As shown the fastener66may also pass through a rotating stopper70. The fastener66may be a screw, bolt and nut, magnet, clamp, rivet, or any other suitable fastener to secure the first members56/60of the two-piece fourth corner joint member to the second members57/65.

The illustrations and examples provided herein are for explanatory purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that changes or modifications may be made to the above described embodiment without departing from the broad inventive concepts of the invention. It is understood therefore that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiment which is described, but is intended to cover all modifications and changes within the scope and spirit of the invention.