Movable or removable closures – Closures interconnected for concurrent movement – Closures in spaced openings along barrier
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-30
2001-04-10
Stodola, Daniel P. (Department: 3634)
Movable or removable closures
Closures interconnected for concurrent movement
Closures in spaced openings along barrier
C049S095000, C049S122000, C049S445000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06212826
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
The present invention is a barrier assembly protecting the edge of an elevated loading platform or mezzanine, where the loading platform is adapted to receive pallets of articles from an elevated load-in side of the loading platform, and where workers/handlers will remove the articles from a handling side of the loading platform. In particular, the present invention is a barrier assembly that provides a protective barrier on the load-in side of the loading platform when workers are removing articles from the handling side of the platform and also provides a protective barrier on the handling side of the loading platform when the articles are being loaded onto the platform by forklift trucks through the load-in side of the platform.
A typical distribution center or warehouse may include a plurality of elevated loading platforms or mezzanines that have openings on the load-in side of the loading platforms for receiving pallets of articles from forklift trucks, and that also have openings on the handling side of the loading platforms for facilitating removal of the loaded articles by workers. Even though the workers will typically remain clear from the load-in side of the loading platform while removing the articles therefrom, the openings from the load-in side of the loading platforms for receiving the pallets from the forklift trucks present a potential fall hazard for the workers. Furthermore, even though workers will typically remain clear from the loading platform while pallets are being loaded onto the platform by forklift trucks, openings into the loading platform during this operation present a potential fall hazard for the workers as well as a potential for injuries caused by the loading articles.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,422,264 discloses a safety gate assembly that includes first and second safety gates, each of which have rollers that are received within a pair of parallel, inverted U-shaped tracks. The safety gates are coupled together by cables, which are guided between the gates by pulleys positioned above the gates. When one of the safety gates is lifted (providing access to one side of the preselected area) the pulley assembly will operate so as to allow the second safety gate to be lowered into a position blocking entrance to the opposite side of the preselected area. Likewise, when the second safety gate is lifted so as to allow entrance to the preselected area, the cable and pulley assembly will operate so as to allow the first safety gate to be lowered again, thereby restricting entrance to the preselected area from its opposite position. A disadvantage with this assembly is that the cable and pulley system allows both the first and second safety gates to be lifted simultaneously, thereby facilitating easy circumvention of the protections provided by the barrier assembly. Another disadvantage with this apparatus is that the cable and pulley systems add unnecessary complexity and expense to the apparatus.
Accordingly, there is a need for a barrier assembly which provides a barrier on a handling side of an elevated loading platform when articles are being loaded onto the platform, through a load-in side of the platform, by lift trucks, and provides a barrier on the load-in side of the elevated platform when articles are being removed from the loading platform through the handling side of the platform by workers. There is also a need for such a barrier assembly which restricts the load-in side barrier and handling side barrier from being opened at the same time, and which is relatively uncomplicated in design and relatively inexpensive to build.
SUMMARY
The present invention provides a reciprocating barrier assembly that provides a barrier on a handling side of an elevated loading platform when articles are being loaded onto the platform, through a load-in side of the platform, and provides a barrier on the load-in side of the elevated platform when articles are being removed from the loading platform through the handling side of the platform by workers.
The barrier assembly includes a pair of parallel guide rails, each shaped generally as an inverted U, and having a first substantially vertical portion, a second substantially vertical portion opposite the first substantially vertical portion and a substantially horizontal portion interconnecting the first and second substantially vertical portions; a first gate segment having at least one pair of rollers positioned on opposite lateral sides thereof, where each roller is received within a respective one of the guide rails so that the first gate segment is guided by the pair of guide rails; a second gate segment having at least one pair of rollers positioned on opposite lateral sides thereof, where each roller is received within a respective one of the guide rails so that the second gate segment is guided by the pair of guide rails; and at least one substantially rigid cross-bar pivotally connected between the first and second gate segments. The first gate segment is guided by the pair of guide rails from a first barrier position in which the first gate segment is positioned entirely within the first substantially vertical portions of the pair of guide rails to an open position in which the first gate segment is positioned at least partially in the substantially horizontal portion of the pair of guide rails. The second gate segment is guided by the pair of guide rails from a second barrier position in which the second gate segment is positioned entirely within the second substantially vertical portions of the pair of guide rails to an open position in which the second gate segment is positioned at least partially in the substantially horizontal portion of the pair of guide rails. Finally, the cross-bar has a length which requires that when the first gate segment is in its barrier position the second gate segment will be in its open position, and vice-versa. Therefore, because this cross-bar is substantially rigid, it will restrict the first and second gate segments from being lifted simultaneously to their open positions.
Preferably, the cross-bar is pivotally coupled to each of the first and second gate segments, approximate a first lateral edge of the first and second gate segments, and the barrier assembly further includes a second cross-bar pivotally coupled between the first and second gate segments adjacent to an opposite lateral edge of the first and second gate segments. Furthermore, it is preferred that the barrier assembly also includes stops coupled to guide rails for restricting downward movement of the first or second gate segments when the first or second gate segments are in their respective barrier positions. It is also preferred that the barrier assembly includes a stationary support elevated above the horizontal portions of the pair of guide rails and a spring mounted between the stationary support and the cross-bar, where the spring acts to reduce the amount of force needed to lift the first or second gate segments from their respective barrier positions to their respective open positions.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a reciprocating barrier assembly which provides a barrier on the handling side of an elevated loading platform when articles are being loaded onto the platform by lift trucks, and provides a barrier on the load-in side of the elevated platform when articles are being removed from the loading platform through the handling side of the platform by workers. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a reciprocating barrier assembly which restricts the load-in side barrier and handling side barrier from being opened or lifted at the same time. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a reciprocating barrier assembly that is relatively uncomplicated in design and relatively inexpensive to build. These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, the attached drawings and the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2226033 (1940-12-01), Walling
patent: 3378059 (1968-04-01),
Midwest Industrial Door, Inc.
Stodola Daniel P.
Thompson Hugh B.
Thompson Hine & Flory LLP
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