Adjustable child safety gate

A safety gate for restricting passage of a child through an access way such as a doorway or stairwell. The gate has two barrier panels in a parallel, overlapping arrangement that can be relatively adjusted to different combined widths to fit in different access ways. The gate is mounted on one side by contact pads or hinges, and can also be mounted pivotally on a telescoping pole vertically disposed on one side of the access way. The gate is frictionally secured or closed by extendable and retractable engagement feet adapted to forcibly engage the access way side wall. The engagement feet are controlled by an outwardly motivating extension mechanism connected via a reciprocating linkage with the engagement feet, which provides for reflexive engagement of both feet with approximately equal force, even in access ways having vertically uneven widths.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to security gates to restrict movements of 
infants and small children through access ways, such as doorways and 
hallways leading to restricted areas of the home, stairways, or the like. 
Child security gates must function as an impassible barrier to exclude 
passage of an infant or child through the accessway, but it is also 
necessary to provide for removal of the barrier to permit passage by an 
attending adult. Accordingly, a number of gate designs have been developed 
that allow for barrier removal, for example by collapsing the gate, 
pivoting the gate out of the access way, or removing the gate entirely 
from the access way. 
In addition to providing a removable barrier that permits adult access, it 
is also desirable to provide a gate that is adaptable for installation in 
a variety of differently dimensioned access ways, and which may also be 
transferred from one access way to another to accommodate daily movements 
of the child and attending adult. 
Various designs have been developed that address one or more of the above 
needs. For example, child safety gates have been designed that can be 
extended and retracted in a number of ways, to provide a removable barrier 
function and/or allow adjustable placement of the barrier to block 
differently dimensioned access ways. One conventional design provides a 
collapsible lattice gate that can be extended across an access way to 
provide a barrier or collapsed to allow adult passage. Examples of this 
type of gate are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,587, issued to Scruggs, 
Jr. on Feb. 9, 1988, and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,521 issued to Barnes et 
al. on Jun. 2, 1991. 
Another type of gate forms a barrier consisting of two or more partitions 
that slide relative to one another along tracks, slots or horizontally 
disposed rods. These gates can be expanded to occupy the entire width of 
the access way, or retracted to permit adult passage (either by 
collapsing, pivoting or removing the gate from the access way). One 
example of this general design is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,831,777 
issued to Johnson, Jr. on May 23, 1989. 
Most sliding panel gates are installed and disengaged using a friction 
mounting mechanism, which typically incorporates spring biased telescoping 
rods or pistons with engagement feet that exert outward pressure to 
frictionally engage one or both sides of the access way. Such friction 
mounted barriers are removed by compressing the biasing spring to retract 
the rods or pistons, either manually or through a lever mechanism. 
Examples of safety gates employing various aspects of these design 
features are disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,272,840 issued to 
Knoedler et al., on Dec. 28, 1993; 360,191; U.S. Pat. No. 4,492,263 issued 
to Gebhard; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,829 issued to Abrams et al. on Nov. 
29, 1994. 
While the above described safety gates are generally satisfactory for 
preventing passage of infants or small children through access ways, a 
number of shortcomings of such devices have been identified by the 
inventor. For example, although friction mounted gates permit rapid 
installation and removal, and avoid undesirable installation of mounting 
hardware in the access way, these gates are generally less stable than 
permanently installed gates (i.e. collapsible or pivoting gates mounted by 
fixed hinges, mounts and/or latches). More specifically, because these 
gates rely on friction mounting to secure the gate between the sides of 
the access way, a child may purposefully or accidentally apply sufficient 
force to knock the engagement feet loose, causing the gate to fall out of 
place. This problem may be exacerbated with conventional, spring biased 
mounting designs after long periods of use if biasing springs become 
fatigued and incapable of exerting sufficient force on the sides of the 
access way to prevent undesired dislodgement. 
At least one existing safety gate partially ameliorates the problem of 
unreliable friction mounting, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,829 
issued to Crossley et al. on Nov. 29, 1994. In this two-panel gate design, 
paired bumpers on each side of the gate are brought into close 
juxtaposition with opposing sides of the access way by sliding the panels 
to increase their combined width to approximately fill the access way. The 
bumpers on one side are then lockably extendable by a camming mechanism 
rather than a spring, so that the gate is secured in a tighter friction 
fit within the access way. 
This latter design suffers its own disadvantages, however, particularly in 
terms of its potential instability when used in access ways that feature 
unequal widths between the sides of the access way at heights 
corresponding to the upper and lower bumper positions. For example, if the 
access way is narrower adjacent the lower bumper than adjacent the upper 
bumper, engagement of the lower bumper with the side of the access way 
will limit extension of the upper bumper so that it does not tightly 
engage the access way. Accordingly, when an infant or child pushes or 
falls against the gate, the gate may become dislodged and allow passage of 
the child to a restricted area. 
In view of the above, there is a need in the art for a child safety gate 
that more conveniently and reliably excludes passage of infants and small 
children through restricted access ways. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a child safety gate 
that is easy to install without requiring permanent hardware, and which 
reliably excludes passage of infants and small children through restricted 
access ways. 
It is an additional object of the invention to provide a child safety gate 
that can be quickly and easily removed or repositioned to allow adult 
passage. 
It is a further object of the invention to achieve the above objects in a 
child safety gate that is adaptable for installation within a variety of 
differently dimensioned accessways, and which can be transferred from one 
access way to another to accommodate daily activity routines and movements 
of the child and attending adult. 
It is yet another object of the invention to achieve the above objects in a 
child safety gate that is friction mounted for rapid installation and 
removal, but which provides more secure engagement over spring-biased 
mechanisms and can be securely mounted in access ways featuring vertically 
non-uniform widths between opposing sides. 
The invention achieves these objects and other objects and advantages by 
providing a novel, friction mounted safety gate for adjustable 
installation in access ways of varying dimensions, and in access ways 
having vertically non-uniform widths. The safety gate features two panels 
arranged in generally parallel and substantially overlapping relation to 
one another. The two panels are slidably and lockably interconnected with 
one another so that their combined width can be adjusted to a selected 
engagement width approximately fully extending across a selected access 
way in which the gate is to be emplaced. 
The security gate of the invention also includes a mounting mechanism 
attached to one of the barrier panels to secure the panel in a generally 
fixed lateral position relative to one side wall of the access way. The 
other panel has upper and lower engagement feet connected to it which can 
be extended outwardly from the panel toward the other side wall of the 
access way or, alternatively, retracted inwardly away from the access way 
side wall. The engagement feet are specifically adapted to engage the 
access way side wall when the barrier panels are adjusted to the selected 
engagement width and the engagement feet are extended, with sufficient 
force to prevent the gate from being purposefully or accidentally 
dislodged by a child. 
The safety gate of the invention features a novel design for extending the 
engagement feet outwardly in a reflexive manner to achieve firm engagement 
of both feet, even when the gate is installed in access ways having 
vertically uneven widths. Specifically, the invention provides an 
engagement feet extension mechanism that outwardly extends the engagement 
feet through a reciprocating surface connection or linkage. By virtue of 
this reciprocating connection, inward force exerted against one of the 
engagement feet when it contacts the side wall of the access way is 
translated to outward force exerted on the other engagement foot, which 
causes both engagement feet to engage the side wall with approximately 
equal engaging force.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS 
A child safety gate 10 employing the concepts of the invention is generally 
depicted in FIG. 1. The gate is adapted for removable installation within 
access ways defined by first and second access way side walls 12, 14 (for 
example opposing surfaces of door frames, pillars, hallway walls and 
stairwell sides). 
To accommodate access ways of differing width dimensions (i.e. distances 
between the first and second side walls 12, 14), the safety gate includes 
a first barrier panel 20 (refer to FIGS. 1A-2A) and a second barrier panel 
22 arranged in generally parallel and substantially overlapping relation 
to one another. The two panels can be constructed of a variety of 
materials, including woods, plastics or metals, with the principal 
requirement being that the panels must be suitably rigid to form a solid 
barrier to sustain pushing and other forces exerted by an infant or small 
child, and to prevent buckling of the panels under compression forces 
exerted by friction mounting of the gate within the access way. 
Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 7, the first and second barrier panels 20, 22 
are slidably, lockably interconnected with one another, preferably by 
threaded compression locking pins 26, 28 disposed within elongate, upper 
and lower second panel slots 30, 32 and threadedly engaged with upper and 
lower anchoring members 34, 36 matingly threaded with the pins and seated 
within upper and lower anchoring member seats 38, 40 formed in the first 
panel. The pins have flanged heads 42, 44 seated within upper and lower 
head channels 46, 48 surrounding the upper and lower second panel slots, 
which facilitate manual rotation of the pins to tighten or untighten the 
pins in cooperation with the corresponding anchoring members. The flanged 
heads of the pins have a greater diameter than a width dimension of the 
corresponding second panel slots, and the anchoring members likewise have 
a greater diameter than upper and lower pin apertures 50, 52 defined by 
upper and lower anchoring member seating surfaces 54, 56 of the anchoring 
member seats, to prevent the barrier panels from being pulled apart and to 
allow them to be compressibly interlocked. 
Tightening of the pins 26, 28 compression seats the anchoring members 34, 
36 forcefully against the upper and lower anchoring member seating 
surfaces 54, 56, and simultaneously seats the flanged heads 42, 44 against 
upper and lower head seating surfaces 58, 60, within the upper and lower 
head channels, thereby compressing the first barrier panel 20 and second 
barrier panel 22 against one another in a fixed relative position. 
Loosening of the pins releases the compression force frictionally 
interlocking the first and second barrier panels, and allows the panels to 
be slidably adjusted relative to one another, with the pins and head 
members freely sliding within the second panel, while the anchoring 
members remain positionally fixed relative to the first panel by their 
retention within the anchoring member seats. 
Also interconnecting the first and second barrier panels 30, 32 are upper 
and lower slide pins 62, 64 (see FIG. 4) anchored to and extending from 
the second panel member 20 and spanning through upper and lower first 
panel slots 66, 68. The slide pins have terminal flanges 70, 72 that ride 
within upper and lower flange receiving channels 74, 76 in the first panel 
and have a flange diameter larger than a width dimension of the upper an 
lower first panel slots, thereby preventing the barrier panels from being 
pulled apart. To facilitate assembly of the gate, the first barrier panel 
also includes enlarged receptacles 78, 80 at the right ends of the first 
panel slots adapted to receive the terminal flanges of the slide pins for 
fitting the gates together and introducing the flanges into the flange 
receiving channels. Optionally, the slide pins can be replaced by a 
similar assembly of locking pins 26, 28 and anchoring members 34, 36 as 
described above, to provide for further security in compression 
interlocking the panels. 
Other mechanisms for slidably, lockably interconnecting the first and 
second barrier panels 20, 22 are also provided within the scope of the 
invention. For example, the relative sliding functions of the above 
described system of slots, channels and pins can be optionally achieved by 
opposing rails (not shown) mounted to first and second barrier panels and 
slidably interconnected by wheel or bearing members. Likewise, alternate 
devices for interlocking the panels to affix their relative position, for 
example interlocking pins employing camming locks (not shown) instead of 
threaded pins, are also contemplated within the scope of the invention. 
The slidably interconnected relationship between the first and second 
barrier panels 20, 22 allows the safety gate 10 to be adjusted for 
installation within access ways of varying widths. More specifically, 
relative sliding adjustment between the first and second panels allows the 
gate to be adjusted to a minimum combined width of the two panels (as 
depicted in FIG. 3) of approximately 27 inches, and up to a maximum 
combined width of the two panels (as depicted in FIG. 4) of approximately 
42 inches. This allows the gate to be adjusted to substantially fully span 
access ways varying in width within the approximate same range of 27-42 
inches. 
To further illustrate the adjustable width feature of the safety gate, FIG. 
1 depicts two relative adjusted configurations of the barrier panels, 
adjusted to combined effective engagement widths that substantially span 
either a narrow access way (left side of Figure, with second access way 
side wall denoted by reference numeral 14) or a wide access way (right 
side of Figure, with second access way side wall denoted by reference 
numeral 14'). A similar adjustment series is depicted by comparing FIGS. 2 
and 2A, and FIGS. 3 and 4. It will be noted that any combined effective 
engagement width between the above described minimum and maximum widths 
can be selected, and the only limitation for selecting alternate effective 
engagement widths for the gate is imposed by the size of the barrier 
panels and length of the first and second panel slots (66, 68 and 30, 32, 
respectively). 
Prior to or concurrent with installing the security gate 10 within a 
selected access way, the first barrier panel 20 is mounted in a fixed 
lateral position relative to the first access way side wall 12. A variety 
of suitable mounting mechanisms are envisioned for this purpose, whereas a 
preferred mounting mechanism comprises upper and lower fixed bumpers 86, 
88 carried on an first panel outer side rail 89 (see FIG. 1). The bumpers 
are preferably made of, or covered with, a resilient plastic or other 
polymeric material, more preferably rubber, that has limited 
compressibility and appropriate surface characteristics (such as ribs or 
protuberances) to non-yieldingly, frictionally engage an opposing surface. 
Therefore, by abutting the bumpers against the first access way side wall, 
the bumpers secure the panel in a generally fixed lateral position (i.e. 
from being pushed closer in a direct lateral movement) relative to the 
first side wall. 
Other mounting mechanisms to secure the first barrier panel 20 in a 
generally fixed lateral position relative to the first side wall 12 are 
also provided, including hinges (not shown) affixed directly to the side 
wall and pivotally interconnecting the first barrier panel 20 with the 
side wall. In a more detailed aspect of the invention (depicted in FIG. 
8), pivotal mounting of the first barrier panel is achieved by hingedly 
connecting the first barrier panel to an adjustable, telescoping mounting 
pole 90 adjustably extensible between a floor surface 92 and ceiling 
surface 94 of a selected access way. The mounting pole has head and foot 
contact pads 96, 98 adapted to frictionally engage the ceiling and floor 
surfaces, respectively, and a lockable, adjustable telescoping control 
clamp 100 positioned between nested, upper and lower sections 102, 104 of 
the pole, which allows the length of the pole to be selectably adjusted to 
raise and lower the pole to fit different access ways. The pole is 
designed to have minimal flexure along its length, and is therefore 
preferably made of a rigid material such as fiber reinforced plastic. The 
pole is preferably installed closely adjacent the first side wall 12 of a 
selected access way by extending the pole until the head and foot pads 
contact the ceiling and floor surfaces with sufficient compression force 
to hold the pole firmly in position. The pole is preferably pivotally 
interconnected with the first barrier panel, preferably by upper and lower 
collar hinges 106, 108 that movably surround the pole and are fixedly 
connected to the first barrier panel outer side rail 89. By virtue of this 
mounting design, the gate can be opened and closed in a pivoting manner 
without necessitating installation of permanent hinges in the access way, 
thus preventing damage to access ways and allowing ready transfer of the 
gate and mounting assembly between different access ways. In addition, the 
novel pole mounting design described above is particularly useful to 
install the safety gate in access ways were one wall may have delicate 
surface ornamentation or paint, or where one wall surface may be irregular 
or otherwise unsuited for safe installation of a conventional safety gate. 
To complete mounting or closure of the safety gate 10 within an access way, 
the second barrier panel 22 must also be secured relative to the second 
access way side wall 14. A preferred design for this purpose features 
upper and lower engagement feet 110, 112 connected to the second barrier 
panel which can be extended outwardly from the panel against the second 
access way side wall to mount or close the gate, or, alternatively, 
retracted inwardly away from the second access way side wall to remove or 
open the gate. The engagement feet are specifically adapted to engage the 
access way side wall when the barrier panels are adjusted to a selected 
engagement width and the engagement feet are extended. As used herein, a 
selected engagement width corresponds to a combined width of the first and 
second barrier panels 20, 22 (in an adjusted, locked relative position) 
that approximately fully spans a selected access way. More specifically, 
when the first barrier panel 20 is mounted in a fixed lateral position 
relative to the first access way side wall 12 (as described above for 
example by engagement of bumpers 86, 88 or emplacement of a mounting pole 
90), the selected engagement width corresponds approximately to a combined 
width of the first and second barrier panels that brings the engagement 
feet 110, 112 in close juxtaposition to, and preferably just achieving 
non-forceful contact with, the second access way side wall when the 
engagement feet are in a fully retracted position. This selected width 
thus represents an effective engagement width whereby the engagement feet 
can be actuated from a retracted position to an extended position in which 
the engagement feet forcibly impinge against the second access way side to 
firmly secure the gate in position with sufficient force to prevent the 
gate from being purposefully or accidentally dislodged by a child. 
Extension and retraction of the engagement feet 110, 112 is accomplished by 
a novel engagement feet extension mechanism that outwardly extends the 
engagement feet in a reflexive manner, to achieve firm engagement of both 
feet even when the gate is installed in access ways having vertically 
uneven widths. Specifically, the invention provides an engagement feet 
extension mechanism that outwardly extends the engagement feet through a 
reciprocating-like linkage design. In a preferred aspect of the invention, 
depicted in FIG. 1, this linkage design includes a generally 
bracket-shaped rocker element 120 interconnecting the upper and lower 
engagement feet 110, 112. The rocker element has straight, upper and lower 
terminal arm segments 122, 124 extending from the engagement feet and 
joined to upper and lower reflex arm segments 126, 128 by upper and lower, 
outwardly concave curvatures 130, 132 in the rocker element. The reflex 
arm segments of the rocker element are recurved and then converge at a 
central, outwardly concave curvature 134. On the inner, convex side of 
this curvature, the rocker element presents a curved rocker surface 136 
which forms part of the reciprocating-like linkage for this embodiment. 
It should be noted that the engagement feet need not be structurally 
separated from the terminal arm segments, and this term also applies to 
the very distal tips of the terminal arm segments if no separate pad 
structure is employed to cover the tips of the arm segments. Preferably, 
however, the engagement feet are structurally separate from the terminal 
arm segments and are comprised of a terminal pad or cover made of a 
resilient plastic or other polymeric material, more preferably rubber, 
that has limited compressibility and appropriate surface characteristics 
(such as ribs or protuberances) to non-yieldingly, frictionally engage an 
opposing surface. 
Actuation of the rocker element 120 to drive extension of the engagement 
feet 110, 112 is achieved in the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 by an 
elongate cam member 150 vertically disposed between opposing side walls of 
the second barrier panel 22 and operated by a pivoting handle 152 type 
lever mechanism. The cam member includes a camming surface 154 that 
immediately abuts the rocker surface 136 of the rocker element 120 when 
the cam member is raised. The cam member is raised and lowered by raising 
and lowering the handle 152, which is pivotally connected to the second 
barrier panel 22 at an anchor pivot 156, and to an upper cam arm 158 of 
the cam member 150 by a cam connector pivot 160. 
When the handle 152 and cam member 150 are raised, the engagement feet 110, 
112 are biased toward a retracted position by a biasing spring 164 seated 
within a spring housing 166 and disposed between a right inner surface 168 
of the second barrier panel and the central curvature 134 of the rocker 
element 120. Retraction of the engagement feet is further accomplished by 
providing a curved nesting surface 172 contiguous with the camming surface 
154 and shaped and dimensioned to nestingly receive the curved rocker 
surface 136 of the rocker element when the cam member is raised (as 
depicted in phantom in FIGS. 1 and 1A). 
When the cam member 150 is forced downward by closure of the handle 152, 
the camming surface 154 is forcefully driven against the rocker surface 
136 of the rocker element 120. Because the camming surface slopes outward 
in the direction of cam movement, engagement of the cam member against the 
rocker surface will ordinarily laterally displace the rocker element and 
thereby cause extension of the engagement feet. Extension of the 
engagement feet preferably involves outward movement of one or both of the 
engagement feet approximately 1/4 to 3/4 inches beyond their retracted 
position (note that the engagement feet when retracted may be flush with a 
second barrier panel outer side rail, i.e. retracted fully within the body 
of the second panel, or, alternatively, extend a minimal distance from the 
outer side rail to avoid retraction of an enlarged pad or cap into the 
body of the second panel). Greater extensibility is possible, however 
extension of the feet beyond about one inch would imply that too large a 
gap existed between the gate and side wall, which might impose danger to 
an infant or small child (e.g. by catching the child's wrist in the gap). 
As described in more detail below, one of the engagement feet may be 
extended substantially farther than the other foot to provide secure 
installation in access ways having vertically uneven widths. Preferably, 
the difference in total extendibility between the two engagement feet 
ranges up to about one inch, and more preferably between about 1/4 to 3/4 
inches. 
If the engagement feet are already in sufficient forceful contact with the 
second access way side wall 14 when the cam member 150 is being operated, 
the rocker element 120 is designed to alleviate jamming of the cam member 
and allow full closure of the handle, by flexing between the rocker 
surface and the engagement feet. This flexing adaptability of the linkage 
design between the handle and engagement feet primarily involves inward 
flexing of the reflex arms 126, 128, which flexure is facilitated by 
construction of the rocker element from a semi-flexible material such as a 
aluminum, resilient plastic, fiberglass, graphite composite or other 
material with like flexibility characteristics. The extent of flexibility 
can be adjusted by changing the rocker element material, solidness, or 
cross sectional diameter. Preferably, a hollow aluminum tubing is used 
having an outer cross sectional diameter being approximately 1/2 to 3/4 
inch. This preferred construction and diameter of the rocker element 
allows for a desired extent of flexure between a top outer curvature 
surface 174 and the rocker surface 136 of the rocker element of about 1/4 
to 1/2 inch under a maximum stress exerted on the rocker element by the 
cam member operating through a full range of camming movement with the 
engagement feet of the rocker element in contact with a wall throughout 
the entire range of cam movement. It should be noted in this context that 
other devices to absorb overstress of components during engagement feet 
extension are also envisioned. For example, it is possible to emplace a 
spring biased seat (not shown) supporting the cam member on an opposite 
side of the cam member from the rocker element. More simply, the cam 
member can itself be made with a semi-flexible or yielding construction, 
for example out of hollow plastic. 
As noted above, action of the cam member 150 outwardly extends the 
engagement feet in a reflexive manner, to achieve secure engagement of 
both feet even in unevenly dimensioned access ways. For example, many 
access ways are narrower in width closer to the floor surface 92 than 
higher up along the access way side walls 12, 14. In such cases the width 
of the access way will therefore be wider adjacent the upper engagement 
foot 110 than adjacent the lower engagement foot 112. Accordingly, because 
the extension feet are generally displaced an even distance from the 
second access way side wall when they are retracted, the lower engagement 
foot would ordinarily contact the unevenly spaced side wall before the 
upper engagement foot makes contact. To compensate for this uneven spacing 
and resultant unequal foot contact, the engagement feet extension 
mechanism incorporates a reciprocating-like linkage design, preferably a 
cam member 150 that exerts outward (lateral) force on a rocker element 
120, coupled with a rocker surface 136 that can pivot relative to the cam 
member and thereby reflexively translate outward force to one or the other 
of the engagement feet in a generally reciprocating manner to achieve 
approximately equal force of engagement between both feet and the side 
wall. More specifically, if unequal foot contact occurs as in the example 
above, the lower engagement foot that first makes contact with the side 
wall exerts inward force on the corresponding terminal arm 124, which is 
translated under the driving influence of the cam member and pivoting 
action of the rocker to outward force exerted on the upper engagement foot 
110, so that the upper foot more fully, or more forcefully, extends. As a 
result of this novel design, extension of each engagement foot is 
reflexive with respect to the degree of extension and force of engagement 
of the other engagement foot, whereby both engagement feet are extended to 
engage the side wall with approximately equal engaging force. This is 
achieved even in cases were one of the engagement feet must be extended 
substantially farther than the other foot to abut the opposing access way 
side wall. Preferably, the engagement feet are differentially extendable 
via this reflexive extension design up to a difference of about one inch, 
and preferably between about 1/4 to 3/4 inches. Thus, where width 
dimensions of a selected access way differ up to about one inch between 
upper and lower heights of the access way (corresponding to heights of the 
upper and lower extension feet) equal force engagement of the two 
extension feet can readily be achieved. In this context, it is noted that 
the upper and lower engagement feet are desirably spaced about 5-6 inches, 
and more preferably about 51.backslash.4 inches, from top and bottom edges 
176, 178 of the second barrier panel (with the height of both barrier 
panels being about 27-29 inches). The upper and lower engagement feet are 
preferably spaced apart approximately 16-17 inches, more preferably about 
161/2 inches from their respective cross sectional midpoints. 
As will be understood by those skilled in the art, a generally 
reciprocating linkage design for extending the engagement feet can be 
achieved by a variety of suitable alternative designs. One such design 
contemplated within the scope of the invention replaces the cam member 150 
with a manually operable piston (not shown) having a piston arm directly, 
pivotally connected with the rocker element, thereby allowing for similar, 
reflexive translation of forces between the upper and lower engagement 
feet 110, 112 as described above. 
In other preferred aspects of the invention (see FIG. 9) the handle 152 
that operates the cam member 150 is recessed within a contoured seat 180 
formed within the second barrier panel 22 and is lockable to prevent 
opening of the gate 10 by a child. The seat includes a slot 182 which 
receives a conventional detent 183 carried on a free end 184 of the 
handle. The detent is biased to engage the slot by a flex spring 186 and 
is disengaged manually by a single or dual, thumb operated slide 188. In 
the embodiment depicted in FIG. 9, a dual thumb slide is provided having 
upward extending flanges 190, 192 disposed on both the left and right 
sides of the handle, to allow ambidextrous operation of the gate to open 
the gate with equal ease in a simple, one-handed operation, regardless of 
the dexterity of the user or side of approach to the gate. This handle 
operation design is particularly useful in conjunction with pivotally 
mounted embodiments of the invention, such as the pole mounted 
configuration shown in the FIG. 8. 
The safety gate 10 of the invention can be manufactured from a variety of 
suitably rigid materials, including woods, metals and plastics. For 
purposes of economy and ease of manufacture and assembly, a preferred 
material for manufacturing the safety gate, as well as many of its 
component parts and fittings, is a plastic. Plexiglass or lexan may be 
selected for the barrier panels 20, 22 to improve visibility through the 
gate for enhanced safety and psychological comfort for both the attending 
parent and child. For purposes of durability and precision, portions of 
the handle assembly and engagement feet extension mechanism may be 
preferably manufactured from a metal, high strength plastic or like 
material, as will be readily appreciated and routinely selected by persons 
of ordinary skill in the art. 
Manufacturing of the safety gate and its component parts may also be 
achieved by a variety of alternatively suitable methods. Selection of 
preferred methods depends on the choice of materials, among other factors. 
Suitable manufacturing methods in this context include sheet metal or 
injection molding fabrication processes (e.g. for manufacture of barrier 
panels 20, 22 when a chosen material is metal, or plastic, respectively), 
casting, pressing, cutting and other like processes that will be readily 
appreciated and routinely applied by persons of ordinary skill in the art. 
The foregoing description and examples are offered by way of illustration, 
not limitation. Therefore, the scope of the invention is not to be limited 
except by the claims which follow.