Abstract:
A portable safety barrier that can be set up across a drive way or other path to provide a visible and physical indication of a safe zone boundary particularly for children. Netting attached to a core or reel disposed in a housing forms the barrier. The netting is free to deploy from the housing for attachment to a remote post; both the housing and post including an auger for anchoring the housing and post to ground. The housing has a rewind system to reel in the netting which includes a gear train for mechanical advantage. The rewind system operates manually and with out a bias assist. A selectively operated stop cooperates with the rewind system to tighten the netting after deployment and keeps the netting taut.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     Not applicable.  
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not applicable.  
       REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING” 
       [0003]     Not applicable.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0005]     The present invention relates generally to a barrier as may be set up as a temporary boundary to discourage movement into or out of a restricted or dangerous area. More particularly, the invention relates to a portable apparatus used to set a barrier that works to identify the boundary of a safe zone, particularly for children, and to discourage passage into or out of the zone.  
         [0006]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0007]     Children at play are often oblivious to dangers inherent in spontaneous activity. For example, children often are apt to pursue a ball, toy or pet and not recognize that the pursuit is leading to an unsafe area. For this reason, various types of apparatus are available to set temporary barriers to at least discourage a child from venturing out of a safe play area. Such apparatus can be used to establish a temporary barrier across a driveway or other path to discourage children from venturing out of a safe area or to provide a visible indication of the limits of a safe play area. When placed across a driveway, the barrier will warn vehicles not to enter. In the case of small children, the barrier can be set up in a park or back yard setting to confine the child to a safe area.  
         [0008]     A barrier of this type generally is readily portable and is easy to set up. A typical portable apparatus of this type includes net that is deployed to establish a physical barrier so to prevent the passage of a young child. In the case of older children, the deployed net provides a visual reference as to the limit of the safe or permitted area and acts to warn the child that the allowed limit of travel in a given direction has been reached.  
         [0009]     Portable safety barriers of this type most commonly employ a net that is extended between and supported by upright posts. The posts either are driven into the ground or have weighted feet to keep them upright. In some cases the net simply is wound onto one or both of the posts and is unwound to stretch it into a barrier position.  
         [0010]     In another version, the net disposed on a reel element that is journaled within one of the posts for compact storage. As the net is extended from the reel, the reel rotates against a bias. Once extended, a second post is firmly rooted to ground. The bias applies a rewind force to the reel that keeps the extended net taut between the posts and provides a rewinding assist.  
         [0011]     A draw back of this arrangement is that the rewind bias increases in direct proportion to the length of net that is extended so the rewind force is at its maximum at the full extension of the net. In a conventional application this length can be fifteen feet or more. Accordingly, once the second post is uprooted, the net must be held in a firm grip so as not to lose control during rewinding. Otherwise, if the net and post are left free to move, the bias can rewind the net with such force that damage to person or property can result.  
         [0012]     Accordingly, there is a need for an improved portable safety barrier apparatus that has its supply of barrier netting stored in a compact manner, is easily set up, maintains the net barrier taut when extended to a barrier position and is easily taken down and stored.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     The portable safety barrier apparatus of the present invention includes a length of netting for forming a temporary barrier. The apparatus includes a frame or housing with a core journaled to the frame. This forms a first or main post. One end of the net is fixed to the core and the core forms a reel on which the net is wound for storage.  
         [0014]     To deploy the net, the main post is placed upright and anchored to ground. The free end of the net is gripped and pulled to unwind a length from the core. The core is unbiased so there is no rewind force resisting the unwinding of the net and its extension from the housing. When the desired length of net is deployed, the free end is attached to a remote post also anchored to ground.  
         [0015]     The frame includes a manually operated rewind system both to apply tension to the net so it establishes a taut barrier when deployed and to rewind the net after use. The rewind system includes a gear train that provides a mechanical advantage to facilitate the manual rewinding of the net onto the core. The system also includes a one-way stop that is selectively engaged after the net is deployed to prevent the further extension of the net from the core. After the stop is engaged, operation of the rewind system causes the net to tighten between the remote post and the frame. The stop is released to allow easier rewinding of the net back to a stored position on the core.  
         [0016]     Accordingly, the portable safety barrier may be characterized in one aspect thereof by  
         [0017]     a) a frame disposable in an upright position;  
         [0018]     b) a net reel rotatably mounted to the frame;  
         [0019]     c) an elongated net wound on the net reel, the net having one end fixed to the net reel and an opposite end;  
         [0020]     d) a bias-free drive system carried by the frame and operatively connected to the net reel, the drive system allowing free unbiased rotation of the net reel in an unwind direction for extending the net from the frame and the drive system being manually operated to rotate the net reel in a winding direction for rewinding the net onto the net reel;  
         [0021]     e) the drive system including a one-way stop selectively engaged to prevent rotation of the net reel in the unwind direction; and  
         [0022]     f) a support post paired with the frame and movable to a location spaced from the frame and attachable to the net opposite end.  
         [0023]     In a further configuration, the portable safety barrier contemplates a receiver that can be augered into the ground to operably retain the frame. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)  
       [0024]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing the portable safety barrier of the present invention in a deployed position; and  
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is a view partly broken away and in section showing the rewind system of the portable safety barrier of the present invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of a supply side holder for releasably engaging a portion of the frame.  
         [0027]      FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of a fixed side holder for releasably engaging a corresponding portion of the frame.  
         [0028]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged perspective view of the supply side holder showing engagement with a releasable lever.  
         [0029]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of a particular configuration of the portable safety barrier of the present invention.  
         [0030]      FIG. 7  is a cross sectional side view of the portable safety barrier of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0031]     Referring to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows the portable safety barrier apparatus of the present invention generally indicated at  10 . The apparatus includes a frame or housing  12  formed by a generally tubular outer shell  14 . The shell lower end  16  has or is releaseably received in a supply side holder  18 . An auger  20  extends from a lower surface of the supply side holder  18  to facilitate the anchoring of the main housing to ground. The housing  12  represents the main support post of the barrier.  
         [0032]     As seen in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the supply side holder  18  can be screwed, or augered into the ground via the auger  20 . The supply side holder  18  includes a cup or sleeve shape recess to receive the frame  10 . The supply side holder  18  can include a pair of collinear apertures  19  sized to receive a lever or rod  62  for increasing leverage on the auger  20  to assist in engaging the ground.  
         [0033]     The outer shell  14  has an elongated slot  22 . Extending through the slot is a barrier net  24 . The net has one end fixed to a core (not shown) rotatably disposed within the tubular outer shell and is wound onto the core. The housing also contains a rewind system (described hereinbelow) disposed within an upper end of the tubular shell. A knob  26  attached to the rewind system comprises the manually engaged exterior portion of the rewind system.  
         [0034]     The frame  12  can include an upper and lower guide clip  66 ,  68  adjacent a corresponding upper and lower end of the elongate slot  22  to contact the net  24  and retain the net in a predetermined orientation upon rewinding.  
         [0035]     The net  24  extending through slot  22  has a free end  28  attachable to a remote or secondary post  30 . The lower end  32  of the remote post has or is releaseably received in a foot  34 . A second auger  36  extends from a lower surface of the foot  34  to facilitate the anchoring of the remote post  30  to ground. Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 4 , a secondary holder  63  can include the auger  36  for engaging the ground. The secondary holder  63  includes a projecting rod  65  sized to be received within the secondary post  30 .  
         [0036]     It is also contemplated the net  24  can include a stiffener  35 , such as a bar, plate or rod to assist retaining the net in a substantially vertical orientation upon the net extending between the frame and the secondary post  30 . The stiffener  35  can be integrated into the net  24  (and stored with the net within the frame  12  or separable from the net.  
         [0037]     The rewind system and other components of the housing  12  that are disposed within the tubular shell  14  are shown in  FIG. 2 . Housing  12  comprises a storage unit for the net  24  and contains the components that allow an operator to deploy the net, establish a taut barrier and to rewind the net after use. To this end the housing includes a net reel generally indicated at  37 . The net reel is formed in part by an axel  38  disposed within the shell  14  and along its central axis. The axel  38  preferably is square to facilitate the cooperation of the axel with other components that support and rotate the axel as further set out hereinbelow.  
         [0038]     One end  40  of the axel is journaled to the tubular shell  14  adjacent the lower end  16  of the shell. The opposite end of the axel (not shown) is operatively connected to the output end of a gear train represented by the enclosed box  42 . The gear train is disposed with the shell  14  adjacent the shell upper end and serves to provide a mechanical advantage to assist rewinding the net.  
         [0039]     The axel extends through spaced wafer bearings  44 ,  46 . These bearings contact against the inner surface of the tubular shell  14  to help maintain the axel centered in the shell  14  as the axel rotates. Extending between the spaced wafer bearings and disposed as a shroud radially about the axel is a tubular winding core  48 . One end of the net  24  is attached to the surface of the core and the net is wound on the core for storage within the shell  14  in the space between the core and the inner surface of the shell. Since the core rotates with the axel  38 , the axel comprises a drive shaft for the core wherein the axel  38 , wafer bearings  44 ,  46  and winding core  48  together form the net reel  37 .  
         [0040]     Also fixed to the axel at an outboard side of the wafer bearing  46  is a ratchet wheel  50 . A stop  52  extending through the shell is operated to selectively engage the ratchet. When the stop is engaged with the ratchet, rotation of the net reel  37  in a net unwinding direction is prevented. For example, the stop can be arranged so that either a push/pull action or a rotation of the stop will effect the engagement and disengagement of the stop with the ratchet.  
         [0041]     The knob  26  is rotatable relative to the shell  14  and is operatively connected to the input side of the gear train  42 . The motive force for rewinding the net is supplied solely by manually rotating the knob wherein the gear train  42  provides a mechanical advantage to facilitate the rewinding of the net onto the winding core  48  of the net reel. Engaging an Allen wrench or other suitable tool  54  into an opening  56  formed in the knob for receiving such a tool provides a further mechanical advantage. It is further contemplated a fold away handle  25  ( FIG. 1 ) can be connected to the gear train  42  to provide leverage for a user to rewind the net  24 .  
         [0042]     The gear train  42  that transmits a motive force from the knob  26  to the axel  46  can take any one of several forms in order to provide a mechanical advantage to assist in the manual retrieval of the net. For example the gear train can comprise a train of spur gears. In a preferred embodiment the gear train is a planetary gearing system including one or more planetary gears. A planetary gear system provides a relatively compact arrangement that fits within the end of the tubular sleeve  14  between the knob  26  and the ratchet wheel  50 .  
         [0043]     Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a specific configuration of the portable safety barrier is shown. Although these figures provide a particular implementation of the portable safety barrier, it is understood that alternative constructions can be employed without departing from the invention. For example, the particular configuration of the gearing can be changed in response to an intended operating environment, such as an oversized driveway.  
         [0044]     In operation and to set up the portable safety barrier of the present invention, the main post represented by housing  12  is stood upright on its foot  18 . The foot can be a separate member into which the lower end  16  of the housing is placed or it can be integral the housing. In either case the foot is flat bottomed and rests on a ground surface. The foot whether a separate member or integral the housing, can be weighted to assist holding the position of the barrier. In a preferred embodiment as shown the foot has an auger  20  and is rotated so as to drill the auger  20  into the ground to root the main support post in position.  
         [0045]     After the main support post is firmly planted, the free end  28  of the net is pulled to deploy the net. As the net is extended from the housing through the slot  22 , the net reel  37  rotates freely so the net is drawn from the winding core  48 . The friction in the gear train  42  provides the only resistance to the rotation of the net reel and there is no rewind bias that needs to be overcome in order to deploy the netting.  
         [0046]     The secondary post  30  is positioned remote from the main post  12  and set upright on its foot  34  in the same manner as the main post  12 . The foot  34  can be a separate member into which the lower end  32  of the post is placed or the foot can be formed integral the post. In either case the foot  32  is flat bottomed and rests on a ground surface. In one embodiment the foot is weighted for holding the position of the barrier and in a preferred embodiment, the auger  36  associated with the foot is drilled into the ground so the secondary post also is rooted in position.  
         [0047]     In one embodiment the secondary post  30  and net  24  are separate members so the free end of the net is clipped or otherwise releaseably attached to the post. In the alternative, the net is permanently attached to the secondary post so that movement of the post to a remote location acts to pull the net from the housing  12 .  
         [0048]     Once the net is deployed, it can be tightened so it is taut between the housing or main post  12  and the secondary remote post  30 . This is accomplished by operating the stop  52  to engage it against the ratchet wheel  50 . The engagement prevents further deployment of the net by stopping the rotation of the net reel  37  in an unwinding or net deploying direction. However, the ratchet wheel still allows rotation of the net reel in a rewind direction. Accordingly, the operator merely turns the knob  26  so the net reel  37  is rotated in the rewind direction so netting is pulled back onto the winding core  48 . The rewinding pulls in the slack in the net  24  and the cooperation of the stop  52  and ratchet wheel  50  prevents the net reel from turning in the unwinding direction.  
         [0049]     To take down the barrier, the net is detached from the secondary post  30  or the post is uprooted. In either case the net now is free to be rewound into the housing  12 . Since there is no bias acting on the extended net, the net can be released without the risk of being forcibly drawn back towards the housing  12 .  
         [0050]     Rewinding the net is accomplished by turning the knob  26 . The rotary motion of the knob is transferred through the gear train to the axel  38  and the core  48  so the net reel  37  is turned in a rewind direction. The mechanical advantage and reduction in torque provided by the gear train  42  facilitates the manual rewinding of the net back into the winding core  48 . To further facilitate the rewinding, the operator can insert a wrench  54  or other appropriate tool into the opening  56  in order to gain a further mechanical advantage. Alternatively, in the configuration employing the fold away handle, the handle can be used to provide the mechanical advantage and torque for rewinding the net.  
         [0051]     Having thus described the invention in detail, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides an improved portable safety barrier apparatus. The apparatus is portable and is easily set up and deployed. The foot portions  18 ,  34  whether separate or integral the housing or main support post  12  and the secondary post  30  allow for the firm anchoring of the barrier support elements to ground. This is particularly the case where each foot includes an auger  20 ,  36  for drilling into the ground.  
         [0052]     As a further advantage, the barrier net is set up and rendered taut with the use of a ratchet wheel and stop rather than subjecting the net to a continuous rewind bias that increases in proportion to the length of deployed net. Accordingly the drive system carried by the housing is bias-free. This allows tightening the net while avoiding the likelihood of an inadvertent uncontrolled, rapid and forcible rewinding of the net that could cause injury to person or property.  
         [0053]     While the invention has been described in connection with a presently preferred embodiment thereof, those skilled in the art will recognize that many modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined solely by the appended claims. Having described the invention in detail,